Cisco Internetworking with Windows NT & 2000

Rating:
Summary: Nothing Groundbreaking Here; Decent Read
Review: As a CCNA and UNIX/VMS systems manager recently thrown into Windows 2000/NT administration, I really, *really* wanted this book to be good. In some ways, it was decent -- it helped clarified some Active Directory concepts and new Windows 2000 features.

What this book did not do is offer me any ground-breaking information on integrating Cisco routers into a Windows NT/2000 environment. The authors do provide some Cisco router configuration information (targetted at beginners and novices). Unfortunately, this information was very light-weight for me.

The text often makes the mistake of presuming that the reader has a solid understanding of NT 4.0 domains/administration. Windows 2000 functionality is constantly described with Windows NT 4.0 terminology. Many network engineers do not have experience in NT 4.0 domain management and will find this to be tedious.

This book really is a consolidation of what could be two different books: "Introduction to Cisco Routers", and "Windows 2000 Networking Concepts for Windows NT 4.0 Administrators"

If you're looking to find any advanced technical tips on how to take advantage of W2K/WNT functionality in Cisco routers, you won't find them in this book. The Cisco stuff is beginner material that every network engineer who works with Cisco routers should know. This book would probably be most appropriate to the NT 4.0 administrator who is looking to sharpen his or her router skills and learn a little bit more about upgrading to Windows 2000.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing Groundbreaking Here; Decent Read
Review: As a CCNA and UNIX/VMS systems manager recently thrown into Windows 2000/NT administration, I really, *really* wanted this book to be good. In some ways, it was decent -- it helped clarified some Active Directory concepts and new Windows 2000 features.

What this book did not do is offer me any ground-breaking information on integrating Cisco routers into a Windows NT/2000 environment. The authors do provide some Cisco router configuration information (targetted at beginners and novices). Unfortunately, this information was very light-weight for me.

The text often makes the mistake of presuming that the reader has a solid understanding of NT 4.0 domains/administration. Windows 2000 functionality is constantly described with Windows NT 4.0 terminology. Many network engineers do not have experience in NT 4.0 domain management and will find this to be tedious.

This book really is a consolidation of what could be two different books: "Introduction to Cisco Routers", and "Windows 2000 Networking Concepts for Windows NT 4.0 Administrators"

If you're looking to find any advanced technical tips on how to take advantage of W2K/WNT functionality in Cisco routers, you won't find them in this book. The Cisco stuff is beginner material that every network engineer who works with Cisco routers should know. This book would probably be most appropriate to the NT 4.0 administrator who is looking to sharpen his or her router skills and learn a little bit more about upgrading to Windows 2000.

Rating:
Summary: Very complete, without trying to impress
Review: I was very pleased with this book, it seems it was written to provide a lot of information without the authors trying to impress everybody - real straightforward and pleasent to read. It has great coverage of active directory and carefully explained Windows 2000. The book also explains how Windows 2000 and Windows NT 4 relate to each other - very important since they will coexist for quite a long time. Then the book takes on the task of discussing Cisco networking and how that works on a NT and Windows 2000 network. I thought it went well beyond the basics (DEN, IOS issues, a bunch of Cisco hardware/software products) without going over my head. I think that the entire book really puts it all together well. If there were anything I would do to change this book would be to add more of the network blueprints they have in the middle of the book to cover more network designs.

Rating:
Summary: No other book like it - incredible !
Review: This is one book I never thought I'd see, an in depth guide to integrating Cisco (and other technologies) with WIN 2000. All the tools, tricks, and specific foundations are discussed. This book also explains how to best install and use all of those Cisco software tools so that you can get the max from your network. W2K is covered, including active directory and what it means to your network. An amazing combination of technologies and an amazing book to explain it all.

Rating:
Summary: Hits the mark on Cisco and Win2k networking
Review: When I first saw this book, I was also hoping it would be all it looked like it could be. I was happy to find out that it covered the subjects of Cisco and Windows (NT/2000) networking very well. I have both a Microsoft NT (MCSE) and Cisco (CCNA) background and consider myself well versed in the networking area in general. I found areas in the book that were suitable for folks with less experience and areas that gave me the info I was not able to find elsewhere. Well put together and a good read for those looking to fill in the gaps between (legacy to latest advancements from) Cisco and Microsoft. I highly recommend it.