Active Directory for Dummies

by Steve Clines and Marcia Loughry

Book Overview

Your guide to learning Active Directory the quick and easy way

Whether you're new to Active Directory (AD) or a savvy system administrator looking to brush up on your skills, Active Directory for Dummies will steer you in the right direction. Since its original release, Microsoft's implementation of the lightweight directory access protocol (LDAP) for the Windows Server line of networking software has become one of the most popular directory...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0470287209
• ISBN13: 9780470287200
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Greatest thing since sliced bread

When Microsoft took an elegant simple schema from UNIX and redesigned it into a convoluted might mare called "Active Directory" it was time for this book. Turns out that "Active Directory" is not active or a directory; who would have guessed? Well this book starts you off with correcting concepts and even lets you know that with the new terminology that the definition of "domain" has been changed. A lot of time Dummies books are too busy being cute; this one however is so packed with helpful information that it does not have time to be cute. This book takes you from ground zero to up and running while helping avoid common pit falls.

Surprising

This was a "why not?" read. I was surprised to find it a decent introduction to Active Directory. It mainly deals with the background information as it attempts to explain what is Active Directory. This is not really an AD management book. If you are looking for a "How to" book, this book will not serve your needs. The information is rather basic at best. There is discussion about the AD schema which might bore a few people but it is useful if you want to get a feel for the guts of AD. I might add; I really haven't had much of a need to dive into the schema as of yet. Had one instance of extending the schema but that was about it. One thing that is lightly discussed is AD's use of DNS. Many problems tend to be DNS related and it's not discussed much. There are dated chapters such as upgrading from NT 3.5 or 4.0 and it talks about why you should use AD. These can be skipped. The chapter on troubleshooting is pretty basic and not really of much use. The chapter containing links is old. Some no longer work and some have changed due to company renames, etc. Overall, it's not a book to get a feel for AD. It is becoming dated especially with 2008 being out. But as a cheap introduction it's pretty good.

A great little book

One of my students told me about this book and brought it to class. I hadn't expected so much technical content from a Dummies book. This little book really should be the starting point for anyone interested in Active Directory.

Surprisingly good--I learned from it

I got this book free at the EDS booth at the Windows 2000 launch in San Francisco. I didn't expect it to be this good. It's described as entry-level to Active Directory, but there is a lot of good technical stuff. I recommend it.

Very readable with good technical content

The book Active Directory for Dummies is easy to read without sacrificing technical content. The author gives practical advice on how to implement and use active directory, not just technical description of the product. Worth the money.