Microsoft ISA Configuration and Administration

Microsoft ISA Configuration and Administration is first out of the gate with printed information about Microsoft's upcoming Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, and it's clear that author Curt Simmons--a respected expert in Windows 2000 matters--has done his work accurately and clearly, as well as quickly. The how-to material in this book is based on the final version of ISA Server, and it's packed with practical information on how to configure the product as a proxy server, firewall, cache server, and even an H.323 telephony gatekeeper. Readers can use this volume as an advance look at how networks will change with the introduction of ISA Server, as an implementation guide, or (though it's not explicitly organized for such) as a test-prep aid for the Microsoft ISA Server 2000 exam (70-227).

The book does a great job of combining design advice ("If you choose to use SSL [in server arrays], you must configure a server-side certificate so that clients can be authenticated...") with procedures to follow step-by-step, and documentation of the functions of interface elements. It also explains the processes that go on behind the scenes. Q&A sections contain both relevant questions and concise, detailed answers. --David Wall

Topics covered: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, explained in terms that will appeal to network administrators and designers. Gloriously detailed information (both background and procedural) appears on all of ISA Server's capabilities, including firewalling, packet filtering, caching, intrusion detection, and existence within a server cluster.