For hands-on practice as a Windows Server Administrator, here are some practical tasks
you can perform to get comfortable with essential Windows Server management:
1. Installation and Initial Setup
● Install Windows Server:
○ Set up a virtual machine (VM) using Hyper-V or a physical machine.
○ Choose the edition (Standard, Datacenter) based on your needs.
○ Configure the server with basic settings like time zone, IP address, and
hostname.
● Configure Server Roles:
○ Use Server Manager to add roles like DNS, DHCP, File and Storage Services,
etc.
2. Active Directory Setup
● Promote a Domain Controller:
○ Install the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) role.
○ Use Server Manager to promote the server to a Domain Controller (DC).
● Create and Manage Users/Groups:
○ Use Active Directory Users and Computers to create users, OUs, and groups.
○ Practice creating Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and link them to Organizational
Units (OUs).
3. File and Storage Management
● Create and Share Folders:
○ Create shared folders on a server and assign permissions (read/write/modify)
using NTFS permissions.
● RAID Configuration:
○ Set up RAID volumes (using either hardware or software RAID).
● Storage Spaces:
○ Create Storage Pools and virtual disks using Storage Spaces.
4. Networking Configuration
● Configure DNS:
○ Set up a DNS server on the server and configure it to resolve domain names.
○ Test DNS resolution using nslookup.
● Configure DHCP:
○ Install and configure a DHCP server to automatically assign IP addresses to
client machines.
● Set Static IP:
○ Configure static IP addressing on your server through Network Settings.
5. Security and User Permissions
● Set Up Windows Defender:
○ Enable and configure Windows Defender Antivirus and Firewall.
● Configure ACLs:
○ Set file/folder permissions using Access Control Lists (ACLs) to restrict access
to files and directories.
● Create Group Policies:
○ Set policies for password length, lockout policies, and other security settings
using Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
6. Backup and Recovery
● Backup Server Data:
○ Use Windows Server Backup to back up server data and system state.
● Restore Backup:
○ Test the Restore process from a backup image.
● System Recovery:
○ Boot the server into Safe Mode or Recovery Mode and perform system restore
or repair.
7. Virtualization with Hyper-V
● Create Virtual Machines (VMs):
○ Use Hyper-V Manager to create, configure, and manage virtual machines.
● Install OS on VMs:
○ Install Windows Server or any other OS on your virtual machines.
● Configure Hyper-V Networking:
○ Create virtual switches and assign them to VMs for network connectivity.
● Live Migration:
○ Set up Live Migration to move VMs between different hosts.
8. PowerShell Automation
● Basic Cmdlets:
○ Practice using basic PowerShell cmdlets like Get-Service, Get-Process,
Get-Help.
○ Automate server tasks such as adding users, creating directories, and managing
services.
● Remote Management:
○ Use PowerShell Remoting (Enter-PSSession) to manage remote servers.
● PowerShell Scripts:
○ Write scripts to automate tasks such as user account creation or system updates.
9. Monitoring and Troubleshooting
● Monitor with Performance Monitor:
○ Use Performance Monitor (PerfMon) to track CPU, memory, disk, and network
usage.
● Check Event Logs:
○ Use Event Viewer to check logs for warnings, errors, or specific system events.
● Task Manager:
○ Use Task Manager to monitor running processes, CPU usage, and memory
consumption.
● Network Troubleshooting:
○ Use ping, tracert, and nslookup to diagnose network issues.
10. Updates and Patching
● Configure WSUS (Windows Server Update Services):
○ Set up a WSUS server to manage and deploy Windows updates across a
network.
● Apply Windows Updates:
○ Regularly apply system and security updates using Windows Update or WSUS.
Tools to Practice With:
● Virtualization Software: Use Hyper-V or VMware to create virtual labs.
● PowerShell: Use the PowerShell ISE or VS Code to practice scripting and automation.
● Remote Management: Try managing servers remotely using Remote Desktop and
PowerShell Remoting.
By regularly practicing these tasks, you’ll become proficient in managing Windows Server
environments!
