Windows NT Server 4.0 has revolutionized the networking industry. It's easier to set up and maintain than any other network operating system. Its built-in components support most corporate environments and even enable you to connect it to the Internet or build a corporate intranet.
Windows NT Server 4.0 has also revolutionized the consulting industry by making it more accessible. NT Server 4.0 is easy to use, and its concepts are within the grasp of even the most novice of networking consultants. NT consultants are also better supported than most. For example, Microsoft sponsors certification, which enables consultants to take exams to verify and demonstrate their skills to prospective clients. The documentation and support that Microsoft provides for NT consultants is far and away better than most other vendors.
A team of professionals wrote this book for working professionals such as yourself. We drew on our vast experience with real-world experience to provide the best resource possible to you. It's built for folks who solve real-world problems and are responsible for setting up or maintaining NT servers. As such, here are a few notes regarding the best way to use this book:
Don't try to read this book from cover to cover! It's a big book, and I can think of much better uses for your time. Instead, use it as a reference that you can count on when you need a little help making Windows NT Server 4.0 behave as you require.
This book is big. It has 69 chapters and appendixes, which are organized in 12 parts. Here's what you find in each part of this book (review the Table of Contents to see the exact chapters that are in each part):
As a consultant, the scope of your work is often bigger than Windows NT Server 4.0 alone; you have to work with Office, BackOffice, and a variety of other products. Thus, I recommend you take a look at some of these other great books from Que:
This book assumes that you are already familiar with the graphical user interface used in Windows-based applications. As such, no attempt has been made to describe "how" to select or choose various options in the dialog boxes discussed throughout this book. Instead, the terms click, select, choose, highlight, activate, disable, and turn off/on have been used to describe the process of positioning the cursor over a dialog box element (option button, check box, command button, drop-down list arrow, and so on) and clicking a mouse button.
Those familiar with using the keyboard to select various dialog box options might relate this selection process to keystrokes instead of mouse clicks. Either method is equally acceptable.
Several type and font conventions are used in this book to help make reading it easier:
At times, you might be required to press keyboard keys in selected combinations to activate a command or cause a selected display window to appear. When these situations occur, you see the key combinations described in a couple of different ways. When two or more keys need to be depressed simultaneously, a plus sign (+) is used to combine the keys. For example, if the Alt and Tab keys need to be pressed simultaneously, you see the annotation Alt+Tab. Likewise, if the Ctrl and Y keys need to be pressed simultaneously, it is annotated as Ctrl+Y. When keys need to be depressed in a certain sequence with no intervening actions, a comma (,) is used as a separator.
TIP: Tips present short advice on a quick or often overlooked procedure.
NOTE: Notes provide additional information that might help you avoid problems or offer advice that relates to the topic.
CAUTION: Cautions warn you about potential problems that a procedure might cause, unexpected results, and mistakes to avoid.
These elements point you to interesting places on the Internet, where you can learn more information about what you're reading at the moment.
See these cross-references for more information on a particular topic.
Jerry Honeycutt provides business-oriented technical leadership to the Internet community. He has served companies such as The Travelers, IBM, Nielsen North America, IRM, Howard Systems International, and NCR. Jerry has participated in the industry since the days before Microsoft Windows 1.0 and is completely hooked on Windows NT Server.
Jerry is a leading author in the field. He is the author of over a dozen books, each published by Que, including Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95 Registry and Customization Handbook, Special Edition Using HTML 4.0, Special Edition Using the Internet, and Special Edition Using the Windows 95 Registry. Many of Jerry's books are sold internationally and have been translated into a variety of foreign languages.
Jerry has also contributed to many other books, including Windows NT Server 4.0 Advanced Technical Reference, Windows NT Server 4.0 Administrators Desktop Reference, and Platinum Edition Using Windows 95. He has been published in Computer Language magazine and is a regular speaker at the Windows World and Comdex trade shows on topics related to software development, Windows 95, and the Internet.
Jerry graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1992 with a B.S. in Computer Science. He currently lives in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas with two Westies, Corky and Turbo, and a Yorkie named Pompy. Jerry is an avid golfer with a passion for fine photography and international travel. Feel free to contact Jerry on the Internet at jerry@honeycutt.com or visit his Web site at http://rampages.onramp.net/~jerry.
Steven Banick It was in those long days past that his good ol' mom used to say, "Steven, you'll find a lot of wrong steps on your way to being a professional Jell-O wrestler, but if you stay true to your dream you'll someday make it to that holy event, the International Jell-O Grip-Off." Of course, after a horrible accident when bad Jell-O powder blew out his knee, Steve was forced to find another means for fame and fortune. Still waiting for the adoration that injured gelatin-powder wrestlers deserve, Steve has settled into a peaceful coexistence with his wife Christina, his two barky dogs (Spooky and Density, if you must know), and his never ending search to cure the plague that ails all modern man: cable television. Steve can be haggled with at his creative services and graphic design firm, Steven Banick and Associates. Believing you should practice what you preach, he is available on the Web at http://www.Banick.com, and via email at Steve@Banick.com.
His published works as a contributing and lead author include: Special Edition Using Microsoft Commercial Internet System, Special Edition Using Microsoft Visual InterDev, and Web Management with Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 5.0. Forthcoming works as a contributing and lead author include: Special Edition Using Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 and Using FrontPage 98.
Christopher Gagnon is an Enterprise Engineer with Vanstar Corporation. He has worked for several companies, including Digital Equipment Corporation and Healthsouth/Health Images. He has served as Network Administrator on several occasions and knows only too well the politics and technical nuances of this unique environment. When he's not reading trade magazines and technical manuals, he enjoys playing his didgeridoo, chasing his cat, and pondering over theoretical physics problems. He currently resides in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell, Georgia with his wife Keshley and their daughter, Paige.
Barrie Sosinsky is a professional writer and software developer who lives and works in Newton, MA. He is the author or co-author of over 30 computer books on desktop computing topics. Among his more recent books are Inside Microsoft Remote Access Server (New Riders Press), The Web Page recipe Book from PTR, The Warp Book, Visio 4: Drawing Has Never Been Easier, and Web Browsing with AOL from Prima Publishing; and The Acrobat Quick Tour from Ventana Press, among others. Barrie's company Killer Apps (Newton, MA) does custom database, Internet, and technical writing projects for clients. You can contact Barrie at basman@killerapps.com or at CompuServe 72020,2311.
Paul Thomsen, MCSE, MCT, MVP (SMS), is the SMS columnist for BackOffice Magazine and a frequent contributor of SMS-related articles. He has also contributed to SAM's BackOffice 2 Unleashed (first and second editions), SMS 1.2 Administrator's Survival Guide, and QUE's Special Edition Using Windows NT Server 4. When not writing, Paul is a Personal Computing Integration Specialist for a large organization in Ontario, Canada and teaches Microsoft and Digital Equipment courses in Southeast Asia for Global Consulting Networks. Previously, Paul was a technical specialist and programmer for 15 years, 10 of those in large end-user organizations in government and the health industry. Paul lives at his home, fronting Chemong Lake in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada with his wife Janet and their Golden Retriever, Kaila. You can contact him at pthomsen@sympatico.ca or check out his Web site at http://www3.sympatico.ca/pthomsen.
John West is a managing consultant at intelliNet Corporation, based in Atlanta. IntelliNet is a Microsoft Solution Provider Partner and ATEC, specializing in infrastructure design and implementation. John is an MCSE, MCSD, MCT and CNE. When he's not designing large NT-based network deployments, he enjoys creating Webs sites with ASP and programming with Visual Basic. He likes to write programs that help administer and monitor the networks he's implementing. To relax, he enjoys boating at Lake Lanier and hanging out with his friends from church. Contact John at johnw@intelli.net.
Serdar Yegulalp is a Technical Editor with WINDOWS Magazine and a regular beta tester for Windows 95, Windows NT, and NT products. Other research responsibilities include antivirus software, disk utilities, and SCSI and document imaging hardware and software. You can reach Serdar at syegul@winmag.com.
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