Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment

Target Audience
This course provides students with the knowledge and skills that are needed to effectively maintain server resources, monitor server performance, and safeguard data on a computer running one of the operating systems in the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 family. It is intended for individuals who are employed as or seeking employment as a systems administrator or systems engineer.

Pre-Requisites
Before attending this course, students must have the following pre-requisites:Completion of Course2274: Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment, or equivalent knowledge and skills.

Purpose
After completing this course, students will be able to prepare to administer server resources; configure a server to monitor system performance; monitor system performance; manage device drivers by configuring device driver signing and restoring a device driver; manage hard disks; manage data storage; manage disaster recovery; maintain software by using Microsoft Software Update Services.

Course outline

1. Preparing to Administer a Server
2. Preparing to Monitor Server Performance
3. Monitoring Server Performance
4. Maintaining Device Drivers
5. Managing Disks
6. Managing Data Storage
7. Managing Disaster Recovery
8. Maintaining Software by Using Software Update Services

Module 1:Preparing to Administer a Server

• Administering a Server
• Configuring Remote Desktop to Administer a Server
• Managing Remote Desktop Connections
• Lab: Creating a Shared Folder on a Remote Computer
• Lab: Defragmenting a Disk on a Remote Computer
• Lab: Connecting to a Remote Console Session
• Lab: Creating Shortcuts to Administration Tools

• Explain the tasks, tools, and rights that are required to administer a server.
  
• Configure Remote Desktop for Administration and client preferences.
  
• Manage remote desktop connections.
  

Module 2:Preparing to Monitor Server Performance

• Introduction to Monitoring Server Performance
• Performing Real-Time and Logged Monitoring
• Configuring and Managing Counter Logs
• Configuring Alerts
• Lab: Selecting the Appropriate Monitoring Technique

• Establish a performance baseline.
  
• Perform real-time and logged monitoring.
  
• Configure and manage counter logs.
  
• Configure alerts.
  

Module 3:Monitoring Server Performance

• Monitoring Server Memory
• Monitoring Processor Usage
• Monitoring Disks
• Monitoring Network Usage
• Lab: Starting Performance with Administrative Controls
• Lab: Configuring System Monitor to Track High CPU Usage
• Lab: Creating and Configuring an Alert in Performance Logs and Alerts to Track High CPU Usage
• Lab: Enabling the Messenger Service
• Lab: Testing the High CPU Usage Alert

• Explain how the four primary server subsystems affect server performance.
  
• Monitor server memory.
  
• Monitor processor usage.
  
• Monitor disks.
  
• Monitor network usage.
  
• Identify the guidelines for using counters and thresholds.
  
• Describe the best practices for monitoring server performance.
  

Module 4:Maintaining Device Drivers

• Configuring Device Driver Signing Options
• Using Device Driver Rollback
• Lab: Viewing the Current File Signature Verification Setting
• Lab: Modifying the Default Setting
• Lab: Adding a Computer to the Organizational Unit
• Lab: Verifying the New File Signature Verification Setting

• Configure device driver signing.
  
• Restore the previous version of a device driver.
  

Module 5:Managing Disks

• Preparing Disks
• Managing Disk Properties
• Managing Mounted Drives
• Converting Disks
• Creating Volumes
• Importing a Foreign Disk
• Lab: Mounting Drive E to D:\Graphics
• Lab: Changing Drive Letter D to X
• Lab: Removing Mounted Drive E
• Lab: Changing Drive Letter X to D

• Initialize and partition a disk.
  
• View and update disk properties.
  
• Manage mounted drives.
  
• Create volumes on a disk.
  
• Convert a disk from basic to dynamic and from dynamic to basic.
  
• Import disks.
  

Module 6:Managing Data Storage

• Managing File Compression
• Configuring File Encryption
• Implementing Disk Quotas
• Lab: Configuring Disk Quota Entries
• Lab: Exporting Disk Quota Entries
• Lab: Importing Disk Quota Entries
• Lab: Compressing a Folder
• Lab: Encrypting a Folder

• Manage NTFS file compression.
  
• Configure file encryption.
  
• Implement disk quotas.
  

Module 7:Managing Disaster Recovery

• Preparing for Disaster Recovery
• Backing Up Data
• Scheduling Backup Jobs
• Restoring Data
• Recovering from Server Failure
• Selecting Disaster Recovery Methods
• Lab: Installing the Recovery Console
• Lab: Backing Up the System State Data
• Lab: Creating a Windows Startup Disk
• Lab: Recovering from a Corrupt Registry
• Lab: Recovering from a Corrupt Boot File

• Prepare for disaster recovery.
  
• Back up data.
  
• Schedule backup jobs.
  
• Restore data.
  
• Configure a shadow copy.
  
• Recover from server failure.
  
• Select a disaster recovery method.
  

Module 8:Maintaining Software by Using Software Update Services

• Introduction to Software Update Services
• Installing and Configuring Software Update Services
• Managing a Software Update Services Infrastructure
• Lab: Creating a Group Policy Object to Configure Automatic Updates
• Lab: Preparing Sample Software Update Packages for Your Clients
• Lab: Verifying the Updates Are Available to the Clients

• Explain Microsoft Software Update Services.
  
• Install and configure client computers to use Software Update Services.
  
• Install and configure servers to use Software Update Services.
  
• Manage the Software Update Services infrastructure.