Special Edition Using Microsoft Exchange Server 2000 emphasizes integrating Exchange with the Internet, as well as extending its functionality into the area of collaboration. The authoring team from Software Spectrum provides both the theory and the best practices when working with Exchange. Specifically, Kent Joshi, a Managing Consultant draws upon his 13 years of corporate experience including his work at Microsoft, IBM, and his own company to cut through the hype and get down to nuts and bolts. In addition, this edition features additional coverage of undocumented features, workarounds, and practical (and unapologetic) advice for avoiding features that don't work well.
That's it for criticism. Browsing this book among others convinced me that it had the best balance for answering administrative questions. Sure the Admin Companion and Pocket Consultant fit into a full time Exchange consultant's library, but this book was the perfect balance if you cannot justify several. Tony Redmond's book will probably come along and knock our socks off, but for now this is the best balance of material on Exchange 2000 for the money.
The Tuning and Troubleshooting chapters actually refer to the right tools unlike the Black book. (Even though the reviewers creamed it they did not mention enough of the inaccuracies.) SMTP configuration and NNTP are covered well. Security is tackled twice, with a chapter based on AD and then another with Internet considerations.
Having been through the betas and release candidates hunting for information on each new release I found it refreshing to pick up SEU E2K Server and find answers to so many questions. I'm sure you will enjoy the scope of the book, maybe its organization, possibly the writing and, of course, its weight.
