Windows Server 2003 Active Directory MCSE 70-294 - Online Course

Microsoft's Active Directory is the foundation of an enterprise-level Windows network, and Windows Server 2003 includes a number of improvements and enhancements to its directory services that will make a network administrator's job easier. This series will teach learners the basics of how directory services work and the role they play in the network, and specifically how the directory services concept is implemented in Microsoft's Active Directory. The goal of this series is to prepare the learner for the MCSE 70-294 exam.

This series is for anyone preparing for the MCSE Exam 70-294, or for anyone who wants to learn about Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure. This online course contains 12 lessons and should take approximately 37 hours to complete.

Lesson 1: Active Directory Infrastructure Overview (4.0) hours

Active Directory Infrastructure Overview teaches you how to identify and describe basic Active Directory terms, concepts, and components, install Active Directory to create a domain controller, use graphical and command-line administrative tools, and set permissions on Active Directory objects. This course provides an overview of the Active Directory infrastructure along with basic terms and concepts. Topics include Active Directory basic concepts, Naming schemes, Installing Active Directory, Logical components, Physical components, Organizational components, Using administrative tools, MMC snap-ins, Command-line tools, More command-line tools, Access control, Authentication, and New features.

Lesson 2: Working with User, Group, and Computer Accounts (5.0) hours

Working with User, Group, and Computer Accounts teaches you how to understand Active Directory security principal accounts, work with Active Directory user accounts, work with Active Directory group accounts, work with Active Directory computer accounts, and manage multiple accounts. This course provides an introduction to the concept of security principles and Security Identifiers (SIDs). It also discusses how to work with Active Directory user accounts, group accounts, and computer accounts. Topics include Security principal accounts, Naming conventions and limitations, Working with user accounts, Creating user accounts, Managing user accounts, Working with group accounts, Built-in group accounts, Creating group accounts, Managing group accounts, Working with computer accounts, Managing computer accounts, Managing multiple accounts, Moving account objects, and Troubleshooting account problems.

Lesson 3: Creating User and Group Strategies (3.0) hours

Creating User and Group Strategies teaches you how to create a password policy for domain users, plan a user authentication strategy, plan a smart card authentication strategy, and plan a security group strategy. This course provides information about planning effective strategies for managing users and groups in Active Directory. The course addresses the creation of user authentication strategies, authentication concepts, and how to plan a smart card authentication strategy. Throughout the course, new smart card authentication features for Windows Server 2003 are highlighted. Topics include Planning a password policy, Defining a password policy, Authentication strategies, Authentication types, Planning for smart cards, Preparing enrollment stations, Enrolling users, Understanding groups, and Security strategies for groups.

Lesson 4: Working with Forests and Domains (5.0) hours

Working with Forests and Domains teaches you how to implement and manage an Active Directory forest and domain structure, create the forest root domain and a child domain, and create and configure application data partitions. This course provides an overview of forests and domains. The course walks the learner through the steps of creating a forest and domain structure, installing domain controllers, creating the forest root domain and a child domain, and setting the functional level of a forest and domain. It also provides information about integrating DNS zones into Active Directory and how to configure DNS servers for use with Active Directory. Topics include The role of the forest, The role of the domain, Forest and domain functional levels, Raising the functional level, Creating a forest root domain, Creating a new domain tree and a new child domain, Creating a new domain controller, Assigning and transferring forestwide master roles, Assigning and transferring domainwide master roles, Using application directory partitions, Establishing trust relationships, Implementing DNS, and Configuring DNS servers.

Lesson 5: Restructuring a Forest and Renaming Domains (3.0) hours

Restructuring a Forest and Renaming Domains teaches you how to prepare for a domain rename, execute a domain rename, and perform the appropriate steps after a domain rename. This course explains the procedures involved in restructuring an existing forest. It explains how to prepare for a domain rename, how to execute the domain rename, and how to verify that the rename was successful. Topics include Domain rename issues, Preparing for a domain rename, More domain rename preparation, Domain rename planning and documentation, Creating the domain rename instructions, Executing the domain rename instructions, Repairing the domain after a rename, Other tasks to perform after a domain rename, and Changing DNS host names of domain controllers.

Lesson 6: Working with Trusts and Organizational Units (2.0) hours

Working with Trusts and Organizational Units teaches you how to establish and manage trust relationships, create organizational units, plan OU structures and strategies, and delegate OU permissions. This course provides information on two important components of Active Directory: trust relationships and OUs. Topics include Active Directory Trusts, Working with Active Directory Trusts, Working with organization units, Creating organizational units, and Planning an OU structure and strategy.

Lesson 7: Working with Active Directory Sites (3.0) hours

Working with Active Directory Sites teaches you how to discuss the role of sites in the Active Directory infrastructure, create sites, subnets, and site links, configure bridges, and bridgehead servers, and configure, monitor, and troubleshoot site replication. This course examines the role of sites in the Active Directory infrastructure, and how replication, authentication, and distribution of services information work within and across sites. Topics include The role of sites, Relationship of sites to other components, Creating and renaming sites, Creating subnets, Creating site links, Site replication overview, Configuring site replication, Configuring bridges and bridgehead servers, Troubleshooting replication failure, and Monitoring FRS replication.

Lesson 8: Working with Domain Controllers (2.0) hours

Working with Domain Controllers teaches you how to install and configure an Active Directory domain controller, plan flexible operations master role placement, diagnose and resolve issues related to operations master role failure, plan for business continuity of operations master roles, and identify operations master roles dependencies. This course provides information about installing and configuring domain controllers. It also provides information on planning and diagnosing operation master roles. Topics include Planning Domain Controllers, Using the Active Directory Installation Wizard, Creating additional Domain Controllers, Upgrading and placing Domain Controllers, Backing up and restoring Domain Controllers, Managing Operations Masters, Transferring Operations Master roles, Seizing the Master and responding to failures, and schema naming RID PCD infrastructure promotion upgrading restoring transferring.

Lesson 9: Working with Global Catalog Servers and Schema (2.0) hours

Working with Global Catalog Servers and Schema teaches you how to work with the GC and GC Servers, plan a strategy for placing GC servers, work with the Active Directory schema, and use the Schema MMC snap-in. This course examines the role of Global Catalog servers and schema in Active Directory, including how to create, manage, and place GC servers and how to troubleshoot GC and schema issues. Topics include Functions of the Global Catalog, Customizing the Global Catalog, Working with the Global Catalog and GC servers, More Global Catalog issues, Active Directory Schema components, and Working with the Active Directory Schema.

Lesson 10: Working with Group Policy (3.0) hours

Working with Group Policy teaches you how to plan a Group Policy strategy, manage and maintain Group Policy, configure the user environment by using Group Policy, and troubleshoot issues related to Group Policy application deployment. This course provides an overview about the basics of Group Policy terminology and concepts as well as strategies for planning and implementing Group Policy Topics include Understanding Group Policy, Planning a Group Policy strategy, Strategy for configuring user and computer environments, Creating, configuring, and managing GPOs, Configuring application of Group Policy, Delegating administrative control and verifying Group Policy, Automatically enrolling user and computer certificates, Redirecting folders and configuring security settings, Software restriction policies and Group Policy best practices, and Troubleshooting Group Policy.

Lesson 11: Deploying Software via Group Policy (2.0) hours

Deploying Software via Group Policy teaches you how to describe Group Policy software installation options, identify Group Policy software installation components, prepare for Group Policy software installation, assign and publish applications, manage applications, and troubleshoot software deployment. This course introduces the learner to Group Policy's software installation feature. The course explains how to use the components of software installation: Windows installer packages, transforms, patches, and application assignment scripts. Learners will walk through the steps of preparing for Group Policy software installation, working with the GPO Editor and setting installation options. Finally, the course covers how to upgrade applications, manage applications, and troubleshoot problems that can occur with Group Policy software deployment. Topics include Introduction to Group Policy software deployment, Group Policy software installation options, Group Policy software installation components, Preparing for Group Policy software installation, Working with the GPO Editor, Assigning and publishing applications, Configuring properties and upgrading applications, Managing applications, and Troubleshooting software deployment.

Lesson 12: Ensuring Active Directory Availability (3.0) hours

Ensuring Active Directory Availability teaches you how to diagnose and resolve issues related to the Active Directory database, restore Active Directory directory services, perform an authoritative restore operation, and perform a nonauthoritative restore operation. This course provides information to help you diagnose and resolve Active Directory database issues, restore Active Directory directory services, and perform both an authoritative and nonauthoritative restore operation to ensure that your Windows Server 2003 network directory services are highly available. Topics include The Active Directory database, Tombstone process and Garbage Collection, Fault tolerance and performance, Defragmenting the database, Moving the database or log file, Monitoring the database, Backing up Active Directory, Performing a normal restore, Authoritative and primary restores, Troubleshooting availability, Using Ntdsutil command options, and More Ntdsutil command options.