A Complete Course on Windows Server Administration

A Complete Course on Windows Server Administration

by Imran Afzal
Released July 2019
Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
ISBN: 9781838984793

Watch it now on the O’Reilly learning platform with a 10-day free trial.

O’Reilly members get unlimited access to books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.

Start your free trial

Video description

This course offers a comprehensive journey through Windows Server administration, guiding you from core concepts to advanced configuration and management. Starting with an overview of Microsoft Windows, you'll learn the differences between major operating systems and set up a virtual lab environment using Oracle VirtualBox. This lab enables you to safely practice essential tasks, including Windows Server installation and basic system configuration.

Moving deeper, the course covers user account management, role elevation, system resource monitoring, and daily maintenance routines. You'll gain experience with key administrative tools like the Server Manager Dashboard and control panel utilities, making it easy to monitor and troubleshoot server environments. Through hands-on exercises, you'll build confidence in applying real-world skills.

In the advanced modules, explore Active Directory, DNS, group policy, and network configurations critical to enterprise environments. Additional scripting training with PowerShell prepares you to automate tasks, ensuring smooth server operations. By the end, you'll have a robust skill set in Windows Server administration, ready to excel in IT roles.

What you will learn

  • Configure and manage Windows Server environments
  • Implement effective user account and role management
  • Execute Windows-based scripts for task automation
  • Set up and manage Active Directory, DNS, and domain controllers
  • Configure network settings, security updates, and storage solutions
  • Perform routine server maintenance and troubleshooting

Audience

This course is designed for aspiring and current IT professionals, system administrators, and network engineers looking to enhance their skills in Windows Server management. Basic knowledge of computers and operating systems is recommended, but no prior experience in server administration is required.

About the Author

Imran Afzal: Imran Afzal is a systems engineer/manager, entrepreneur, instructor, and public speaker. He started his career with Time Warner in 2000 as a systems administrator. He was involved in deploying technologies such as DTV, VOD, CableCards, and others. These technologies were built on many Linux distributions. Since then, he has utilized Linux/Unix skills in many Fortune 500 companies.

He has worn many different hats and currently leads a team of 45 Linux engineers. He has spearheaded projects such as datacenter migration, introduction, and deployment of VMware, monitoring tools implementation, Amazon cloud migration, and many more. His professional expertise is Linux, VMware, Windows, technical documentation, training, change management, and so on.

Table of contents

  1. Chapter 1 : Syllabus Overview
    1. Windows Syllabus Overview
  2. Chapter 2 : Module 1 - Understanding of Microsoft Windows
    1. Welcome to Module 1
    2. What is Windows?
    3. Different Versions of Windows
    4. Microsoft Background and Products
    5. Windows Market Share - Everyday Windows
    6. Windows vs. Linux vs. MAC
  3. Chapter 3 : Module 2 - Setting up a Lab
    1. Welcome to Module 2 - Lab Setup
    2. What is a Oracle Virtual Box
    3. Download and Install Oracle VirtualBox
    4. Create a VM for Windows
  4. Chapter 4 : Module 3 - Windows Installation and Configuration
    1. Welcome to Module 3
    2. Different Ways to Install OS
    3. Download Windows Server 2016
    4. Install Windows Server 2016
    5. Download Windows Server 2022
    6. Install Windows Server 2022
    7. Windows Server GUI Overview
  5. Chapter 5 : Module 4 - System Access and File System
    1. Welcome to Module 4
    2. Accessing Windows System
    3. File System and Description
    4. Navigating to File System
    5. File Types and Creation
    6. File Properties
    7. Finding Files and Directories
    8. File Maintenance (copy, delete, move and rename)
    9. Files Operations
    10. File Editing Short-Cut Keys
  6. Chapter 6 : Module 5 - System Administration
    1. Welcome to Module 5
    2. User Account Management
    3. Elevating User Roles
    4. Monitor Users Activity (Task manager and command line)
    5. System Utilities Under Accessories
    6. Programs and Service Management (Control panel and services)
    7. System Resource Monitoring (Task Manager)
    8. Windows Event Logs
    9. System Maintenance
    10. Jobs and Schedules
    11. Windows Settings
    12. Server Manager Dashboard
    13. Installing and Uninstalling Programs
    14. Windows Applications (Microsoft or 3rd Party)
    15. Windows Short-Cut Keys (Alt + Ctrl + Del etc.)
    16. Check System Hardware (Device Manager)
  7. Chapter 7 : Module 6 - Advance Windows Administration
    1. Welcome to Module 6
    2. Roles vs. Features
    3. Adding Roles and Features
    4. What is Domain Controller?
    5. Domain Controller and Active Directory
    6. Active Directory Prerequisites
    7. What is DNS?
    8. Active Directory Installation
    9. Active Directory "Users and Computers"
    10. Active Directory User Account Management
    11. Installing Windows Client
    12. Joining the Domain from Windows 7
    13. Remove from AD DNS
    14. Joining the Domain from Windows 10
    15. Active Directory "Administrative Center"
    16. Active Directory "Domain and Trust"
    17. Active Directory "Module for Windows PowerShell"
    18. Active Directory "Site and Services"
    19. Active Directory Group Policy Management
    20. DNS Administration
    21. WebServer (IIS) Installation
  8. Chapter 8 : Module 7 - Windows Scripting and Command Line
    1. Welcome to Module 7
    2. Windows Batch Scripting
    3. First Batch Script "Hello World"
    4. Script to Automate Simple Tasks
    5. Windows PowerShell
    6. Windows PowerShell Commands
    7. Windows PowerShell ISE
    8. Windows Management Instrument (WMIC)
    9. Difference Between DOS and PowerShell
  9. Chapter 9 : Module 8 - Networking and System Updates
    1. Welcome to Module 8
    2. What is NIC?
    3. Enable Internet on the VM
    4. NIC Teaming
    5. Network Configuration
    6. Windows Updates
    7. NTP Configuration
    8. File Transfer Methods
    9. FTP Server Installation and Configuration
    10. Sharing FileSystem (Samba or NFS)
    11. WSUS Server Installation and Configuration
    12. Windows Firewall
  10. Chapter 10 : Module 9 - Storage Management
    1. Welcome to Module 9
    2. What is Computer Storage?
    3. Type of Computer Storage
    4. How to Add Disk
    5. Extend an Existing Disk
    6. Disk Cleanup and Defragmentation
    7. RAID
    8. Windows Backup and Restore
  11. Chapter 11 : Module 10 - Additional Resources
    1. Welcome to Module 10
    2. What is IT?
    3. IT Components
    4. Facts about IT
    5. Facts about IT
    6. Resume Workshop
    7. Interview Workshop
    8. Post Resume and What to Expect
    9. VMWare Workstation Player (Optional)
    10. Install Oracle Virtualbox on MAC

Product information

  • Title: A Complete Course on Windows Server Administration
  • Author(s): Imran Afzal
  • Release date: July 2019
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781838984793