The author uses his "SSL Methodology" to guide the reader through setting up SBS 2000. What the author is really doing is setting up a sample company called Springer Spaniels Limited (SSL). The text tells you to do this, do that, click here, etc. and gives screen shots of various things along the way. This may give those with little SBS experience the "warm fuzzies" that they are doing things correctly. However, the SBS 2000 set up is pretty intuitive and there is a good amount of help information built into SBS 2000 that is available as you go from step to step through the set up. My complaint is that, since this is true, the book does little more than give you the same information without any more insight. Worse, there is nothing to really help you if you need or want to deviate from the "SSL Methodology" or run into problems.
I encountered some problems trying to connect workstations to a new SBS 2000 server that had previously been connected to an SBS 4.5 server. The book was of no help for this. In another case I had a new XP Pro machine that when setup did not load the firewall client (the successor to WSP Client). Again, the book was of no help in dealing with this. (The solution was easily found on the MS Knowledge Base).
With no real help for doing things differently from the "SSL Methodology" this book is of limited value. Ditto for no real trouble shooting info.
I purchased the book based on nearly unanimous 5 star ratings. Based on those I was hoping for a book that would be more informative and useful (something akin to Manasi's Windows 2000 server book). I was disappointed.
I rate this as pretty much a novice's book. At virtually $... a copy it certainly isn't worth what you get.
As an aside I note the photo the author provides of an SBS 2000 installation. Apparently this is his work and he points to it with apparent pride. I certainly wouldn't hold up this sloppy job as an example of a quality installation and I hope no one follows it as an example.