Microsoft Windows Server Administration

Objective: Understand Windows Server editions and perform installation.

Topics Covered:

• Windows Server editions (Standard, Datacenter, Essentials)
• Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022 overview
• Installation methods (DVD, USB, Network, PXE)
• Server Core vs. Desktop Experience installation
• Initial configuration (hostname, IP addressing, activation)
• Windows Admin Center overview
• Server Manager and remote management

Tools: Windows Server ISO, Hyper-V, Server Manager

Objective: Install and manage server roles and features.

Topics Covered:

• Understanding server roles vs. features
• Installing roles and features using Server Manager
• Installing roles and features using PowerShell
• Common roles: AD DS, DNS, DHCP, File Services, Web Server (IIS)
• Post-installation configuration and best practices
• Server Core management using sconfig and PowerShell
• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) basics

Tools: Server Manager, PowerShell, Windows Admin Center

Objective: Implement and manage Active Directory Domain Services.

Topics Covered:

• Active Directory concepts: Domains, trees, forests
• Domain controllers and their functions
• Installing and promoting a domain controller
• Organizational Units (OUs) and delegation of control
• Active Directory replication and sites
• Read-Only Domain Controllers (RODC)
• Managing multiple domains and trusts
• AD DS backup and recovery

Tools: Server Manager, Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC), PowerShell

Objective: Manage user, group, and computer objects in Active Directory.

Topics Covered:

• Creating and managing user accounts
• User account templates and bulk import
• Password policies and account lockout settings
• Security groups vs. distribution groups
• Group nesting and scope (domain local, global, universal)
• Managing computer accounts and domain joining
• Managed Service Accounts (MSA) and Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA)
• Using PowerShell for bulk user/group operations

Tools: ADUC, PowerShell, CSVDE, LDIFDE

Objective: Configure and manage DNS for name resolution.

Topics Covered:

• DNS concepts: Zones, records, resolvers, forwarders
• Installing and configuring DNS Server role
• Primary, secondary, and stub zones
• Active Directory-integrated DNS zones
• DNS record types: A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, PTR, SRV
• DNS forwarders, conditional forwarders, root hints
• DNSSEC and DNS security
• Troubleshooting DNS with nslookup, dig, dcdiag

Tools: DNS Manager, nslookup, dig, dcdiag

Objective: Configure and manage DHCP for automated IP addressing.

Topics Covered:

• DHCP concepts: Scopes, leases, reservations, options
• Installing and configuring DHCP Server role
• Creating and managing DHCP scopes
• DHCP options (router, DNS, WINS servers)
• DHCP reservations for fixed IP assignment
• DHCP failover and high availability
• DHCP relay agents and IP helpers
• DHCP security and authorization
• DHCPv6 for IPv6 addressing

Tools: DHCP Manager, ipconfig, PowerShell

Objective: Implement and manage Group Policy for centralized configuration.

Topics Covered:

• Group Policy concepts: GPOs, containers, templates
• Creating and linking GPOs to OUs, domains, sites
• Computer Configuration vs. User Configuration
• Administrative Templates (Registry-based policies)
• Security settings and Group Policy preferences
• Software deployment via Group Policy
• Group Policy processing order (LSDOU)
• Loopback processing and filtering
• Group Policy troubleshooting (RSOP, gpresult)

Tools: Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), rsop, gpresult

Objective: Configure and manage storage and file sharing.

Topics Covered:

• Disk management: Basic vs. Dynamic disks
• Storage Spaces and Storage Pools
• Resilient File System (ReFS) vs. NTFS
• File shares and share permissions
• NTFS permissions and effective access
• Distributed File System (DFS) - Namespaces and Replication
• File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) for quotas and file screening
• iSCSI target and initiator configuration
• Deduplication and compression

Tools: Disk Management, Server Manager, DFS Management, FSRM

Objective: Implement and manage Hyper-V virtualization.

Topics Covered:

• Hyper-V architecture and requirements
• Installing Hyper-V role
• Creating and configuring virtual machines
• Virtual switches (External, Internal, Private)
• Virtual hard disks (VHD, VHDX) and pass-through disks
• Checkpoints (snapshots) for VM state capture
• Hyper-V Replica for disaster recovery
• Live Migration and Storage Migration
• Managing VMs with PowerShell and Windows Admin Center

Tools: Hyper-V Manager, PowerShell, Windows Admin Center

Objective: Implement security measures and backup strategies.

Topics Covered:

• Windows Defender and security baselines
• Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
• BitLocker Drive Encryption
• Windows Server Backup and recovery
• Azure Backup and hybrid backup solutions
• System State backup and Bare Metal Recovery
• Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and Previous Versions
• Disaster recovery planning and testing
• Implementing a backup rotation strategy

Tools: Windows Server Backup, Windows Defender, BitLocker

Objective: Configure remote access and web server services.

Topics Covered:

• Remote Desktop Services (RDS) deployment
• VPN and DirectAccess configuration
• Web Application Proxy (WAP)
• Internet Information Services (IIS) installation and configuration
• Hosting websites and web applications
• IIS security: SSL/TLS certificates, authentication
• Application pools and worker processes
• URL rewrite and request filtering

Tools: IIS Manager, Remote Desktop Gateway, VPN configuration

Objective: Master PowerShell for automation and prepare for certification.

Topics Covered:

• PowerShell basics: cmdlets, pipeline, variables, scripts
• Managing Active Directory with PowerShell
• Managing Hyper-V with PowerShell
• Managing DNS, DHCP, and file services with PowerShell
• Creating reusable scripts and functions
• PowerShell remoting (Invoke-Command, Enter-PSSession)
• PowerShell DSC (Desired State Configuration) basics
• Microsoft certification paths (MCSA, MCSE, Azure)
• Practice exams and exam strategies

Tools: PowerShell ISE, VS Code, Active Directory PowerShell module