Server 2003 books

[docevi1]

I've just started my first graduate job, which in part includes the administration of 2 Windows 2003 SBS server. I've had experience of a NT network before and have a decent head on my shoulders to figure things out.

However, it's been a bit of a nightmare this past week with two small mistakes which are both embarrasing (one of those "why the f did I do that?" and in the later slowing the network down considerably. Whilst as I'm competent in (f'ing things up) tinkering and what-not, I'm somewhat out of my depth here and I need to learn lots, fast.

I'm a great advocate on "learning by doing" but in a live environment thats not always possible. Similiarly my copy of Server2003 doesn't have a machine to install it on at home to play with at the moment (I got a free copy from Uni as part of the MSDN:AA) so I don't have somewhere to mess things up on.

Ideally, I would like a book or something which I can read in my spare time (at home mainy) and which I can refer to when at work. I don't however, have oodles of money available at the moment unfortunately.

There is no desperate urgency for me to get up-to-speed, the company (thank God) aren't getting rid of their external support just yet but I need to impress the company (I'm on a 15 week probationary contract at the moment) and most importantly I don't like feeling miserable and depressed when I don't know how to do something or get something wrong.

Thanks

edit:: if the recommendation had more general information regarding networking, updating the external clients, roaming profiles etc (i.e. general networking stuff), that'd be great. It's the stuff I know how to do, but then again, I knew how to do the embarrasing one

>> Edited by docevi1 on Wednesday 28th September 10:51

[.Flyer]

Done a fair bit of research on this, and Harry Brelsford's books appear to be the ones to have; Small Business Server 2003 Starter Kit. Not got it yet, so can't personally recommend it, but it will be the one I order next.

Lots of useful info here, the author's site.

[aldi]

docevi1 said:

I don't like feeling miserable and depressed when I don't know how to do something or get something wrong.

Don't worry about it, everybody's human. Everybody makes mistakes. Quite often the people who seem invincible in the end are just the best bullsh1ters.

Nobody knows everything and it's how you cope with the gaps in your knowledge that makes you competent IMO.

If you're going to make a change to a live server try imagine the most embarrasing scenarios possible following the change, and plan for them in advance so you're not caught on your back foot. Consider, 'is this even worth it?' what's the benefit compared to the risk? Also liase with the users to see if they've got a quiet time or a really bad time coming up. Be friendly and receptive with them, you want them complaining to you, not your boss

[docevi1]

thanks for the advice there, I'm looking into that book now.

As for feeling miserable and depressed. It's just a swine when I should know what to do, and I do, but I still make a mistake. Still, everyone has to learn - I'm just wanting to make damned sure that the company feel they can keep me employed and allow me to learn rather than employ someone who knows how to do it all anyway.

[sjg]

Mark Minasi's Mastering Windows Server 2003:

www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0782141307

It's a very hefty volume, but comprehensively covers everything you'd need to know. What I like is that it's not a rehash of MS's own documentation - if there's a better, quicker or easier way of doing something, he'll say so. It has much more "real world" detail than you'll find in the MCSE-type books too.

[docevi1]

sjg said:

Mark Minasi's Mastering Windows Server 2003: www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0782141307 It's a very hefty volume, but comprehensively covers everything you'd need to know. What I like is that it's not a rehash of MS's own documentation - if there's a better, quicker or easier way of doing something, he'll say so. It has much more "real world" detail than you'll find in the MCSE-type books too.

Good Stuff, that looks like the boook I'll be getting!

[.Flyer]

docevi1 said:

Good Stuff, that looks like the boook I'll be getting!

Just be aware that there are enough differences between SBS and regular 2003 to confuse you. The book recommended, and it does look very good, is purely for Server 2003.

I've got this one reserved for when it's released in December: Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 Unleashed .

[docevi1]

ah, I had assumed that SBS was simply Server2003 bundled with a few extra gubbins (i.e. Exhange, SQL server etc.)

I shall look into it in more detail then

[pdV6]

Did you get a copy of Virtual PC with your MSDN?
If so, nothing to stop you knocking up a virtual 2k3 SBS on your machine at home...