In the last few years, security has become a hot-button issue for IT organizations of all sizes. Accordingly, many of the security features that were either optional or suspect in Windows 2000 have become solid, effective fixtures in Windows Server 2003-making it the most secure operating system Microsoft has ever produced. That is, if you know how to configure it properly. The Windows Server 2003 Security Cookbook wants to make sure that you do know how. Picking up right where its predecessor, the Windows Server Cookbook, left off, this desktop companion is focused solely on Windows Server security. It teaches you how to perform important security tasks in the Windows Server 2003 OS using specific and adaptable recipes. Each recipe features a brief description of the problem, a step-by-step solution, and then a discussion of the technology at work. Whenever possible, the authors even tell you where to look for further information on a recipe. The book is written in a highly modular format, with each chapter devoted to one or more technologies that Windows Server 2003 provides. This approach allows you to look up a task or scenario that you want to accomplish, find that page, and read that particular recipe only. Topics include: System preparation and administration Protecting the computer at the TCP/IP level Applying security options to Active Directory Improving security on domain controllers Securing DHCP controllers Encrypting and signing network traffic using IPSec Patch management If you're an intermediate or advanced system administrator who wants to feel secure when deploying Windows Server 2003 and its related services, then you don't want to be without the Windows Server 2003 Security Cookbook.

A handy problem-solver that teaches you how to perform important security tasks in the Windows Server 2003 OS, using very specific recipes. Each recipe features a brief description of the problem, a step-by-step solution, and then a discussion of the technology at work. There is also a detailed explanation of Microsoft's scripting support.

This book is the Windows Server version of the classic TCP/IP Network Administration. Like the book that inspired it, Windows Server 2003 Network Administration provides an overview of the essential TCP/IP protocols, and explains how to properly manage and configure the services based on these protocols. Any skilled network administrator knows that understanding how things work is as important as knowing how things are done. This book is the essential guide to both, containing everything a network administrator needs to exchange information via the Internet, and to build effective reliable networks. This must-read guide is divided into three distinct sections: fundamental concepts, tutorial, and reference. The first three chapters are a basic discussion of the network protocols and services. This discussion provides the fundamental concepts necessary to understand the rest of the book. The remaining chapters provide a how-to tutorial for planning, installing and configuring various important network services. The book concludes with three appendixes that are technical references for various configuration options. Content specifics include how to: Install, configure, and manage a Microsoft DNS and Windows DHCP server Control remote communications with Microsoft RRAS software Protect hosts with Internet Connection Firewalls Configure Internet and Intranet Web services with IIS Design proper security into your network Troubleshoot the network when problems develop After you've turned the final page of Windows Server 2003 Network Administration, you'll not only understand how to network, but also why it needs to be done.

For Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 administrators preparing forMicrosoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) core exams 70-270, 70-290, and 70-291, this Short Cut is invaluable. Think of this document as the notes you would have taken if you were to capture every essential nugget of information related to the skills measured in these exams. This Short Cut boils down the required knowledge to its finest core. To begin with, MCSA on Windows Server 2003 Core Exams in a Nutshell allows you to see all of the topics expected for mastery in each of the exams. Each exam is covered in three parts: "Exam Overview", "Study Guide" and "Test Your Knowledge" sections. This makes for easy reference and a great study aid. Exam coverage includes: EXAM 70-270: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional EXAM 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment EXAM 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure The best way to use this document is during your final review. After you've built sufficient hands-on expertise and studied all the relevant texts, grab this and study it cover to cover, answering the provided sample questions, as part of your exam cram. Once you've completed the exams successfully, you will find this Short Cut to be a valuable reference to core Windows administration and security skills. The document uses the same successful format found in MCSE Core Required Exams in a Nutshell by William Stanek.

Offers information for network architects and administrators about how to implement and optimize the Microsoft directory services infrastructure, covering fundamental concepts, architectural components, and functionality.

For system administrators, ensuring that all Windows servers are performing optimally is a tall order. The larger the enterprise, the greater the chance for irritating, time-consuming configuration problems. Sometimes, you can determine the root cause of the problem yourself-but that's only if you're lucky. With Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM), the diagnosis is done for you. MOM monitors server operations and automatically notifies you of problems by sending an immediate alert to your console, email address, or pager. To help you better understand how MOM works, O'Reilly presents Essential Microsoft Operations Manager. The goal of this comprehensive tutorial is to give first-time MOM administrators a solid foundation for planning, implementing, and administering MOM 2005. Author Chris Fox, a renowned MOM expert, offers the type of practical, real-world advice that you need to improve the performance of your IT infrastructure. After taking you through the entire process of setting up MOM on the network, the book moves on to more advanced administration issues. It carefully instructs you how to program and automate MOM and the agents that reside on the servers themselves. You'll also learn how to manage the scripts that determine which server agents are relevant to report. By capturing system data, intelligently analyzing it, and then notifying you with a suggested course of action, MOM makes extinguishing fires a breeze. And now, thanks toEssential Microsoft Operations Manager, learning how to use MOM is a breeze, too.

When you need practical hands-on support for Active Directory, the updated edition of this extremely popular Cookbook provides quick solutions to more than 300 common (and uncommon) problems you might encounter when deploying, administering, and automating Microsoft's network directory service. For the third edition, Active Directory expert Laura E. Hunter offers troubleshooting recipes based on valuable input from Windows administrators, in addition to her own experience. You'll find solutions for the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), ADAM (Active Directory Application Mode), multi-master replication, Domain Name System (DNS), Group Policy, the Active Directory Schema, and many other features. The Active Directory Cookbook will help you: Perform Active Directory tasks from the command line Use scripting technologies to automate Active Directory tasks Manage new Active Directory features, such as Read-Only Domain Controllers, fine-grained password policies, and more Create domains and trusts Locate users whose passwords are about to expire Apply a security filter to group policy objects Check for potential replication problems Restrict hosts from performing LDAP queries View DNS server performance statistics Each recipe includes a discussion explaining how and why the solution works, so you can adapt the problem-solving techniques to similar situations. Active Directory Cookbook is ideal for any IT professional using Windows Server 2008, Exchange 2007, and Identity Lifecycle Manager 2007, including Active Directory administrators looking to automate task-based solutions. "It is rare for me to visit a customer site and not see a copy of Active Directory Cookbook on a shelf somewhere, which is a testament to its usefulness. The Cookbook takes the pain out of everyday AD tasks by providing concise, clear and relevant recipes. The fact that the recipes are provided using different methods (graphical user interface, command line and scripting) means that the book is suitable for anyone working with AD on a day-to-day basis. The introduction of PowerShell examples in this latest edition will be of particular interest for those looking to transition from VBScript. Laura has also done a great job in extending the Cookbook in this edition to encompass the broad range of changes to AD in Windows Server 2008." --Tony Murray, Founder of Activedir.org and Directory Services MVP "If you already understand Active Directory fundamentals and are looking fora quick solution to common Active Directory related tasks, look no further,you have found the book that you need." --joe Richards, Directory Services MVP "The Active Directory Cookbook is the real deal... a soup-to-nuts catalog of every administrative task an Active Directory administrator needs to perform. If you administer an Active Directory installation, this is the very first book you have to put on your shelf." --Gil Kirkpatrick, Chief Architect, Active Directory and Identity Management, Quest Software and Directory Services MVP