Lesson 1

Lesson 1
Server Overview
Learning Objectives
Students will learn:
How to Install Windows Server 2008 R2
Server Roles
How to Compare Physical Servers and Virtual Servers
How to Select Server Hardware
How to Identify Methods to Install Windows Servers

ODN Skills

Understand server installation options

Identify application servers
Understand server virtualization
Identify major server hardware components
Understand updates

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Lesson Summary Lecture Notes

You should begin this lesson by introducing yourself and the course.
You should then define what a computer is and define what a server is. Remember to
emphasize that a server is still a computer. Therefore, the primary components are
essentially the same.
To make a server, explain the operating system and related software services that it
provides. Of course, the main emphasis will be Windows Servers. When installing and
configuring a server, you must define the server role that it will provide. You can then
mention that these server roles will be provided by Windows server roles and features.
You then go over the more popular services found on a server.
The next part of the lesson then is focusing on the server hardware and discussing the
four primary systems: processor, memory, storage and network. You can also explain that
these systems can cause a bottleneck that can affect performance of the entire system.
The next part of the lecture discusses processors, which are considered the core part of
the computer, which the rest of the computer is built around. You should also discuss the
differences between 32-bit and 64-bit processors and the amount of memory they can
access.

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The next two topics define RAM and storage. Emphasize that overall, both of these are
relatively cheap and this is not the place to skimp. The last subsystem to discuss is the
network connection.
The next part of the lecture will be about motherboards and the primary components that
make up the motherboard, including the BIOS. Explain that BIOS is software. The only
difference between BIOS and software you install on a hard drive is that it is stored on a
chip. Of course, explain how it may need to be updated from time to time and explain the
process in updating the BIOS.
Lastly, review power supplies and common ports found on servers.
Up to this point, most of the discussion on computer components should be review for
students since it is A+ certification material. Explain the differences between a normal PC
and a server. Also discuss virtual servers and where you would keep a server for reliable
performance and security.
After you have discussed hardware, the next part of the discussion is about software,
including a main emphasis on Windows Server 2008 R2. You can then discuss Windows
Server 2008 R2 roles and features.
Starting with Windows Server 2008, discuss the full installation and Server Core. When
discussing Server Core, emphasize the advantages of Server Core when it comes to
security and reliability.
The last major part of the lecture deals with installing Windows Servers, including
performing a clean installation and an upgrade. You would also discuss the different
methods in installing Windows, including performing unattended installations and disk
cloning. Of course, discuss using sysprep when using disk cloning.
The discussion should end with licensing, patching Windows and activating Windows.

Key Terms
BIOS Short for Basic Input/Output System, it is instruction that controls most of the
computers input/output functions, such as communicating with disks, RAM, and the
monitor kept in the System ROM chips.
clean installation Installing the software from scratch on a new drive or on newly
reformatted drive.
disk cloning Uses an image file, which is a sector-by-sector copy stored in a large file
which is then used to install Windows to other computers.
drives Components that are used as long-term storage.
Firmware Software contained in read-only memory (ROM) chips. Unlike RAM, ROM
instructions are permanent and cant be changed or erased except with special software.
motherboard The component that brings these four primary subsystems together and
allows the processor to communicate with the rest of the system.

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network connections The connection that the server uses to communicate with other
servers or the clients.
Ports Plug sockets that enable you to connect an external device
power supply The device that converts AC into clean DC power.
processor The integrated chip that is considered the brain of the computer since all of
the instructions it performs are mathematical calculations and logical comparisons. It is
the component the PC is built around.
RAM Short for random access memory, it is the computers short-term or temporary
memory.
Server A computer that is a meant to be a dedicated service provider.
Server Core A Windows server installation that provides a minimal environment with
no Windows Explorer shell for running specific server roles and no Start button.
server features Software programs included with Windows servers that are not directly
part of a role. Instead, they are often used to augment the functionality of one or more
roles or to enhance the functionality of the entire server.
server role A primary duty that a server performs.
system preparation tool A tool that removes the security identifiers and all other userspecific or computer-specific information from the computer before you run the disk
cloning software to make the cloned disk image.
unattended installation Installation that requires little interaction to install.
upgrade installation An installation used to upgrade or advance a previous version of
Windows to a newer version of Windows.
virtual server Technology that enables multiple operating systems to run concurrently
on a single machine.
Windows activation An anti-piracy technology designed to verify that software
products are legitimately licensed.
Windows Deployment Services (WDS) A technology from Microsoft for networkbased installation of a Windows operating system, including Windows XP, Windows
Vista, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008. The deployment of Windows
can be fully automated and customized through the use of unattended installation
scripting files.
Windows updates Fixes patches, service packs, and device drivers and applies them to
the Windows system.

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Lesson 1
Server Overview
Knowledge Assessment
Complete the following sentences by writing the correct word or words in
the blanks provided.
1.

A role is a primary duty that a server performs.

2.

The computer, including servers, is built around one or more integrated

chips called the processor.

3.

A 64-bit processor can typically process more data at the same time and can
access much more memory than a 32-bit processor.

4.

Making sure you have sufficient RAM is one of the biggest factors in
performance, even more than disk and processor.

5.

For the processor to communicate with the rest of the system, the processor
plugs in or connects to a large circuit board called the motherboard.

6.

Firmware is software contained in ROM chips.

7.

Instructions that control much of the computers input/output functions,

such as communicating with disks, RAM, and the monitor kept in the
System ROM chips, are known as the BIOS.

8.

The process of updating your system ROM BIOS, is called flashing the
BIOS.

9.

Server Core installation provides a minimal environment with no Windows

Explorer shell for running specific server roles and no Start button.

10. A(n) answer file is an XML file that stores the answers for a series of
graphical user interface (GUI) dialog boxes.

Multiple Choice
Circle the letter that corresponds to the best answer.
1.

What technology provided by Microsoft is used to perform a network-based

installation of Windows operating systems including Windows XP,
Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008?
a.

IAS

b.

Server Core

c.

SIM

d. WDS
2.

What does the name of the answer file on a USB drive have to be to
perform an automatic installation?
a.

autounattend.xml

b.

auto.xml

c.

auto.txt

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d.
3.

4.

automatic.xml

What is the program you should use to create or validate an answer file used
to install Windows?
a.

IAS

b.

Server Core

c.

SIM

d.

WDS

What is the maximum amount of memory that Windows Server 2008 R2

Standard Edition requires?
a.

2 GB

b. 4 GB

5.

c.

32 GB

d.

64 GB

How many grace period days do you have in which to activate Windows
Server 2008 R2?
a.

3 days

b.

10 days

c.

15 days

d. 30 days
6.

7.

Which of the following is not a primary subsystem found in a server?

a.

Processor

b.

Memory

c.

Sound

d.

Storage

What type of installation do you use that starts from scratch?

a.

A clean upgrade

b. A clean installation

8.

c.

A formatting installation

d.

A backup installation

What command would you use to prepare a Windows installation for

imaging that will remove the SID and computer name?
a.

Sys

b. Sysprep

9.

c.

SIDPrep

d.

WDSPrep

What does Microsoft use to fight pirated copies of Windows?

a.

WDS

b.

IAS

c.

Sysprep

d. Activation

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10. Which edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 gives you the most access to
processors and memory?
a.

Foundation

b.

Standard

c.

Enterprise

d. Datacenter

True / False
Circle T if the statement is true or F if the statement is false.
T

1.

If you have a power outage while you are flashing the BIOS, you
can just restart the process when the power is restored.

2.

Windows Server 2008 R2 can be only on 64-bit processors.

3.

The lowest edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 is the Standard

edition.

4.

When you clone a server with Windows Server 2008 R2, you just
need to blank the computer name and administrator password.

5.

The standard protocol to share files on Windows Server 2008 is

SMB.

Competency Assessment
Scenario 1-1: Server Analysis
You are designing a new network for the Acme Corporation. You expect to have a lot of
sales over the Internet. How many servers do you think you will need; what hardware
requirements should you use; and what role would you assign to each server? Hint: when
you purchase something over the Internet, what type of server do you access to purchase
something? Then what type of server do you think you will need in the background that
will keep track of those sales?
You should have at least two servers for a front end running the web server role.
And at least one server for a back end to run SQL. You may need additional servers,
such as domain controllers and DNS servers. Each server should be running
Windows Server 2008. You should have dual processor, 4 GB of RAM for the frontend servers and quad core, 16 GB of RAM for the back-end SQL server.
Scenario 1-2: Identify Ports
Look at the back of your computer and draw a diagram that shows all of the ports and the
purpose of each port.
Answers will vary. Users should be able to identify video ports, USB ports, and
network ports.

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Proficiency Assessment
Scenario 1-3: Installing Windows Server 2008 R2
Go to Microsofts Web site and find and download the evaluation copy of Windows
Server 2008 R2. Burn the image to a DVD. Then boot a computer and install Windows
Server 2008 following the steps listed in the Clean Installation section. When configuring
your disk, only use half of the disk for your C drive.
No answer is needed. However, many students will be new to computers and servers.
Therefore, they may need assistance on how to burn a DVD from an ISO and how to
make the server bootable from a DVD. You should also emphasize not to use the
entire hard drive for the C drive /Windows installation since you will use the
remaining space when working with disk management.
Scenario 1-4: Using Windows Updates
Use the Windows Update program to patch Windows.
No answer is needed. Depending how long Windows is out, you can have a handful
of updates or you can have over a hundred updates. You should also tell students
that they may need to perform updates two or three times before they can get all of
the updates.

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