Now that Sun, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and SCO have all agreed to use HP VUE as their desktop, there is great interest in techniques for customizing HP VUE. This book explains how to shape HP VUE to meet the requirements of a particular work environment, and in doing so, turn the computer into a personal productivity tool.Covers front panel modifications, application integration, startup configuration, and performance tuning.For system managers and end users who want to shape their HP VUE environment.

After taking a chapter or two to explore reasons why Windows 2000 sans Active Directory might be a good idea, Bailey launches into a feature-by-feature exploration of Windows 2000's new features and how to configure them in environments in which Active Directory Services are not available. Her documentation of many features--power management on portable computers, for example--wouldn't have anything to do with Active Directory in any case, but even these sections explain their subjects well. You'll find them especially handy if you manage an organization's inventory of computers, as the explanations frequently take that angle. Frequently asked questions sections at the end of each chapter make great reading and may inform you of features and techniques of which you weren't aware.--David Wall

More than anything else, this book is about documentation of nearly every little interface detail that appears on your screen as you set up and run MetaFrame XP. Want to know the meaning of every column header in the Licenses menu panel of the Citrix Management Console? It's in here. Similarly, you'll find a procedure for allocating licenses to specific servers, and another procedure for pooling licenses for use across a collection of servers. Conceptual information--what talks to what, when, and for what reason--gets less coverage, but there's enough of that to help you design smooth-running and reliable systems. Think of this as a best practices design guide combined with an administrator's manual.--David Wall

The prose style of this book frequently strays from the elegant, but it expertly documents processes and explains complicated architectures through experience and research. Where it's appropriate to do so, the authors include directions on how to use security services, including Kerberos and the Encrypting File System (EFS).

Most of the coverage examines behind-the-interface operations, relying on flow diagrams and uncluttered conceptual drawings to illustrate processes like smart-card authentication and the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). Question-and-answer sections at the end of each chapter are particularly strong. The questions are well chosen (a typical one asks about using 128-bit encryption across an international network) with clear, carefully supported answers.

The book's index fails miserably, largely because it seems to exclude topics covered in the Q&A sections. You'll find yourself marking useful pages for later reference. But that's a petty complaint. For administrators who aren't willing to take Windows' word on matters of security and can't get adequate answers from Microsoft's documentation, this book is a fine selection.--David Wall

This book, at 438 pages long, does not contain the level of detail of other books on the subject, but both the writing and the presentation are extremely clear. The book effectively combines screen shots and text to demonstrate concepts such as WINS and DNS, displaying tabs on the configuration properties sheets along with discussions of how to configure the options. A stellar section on hardware and disk management includes overviews, coverage of tools, and a well-organized discussion of related options and setups.

One quibble users may have is that the book tends to lack those specialized topic areas that may not apply solely to installation but may still be helpful to administrators. For example, terminal services are not addressed, and the relation between LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) and the Active Directory Services is summarized in a single line. This doesn't detract from the book overall, unless you need a lot of technical depth in these areas.

Although not necessarily the only reference you should have if you are administering Windows 2000 servers, you'll get the majority of the information you'll need here, and in a format that is far clearer than most.--John Keogh

This book is based on the objectives of Microsoft MCSE Exam 70-227, which is already in development at Microsoft as part of the MCSE 2000 curriculum.