Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure
Focused on the planning, configuration, and implementation of Windows Server 2012 services.
Motivation? My employer is a Microsoft partner and needs one person who has passed MCP 70-413, 70-414, or 70-659 and another engineer who has passed one of
70-410, 70-411, 70-412, 70-417, 70-640, 70-646, 70-647, 70-648, 70-649, 70-690, or 70-691. I elected to do 70-413. (https://mspartner.microsoft.com/en/us/pages/membership/server-platform-competency-requirements-silver.aspx has the gory details.)
Get some bits to play with
This test is all about the Windows Server 2012 product. It's available for a free 180 day evaluation straight from Microsoft. Follow the links at Microsoft's Download Windows Server 2012 page.
Installing those bits on a server
So, chicken and egg problem here. I'm going to need to do a network install somehow -- I don't have any spare servers with DVD drives I can use. I do have plenty of machines that will PXE boot, though, so I'll try to sketch out that process here.
PXE installs of Linux are old hat to me. Network installs of HP-UX and Solaris, too. Windows is a bit of a different animal.
Exam Objectives
Plan and deploy a server infrastructure
(Objective 1.1) Design an automated server installation strategy
(Objective 1.2) Plan and implement a server deployment infrastructure
(Objective 1.3) Plan and implement server upgrade and migration
(Objective 1.4) Plan and deploy Virtual Machine Manager services
(Objective 1.5) Plan and implement file and storage services
Design and implement network infrastructure services
(Objective 2.1) Design and maintain a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) solution
(Objective 2.2) Design a name resolution strategy
(Objective 2.3) Design and manage an IP address management solution
Design and implement network access services
(Objective 3.1) Design a VPN solution
(Objective 3.2) Design a DirectAccess solution
(Objective 3.3) Implement a scalable Remote Access solution
(Objective 3.4) Design a network protection solution
(Objective 3.5) Implement a network protection solution
Design and implement an Active Directory infrastructure (logical)
(Objective 4.1) Design a forest and domain infrastructure
(Objective 4.2) Implement a forest and domain infrastructure
(Objective 4.3) Design a group policy strategy
(Objective 4.4) Design an Active Directory permission model
Design and implement an Active Directory infrastructure (physical)
(Objective 5.1) Design an Active Directory sites topology
(Objective 5.2) Design a domain controller strategy
(Objective 5.3) Design and implement a branch office infrastructure