Regarding Windows 2000 Server backup and restore: My beginner's book
(by Osborne Press) seems to indicate that (using Windows 2000 Server
backup and recovery accessories)backing up the available files, plus
System State, plus making an emergency recovery disk, is enough to
guarantee disaster recovery. Some online sources say this is not
enough: that the backup accessory doesn't back up files that are in
use. I'm on a single Windows machine, with a Linux Web server. My
question is, is the Windows accessory as I've stated it sufficient?

This depends entirely on the information that you choose to backup. If
you are choosing to backup data, data meaning information CREATED by
program that you install, then those utilities will probably be enough
to ensure recovery to at least the point at which your machine failed.
Most major companies that I have worked for do exactly this. This
means, though, in the event of machine failure you will have to
reinstall the OS and all of the applications and configuration
information that was on the computer from media. On the other hand if
you wish to back up EVERYTHING on the machine including operating
system files then this will NOT be enough and can be quite difficult
if not impossible to do if you wish for the machine to remain up and
accessible. If on the other hand this is not the case, you can back up
everything using a utility called Symantec Ghost, or Powerquest Drive
Image, these two products will allow you to take snapshots of the
machine exactly how it is OS and all and restore it at a later date.

Ask if you need clairfication on any of these points.

Where is the data located? If it's located on the web server, you need
a backup system in relation to Linux such a tape drive, RAID
configuration, or separate drive for storage. If the data needing to
be backed up is on Windows, your book should come in handy.