BKUWNTS4.RVW   980213

"Special Edition Using Windows NT Server 4", Roger Jennings, 1997,
0-7897-1388-8, U$49.99/C$70.95/UK#45.99
%A   Roger Jennings 70233.2161@compuserve.com
%C   201 W. 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN   46290
%D   1997
%G   0-7897-1388-8
%I   Macmillan Computer Publishing (MCP)
%O   U$49.99/C$70.95/UK#45.99 800-858-7674 http://www.mcp.com
%P   1079 p.
%T   "Special Edition Using Windows NT Server 4, Second Edition"

Many parts of this book fail to provide a thorough understanding of
the use of Windows NT Server, falling back on the easier task of
supplying a sequence of screen shots and dialogue boxes in a
reproduction of program documentation.  It also feels "preachy" at
times.  That the book is biased towards Microsoft products can be
accepted.  However, the bias tends to be more chauvinistic than
informed.

Part one concentrates on networking.  Chapter one is an introduction
to what's new in Windows NT Server 4.0.  Unfortunately, it doesn't
really provide the stated overview of NT 4.0: you need to be familiar
with previous versions to NT to get the most out of the contents. 
Development of a network implementation plan is the objective of
chapter two, but the material, while it raises good questions, fails
to provide answers or direction.  Chapter three doesn't present much
understanding of the operating system, although it does point to a few
interesting chapters later in the book.  Many network protocols are
mentioned in chapter four, but there is little text helping to support
a particular choice.  Chapter five is a fairly generic look at
cabling, media access, and other hardware concerns.  Almost none of
the content is NT specific.  Those building NT servers and networks
will not find it very helpful.

Getting Windows NT 4.0 out onto the desktop(s) in the theme of part
two.  Chapter six optimistically assumes that a basic server
installation can take about half an hour.  This assumption seems to be
based on the presumption that all you need to do is follow the
prompts.  However, the chapter does provide some good information
regarding service packs, and a little bit on system recovery.  RAID
(Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks), in chapter seven, seems to be
two chapters in one.  The first half generically reviews hardware RAID
without reference to NT, and the second half walks through the screen
shots for NT's software RAID implementation.  Again, the coverage of
backup in chapter eight follows this schizoid approach by, for
example, including recordable CD-ROMs under the possible list of
media, without stressing the fact the NTBACKUP will not save to
anything other than tape.  Chapter nine can't be said to lack
specificity to NT since it deals with the Registry, but it deals with
it briefly, and lacks basic information necessary to dealing
comfortably with Registry editing.  TCP/IP, WINS, and DNS, in chapter
ten, is the usual assemblage of screen shots.  Much the same is true
of Windows 95 networking in chapter eleven, although there is a good
deal of useful information.  Chapter twelve, on other clients, is a
bit difficult to follow.

Part three looks at security administration.  Chapter thirteen is a
standard run-through of user manager for domains.  Chapter fourteen
does the same for the administrative apps for disks and printers,
albeit with a few interesting tips.  Chapter fifteen is a helpful
overview of a number of seldom used monitoring programs, but is
probably too short to be truly useful for optimization.  Chapter
sixteen gives an even more interesting presentation of network
monitoring tools, but also fails to really deal with troubleshooting.

Connecting computers over a wider area, and also the Internet, is the
topic for part four.  The domain model is introduced briefly in
chapter seventeen.  Although chapter eighteen is supposed to be about
integrating NT with NetWare and UNIX, it might more properly be
described as how to replace NetWare services with NT or grab UNIX
services from NT.  I'd have to say that the coverage of management of
Remote Access Service in chapter nineteen is good, since it would have
saved me a lot of grief in a recent installation.  Chapter twenty, on
the setup of Internet Information Server, is about equally split
between general background and the program itself, but the split is
likely appropriate in this case.  The instructions regarding
administration of an intranet and Web site in chapter twenty one are
good as far as they go, but probably don't go far enough.

Part five promotes Microsoft BackOffice as a major technology.  The
promotion is not very convincing, but leaves the impression of a
collection of diverse, if mostly integrated, applications, rather than
an identifiable concept.  Chapter twenty two says something about
taking advantage of BackOffice integration, but seems to be primarily
concerned with licensing arrangements.  Installation and basic
operation of MS SQL consumes chapter twenty three.  The myriad tasks
associated with MS Exchange make chapter twenty four quite long. 
Systems Management Server, in chapter twenty five, seems similar.

From the title, part six would seem to be a preview of NT 5.0. 
However, the two chapters point out some of the upgrade enhancements
now available in NT 4.0 that foreshadow related technologies promised
for the later version.

As a whole, the book contains too many ups and downs in coverage to be
considered as a single source of help.  It does, though, have points
of interest and strengths that might make it worth considering as an
adjunct text.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1998   BKUWNTS4.RVW   980213