8 Windows Server 2008 R2 Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Drawing from her extensive expertise in Windows Server technologies, Christa Anderson offers a resource kit dedicated to Remote Desktop Services within Windows Server 2008 R2. This book guides you through planning, deploying, and administering Remote Desktop Services, covering everything from virtualization roles to security administration. Specific chapters focus on managing sessions, customizing user experiences, and leveraging Windows PowerShell for configuration, providing detailed insights for system administrators. If you're responsible for managing Windows Server environments and want in-depth technical guidance from Microsoft insiders, this book provides the focused knowledge you need without unnecessary filler.

Matthew Hester, a Microsoft IT Professional Evangelist with over ten years working in core infrastructure products like Windows and Active Directory, brings practical expertise to this reference guide. You’ll find concise, well-organized answers to common Windows Server 2008 R2 administration challenges, from adding roles and managing directories to automating tasks and tuning virtual servers. Chapters break down complex topics such as folder security, backup, and remote access into accessible formats with quick-reference tables and thumb tabs. This book suits IT professionals who need a reliable, on-the-spot resource rather than a deep theoretical treatise.

This tailored guide explores both foundational and advanced administration techniques for Windows Server 2008 R2, designed specifically to match your experience and goals. It covers core server roles, security configurations, network services, PowerShell automation, and virtualization features, focusing on the areas you find most relevant. By synthesizing expert knowledge with your background, this book reveals practical ways to navigate the complexities of Windows Server 2008 R2 and unlock its full potential. The personalized content ensures you concentrate on the skills and concepts that matter most, making your learning journey efficient and engaging.

The breakthrough moment came when Ian McLean and Orin Thomas, both seasoned Microsoft Press authors, crafted this self-paced training kit to meet the evolving demands of Windows Server 2008 R2 administrators. You learn how to confidently plan and execute installations and upgrades, configure critical services like DNS and Active Directory, and manage complex server environments with Group Policy and security updates. The book’s detailed lessons and practice tests simulate the exact objectives of Exam 70-646, making it ideal for those preparing for certification or seeking to deepen hands-on skills. If you’re aiming to master server administration tasks with clear guidance and real-world scenarios, this book delivers a focused path without extraneous content.

Mark Minasi's decades of experience as a Windows authority shine through in this thorough guide to Windows Server 2008 R2. Drawing on his extensive teaching and consulting background, Minasi dives into core networking concepts, Active Directory management, Group Policy configurations, and server storage intricacies, offering detailed explanations and practical insights. You’ll find clear breakdowns of complex topics like IIS 7.0 administration and DNS alongside lesser-known workarounds for common system quirks, making this a resource that serves both newcomers and seasoned IT professionals. If your goal is to master the nuts and bolts of Windows Server 2008 R2 for real-world application, this book delivers a solid foundation without fluff.

Drawing from Michael Palmer's extensive expertise in Windows Server administration, this guide targets professionals preparing for the MCITP 70-646 exam. It dives into installing, configuring, managing, and troubleshooting Windows Server 2008, with clear explanations of updated features and administration tasks. You’ll find practical activities and readings that simulate real-world scenarios to solidify your grasp of network management. While designed for exam preparation, this book benefits IT administrators seeking a thorough understanding of Windows Server 2008’s operational environment.

This tailored book explores a focused, step-by-step pathway for accelerating your Windows Server 2008 R2 administration skills within 30 days. It covers core server functions, Active Directory, network services, and security essentials, all matched to your current knowledge and specific goals. By synthesizing a wide range of expert content, this personalized guide reveals the practical steps you need to build competency rapidly. It embraces your unique background and desired learning pace, creating a clear route through complex topics that often overwhelm professionals new to Windows Server 2008 R2. This tailored approach ensures you gain relevant, targeted knowledge efficiently, without wading through unrelated material.

After years of hands-on experience in virtualization, John Kelbley and his co-authors from the Microsoft Hyper-V team crafted this guide to clarify the practical use of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. You gain detailed insights into key virtualization scenarios like server consolidation, software testing environments, and dynamic data center management, along with how to reduce infrastructure complexity and costs. The book also covers integrating tools such as DPM, SCOM, and VMM to maintain and manage virtual environments effectively. If your work involves building or optimizing virtual infrastructures on Windows Server 2008, this book equips you with focused, actionable knowledge rather than broad theory.

What happens when Microsoft-certified experts tackle Windows Server 2008 training? Dan Holme, Nelson Ruest, Danielle Ruest, and Tony Northrup deliver a detailed, self-paced guide designed specifically for the MCITP certification exams 70-640, 70-642, and 70-646. You’ll learn to configure and manage core components like Active Directory, DNS, network access, and virtualization, with practical exercises and over 900 practice questions on accompanying CDs. This book suits IT professionals aiming to deepen their hands-on skills or prepare thoroughly for certification. If you want a methodical, exam-focused approach covering everything from server roles to security, this kit has you covered.

Michael Bender's guide taps into the precise skills you need to master network infrastructure configuration on Windows Server 2008. It’s structured around the 70-642 certification exam, delivering detailed explanations of essential topics like DHCP, DNS, and IPAM, alongside practical exercises and case projects that reinforce learning. Whether you’re a newcomer aiming to build foundational knowledge or a professional brushing up for certification, this book lays out clear pathways through complex networking concepts. You'll find chapters dedicated to network access, routing, and remote access solutions, making it a focused manual for configuring real-world Windows Server environments.