Sams Teach Yourself MCSE Windows NT Server 4 in 14 Days
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): David Schaer, et al
ISBN: 0672311283
Publication Date: 12/15/97

14.7.2. Desktop Tools

There are several desktop tools, such as 3D Paint, an animated cursor editor, and an image editor. Also, there is a utility called Microsoft Desktops that is a desktop switching program for Windows NT 4.0. It customizes the desktop wallpaper and colors and separates executing programs into new desk spaces.

14.7.3. Diagnostics

Probably the most important utilities are those that assist you in diagnosing problems with Windows NT. Two monitoring utilities, the Browser Monitor and Domain Monitor, are included. The Browser Monitor (see Figure 14.10) is a Windows-based utility that enables you to monitor the outcome of computer browser elections, including which computers are the master and backup browsers.

Figure 14.10.  Viewing information about browsers is easy with the Browser Monitor.

The Domain Monitor,also a Windows-based utility, gives you the status of domains, domain controllers, and any trust relationships, if these exist.

The Network Watcher enables you to view shared resources on the local or remote servers and which users are connected to them. Additionally, you can set up the Network Watcher to show you which files those users have opened (see Figure 14.11).

Figure 14.11.  The Network Watcher can give you information about network shares, the users who are accessing them, and the files they have open.

The Process Viewer(see Figure 14.12) enables you to view the processes running on a server. It also enables you to shut down any processes that you choose or boost the priority of those individual processes that are running.

Figure 14.12.  Use the Process Viewer to see which processes are using the CPU.

Quick slice, another diagnostic utility included in the resource kit, enables you to view CPU utilization by processes running on the server.

14.7.4. Disk Tools

Disk Probe is a sector editor for Windows NT Workstation and NT Server that enables a user with local Administrator rights to edit, save, and copy data directly on the physical hard drive that is not accessible in any other way. This can be helpful when you cannot read a disk by more usual means, such as with Explorer or from a command prompt.

The Fault Tolerance Editor in Figure 14.13 is a tool that gives you the capability to create, edit, and delete fault tolerance sets for disk drives and partitions of local and remote computers.

14.7.5. File Tools

There also is a tool called WinDiff that gives you the capability to compare files or complete directories. When you use this tool with mapped network drives, you can compare files or directories from one computer to another.

Another tool, the Expand for Windows (see Figure 14.14), gives you the same capability as EXPAND.EXE but with the ease of a graphical interface.

Figure 14.13.  The Fault Tolerance editor enables you to create, edit, and delete fault tolerance sets on remote computers.

Figure 14.14.  File expansion is a breeze with the Expand for Windows utility.

14.7.6. Internet Utilities

Web Admin, which provides Web-based administration of Windows NT Server, is an ISAPI DLL that enables remote administration of Windows NT Server by means of HTML browsers, such as Internet Explorer 2.0 and later. This lets an administrator administer his server without physically being located on his network. The nice thing about Web Admin is you can administer from Windows, Macintosh, and UNIX platforms. All you need is a Web browser.

DbWeb is a gateway between Microsoft Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) data sources and the Internet Information Server (IIS). You can use dbWeb to publish data from an ODBC data source and provide a familiar World Wide Web look and feel to your users. DbWeb enables users to create queries and enables you to filter the data and sources that users can access and display.

14.7.7. Online Documents

You can view numerous online documents pertaining to Windows NT Server and the resource kit. These documents can assist you in troubleshooting, using the utilities, or just learning more about Windows NT. With the look and feel of standard help programs in Windows NT, they are quick and easy to use.

14.8. Lab

This lab aids in your learning by testing you on the information you have learned in this chapter, as well as by giving you exercises to hone your skills. You can find answers to the review questions in Appendix B, “Answers to Review Questions.”

14.8.1. Review Questions

Question 1

Which of the following files do you need to boot an Intel-based computer using IDE hard disks to Windows NT? Pick all that apply.

A.  BOOT.INI

B.  OSLOADER

C.  NTLDR

D.  NTDETECT.COM

E.  NTOSKRNL.EXE

F.  BOOTSECT.DOS

G.  NTBOOTDD.SYS