MCITP Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Server Administration (Exam #70-646)

MCITP Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Server

Administration (Exam #70-646)

Chapter 3

Configuring the Windows Server 2008 Environment

MCITP Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Server Administration (Exam #70-646)

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Learning Objectives

• Use Server Manager and ServerManagerCmd.exe to manage a server

• Install and remove server roles

• Configure server hardware

• Configure the operating system

• Understand and configure the Registry

Learning Objectives (cont’d.)

• Use the Security Configuration Wizard to harden a server

• Install and use Windows PowerShell


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Using Server Manager

• Server Manager– Consolidates administrative functions

• Roles Summary feature– Displays log information

• Two panels– Left panel – Roles, Features, Diagnostics,

Configuration, torage– Right panel – Server Summary, Roles Summary,

Features Summary, Resources and Support


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Figure 3-1 Server Manager windowCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Using Server Manager (cont’d.)

• Actions panel– Shown when drilling-down into functions

• Activity 3-1: Getting to Know Server Manager– Objective: Learn how to start and use Server

Manager


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Figure 3-2 Starting Server ManagerCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Installing and Removing Server Roles

• Common roles– File server– Print server

• Roles change over time

• Activity 3-2: Installing and Removing Two Server Roles– Objective: Install and then remove the File Services

and Print Services roles in Windows Server 2008


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Using ServerManagerCmd.exe

• ServerManagerCmd.exe– Command-line tool for managing server roles– Manage features to be added/removed– Run parameters in XML answer file


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Using ServerManagerCmd.exe (cont’d.)

• Activities supported by ServerManagerCmd.exe:– Install and remove roles or features– Determine installed roles and features– Use whatif option– Restart computer– Specify features to install with role– Use XML-based answer file to install or remove roles


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• Executed from command line– Access Command Prompt window from Administrator

account– Roles and features identified by IDs

• Activity 3-3: Running ServerManagerCmd.exe– Objective: Use the ServerManagerCmd.exe

command to install and query server roles


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Table 3-1 ServerManagerCmd.exe options



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Table 3-2 Major IDs for server roles

Configuring Server Hardware Devices

• Both Plug and Play and Add Hardware Wizard used

• Hardware includes:– Disk drives– Disk controllers– Network adapters– CD/DVD drives– Keyboard– Pointing devices– Monitor


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Plug and Play

• Ability to automatically detect and configure newly installed hardware devices

• PnP must be – Built into device– Enabled in BIOS– Built into operating system kernel

• Almost universally supported


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Using Control Panel and the Add Hardware Wizard

• Use Add Hardware Wizard– Manually launch PnP– Manually install without PnP– Troubleshoot problems with existing hardware

• Start from Control Panel– Control Panel Home vs. Classic View– In Classic View:

• Double-click Add Hardware applet


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Figure 3-4 Selecting the Add Hardware applet to start the Add Hardware WizardCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Using Control Panel and the Add Hardware Wizard (cont’d.)

• Device Manager– Resources include interrupt request (IRQ) line, I/O

address, and reserved memory range– Resource conflicts can occur– Use Device Manager to check for conflicts and

examine properties


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– Other uses:• Verify if installed hardware is working properly

• Update device drivers

• Disable a device

• Uninstall a device

• Configure the settings for a device

– Activity 3-4: Resolving a Resource Conflict• Objective: Use Device Manager to resolve a resource

conflict


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Figure 3-5 Device ManagerCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning


• Driver Signing– Digital signature used to verify a driver– Warning when driver device not signed– Unsigned device drivers cannot be loaded in x64

versions

• Using the System File Checker– Scan system files for integrity– Activity 3-5: Manually Running the System File

Checker• Objective: Use the System File Checker to verify

system filesMCITP Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Server Administration (Exam #70-646)

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Figure 3-6 Running System File CheckerCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning


• Using Sigverif to Verify System and Critical Files– Only scans files – Does not overwrite inappropriate files– Activity 3-6: Verifying Critical Files for a Signature

• Objective: Use Sigverif to find unsigned files


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Figure 3-7 Scanning with SigverifCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Configuring the Operating System

• Configure to:– Optimize performance– Meet specific requirements


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Configuring Performance Options

• Basic areas:– Processor scheduling and memory usage– Virtual memory– Memory for network performance

• Configuring Processor Scheduling and Data Execution Prevention– Background services– Programs – Data Execution Prevention (DEP)


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Configuring Performance Options

– Activity 3-7: Configuring Processor Scheduling and DEP


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Figure 3-9 Configuring Data Execution PreventionCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Configuring Performance Options (cont’d.)

• Configuring Virtual Memory– Virtual memory– Paging– Paging file

• Location

– Activity 3-8: Configuring the Paging File• Objective: Learn where to configure the initial and

maximum size of the paging file


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Figure 3-10 Configuring virtual memoryCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning


• Configuring Direct Memory Access for Hard Disks– Transfer modes: Program Input/Output (PIO) and

Direct Memory Access (DMA)– Activity 3-9: Configuring the DMA Transfer Mode

• Objective: Determine the transfer mode used by a hard drive and set it to DMA, if necessary


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Configuring Environment Variables

• Tell operating system where to find programs, allocate memory, and control programs

• Categories– System environment variables– User environment variables

• Activity 3-10: Configuring System and Environment Variables– Objective: Learn where to configure system and user

environment variables


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Configuring Startup and Recovery

• System startup options:– Default operating system – Display list of operating systems– Display list of recovery options

• System failure options:– Writing to system log (cannot be disabled)– Start automatically after failure– How and where to write debugging information


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Configuring Startup and Recovery (cont’d.)

• Activity 3-11: Configuring Startup and Recovery– Objective: Configure

startup and recovery options


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Figure 3-12 Configuring a system startup optionCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Configuring Power Options

• Select power plan

• Require wakeup password

• Choose power button function– Shut down, do nothing, or hibernate

• Create power plan

• When to turn off display

• Activity 3-12: Configuring Power Options– Objective: Configure the balanced power plan


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Configuring Power Options (cont’d.)


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Figure 3-13 Power Options dialog boxCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Installing a Protocol

• Microsoft Virtual Network Switch Protocol– Used when Hyper-V role installed

• Reliable Multicast Protocol– Used for multimedia transmissions

• Activity 3-13: Installing a Protocol– Objective: Learn to install a protocol


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Installing a Protocol (cont’d.)


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Figure 3-14 Selecting to install a protocolCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Understanding the Windows Server 2008 Registry

• Windows Server 2008 Registry– Database containing information for operating system– Examples of data in Registry

• Registry Editor– Lunched from Start button Run option– Type regedit32 or regedit


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Understanding the Windows Server 2008 Registry (cont’d.)


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Figure 3-15 Registry EditorCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Understanding the Windows Server 2008 Registry (cont’d.)

• Precautions when editing Registry– Establish group of administrators who can access and

modify• Remove this permission from other users

– Edit Registry as last resort– Back up Registry regularly– Never copy Registry from one computer to another


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Registry Contents

• Hierarchical structure– Keys– Subkeys– Entries

• Root keys (subtrees):– HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE– HKEY_CURRENT_USER– HKEY_USERS– HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT– HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG


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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

• Information on every hardware component in the server

• Subkeys:– BCD00000000, COMPONENTS, HARDWARE, SAM,

SECURITY, SOFTWARE, and SYSTEM

• Hives– Set of subkeys with related information


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HKEY_CURRENT_USER

• Contains information about desktop setup – For account presently logged on to server console

• Example changes:– Environment parameter governing where application

temporary files are stored– Delay in the response of the keyboard


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HKEY_USERS

• Contains profile information for each user who has logged onto the computer

• Each profile listed under root key


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HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

• Holds data to associate file extensions with programs– Used as defaults for all users who log on to Windows

Server 2008

• Can modify for particular user under HKEY_USERS


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HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

• Information about the current hardware profile

• Only one default hardware profile on most servers

• Activity 3-14: Using the Registry Editor– Objective: Practice using the Registry Editor to view

the Registry contents


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Using the Security Configuration Wizard

• Analyze and configure security settings

• Adjusts security settings to match roles

• Establish security policy using:– GUI interactive wizard– Database– Command-line tool scwcmd

• Activity 3-15: Using SCW to Configure a Security Policy– Objective: Create a new security policy


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Using the Security Configuration Wizard (cont’d.)


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Figure 3-18 Creating a new security policyCourtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Using the Security Configuration Wizard (cont’d.)

• Activity 3-16: Using scwcmd– Objective: View security policy settings using the

scwcmd command-line command


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Table 3-3 scwcmd command-line options

Windows PowerShell

• Script– File of commands

• cmdlets – Specialized commands for completing common tasks

in PowerShell

• PowerShell tasks

• Installing PowerShell

• Activity 3-17: Using Windows PowerShell– Objective: Use traditional Command Prompt

commands and cmdlets in Windows PowerShell


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Summary

• Server Manager– Tool used to install and remove roles, features, and

other administrative functions– Command line-version of Server Manager

• ServerManagerCmd.exe

• Tune performance by configuring processor scheduling, memory use, and virtual memory

• Configure power options

• Control Panel used to install and uninstall protocols


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Summary (cont’d.)

• Registry database– Holds information for Windows system – Organized by keys, subkeys, and entries

• Security Configuration Wizard analyzes security options for installed roles

• Windows PowerShell– Used to manage server with commands, cmdlets, and

scripts


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Documents

MCITP Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Server Administration (Exam #70-646)