Microsoft Windows 2000 Core Requirements, Exam 70-215: Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

By Microsoft Corporation

Book Overview

Written for information technology professionals who plan to take the Microsoft Certified Professional exam 70-215: Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. Topics... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1572319038
• ISBN13: 9781572319035
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Microsoft Press
• Length: 800 Pages
• Weight: 3.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 2.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Too advanced for some, not advanced enough for others

This is not an appropriate book for those just starting into networking without some basic knowledge to fall back upon. The book is clear about that position though as it states right in the beginning that it is for "IT Professionals working with 2000 Server or who plan to take the exam". It also states that it "Assumes a fundamental networking windows interface knowledge and BIOS settings and changing them".Each chapter is followed by a lab exercise that helps the reader to apply the lessons learned in that chapter. The problem is that in order to install the Windows 2000 Server software and be able to do the lab exercise you need two computers that meet the minimum requirements for Windows 2000 Server. For most people they probable don't have two of them just sitting around.A lot of people have complained that the book covered a lot of topics that were not on the exam. While this may have been the case, I think that it is a good thing. If you want something to make yourself another Microsoft clone who can pass an exam but not know anything about how to really do anything in the real world then get a book that focuses just on passing the exam and not one that has any additional information.If all you want to do is pass the exam then look at something else like Transcender that does not require a Windows 2000 Server to learn on. This book is suited to study for the exam, but does have a lot of other additional information that a real administrator (as compared to a Microsoft Certified certificate holder) might need.On the other hand, much of the information assumes a fairly strong knowledge of many networking topics. Many items are given in a cookbook fashion with a `how to do it' focus and little or no explanation as to why you would do it that way.For most people this book is firmly in the middle ground; too much additional information for just test preparation, not enough detail for understanding true administration. Too much of one, not enough of the other. If this is where you are at in your knowledge level then it would be a good book. If you can afford only one book then it would be a good book. On the other hand there are better test preparation books and better administration book, but the cost is much higher for two books than one that is somewhere in the middle.

comment about the reviews

two bad reviews are listed from the same reader for ISBN: 1572319038 MCSE Training Kit -- Microsoft(r) Windows(r) 2000 Server Please remove or consolidate one of these two reviews. Please do not post this comment, just correct the noted error. Thanks

Good Combination of Test Prep and Reference

If you are well-experienced with personal computers and have at least a reasonable networking experience (know the difference between RJ-11 and RJ-45, the difference between Ethernet and Token Ring, know how to install and configure a generic NIC, etc.), you can probably handle the material presented here. This book is aimed at the person who is working on Microsoft certification. As such it does the best job of any self-study tools currently available in preparing you for the 70-215 (Server) test. To take full advantage of the material and exercises, you will need two computers capable of running Win2k advanced server. They will need to be connected by hub or switch. You will also need at least an evaluation copy of the software. Don't attempt to use a beta or release candidate version, as you will find the variations confusing. Don't be fooled by the title. Even if you are not interested in certification, this is still a good book of the network administrator. Topics that I felt were well covered are user profiles, unatteded installations, and group policies. Topics that could have used more treatment included shared/NTFS permissions and remote administration. Perhaps these topics are covered more in other books in the series. As do other books in the series, this one has the official outline of the tested material and maps it to where in the book the material can be found. These books are much like the Microsoft Official Curriculum with the addition of an index. This index was nice to have, but a little lean, I felt. The book in general was quite clean and almost error-free; including the hands-on exercises which were very helpful. This alone would make the book outstanding in view of the bulk of the books in this genre being full of errors.If you go through the entire book, do all of the exercises, and study the review questions you will probably have enough preparation to take the test. I don't recall seeing anything on the test that was not in the book.

Good OVERVIEW of Win2k Server

Hello Fellow Travellers! I have been using Win2k Pro/Server from beta to final release. I went through the classes for win2k based on beta3. I purchased all the pro/server/ad MCSE training kits. I wanted to get clarification and separation from the win2k classes via the MCSE books. I work with Win2k Pro everyday. I also purchased the Win2k Pro/Server Resource Kits for further clarification. I have a mix and native mode LAN with about 8 computers at home. The MCSE Win2k Server book is a good overview from the classes. They are presenting ALOT I mean ALOT of info and skillsets MS deemed necessary to pass the 70-215 Exam. I always kept a stance that these MCSE Kits are not a MANUAL how to pass the tests, but rather an OVERVIEW of what is important to master. This is what the book actually is, AN OVERVIEW. Is it enough to pass the exam? Yes, with a modern LAN and extensive hands-on and additional sources of info. Why? MS Press with MS has been turning away from Consummer based training to the Enterprise-Level training i.e. training Corporate Level IT people. You can read MS Press new Mission Statement and I believe that this reflects in the new MCSE books/kits. Are these books appropriate for the newbies/people trying to start out? Imho, NO. I believe that these books are geared for people who in the industry or have taken previous MCP courses/tests. Ok, the book is a good overview. But, I am still confused about MS Press move not to give Eval software. They suggest that you download it. DOH. I have the software, but for others..ugh. Perhaps, they think IT people will have Technet copies or real copies from work. Or, they didn't have time to put it in with the book. I agree more with the former. Ok, what do you mean by additional resources? I think reading any white papers, articles, known issues, KB articles, and using the resource kits. My understanding how the new exams are going to be based on are possible real-experience based scenarios. I know that this is what MS claimed earlier with the NT4.0. But, I think it will be different this time.If the new exams are going to be more experience based AND with elements like 70-100 architecture exam, oh boy...I would like to address a popular topic that is somewhat out of the scope of this book, but still related. It is about the 70-240 Exam, the core combo exam for win2k. Take it and you don't need to take the 4 core exams. I think that this is misleading and grossly simplified. I believe that this is an opportunity for people who are FULLY PREPARED for the 4 core exams and are able to take one exam. Let me repeat: FULLY PREPARED. That means, you have the ability to sit and take all 4 exams if you need to. I don't think it is going to be read one book and pass the exam. MS is not messing around with this. They are offering it to people who have core NT 4.0 exams. Then, you have an OPPORTUNITY to take 70-240. Remember, this is ONE TIME DEAL.