It's 2 a.m. and you just traveled to the office for some obscure Windows 2000-related problem that has forced you out of bed. You're standing next to your office in near darkness; you're the only one there. As you wait for the coffee machine to finish and help you to clear the cobwebs, you begin to ponder what steps you will use to begin researching your problem. It's time to reach into your administrator's toolbox. But is it well enough stocked for the job at hand?

I recently sat down to think about the most critical tools in my own Windows 2000 administrator's toolbox. I soon realized that I had quite a few unique tools that really make my job quite a bit easier. Today, there are a plethora of companies and developers offering up tools and utilities that work nicely with Windows 2000, but what tools are best if you want to focus on a few? Here's my short list of what I believe to be some of the most important, timely and efficient tools available to assist in migration as well as everyday administration of Windows 2000.

Remote Control

I discovered remote control software only recently but now use it every day. Many flavors are available, but I'm using Mandeville, La.-based DameWare Development's DameWare Mini Remote. This simple program lets you fully control any PC on your network, with the appropriate log-on credentials, of course. It comes in particularly handy because my company has office space in two buildings that are connected by a wireless bridge. If a user in the other building has a problem, I can simply use the remote control tool to connect to them without having to walk across the street. At $99, the utility has more than paid for itself in the time I've saved not having to walk everywhere.

Migration

If Windows 2000 migration is your current project, Aelita Software Corp.'s Controlled Migration Suite can come to your rescue. The Powell, Ohio-based vendor's software consists of three components: an enterprise directory reporter, a domain migration wizard and an enterprise delegation manager. If you're an administrator looking for a little migration help (first in your test lab of course), then Aelita's got it.

The directory reporter collects and maintains details about the domain throughout the migration process and provides full Open Database Connectivity compliance for storing the data in the database of your choice. The domain migration wizard management tool follows a script for migrating. The delegation manager lets you simulate new Windows 2000 features prior to migration. The suite also includes invaluable features like password synchronization, which is absent from a normal migration from Windows NT to Windows 2000.

Resource Kits

Without a doubt, some of the best tools I use every day come from Microsoft Corp. I know it sounds crazy, but I still believe in the "they made it, they should know how to fix it" cliche. As with all large support arenas, sometimes you have to research a few different channels of support to get the level of service you need, but I've found some great advice from the teams at Microsoft.

The Windows 2000 resource kits are chock full of great utilities and tools. In the server kit, there are tools like con2prt.exe which lets you write scripts to be added to the Add Printer wizard that you can use to install printers on client computers. The WWindows 2000 Professional kit is just as beneficial, with in-depth information and ways to maximize the productivity of your desktop environment. The CD also gives you a searchable electronic copy of the book. Also check out the free utilities on this Microsoft download page.

Windows 2000 Professional Tools

Microsoft also provides some great support tools that ship with the Windows 2000 professional CD-ROM. You can run setup.exe from the supporttools folder to install the tools. Included are an active directory administration tool, Simple Network Management Protocol query utility, an active directory replication monitor, a disk probe and an application compatibility tool. The install is quick and easy and the tools are a must for any Windows 2000 administrator.

Microsoft Support

Ok, I know! I know! It's not always what you want to hear, but contrary to popular belief Microsoft can provide some pretty good technical support, which you don't always have to pay for! At Microsoft's support Web site you can ask technical questions online and receive support with some products for free if you have a Microsoft Passport -- the technology that people on MSN use for online shopping and chat. With a Passport, you can access a secure site to submit resolution requests. There's also a great section of frequently asked questions arranged by product name. And the Microsoft TechNet support knowledge base is also helpful in searching for common problems. Microsoft continuously adds so-called "Q" articles that outline new problems and suggest ways to resolve them.

There are many tools available today for administrators. Although I discover new ones almost daily, I'm always interested to know what others find helpful. In my mission-critical Windows 2000 environment, support is crucial. By using some of these support methods, I have been able to save time and money by being more efficient and reducing downtime. Planning is crucial to a successful implementation of Windows 2000, and if you look hard enough, you can find the right tools to help you be successful and keep your 2000 boat afloat.

» posted by ITworld staff

Computerworld

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