Windows Server® 2012

Windows Server® 2012: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction
You Will Learn How To
• Install, configure and troubleshoot Windows Server 2012 in your enterprise
• Plan and build a scalable Active Directory infrastructure
• Configure folder security, file filtering and disaster recovery backups
• Administer and maintain servers with graphical and PowerShell tools
• Set up servers with Group Policies and delegate administrative tasks
• Virtualize servers with Hyper-V and build fault tolerant replica servers

Course Benefits

Windows Server 2012 is a highly configurable operating system that allows organizations to expand the availability and flexibility of their current framework and reduce costs with both physical and virtual servers. This course provides the fundamental knowledge and skills to install, configure and support this complex operating system in an enterprise environment.

Who Should Attend

IT professionals, systems administrators, support personnel responsible for setting up and maintaining Windows Server 2012 as well as those migrating from other operating systems. Those with strong experience in Windows Server 2008 should consider taking the advanced Windows Server 2012 courses.

Hands-On Training
Practical exercises reinforce the knowledge you gain in class, including: • Installing and configuring Windows Server 2012
• Managing multiple servers with Server Manager
• Implementing AD domain controllers
• Writing AD administration PowerShell scripts
• Analyzing and centralizing event logs
• Restoring a disaster recovery backup
• Troubleshooting file/folder access with auditing
• Controlling storage space with automatic quotas
• Configuring and validating group policy settings
• Building fault tolerant virtual machines with Hyper-V replicas for maximum uptime
• Setting up Remote Desktop Services and deploying RemoteApp software

Introduction to Windows Server 2012

Upgrading the existing operating system
• Evaluating deployment tools and techniques
• Enabling servers with volume license activation
• Updating the system and maximizing security with WSUS
Leveraging the multi-server Server Manager
• Grouping servers for simplified management
• Installing roles/features with the Dashboard
• Contrasting role-based vs. scenario-based installations
• Removing the Server Graphical Shell for increased security
Performing administrative tasks with PowerShell
• Simplifying script design with Intelligence
• Generating hardware/software inventories with PowerShell
• Implementing Windows PowerShell Web Access

Constructing the Active Directory (AD)

Active Directory infrastructure components
• Organizing with forests, domains and sites
• Raising domain and forest functional levels
• Locating Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMO) roles
Building Domain Controllers (DCs) to host the AD
• Selecting the appropriate Windows Server 2012 upgrade path
• Configuring DNS and managing DC Replication
Creating objects with the GUI and PowerShell
• Planning for simplified administration with group nesting
• Generating users, groups and OUs with PowerShell scripts
• Investigating user account and group settings
• Querying the AD with the Administrative Centre

Protecting Disk and File System Resources

Backing up, restoring and organizing disks
• Restoring the entire system with Windows Server Backup
• Maximizing recovery with cloud-based Online Backup
• Increasing resilience with storage pools and spaces
• Optimizing disk space with Data Deduplication
• Creating and attaching VHD and VHDX virtual disks
Defining security on files and folders
• Adjusting User Account Control notification levels
• Limiting access with custom Access Control Lists (ACLs)
• Auditing file system objects for specific troubleshooting
• Specifying claims and tags for Dynamic Access Control

Managing and Troubleshooting Servers

Exploiting administrative tools and applets
• Action Centre
• Task Scheduler
• iSCSI initiator
• Collecting and forwarding events to a centralized log
• Configuring the Windows Firewall for remote access
Measuring reliability and analyzing performance
• Producing diagnostic reports with Data Collector Sets
• Fixing start-up issues with Windows Recovery Environment

Setting up Network Components

Establishing network settings
• Connecting servers with IPv4 and IPv6 protocols
• Leveraging the Network and Sharing Centre
• Reducing congestion with built-in NIC Teaming
• Tracking network addresses with IP Address Manager (IPAM)
Ensuring network resource availability
• Recovering files with Shadow Copies and Previous Versions
• Improving WAN performance with Branch Cache
• Implementing the File Server Resource Manager (FSRM)
• Defining quotas
• Filtering files
• Generating reports

Administering the Active Directory

Assigning administrative rights
• Analyzing results from the Best Practices Analyzer (BPA)
• Delegating control for seamless administration
Deploying Group Policies for central management
• Contrasting computer/user policies and preferences
• Locking down the desktop with administrative templates
• Distributing applications to users and computers

Virtualizing Servers with Hyper-V

Managing virtual machines (VM)
• Creating virtual machines, switches and other hardware
• Taking VM snapshots for easy roll back and recovery
Minimizing downtime with storage replication
• Setting up a replica server for dynamic replication
• Preparing the infrastructure for the cloud
Expanding Windows Server 2012
• Implementing Remote Desktop Services (RDS)
• Publishing applications with RD RemoteApp
• Streamlining applications for optimal execution
• Investigating other enterprise features