Ebook: Windows Server 2008 Unleashed

Windows Server 2008 Unleashed covers the planning, design, prototype testing, implementation, migration, administration, and support of a Windows 2008 and Active Directory environment, based on more than three and a half years of early adopter experience in full production environments. This book addresses not only what is new with Windows 2008 compared to previous versions of the Windows Server product, but also what is different and how the similarities and differences affect an organization’s migration to Windows 2008. Chapters are dedicated to the migration process from Windows 2000/2003 to Windows 2008, how to properly use Group Policies in Windows 2008, and tips and tricks on managing and administering a Windows 2008 environment.

The authors cover the technologies new to Windows 2008, such as IPv6, Network Access Protection (NAP), Network Policy Server (NPS), Terminal Services Remote Programs, Windows Deployment Services (WDS), Hyper-V virtualization, and more! This book doesn’t just describe the features and functions included in Windows 2008--there are notes throughout the book explaining how organizations have successfully used the technologies to fulfill core business needs. Tips, tricks, and best practices share lessons learned from hundreds of implementations of Windows 2008 in real-world environments.

Detailed information on how to…

• Plan and migrate from Windows 2000/2003 to Windows 2008
• Leverage new tools and utilities that simplify system and network administration functions
• Enable the latest security technologies to improve secured enterprise computing
• Better manage a Windows 2008 Active Directory environment
• Optimize a Windows 2008 environment for better scalability and enhanced performance
• Implement Windows 2008 for better branch office and remote office integration
• Design a Windows 2008 environment to support the latest in clustering, stretched clusters, fault tolerance, and redundant systems technologies
• Take advantage of add-on technologies available for Windows 2008, including Windows SharePoint Services, Microsoft Hyper-V virtualization, Windows Media Services, and IIS 7 web server solutions

Rand, Michael, Ross, and Chris work for Convergent Computing, an IT consulting firm in the San Francisco Bay area that has three and a half years of early adopter experience with Windows 2008. In collaboration with co-author Omar Droubi, the authors helped organizations of all sizes plan, migrate, implement, and test Windows 2008 in production environments. The book was written from direct experiences where Windows 2008 was put into enterprise production environments focused to meet specific strategic business requirements.

Category: Windows Server

Covers: Windows Server 2008

User Level: Intermediate--Advanced

Introduction xlix

Part I: Windows Server 2008 Overview

1: Windows Server 2008 Technology Primer 3

2: Planning, Prototyping, Migrating, and Deploying Windows Server 2008 Best Practices 39

3: Installing Windows Server 2008 and Server Core 73

Part II: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory

4: Active Directory Domain Services Primer 105

5: Designing a Windows Server 2008 Active Directory 139

6: Designing Organizational Unit and Group Structure 165

7: Active Directory Infrastructure 185

8: Creating Federated Forests and Lightweight Directories 217

9: Integrating Active Directory in a UNIX Environment 235

Part III: Networking Services

10: Domain Name System and IPv6 251

11: DHCP/WINS/Domain Controllers 297

12: Internet Information Services 331

Part IV: Security

13: Server-Level Security 375

14: Transport-Level Security 399

15: Security Policies, Network Policy Server, and Network Access Protection 415

Part V: Migrating to Windows Server 2008

16: Migrating from Windows 2000/2003 to Windows Server 2008 439

17: Compatibility Testing for Windows Server 2008 473

Part VI: Windows Server 2008 Administration and Management

18: Windows Server 2008 Administration 499

19: Windows Server 2008 Group Policies and Policy Management 533

20: Windows Server 2008 Management and Maintenance Practices 581

21: Automating Tasks Using PowerShell Scripting 639

22: Documenting a Windows Server 2008 Environment 685

23: Integrating Systems Center Operations Manager 2007 with Windows Server 2008 715

Part VII: Remote and Mobile Technologies

24: Server-to-Client Remote and Mobile Access 737

25: Terminal Services 783

Part VIII: Desktop Administration

26: Windows Server Administration Tools for Desktops 839

27: Group Policy Management for Network Clients 865

Part IX: Fault Tolerance Technologies

28: File System Management and Fault Tolerance 935

29: System-Level Fault Tolerance (Clustering/Network Load Balancing) 993

30: Backing Up the Windows Server 2008 Environment 1043

31: Recovering from a Disaster 1077

Part X: Optimizing, Tuning, Debugging, and Problem Solving

32: Optimizing Windows Server 2008 for Branch Office Communications 1111

33: Logging and Debugging 1145

34: Capacity Analysis and Performance Optimization 1189

Part XI: Integrated Windows Application Services

35: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 1233

36: Windows Media Services 1281

37: Deploying and Using Windows Virtualization 1313

Index 1339