1. Maintaining and Updating Windows Server 2008

2. Monitoring Windows Server It is important to monitor your Server system to make sure it is running smoothly and not overloaded. Create a baseline – this gives you a reference point that you can compare future test results to. If performance is suffering consider adding improved hardware to the system or remove roles and allocate them to other machines

3. Reliability and Performance Monitor Resource overview gives you real-time monitoring of certain components such as the CPU, Disk, and RAM. Performance monitor – monitors in real time specific counters you choose to monitor Data Collector Set – used to collect data over longer periods of time. You can also create a Data collector alert This will alert you when you meet a certain threshold. Reliability monitor – gives you an idea of the stability of the Server System.

4. Using Windows event view This is a very important task of the system administrator A great place to look for systems problems and errors Gives the administrator some insight into what is going on with the Server system. Divided in to information, warning, and error events. Event viewer can generate a lot of events. Create a schedule to backup and clear out the logs.

5. Network Monitor Not installed by default Can be downloaded and installed from Microsoft’s web site. This tool is very similar to Wireshark that we have used in Cisco class to sniff network traffic. Use this tool to isolate traffic and get an idea what type of packets are being sent in and out of the server.

6. Configuring WSUS WSUS allows PCs to connect to your server to download updates instead of the internet WSUS allows you to test updates before pushing them out to the network WSUS gives administrators ultimate control over updating windows machines on the network 2 part install process Install the WSUS server- requires many pre-req’s Configure the client to update from the Server instead of the internet

7. WSUS Distribution Points A WSUS server can be updated from 3 points Public Windows Update servers From another server running WSUS A manually configured content distribution point Update from another WSUS server when you have multiple WSUS serves in your topology or you have locations that do not have internet access.

8. Managing a WSUS installation 5 main administrative tasks Initial server configuration and post-install Synchronization of content Selection and approval of sychronized content Backing up and restoring WSUS Monitoring server stats and logs

9. Lesson 8 You Learned When monitoring the health of Windows Server 2008, you can examine the Window Event Viewer to obtain information. By default, it logs informational events such as service start and stop messages, errors, and warnings. Additional diagnostic logging can be achieved by modifying the registry.

10. Lesson 8 You Learned (cont.) Reliability and Performance Monitor in Windows Server 2008 allows you to collect real-time information on your local computer or from a specific computer to which you have permissions. This information can be viewed in a number of different formats that include charts, graphs, and histograms.

11. Lesson 8 You Learned (cont.) Reliability and Performance Monitor uses performance objects, or categories, and performance counters to organize performance information. Performance counters are the specific processes to monitor. Many counters are available. WSUS is a tool used to manage and distribute software updates that fix known security vulnerabilities or otherwise improve the performance of Microsoft operating systems.

12. Lesson 8 You Learned (cont.) Updates can include items such as security fixes, critical updates, and critical drivers. Windows Update is a Microsoft Web site that works with Automatic Updates to provide timely critical and noncritical system updates. Automatic Updates enables you to automatically interact with the Windows Update Web site.

13. Lesson 8 You Learned (cont.) WSUS server management includes reviewing and changing configuration options, automatically or manually synchronizing the server, viewing update status, and backing up and restoring the server. You can configure Automatic Updates through the Automatic Updates configuration page, Group Policy, and by configuring registry entries.