Product Description

Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2008 Reporting Services Unleashed

Michael Lisin

Jim Joseph

Amit Goyal

The authoritative, example-rich guide to Microsoft’s powerful reporting platform

With Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services you can quickly deliver relevant business intelligence data wherever it’s needed–across the entire enterprise, and through the entire reporting lifecycle. SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services Unleashed gives you all the authoritative information you’ll need to make the most of Microsoft’s most powerful reporting platform as a database professional, manager, or user. In-depth coverage makes this book an ideal reference, and its extensive set of practical examples help you address virtually any challenge in deployment, configuration, administration, or report building.

The authors have extensively expanded this edition with deeper reference information, many more practical examples, and insider perspective into Reporting Services 2008’s powerful new enhancements. You’ll discover how to take full advantage of Reporting Services’ significant architectural changes, its flexible new Tablix control, improved visualization through charts and gauges, deep SharePoint integration through SharePoint Integrated Mode, new output presentation formats, and much more.

Understand how to

• Learn about the new features of Service Pack 1 (SP1) and the SQL Server 2008 R2 release
• Quickly take advantage of Microsoft’s newest SQL Server Reporting Services enhancements
• Use Reporting Services to identify trends and solve real business problems
• Master report authoring–from basic, wizard-driven techniques to the cutting edge
• Group, sort, and aggregate data, and define the right scope for your information
• Utilize advanced report formatting techniques
• Work effectively with multidimensional sources
• Manage report data sources and models
• Secure reports against attacks and intrusions
• Customize Reporting Services with embedded functions, custom assemblies, URL access, Web Services, and other extensions
• Thoroughly integrate SQL Server reporting into any SharePoint site

Michael Lisin, lead author of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services, has years of field experience working with SQL Server Reporting Services at Microsoft and delivering solutions for Microsoft’s enterprise customers.

Jim Joseph, co-author of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services Unleashed, is an independent contractor with 10 years experience developing custom software solutions in a variety of industries. He has worked with SQL Server Reporting Services since the first beta release.

Amit Goyal, lead program manager for Microsoft’s Reporting Services team, has extensive insider’s knowledge of SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services.

ON THE WEB:

Download all examples and source code presented in this book from informit.com/sams

Category: Microsoft Databases

Covers: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services

User Level: Intermediate—Advanced

Customer Reviews (5)

Reporting Services Contents.
The book is very detail on how to perform necessary Reporting Services configuration, Report Design and implementation.

Reasonable coverage but missing XML and samples
I found that this book offered good general coverage on a variety of SSRS 2008 topics.For the most part it covered what (feature), how (usage), when(summary vs detail, global[graphical] vs specific[tablix]), etc.
However, key ingredient of SQL Server 2008 is extending XML support and that's conspicuously missing.Yes, there is some info but needs more like - data source and dataset differences from relational data types, typed vs. untyped XML data considerations, and query, filter, and criteria specifications for mixed (XML/relational) field reports.
Samples with XML data types would have been nice but more available on Microsoft TechNet and MSDN web site.

Very Insightful
I have used earlier versions of Reporting Services. The book had excellent depth for learning about the latest version. I like the new data visualization controls in 2008

Very good for SSRS
Almost excellent for SSRS. my only issue is, this book said you can alter your XML configuration file for SSRS to change the authentication but didn't tell how to do it. I had to go online to find the steps.

Well done practical book
It is practical and easy to read book which was immediately useful in my work. The book has a great combination of step-by-step tutorials and comprehensive coverage of Reporting Services, including working with Analysis Services and integration with SharePoint. At work we moving our BI system to SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services from the previous version and all the new features were easily identifiable and well explained in the book. Plus you get nice bonus materials from the publisher, including code samples. Overall it is very well done book. ... Read more

Product Description
As the most important component of Microsoft's Visual Studio(r) 2005 Team System, Team Foundation Server is the central integration point that provides a collaborative environment for every member of a team, regardless of role. Since Team Foundation Server is so tightly interwoven with the rest of Team System, the authors have decided to present you with an invaluable resource that covers both, so that you may learn to set up and administer Team Foundation Server in order to effectively use the whole Team System toolset effectively.

Three Microsoft Team System MVPs cover how to plan a Team System deployment, complete a software project, and everything in between. They show you how to handle real-world challenges and tackle the tasks and scenarios that encompass the entire software development lifecycle.

What you will learn from this book

• How to implement IT governance such as Sarbanes-Oxley
• How to work with mixed environments (including Java and .NET)
• How to set up the product for large distributed environments
• How and why to take multiple lifecycles into consideration when deploying and using Team System
• How to create custom development tools and administer and customize work items
• How to monitor your team project metrics using SQL Server Reporting Services

Who this book is for

This book is for project managers, IT administrators, and anyone whose role consists of administering Team Foundation Server on a daily basis, running a software project, setting up users, or handling security.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Real problems, great solutions
This book help me to solve several problems in my company. I recommend.
Fabio Camara

Mandatory reading for anyone planning or installing TFS
Team Foundation Server (TFS) is a new Microsoft product designed to help development teams better manage the software development cycle. It is a huge product, just installing and configuring it is a big task because you need to deal with Windows SharePoint Services, SQL Server 2005, SQL Server Reporting Services, a data warehouse, a build server, a proxy server and of course, TFS itself. Where do you start? How do you plan such a large deployment inside your company? How the decisions that you take right now will affect you in the future?

Professional Team Foundation Server is a book that will help smooth out the installation process and help you better understand the beast that is TFS. The target audience is not the average developer; in fact, the book targets a few roles: the lead developer, the IT administrator or the person responsible to install and maintain TFS, the project manager.

Part one covers the TFS installation, how to plan for it and the maintenance so it's IT focused. Part two covers how to create projects and what process template to select so it's project management focused. Part three covers how to extend and customize TFS so it's more developer focused and lastly, part four covers management.

I was very impressed by the quality of the information presented in this book. Two of the authors are Team System MVPs so they know their stuff. You'll find lots of hard to find tips; the kind of tips you would have liked to know before doing the install. It is an invaluable book and it should be mandatory reading for anyone wanting to install, configure, support, extend and manage TFS. It is a great reference book that will help smooth out any TFS installation. High praises of Professional Team Foundation Server.

A View of Team Server from the Management Aspect
There are a lot of books on Microsoft's Studio Team System that are written from the standpoint of the developer involved with a team development project. These books seem to be lacking the first forty pages or so. That is, they don't explain just what it is that you are trying to do, how to set up a development team, how to administer the Team System software.

It turns out that there's a lot more than forty pages in this book, but it covers exactly those points. The book is specifically aimed at project managers, administrators, and IT professionals who are charged with implementing a project.

Part one of the book covers planning and implementation of the Team System software and of the project itself.This of course includes working with security and the foundation for server backup and recovery.

The second and third parts of the book is the creation of the project itself and the customization of the Team Software system to fit your particular project.

The last section includes management of the project from initial steps through completing the project and performing a postmortem as preparation for the next one. ... Read more

Product Description

This book is intended for those who need to get things done with Mac OS X Server 10.6. As such, you can use this book two ways. Those new to Mac OS X Server can read straight through the entire book, and by the end should feel competent to administer any Mac server thrown their way. For those with some knowledge of Mac OS X Server, or perhaps a thorough knowledge of other Unix-based servers, the book is arranged by tasks so that you can either start reading at any point, skipping material you already know, or pick and choose the chapters you’ll find most helpful to your own work or system needs. This task-oriented approach also makes the book useful as a general reference for all aspects of Mac OS X Server.

Throughout the book, special emphasis is given to the new features of the latest release, Mac OS X Server 10.6, aka Snow Leopard Server. For instance, you’ll find out how to integrate an iPhone with Mac OS X Server using the new Mobile Access features, or how to install an SSL certificate in the web service, Apache.

• Task-oriented approach to server administration makes it easy to find and accomplish what needs to get done
• Thorough subject coverage including workflows for Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server GUI-level features, command-line features, and alternatives
• Features introductory material for new administrators, emphasis on new features for upgrading to Snow Leopard Server, and more advanced material for experienced IT and enterprise administrators who want to get the most out of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server

What you’ll learn

• The key features of Mac OS X Server, including new services such as mobile access for iPhone integration and Address Book Server
• The most efficient approach to suit your working style, including GUI and command-line alternatives
• When to call on third-party products where no Apple products are available
• Integration strategies for a range of network and server configurations
• How to enable each required service and all of their services from start to finish

Who is this book for?

This book is for administrators interested in a complete course on Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, including first-time Mac OS X Server admins, admins upgrading from older versions, and experienced Unix or Mac admins who want to master all aspects of Apple’s newest Server software.

Customer Reviews (1)

Brilliant Author, Poor Editing, Awful Images
Mr. Edge clearly knows his stuff, but the images in his book are almost completely illegible. They are terribly printed which makes referencing them and comparing them to the text nearly impossible. The book has a few typos (blame the editor, not the author!) and in parts moves along far too quickly, referencing operations and aspects of the OS that have not been discussed yet. It is likely an excellent reference for the already experienced OS X server user but for the beginner... look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
Find in-depth coverage of general networking concepts and basic instruction on Windows Server 2008 installation and management including active directory, DNS, Windows storage, and TCP/IP and IPv4 networking basics in Mastering Windows Server 2008 Networking Foundations. One of three new books by best-selling author Mark Minasi, this guide explains what servers do, how basic networking works (IP basics and DNS/WINS basics), and the fundamentals of the under-the-hood technologies that support staff must understand. Learn how to install Windows Server 2008 and build a simple network, security concepts, and basic Windows Server administration. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good book but repetitive
Like his writing but sometimes felt very repetitive. DNS section has been borrowed from his previous books back when he has writen about Windows 2000 server almost ten years, ago.

Another Outstanding Book
I highly recommend Mr. Minasi's Mastering Windows Server series (2000, 2003, and now 2008) to anyone new to networking or Windows Server, or to any IT professional that wishes to set themselves apart from the pack.

All of his books that I have read explain technical concepts in plain language, with some humor as well as plenty of hands on exercises that reinforce the material being presented.

Although I have read Mastering Windows 2000 Server and Mastering Windows Server 2003, I elected to read the Mastering Windows Server 2008 Networking Foundations because I can always use a refresher on this subject matter.And Mr. Minasi's books are where I go to get it.

Kudo for a job welll done!
I'd though I would never meet anyone who is very good of what he does in the IT industry and also knows how to write so good that everyone could understand ... until I met Mark.He is funny like hell, and it shows when he talks, or writes, but don't let that fools you; Mark is very good in what he does.All the books he has written, including this series about W2k8 would help anyone who want to know, and be very good with W2k8 achieve their goals in a clear, down-to-earth ways.And none of his books are only copy-from-the-Microsoft-technet down.Mark and his team does their own labs, and test everything that Microsoft offers in the OS product.For awhile, I'd thought I was the only one who did that.I had a habbit to test everything Microsoft says, although I'd doubt that I would ever use it.For instance, like RIS in W2k or W2k3. But it's quite pleasant surprised that Mark and his team did test everything themselves.Majority of the books' authors out there don't.Quite sad, but it's true!

Anyway, for being in Microsoft area for a long time, I could recognize a very good onem or very best ones, easily, and Mark is a very few best ones for many years.Buy the whole series and you will not be disappointed.

Mastering Windows Server 2008 with the Master
I cannot express my appreciation enough for Mark's writing style.No longer am I fighting sleep and endless distractions while trudging through a technical manual.This is a Must Have for anyone that is in the IT field.Very easy and informative read. This will reside on the shelf as another priceless reference.Mark's books - along with his free forum www.minasi.com - have continued to make "me" an IT hero...

Thank You Mark!

Tim Bolton

Good stuff
This book is very good. It covers, as the title suggests, Networking Foundations. Most of the book is similar to the Windows Server 2003 book by Minasi, however there are sections (which are marked) where Server 2008 new stuff is covered. I've read a lot of server books and most are dry or irrelevant. This book is neither. It has a lot of information that is helpful and even a bit of humour. I'd wholeheartedly recommend this book! ... Read more

Product Description
Understand how to use the new features of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 for data mining by using the tools in Data Mining with Microsoft SQL Server 2008, which will show you how to use the SQL Server Data Mining Toolset with Office 2007 to mine and analyze data. Explore each of the major data mining algorithms, including naive bayes, decision trees, time series, clustering, association rules, and neural networks. Learn more about topics like mining OLAP databases, data mining with SQL Server Integration Services 2008, and using Microsoft data mining to solve business analysis problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Data Mining with Microsoft SQL Server 2008
This is an excellent book for beginner to expert.Contains tons of relevant information.Could have been more detailed for the beginner, but authors did as well as possible without having to write a multi-volume version.Mid level to expert users should have no problem understanding the examples and solutions used in the book. I strongly recommend this book.

Data Mining with Microsoft SQL Server 2008
The number of stars may be unfair but for my purposes the book was not sufficiently elementary to get started. I have SQL Server 2008 loaded on my laptop with the Integration Services but I cannot tell from the tutorials that came with SQL Server how to get started building a data base and then using data mining techniques on it. The book mentions databases that can be downloaded but does not tell me where to put them or how to tell SQL Server where they are and connect to them. I'm familiar with the required knowledge about both data bases and statistics but not with SQL Server so this is not the book I needed. It may be very good but not for my purposes. I'll know better when I get going with SQL Server 2008. Peter Jurkat

Get your hands dirty with SQL Server 2008 Data Mining Tools
This is an excellent hands-on book on learning core concepts of data mining with SQL Server 2008. I have used this book as part of our Data Mining certification course at University Of Washington. The examples are very clear and their step-by-step approach really helped me in understanding various mining models and learning DMX query. Highly recommend for aspirant and experienced BI professionals.

A superb book and must have
Jamie MacLennan, ZhaoHui Tang, and Bogdan Crivat have done a superb job on this book and for those of us that had to deal with the 2005 version rest assured dear reader that the 2008 version is a 'work of art'. The writing is clear and concise. The examples are easy to work with, understandable and gone are the complex mathmathics that required genious to interpret. I have bought a copy for myself and two for the office. I have a problem with recommending books for the sake of recommending them. Trust me the 2008 version is worth every cent!!. Thanks Jamie et Al and well done!!!!

Great reference for REAL WORLD application of data mining
This is an excellent book, highly recommended by me and my numerous colleagues in the data mining community - one I support for a living, and not just teach.There is little use for theoretical learning if practical application is not also supported.Data Mining with SQL Server 2008 (as the previous 2005 edition) thoroughly covers not only the theory, but also the full feature-set of Microsoft's extensive data mining tools.Is it possible to buy a book with more detail on theoretical aspects of the subject?Possibly.But if you want to actually use the rich data mining features in the best business intelligence product available in the world both readily and efficiently without wading through stacks of PhD fodder, this book is perfect, and none can surpass it that I know of. ... Read more

Product Description

• Teaches solution architects, designers, and developers how to use Microsoft's reporting platform to create reporting and business intelligence (BI) solutions
• Updated with new information about holistic BI solutions, comprehensive OLAP/Analysis Services reporting, and complete production deployment scenarios
• Includes programming examples focused on specific, scenario-based solutions
• Explains reporting services architecture and business intelligence, teaches the fundamentals of designing reports through the use of careful planning considerations, and covers advanced report design and filtering techniques

Customer Reviews (5)

Need a pillow?
Even though I got this book, together with its sister books of SSIS and SSAS, from Amazon at a drastically reduced price, the book came with a big disappointment.

Two things that bother me the most are:

1. Lack of solid examples.Whatever the book has also appear to be disorganized.It's not easy to follow.
2. The code downloaded from the wrox website doesn't even work on BIDS 2008...and the download site appears to be "unorganized."

If you are looking for a SSIS book, I strongly recommend other books besides this one...unless you can't find a better book (which I doubt it), then you can buy this one...and don't pay the full price for it.:)

A good book on SSRS...
I know some of the reviewers have been very critical on this book. I assume that they are very advanced Report writers.

I had the 2005 version of this book and found this version of the book to be very helpful. The book covers both administration and programming aspects of SSRS. Honestly speaking, it is very good for reference. I found some chapters have gone too detail in explaining and some chapters are laid out with basic information.I am currently working on a proof of concept project to integrate reporting services with .Net application to render all the reporting type of information via.Net Applications. Chapter 15 gave me a jump start in this along with publishing reports on sharepoint. I am sure SSRS has come a long way to stay in the reporting arena and this book provides very good information for developers in SSRS or who are transitioning to SSRS from other reporting tools.

This book has explained well on installation and configuration of SSRS which provides the report designers and developers, information on the internal architecture of SSRS.

Good for developers
I have the 2005 version of the same book and reviewed it here: http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Server-2005-Reporting-Services/product-reviews/0764584979/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R202BG2RSEPRFO.Just copy and paste that link to read it.I bought the 2008 version when we decided to go SSRS 2008 to get a bug fixed on the matrix control overrunning the page width with dynamic columns. Pretty much everything I said in that review for the 2005 book applies to the 2008 book.I don't know why people bash this book.It gives you what you need.Actually, it covers quite a bit.I used one section to help me create my own app to better control report publishing.I can see if all you do is report design and don't have to worry about any kind of maintenance, programming, or administration this book might be a little thin on content.But it still gives you what you need, and if you are a beginning report designer then you shouldn't be looking at any book with "Professional" in the title.Get the "Beginner" one.This is for developers with a fair amount of experience in report design.It certainly isn't 100% of what you'll ever need.You'll find yourself constantly scouring the web for workarounds and code samples.But I also have the Microsoft SSRS 2008 book and that pretty much covers less but it geared more toward walk-throughs.This one definitely has more content.I can't see doing what I do without this book.

Only if you have to have something
The book gives good high level information about the product, but the step-by-step examples are very poor. I guess they had to rush this out because the examples are poorly written, but if you follow a simple example you get different results from what you're supposed to be seeing. Really frustrating.

Good thing Amazon sells at a discount.

Good admin info, not so much on report design
The back end info is very good, but the report design section suffers because it was written before the report designer was done.

Buy it if you want the updated backend info, wait for a second edition if you are more interested in report design/development. ... Read more

Product Description

All your Windows Server 2008 R2 questions answered—on the spot!

Get up to speed on the new features of Windows Server 2008 R2 with this indispensableguide.Designed for busy IT professionals, it's the perfect go-to resource for quick answers and real-world solutions as you administer the new server OS. You'll find easy-to-read lists, quick-reference tables, helpful thumb tabs, and much more in a handy, compact format that puts the information you need at your fingertips.

Topics include:

• Getting started and adding roles and functionality

• Automating tasks

• Managing users, groups, directories, and the centralized desktop

• Handling folder security, disk management, storage, backup, and recovery

• Monitoring and maintaining web servers

• Troubleshooting IP and managing remote access

• Doing performance tuning and maintaining virtual servers

Customer Reviews (2)

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Instant reference
This is a quality book I was looking for a reference materails boot not a detailed archive. I am satisfied with the content and degree of details, I would reccomend this to a friend.

Great reference book for experienced and inexperienced users
You could start at the beginning and read all the way through 'Windows Server 2008 R2 Administration Instant Reference' by Matt Hester and Chris Henley. Part 1 of the book of the book ("Getting Started") walks the reader through planning, installing and upgrading the operating system, while subsequent sections dive into details about specific areas of the software.

But a more reasonable approach is to open to the section on which you are working today. Each chapter is structured so that you can dig into the detail you need. Each topic begins with an explanation of concepts and definitions of key terms. This part is critical for someone like me, who doesn't spend his days managing servers. Experienced administrators may skip this section and jump to the detailed explanations of how to use and configure each feature of Windows Server 2008 R2. Basic functionality is described first, followed by more advanced features.

A section on Active Directory, for example, begins with a description of built-in groups, followed by a description of custom users and groups and how rights are granted. After establishing these basics, the author describes how to use Active Directory to manage groups, users and rights and how to configure this in Windows Server.

Hester and Henley write in a clear, concise style that simplifies everything they describe. Step-by-step instructions are amplified by screen shots.

The smaller dimensions of the book make it fit easily into a laptop bag, despite the 500+ pages of text.

This is a solid book for a full- or part-time network administrator to keep on hand for a quick reference or for a more detailed look into important concepts of Windows Server. ... Read more

Product Description
Learn to design more effective and sophisticated business reports

While most users of SQL Server Reporting Services are now comfortable designing and building simple reports, business today demands increasingly complex reporting. In this book, top Reporting Services design experts have contributed step-by-step recipes for creating various types of reports.

Written by well-known SQL Server Reporting Services experts, this book gives you the tools to meet your clients' needs

Coverage includes:

• Business Reporting Paradigms
• Basic Report Design Concepts
• Using Report Builder.
• Report Design Essentials
• Tabular and Matrix Reports
• Expressions and Custom Code
• Formatting Report Data
• Columnar and Grouped Reports
• Bi Dashboards and Elements
• Synchronizing Groups, Charts, and Sparklines
• Chart and Gauge Reports
• Creating a Personal Report Card
• Creating a Multi-Series Multi-Y Axis Chart
• Interactive Reporting
• Integrated Reporting Applications
• Offline Reporting Using The Report Viewer Control
• Creating a Calendar Report
• Creating Mailing Labels
• Barcodes
• Excel Worksheet Naming and Page Naming
• External Image Sources
• Language Localization
• Creating a Checkbox List To Show Existing Records
• Using a Checkbox List To Select and Deselect Records
• Using The Map Wizard
• Filtering and Parameterization
• Multiple Criterion Report Filtering
• Using Multi-Value Parameters with a Stored Procedure
• Using Multi-Value Parameters with a Subscription Report
• Creating Custom Sorting Reports
• Filtering User-Specific Report Data
• Custom and Dynamic Data Sources
• Using a Web Service As a Data Source
• Reporting On Sharepoint List Data
• Dynamics Ax Report Wizard
• and More!

The SQL Server Reporting Services Cookbook brings together great report designs that have been field-tested by the experts

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great book, well organized content
I bought it and read through it, it is truly a special book. The book is co-authored by Paul Turley and Robert Bruckner with contributions from 9 other reporting services experts from around the world.

The book starts with basic concepts and essential techniques in report design with Reporting Services. Then it dives into 63 in-depth topics on advanced reporting design. The recipes are generally organized with several sections:

1. Product versions that the recipe could be applied to
2. What prerequisite skills needed
3. How to design the report in a step by step recipe style
4. Final thoughts on the recipe
5. (When applicable) Credits and related references are listed at the end

This book was available just before SQL Server 2008 R2 went RTM in April. One thing of note is that quite a few recipes in the book use SQL Server 2008 R2 specific technology (such as domain scope, maps, aggregates of aggregates, and read-write report variables).

To sum it up, it is a great reference to those who want to create some non-trivial reports.

Why not giving it a five star? Some of the content was previously published on the web as blog posts etc.

This is my bible for Reporting Services tricks
I'm on the SQL Server development team and find myself having to write reports for product development and project management. While I can stop by Robert's office at anytime, the tips and tricks in his book have made me look like a "Pro". I was always having troubles with things like getting the color palletes right, and Robert's book showed me the way. I recently had to create some mailing labels and there was a chapter for that. Having the sample code available for download from Wrox was a great time saver. I've recommended this book to everyone in the office who has needed to use Reporting Services and I have it on my desk all the time.

Advance your SSRS skills
This book is excellent for someone like myself, looking to grow basic to intermediate Reporting Services skills.There are a lot of resources out there which point at advanced features/functionality of the product, but few approach the material from a practical and real-world example-driven approach like this one.For anyone looking to discover and unleash the capabilities of SSRS, this is the book for you.

This book saved me days!
MS SQL Server Reporting tools do not easily allow you to create "horizontal" reports--where the next item to be reported appears to the right, rather than below. I needed to create such a report. And I couldn't figure out how to do so until I found the example titled "Horizontal Reports" in this book. I literally tried for days to find a solution on my own without success. Did I have to work around some of the directions in the book? Yes. But I note also that there's an on-line forum where concerns and frustrations are being answered. And many of the recipes reference an online entry that inspired the article. I'll be recommending this book to my colleagues, since MS SQL Server Reporting tools are our corporate standard. (Note--I don't know the authors, I'm not related to any of them, and I don't work for any of the companies involved.)

You'll find yourself reaching for this book on a regular basis
This is a review of the latest addition to the long repertoire of Reporting Services books - Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Recipes (ISBN: 978-0-470-56311-3). When you learn a new technology you suggest you pick up several books covering this product because every author writes from his own experience. Thus, even books covering the same technology are not competing by completing each other. Some books target novice users, others are more advanced; some have a strong practical connotation while others are designed to be used more as a reference.

In my opinion, this book will benefit mainly readers who have worked with Reporting Services and have already some report authoring experience under their belt. If you fit this profile, you probably find yourself occasionally wanting a report sample that addresses a specific requirement, a tip for better implementation, or a trick to get around a given limitation. Continuing this line of thought, another title for this book might have been "Reporting Services Tips and Tricks".

Two author names appear on the book cover - Paul Turley and Robert Bruckner - and both names should be familiar to you. Both authors have been heavily involved with Reporting Services since its inception. Paul is a SQL Server MVP and BI architect for Hitachi Consulting. Robert is a technical lead with the Reporting Services team and when he speaks I take a note. Both authors have helped the community tremendously by answering questions on the Reporting Services discussion list, writing and blogging about Reporting Services, and speaking at industry events. Some of the book material has been contributed by other Hitachi employees and SQL Server experts. The foreword is written by Thierry D'hers - Group Program Manager with the Reporting Services team.

The good thing about this book is that it's not tied to a particular release of Reporting Services. What I particularly liked is that in some cases the authors have provided examples that work with previous editions of Reporting Services, coupled with versions that benefit from the latest features found in 2008 or R2. The book is organized in the following parts:

Introduction (80 pages) - Provides the necessary foundation for report authoring.
Part 1: Columnar and Grouped Reports (50 pages) - This part covers features that every report author should know, including alternative row colors, dynamic groups, conditional column visibility, and resetting page numbers.
Part 2 : BI Dashboards and Elements (30 pages) - This is where you would learn to work with indicators, sparklines, charts, and other elements to author dashboard pages that are becoming increasingly popular. You will also learn interesting tips to integrate your reports with Analysis Services.
Part 3: Chart and Gauge Reports (60 pages) - Think of this part as how to get the most out of the Reporting Services data visualization features. It walks you through the cornucopia of chart types that SSRS 2008 made possible, such as histogram, Peretto, bullet graphs, and gauges. It teaches you how to enhance these charts with custom color palettes and exception highlighting.
Part 4: Interactive Reporting (40 pages) - Reporting Services has supported interactive features since the beginning, such as drillthrough, toggled visibility, links, bookmarks, etc. This part takes the interactive features to the next level by showing you how to implement conditional linking, breadcrumbs, dynamic pivoting and document maps.
Part 5: Integrated Reporting Applications (35 pages) - This part shows you how to build report solutions that go beyond a single report, such as conditional subreports, changing the data behind the report, and embedding reports in .NET applications.
Part 6: Enhanced Report Content (100 pages) - This part covers advanced report authoring techniques, including mailing labels, barcodes, custom aggregation, dynamic page breaks, external images, checkbox list and mapping (a new feature of R2).
Part 7: Filtering and Parameterization (70 pages) - Report parameters is one area that takes a lot of criticism from the community and it's one of the weakest links of Reporting Services. The authors present several workarounds for common requirements and limitations, such as advanced filtering, handing multi-valued parameters, top ranking, and custom sorting.
Part 8: Custom and Dynamic Data Sources (30 pages) - This section shows advanced techniques for data retrieval, such as obtaining data from a web service, SharePoint lists (2008 and R2), and Dynamics AX.
Part 9: Games (15 pages) - Now that you've learned all these cool tricks, it's time to chill out. If Xbox is not cool anymore, Reporting Services is here for you to play and delight your users with games such as hangman, and sea battle. Hallo is coming soon... just kidding.

In a nutshell, pick up this book. You'll find yourself reaching for it on a regular basis.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Overall a pretty good resource for Small Business Server 2008
I came across this book when I was asked to teach it.

This is a pretty good book covering most of the relevant issues of SBS 2008. Its level is for basic beginners as well as more experienced technology specialists. It doesn't go too deep into networking, Exchange, Sharepoint or SQL but touches enough on these subjects to qualify as a good book.

I can recommend it to anyone interested in learning Small Business Server 2008.

SBS 2008
Muy buen libro. Aunque está orientado hacia un examen de certificación también ofrece información muy relevante sobre el producto SBS 2008. Lo compré como referencia para diseño de cursos sobre servidores. Tiene laboratorios prácticos, ejercicios y muy buenas lecturas. Lo recomiendo para el profesional de las redes que está iniciándose en el ambiente del servidor en la pequeña empresa. Visto bueno para su compra.

Read book, passed exam
It helps to have a good general understanding of Windows Servers & Active Directory, but this book is not designed for "someone off the street" to read & pass the test. The Practice teset on the CD could have had more questions and the test engine could have been better at randomizing the questions.

Quick Read
I have two years experience managing SBS servers and I wanted to get a cert for it. I ran through this book in about 2 days, cover to cover. I usually take a couple weeks minimum to get through a Microsoft cert book. It was pretty straightforward and clear. I would recommend it to anyone who works with SBS. It is not overly technical, and in the beginning it has some very good, straight-forward explanations of technical topics like RAID, DNS and Active Directory.

The included CD with test questions only had an image on it. I had to copy off the image and then burn it to another disk, which was somewhat irritating. But the software works on Win7.

I have not taken the test yet but plan to soon. I would still recommend getting some additional tests or dumps as I have never found the Microsoft software alone to have prepared me for one of their tests.

I passed with this book
I used this book, the included practice test, and my Action Pack copy of SBS 2008 and was able to pass this exam on the first try.

The lesson structure is a nice way to present this material.The exam tips were very helpful.There was a PDF copy of the book on the CD which was handy to travel with.

The practice test was very similar to the actual test.I was worried because the SBS 2003 test had mini-essays for every single question and these practice questions were short.It turns out that the actual test was pretty much like the Measure-Up practice tests.

The down side is that there were more Exchange administration questions that I was prepared for.I did not spend enough time in the actual Exchange Management Console to get some of the questions. ... Read more

Product Description
Get in-depth guidance for designing and implementing certificate-based security solutions straight from PKI expert Brian Komar. No need to buy or outsource costly PKI services when you can use the robust PKI and certificate-based security services already built into Windows Server 2008! This in-depth reference teaches you how to design and implement even the most demanding certificate-based security solutions for wireless networking, smart card authentication, VPNs, secure email, Web SSL, EFS, and code-signing applications using Windows Server PKI and certificate services. A principal PKI consultant to Microsoft, Brian shows you how to incorporate best practices, avoid common design and implementation mistakes, help minimize risk, and optimize security administration. This definitive reference features a CD loaded with tools, scripts, and a fully searchable eBook.

Key Book Benefits

Guides system engineers and administrators how to design and implement PKI-based solutions

Explains how to exploit the tight integration of Windows Server 2008 PKI services with Active Directory® directory service

Features best practices based on real-world implementations
Includes a CD with tools, scripts, and a fully-searchable eBook ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Bogus reviews?
5 out of 6 of the reviewers who gave this book rave reviews appear to have reviewed nothing else at all. Spam reviews, by any chance?

Pretty good - found a typo
It is a good book, very helpful.I don't think you can implement this any other way other than getting this book.Google fails, book wins.

Watch typo on page 134-135.They have Period and Unit parameters reversed in this section.

YOU MUST HAVE IT!
This book is the best reference for Windows PKI, even if you are deployng Windows 2003 PKI. If you have started to look into PKI, this is the book YOU MUST HAVE. Thanks to Brian Komar.

Great PKI Book
A nice follow up from the Windwos 2003 version. A must read for those planning to upgrade those security servers...

Buy this book if you are serious about Windows PKI & Certificates
This book is definitely a must have for anyone who plans to deploy a Windows 2008 (or even 2003) based Certificate Authority/PKI infrastructure. The author not only fully masters the subject, he also has found the rare balance between the necessary theory, legal aspects, discussing design aspects and diving into technical information. On top of that, the book contains an awful lot of real life scenario's and implementation examples.
So before you even start installing AD CS, read this book. You won't be disappointed.
... Read more

Product Description
Here’s the utterly practical, pocket-sized reference for IT professionals who need to administer, optimize, and maintain Microsoft SQL Server 2005 in their organization. This unique guide provides essential details for using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 to help protect and manage your company’s data—whether automating tasks; creating indexes and views; performing backups and recovery; replicating transactions; tuning performance; managing server activity; importing and exporting data; or performing other key tasks. Featuring quick-reference tables, lists, and step-by-step instructions, this handy, one-stop guide provides fast, accurate answers on the spot—whether you’re at your desk or in the field! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

A Must have for SQL 05 users
The pocket size and wealth of info is great to have around as a DBA. Great product.

Hardly a pocket book
It clearly defies the title but does provide with very useful information. I am quite impressed. I have read this book as a pro. And is recommended only for pros.
Beginners please read something else first before you jump on this one.

A must have!
This handy pocket consultant is a must have for administrators and developers. It delivers exactly what is promised: a handy guide for daily administration. Out of all my sql server books this is the one I refer to the most.

Excellent resource for DBAs
SQL Server 2005 Administrator's Pocket Consultant is an excellent reference for DBAs and System Administrators planning to implement and maintain SQL Server 2005. While the book is written for Administrators, database developers will benefit from it as well. This one does a great job of laying it out in plain English. The focus is on daily administration tasks, and there's a heaping helping of SQL commands as well. Highly recommended.

Basic things for beginners
This book is clearly targeted for the beginners and it is a good reference for them. Also, if you are an experienced SQL 2000 DBA/developer and want to get basic but neccessary information on SQL 2005 administration, this is an excellent book.

This covers most areas well except:

1)Security, user, and schema administration. This book's coverage is very scanty.
2)Replication: very basic coverage at best and it will not help you understand SQL 2005 replication very much.
3)Data Mirroring: this part is OK, except it doesn't cover it in details as it needs to.
4)Log shipping: Maybe half a page dedicated to it.
5)Clustering: no coverage whatsoever.
6)T-SQL: almost no coverage except for administrative matters ("alter database/table" etc).
7)Performance tuning: almost none.


... Read more

Product Description
Here’s the practical, pocket-sized reference for IT professionals supporting Microsoft Windows Server 2003—fully updated for Service Pack 1 and Release 2. Designed for quick referencing, this portable guide covers all the essentials for performing everyday system administration tasks. Topics include managing workstations and servers, using Microsoft Active Directory® directory service, creating and administering user and group accounts, managing files and directories, data security and auditing, data back-up and recovery, network administration using TCP/IP, WINS, and DNS, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

nice reference book to have
nice book to have around, but more and more lately I seem to be going to Google for my questions, and getting faster answers. Still, when a computer or internet isn't avaiable, it's a good reference to have.

Pages Separating From Binding
After reading good reviews of this book by Author William R. Stanek, I purchased a copy from Amazon. From what I've read so far, the information contained within seems great. My problem is with the actual pages separating from the binding. As I'm reading up on the subject of Group Policy on page 95, the pages were coming apart from the binding. After reading some reviews of other Microsoft Press books on Amazon, I noticed this seems to be a common problem. How can this be a reference to use over and over again if the pages are falling out. Any chance of getting a new copy that remains together after turning a few pages?

Stanek's Best Book - Easy to read
This book covers with essential information for a network administrator.

The author is very knowledge about the Windows 2003 server and the book is very well written in very simple readable manner with lots of "screen shots".

This is the book I used the most!You will be amazed how many new things are added in the Windows 2003 Server.The first five chapters covered essentials information like server configuration, system monitoring, and performance tuning etc.Second five chapters covered area like Active Directory and Computer management such like users, group, policies etc.Remaining of the book covered area like RAID, Disaster Recovery, Files Sharing, Printer Server set up, and Network related issues.

The book is simple, easy to read, down to the points for day to day use!I would recommand this book to anyone who are in the System Administration or just want to learn more about Window 2003 Server.It Can't go wrong with $29.99.Get another book by Stanek too if you are a database administrator "Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Administrator's Pocket Consultant".

Great Book
This book is great for quick reference to just about every WinServer2003 issue / reminder that you might need.

Good for system Admin
Well done book. Easy to understand for System Admin. Most of information you need to do your job. ... Read more

Product Description
<>Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Unleashed offers comprehensivecoverage of SQL Server 2005 that goes beyond the basic syntax andinformation you’ll find in the product manuals, providing in-depthinformation derived from the authors’ real-world experience to help youbuild upon your working knowledge of the product and take yourexperience and knowledge to a higher level. This book focuses primarilyon the information needed by system and database administrators, aswell as for users with overlapping duties as both DBA and developer.Included is extensive coverage of the new features and upgraded toolsand capabilities of SQL Server 2005, including .NET Frameworkintegration, Integration Services, Service Broker, Database Mirroringand Snapshots, and Reporting Services.

Customer Reviews (23)

Great book
This book is great, if you need a book to learn more about sql or if you have some problem and you need to find the solution, this is the right book.

Finest technical book I have ever read
This book is hugely informative and superbly written.I have never seen a technical book before which so successfully strikes many perfect balances which are very difficult for most authors to achieve.The book manages to explain difficult topics simply, but without condescension.It manages to be thorough, but without getting lost in a maze of pedantic details designed more to show off what great geniuses the authors are than to actually inform the reader in the best way possible.It manages to thoroughly cover a huge topic without becoming overwhelming.Yes, it is a huge book, but there is no need to be intimidated by it.It is beautifully organized and each section and chapter stands on its own.It is easy to treat this as a reference book and just access the exact information you need when you need it, but just as easy to read from cover to cover, and believe me, you won't regret doing so.It will turn you into an instant SQL Server expert.(Well, maybe not instant since it may take a few months to get through all 1600 pages of this weighty tome, but that's not much in the grand scheme of things.)If you use SQL Server, get this book.Period.

Great Guide for my Needs
This book was what I needed - an overview of the many aspects of SQL Server 2005, with definitions, descriptions, and basic know how.

Mediocre Reference Book
This book is a laundry list of features and how to implement them - not the place to go if you're looking for best practices or even the best choice among a few options.For that use something like Professional SQL Server 2005 Performance Tuning (Programmer to Programmer).

Complaint.
This seller failed to deliver the book. I didn't recieve any thing from the seller for 3 weeks after my order. I contacted them and they refund my order. I'd like to claim my cost of time and energy for all the hessels. But I didn't. Maybe, you can do it. Please reflect this on seller's evaluation.

Andy Hongin Park ... Read more

Product Description

Master the Next-Generation Business Intelligence Tools in SQL Server 2008 R2

Effectively convey meaningful business insights to users across your enterprise with help from this practical guide. Written by a team of business intelligence experts, Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Analytics & Data Visualization shows how to achieve greater information absorption using the latest reporting tools. Learn how to build maps and gauges, integrate OLAP data, and develop dashboards. Security, performance tuning, and cloud computing techniques are also covered in this comprehensive resource.

• Design and deploy chart-based reports using SSRS 2008 R2
• Display geo-spatial map data with location-based indicators
• Visually represent metrics and KPIs on graphs and gauges
• Distribute reports through SharePoint and PerformancePoint
• Create and publish web page parts, dashboards, and mash-ups
• Set up and manage cloud-based services using SQL Azure
• Incorporate data mining and forecasting features with Visio
• Integrate large amounts of data using PowerPoint for Excel
• Derive matrix, table, and chart data from OLAP cubes

Doug Harts is a Services Executive at Microsoft currently helping U.S. Federal agencies implement Microsoft technology roadmaps. He is the author of Microsoft Office 2007 Business Intelligence, and maintains a BI community website at www.OfficeBIcentral.com.

Jim Dugan is a Solutions Architect with the Microsoft Healthcare and Benefits team in Microsoft Federal. He previously served as Technical Director of Microsoft's Technology and Innovation Center in Reston, Virginia.

Tricia Wilcox Almas is a Technical Architect for Business Intelligence Solutions for MicroLink, LLC, a Microsoft Gold Partner. She has been developing solutions and managing IT projects for more than 25 years. ... Read more

Product Description

Get Started on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 in No Time

Learn to use all of the powerful features available in SQL Server 2008 quickly and easily. Microsoft SQL Server 2008: A Beginner's Guide explains the fundamentals of each topic alongside examples and tutorials that walk you through real-world database tasks. Install SQL Server 2008, construct high-performance databases, use powerful Transact-SQL statements, create stored procedures and triggers, and execute simple and complex database queries. Performance tuning, Database Engine security, Business Intelligence, and XML are also covered.     

• Set up, configure, and maintain SQL Server 2008
• Build and manage database objects using Transact-SQL statements
• Create stored procedures and user-defined functions
• Optimize database performance, availability, and reliability
• Implement solid security using authentication, encryption, and authorization
• Automate tasks using SQL Server Agent
• Create reliable data backups and perform flawless system restores
• Use all-new SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence, development, and administration tools
• Learn in detail the SQL Server XML technology (SQLXML)

Customer Reviews (7)

Good introduction
The book focuses on Microsoft SQL Server. It occasionally points out a solution that exists under MS SQL server and not under the ANSI SQL standard.

A small practice database is presented. It is small enough for the reader to key in. It allows the lessons to be experienced hands on.

The examples are generally error free.

Every chapter presents a quiz like set of brief challenges to help the reader practice the previous lessons.

The text can be wordy, but not as wordy as many Microsoft Press books.

Very good book for beginners
This is a very good book for a beginners...It clearly explains the concepts and have enough excersise to practice. I haven't finished the whole book yet, however, so far I liked it...Thanks,

microsoft sql server 2008 a beginners guide
I have not had the opportunity to sit down and read the material. I was satisfied with the condition.

Excellent Work!
Mr Petkovic approaches his writing like a skilled and gifted artisan who is confident and has a complete understanding of a very complex subject (SQL Server).
Our IT group has used his books in preference to those from Microsoft Press and others for several versions.
His chapter layout and content is concise and clear, which is helpful when you need a "Quick Win" on syntax of some related operational question.
As always we rate his work with five stars.

The title is very accurate
If you are new to Microsoft SQL Server and relational databases or have been away from the technology for a while, this book will be very helpful.The author takes time upfront to start you off with the basics of SQL and work his way through most of the functionality in the current version of SQL Server.The examples are simple to understand.I do wish there had been more info on the Spatial Data Types, but that is probably because I am not a beginner on that subject and wanted to dive into more GIS analysis than this book was ready to provide. ... Read more

Product Description
If you're a current or aspiring Windows administrator or consultant, look no further than Mastering Windows Server 2003 for the in-depth, comprehensive, unbiased, and highly readable (some would even say entertaining) coverage readers have come to expect from the leading Windows authority, Mark Minasi. Building on the solid foundation established over years of working with and writing on Windows products, Mark Minasi takes you where few have ventured within Windows Server 2003, Microsoft's flagship network operating system that provides a solution for file and printer sharing, secure Internet connectivity, centralized desktop application deployment, and rich collaboration between businesses, employees, and customers. Anyone evaluating or planning a deployment of .NET Server will benefit immeasurably from Mark Minasi's detailed discussion of Windows Server 2003 installation, configuration, and essential operations. Mark Minasi is a regular keynote speaker at major IT conferences across the country. His training seminars sell out months in advance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (101)

Good buy
Book was in good condition except that the binding and the spine where loose but considering just how thick this book is that's not too surprising. It included the unopened CD in back which contained the entire book in .pdf format.

Well written, but HUGE
I got this as it was one of the top rated books for people who want to learn Server 2003 (usually by those who are seeking MCSA or MCSE certification, as I am) This book is well written and not over technical, but it has a lot of 'fluff'It's as big as the NYC directory over 1700 pages (little over 3" thick) So you won't get through it quickly by any means.So far, I use the searchable CD more than the book to get a better understanding of subjects. I would not recommend this for anyone seeking certification as a sole source of study.I am using this as a supplement to the MOC books I got with my class course and my free 3 month subscription to MS e-learning of the coursed I have already taken and those I have yet to take.If you wish to study for the exams by book alone, there are others by Sybex that are exam specific to get you there.

OK book, could have been better written
I got this book, because I heard Minassi covers subjects well. However, much to my chagrin I discovered he's an AWFUL writer. Point blank, it's hard to read. Not that I'm any better at writing, but at least I can explain something without the reader loosing track of what I'm talking about or droning on and on for pages and pages...I'm not quite sure where he learned to write -- after every read my head hurts...Some of the material is so spread out over several chapters it's hard to focus on a single subject without flipping through several different chapters to get all of the material -- not good. Minassi obviously has good technical skills, but his poor writing skills are a problem. Please don't take this personally, but reading this book is like stabbing myself in the head with a screwdriver -- and I'm an ivy league graduate. I need a book written by someone with a degree in english with a little background in research writing and maybe even some technical writing and college level teaching experience. Dude, you've got to learn to write better.

I really do wish the writers of technical books, especially those proclaimed by the masses and by Microsoft in general to "be the very best of the best" would be authored by more well qualified college Master's or even PhD graduates. I am soooo sick and tired of trying to read network administration and engineering books written by people who have passed all of the Microsoft technology tests, but don't have a good, solid grasp of how to write coherent sentences and lay out logical technical manual frameworks. Some of the former Microsoft soft looks as if it were actually written by high school graduates -- impossible to read and even more difficult to read by college graduates. As a former commercial/government Senior Technical Writer, I expected so much more...Minassi's constant rambling throughout chapters detracts from his obvious generous knowledge on the different server 2003 subjects. I'm sure he's a great system admin, but he's an awful writer.

Please Mr. Minassi, if you write another technical manual keep it accurate, brief and to the point. Cut the fat wherever possible, it's hard to read through it. You could probably have explained the contents of your 1200+ page manual in about 700 pages without all the fluff...

In contrast, the last book I read was by Shaugnhessy on the basics of Cisco CCNA, which was unbelievably easy to read -- the guy's a PhD and it shows. When he says "simple enough for a layman to understand" he's not kidding. He writes like a lawyer -- well. On the other hand, Mr. Minassi doesn't seem to mind not making a whole lot of sense and spreading out even the simplest of topics into an extremely long winded dissertation and then dumping on it a very liberal sprinkling of his personal observations. I really don't need the personal observations and the rambling points of view -- perhaps a warning now and again based on professional experience in the margins will suffice.

I can also tell there is a generous amount of ghost writing going on in this manual. It's very obvious, because some of the other chapters appear to actually make sense and others have a totally different writing style entirely -- perhaps, those are Minassi's, I don't know.

All in all, on a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being the best) I would rate this book a 3 at best in only some of the book'schapters. It is a good buy as a reference manual I suppose, but in a pinch you're better off with a quick reference. This one's a bit long winded.

mark minasi knows Wnidows
Mark is the ultimate expert on Microsoft Windows (server and workstation) I have followed his writing and have looked forward to his books beginng with his first DOS/Hardware entry in the literary environment. For a book as large as this one, he maintains his humor and ability to get the facts presented in a clear and concise manor. My only regret is his future endeavors including Windows 2008, which I recently learned will not be the three volumes initially, offered, but will consist of the W2K8 Networking fundamentals (already released), and a new book to be released after the first of next year W2K8 R2 and W7. Mark, you are too good of an author to not keep writing as prolifically as you once did!!! BTW - I have already pre-ordered this book...
If you want to learn about W2K3, this in the ulitmate authority to purchase from.

The Best!
This is by far the best book of its kind that I have read. I did read it cover to cover - all 1676 pages. And I keep it nearby as a reference. Any Server 2003 admin should regard this as the bible. Excellent content: well written, thoroughly explained and well edited. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (12)

National Award Winner: Society for Technical Communication (STC) Best of Show Award Winner
I'm the project manager for this book, so perhaps I'm a bit biased. :-) However, it is basically unheard of for a technical book of this breadth and depth, with 22 authors, to win this coveted national award. We are very proud of the team that worked so hard, with so much dedication and passion, to make this happen.

In this book you are going to find deep,under-the hood technical information written by subject matter experts who develop, support, deploy, and troubleshoot Communications Server. No one is closer to the product than these authors. They literally wrote this book as the product was being developed.

The ResKit team is now hard at work on version 3 of Communications Server Resource Kit, this time with 35 cross-team authors, and hope you will check out our progress on our new blog, DrRez, at [...]. You can also follow us on Twitter (@DrRez) at [...].

Your ideas and feedback are always welcome and appreciated.

Well done
When I first picked up the book, I thought I knew OCS. Then I read it. It covers everything from client functionality, to expected SIP conversation behavior, to WMI and AD attribute details. I continue to use it as a reference for projects and troubleshooting. It has been and will continue to be a very useful tool.

You won't find a better book on this topic
If you really want to "get under the hood" of OCS, this is the book to have.

Excellent reference guide
This book is a great resource if you want to know the inner details of OCS.
The authors did a great job, it is pretty hard to explain complex content in the clear way they did.
If you are looking for an excellent reference guide for OCS, this is it.
As a bonus, on the cd you will find a nice set of powershell scripts.

Great reference book for OCS guys
This is a great reference book for OCS R2. It brought my skill and knowledge to another level. It's extremly useful for OCS consultants and administrators. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is now out of print and has been replaced by "Beginning SQL Joes 2 Pros". http://www.amazon.com/Beginning-SQL-Joes-Pros-Hands/dp/143925317X/ref=pd_sim_b_1 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

There is a newer version of this book
There is an updated version of this book. I wouldn't recommend the old version now that the updated version is available. Don't let the change in the title fool you, the link below is to an updated version of this book, not a different book.

Beginning SQL Joes 2 Pros: The SQL Hands-On Guide for Beginners (SQL Exam Prep Series 70-433 Volume 1 of 5) (Sql Design Series)

SQL Server ->Taught the way it should be
I lost my IT job. I wanted to upgrade my skills and learn SQL Server 2008. I stumbled upon the Joes2Pros Videos in You Tube. I came to Amazon and saw everyone that used the Joes2Pros SQL Server 2008 books gave it a 5 rating. Once you start using the book you'll understand why. Its like no other technical book I've ever used.
Each lesson builds your abilities and knowledge from the prior chapters in a very intelligent way. You see the material and do the lessons and you learn. You are writing SQL queries as you go and are not bombarded with technical jargon all at once. If you follow the book and do the exercises as go, you can't help but be be proficient in writing SQL Querys. This is the first of 5 books in a series preparing you for a SQL-Server 2008 certication. This book is kind of a SQL Server 2008 overview that starts from SELECT statements and goes all the way to using DML,DDL,DCL,TCL. I could not recommend it any higher. I've purchased Book 2 of the series which is equally as good. I plan on getting all 5 books and then getting my SQL Server 2008 Developer certification.

Best way to learn T-SQL
Short, concise, and easy-to-read.Gets right to the point teaching basic T-SQL syntax.Downloadable CompanionCD includes lab setup scripts, answer scripts (to the included quizzes), resource files, and even animated PowerPoint files which build code debugging skills on the topics covered in each chapter.This is a well thought-out approach to teaching this language.I would love to see this author take on other languages like VB.NET as well!Very well done.Buy the 2nd book in this series and you'll be a T-SQL pro in no time!

Open This Book Open Your Understanding
Hello, I want to recommend Rick Morelan's Joes 2 Pros teaching aids as a must have in your quest to learn Microsoft SQL server 2008. I am currently a student In a 12 to 36 week Intensive program that teaches business intelligence. Learning SQL in a Microsoft environment is my goal and purpose but the instruction leaves me void of a complete understanding. The pace of the course; as you may already know is extremely fast; this is because most of these programs are set up just to make money off the BI and IT boom and If you are a novice or an enthusiast wanting to learn SQL you'll get swallowed up as the course progress through topics such as recursive queries, pivots, CTE, and the various joins: leaving you confused and frustrated.


Nevertheless, after failing several test in my BI course and after wanting to throw in the towel; I was up late one night contemplating about my next steps and I discovered Rick's Joes2Pros videos on YouTube; they were so clear and concise I knew then that I had to have them If I wanted to be successful in my course; that I already paid 19,000 thousand dollars for. I purchase Rick's DVD's and every one of his teaching aids I found on Amazon and I can tell you that this was the best move I made. If I knew any better I would not have taken the 19,000 Bi classes to learn SQL I would have just purchased Rick's books which are excellent teaching aids that cater to your overall understand of SQL server 2008 in a Microsoft environment. I have been help immenselyI now understandjoins and other concept thatIhad trouble with in my BI course which I now have learned from theJoes2Pros teaching aids; I know you would agree ;if you to made Joes2Pros the center piece of you SQL server collection.

The Best Book to learn SQL
First I want to thank Mr.Rick Morelan for writing such a valuable book, this is a must buy book for those who has no prior knowledge of SQL this book will teach you in step by step process and the best part is Read, View and Do approach with good practical labs.
I can't wait to buy the other SQL books from Joes 2 Pros Series. ... Read more

Product Description
Setting up and maintaining a Linux server requires understanding not only the hardware, but the ins and outs of the Linux operating system along with its supporting cast of utilities as well as layers of applications software.There's basic documentation online but there's a lot beyond the basics you have to know, and this only comes from people with hands-on, real-world experience.This kind of"know how" is what we sought to capture in Linux Server Hacks.Linux Server Hacks is a collection of 100 industrial-strength hacks, providing tips and tools that solve practical problems for Linux system administrators.Every hack can be read in just a few minutes but will save hours of searching for the right answer. Some of the hacks are subtle, many of them are non-obvious, and all of them demonstrate the power and flexibility of a Linux system. You'll find hacks devoted to tuning the Linux kernel to make your system run more efficiently, as well as using CVS or RCS to track the revision to system files.You'll learn alternative ways to do backups, how to use system monitoring tools to track system performance and a variety of secure networking solutions. Linux Server Hacks also helps you manage large-scale Web installations running Apache, MySQL, and other open source tools that are typically part of a Linux system. O'Reilly's new Hacks Series proudly reclaims the term "hacking" for the good guys. Hackers use their ingenuity to solve interesting problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (32)

Shows it age but...
This book shows its age (which is quite expected since GNU/Linux is such a fast moving target) but still includes some good tips and tricks for system administration and advanced level use of GNU/Linux systems. If you're some who really need this book then you'll also need 'Linux Server Hacks, Volume Two: Tips & Tools for Connecting, Monitoring, and Troubleshooting'.

Useful Tips & Tools
The tips are very useful in datacenter, daily.
This tips & tools about the things inside Linux O/S, such as:

Linux administration basic, backup, networking, SSH, Scripting, DNS.

Good Bang for your buck
This series is a great place to start learning the some of the most useful aspects of linux in a networked environment. The examples used in the book are very well laid out and documented. My only gripe is that the subject is a little dated but overall it is still a very good book.

This is a great reference book, power users will find this book helpful as well as the second edition. One can expect to learn some of the fundamentals of linux with this book; backup, network shares, hostkeys, centralizing,and some other nifty one off mini-programs. This won't replace a lot of hard work, but it will make you think how you can work smarter.

Good first step into being a Linux Sysadmin
When you're ready to take your Linux expertise from the "desktop" level to the "server" level, this is the right place to start. It avoids trying to teach you everything and instead sprinkles your brain with possibilities. There are some interesting ways to do things and as your skill grows you'll find more uses for what's in the book.

The only downers were the Version Control chapter--everyone has a preference and most methods have decent tutorials, and the use of perl in scripts. If you're good in perl then you can expand the scripts, otherwise it'd be cleaner and better to use Bash for the script examples.

Great book for intermediate users
If you are an aspiring Linux hacker/guru, you need this book.Sure, a lot of this information can be found online, but this book is so cheap there's no reason not to have a copy.

I read this book after I'd tinkered a bit with Linux and taken a few online "system administration" courses in it.I knew the basics of operating Linux, but had no clue where to go next.If you've been through the "textbook" courses and want to take your next step, this is a good book to help you get your hands dirty setting up some useful stuff. ... Read more

Product Description
Take your Windows Server 2003 knowledge to the next level! Designed for Windows system administrators, this definitive resource delivers in-depth information about installing and configuring Windows Server 2003, performing upgrades and migrations, automating deployments, implementing security features, managing software updates and patches, administering users and accounts, managing Active Directory® directory services, and more. With INSIDE OUT, you’ll discover the best and fastest ways to perform core administrative tasks, with an award-winning format that makes it easy to find exactly the tips, troubleshooting solutions, and workarounds you need. In addition, the CD-ROM contains an eBook and more than 100 timesaving tools and scripts. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (29)

Not for an real administrator
Show me the pages wich describe how to replace a primary domain controller. Or how to set up RIS the right way with all kind of differend hardware. The info the book gives is not inside out information thats why the 1 star. If you want to get an overview of server 2003 this book could work for you. But dont expect to learn daily stuff work.

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Inside Out
I found that this book contained information and detail that exceeded what would turn up in a typical web search.The book devotes around 200 pages just to AD.I have several books and this one actually gets used!

Very Good Book
I recently bought a copy of this book. I saw it on the desk of a colleague at work and decided to have a look. Itis really great and I also like the writing style of Stanek. My only regret isthat I didn't purchase it earlier. This would have saved me considerably time and effort in researching several administration problems that may crop up from time to time.

THE BEST ONE STOP RESOURCE
I needed a comprehensive book on Windows Server 2003 and this is the one I picked after reading through all the others at the bookstore. Stanek has the most comprehensive coverage I've ever seen in a single book on security, filesystems/availability, Active Directory, and most anything else you'd want to know about Windows Server. I've been an admin for 12 years and there's things I learned that I'll admit I didn't even know Windows Server could do. As an example, this book has TWO performance monitoring and tuning chapters. These chapters cover remote monitoring, command-line monitoring, performance logging, etc. Chapter 19 covers both MBR and GPT disks as well as SANs, RAIDs. Chapter 20 covers everything you'd ever want to know about NTFS including hard links, data streams, journaling, reparse points, sparse files, disk quotas, etc. Chapter 22 is covers shadow copy from its internals to everything about how it works. Chapter 24 covers everything you need to know about IP addressing and subnetting. There are two chapters on DNS with everything from setup to troubleshooting. Some of the best coverage is on Active Directory. There's eight chapters and the 300 pages covers more than some other entire books on the subject. Get this book jump straight to Chapter 12 and keep reading until you get to Chapter 41. You'll learn a lifetime's worth of knowledge and get more expert advice than in any other book. Thank you Mr. Stanek for such an excellent book.

Very Detailed and Easy To Read
I have not read too many books about Windows 2003 Server but this book is far beyond of my expactations. ... Read more