You can upgrade several platforms to a Windows 2000 server. They are:
- Windows NT Server 3.51
- Windows NT Server 4.0
- Windows NT 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
- Windows NT 4.0, Enterprise Edition
Before Windows NT 3.1-3.50 Servers can be upgraded to Windows 2000, they must
first be upgraded to Windows 3.51 Server or Windows 4.0 Server.
Windows 2000 server Setup encompasses four stages:
- Text mode: You specify whether Setup should install Win2K Server
or upgrade another Windows platform, accept the licensing agreement, and select
an installation partition.
- GUI phase: You must enter the product key, along with a user and
organization name. You specify regional settings and a password in this stage.
- Networking: Networking settings and components are detected, installed,
and configured along with workgroup and domain membership information.
- Final Setup: Start menu programs are installed, components are registered,
and temporary setup files are removed.
After installation is complete, you should run Dcpromo.exe to promote
a member server to a domain controller and to install Active Directory services.
Setup errors are logged according to the type of error that occurs. Know what
the following log files track:
- Comsetup.log—Records COM+ information
- Mmdet.log—Stores multimedia device detection information
- Netsetup.log—Records workgroup and domain membership information
- Setupact.log—Logs setup activity chronologically
- Setupapi.log—Logs .INF file entries
- Setuperr.log—Records setup errors
Network-based installations
A distribution share is needed to serve Windows 2000 Server installation files
when installing a Windows 2000 server operating system over a network. You’ll
have to set up a distribution server containing the \i386 directory from
the Windows 2000 server CD-ROM.
Disk space is another consideration when installing Win2K servers over a network.
Some 1.2 GB of free space is required, possibly more for holding temporary files.
Before you can connect to the distribution server, you’ll need to get
the target system up and running using a network client. Once it’s operating,
you can connect to the /i386 share and begin Setup.
Run Winnt.exe to create a new installation. Run Winnt32.exe to upgrade an older
Windows operating system. Again, ensure you know each command’s switches
and its functions.
Unattended installations
You’re sure to see a few questions testing your unattended installation
expertise. Remember that unattended installs require the use of answer files.
Unlike in Windows NT 4.0, a new Setup Manager Wizard is available for
creating answer files. Of course, you could still create answer files manually,
but the odds of experiencing syntax errors are much higher if you go the manual
route.
Know appropriate answer file-naming conventions. Unattend.txt is the
name of the sample answer file included on Windows 2000 server CD-ROMs. Answer
files can use different names, as long as you call the correct file from the
command line when specifying an unattended installation.
Don’t forget that CD-ROM installations seek Winnt.sif when Winnt.exe
executes. If you’ll be using an answer file on a floppy disk and booting
from the CD-ROM, your answer file should be named Winnt.sif.
Know the differences between the five user interaction levels. They
are:
- Provide Defaults: Administrator-supplied defaults are accepted or
changed by the user.
- Fully Automated: The entire Setup is automated and cannot be changed
by the user.
- Hide Pages: Users interact with Setup only on screens requesting
information not provided by the administrator; all other display information
is hidden.
- Read Only: Users can see, but not change, default settings configured
by an administrator.
- GUI Attended: Automates Setup’s GUI phase.
Know how to use Windows 2000’s System Preparation (Sysprep) Tool.
Sysprep prepares a disk image for deployment using a third-party cloning utility,
such as Norton Ghost or PowerQuest Drive Image. One of the biggest advantages
of Sysprep is it removes a system’s unique security identifiers (SIDs)
before it’s cloned, thereby readying the disk for mass duplication.
If you want to automate Sysprep’s mini-Setup program, which runs after
a cloned image boots, label the file Sysprep.inf. You can create Sysprep.inf
files using the Setup Manager Wizard. Sysprep.inf files should be placed in
the systemroot’s Sysprep folder.
You can use four switches, shown in Table C, with Sysprep.
Table C
Switch | Description |
/nosidgen | Instructs Sysprep not to regenerate a SID |
/pnp |
Specifies that Sysprep detect Plug and Play devices |
/quiet | Specifies that Sysprep run without user interaction |
/reboot |
Specifies that Sysprep automatically reboot the system |
Sysprep switches and their descriptions
Service packs
Just as with the Microsoft Professional exam, be sure you are familiar with
service pack deployment. Use the Upgrade.exe command to execute service
pack installations. You can also direct a service pack to update network installation
files. Add the /slip switch to the Upgrade.exe command to “slipstream”
service packs.
File systems
Windows 2000 server operating systems support the following file systems:
NTFS is required to support NTFS file-level permissions, implement disk quotas,
or use the encrypted file system (EFS). It is also a necessity on machines running
Active Directory.
FAT16 and FAT32 file systems can be converted to NTFS using the Convert.exe
command. However, NTFS partitions cannot be converted to FAT, at least not without
the use of third-party tools such as PowerQuest’s Partition Magic. FAT16
partitions cannot be converted to FAT32 using Convert.exe.
You’ll encounter questions concerning hardware configuration and device
and driver troubleshooting on your exam. Therefore, make sure that you’re
familiar with each of the following.
Hardware device administration
Unlike past Windows NT operating systems, Windows 2000 supports Plug and
Play detection of peripherals. Hardware is administered using the Device
Manager. You’ll find it is both an MMC snap-in as well as a Control
Panel applet.
Computer Management’s System Information console provides detailed
Hardware Resources information. You’ll find valuable data needed
for troubleshooting hardware difficulties, including:
- Conflicts and sharing information
- Direct Memory Address data
- Forced hardware settings
- Input/Output information
- IRQ listings
- Memory data
Remember that Microsoft recommends adding, removing, and troubleshooting hardware
using the Add/Remove Hardware applet, which resides in the Control Panel.
You can use the Windows Report Tool to help diagnose hardware errors too. You
execute it by typing Winrep.exe at a command line.
Disk administration
Just as in Windows 2000 Professional, disks are administered using the Disk
Management console. The following tasks are configured using the Disk Management
console:
- Administer disk quotas
- Change drive letters
- Check drives for errors
- Create, delete, and format partitions
- Defragment disks
- Edit volume labels
- Share drives
- Run backups
- Upgrade basic disks to dynamic disks
You should defragment disks using the Disk Defragmenter console. It
resides in the Computer Management MMC snap-in.
Display administration
Use Control Panel’s Display applet to configure video monitors.
You can install and update display adapter drivers using a variety of methods:
- Using the Add/Remove Hardware applet in Control Panel
- Via Device Manager
- Using the Display Properties screen
Driver administration
Update device drivers by opening Device Manager, locating the component
whose driver you want to upgrade, and clicking the Update Driver button on the
Drivers tab.
Understand Driver Signing. Most drivers now receive digital signatures.
When drivers are installed, Windows 2000 checks them for authenticity. You can
set three levels of protection:
- Ignore (Level 0): Windows 2000 doesn’t check to ensure that
a driver possesses the appropriate digital signature.
- Warn (Level 1): Windows 2000 displays a warning that the driver about
to be installed is an unsigned driver.
- Block (Level 2): Windows 2000 blocks installation of unsigned drivers.
Windows File Protection does just what it says. It protects digitally
signed critical system files from being replaced.
Use Verifier.exe to troubleshoot driver issues. Verifier.exe opens the
Driver Verifier Manager. The File Signature Verification tool, opened
by typing Sigverif.exe at the command line, verifies driver file signatures.
Use the System File Checker, Sfc.exe, to ensure that appropriate files are
being used by Windows 2000. The System File Checker is a command-line utility.
You should be familiar with several of its switches, shown in Table D.
Table D
Switch | Description |
/cachesize=x | Specifies cache size |
/cancel | Cancels all pending protected system file scans |
/enable | Enables Windows File Protection |
/quiet | Replaces incorrect file versions without prompting |
/purgecache | Purges the file cache and scans all protected system files |
/scannow |
Begins a protected system file scan |
/scanonce | Sets a protected system file scan to start at next reboot |
/scanboot |
Sets a protected system file scan to occur with every boot |
Sfc.exe switches and their descriptions Symmetric multiprocessing
Windows 2000 server supports symmetric multiprocessing (SMP). If one CPU is
installed and configured and additional CPUs are installed later, the system’s
HAL will require updating. You must update the computer driver using the Device
Manager.
You shouldn’t approach the Win2K server exam lightly. It’s sure to
drill down to specifics quickly and repeatedly. While we reviewed hardware requirements,
installation, and hardware device and driver troubleshooting this week, there’s
still much work left. Over the next three weeks, I’ll continue building
the list to cover such topics as Active Directory, resource administration,
storage management, networking, security, and performance monitoring and optimization.
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