Part III: Severs, Start Your Engines

Chapter 8: Meet Windows 2003

Chapter 9: Ready, Set, Install!

Chapter 10: Configuring Connections to the Universe

Chapter 11: Doing the Directory Thing

Chapter 12: Working with Active Directory, Domains, and Trusts

Chapter 13: Printing on the Network

Chapter 14: IP AddressingZero to Insane in Two Seconds Flat

In this part

W hen the networking basics are covered, you can jump into the details involved in installing and configuring Windows Server 2003. That's precisely what this part of the book is all about. It begins with coverage of the Windows 2003 product family (there's more than just plain Server going on here) and continues with detailed coverage of the installation and configuration of the Windows Server 2003 software itself. Connections to the outside world are covered next as well as how to provide dial-in and dial-out access to your users.

After that, it's on to Active Directory also known as the nerve center of Windows Server 2003 for a couple of bracing chapters that discuss how to install, configure, and use this powerful feature of the Windows 2000 and Server 2003 families. From there, it's on to working with printers and print services in the Windows 2003 environment. This part ends with a refreshing discussion of TCP/IP addressing and configuration details that anyone who works with Windows Server 2003 should find interesting, if not downright informative.

In short, Part III takes you through just about everything you need to know to install Windows Server 2003 and make it useful for your users. Although some of its more exotic and outlandish services are not covered in this part, what is included will get your network up and running with minimal muss and fuss.

Along the way, you find out how to build a powerful networking environment around Windows Server 2003, including basic system configuration, network configuration, printing services, and directory services. You also discover how to use Windows Server 2003 to deliver the goods across a network, be it for file or print services or something a bit more exciting.