Hello ladies and gentlemen. I am a newbie and currently in the final weeks of a Windows Server 2012 r2 class and the book I am using is the Microsoft Official Academic Course book, Exam 70-410.  While this might be a good book for most, it simply is not working for me.  The class does the labs using VM's with and Win8 VM for the client.  I also put together an actual server on my own built from an old Dell Precision with 16 gigs of ram running Win 2012 r2 Standard.   It seems to be running very well and before the class is over, I would like to use this for a home server.  In this context, the MS book is falling a little short.  Could someone please recommend a GREAT BOOK that will help get me up and running. 

My main focus right now is to get server manager working on my laptop.  This should allow me to login to my home server and finish the class on my own system without fooling around with VM's that will essentially be useless when the class is over.

Thanks in advance and I hope this makes sense. 

Hello ladies and gentlemen. I am a newbie and currently in the final weeks of a Windows Server 2012 r2 class and the book I am using is the Microsoft Official Academic Course book, Exam 70-410.  While this might be a good book for most, it simply is not working for me.  The class does the labs using VM's with and Win8 VM for the client.  I also put together an actual server on my own built from an old Dell Precision with 16 gigs of ram running Win 2012 r2 Standard.   It seems to be running very well and before the class is over, I would like to use this for a home server.  In this context, the MS book is falling a little short.  Could someone please recommend a GREAT BOOK that will help get me up and running. 

My main focus right now is to get server manager working on my laptop.  This should allow me to login to my home server and finish the class on my own system without fooling around with VM's that will essentially be useless when the class is over.

Thanks in advance and I hope this makes sense. 

You want to connect to your home server from your laptop?

Or you want a VM on your own laptop?

Laptop to an actual server that is up and running.  The active directory and domain stuff is making my head spin.  And I didn't even get to the fire wall.  I'm looking for a book that feels more like the shallow end of the pool.

Mark Minasi has been authoring books on Windows Server for years - Mastering Windows Server 2012 R2 is the latest. He has a very easy to understand style of writing.

And don't forget TechNet.  Basically everything about Windows Server is documented there.

Microsoft also have their Virtual Academy - microsoftvirtualacademy.com.  Great place to take series of short courses on different t

And it is a great price too!!!  It will be at my door step Friday.  I also bought a digital copy of the 70-410 lab book.  31 bucks for that was probably too much but at least I can plug away until I get Mark's book.

Thanks Tim.

check out this link:

https://www.microsoftpressstore.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2217264

it's an ebook: 

Windows Server 2012 R2 Inside Out: Active Directory Architecture

By William Stanek

There's quite a lot of ebook about active directory and windows server, just search Bing or Google.

Check out this link below about MS Virtual Academy:

https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/en-us/training-courses/windows-server-2012-r2-active-directory-enhancements-8424

Good luck!!!