Windows Server 2003: Clustering & Load Balancing

I am not one to spend hours reading through 900 page books to learn something, so this book was just perfect for me. If you want to get 2000 or 2003 set up in a redundant fashion, this is your book. Augmented with Technet I was able to get everything done. This book only covers the fundamantals of clustering on both platforms so if you want to go into more depth in specific areas, then you should use this book with other resources, but if you simply need to cluster or load balance Windows 2000 and 2003, then this is all you need. Since the book is listed on Microsoft's site as a resource, I picked it up and I am glad I did.

This book was pretty helpful to get a Windows Server 2003 (and a 2000) cluster off the ground. This book covered everything you needed to know from Hardware to Software. To do major design work to include App Center 2000 or any other service based solution, you would have to augment this book with other material, but to just get a NLB or regular cluster up off the ground that functions and be able to troubleshoot it, this is your book.

This is one of the better "focused" books out there today. It takes high availablity to a new level by not only walking you step by step through how to configure a Windows 2000/2003 cluster and load balanced solution, but also through all the details that most forget - like making your switches highly available, setting up a disaster recovery plan, and more real world scenarios than you can think of. This was a good read because it didnt read like a typical reference manual, but more from the authors mind which kept it interesting. I recommend this as a -how to get your business highly availble- guide, not just a -clustering- guide. Good job.

In the sea of Windows Server 2003 titles surfacing, It is nice to see that at least one book, has come out by ONE author speaking from experience. I have noticed in the other books I have read, many others are having the same problems I am, the books are rushed out so 40 people write them and most of these folks have no production experience on the product so the books are pretty much a rehash of other stuff. They are rushed out, and we suffer. This book is nothing like that. The author has helped me understand exaclty what I wanted to know: how to plan a Windows 2003 upgrade from 2000 so that I can use my clusters and load balancing. Here are my favorite highlights about this book -> written from experience. You can tell the author works in the field as 90 percent of what is written comes from real life examples. You can tell that the author is not biased towards Microsoft technologies. The author tells you when he is working on something in production, he tells you when he is working in a lab. He clearly tells you the good and the bad. Another great thing is that this book is written on both the techie level and the managment level. I am a manager of a medium network, and I needed what was in this book which was tons of project planning guidance, what to buy, how to test it and so on. My last nice thing to say is that I loved how this book also took a focus on hardware for once. Too many authors write with no valid expeience so you miss all the hardware gotchas out there that people like me (in the trenches everyday and weekends) has to deal with. Not this one. You will know from when you start this book to when you put it down (thanks also that its only about 400 pages) how to design, cost estimate, implimenent, test and monitor your clusters. I loved the fact that I picked up tips on how to get free pre-sales support to help design my cluster with the vendor, it saved me some cash too on consulting which also helps. Ok, now here are the cons. Wish there was more of a focus on IIS. Another reviewer also mentioned this, so I will also say that as well because that would have put this book on my shelf forever. I agree and wish there was more on IIS. Other than that, the book gives you exaclty what it says it will, to help you plan and deploy a Windows 2003 cluster and load balanced solution and you will know how to upgrade your 2000 boxes without destroying them in the process. No stone is left unturned as the author makes certain you do not miss anything there is to know and there is even a section on how to back up your system so you dont kill it in the upgrade process.

I have been impressed by Mr. Shimonski's work in the past and this book does not disappoint. It could be considered complete information for the first-timer. Still it includes gems from Robert's professional successes that justify the purchase for anyone considering implementing or cost-justifying a high-availability solution. Mr. Shimonski is not afraid to name his favorite products, web-sites, and tactics, a practice more IT authors should consider.