Microsoft INF201.21x: Implementing Microsoft Windows Server Storage

Starts: 24 November, 2015

What you will learn in this course:

 Configure and manage disks including: partitioning, file systems, monitoring, and securing files and folders.  Configure and manage volumes including: fault tolerant and file/folder sharing strategies.  Secure volumes with BitLocker.

This course is part of a series of courses designed to introduce you to Microsoft's Windows Server offerings. Other courses you may be interested in are:

 INF201x - Windows PowerShell Fundamentals  INF201.12x - Introduction to Windows Server  INF201.13x - Introduction to Cloud Computing  INF201.22x - Optimizing Microsoft Windows Server Storage

Course Prerequisites:

 Learners should have some general understanding of server and storage concepts. This course will only review fundamental information where necessary to illustrate how Microsoft implements a Windows Server feature.  It would be helpful to have taken INF201.12, Introduction to Windows Server. This ensures a strong foundation in Server Manager, server roles, and server features.  Windows PowerShell will be the tool of choice when implementing the features in this course. Therefore, it would be helpful to have completed INF201x, Windows PowerShell Fundamentals. This ensures you have a strong foundation in accessing and using simple Windows PowerShell commands.

Modality: Self-paced. Each lesson will require about a 4-6 hour commitment. This interactive course teaches through video, discussion, practical exercises and assessments. Each topic is job- focused and designed to ensure you can confidently perform the task.

This course can help you:

 Decide if a career in IT is for you.  Prepare for an introductory job in Windows Server administration.  Study for Microsoft certification tests and badges.  Improve your skills in handling disks and volumes, and securing Windows Server storage.

Lesson 1 - Disks

Storage begins with selecting and configuring disk drives. You must be able to partition and create file systems based on your organization’s needs. You must also be able to secure files and folders using NTFS permissions and Encrypted File System (EFS).

In this lesson, you will:

 Select appropriate hardware disks based on your organization’s need.  Use Task Manager and Performance Monitor to determine disk performance.  Decide on and configure MBR and GPT partition styles.  Configure FAT and NTFS file systems.  Configure ReFS and identify usage cases.  Use standard file/folder level and NTFS permissions.  Encrypt and decrypt files with EFS.

Lesson 2 - Volumes

Configuring and managing volumes is a common administrator task. You must be able to implement fault tolerant strategies, like Redundant Array of Disks (RAID). You must also be able to implement sharing strategies, like Network File System (NFS) and Server Message Block (SMB).

In this lesson you will:

 Understand how volumes are used and configure volumes, including extend and shrink.  Understand fault tolerant strategies and implement basic RAID mirroring.  Identify when to use NFS for file and folder sharing.  Implement an NFS share.  Identify when to use SMB for file and folder sharing.  Implement an SMB share.

Lesson 3 – Securing Volumes with BitLocker BitLocker Drive Encryption provides full volume encryption and startup environment protection. You will use BitLocker to encrypt your operating systems and data volumes.

In this lesson, you will:

 Learn how BitLocker provides encryption and startup protection.  Understand how BitLocker works with Trusted Platform Module (TPM).  Enable BitLocker and encrypt drives.  Manage BitLocker with Windows PowerShell.  Administer BitLocker with Group Policy.  Configure BitLocker recovery mechanisms.  Identify usage cases for BitLocker and EFS.