Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure

Will Willis (MCSE, A+ Certified Technician, Network+, B.A.) is a Senior Network Administrator for an international software-development company in the Dallas, Texas area. He is responsible for the network and server infrastructure, for documentation, maintaining disaster recovery preparedness, antivirus strategies, firewalls/network security, infrastructure (servers, routers, switches, hubs) maintenance and upgrades, and ensuring the reliability and availability of network resources.

Will started out as a help desk tech, providing technical support over the phone for PC hardware and software and later moved up to a desktop/LAN support specialist position working on a team of eight to support a 3,000+ user multiple-site network. From that position, Will moved into a job as a network manager, where he also administered multiple Active Directory domains and servers running BackOffice applications Exchange Server, IIS, Site Server, SQL Server, and SMS. He enjoys spending time with his family and writing and recording original music when not busy being a techie; he can be reached at WWillis@Inside-Corner.com. Will has co-authored eight books and scores of technical articles to date. He has also written practice exams and tech edited many titles. His first album of guitar-based instrumental music, Darkness into Light, was released in late 2002. Will is also a seminary student, pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology. More information on Will can be found at http://www.willwillis.us.

David V. Watts (MCSE, MCSD, CNE, and Network+) currently directs customer and professional services for the European, Middle Eastern, and African (EMEA) headquarters of Altiris, Inc., a software company dedicated to developing and implementing systems-management software for both small businesses and global enterprises.

Born in Basildon, Essex, United Kingdom, David relocated to the United States in 1988, where he worked for 14 years in information technology as both a project lead for and consultant to enterprise-level deployments of Microsoft technologies. In 2002, he relocated once again―to Landau, Germany, a small city located amid the vineyards of the Rhineland―to fill the Director of Customer Services position Altiris had just created in conjunction with its expanding presence throughout the European market. In this role, David travels widely and frequently.

David has played with, exploited, and (sometimes) cursed Windows 2003 since its beta version. Along the way, he accumulated expertise with Altiris Notification Server 6.0 and Altiris Deployment Server. Along with these, he has worked extensively with Microsoft BackOffice products, including Microsoft Systems Management Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Exchange.

When not accumulating frequent-flyer miles, David monopolizes his home theatre system with marathon screening sessions for the worst (and thus the best) horror films produced within the last 70 years. His long-suffering wife and three mutts have noted an especially rabid passion for Italian giallos and gorefests and prefer his other obsessions: music (especially modern and experimental jazz) and photography. David can be reached at dwatts@altiris.com.

Brian McCann is a trainer and consultant specializing in Active Directory and network security. He is the owner of Diesel Technologies, a training and consulting company dedicated to helping small-to-medium-size businesses with their IT needs.

He has worked in the IT field for 10 years and started his career in the U.S. Army. His teaching credits have come from local training centers, community colleges, and also just under 3 years of experience teaching live synchronous training over the Web. Brian has spent the last 5 years teaching students from all over the world on technologies such as Active Directory, PKI, DNS, IIS, and many more.

Brian has been recognized by Microsoft as one of its "Go to Trainers" and holds an MCSE and MCT certification.

Marc Savage is the Senior National Technical Advisor and Technical Trainer for Polar Bear Corporate Education Solutions. Combined with more than seven years experience in microcomputer training and systems development in the private, public, and non-profit organization sector his professional expertise is focused particularly on providing companies with a clear vision and direction in regards to Microsoft products. Marc currently holds the following certifications: MCT, MCSE NT4, MCSE W2K, MCSA, CNE 4.11, A+, NETWORK+. Marc lives in Ottawa, Canada with his lovely wife Lynne and two daughters Isabelle and Carolyne.

Bill Ferguson, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, MCP+I, CCSI, CCNA, A+, Network+, Server+, Security+, has been in the computer industry for more than 15 years. Originally in technical sales and sales management with Sprint, Bill made his transition to Certified Technical Trainer in 1997 with ExecuTrain. Bill now runs his own company as an independent contractor from Birmingham, Alabama, teaching classes for most of the national training companies and some regional training companies. In addition, Bill writes and produces technical training videos for Virtual Training Company, Inc. and Specialized Solutions, Inc. He currently has titles including A+, Network+, Windows 2000 Management, Windows XP Management, Windows 2000 Security, Server+, and Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices. Bill keeps his skills sharp by being a technical reviewer for books and sample tests for Que Certification and McGraw-Hill Technical. He is currently co-authoring the 70-297 Exam Cram 2 title for Que Publishing and producing a training video for the 70-292 MCSA Skills Upgrade test for QuickCert. Bill says, "My job is to understand the material so well that I can make it easier for my students to learn than it was for me to learn."