Every now and then I get an email asking for a recommendation for an Exchange book. Everytime I answer the question the same way, Tony Redmond's Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 with SP1 is the book to get. If you simply want to pass the Exchange MCSE exams, this is not the book for you. Sure it will help, and you'll learn a lot, but this book is aimed directly at the Exchange administrator wanting to learn the in's and out's of Exchange Server 2003.

This book covers everything Exchange can do, and explains in detail how it does it. From the history of Microsofts messaging technologies leading up to Exchange 2003, to the improvements in SP1, to detailed information on the structure od the Information Store, this book covers it all. The book is very well written, in an easy to read manner. The tone of the book is not bloated, boring or bland, and the topics are explained completely and conisely which is not immediatley apparent seeing as it is 1008 pages.

The book is thick, but you would expect that from a book that covers everything related to Exchange.

• Chapter 1 - History or Exchange Server
• Chapter 2 - Exchange and Active directory
• Chapter 3 - Exchange Basics
• Chapter 4 - Outlook Client
• Chapter 5 - Outlook Web Access
• Chapter 6 - Internet and Other Clients
• Chapter 7 - The Store
• Chapter 8 - Performance and Clusters
• Chapter 9 - Getting the Mail Through - Routing and Message Delivery
• Chapter 10 - Exchange User Management
• Chapter 11 - Exchagne Server Management
• Appendix A - Recommended Books for Further Reading
• Appendix B - Message Tracking Log Codes
• Appendix C - TCP/IP Ports Used by Exchange

As you can see in the outline, the book leaves little by the way side. Once you have read this book, there will be very little about Exchange 2003 that you don't understand and you will go back to this book often. I use this book weekly for clarification on questions I receive, to ensure what I write is correct and when issues or questions arise in my day to day work.

My copy is tattered, dog-eared, creased and has sticky notes on almost every page. This was the best $60 I spent and I recommend any Exchange administrator buy this book.