Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook

Book description

Over 80 hands-on recipes to effectively administer and manage your Windows Server 2012 R2 infrastructure in enterprise environments

In Detail

This book will help you to understand the essential administrative tasks in Windows Server 2012, and will also introduce you to the new features in R2. Starting with familiarizing yourself with the look and feel of Windows Server 2012 R2, you will learn how to navigate through some daily tasks in R2 using the graphical interface, and then reflect on the most common infrastructure tasks needed to create a successful Windows Active Directory environment. You will learn how to compose optimal Group Policies and facilitate task automation with PowerShell scripting.

By the end of this book, you will know how to take your Windows Server 2012 R2-powered server and turn it into any common infrastructure role that might be required in your company.

What You Will Learn

  • Build the infrastructure required for a successful Windows network
  • Navigate the new Server 2012 R2 interface efficiently
  • Implement solid networking and security practices into your Windows Server environment
  • Design your own PKI and start issuing certificates today
  • Connect your remote laptops back to the corporate network using Microsoft's own remote access technologies, including DirectAccess
  • Provide a centralized point for users to access applications and data by configuring Remote Desktop Services
  • Compose optimal Group Policies
  • Facilitate task automation with PowerShell scripting

Table of contents

  1. Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook
    1. Table of Contents
    2. Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook
    3. Credits
    4. About the Author
    5. About the Reviewers
    6. www.PacktPub.com
      1. Support files, eBooks, discount offers, and more
        1. Why subscribe?
        2. Free access for Packt account holders
        3. Instant updates on new Packt books
    7. Preface
      1. What this book covers
      2. What you need for this book
      3. Who this book is for
      4. Sections
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it…
        3. How it works…
        4. There's more…
        5. See also
      5. Conventions
      6. Reader feedback
      7. Customer support
        1. Errata
        2. Piracy
        3. Questions
    8. 1. Learning the Interface
      1. Introduction
      2. Shutting down or restarting the server
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      3. Launching Administrative Tools
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Using WinKey + X for quick admin tasks
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Using the Search function to launch applications quickly
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      6. Managing remote servers from a single pane with Server Manager
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      7. Using PowerShell to accomplish any function in Windows Server
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Installing a role or feature
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      9. Administering Server 2012 R2 from a Windows 8.x machine
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      10. Identifying useful keyboard shortcuts in Server 2012 R2
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      11. Setting your PowerShell Execution Policy
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      12. Building and executing your first PowerShell script
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      13. Searching for PowerShell cmdlets with Get-Help
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
    9. 2. Core Infrastructure Tasks
      1. Introduction
      2. Configuring a combination Domain Controller, DNS server, and DHCP server
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      3. Adding a second Domain Controller
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Organizing your computers with Organizational Units (OUs)
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Creating an A or AAAA record in DNS
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      6. Creating and using a CNAME record in DNS
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      7. Creating a DHCP scope to assign addresses to computers
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Creating a DHCP reservation for a specific server or resource
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      9. Pre-staging a computer account in Active Directory
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      10. Using PowerShell to create a new Active Directory user
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      11. Using PowerShell to view system uptime
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
    10. 3. Security and Networking
      1. Introduction
      2. Requiring complex passwords in your network
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      3. Using Windows Firewall with Advanced Security to block unnecessary traffic
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Changing the RDP port on your server to hide access
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Multi-homing your Windows Server 2012 R2
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      6. Adding a static route into the Windows routing table
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      7. Using Telnet to test a connection and network flow
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Using the Pathping command to trace network traffic
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      9. Setting up NIC Teaming
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      10. Renaming and domain joining via PowerShell
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
    11. 4. Working with Certificates
      1. Introduction
      2. Setting up the first Certification Authority (CA) server in a network
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      3. Building a Subordinate Certification Authority server
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      4. Creating a certificate template to prepare for issuing machine certificates to your clients
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Publishing a certificate template to allow enrollment
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      6. Using MMC to request a new certificate
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      7. Using the web interface to request a new certificate
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Configuring Autoenrollment to issue certificates to all domain joined systems
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
    12. 5. Internet Information Services
      1. Introduction
      2. Installing the Web Server (IIS) role with PowerShell
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      3. Launching your first website
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Changing the port on which your website runs
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Adding encryption (HTTPS) to your website
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      6. Using a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) to acquire your SSL certificate
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      7. Moving an SSL certificate from one server to another
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Rebinding your renewed certificates automatically
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      9. Using host headers to manage multiple websites on a single IP address
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
    13. 6. Remote Access
      1. Introduction
      2. DirectAccess Planning Q&A
      3. Configuring DirectAccess, VPN, or a combination of the two
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Pre-staging Group Policy Objects (GPOs) to be used by DirectAccess
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Enhancing the security of DirectAccess by requiring certificate authentication
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      6. Building your Network Location Server (NLS) on its own system
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      7. Enabling Network Load Balancing (NLB) on your DirectAccess servers
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Adding VPN to your existing DirectAccess server
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      9. Replacing your expiring IP-HTTPS certificate
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      10. Reporting on DirectAccess and VPN connections
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
    14. 7. Remote Desktop Services
      1. Introduction
      2. Building a single server Remote Desktop Services (RDS) environment
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      3. Adding an additional RDSH server to your RDS environment
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Installing applications on an RD Session Host server
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Disabling the redirection of local resources
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      6. Shadowing another session in RDS
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      7. Installing a printer driver to use with redirection
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Removing an RD Session Host server from use for maintenance
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      9. Publishing WordPad with RemoteApp
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
    15. 8. Monitoring and Backup
      1. Introduction
      2. Using Server Manager as a quick monitoring tool
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      3. Using the new Task Manager to its full potential
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Evaluating system performance with Windows Performance Monitor
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Using Format-List to modify PowerShell data output
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      6. Configuring a full system backup using Windows Server Backup
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      7. Recovering data from a Windows backup file
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Using IP Address Management (IPAM) to keep track of your used IP addresses
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
    16. 9. Group Policy
      1. Introduction
      2. Creating and assigning a new Group Policy Object (GPO)
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      3. Mapping network drives with Group Policy
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Redirecting the My Documents folder to a network share
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      5. Creating a VPN connection with Group Policy
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      6. Creating a printer connection with Group Policy
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      7. Using Group Policy to enforce an Internet proxy server
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      8. Viewing the settings currently enabled inside a GPO
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      9. Viewing the GPOs currently assigned to a computer
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      10. Backing up and restoring GPOs
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it…
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
    17. 10. File Services and Data Control
      1. Introduction
      2. Enabling Distributed File System (DFS) and creating a Namespace
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      3. Configuring Distributed File System Replication (DFSR)
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      4. Creating an iSCSI target on your server
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      5. Configuring an iSCSI initiator connection
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
      6. Configuring Storage Spaces
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      7. Turning on data deduplication
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
      8. Setting up Windows Server 2012 R2 Work Folders
        1. Getting ready
        2. How to do it...
        3. How it works...
        4. See also
    18. Index

Product information

  • Title: Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook
  • Author(s): Jordan Krause
  • Release date: January 2015
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781784393076