Chapter 6: Server Configuration

Learning Objectives Explain how to use the tools in the Control Panel Install and configure the display, pointing devices, keyboard, computer hardware, recovery options, protocols, and additional Windows 2000 Server components

Learning Objectives (continued) Use the Device Manager to view hardware properties and troubleshoot problems

Control Panel The Control Panel is one of the first places to start when configuring a server The Control Panel is like a control center from which to customize Windows 2000 Server for devices, network connectivity, and other functions

Accessing the Control Panel Three ways to access the Control Panel are: Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel Open Control Panel from My Computer Open Control Panel from Windows Explorer via the My Computer option

Customizing Control Panel Figure 6-1 Control Panel toolbars

Accessibility Options The Accessibility Options tool is for accommodating visual, audio, and sensory needs of the user

Accessibility Options (continued)

Add/Remove Hardware Use the Add/Remove Hardware tool to install new hardware, remove hardware, unplug a device, and make sure that a device is functioning

Add/Remove Hardware (continued) Figure 6-2 Add/Remove Hardware Wizard

Add/Remove Programs Use the Add/Remove Programs tool to install new software and to remove software A vital function of Add/Remove Programs is to enable you to add and remove Windows 2000 components

Windows Components

Windows Components (continued)

Windows Components (continued)

Administrative Tools Provides shortcuts to the Windows 2000 Server administrative tools, such as tools to manage user accounts, the Active Directory, and IIS

Date/Time The Date/Time tool is used to configure the calendar, date, time, and time zones.

Display The Display tool configures video characteristics such as the desktop background, display colors and resolution, and the appearance of title bars

Display Options

Display Options (continued)

Folder Options Use the Folder Options tool to customize My Computer, Windows Explorer, and desktop options

Folder Options Configuration Figure 6-3 Folder Options window

Folder Options Tabs

Fonts The Fonts tool is used to install, remove, and manage fonts in Windows 2000

Game Controllers Included more for compatibility with Windows 2000 Professional and enables the setup of game controllers, such as a controller in an expansion slot or connected to a USB port

GSNW The GSNW tool enables you to configure and manage Gateway Services for NetWare, when the Windows 2000 server is setup up to offer a gateway to files on a NetWare server

Internet Options The Internet Options tool is used to customize Internet access, such as the home Web page, storage of temporary files, and security

Keyboard The Keyboard tool is used to customize keyboard parameters such as the repeat rate and cursor blink rate

Licensing The Licensing tool is used to manage licenses and is the place in which to add more licenses when they are purchased as your network grows

Mail and Fax The Mail and Fax tool enables you to configure the Windows 2000 Server mail and fax services, such as mail reception options and information about each fax user and fax cover pages

Mouse Use the Mouse tool to configure mouse properties such as pointer symbols and the mouse response rate

Network and Dial-up Connections The Network and Dial-up Connections tool is one you will come to rely on for configuring all kinds of network connections, configuring protocols, and managing other network properties

Troubleshooting Tip Use the Network and Dial-up Connections tool to temporarily disconnect a server from the network while you are maintaining it or fixing a problem

Disabling a Connection Figure 6-4 Disabling the local area network connection

Phone and Modem Options The Phone and Modem Options tool enables you to configure telecommunications lines, such as setting modem speed and transmission properties

Power Options The Power Options tool is used to configure energy saving features such as turning off the monitor and hard drive when they are not in use; plus it is used to configure communication with an uninterruptible power source

Printers Use the Printers tool to install, remove, and manage printers, including making the Windows 2000 server function as a print server

Regional Options The Regional Options tool is used to customize the time format and international formats for numbers, the date, and currency; plus it is used to set the language used

Scanners and Cameras The Scanners and Cameras tool is used to install a scanner card or configure the attachment of a digital camera

Scheduled Tasks The Scheduled Tasks tool is used to run a task, command, or script at a particular time

Troubleshooting Tip If the Task Scheduler is not working, make sure that the Task Scheduler service is started and set to start automatically (use the Computer Management tool or the Services tool to check)

Sounds and Multimedia Use the Sounds and Multimedia tool to configure sounds with particular actions and to configure multimedia capabilities such as compression, MIDI, and other features

System The System tool enables you to configure user profiles, the computer’s name, server performance, and access the Device Manager

Figure 6-5 System options System Properties Figure 6-5 System options

Driver Signing Driver signing: A digital signature that Microsoft incorporates into driver and system files as a way to verify the files and to ensure that they are not inappropriately overwritten

System File Checker The System File Checker is a tool that is used to find inappropriate versions of critical files, such as .dll and .sys files and restore the appropriate versions

Troubleshooting Tip If you install software from a vendor and afterward find that certain features of Windows 2000 Server no longer work properly, use the System File Checker to locate which system files have been overwritten and then to restore those files

Configuring the Display After installing Windows 2000 Server, use the display tool to: Check the color and pixel settings Install a new display driver Set up a screen saver Set up the background display

Figure 6-6 Configuring the display Display Properties Figure 6-6 Configuring the display

Troubleshooting Tip Use the password option with your screen saver to protect the server from intruders Use a screen saver that is not CPU intensive

Screen Saver Configuration Figure 6-7 Screen saver setup

Configuring the Mouse or Pointing Device Configure the mouse or install a new pointing device to match the way that you work, for example you can use the Mouse tool to install a driver for a pointing device that you set up to replace the mouse that came with the server

Mouse Setup Options

Figure 6-8 Installing a pointing device driver Installing a Driver Figure 6-8 Installing a pointing device driver

Configuring the Keyboard Change the keyboard characteristics to match the way you work or install a new keyboard and driver

Keyboard Setup Options

Adding, Removing, and Testing Hardware The Control Panel Add/Remove Hardware tool can detect a new device that is installed -- it is also used to remove a device, unplug a device, and run a test to determine if a device is working

Figure 6-9 Uninstalling a NIC Uninstalling a Device Figure 6-9 Uninstalling a NIC

Configuring Startup and Recovery Configure the startup sequence and configure how to recover from a system failure Example system failure configuration options are: Record the failure in the system log Send an alert Write debug information in a log Have the computer attempt to reboot automatically

Configuring Startup and Recovery Figure 6-10 Configuring startup and recovery options

Configuring Power Management Use a default power management scheme or configure your own Configure power management for the monitor, disk drives, standby options, and hibernation Configure UPS power management, if a UPS is used with the server

Configuring Power Management Figure 6-11 Configuring power management

Configuring Protocols Use the Network and Dial-up Connections tool in Control Panel to install, remove, and configure protocols such as TCP/IP, NWLink, NetBEUI, DLC, and AppleTalk

General Steps to Install a Protocol Open the Network and Dial-up Connections tool from Control Panel or from the Start button, Settings option Right-click Local Area Connection and click Properties Click Install, click Protocol, and click Add Double-click the protocol you want to install

Figure 6-12 Installing a protocol

Configuring TCP/IP Typically you will configure static addressing for a server Parameters associated with static addressing include: IP address -- assign a unique address Subnet mask -- such as 255.255.0.0 Default gateway -- a computer or router that forwards communications to another network DNS server -- to resolve computer names to IP addresses

Configuring TCP/IP (continued) Figure 6-14 Configuring TCP/IP

Installing Additional Windows 2000 Components Use the Network and Dial-Up Connections tool to install additional networking components such as Gateway Services for NetWare Use the Add/Remove Programs tool to install additional software components such as Network Monitor or Remote Installation Services

Using the Add/Remove Programs Tool Figure 6-16 Adding and configuring components

Troubleshooting Tip: Check for Resource Conflicts Use the Device Manager or the Computer Management tool to check for a resource conflict Example hardware resources include: Interrupt request (IRQ) line I/O address Reserved memory range

Using Device Manager to Check for a Conflict Figure 6-17 Checking for a resource conflict

Chapter Summary The Control Panel is one of the first places where you will begin configuring a newly installed server Some of the Control Panel tools that you will use most often include the Add/Remove Hardware tool, the Add/Remove Programs tool, and the Network and Dial-up Connections tool

Chapter Summary Use the driver signing features of Windows 2000 Server to protect important system files To prepare for troubleshooting, plan to become familiar with the Device Manager and the Computer Management tool