Trouble Spots
As with any exam, it will vary from person to person as to what is deemed to be difficult. While one person may have trouble with groups, another will find RAID configurations to be hard to understand. Hands-on experience that deals with managing and maintaining a Windows network will be of immense value. As this exam will probably involve testlets, it will present some challenges. The key is to make sure you understand what you have read in the scenario before answering questions. Try to find the key point quickly and make a note of them. Lingering too long on one scenario can cause you to run out of time. There are some terms with which you need to be familiar.
- BitlockerBitLocker performs a number of functions, depending on the hardware support of the system on which Windows Server 2008 is running. BitLocker can encrypt entire disk volumes so that the operating system files and user data cannot be accessed if the computer or drives are lost or stolen. Also, a key is written to a USB flash drive during the BitLocker configuration process. This flash drive must be inserted into a USB port on the computer at system startup in order to gain access to the system.
- BackupTo backup with the least amount of administrative effort, use Group Policy objects (GPO) to apply folder redirection and then back up the folder redirection target. Folder Redirection allows you to redirect the system folders containing the profile of a user on the network. This will allow the users to access their data.
- ServerManagerCMDThis enables users to perform automated installations or removals of roles, role services, and features. When you want to install or to remove more than one role, role service, or feature on a server by using a single command instance, use an XML answer file. It must be run from a command prompt that has elevated privileges.
- Windows Server Update Service (WSUS)This provides a software update service for Microsoft Windows operating systems and other Microsoft software. WSUS allows administrators to manage the distribution of Microsoft hotfixes and updates released through Automatic Updates to computers in a corporate environment. Administrators can choose which updates to install and when they will be installed. It is a good practice to use a test group of computers to install first before implementing an update to all computers in your corporate environment. You can use more than one WSUS server. One server will be the upstream server responsible for specifying the updates to be installed. The downstream servers synchronize updates from the upstream WSUS server. There are two forms of downstream servers: autonomous and replica. An autonomous server synchronizes the same updates as the upstream server; however, it can create its own target groups and manage its own approvals.
- High AvailabilityThis is making sure that your Windows servers that provide mission critical applications are always available. This can be accomplished using Failover Clustering, Network Load Balancing, Windows Hardware Error Architecture, Dynamic Hardware Partitioning, Fault Tolerant Hardware, Shadow Copy and Windows Backup and Restore.