Windows 2012 Server Admin

About this course

Get hands-on instruction and practice administering Windows Server 2012, including Windows Server 2012 R2, in this Microsoft On-Demand course. This course is part two in a series of three courses that provides the skills and knowledge necessary to implement a core Windows Server 2012 infrastructure in an existing enterprise environment.

The three courses collectively cover implementing, managing, maintaining and provisioning services and infrastructure in a Windows Server 2012 environment. Although there is some cross-over of skills and tasks across these courses, this course focuses on the administration tasks necessary to maintain a Windows Server 2012 infrastructure such as configuring and troubleshooting name resolution, user and group management with Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and Group Policy, implementing Remote Access solutions such as DirectAccess, VPNs and Web Application Proxy, implementing Network Policies and Network Access Protection, Data Security, deployment and maintenance of server images, as well as update management and monitoring of Windows Server 2012 environments. Labs in this course are based on Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1.

Audience profile

This course is intended for Information Technology (IT) Professionals with hands on experience working in a Windows server 2008 or Windows Server 2012 environment who wish to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to be able to manage and maintain the core infrastructure required for a Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2 environment. The key focus for students is to broaden the initial deployment of Windows Server 2012 services and infrastructure and provide the skills necessary to Manage and Maintain a domain based Windows Server 2012 environment, providing skills in areas such as User and Group management, Network Access and Data Security. Candidates typically interested in attending this course would be Windows Server Administrators experienced in working with Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012 who wish to gain skills necessary to perform daily management and maintenance tasks in a Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2012 R2 environment.

IT Professionals who are looking to take the Administering Windows Server 2012 exam

IT professional wishing to take the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) exams in DataCenter, Desktop Infrastructure, Messaging, Collaboration and Communications will also be interested in taking this course as they prepare for the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) exams, which are a pre-requisite for their individual specialties.

At course completion

After completing this course, students will be able to:

Configure and Troubleshoot Domain Name System

Maintain Active Directory Domain Services

Manage User and Service Accounts

Implement Group Policy Infrastructure

Manage User Desktops using Group Policy

Install, Configure and Troubleshoot Network Policy Server

Implement Network Access Protection

Implement Remote Access

Optimize File Services

Configure Encryption and Advanced Auditing

Deploy and Maintain Server Images

Implement Update Managements

Monitor Windows Server 2012

 


Course Details

Course Outline Module 1: Configuring and Troubleshooting Domain Name System

This module explains how to configure and troubleshoot DNS, including DNS replication and caching.

Lessons

Configuring the DNS Server Role

Configuring DNS Zones

Configuring DNS Zone Transfers

Managing and Troubleshooting DNS

Lab : Configuring and Troubleshooting DNS

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Install and configure the DNS server role.

Create and configure DNS zones.

Configure DNS zone transfers.

Manage and troubleshoot DNS.

Module 2: Maintaining Active Directory Domain Services

This module explains how to implement virtualized domain controllers and read-only domain controller (RODCs). It also explains how to perform common AD DS administrative tasks and manage the AD DS Database.

Lessons

Overview of AD DS

Implementing Virtualized Domain Controllers

Implementing RODCs

Administering AD DS

Managing the AD DS Database

Lab : Maintaining AD DS

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Implement virtualized domain controllers.

Implement RODCs.

Administer AD DS.

Manage the AD DS database

Module 3: Managing User and Service Accounts

This module explains how to create, configure and automate the creation of user accounts. It also explains how to configure account-related properties of user objects. It further explains how to create and administer Managed Service Accounts.

Lessons

Configuring Password Policy and User Account Lockout Settings

Configuring Managed Service Accounts

Lab : Managing User and Service Accounts

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Configure password policy and user account lockout settings.

Configure managed service accounts.

Module 4: Implementing a Group Policy Infrastructure

This module explains how to implement a GPO infrastructure. This also teaches how to perform common GPO management tasks, and manage GPOs by using Windows PowerShell. It also focuses on troubleshooting the application of GPOs.

Lessons

Introducing Group Policy

Implementing and Administering GPOs

Group Policy Scope and Group Policy Processing

Troubleshooting the Application of GPOs

Lab : Implementing a Group Policy Infrastructure

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Explain what Group Policy is.

Implement and administer Group Policy Objects (GPOs).

Manage Group Policy scope and Group Policy processing.

Troubleshoot the application of GPOs.

Module 5: Managing User Desktops with Group Policy

This module explains how you can use Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to implement desktop environments across your organization by using Administrative Templates, Folder Redirection, Group Policy preferences, and where applicable, use software deployment to install and update application programs. It is important to know how to use these various GPO features so that you can configure your users’ computer settings properly.

Lessons

Implementing Administrative Templates

Configuring Folder Redirection and Scripts

Configuring Group Policy Preferences

Managing Software with Group Policy

Lab : Managing User Desktops with Group Policy

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Configure folder redirection and scripts by using GPOs.

Describe and implement Administrative Templates.

Configure GPO preferences.

Deploy software by using GPOs.

Module 6: Installing, Configuring, and Troubleshooting the Network Policy Server Role

This module explains how to install and configure NPS, RADIUS Clients and servers. It also describes NPS authentication methods. It describe NPS authentication methods and how to monitor and troubleshoot NPS.

Lessons

Installing and Configuring a Network Policy Server

Configuring RADIUS Clients and Servers

NPS Authentication Methods

Monitoring and Troubleshooting a Network Policy Server

Lab : Installing and Configuring a Network Policy Server

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Install and configure a Network Policy Server (NPS).

Configure clients and servers with the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) protocol.

Explain NPS authentication methods.

Monitor and troubleshoot NPS.

Module 7: Implementing Network Access Protection

This module explains how to configure, monitor, and troubleshoot NAP. It also explains how NAP can help to protect your network and the various NAP enforcement processes.

Lessons

Overview of Network Access Protection

Overview of NAP Enforcement Processes

Configuring NAP

Configuring IPSec Enforcement for NAP

Monitoring and Troubleshooting NAP

Lab : Implementing Network Access Protection

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe how NAP can help to protect your network.

Describe the various NAP enforcement processes.

Configure NAP.

Monitor and troubleshoot NAP.

Module 8: Implementing Remote Access

In this module, you will learn how to implement and manage remote access in Windows Server 2012. You will also learn how to implement DirectAccess by using the Getting Started wizard, implement and manage an advanced DirectAccess infrastructure, and implement VPN.

Lessons

Overview of Remote Access

Implementing DirectAccess by Using the Getting Started Wizard

Implementing and Managing an Advanced DirectAccess Infrastructure

Implementing VPN

Implementing Web Application Proxy

Lab : Implementing DirectAccess by Using the Getting Started Wizard

Lab : Deploying an Advanced DirectAccess Solution

Lab : Implementing VPN

Lab : Implementing Web Application Proxy

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Install and manage the Remote Access role in Windows Server 2012 operating system.

Implement DirectAccess by using the Getting Started Wizard.

Implement and manage an advanced DirectAccess Infrastructure.

Implement VPN access.

Implement Web Application Proxy.

Module 9: Optimizing File Services

This module describes FSRM, configure quotas, file screening, and storage reports and implement classification management and file management tasks. It describes the components of the DFS. I also explains how to configure DFS namespaces and DFS replication.

Lessons

Overview of FSRM

Using FSRM to Manage Quotas, File Screens, and Storage Reports

Implementing Classification and File Management Tasks Overview of DFS

Configuring DFS Namespaces

Configuring and Troubleshooting DFS Replication

Lab : Configuring Quotas and File Screening Using File Server Resource Manager

Lab : Implementing Distributed File System

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) in the Windows Server 2012 operating system.

Use FSRM to manage quotas, file screens, and storage reports.

Implement classification and file management tasks.

Describe Distributed File System (DFS).

Configure DFS namespaces.

Configure and troubleshoot DFS Replication.

Module 10: Configuring Encryption and Advanced Auditing

This module explains how to encrypt files using EFS and configure advanced auditing features.

Lessons

Encrypting Drives by Using BitLocker

Encrypting Files by Using EFS

Configuring Advanced Auditing

Lab : Configuring Encryption and Advanced Auditing

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Secure data by using BitLocker Drive Encryption.

Encrypt files by using Encrypting File System (EFS).

Configure advanced auditing.

Module 11: Deploying and Maintaining Server Images

This module explains how to create and manage server images by using Windows Deployment Services

Lessons

Overview of Windows Deployment Services

Managing Images

Implementing Deployment with Windows Deployment Services

Administering Windows Deployment Services

Lab : Using Windows Deployment Services to Deploy Windows Server 2012

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the important features and functionality of Windows Deployment Services (Windows DS).

Manage images by using Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) Tools.

Configure Windows Deployment Services in Windows Server 2012.

Perform deployments with Windows Deployment Services.

Module 12: Implementing Update Management

This module explains how to use Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to deploy updates to Windows servers and clients.

Lessons

Overview of WSUS

Deploying Updates with WSUS

Lab : Implementing Update Management

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the role of WSUS.

Describe the WSUS update management process.

Deploy updates with WSUS.

Module 13: Monitoring Windows Server 2012

This module explains the monitoring tools available in Windows Server 2012. it also explains how to use Performance Monitor and monitor events.

Lessons

Monitoring Tools

Using Performance Monitor

Monitoring Event Logs

Lab : Monitoring Windows Server 2012

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Describe the monitoring tools for the Windows Server 2012 operating system.

Use Performance Monitor to view and analyze performance statistics of programs that are running on their servers.

Monitor event logs to view and interpret the recorded events.

 


Prerequisites

Before attending this course, students must have:

Knowledge and skills concerning the initial implementation and configuration of core Windows Server services including Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), Networking Services and Microsoft Hyper-V.

The course pre-requisites can be met by having knowledge equivalent to, or by attendance at, Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012, as this course will build upon that knowledge and skills covered in that course.