Mastering Active Directory for Windows Server 2003

While I'm pretty new to AD and have database backgrownd, I liked the book for two reasons: 1. AD explained in terms that are clear to me and 2. The author explains WHY's and provides background for features and behaviors

My only substantive criticism of this book is its reluctance to define its audience, and correspondingly, using a title that misrepresents its content.This is a book for a party that has former hands-on experience with a similar technology (e.g., X.500, NDS, LDAP) and needs to manage a Microsoft implementation. Or for a hands-on technician who is new to the technology in general. The author is a former Novell employee and this is the third version of the book, so readers can expect some broad insights and no vendor bigotry. In many sections, one can tell that "Server 2003" was added to the text via "search and replace", but it matters little, and Server 2003 was directly addressed in areas where it matters (i.e., global catalog servers, etc.).Architects and implementers should pass on this one, but managers and consultants should pick it up.

I'm in the process of taking Microsoft's MOC classes for MCSE, including 2154 & 1561, the two classes on Active Directory. They aren't bad, but they totally ignore the simple fact that AD is a database! This book was great! DHCP, DNS, and AD itself are all explained in view of their being databases. I'm a laid-off Access trainer, and this was JUST what I needed! BTW, it also included the best intro to LDAP I've come across (I'd already seen it in the courses, but it "clicked" for me with King's explanation). This book isn't specifically for the MCP courses, but it sure gave me a great foundation for those classes. I recommended it to the other students in my classes, and I unreservedly recommend it to you!

This book explains all the concepts related with implementation of active directory Services.Things are explained clearly and compared with their previous versions for better understanding. It's goood book to begin with.