Windows Server^® 2008 Administration:
Hands-On

What is this course about?

This course is a comprehensive server administration class for individuals managing Windows Server 2008 environments. Attendees learn the key techniques available to them in the operating system as well as best practices for server management. The focus is on managing, optimising, troubleshooting and securing the operating system, regardless of the server's role in the enterprise.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is valuable for anyone who is responsible for managing a Windows Server 2008 environment, including administrators new to Windows Server 2008, those who have taken Course 960, Windows Server^® 2008: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, and those who are migrating from other operating systems.

Individuals who have extensive experience (10 years or more) with previous versions of Windows Server may find this course covers many topics with which they are already familiar and may want to consider alternative courses in the Windows Server 2008 curriculum.

What background do I need?

You need to have attended Course 960, Windows Server^® 2008: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, or have experience in a Windows Server 2003 or 2000 operating system in an Active Directory environment. At the minimum, you need to know how to navigate a Windows interface and understand Active Directory concepts and Group Policy application. None of these topics are taught in this course, but the technolgies are used.

Is this an upgrade course?

This course is a comprehensive server administration course for Windows Server 2008. It covers far more than just new features and does not focus on the differences between Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. This course is designed for individuals who are familiar with Windows Server and who desire a comprehensive approach to administering Windows Server 2008 in their environment.

Has this course been updated to the latest release of Windows Server 2008 R2?

Yes. The entire course has been revised to incorporate Windows Server 2008 R2 features and functionality.

Should I take this course or Course 960?

The answer to this question depends on your background. If you have a good working knowledge of Windows Server 2003 or 2000 as well as an understanding of Active Directory and Group Policy concepts, this course is right for you. We focus on new technologies and interfaces, as well as best practices for server management.

If you are new to the Active Directory or a Windows environment, you should take Course 960, Windows Server^® 2008: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction. Once you have learned the basic concepts in that course, you should take this course as a follow-on.

How much time is spent on each topic?

What kinds of hands-on exercises are in the course?

Approximately 50 percent of this course is spent in practical exercises that provide experience administering Windows Server 2008. Exercises include:

• Managing remotely with PowerShell and Server Manager
• Creating baselines with MBSA
• Reducing the attack surface with Server Core
• Automating deployment of patches through WSUS
• Creating a fault tolerant environment with failover clusters and DFS
• Virtualising server environments with Hyper-V
• Tuning and troubleshooting Windows 2008
• Solving boot configuration problems

I only administer application servers. Should I take this course?

Yes. In this course, the focus is not on administering a particular type of server. You learn best practices for managing any type of server. If you are responsible for just administering a local group of servers, or even one server, you will still be able to use everything you learn to secure, maintain and optimize that server, regardless of its role.

I administer all kinds of servers. How will this course benefit me?

This course was designed to be a generic server administration course where you learn best practices for maintaining, securing, optimising and troubleshooting your servers, no matter what function they perform in the company. The approaches and tools you learn are applicable to file servers, database servers or domain controllers.

Does this course cover security?

Yes. Securing servers is a key role for administrators in a today's Internet-dependent business environment. As always, there is a balance between security and usability. This course teaches you to balance these two roles by using role based hardening and virtualization to secure your servers. You learn to use assessment tools to evaluate the current security state and develop a plan to bring non-compliant systems up to grade. You set security policies appropriate to the server's role. We use the Server Core installation of Windows Server 2008 to decrease the attack surface available for hackers. You also investigate the benefits and pitfalls associated with auditing.

I'm not allowed to administer the Active Directory in my environment. Will I still be able to use the information in this course?

Yes. Although we discuss and use Active Directory and group policies, the same effects can be achieved with local group policies. Even if you only have local administrative rights on a server, you are able to apply everything we discuss in the course.

Does this course only relate to Windows Server 2008 servers or can I apply what I learn to other server operating systems?

The exercises in this course are done in a Windows Server 2008 Active Directory environment; however, the principles and practices you learn are the same for any server administration scenario. Some of the tools are only available in Windows Server 2008, such as Server Manager, but for the most part, the tools used on this course are compatible with earlier versions of Microsoft server operating systems. In addition, many of the techniques you learn in this course are applicable to the Windows 7 environment.

Why should I take this course instead of one offered by Microsoft?

Learning Tree is dedicated to accelerating the careers of our clients by providing them with world-class technology and management training. Our independence from Microsoft (and any other vendor) allows us to offer an unbiased view of what works and what does not. This course is objective in its approach, having been developed independently of Microsoft by industry experts who bring their real-world experience to the classroom.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

After taking this course, you might be interested in the following:

• 2400, Windows® 7: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction 
• 962, Windows Server® 2008 Active Directory Domain Services: Hands-On 
• 963, Windows Server® 2008 Group Policy Management: Hands-On 
• 969, Windows PowerShell? Hands-On: Automating Administrative Tasks 
• 965, System Center Configuration Manager 2007: Hands-On 
• 966, Internet Information Services 7.5 for Windows Server® 2008: Hands-On 
• 968, Windows Server® 2008 Hyper-V? Virtualisation: Hands-On 

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