This book provides administrators, consultants, and project managers with proven methods and detailed solutions for the successful implementation and operation of SAP systems on Microsoft Windows platforms. Each chapter contains in-depth information on topics such as application requirements, data center technologies, and IT operations. You"ll quickly familiarize yourself with typical issues involved in live operations and uncover tried and tested best practices for the consistent administration of systems, different virtualization and automation technologies as well as monitoring and deployment solutions. In addition, this unique reference discusses security concepts and describes the process of planning scalable system landscapes in order to deliver high system availability. To ensure the ongoing, stable and secure operation of your data center, the authors also provide you with a detailed coverage of new developments and challenges you"ll likely have to face when implementing enterprise SOA and Windows Server 2008. Highlights: SAP and Microsoft: Components, Solutions, Tools Installation and Maintenance: Profiles, Programs, Instances, Analyses System Operation: Hardware and Software Infrastructure, Tools, Organizing the IT Department IT Services: File Services, Print Services, Active Directory, MOM High Availability: Data and Applications, Risk Analysis, RAID Procedures Security: Authentication and Authorization, Encryption, Identity Management Future Developments: Virtualization, Adaptive Computing, Duet, Windows Server 2008