The way you design your Active Directory can make a huge difference in how well your network functions and how easy it is to administer. These best practices will help you maximize efficiency, simplify maintenance, and readily manage AD as needs change.

It is possible to use Outlook 2010 as your email client for Google Mail using the IMAP protocol, but it takes a good bit of configuration. Mark Kaelin walks you through it.

Vincent Danen shows you how to set up the AWStats log file analysis program on FTP and mail servers and use the information to gain valuable insight on visitors to your website.

In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, Greg Shultz takes a closer look at Microsoft Windows 7's Disk Defragmenter and describes how to take advantage of the new features.

Social networking sites provide unprecedented opportunities to get the word out about yourself and your business. Unfortunately, many people don't have a clue how to use these tools effectively. Deb Shinder offers 10 practical suggestions.

Before you hand off Linux machines to users who are new to the operating system, do a little prep work to ease the transition and make sure they have the tools they need.

One often overlooked aspect of the computer experience is the color and contrast calibration of your monitor. Mark Kaelin shows how to make the proper adjustments.

Any time your organization brings in outside IT help, there's an opportunity for misunderstandings, inefficiencies, and conflicts. These steps will help preempt problems.

The certification landscape changes as rapidly as the technologies you support. Here's an updated list of certs that currently offer the most value and validity for IT pros.

Vincent Danen shows you how to make use of Gmail on the command line with mutt. Here are the basic commands to set it up.

This handy roundup offers Windows 7 tips on everything from disabling Snap to restoring the Quick Launch Bar to limiting the applications your users can run.

In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, Greg Shultz introduces you to AquaSnap and shows you how you can use it to bring the new Aero features to Windows XP and Vista. He also explains how you can use the controls in AquaSnap to fine tune Snap in Windows 7.