What is this course about?

The course provides comprehensive coverage of Group Policies and their use in a Windows Server 2008 environment. All aspects of creation, deployment, management, filtering and analysis are covered in depth.

What background do I need?

As Group Policies are highly dependent on the Active Directory, it is assumed that you have a working knowledge of the Active Directory and its structure. Course 960, Windows Server^® 2008: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction, provides the prerequisite knowledge.

Who will benefit from this course?

Anyone who wants to centralize the management of workstation configurations and user environments to create a more stable and secure environment; including: administrators, contractors, consultants, IT professionals and managers.

Does this course use third-party management tools?

While the majority of the course focuses on built-in tools, third-party and add-on tools are discussed and used in the hands-on exercises.

Will this course help me upgrade my Windows Server 2000 and 2003 Group Policy skills?

While this is not exclusively a new features course, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 brings several improvements and enhancements to Group Policy management that professionals need to know about. This makes the course appropriate for both new and experienced IT professionals.

Will this course teach me how to migrate to Windows Server 2008?

The class focuses very specifically on the maintenance of systems in Windows Server 2008 domains.

Will this course teach me to manage Windows Vista, Windows XP and Windows 2003 or older versions?

While this course focuses on Windows Server 2008 R2, Client support, management and control of Windows 7 is covered. The techniques covered apply equally well to Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 and Windows XP and Windows Vista. The course materials highlight management differences between the operating systems. This course does not cover management of non-Microsoft platforms or the management of Windows operating systems prior to Windows 2000 Server.

Does this course cover only Windows Server 2008?

No. This course is designed to demonstrate systems management tools available in Windows Server 2008 domains. These technologies are useful for managing both clients and servers.

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 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 hands-on exercises that provide practical experience managing a Windows Server 2008 environment through Group Policies. Exercises include:

• Establishing a central store and utilising starter GPOs
• Applying computer and user configuration settings
• Generating reports for diagnostic purposes
• Writing WQL queries
• Implementing robust software delivery mechanisms
• Configuring core security settings
• Converting role-based XML data into policy settings
• Identifying and resolving failures
• Utilising preferences to manipulate objects

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

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

• 969, Windows PowerShell? Hands-On: Automating Administrative Tasks 
• 962, Windows Server® 2008 Active Directory Domain Services: Hands-On 
• 961, Windows Server® 2008 Administration: Hands-On 
• 964, Windows Server® 2008 Security Infrastructure: Hands-On 
• 965, System Center Configuration Manager 2007: Hands-On 
• 966, Internet Information Services 7.5 for Windows Server® 2008: Hands-On 
• 967, Remote Desktop Services for Windows Server® 2008: Hands-On 
• 968, Windows Server® 2008 Hyper-V? Virtualisation: Hands-On 
• 950, Windows Vista®: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction 
• 951, Deploying Windows Vista®: Hands-On 
• 196, Making Effective Decisions with Business Statistics 
• 315, Developing User Requirements: The Key to Project Success 
• 2400, Windows® 7: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction