Acknowledgments

The title page of this book lists Robb H. Tracy as its author. However, this attribution is deceiving. By no means was this a one-man job. Behind every book is a team of people who rarely get the credit they deserve. They are the unsung heroes who make sure the job gets done.

First, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of my beautiful wife, Kimberly. She's kept the bills paid, got the kids to school on time, and kept me sane as I endeavored to hit my deadlines. Without her support, this title would never have happened . Next, I would like to acknowledge the patience shown by Jessica, Joshua, Brittany, and Natasha while Dad tapped away at the keyboard most nights and weekends. It's time to spend some time at the lake kids!

I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the production team behind this book. These folks were the glue that kept everything together. Thanks to Jenny Watson for giving me the opportunity to write this book. I appreciate your confidence in me! Thanks to Emmett Dulaney as well for managing the development process. I've been in his shoes before, and you don't get a lot of sleep. Thanks, Emmett!

Thanks also go out to Bart Reed for his copyediting efforts. You have to have eyes like a hawk to do his job. Thanks for catching my typos! Speaking of editors, thanks also to Matt Purcell, the project editor behind this book. His positive attitude was contagious!

Finally, a huge thank you to Dave Coughanour at Novell. Dave reviewed each and every word and exercise step in this book for technical accuracy. His efforts kept me honest and were absolutely invaluable, dramatically increasing the overall quality of this title. Dave spent many late nights testing the lab exercises in this book, ensuring you have a successful experience. Thanks, Dave!