Key technologies that administrators should value after upgrading to Win 2003

When an enterprise plans to upgrade to a new server platform, the skills of the IT staff must be considered together to meet the requirements for deploying and maintaining the new system. The value of an in-depth understanding of all the features of the server is immeasurable. However, every IT staff cannot be expected to fully grasp all aspects of the new system platform — at least not immediately. Therefore, in the process of deploying the new system and after the deployment is completed, the enterprise must ensure that the IT staff is trained in the corresponding work areas. In this article, we will explore the most important features for system administrators when upgrading an old Windows NT or Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003.

Everyone's AD

First and foremost, all IT staff should have a deep understanding of the details of Active Directory (AD). Active Directory provides the most basic technical support for many of the features of Windows Server 2003, so a basic understanding of Active Directory is critical to every system administrator. AD's extended knowledge — domain management and trust and security are also important to administrators who will create and manage domains, users, and groups.

The following are some of the other core technologies that administrators may need to learn, depending on their specific job requirements.

Group Policy

Managing Group Policy requires at least a basic understanding of Active Directory and a broad understanding of Group Policy. System administrators should understand what the purpose of Group Policy is and what they can get by using Group Policy. They should be able to create and deploy Group Policy objects, delegate Group Policy administrative permissions, and manage security policies. A good understanding of Windows 2000 and Windows XP is the most basic, because the client system platform is the target of Group Policy deployment (of course, Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 can also be the target of Group Policy deployment)

File System

All IT staff must be familiar with the NTFS format and know how to configure permissions on NTFS partitions. System administrators who manage storage should understand the difference between basic and dynamic disks, as well as how to create and manage partitions and volumes, manage disk quotas, use split volumes, and configure and manage Volume Shadow Copy. In addition, understanding the knowledge of disk arrays, such as creating and managing mirrored and striped volumes, is essential.

Distributed File System

System administrators who will create and manage Distributed File System (DFS) roots and shares must be familiar with Active Directory and file system related knowledge points before they need A broad understanding of distributed file systems and replication technologies.

Security

Many areas of the enterprise require secure deployment. The security training that system administrators need depends on the security technologies and features they will manage. Basic Active Directory training is important, as well as user and group management, IP security (IPSec), virtual private network (VPN), IP routing and ports, firewalls, certificate services, certificate management, and Internet information services ( IIS).

Remote Access

IT staff who will manage remote access must be familiar with network, routing, user and group management, routing and remote access services (RRAS), and remote access policies. At the same time, depending on whether they use these remote access features, they should understand Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS), Internet Authentication Service (IAS), and Certificate Services.

IIS 6.0, ASP.NET, ADO.NET, and .NET Framework

Because many features of the system depend on IIS, every system administrator should at least be aware of IIS and its related There is a basic understanding of security issues. Administrators who manage IIS servers need a deeper understanding of IIS, including the ability to manage IIS system structures and processes, configure and manage virtual servers, and deploy security for servers. Depending on how your organization will use IIS, system administrators may also need a good database installation management background, including the experience of configuring ODBC connections.

Terminal Server

The administrator who will manage the terminal server needs to understand the deployment and usage details of the remote desktop client based on understanding the terminal server itself. Terminal servers are also an important topic.

Network

Any administrator who manages the features of the network architecture should be trained in at least the network design and network protocols. Technicians who will manage the network will need to be trained in network protocols, routing, traffic management, security-related issues (such as IPSec), firewalls, proxies, and VPNs.

Data Integrity and Disaster Recovery

Finally, ensuring data integrity and enabling disaster recovery is also critical to system administrators. System administrators who manage backup and restore must understand the knowledge and technologies associated with file systems, storage hardware management, shadow copying, backup methods and tools, automated system restore (ASR), and remote storage.

Where to start

We have already seen the most important leading technologies in the Windows Server 2003 upgrade process. Now, we're looking for resources that will help IT staff proficient in these technologies, including some that demonstrate their knowledge and skills in this area.

Some Links

For IT staff who want to learn more about Windows Server 2003, many resources are available. For example, Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 training and events page includes Windows Server 2003 assessment pages, online information, books, and other training resources, as well as information related to Windows Server 2003 certification. You can also find learning resources elsewhere, whether online or offline.

These Microsoft resources, along with books and training materials published by other publishers, give IT staff an excellent way to become familiar with Windows Server 2003 features and learn how to deploy and manage these features. However, even if these resources are very useful for initial evaluation, they often fail to provide comprehensive training for the most professional IT staff. This is why many organizations choose formal training and certification (such as using MCSA and MCSE to educate their employees on how to deploy and manage the latest operating system technologies).

Training Resources

Obtaining Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) certificates or other Microsoft certificates requires more than just learning about key topics and a small amount of simulation exercises. far from enough. Successful completion of the certification exam requires extensive training in available technology and features, as well as practical experience in implementing Windows Server 2003.

There are now a wide range of resources related to training and mentoring certification. Microsoft offers a number of training courses on Windows Server 2003 and related technologies. You can find relevant information on Microsoft's official website.

Since many courses are associated with Microsoft certification, some courses offered by Microsoft require a corresponding advanced course. For example, Microsoft's five-day course — planning, implementing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory infrastructure (course number 2279) & mdash; requires completion of course 2278, which is to plan and maintain a Windows Server 2003 network infrastructure. The cost of such training has changed, please contact your local training center to determine the cost of the training.

Most publishers offer a complete set of materials, so you should check the title of Windows Server 2003 on the website. For example, Sybex recently published its hardcover textbook proficient in Windows Server 2003. You can also find the Windows Server 2003 simulation certification test at a vendor like Transcender. Microsoft is selling a book on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 through Microsoft Press (the author of this article is John Wiley & Sons, the co-author of the Windows Server 2003 Bible)

When the system administrator has completed most of Training, or when they try to experience the skills they have learned to meet Microsoft certification requirements, they can use the assessment tool to verify the level of knowledge. Some training companies offer these tools, and you can find them on the Microsoft site.

Standard Positioning

Getting IT staff with the key technologies of Windows Server 2003 may determine the success or failure of deployment. Whether you are trying to migrate from Windows NT to Windows Server 2003 or simply upgrading Windows 2000 to get some features of Windows Server 2003, this is the deciding factor. The number of new features in Windows Server 2003 — whether it's Active Directory, file system features, security, or other improvements & mdash; means IT staff may be overwhelmed by training and resources aimed at successfully deploying and managing new systems. The primary technical requirements for location system administrators to work efficiently on the Windows Server 2003 platform can help organizations determine that these employees are properly preparing, deploying, and maintaining new system platforms.