The one book you absolutely need to get up and running with Windows Server 2008 R2.

One of the world's leading Windows authorities and top-selling author Mark Minasi explores every nook and cranny of the latest version of Microsoft's flagship network operating system, Windows Server 2008 R2, giving you the most in-depth coverage in any book on the market.

• Focuses on Windows Windows Server 2008 R2, the newest version of Microsoft's Windows' server line of operating system, and the ideal server for new Windows 7 clients
• Author Mark Minasi is one of the world's leading Windows authorities and has taught tens of thousands of people to design and run Windows networks
• Covers Windows storage concepts and skills, Windows Server 2008 IP, WINS, NetBIOS, LMHosts, DNS, creating the simple Active Directory, and creating and managing user accounts
• Explains Group Policy in Active Directory; files, folders and shares; Sysvol, old and new; sharing printers on the network; remote server administration; connecting Windows clients to your network; working the Web with IIS 7.0; and AD maintenance and recovery
• Provides workarounds for things that don't quite work as they should and how-tos for many undocumented features

Find out everything you want to know-and then some!

Introduction . xxix

Chapter 1 • What’s New in Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2 1

Chapter 2 • Installing and Upgrading to Windows Server 2008 R2 17

Chapter 3 • The New Server: Introduction to Server Core 111

Chapter 4 • Windows Server 2008 IPv4: What Has Changed? 165

Chapter 5 • DNS and Naming in Server 2008 and Active Directory 179

Chapter 6 • Creating the Simple AD: The One-Domain, One-Location AD 227

Chapter 7 • Creating and Managing User Accounts 279

Chapter 8 • Group Policy: AD’s Gauntlet 359

Chapter 9 • Active Directory Delegation 419

Chapter 10 • Files, Folders, and Shares 431

Chapter 11 • Creating and Managing Shared Folders 471

Chapter 12 • SYSVOL: Old and New 517

Chapter 13 • Sharing Printers on Windows Server 2008 R2 Networks 539

Chapter 14 • Remote Server Administration 595

Chapter 15 • Connecting Windows Clients to the Server 627

Chapter 16 • Working the Web with IIS 7.0 and 7.5 683

Chapter 17 • Watching Your System 745

Chapter 18 • Windows Server 2008 R2 and Active Directory Backup and Maintenance 793

Chapter 19 • Advanced IP: Routing with Windows 817

Chapter 20 • Getting from the Office to the Road: VPNs 853

Chapter 21 • Adding More Locations: Sites in Active Directory 909

Chapter 22 • The Third DC: Understanding Read-Only Domain Controllers 937

Chapter 23 • Creating Larger Active Directory Environments: Beyond One Domain 967

Chapter 24 • Migrating, Merging, and Modifying Your Active Directory 1023

Chapter 25 • Installing, Using, and Administering Remote Desktop Services 1067

Chapter 26 • Connecting Mac OS X Clients 1117

Chapter 27 • Patch Management 1127

Chapter 28 • File Shares Made Even Better: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 1149

Chapter 29 • Server Virtualization with Hyper-V 1215

Chapter 30 • Advanced User Account Management and User Support 1295

Appendix • The Bottom Line 1363

Index 1399

Mark Minasi, CS Directory Services MVP, is one of the world's leading Windows authorities. He teaches classes in two dozen countries and is a much sought-after speaker at conferences and industry gathering keynotes. His firm, MR&D, has taught tens of thousands of people to design and run Windows networks. Mark has written over 15 books for Sybex, including the market-leading Mastering Windows Server 2003 and The Complete PC Upgrade and Maintenance Guide.Your Essential Guide to Windows Server 2008 R2

If you're a systems administrator, Windows Server 2008 R2 can help you streamline workflows, automate functions, virtualize, and get the most out of Windows 7. And with the step-by-step instruction in this comprehensive guide from leading Windows authority Mark Minasi, you'll get there even faster.

This book not only walks you through Windows Server 2008 R2 from the ground up, it also describes features and workarounds to help you optimize your Server 2008 environment. It's packed with information—you'll soon master the new Active Directory®, Remote Desktop Services, Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, and much more. This is the perfectgo-to reference on Windows Server 2008 R2.

Coverage includes:

• Getting up to speed on all the new technology and features in R2

• Performing a clean, manual installation on a virtual or lab machine, or doing an unattended installation

• Understanding Server Core and what is new in Windows Server 2008 iPv4

• Creating a one-domain, one-location, simple Active Directory (AD)

• Managing user accounts, group policies, and files and filesharing

• Setting up routing, VPNs, additional sites in Active Directory, and more

• Adding Mac clients and administering Remote Desktop Services

• Updating your system with Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)

Deploy Windows Server 2008 R2 in Your Enterprise

Learn Tips and Workarounds from Windows Guru Mark Minasi

Master Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, Remote Desktop Services, and More

Integrate with Windows 7

Streamline and Automate Routine Server Administration Tasks

Reinforce Your Skills with Real-World Examples