Planning, Deploying and Managing a
Windows® Server 2003 Network Infrastructure

You will learn how to
  • Install and manage clients and servers within a Windows Server 2003 domain
  • Administer systems using management consoles and the Terminal Services client
  • Create and enforce workstation and server configurations using Group Policy Objects
  • Implement automated software deployment based on computer and user functions
  • Prepare computers for disk-cloning deployments using SysPrep
  • Configure and utilize the Remote Installation Service (RIS)

 

Course Benefits

IT professionals face the ongoing challenge of improving the delivery of services while reducing Total Cost of Ownership. Microsoft's latest operating systems integrate technologies designed to minimize the time and costs associated with managing your environment.

This course provides the skills needed to efficiently deploy and administer clients and servers within Windows Server 2003 domains.

who should attend

This course is valuable for those developing an administrative strategy within a Windows Server 2003 AD environment. Course "Windows 2000," or "Windows Server 2003," or equivalent experience is assumed.

Course Content
INTRODUCTION
Overview of management concepts
  • Reducing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
  • Increasing functionality
  • Centralizing the administration of a distributed computing environment
Microsoft's solution for implementing management concepts
  • Improved management applications
  • Group Policy Objects
  • Automated Windows installation
MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT TOOLS
The Microsoft Management Console (MMC)
  • Managing the operating system with built-in consoles
  • Creating customized consoles
Exploring alternatives to the MMC
  • Working with command-line utilities
  • Assigning server roles
  • Accessing remote machines via the Remote Desktop client
CONFIGURING WINDOWS WITH GROUP POLICY
Controlling settings
  • Modifying common Registry keys
  • Assigning logon and startup scripts
  • Centralizing data storage
  • Enforcing consistent security settings
Building and managing Group Policy Objects (GPOs)
  • Defining GPOs with the Group Policy console
  • Modifying administrative and security templates
  • Documenting and backing up GPOs with the Group Policy Management Console
Deploying Group Policy Objects
  • Linking GPOs within the Active Directory
  • Combining GPOs with inheritance
  • Implementing security and WMI filters
  • Overriding user settings based on computer function
Troubleshooting Group Policy
  • Improving policy performance
  • Enabling verbose policy logging
  • Evaluating policy interaction with the Resultant Set of Policy Wizard
DEPLOYING WINDOWS INSTALLER PACKAGES
Windows Installer Service
  • Performing GUI and command-line installations and repairs
  • Managing the installation state of individual features
  • Repackaging software and creating Windows Installer packages
Distributing software via Group Policy
  • Assigning software to computers
  • Publishing for interactive installation
  • Enabling just-in-time installation so that software "follows" users
  • Customizing software installation with modification files
AUTOMATING WINDOWS INSTALLATION
Scripted installations
  • Building answer files using Setup Manager
  • Supporting variable parameters with Uniqueness Database Files
  • Creating distribution shares that include third-party drivers
Disk imaging
  • Preparing systems for imaging using the System Preparation Wizard
  • Generating answer files for use with cloning utilities
Remote Installation Service (RIS)
  • Installing & managing RIS on the network
  • Creating RIS images
Service Packs and hot fixes
  • Slipstreaming Service Packs
  • Reporting installed hot fixes
  • Deploying patches on the network

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