Technical Network—TechNet

The subscription to TechNet gives you the complete collection of all available technical information on Microsoft products. The monthly CDs can be purchased directly from Microsoft or an authorized distributor.

Technical References

Resource Kits or technical references are books with accompanying CDs on Microsoft products. Resource Kits contain advanced information and special tools for administrators. Without the information and tools, it is much harder to manage systems in a professional environment. Selected tools included on the Microsoft Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/reskit/resourcekit.mspx are mentioned frequently in this book.

Web Resources

The Internet is another source of information for Windows Server 2003 and Terminal Services. The following list includes a number of important URLs, although it is by no means comprehensive.

Service Packs, Updates, and Security Patches

Debugging is important for stabilizing a system. Microsoft, Citrix, and other manufacturers involved with Terminal Services under Windows Server 2003 provide service packs and updates free of charge on their Internet servers. Service packs usually replace a number of older system files and components with newer ones. Service packs and updates are for general troubleshooting and debugging; they also boost performance. Service packs are cumulative, which means that each of them contains the information and changes to its previous version. Before service packs are launched, it is recommended that you carefully read the experience reports published in the technical press. If a system runs properly with no obvious security gaps, it should not be changed.

Updates and security patches specifically remove certain sources of error in the run-time system, for instance, current security gaps. Updates and security patches should be installed when a server is directly affected by the danger created by an error or security gap. Knowledge Base articles often reference relevant updates and security patches.