Welcome to the material supporting page for this session. The materials on this page have been selected as the best matches to the content covered in the live event session.
This session shows the new features available in Windows Server 2003 Active Directory that deliver key strategic benefits for medium and large corporations, enabling greater administrator and user productivity. This session covers most aspects of Active Directory operations and new features for deployment, administration and management, forest trusts, Group Policies, and application support. With Active Directory, organizations can benefit from further reductions in cost while increasing the efficiency by which they share and manage the various elements of the enterprise. This session highlights the new features and provides context about each feature to illuminate why the feature is beneficial, how it saves time and money, or to explain specific problems the feature addresses. This session targets anyone considering upgrading to Windows Server 2003 Active Directory (either from Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000), as well as first-time adopters who will see how Active Directory has been refined in this release.
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| Demo: Raising Functional Levels
This demonstration will show how to configure Domain and Forest functional levels.
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| Demo: Creating a Domain Controller from Backup Media
This demonstration will show how to create a domain controller from backup media using the DCPromo /adv switch and a backup of system state data.
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| Demo: Active Directory Administration
This demonstration will show some new Active Directory features such as drag and drop functionality in Active Directory Administration tools, as well as saved queries. We will also show how to automate common tasks using Active Directory command-line tools.
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| Demo: Using Replication Features
This demonstration shows how to enable universal group membership caching.
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| Demo: Using Group Policy Management
This demonstration shows how to use the Group Policy Management Console and then use the Group Policy Modeling Wizard to see how policies will be applied. Finally, you will show how to back up and import a Group Policy from one forest to another.
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| Demo: Using Software Restriction Policies
This demonstration shows how to configure Software Restriction Policies and then test the policy to see the effects of the applied policy.
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| Demo: Using Group Policy Restrictions and Reporting
This demonstration shows how to lock down Desktop and Start Menu settings and utilize the reporting functions of the Group Policy Management Console.
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| Demo: Using the Security Configuration Wizard
This demonstration shows the functionality of the Security Configuration Wizard.
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Use the following resources to learn more about topics covered in this briefing.
- Managing Enterprise Active Directory Services
Summary: Learn how to programmatically manage and monitor Active Directory in a large-scale environment. The authors, who lead Cisco's Active Directory deployment and management initiative, focus on post-deployment issues surrounding Active Directory.
- Inside Active Directory: A System Administrator's Guide, 2nd Edition
Summary: The most practical, comprehensive, and highly praised guide to Active Directory has now been fully updated for Windows Server 2003. The second edition of Inside Active Directory: A System Administrator's Guide offers a definitive reference to the design, architecture, installation, and management of Active Directory, the cornerstone technology within Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 distributed networks. This new edition—based on the final release software of Windows Server 2003—emphasizes security and covers all the new features and discusses enhancements in replication and Group Policy, forest trusts, functional levels, and working with dynamic objects.
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Unleashed, 2nd Edition
Summary: A fresh perspective on planning, designing, implementing, and migrating to a Windows Server 2003 environment. Rand Morimoto and his co-authors began writing this book using their experience from several very large client implementations, some having more than 100 servers in production. On a daily basis during the production of this book, clients with thousands of users were taking advantage of the Windows Server 2003 security, scalability, performance, and reliability functions months before the product release. Because of that unique experience, the authors of this book were able to compile the best practices, installation and migration tips and tricks, performance optimization techniques, configuration tuning, and server management techniques for the readers of this book. Rather than revising from previously published chapters in Windows Server 2000 Unleashed, this book was written completely from scratch with the belief that this approach would incorporate the true recommendations from the author team for best practices, tips, and tricks to get the most out of the Windows Server 2003 networking environment.
- Inside Windows Server 2003
Summary: This book is designed to lead a class through the complexities of a full Windows Server 2003 deployment. Each chapter starts off with a list of new features in Windows Server 2003, along with any significant improvements to features carried over from Windows 2000. It then presents design principles, followed by procedures to install and configure the aspects of Windows Server 2003 covered in that chapter. The coverage is comprehensive, in-depth, practical, and authoritative. Many helpful examples are presented to illustrate the concepts. All along the way the author includes proven advice for improving stability and performance. Windows Server 2003 represents a new emphasis from Microsoft on trustworthy computing, so security issues are covered extensively.
- Group Policy, Profiles and Intellimirror
Summary: The Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is a dramatic step forward in the way Group Policy is administered. This book provides all the instruction and insight you need to take full control of your Active Directory with GPMC and other Group Policy tools. You’ll also learn techniques for implementing IntelliMirror, making it possible for users to work securely from any location; and you’ll find intensive troubleshooting advice, insider tips on keeping your network secure, and hundreds of clear examples that will help you accomplish all your administration goals. You will learn to: create and manage all Group Policy functions within Active Directory; understand Group Policy differences in Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003 systems; troubleshoot Group Policy using Support tools, Resource Kit utilities, log files, registry hacks, and third-party tools; create and deploy custom settings for managing client systems; manage, secure, and audit client and server systems; script complex operations, including linking, back up, restore, permissions changes, and migrating; set up Local, Roaming, and Mandatory profiles; set up and manage IntelliMirror components with Group Policy; use Group Policy Software Installation to perform hands-off installations; use Remote Installation Services to automate the installation of new Windows systems; ensure the safety of your users? data with Redirected Folders and Shadow Copies.
- The Ultimate Windows Server 2003 System Administrator's Guide
Summary: Windows Server 2003, the successor to Windows 2000 and Windows NT Server, is designed to accommodate the seamless exchange of information through Web services. It delivers the increased flexibility and power needed to administer networks as global entities, but its enhanced management tools and security features present as many challenges as opportunities. The Ultimate Windows Server 2003 System Administrator?s Guide will help readers negotiate these challenges and exploit the opportunities.
- Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft Windows Server 2003 in 24 Hours
Summary: This is a straightforward, step-by-step introduction to Microsoft's newest network operating system. This book not only highlights the functions and capabilities of the software but also provides a practical look at important server features and tools.
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Delta Guide
Summary: If you already know how to use Microsoft Windows Server 2000, you can leverage those skills to quickly become an expert on Microsoft Windows Server 2003. This guide skips the basics and moves straight to what;s new and what has changed in Windows Server 2003.
- Troubleshooting Microsoft Technologies: The Ultimate Administrator's Repair Manual
Summary: This is the first complete guide to troubleshooting the vast interrelationships of Microsoft network technologies. A concise technical introduction at the outset of each chapter brings readers up to speed on the technologies involved.
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Insider Solutions
Summary: Instead of a traditional planning, design, and implementation guide, this book is a serious resource for Windows experts to find tips, tricks, and best practices for implementing and supporting key Windows Server 2003 technologies. Sections include security, management, design, migration, business continuity, performance, and business productivity.
- Course 2273: Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment: Five days (classroom/online)
Summary: This course provides students with the knowledge and skills that are required to manage accounts and resources, maintain server resources, monitor server performance, and safeguard data in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment.
- Course 2274: Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment: Five days, instructor-led
Summary: This five day, instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to manage accounts and resources in a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment. The course is intended for systems administrator and systems engineer candidates who are responsible for managing accounts and resources. These tasks include managing user, computer, and group accounts; managing access to network resources; managing printers; managing an organizational unit in a network based on Active Directory directory service; and implementing Group Policy to manage users and computers
- Course 2275: Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment: Three days, instructor-led
Summary: This three day, instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills that are needed to effectively maintain server resources, monitor server performance, and safeguard data on a computer running one of the operating systems in the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 family.
- Course 2278: Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Five days, instructor-led
Summary: The goal of this five day course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to plan and maintain a Windows. Server 2003 network infrastructure.
- Course 2279: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure: Five days, instructor-led
Summary: This course provides the knowledge and skills to successfully plan, implement, and troubleshoot a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory directory service infrastructure.
- Course 2282: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure: Five days, instructor-led
Summary: This five day, instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to design a Microsoft Active Directory directory service and network infrastructure for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 environment. The course is intended for systems engineers who are responsible for designing directory service or network infrastructures.