DNS Administration Book Reviews

DNS on Windows Server 2003

While computers and other devices identify each other on networks or the Internet by using unique addresses made up of numbers, humans rely on the Domain Name System (DNS), the distributed database that allows us to identify machines by name. DNS does the work of translating domain names into numerical IP addresses, routing mail to its proper destination, and many other services, so that users require little or no knowledge of the system. If you’re a network or system administrator, however, configuring, implementing, and maintaining DNS zones can be a formidable challenge. And now, with Windows Server 2003, an understanding of the workings of DNS is even more critical. DNS on Windows Server 20003 is a special Windows-oriented edition of the classic DNS and BIND, newly updated to document the many changes to DNS, large and small, found in Windows Server 2003. Veteran O’Reilly authors, Cricket Liu, Matt Larson, and Robbie Allen explain the whole system in terms of the new Windows Server 2003, from starting and stopping a DNS service to establishing an organization’s namespace in the global hierarchy. Besides covering general issues like installing, setting up, and maintaining the server, DNS on Windows Server 2003 tackles the many issues specific to the new Windows environment, including the use of the dnscmd program to manage the Microsoft DNS Server from the command line and development using the WMI DNS provider to manage the name server programmatically. The book also documents new features of the Microsoft DNS Server in Windows Server 2003, including conditional forwarding and zone storage in Active Directory (AD) application partitions. DNS on Windows Server 2003 provides grounding in: Security issues System tuning

Rating: (out of 10 reviews)

List Price: $ 49.99
Price: $ 41.34

DNS on Windows Server 2003 Reviews

Review by :

This book is well-written and very easy to read. It covers all the basics of DNS and the specifics around Windows Server 2003 DNS. The AD chapter is a gem!I have to disagree with reviewer “Santhosh Sivarajan”. Just as with the base OS, there weren’t huge differences with DNS between 2000 and 2003, but I think this book did a good job in covering the differences. All the major enhancements including conditional forwarding and stub zones were covered in detail. Also, contrary to what Santhosh said, application partitions are covered in depth in the AD chapter.In short, if you are running Windows Server 2003 DNS, you won’t go wrong with this book.

Review by Cisco Kid Redux:

As in-depth as you will get on DNS for Windows 2003. A recent reviewer stated that it’s much of the same. Well, much of it really is; and if you”ve been working with DNS for as long as many of us, nothing about its operations should be new to you. The most significant “tweaks” in DNS in the past few years have been done by Microsoft, to support their AD/200x line – those features are detailed quite specifically in this book (it’s what this is all about anyway). And with AD continually evolving, chapters such as Managing DNS Programmatically (with WMI completely in mind) should be of utmost importance for the practicing MS administrator (that is, if you’ve really read the book!)

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Linux Dns Server Administration (Craig Hunt Linux Library)

Written specifically for Linux administrators, this text is a complete, advanced guide to all things DNS as it pertains to Linux. Contains hundreds of clear, consistent examples, and shows how to master the features of BIND 8, and offers a look at the upcoming BIND 9. Instruction on a plethora of advanced tasks. Softcover. Linux, which is well suited to fire-and-forget applications that require high reliability, can make an excellent foundation on which to build a Domain Name System (DNS) server. Linux DNS Server Administration shows how to do that, treating Linux generically (the book sticks to features of the 2.x kernel that are common to all distributions) and showing how to configure Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND) on top of that base. The result is a technical document that’s focused, detailed, and oriented toward the practical considerations–such as security–of real-world system administration. Because providing DNS service isn’t as much a matter of administration as of proper initial setup, Linux DNS Server Administration spends about half the time describing what a DNS server does and explaining how to get BIND service going. It mainly steers clear of “do-this, do-that” instructions, favoring statements of problems and their solutions (with lots of configuration file listings), instead. A similar approach later shows how to plug known security holes, configure logging, and optimize performance. For more information on DNS and BIND, check out the classic DNS and BIND. Although it’s not focused specifically on Linux, that’s the definitive work on name resolution under Unix generically. –David Wall Topics covered: Domain Name System (DNS)

Rating: (out of 5 reviews)

List Price: $ 39.99
Price: $ 32.50

Linux Dns Server Administration (Craig Hunt Linux Library) Reviews

Review by John P. Hoke:

If you can only buy one book for running BIND on Linux, this is your book. Craig Hunt walks you through configuring DNS for many straight-forward, day to day configurations, as well as some quite esoteric setups and needs. The coverage of security and BIND is quite good, with ample explanations of the security issues of running a DNS server, ways to stop the “common” hacks of BIND, and options to look into for greater security (DNSSec, dedicated DNS server, keysigning, etc). The book’s organization lends itself to reading cover to cover, picking up more details and better understanding as you go, while skipping areas that may or may not be germain to your particular situation (BIND 9, DNSSec etc).This series of books from Sybex is turning out to be one of the best for Linux Administrators, the other titles (that I own) cover SAMBA and Apache, and are just as well written and compotent. While their are other books on BIND out there (such as DNS & BIND by O’Reilly) this one is the most approachable, and without sacrificing techinical details of an often misunderstood topic.

Review by Sean Nel:

After strugling for two weeks trying to figure out Linux Server setups (specifically DNS) I got this book. This was the third book I bought (the other two just confused me more) and I wish I bought it first. It is clear and concise with good examples. It is readable and not just DBA-jargon and for once someone understood that if you are going to buy a book on how to set up a DNS, It means that you most probably are not familiar with all the little hidden details that needs to be remembered along the lines. I would suggest this book to everyone, from the first-timers (newbies?) to the more proficient webmaster looking for some more internet security!All I can say is “It’s a great book!”

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Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administration

Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administration is a complete guide to setting up and running a TCP/IP network on Windows NT. Windows NT and TCP/IP have long had a close association, and this is the first book to focus exclusively on NT networking with TCP/IP. It starts with the fundamentals–what the protocols do and how they work, how addresses and routing move data through the network, and how to set up your network connection. Beyond that, all the important networking services provided as part of Windows NT– including IIS, RRAS, DNS, WINS, and DHCP–are presented in detail. This book is the NT administrator’s indispensable guide.The world runs on IP addresses and the transmission of data between them, and Windows NT controls an increasing number of TCP/IP networks. Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administration helps demystify the aspects of Windows NT that relate to TCP/IP. Craig Hunt wrote the standard book on TCP/IP under Unix–TCP/IP Network Administration–and he and Robert Thompson have applied their skills with equal aplomb to Windows NT 4. The authors don’t assume too much here–they explain how IP addressing and TCP sessions work in general before diving into the specifics of TCP/IP under Windows NT. Readers learn the essentials of packets, addresses, routing, name resolution, subnets, and sockets before Hunt and Thompson trundle out a single Windows NT screen shot. Windows NT coverage is comprehensive and authoritative. Beginning with a walkthrough of TCP/IP installation under the operating system, Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administration proceeds to reveal the details of all services that relate to TCP/IP. The book includes coverage of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Windows Internet Name Service (WINS), Domain Name Service (DNS), Routing and

Rating: (out of 13 reviews)

List Price: $ 37.95
Price: $ 0.04

Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administration Reviews

Review by :

There are so many NT TCP books available that I decided to head for the mall and check them out at the B&N. I sat on the floor for most of the afternoon reading this and several competing titles, comparing coverage and checking several things that I already knew something about. This book was by far the best of the bunch. It’s comprehensive, clearly written, full of useful information and tips, and completely devoid of fluff. In other words, a typical O’Reilly book. Buy this one. You won’t regret it.

Review by K. G. Schneider:

If I could buy only five books to help me run my network, Windows Nt Tcp/Ip Network Administration would be near the top of that list. (Another would be Minasi’s Mastering NT Server 4.) The advice is detailed and practical, the writing is down-to-earth, and it’s obvious that the authors are deeply familiar with the protocols and applications they are writing about. I start with this book first when I have a TCP-IP question–even before TechNet, because Hunt and Thompson give you the real skinny, not the “company” answer. Also–and this is rare for technical titles–this book is carefully-edited and a pleasure to read.

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BIND 9 DNS Administration Reference Book

The BIND 9 DNS Administration Reference Book is a convenient resource covering the tools and configurations for the ISC BIND 9 DNS software suite. BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) is the most commonly-used DNS server on the Internet. BIND provides the named DNS server, a resolver library, and various tools for operating and verifying the DNS server and configurations. The BIND 9 implementation includes DNSSEC for signed zones, TSIG for signed DNS requests, IPv6 support, incremental zone transfers (IXFR), dynamic DNS, zone change notifications, EDNS0, multiple views, multi- processor support, and more. This printed book is based on a variety of open source documentation included with the BIND source code, including the definitive references for the configuration syntax and grammar and the usage of the BIND programs. New chapters and content were added, including many examples and detailed indexing and cross-referencing. This BIND 9 DNS Administration Reference Book corresponds to BIND 9.5 and also covers some differences between older versions.

Rating: (out of 1 reviews)

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Price: $ 18.81

BIND 9 DNS Administration Reference Book Reviews

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Microsoft Windows 2000 DNS: Implementation and Administration

This book focuses on the implementation and interoperability of Windows 2000 DNS with other current DNS architectures. Most DNS implementations are UNIX-based (BIND) and MS administrators will need to acquire stronger knowledge in this area. This book will focus on integration and less about Microsoft positioning (i.e. the shortcomings of different DNS models and how Microsoft tries to be “cutting edge”.)

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Price: $ 3.87

TCP/IP Network Administration (3rd Edition; O’Reilly Networking)

This complete guide to setting up and running a TCP/IP network is essential for network administrators, and invaluable for users of home systems that access the Internet. The book starts with the fundamentals — what protocols do and how they work, how addresses and routing are used, how to set up your network connection — then covers advanced routing protocols, and provides tutorials on configuring important network services. This third edition includes ways of configuring Samba to provide file and print sharing on networks that integrate Unix and Windows, and tackles the important task of configuring the Apache web server. Network security coverage now includes details on OpenSSH, stunnel, gpg, iptables, and the access control mechanism in xinetd. Plus, the book offers updated information about DNS, including details on BIND 8 and BIND 9, the role of classless IP addressing and network prefixes, and the changing role of registrars is inlcuded. This hands-on book is a must-have for all network administrators.This book will be indispensable to Unix system administrators. It describes how to set up and administer a network of Unix systems using the TCP/IP protocols, taking a thoroughly practical approach. Topics covered include basic system configuration, routing, common network applications, and many others.

Rating: (out of 31 reviews)

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TCP/IP Network Administration (3rd Edition; O’Reilly Networking) Reviews

Review by :

Firstable, I would like to state that if you plan to use this book on Windows-based network, you better think it over. Although TCP/IP concept applies to any network that complies to TCP/IP (like Windows and UNIX), this book is better be used on UNIX-based network. If you use Windows for your network, I think you better get the author’s Windows version: “Windows NT TCP/IP Network Administration”.For command examples in this book, author used Linux and Sun Solaris. But this book should apply on any UNIX operating system (including HP-UX, BSD, Mac OS X, and AIX). There might be a little command adjustment needed for specific UNIX operating system, which should be not causing trouble at all.As said by other reviewers, this book explains a complete aspects of what any UNIX system administration should concern about. Even if you are only an end user; this book I think is also important to you, especially when the system administrator is not available.The book gives a comprehensive idea of TCP/IP system. It starts on TCP/IP overview, IP addressing, IP routing (routing table and ARP), DNS, server configuration, and file and print server (chapter 1, 2, and 3). Chapter 4 to 5 concerns on how UNIX operating system configure the network.Chapter 6 to 9 are the next step on configuration. They prepare you how to make every network component internetwork to each other. Chapter 10 to 12 are overview on more advanced topics. Finally, chapter 13 presents you how to get more info on TCP/IP specification.I would like to point out that this book assumes some conditions. The author expected that the audiances have a fair knowledge of TCP/IP. If you think that you have a little or no prior knowledge, I suggest that you read the following books on TCP/IP. You should first read “Internetworking with TCP/IP Vol. 1: Principles, Protocols, and Architectures” by Douglas Comer, “TCP/IP Addressing” by Buck Graham, and “IP Addressing and Subnetting” by J.D. Wegner.If you are a more advanced reader who needs to know more about certain topics, here are my suggestion. For those who need to take a closer look on ARP frames and packets, you should read “TCP/IP Illustrated Vol. 1: The Protocols” by Richard Stevens. Need more troubleshooting tips? Read “Network Analysis and Troubleshooting” J. Scott Haugdahl. Prefer on network security? Have “Building Internet Firewalls” by Elizabeth Zwicky and “Intrusion Signatures and Analysis” by Mark Cooper.As a network administration, I personally love this book. Together with “UNIX System Administration Handbook” by Evi Nemeth and “UNIX Powertools” by Jerry Peek; they make a sufficient reference for any UNIX system administrators and end users, especially if you are new to the subjects. The coverages are step by step and thorough. You should have no worries using or administrating UNIX network with this book and all other I mentioned before.

Review by Richard Bejtlich:

I am responsible for a 50+ person intrusion detection mission, and I read this book in February 2000 to supplement my knowledge of TCP/IP. Like other great technical books, this volume manages to educate the reader on subjects related to TCP/IP, while still covering the main material thoroughly. (I place Rod Smith’s “Multi-Boot Configuration Handbook in this category as well.) This is the type of book that tempts you to highlight chunks of text on every page. Keep in mind the audience is a system administrator, so theory is supplemented by suggested best practices and configuration options. I’m looking forward to an updated version of the Windows version of TCP/IP Network Administration — any publication dates available, Craig?

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Automating System Administration with Perl

If you do systems administration work of any kind, you have to deal with the growing complexity of your environment and increasing demands on your time. Automating System Administration with Perl, Second Edition, not only offers you the right tools for your job, but also suggests the best way to approach specific problems and to securely automate recurring tasks.Updated and expanded to cover the latest operating systems, technologies, and Perl modules, this edition of the “Otter Book” will help you:Manage user accountsMonitor filesystems and processesWork with configuration files in important formats such as XML and YAMLAdminister databases, including MySQL, MS-SQL, and Oracle with DBIWork with directory services like LDAP and Active DirectoryScript email protocols and spam controlEffectively create, handle, and analyze log filesAdminister network name and configuration services, including NIS, DNS and DHCPMaintain, monitor, and map network services, using technologies and tools such as SNMP, nmap, libpcap, GraphViz and RRDtoolImprove filesystem, process, and network securityThis edition includes additional appendixes to get you up to speed on technologies such as XML/XPath, LDAP, SNMP, and SQL. With this book in hand and Perl in your toolbox, you can do more with less — fewer resources, less effort, and far less hassle.

Rating: (out of 8 reviews)

List Price: $ 31.99
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Automating System Administration with Perl Reviews

Review by W. D. Freeman:

Perl occupies the sweet spot between shell scripting and C programming, with the ability to lean as far as you’d like in either direction. As a sysadmin, Perl is better than a tool — its the perfect tool for building tools, and this book is at the top of a very short list of texts which help bring to bear the full power of the best language for cutting down complex tasks down to size.

I’ve read a lot of Perl books and I own most of the O’Reilly books on the topic. The Otter Book, however, is the one which I cart around with me in my laptop bag wherever I go and is the first place I look for hints on how to attack problems that I face at work or home. It’s chocked full of working examples and hints and tips on how to customize them, as well as plenty of context as to why these suggestions work the way they do.

The book is very well written and I highly recommend it to anyone, whether they are a professional admin or just want to cut out some of the repetitive tasks of managing their own workstation.

Review by Tobias Oetiker:

On times I think that having books on Unix or current computing topics in general is an oddity at best. Isn’t all the information we need readily available via Google, some blogs and for Perl CPAN? But then again as I was reviewing the second installment of Davids Otter book I found my self quite often amazed at all the little gotchas and tricks David added in. There are so many tools available today that this book severs as an invaluable guide through the jungle of possibilities in doing efficient System Administration. David does not praise a single solution to all problems. He rather gives detailed advice on succeeding in various scenarios. Yes the book is also about doing sysadmining with perl, but it comes natural and is in no way a language advocacy piece on the finer points of perl programming. It is both wide and deep by providing detailed examples in actual working code. I can highly recommend this book for both seasoned as well aspiring master craftsmen.

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DNS in Action: A detailed and practical guide to DNS implementation, configuration, and administration

A detailed and practical guide to DNS implementation, configuration, and administration Technically detailed with practical solutions Comprehensive guide to configuration and administration of DNS servers Covers DNS Extensions, delegation, and registration In Detail The Domain Name System is one of the foundations of the internet. It is the system that allows the translation of human-readable domain names into machines-readable IP addresses and the reverse translation of IP addresses into domain names. This book describes the basic DNS protocol and its extensions; DNS delegation and registration, including for reverse domains; using DNS servers in networks that are not connected to the internet; and using DNS servers on firewall machines. Many detailed examples are used throughout the book to show perform various configuration and administration tasks. What you will learn from this book? This book covers all the basic as well as advanced uses of DNS:

Chapter 1 introduces basic DNS concepts, such as domains and subdomains, domain naming syntax, reverse domains, zones, queries, resolvers, name servers, forwarder servers.

Chapter 2 explains the DNS protocol, focusing on DNS query. The chapter makes use of several examples of DNS client-server communication. Including an example of a non-existent RR query and its answer, communication with a root server, and TCP and UDP DNS queries.

Chapter 3 describes extension to the DNS protocol, including DNS Update, DNS Notify, Incremental Zone Transfer, Negative caching, DNS IPv6 Extension, DNSsec, and TSIG.

Chapter 4 discusses name server implementations, focusing on Bind, versions 4, 8, and 9. The use and configuration of the program named is explained in detail. The chapter also discusses the Windows 2000 implementation.

Chapter 5 covers DNS tuning and administration and tools, such as named-checkconf, named-checkzone, nslookup, dnswalk,

Rating: (out of 2 reviews)

List Price: $ 29.99
Price: $ 26.99

DNS in Action: A detailed and practical guide to DNS implementation, configuration, and administration Reviews

Review by Geoffrey Sisson:

According to the title page of this book, it is an English translation

of a Czech book (ISBN 80-722-6675-6) published in 2003, apparently from

a manuscript completed in 2001 (based on the dates used in the

examples).

The content has not been appreciably updated, if it’s been updated at

all. For example, in Section 3.5.1 and 3.5.2, the book discusses AAAA

and A6 resource records, noting “The use of the AAAA record will not

prevail in the future, though”. However, the IETF moved the A6 record

to EXPERIMENTAL status in 2001 (!), effectively deprecating it in favor

of AAAA. In fact, the book is dangerously out-of-date, as it has an

extensive treatment of BIND 4 without anywhere noting that the

ISC — the maintainer of BIND — deprecated BIND 4 in 1997. (BIND 4 is

now widely regarded as unsafe for use in a production environment.)

The woefully dated content isn’t the only problem. The translation

from Czech is sloppy, with many typographical errors and awkward

sentences. There are many artifacts from what was presumably initially

a machine translation. There are also quite a few minor inaccuracies,

and negligible coverage of security issues (other than a section on an

obsoleted version DNSSEC).

In short, I cannot warn strongly enough against this book. It’s

inadequate, even as a primer. I would recommend one of these

immeasurably better books on DNS for anyone at any level

seeking to learn more about DNS:

– Pro DNS and BIND, by Ron Aitchison

(ISBN 1590594940)

– DNS and BIND (5th Edition), by Cricket Liu and Paul Albitz

(ISBN 0596100574)

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