| About This Book | xv |
| Intended Audience | xv |
| Prerequisites | xv |
| Reference Materials | xvi |
| About the CD-ROM | xvi |
| Features of This Book | xvi |
| CompTIA Certifications | xxviii |
| The CompTIA Server+ Certification | xxix |
| Technical Support | xxxi |
| PART 1 PLANNING FOR A SERVER AND ITS ENVIRONMENT | |
| CHAPTER 1 Laying the Groundwork | 3 |
| About This Chapter | 3 |
| Before You Begin | 4 |
| Lesson 1: Why and When to Read Documentation | 5 |
| Identifying Important Documentation | 5 |
| Practice: Scan a Printer Manual for Warnings and Cautions | 7 |
| Using Alternatives to Documentation | 8 |
| Practice: Search Newsgroups for Product Information | 10 |
| Practice: Search a Knowledge Base for Potential Installation Issues | 10 |
| Lesson Summary | 11 |
| Lesson 2: Logging Information | 12 |
| Taking Effective Troubleshooting Notes | 12 |
| The High Cost of Not Taking Notes | 13 |
| Maintaining an Activity Log | 14 |
| Practice: Create an Activity Log | 15 |
| Lesson Summary | 15 |
| Lesson 3: Determining Need | 16 |
| Identifying Organizational Risk Tolerance | 16 |
| Avoiding Risk | 19 |
| Practice: Identify Your Processor’s Stepping Level | 22 |
| Deciding What Services the Server Will Perform | 23 |
| Lesson Summary | 24 |
| Lesson 4: Selecting an Operating System | 25 |
| Methods for Selecting an Operating System | 25 |
| Features and Benefits of Popular Operating Systems | 26 |
| Lesson Summary | 26 |
| Lesson 5: Architecture Basics | 27 |
| PC Buses | 27 |
| Features of the PCI Bus | 29 |
| Intelligent Input-Output (I2O) | 32 |
| Lesson Summary | 32 |
| Review | 33 |
| CHAPTER 2 Planning a Server’s Environment | 35 |
| About This Chapter | 35 |
| Before You Begin | 36 |
| Lesson 1: Space Planning | 37 |
| Providing Physical Security | 37 |
| Providing Climate Control | 38 |
| Planning for Floods | 41 |
| Lesson Summary | 42 |
| Lesson 2: Addressing Power Needs | 43 |
| Understanding Direct and Alternating Current | 43 |
| Converting Alternating Current to Direct Current | 45 |
| Understanding Circuit Breakers and Capacity | 45 |
| Identifying Power Problems | 46 |
| Solving Power Problems | 48 |
| Practice: Size a UPS System for a Small Environment | 54 |
| Practice: Size a UPS System for a Larger Environment | 54 |
| Monitoring Power Problems | 55 |
| Lesson Summary | 55 |
| Lesson 3: Planning the Physical Installation | 57 |
| Understanding the Importance of Racks | 57 |
| Planning Installations in a Rack | 58 |
| Installing Keyboard-Video-Mouse Switches | 58 |
| Routing and Managing Cables | 59 |
| Lesson Summary | 61 |
| Lesson 4: Preparing for Backups and Monitoring | 62 |
| Selecting the Correct Tape Backup Device | 62 |
| Choosing a Tape Rotation Scheme | 66 |
| Planning for Monitoring | 68 |
| Practice: Select a Tape Drive and Rotation Scheme for a Small Office | 70 |
| Practice: Select a Tape Drive and Rotation Scheme for a Manufacturing Company | 70 |
| Lesson Summary | 71 |
| Lesson 5: Creating a Disaster Recovery Plan | 72 |
| Developing a Disaster Recovery Plan | 72 |
| Planning for a Catastrophic Disaster | 74 |
| Lesson Summary | 75 |
| Review | 76 |
| CHAPTER 3 Planning the System | 79 |
| About This Chapter | 79 |
| Before You Begin | 79 |
| Lesson 1: Processing Capacity | 80 |
| Identifying CPU Characteristics | 80 |
| Selecting a Cache | 81 |
| Considering Symmetric Multiprocessing | 82 |
| Lesson Summary | 83 |
| Lesson 2: Memory Requirements | 84 |
| Memory Types | 84 |
| Parity | 86 |
| Error Checking and Correcting | 86 |
| Lesson Summary | 87 |
| Lesson 3: Disk Storage | 88 |
| Physical vs. Logical Storage | 88 |
| Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks | 89 |
| The SCSI Drive Bus | 91 |
| The IDE Drive Bus | 95 |
| Fibre Channel | 97 |
| Hard Disk Performance | 99 |
| Practice: Select a Hard Disk Configuration for a DHCP Server | 100 |
| Practice: Select a Hard Disk Configuration for a Database Server | 101 |
| Lesson Summary | 101 |
| Lesson 4: Network Connectivity | 102 |
| Network Topologies | 102 |
| Network Card Performance | 106 |
| Fault Tolerance | 107 |
| Lesson Summary | 107 |
| Review | 108 |
| PART 2 INSTALLING AND CONFIGURING A SERVER | |
| CHAPTER 4 Gathering and Configuring Firmware and Drivers | 111 |
| About This Chapter | 111 |
| Before You Begin | 112 |
| Lesson 1: Downloading Firmware and Drivers | 113 |
| Locating Firmware and Drivers | 113 |
| Practice: Download Novell NetWare 5 Drivers and Firmware for a 3Com 3C985-SX Gigabit EtherLink Server | 114 |
| Extracting Firmware and Drivers | 114 |
| Reviewing the Extracted Files | 115 |
| Lesson Summary | 115 |
| Lesson 2: Implementing Firmware Updates | 116 |
| Preparing for Firmware Upgrades | 116 |
| Booting for Firmware Operations | 117 |
| Saving the Previous Version of the Firmware | 118 |
| Upgrading the Firmware | 118 |
| Lesson Summary | 118 |
| Lesson 3: Optimizing BIOS Settings | 119 |
| Getting into the BIOS | 119 |
| Recording Settings | 119 |
| Configuring Basic Settings | 120 |
| Configuring Advanced Settings | 121 |
| Configuring Chipset Settings | 124 |
| Setting Up Plug and Play, PCI, and Integrated Peripherals | 125 |
| Lesson Summary | 126 |
| Lesson 4: Configuring RAID Settings | 127 |
| Verifying Controller and Drive Status | 127 |
| Creating a RAID Array | 128 |
| Marking Drives as Hot Spare | 128 |
| Identifying Failing Drives | 129 |
| Lesson Summary | 129 |
| Review | 130 |
| CHAPTER 5 Installing and Configuring the Network Operating System | 131 |
| About This Chapter | 131 |
| Before You Begin | 132 |
| Lesson 1: Choosing an Installation Method and Type | 133 |
| Installation Methods | 133 |
| Installation Types | 134 |
| Installation Timing | 135 |
| Lesson Summary | 136 |
| Lesson 2: Installing the Operating System | 137 |
| Understanding the Basic Installation Procedure | 137 |
| Installing Windows 2000 | 138 |
| Installing Novell NetWare 5 | 144 |
| Installing Linux | 150 |
| Lesson Summary | 154 |
| Lesson 3: Configuring the Network Operating System | 155 |
| Installing Service Packs, Patches, and Updates | 155 |
| Implementing Security | 157 |
| Installing Client Software | 159 |
| Installing Standard Applications | 160 |
| Lesson Summary | 161 |
| Review | 162 |
| CHAPTER 6 Installing Hardware and Peripheral Drivers | 165 |
| About This Chapter | 165 |
| Before You Begin | 165 |
| Lesson 1: Configuring External Peripherals | 166 |
| Understanding UPS Connectivity | 166 |
| Installing a Drive Cabinet | 170 |
| Lesson Summary | 171 |
| Lesson 2: Updating Manufacturer-Specific Drivers | 172 |
| Identifying Hardware Requiring a Driver Update | 172 |
| Practice: Check Hardware Drivers in Windows 2000 | 174 |
| Practice: Update a Hardware Driver in Windows 2000 | 177 |
| Lesson Summary | 180 |
| Review | 181 |
| CHAPTER 7 Performing Routine Tasks | 183 |
| About This Chapter | 183 |
| Before You Begin | 183 |
| Lesson 1: Reviewing Event and Console Logs | 184 |
| Reviewing the Error and Console Logs | 184 |
| Practice: Review an Error Log in Windows 2000 | 187 |
| Practice: Change the Log Settings for Windows 2000 | 189 |
| Lesson Summary | 190 |
| Lesson 2: Performing Manual and Unattended Shutdowns | 191 |
| Performing a Manual Shutdown | 191 |
| Performing Unattended Shutdowns | 193 |
| Lesson Summary | 194 |
| Review | 195 |
| CHAPTER 8 Monitoring a Server’s Performance | 197 |
| About This Chapter | 197 |
| Before You Begin | 197 |
| Lesson 1: Understanding Performance Data | 198 |
| Establishing Baseline and Trend Data | 198 |
| Monitoring Specific Components | 199 |
| Performance Monitoring vs. Benchmarking | 205 |
| Managing the Performance Recording Interval | 206 |
| Lesson Summary | 207 |
| Lesson 2: Running Performance Baselines | 208 |
| When to Take a Baseline | 208 |
| Options for Performance Monitoring | 209 |
| Practice: Run a Performance Baseline in Windows 2000 | 210 |
| Lesson Summary | 216 |
| Lesson 3: Comparing Performance Trends | 217 |
| How Components Affect Each Other | 217 |
| Order of Analysis | 217 |
| Chain Reactions | 222 |
| Practice: Review a Windows 2000 Performance Log File | 223 |
| Lesson Summary | 228 |
| Review | 229 |
| CHAPTER 9 Documenting the Installation | 231 |
| About This Chapter | 231 |
| Before You Begin | 231 |
| Lesson 1: Creating a Hardware Inventory | 232 |
| Organizing Server Data | 232 |
| Creating a Documentation Worksheet | 233 |
| Making Additional Notes | 237 |
| Lesson Summary | 237 |
| Lesson 2: Gathering Vendor Contact and Warranty Information | 238 |
| Capturing Vendor Warranty Information | 238 |
| Lesson Summary | 240 |
| Lesson 3: Documenting the Network Operating System | 241 |
| Identifying the Data to Capture | 241 |
| Lesson Summary | 244 |
| Review | 245 |
| PART 3 UPGRADING A SERVER AND PERIPHERALS | |
| CHAPTER 10 Upgrading Processors and Memory | 249 |
| About This Chapter | 249 |
| Before You Begin | 249 |
| Lesson 1: Adding or Replacing a Processor | 250 |
| Understanding Electrostatic Discharge | 250 |
| Preventing Damage from Electrostatic Discharge | 252 |
| Supporting an Additional Processor | 253 |
| Installing an Additional Processor | 253 |
| Replacing a Processor | 256 |
| Optimizing the Server for Additional Processors | 257 |
| Lesson Summary | 260 |
| Lesson 2: Adding Memory | 261 |
| Choosing Appropriate Memory | 261 |
| Installing Memory | 262 |
| Lesson Summary | 266 |
| Review | 267 |
| CHAPTER 11 Adding Hard Disks | 269 |
| About This Chapter | 269 |
| Before You Begin | 269 |
| Lesson 1: Verifying Drive Type and Cabling | 270 |
| Ribbon Cable Characteristics | 270 |
| SCSI Connectors, Cabling, and Settings | 273 |
| ATA/IDE Connectors, Cabling, and Settings | 277 |
| Fibre Channel Connectors, Cabling, and Settings | 278 |
| Lesson Summary | 280 |
| Lesson 2: Installing a Hard Disk | 281 |
| Maintaining Airflow | 281 |
| Installing a Hard Disk on a Sled | 283 |
| Installing a Hard Disk in a Server Case | 285 |
| Lesson Summary | 286 |
| Lesson 3: Adding to a RAID Array | 287 |
| Options for Expanding a RAID Array | 287 |
| Back Up and Restore | 288 |
| Resize and Reboot | 288 |
| Online Expansion | 289 |
| Lesson Summary | 290 |
| Review | 291 |
| CHAPTER 12 Adding and Upgrading Add-On Cards | 293 |
| About This Chapter | 293 |
| Before You Begin | 293 |
| Lesson 1: Verifying Resource Availability | 294 |
| Slots and Resources | 294 |
| Interrupts | 296 |
| DMA Channels | 296 |
| I/O Ports | 297 |
| Lesson Summary | 297 |
| Lesson 2: Verifying Compatibility | 298 |
| Checking Compatibility Lists | 298 |
| Verifying Hardware Compatibility | 300 |
| Lesson Summary | 300 |
| Lesson 3: Installing Add-On Cards | 301 |
| Installing a New Card | 301 |
| Installing the Card’s Software | 302 |
| Lesson Summary | 303 |
| Review | 304 |
| CHAPTER 13 Upgrading UPSs, Monitoring the System, and Choosing Service Tools | 305 |
| About This Chapter | 305 |
| Before You Begin | 305 |
| Lesson 1: Upgrading UPSs | 306 |
| Replacing UPS Batteries | 306 |
| Adding New UPS Batteries | 309 |
| Working with Matrixed UPSs | 310 |
| Replacing an Entire UPS | 310 |
| Lesson Summary | 310 |
| Lesson 2: Monitoring the System | 311 |
| System Monitoring Hardware | 311 |
| System Monitoring Software | 314 |
| Practice: Select an Appropriate Monitoring Solution | 319 |
| Lesson Summary | 319 |
| Lesson 3: Selecting Service Tools | 320 |
| Essential Hardware Tools | 320 |
| Software Tools | 323 |
| Lesson Summary | 326 |
| Review | 327 |
| PART 4 PERFORMING PROACTIVE MAINTENANCE | |
| CHAPTER 14 Establishing a Backup Plan | 331 |
| About This Chapter | 331 |
| Before You Begin | 331 |
| Lesson 1: Types of Backup Plans | 332 |
| Types of Backups | 332 |
| Backup Rotations | 335 |
| Alternate Backup Methods | 337 |
| Tape Wear | 338 |
| Tape Failure and Tape Rotations | 339 |
| Delayed Identification | 340 |
| Lesson Summary | 340 |
| Lesson 2: Establishing a Backup Plan | 341 |
| Understanding the Procedural Components | 341 |
| Assigning a Responsible Party | 342 |
| Choosing Sites for Tape Storage | 343 |
| Scheduling Tape Drive Cleanings | 345 |
| Solving Startup Problems and Testing the Backups | 346 |
| Practice: Select a Person to Implement Backups | 348 |
| Lesson Summary | 349 |
| Lesson 3: Maintaining Backups | 350 |
| Establishing Notification | 350 |
| Addressing Problems | 351 |
| Planning Tape Retirement | 353 |
| Lesson Summary | 353 |
| Review | 354 |
| CHAPTER 15 Performing Physical Housekeeping and Verification | 357 |
| About This Chapter | 357 |
| Before You Begin | 357 |
| Lesson 1: Performing Physical Housekeeping | 358 |
| Making a Visual Inspection | 358 |
| Performing Proactive Testing | 359 |
| Lesson Summary | 360 |
| Lesson 2: Performing Hardware Verification | 361 |
| Verifying Fault-Tolerant Components | 361 |
| Verifying Component Operation | 362 |
| Removing Dust in the Case | 363 |
| Checking for Theft | 364 |
| Lesson Summary | 364 |
| Review | 365 |
| PART 5 TROUBLESHOOTING | |
| CHAPTER 16 Understanding the Troubleshooting Process | 369 |
| About This Chapter | 369 |
| Before You Begin | 369 |
| Lesson 1: Applying the Scientific Method to Troubleshooting | 370 |
| The Learning Process | 370 |
| Lesson Summary | 375 |
| Lesson 2: Quantifying the Problem | 376 |
| Localizing the Problem | 376 |
| Isolating the Problem | 378 |
| Localizing a Problem vs. Testing a Hypothesis | 378 |
| Dividing the Process in Half | 379 |
| Lesson Summary | 379 |
| Lesson 3: Knowing Who to Call and What to Do | 380 |
| Who to Call | 380 |
| Practice: Solve a Software Copy Protection Problem | 381 |
| Practice: Troubleshoot an Adaptec SCSI Controller | 381 |
| What to Do When Nothing Makes Sense | 382 |
| Lesson Summary | 385 |
| Review | 386 |
| CHAPTER 17 Troubleshooting Common Problems | 387 |
| About This Chapter | 387 |
| Before You Begin | 387 |
| Lesson 1: Bootup Problems | 388 |
| Understanding the Bootup Process | 388 |
| Troubleshooting Missing Hard Disks | 389 |
| Eliminating Boot Sector Viruses | 390 |
| Lesson Summary | 392 |
| Lesson 2: Network Problems | 393 |
| Understanding How Protocols Interact | 393 |
| Diagnosing Physical or Data Link Problems | 396 |
| Diagnosing TCP/IP Problems | 396 |
| Diagnosing Problems with DHCP | 403 |
| Practice: Review TCP/IP Settings in Windows 2000 | 407 |
| Lesson Summary | 409 |
| Lesson 3: Other Common Problems | 410 |
| Working with Core Dump Files | 410 |
| Minimizing Hard Disk Vibration | 411 |
| Lesson Summary | 412 |
| Review | 413 |
| APPENDIX | |
| QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | 415 |
| GLOSSARY | 439 |
| INDEX | 463 |
