Implementing AD/NI – 6/16/2008

We finished covering Group Policy today by tackling the issue of software deployment by way of GP.  GP is one of my favorite Server topics, and software deployment is one of the reasons why.  With GP, we can assign or publish software to hundreds and thousands of users with just a few mouse-clicks.  In addition, we can prohibit users from running particular programs — either by blocking their paths or by assigning a hash rule.

In addition, we also discussed restore options for AD, namely authoritative and non-authoritative restores.  The difference between the two has to do with how the changes affect AD.  Non-authoritative restores simply restores the directory and then other DCs update the newly restored server to a current state.  In other words, the data that’s restored isn’t “authoritative” on the network, it can be (and should be) updated by other DCs.  Authoritative restores are, as the name implies authoritative and their restores are replicated across the network.  We typically use non-authoritative restores for rebuilding DCs and authoritative restores for restoring accidently deleted objects to AD.

To end the class up, I passed out the take-home final.  This final is due at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, June 23.

Homework:

None, per se, but if you want to be on top of your game, I’d suggest the following …

• Chapter Nine – Review Questions
• Chapter Ten – Review Questions
• Chapter Eleven – Review Questions
• Chapter Twelve – Review Questions

Hello from the Road!

Hey everyone, I just wanted to give a quick update to let you know that I am having a blast and learning a TON of stuff at TechEd this year.  I’ll do several more “proper” posts sharing what I’ve learned later, but for now I wanted to check in and say hello!

Since I wasn’t green to the entire process this year, I had in mind a few presenters that I definitely wanted to check out: Marcus Murray, Laura Chappell and Mark Russinovich.  I also stumbled upon Mark Minasi who is the single-best teacher I’ve come across at TechEd 2007 or 2008.  He did a phenomenal job with showing us how to set up a DC running DHCP (with a scope and reservations), set the time zones correctly, set up and run WINS, rename the computer and more — all from the command line!  I saw something similar (and even blogged about it) last year, but his demonstration just made it easy.  Look for another entry about it in the next couple of weeks.

I’m off now to the Attendee Party.  Microsoft has rented Universal Studios Park for us, so we get exclusive run of the place until midnight tonight!  Woo!!

EDraw Network Diagrammer

Andrew Coon pointed out EDraw Network Diagrammer, a product of EDrawSoft as a potential tool for professionally diagramming your networks for your Network+ projects.  EDraw Network Diagrammer is normally available for $50 (the full version, which will allow you to do org charts and fashion design will set you back $80), but there is a free trial available.  Check out http://www.edrawsoft.com/index.php for more details.

In addition, Microsoft offers up it’s Visio program, which is an absolute pleasure to use, for a 180-day trial.

Network+ – 6/3/2008

The last day of instruction was today and we finished up the book, covering chapters nine and ten.  Chapter nine was about the sensitive topic of fault tolerance — you’ll find in classes coming up that fault tolerance is one of those topics that vendors like to harp on because it has such an impact on real-world computing.

The next chapter was about the troubleshooting process.  Make sure you know the eight steps in the troubleshooting method and can regurgitate them at will.

Next week, I will be attending a conference in Orlando (I know, boo-hoo) and will not be able to be with you.  Since I will not be here, I will have no way of verifying your attendance, but I HIGHLY recommend you come and work on your project, study, etc. with one another.  It’s a great opportunity to have a built-in study group to prepare you for any upcoming certifications, finals, etc.

Homework: (due 6/17)

• Chapter Nine: Review Questions
• Chapter Ten: Review Questions

MS Exchange – 6/2/2008

Tonight we began the first class of DIY-ness  by installing Exchange on a server and using our machines to connect to it.

Homework:

• Research and figure out how to get Exchange to show the OWA login screen when you access the cartdiesel.com domain.

Extra Credit!!!

Alright party people, the time has arrived for some good old extra credit!!!

The new version of Windows, due out in 2009, is tentatively called Windows 7. Microsoft has been very tight-lipped about it as to not repeat the same mistakes they made with Windows Vista — meaning blowing their wad about new features they then have to back out of.

Last Tuesday, Microsoft broke their silence and made an announcement that shocked many in the IT industry.

For 10 points extra credit, read this article detailing the decision and write a one page, double spaced summary of it along with your take on the decision. Was it a good decision or not?

The extra credit will not be spoken of again and will be due by the start of the class you’d like it applied to the week of June 16.

Implementing AD – 6/2/2008

Lotsa group policy today! We looked at different ways to implement administrative changes to our client machines quickly and efficiently using Group Policy.

Next week I will be in Orlando for TechEd 2008, where I hope to gather up lots of great information about Server 08 for you.  We’ll reconvene on June 16 and finish up the remaining chapters.

Homework:

• Chapter Six: Review Questions
• Chapter Seven: Review Questions
• Chapter Eight: Review Questions