Windows IT Library UPDATE--October 15, 2003

Windows IT Library UPDATE--October 15, 2003

This Issue Sponsored By

Exchange & Outlook Administrator
http://www.exchangeadmin.com/rd.cfm?code=fsei233xup

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1. Book Review
- Wireless Personal and Local Area Networks

2. Announcements
- Attend and Win a Free Vacation
- Does Database Integration Stress You Out?
- New White Paper on Exchange 2003 Deployment

3. New from Windows IT Library
- Server Types and Security Modes
- Understanding Layer 2, 3, and 4 Protocols

4. New Books in Print
- Mastering Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
- C# in a Nutshell, Second Edition

5. New eBooks
- Windows 2003: Active Directory Administration Essentials
- The Insider's Guide to IT Certification

6. Windows IT Library Top Five
- A+ Certification: How to Pass Your Exams
- Microsoft Windows NT Server Administrator's Bible: Option Pack Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Secrets: Option Pack Edition
- The Microsoft Outlook E-Mail and Fax Guide
- Undocumented Windows NT

7. Event
- "Plan, Migrate, Manage: Shifting Seamlessly from NT4 to Windows 2003"

8. Contact Us
See this section for a list of ways to contact us.

==== Sponsor: Exchange & Outlook Administrator ====

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http://www.exchangeadmin.com/rd.cfm?code=fsei233xup

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==== 1. Book Review ====
Wireless Personal and Local Area Networks
Author: Axel Sikora
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Published: April 2003
ISBN: 0470851104
Hardcover, 210 pages
Price: $80.00

If going wireless appeals to you and you've been looking for a comprehensive text that explores the differences between the various wireless technologies that are available, you should check out Axel Sikora's "Wireless Personal and Local Area Networks." This book, translated from the original German-language version, provides introductory information about wireless systems and networks.

The book's 10 chapters are divided into three sections. Chapters 1 and 2 comprise section one, "Introduction and basics," which discusses the fundamentals and structure of wireless LANs (WLANs) and lists the advantages and disadvantages of wireless technology. The most immediate benefit to WLANs that Sikora recognizes is getting rid of distracting, potentially defective cables. "The tangle of cables under your desk can be reduced or done away with completely," he says. Sikora presents broader benefits of WLANs when he describes scenarios in which wireless computing benefits businesses or organizations. For example, he discusses the advantages of WLANs with mobile workstations, with mobile training rooms (which are well suited to seminars, trade shows, and other events), and for mobile data-entry systems (ideal for data entry at a specific location--for example, in a hospital's operating room). Sikora also points out downsides of wireless computing, for example
-cost of bandwidth--Sikora reports that "although the cost of wireless systems is going down, the bandwidth for wireless systems is still significantly more expensive than for comparable wired systems."
-range--"The range of wireless systems is quite restricted in many cases," Sikora says, "so that the functionality expected by users either cannot be achieved, or can only be achieved to a limited extent."

The book's second section, "Introduction to important standards," comprises six chapters about currently available WLAN standards. In addition to the section's opening chapter, "Applications, devices, and standards," Sikora devotes a chapter to each of the following standards: IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Home Radio Frequency (HomeRF), and HiperLAN/2. Each chapter explains the standard's system and protocol architecture, channel access, security, and bit transfer, as well as extensions to the standard, where relevant.

The third section, "WLANs in practice," consists of two chapters that discuss the operational, administrative, and analytical concerns of installing and running an IEEE 802.11b-compliant WLAN. Chapter 9, "Operating an IEEE802.11b-compliant WLAN," discusses three examples of WLANs in use. These examples include a small technical college with a LAN-to-LAN connection; a mobile computer room with 10 desktop mini-PCs that need access to a wired network only for training purposes; and a hotel that provides its guests a connection to an IEEE 802.11b WLAN network. Although I thought these examples were informative, they are short and would be more effective if they included more information. The second chapter of this section (Chapter 10, "Various aspects of WLAN technology") discusses security risks and sources of interference.

"Wireless Personal and Local Area Networks" also contains a short appendix that explains how the electromagnetic signals that wireless systems use are transferred through the air. The appendix also gives an overview of the physical basis of the Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) approach to signal transmission.

If you need an introduction to wireless personal area networks and WLANs, you should check out this book. But heed Sikora's warning about the changes wireless technology continues to experience. He says that the "development of very many technologies, products and market participants has not yet been consolidated, and progress and technological innovation in these areas is non-stop. In addition, networking systems companies are involved in intense marketing activities, which makes it even more difficult to understand the situation globally." Sikora's advice? Take what you learn with a grain of salt because the wireless industry is growing so rapidly. I recommend reading "Wireless Personal and Local Area Networks" to gain foundational knowledge about wireless systems and networks that you can build on as the industry matures.

Tony Stevenson
[email protected]
Windows IT Library Guest Reviewer

For more book reviews, visit the Windows IT Library Web site.
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/bookreviews

==== 2. Announcements ====

Attend and Win a Free Vacation
Windows & .NET Magazine Connections will co-locate with brand-new Exchange Connections. Learn the latest tips and tricks from gurus like Mark Minasi, Mark Russinovich, Tony Redmond, and Sue Mosher. Register now and get both conferences for the price of one, plus a chance to win a free vacation. Go online or call 203-268-3204 or 800-505-1201 for details.
http://www.winconnections.com

Does Database Integration Stress You Out?
Learn how to solve your data integration and replication headaches at an upcoming Webcast on October 16 from 1-2 P.M. Eastern time. Produced by SQL Server Magazine, this Webcast will concentrate on how to work with SQL Server and Oracle, DB2 and Sybase. Registration is free; however, seats are very limited and are filling up quickly. Register today to reserve your spot: http://ssmu.webex.com/ssmu/onstage/mainframe.php?
rnd8390=0.6260014153791399

New White Paper on Exchange 2003 Deployment
In this timely white paper, author and Microsoft Exchange expert Kieran McCorry, from HP's Consulting and Integration Technology Group, outlines the best options for organizations migrating to Exchange Server 2003. The paper outlines inter- and intra-organizational migration issues and the benefits of server consolidation during deployment. Get your copy today!
http://www.aelita.com/101503itlibrary

==== 3. New from Windows IT Library ====

Server Types and Security Modes
This chapter from the newly released book, "The Official Samba-3 How-To and Reference Guide," edited by two members of the Samba Team, discusses the types of servers you can configure Samba with. After reading this chapter, you'll understand password checking, as well as security modes and how they relate to Windows servers and clients. This chapter, like all the chapters in this book, discusses features and benefits of using Samba and how to resolve common errors.
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/content/852/03/toc.html

Understanding Layer 2, 3, and 4 Protocols
This chapter gives you a thorough understanding of layer 2, layer 3, and layer 4. After reading it, you'll know what the layers are, their purpose, and how they work. You'll also learn about TCP, UDP, and Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP).
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/content/809/02/toc.html

==== 4. New Books in Print ====

Mastering Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
"Mastering Microsoft Exchange Server 2003" is a comprehensive guide to Microsoft's latest version of Exchange. Written by Barry Gerber, a computing and networking consultant and a founding editor of "Network Computing," this book gives you answers about disaster recovery, security solutions, and wireless access. After reading this book, you'll know about Exchange 2003 planning, design, installation, deployment, administration, management, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
http://www.sybex.com/sybexbooks.nsf/booklist/4204

C# in a Nutshell, Second Edition
Designed as a handbook for daily use, "C# in a Nutshell" is a guide for anyone who uses C# for building applications on the Microsoft .NET platform. Each chapter provides an overview of a .NET namespace and a diagram of its types. In addition, this book includes a tutorial section on using C# with the core classes of the Windows .NET Framework class library, language- and tool-reference chapters, appendixes that include format specifiers, and a C# glossary.
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/csharpnut2/chapter/index.html

==== 5. New eBooks ====

Windows 2003: Active Directory Administration Essentials
Whether you're an expert with Windows 2000 and Active Directory (AD), a Windows NT administrator who has read all the trade journals and has a Win2K test lab, or new to AD, this book is for you. Based on actual product code, the book touches on key topics that many Windows texts fail to mention. This free eBook is delivered as each chapter is written. You can download the first three chapters at the following URL:
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/ebooks/administeringad/index.cfm?pc=ebkit1

The Insider's Guide to IT Certification
This book is a comprehensive how-to manual that will help you conserve your time and money while you become certified. This book helps you choose the right certification to study for, the right materials and methods to study with, and the proper ways to prepare for the exams.
http://ebooks.winnetmag.com/ebookcover.asp?ebookid=13534

==== 6. Windows IT Library Top Five ====

A+ Certification: How to Pass Your Exams
This book walks you through all the skills tested in the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) A+ Core Hardware exam and A+ OS Technologies exam.
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/documents/book.cfm?documentid=175

Microsoft Windows NT Server Administrator's Bible: Option Pack Edition
This book provides specific coverage of the Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack add-ons to help you plan, install, configure, manage, optimize, and connect NT Server 4.0 to the Internet.
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/documents/book.cfm?documentid=405

Microsoft Windows NT Secrets: Option Pack Edition
Packed with the kind of notes, tips, and workarounds that come only from years of working day in and day out with a product, this book will help you optimize the performance, reliability, and security of your network.
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/documents/book.cfm?documentid=329

The Microsoft Outlook E-Mail and Fax Guide
Written for Microsoft Outlook end users and the administrators who support them, this volume explains all the real-world tasks that you're likely to encounter when working with Outlook and includes many timesaving techniques that take you beyond the basics.
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/documents/book.cfm?documentid=191

Undocumented Windows NT
This book documents what goes on under the covers in Windows NT. Three experts share what they've dug up on NT through years of hands-on research and programming experience. The authors dissect the Win32 interface, deconstruct the underlying APIs, and decipher the Memory Management architecture to help you understand operations, fix flaws, and enhance performance.
http://www.WindowsITlibrary.com/documents/book.cfm?documentid=356

==== 7. Event ==== (brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine)

"Plan, Migrate, Manage: Shifting Seamlessly from NT4 to Windows 2003"
Your Active Directory environment can make or break your entire Windows NT 4.0 to Windows Server 2003 migration project. This free Web seminar features best practices for migration planning and administration, tips and tricks for ensuring Exchange Server and Active Directory health, and guidance for managing your directory for maximum availability and performance during migration and beyond. Register now!
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/migration/index.cfm?pc=adeh

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==== 8. Contact Us ====

About the newsletter -- [email protected]
About technical questions -- http://www.winnetmag.com/forums
About product news -- [email protected]
About your subscription -- [email protected]
About sponsoring this UPDATE -- [email protected]

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