Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Unleashed

A fresh perspective on planning, designing, implementing, and migrating to a Windows Server 2003 environment. Rand Morimoto and his co-authors began writing this book using their experience from several very large client implementations, some having more than 100 servers in production. On a daily basis, as this book was in production, they had clients with thousands of users taking advantage of the Windows Server 2003 security, scalability, performance, and reliability functions months before the product release. Because of that unique experience, the authors of this book were able to compile the best practices, installation and migration tips and tricks, performance optimization techniques, configuration tuning, and server management techniques for the readers of this book. Rather than revising from previously published chapters in the Windows Server 2000 Unleashed book, this book was written completely from scratch with the belief that this approach would incorporate the true recommendations from the author team for best practices, tips and tricks to get the most out of Windows Server 2003 networking environment.

Rand Morimoto has been in the computer industry for over 25-years and has authored, co-authored, or been a contributing writer for over a dozen books on Windows 2000, Security, Exchange 2000, BizTalk Server, and Remote and Mobile Computing. Rand is the President of Convergent Computing, an IT-consulting firm in the San Francisco Bay Area that was one of the key early adopter program partners with Microsoft implementing beta versions of Windows Server 2003 in production environments over 2-years before the product release. Besides speaking at over 50 conferences and conventions around the world in the past year on tips, tricks, and best practices on planning, migrating, and implementing Windows Server 2003, Rand is also a Special Advisor to the Whitehouse on Cyber-Security and Cyber-Terrorism.

Michael Noel has been in the computer industry for over 9 years and has been working with the latest in Windows technologies since the early days of Microsoft operating systems. Michael has written numerous technical publications and has been a contributing writer on books on Windows 2000, Exchange 2000, and Microsoft Operations Manager. Currently a Consultant at Convergent Computing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael has designed and implemented numerous large-scale technical projects with worldwide Active Directory and Exchange 2000 migrations, high-availability clustering solutions, and enterprise anti-virus solution deployments. Michael's experience in the area of real-world design and deployment and his level of involvement in Windows server technologies (including Windows Server 2003) from the beta stages supports his credentials in the field.

Omar Droubi has been in the computer and networking industry for more than 9 years and has worked as a consultant assisting small, medium and large organizations introduce and manage Microsoft Technologies ranging from directory services, messaging systems, databases, Virtual Private Networks and Firewalls. Omar's specialties include designing scalable Windows based networks that are focused on meeting clients' computing and networking requirements. Omar is an expert at integrating Windows systems or migrating to Windows 2003 Active Directory from Novell NetWare, Unix, and Banyan Vines. Omar is not only a skilled designer and implementer of the Windows Server 2003 family of products, but he is also a qualified and certified Microsoft trainer (MCT). Omar is an MSCE and has been a contributing writer on a Microsoft Exchange 2000 book and on occasion has written material for Microsoft focused on Windows 2000 server integration and optimization.

Kenton Gardinier has been in the computer industry for over 9 years and is a nationally known public speaker and an internationally known author of several books on Windows design, security, performance tuning, and systems management. Kenton has also written several magazine columns specializing in performance optimization, systems management, security, network infrastructure design, and disaster recovery. Kenton holds many certifications including MCSE, CISSP, and MCSA.