Exchange Server Cookbook: For Exchange Server 2003 and Exchange 2000 Server

I find this a great resource when you need to administer Exchange, especially for 5.5 to 2003 admins. Everything is well written, with examples given using the GUI, command prompt and scripting. As a recent 5.5 to 2003 admin, it's very handy for those situations where you know 2003 can do it, but haven't memorized how. Overall, a very good cookbook for your server kitchen.

It is not easy to judiciously cover successive editions of any given software in a single book, but I must say that the efforts of the authors of this book are commendable. Any system administrator who shares his time working with both Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 2003 would find this book indispensable. Its contents prove that getting to understand new versions of mission-critical technologies do not always mean starting from scratch. Whether it entails a fresh installation or an upgrading path, this book shed comprehensive light on each topic. All the important issues regarding Routing and SMTP controlling, as well as Outlook, Outlook Web Access, POP3, and IMAP4 management and security were nicely explored. In fact, nowhere have I seen the concepts of Mail Transport and System Monitoring better summarized than in this book. The same could be said of Managing and Controlling folders, Backing-up, Replication, as well as Restoration of data (on the same or on different servers). This book's coverage of Active Directory Integration, along with its associated controls and monitoring is without blemish. It is simply emphatic. Each chapter presented a set of solutions, which were complemented by a series of well-grounded analyses. They are extensively cross-referenced too. However, the downside of this kind of book is that the authors' efforts to covered two successive editions (of the Exchange Server) compelled them to concentrate more on only the features that are common to both editions. Still, it remains a valuable desk manual for any e-mail-oriented system administrator.

The cookbook style really works for a topic like Exchange server maintenance. The style defines a set of recipes where each recipe covers a single question; e.g. Rehoming Public Folders. Then it discusses the problem, gives a solution, and then discusses how the solution actually works. It gives you insight into the workings of Exchange within a practical framework. The writing is good. It's a little stiff, but you would expect that from this type of format.

Many useful ideas about running your Exchange Server. Some of which presuppose a reasonable facility in writing VBScript. Other recipes [I guess that's the preferred term] assume you have an Active Directory server on your network, and show how to integrate your Exchange Server with it. The usage of command lines and of writing scripts may be the best way for you to learn this material. While the GUI methods are the easiest, the other approaches steer you towards actual programming of the Server, and of a deeper understanding.