MCSE: Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure Administration Study Guide: Exam 70-216 [With CDROM]

I'm a teacher at a technical training center and we have the opportunity to try several training products. Sybex typically delivers the best all-around package, but of course we also encourage our students to use additional training resources such as the Transcender practice tests. In the case of the Sybex Network Infrastructure book, the first edition was hampered by overly-simplistic practice questions. The second edition is much improved in this regard. Overall, the book provides excellent coverage of both the exam and the skills you will be required to perform in the real-world. In particular, DDNS, DHCP, WINS, routing, RAS, and NAT are fundamental network infrastructure topics that this book nails.Like some other reviewers stated, the voice-work on the included videos leaves much to be desired, but this really doesn't detract from the book itself.

Used in conjunction with Exam Cram & Transcenders. Between those 3 sources I got enough ground covered to pass the exam.I think this would be an extremely difficult test to write a book for as it covers so much ground. I did find a few typos (in practice exam) and inconsistencies in the DNS chapter that were quite troubling though.I think the author did a good job taking an exceedingly dry topic and making it kind of fun to read. I have been happy with Sybex shtuff overall.

Using this book and the Virtul Lab they sell I was able to pass the exam. I also briefly looked through a friends' Transcender. This, though, was the toughest MCSE exam for me. Know DHCP, WINS, and DNS well. While it's true that the author gets a bit verbose at times, I, like several reviewers below, like the fact that such depth was given to the topics. The exam is hard and you need to work hard to pass it. Don't expect it to be a breeze. Anyhow, the book did the trick for me.

Being an NT MCSE+I and MCDBA and having passed this exam on the first try, I can safely say that you have a challenge on your hands. If you are an aspiring MCSE, note that you do not get major TCP/IP training in this manual. Previously, TCP/IP was an exam by itself and to cover all of it as a minor topic for this exam is a huge undertaking. I suggest covering TCP/IP on your own with a separate manual after the exam. Refer to a separate source (even the older NT manuals are still relevant for TCP/IP) such as the Resource Kit for 2000. You really need to know RIS, RRAS, DHCP, WINS, and DNS extremely well. Concentrate on the newer features of 2000 over NT as a general rule. I prefer to have too much information rather than too little. It makes for a good reference book later on and adds value to your purchase. This manual goes into too much depth on Certificate Services and VPN setups for the exam. Otherwise, this book has everything in it. I used Transcenders and the questions I missed had the answers in this book. It has a wide subject matter and as a result the exam will be hard due to the amount you need to cover, and not really the difficulty of any single topic. The book has Sybex's usual excellent tools such as prep exams and simulation demos for most chapters. This will greatly assist your studies.For all of your efforts, you will KNOW Windows 2000 Server by the time you are finished. The other books do not really give you the networking knowledge you need to really harness the new 2000 features. Give yourself a little extra time and you should come through well. Good luck.

Paul Robichaux and James Chellis have done a great job with this book. There is a LOT of information here, and enough sample questions to pass exam twice over! You will definitely be prepared after reading this book and using the accompanying CD. I did notice that there weren't as many WinSim exercises as in the other MCSE Windows 2000 Study Guides, but to be honest this exam is more theoretical than hands-on. A definite recommendation.