MCSA Windows Server 2012: MCSE Certification & Powershell

In the last section
we learn about what is Windows Server. Now We are going to check the content of
the Exam and the purpose. This test focuses mainly on the features and
functionality of installation, storage and processing available in Windows
Server 2016. It covers tasks and general considerations about the installation,
as well as the installation and configuration of Nano Server, as well as the
creation and management of images for its implementation. 

This is a diagram of how to face the necessary issues to pass this exam. You can follow the order of your preference, but this is the one recommended by most of the experts in the subject.

Part 1: Hyper-V

A. News with Windows Server 2016

B. Implementation of Hyper-V

1. Hardware prerequisites

2. Virtual machines in Hyper-V

3. Dynamic memory with Hyper-V

Tip 1: Microsoft methods

Microsoft provides a variety of free learning methods, including one called Microsoft Virtual Academy. Here you will find videos, presentations and learning materials for Windows Server 2016. These resources not only present you with key test information, but also provide useful and educational information on many key topics.

In the last section we saw too much theory, let’s begin with some practice like the installation of the program itself. This option, although it is the least used by the administrators of Windows Server due to its limitations, is a very interesting alternative when it comes to making the most of the hardware resources of the equipment since it does not consume the amount of memory, disk, etc that a Graphic interface.

Nano Server is one of the new installation options in Windows Server 2016, Nano Server is a remotely managed server operating system optimized for private clouds and data centers especially for its control and management capacity.

It is identical to Windows Server in its Server Core mode, but in essence smaller, does not have local logon capability and only supports applications, tools and 64-bit agents. It occupies much less disk space, is configured significantly faster and requires far fewer updates and restarts than Windows Server.

The next option offered by Microsoft to obtain the Nano Server VHD is through the installation means of the Windows Server 2016 operating system itself.

Let’s continue this lesson with creating the Nano Server virtual machine with Hyper-V

As we mentioned earlier, this process can be done in environments such as Windows 8, Windows 10 or Windows Server 20165 with the role or feature of Hyper-V installed.

In general, when talking about virtualization, what it refers to is server virtualization, which means partitioning a physical server into several virtual servers.

Each virtual machine can interact independently with other devices, applications, data and users, as if it were an independent physical resource.

A virtual machine is nothing more than a software capable of loading another operating system inside making it believe that it is a real PC. As the name suggests, the concept is as simple as creating a machine (PC, console, mobile or whatever) that instead of being physical is virtual or emulated.

The first thing you should know is that there are two types of virtual machines differentiated by their functionality: system and process, although the vast majority of times you hear about a virtual machine almost certainly refer to those of system.

To use a virtual machine, the first thing you need is to install an application on your PC capable of creating or at least reproducing it. There are several well-known applications capable of doing this, although the most famous are VMWare, VirtualBox, QEMU and Parallels.

The importance of a virtual machine to ensure the operation of old software is so great that Microsoft has launched several programs for Windows for this purpose. This is the case of the Virtual PC, Windows XP Mode or the new HyperV.

Go back to the main VirtualBox window and press Start to start the magic. If everything went well, the installation process of the operating system that you have installed in the CD, DVD, USB or floppy disk drive will be loaded, and from that moment you will simply have to follow the instructions on the screen. From the bottom bar of the window you have shortcuts to quickly change several options related to emulation. For example, by right clicking on the floppy disk icon I can change the disk image to continue the installation of MS-DOS.

At the end of the course the participant will be able to:

• Prepare and install a Nano Server, Server Core and plan a server upgrade and migration strategy.

• Describe the various storage options, including partition table formats, basic and dynamic disks, file systems, virtual hard disks and unit hardware, and explain how to manage disks and volumes.

• Describe the storage solutions of the company and select the appropriate solution for a given situation.

The 70-411 exam "Windows Server 2012 Administration" is the second of the three exams required to obtain the MCSA Windows Server 2012 certification. Validate your competences and knowledge in the administration of an infrastructure Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2, in the framework of the environment of an existing company.  The 70-411 Administering Windows Server exam is designed for ICT professionals with practical experience on a Windows 8 server or in the Windows Server 2012 environment to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to manage and maintain the basic infrastructure necessary for a Windows Server.

Microsoft has reinvented its certification program to respond to the transformation of the ICT Industry, incorporating skills assessments and knowledge in Cloud environments.

This exam covers a lot of content, there are several ways to prepare for the test. Everything depends on our money and time. From the cheapest that is reading the schedule and being taught from Microsoft tech or expensive like going to courses with qualified instructors. In the same site of Microsoft they recommend some books that are very useful, but in spite of everything they do not cover all the information that is required for the exam, ideally if you are going to study on your own that you can get all the possible bibliography related to the exam and have a computer with the necessary hardware requirements to support one or several virtual machines and so you can practice as much as you can. 

I will teach you just one part of the section of the test so you can see all the content that you have to study and what I’m going to teach you, It does not even include a practice. Is the part of Implement, manage and maintain servers.

Installing servers implies a unitary operation, but the implementation of servers is something that is done often, not only from time to time. You must install the servers reliably and repeatedly, without significant user intervention. 

Capture images are used to create a custom installation image from an existing template computer. You must prepare the computer template with Sysprep and then start using the capture image. You must have enough free disk space on the template computer to save the captured image to a local volume

You can install and configure the Windows Server Update Services feature and its support services by using Server Manager, the command line, or a combination of both. If you choose the command line, use a combination of Windows PowerShell and the Wsusutil.exe utility for configuration. The Windows Server Update Services feature is compatible with a Windows Server Core installation.

You can configure Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to apply the organization's standards to apply Windows Updates using the Group Policy Management Editor. When using the WSUS GPO configuration, you can apply the location that the client computers attached to a domain use for updates, the updates are installed automatically, if the updates that require a restart require a restart, etc.