O'Reilly Press Room: Zero Administration for Windows Offers Vital Assistance for Sys Admins

May 18, 1999

Zero Administration for Windows Offers Vital Assistance for Sys Admins

SEBASTOPOL, CA -- Microsoft developed the Windows NT Zero Administration Kit (ZAK) to help system administrators manage large numbers of client applications efficiently. The Zero Administration Kit uses a pre-configured set of system policies and user profiles on Windows NT Workstation 4.0 and Windows 95 with an automated setup tool to centralize configuration, eliminate local access to the desktop computer, and allow applications and data to be stored on the network server, giving IT Managers centralized control and management of both applications and data. O'Reilly's latest release, Zero Administration for Windows by Craig Zacker, gives sys admins the background and techniques required to automate manual configuration, customize the scripts, prevent users from creating configuration problems and much more.

"When Microsoft first began using the phrase 'zero administration' in the context of Windows NT, snickers were plainly audible throughout the computing industry" says author Craig Zacker. "Even the thought of a Windows-based PC that was stable enough to require no professional attention was-and is-laughable. But Microsoft's Zero Administration Initiative for Windows, though quite possibly misnamed, is certainly worthy of attention, even if it does not instantly make system administrators redundant."

Topics covered in Zero Administration for Windows:

Planning and testing a Zero Administration
Deploying the ZAK
Zero Administration tools
Customizing Windows NT installations
Securing the file system
Automating application installations
Creating user profiles
Using system policies
Creating custom system policies

Zero Administration for Windows is a vital tool for Windows NT network administrators who are responsible for the deployment and maintenance of large numbers of client systems.

For more information about the book, including Table of Contents, index, author bio, and sample chapter, see: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/zeroadm/

Chapter 8 "Creating User Profiles" is available at: http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/zeroadm/chapter/ch08.html

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Zero Administration for Windows
By Craig Zacker
1st Edition May 1999 (US)
1-56592-508-4, 560 pages, $34.95 (US$)
order@oreilly.com

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