Fixing a DNS Configuration and Installing Active Directory

In this practice, you configure DNS server settings on Server2 so that you can install online MCTS certification Active Directory, and then uninstall Active Directory from the server.
Exercise 1: Fixing a DNS Configuration
In this exercise, you’ll incorrectly configure your DNS server settings for Server2. Then, you’ll attempt to install Active Directory on Server2. Finally, you’ll correct the DNS server settings so you can properly install Active Directory on Server2.
To fix a DNS configuration and install Active Directory
1.Log on to Server2 as Administrator.
2.Click Start, point to Control Panel, point to Network Connections, and then click Local Area Connection.
3.n the Local Area Connection Status dialog box, click Properties.
4.n the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and then click Properties.
5.Ensure DNS is not installed by clicking Start, pointing to Administrative Tools, and then checking for DNS in the tree.
6.n the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box, set Preferred MCTS benefits Server setting to 127.0.0.1.
7.Clear all IP Addresses in the Alternative DNS server setting box, and then click OK.
8.Log off Administrator.
9.Log on using the local administrator’s user name and password. In the Log On To Windows dialog box, ensure that you have the Log On To box set to SERVER2
(this computer). You may need to click Options in order to see the Log On To box.Click OK.
10. Click Start, and then click Run. Type dcpromo in the Open dialog box. Click OK.
11.When the Active Directory Installation Wizard starts, click Next to begin installing Active Directory.
12.Read the Operating System Compatibility page, and then click Next.
13.On the Domain Controller Type page, select Additional Domain Controller For An Existing Domain, and then click Next.
14.On the Network Credentials page, type the user name and password of the domain administrator account. Type contoso.com as the domain, and then click
Next.
15.You should see an Active Directory Installation Wizard message box indicating an error. The message box tells you that the domain controller for Contoso.com cannot be located. This is because your Preferred DNS server is incorrectly config?ured. Click Details to read more about this error, and then click OK.
16.On the Network Credentials screen, click Cancel to cancel the Active Directory installation, and then click Yes to confirm the cancellation.
17.To correct your DNS configuration, click Start, point to Control Panel, point to Network Connections, and then click Local Area Connection.
18.In the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box, select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.
19.In the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box, set the Preferred DNS Server setting to the IP Address of Serverl. Click OK.
20.Click OK to close the Local Area Connection Properties dialog box.Install Active Directory on free Microsoft practice tests as described earlier in this exercise.

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Installing Active Directory Using an Answer File

You can create an answer file to run the MCITP exams Installation Wizard without having to respond to the screen prompts. An answer file is a file that contains answers to questions that should be automated during installation. The answer file must contain all of the parameters that the Active Directory Installation Wizard needs to install Active Directory. An answer file that is used to install Windows Server 2003 can also include the installation of Active Directory, or you can create an answer file that installs only Active Directory and is run after the Windows Server 2003 setup is complete and you have logged on to the system.
To create the answer file, refer to the instructions located in the “Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Reference,” viewable by opening the Ref.chm compiled HTML help file on the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM. The Ref.chm file is located in the Deploy.cab file in the online MCITP certification. The parameters required for the Active Directory setup answer file are described in Appendix B, “Active Directory Setup Answer File Parameters.”
To install Active Directory using an answer file, complete the following steps:
1.Restart your computer and log on as Administrator.Click Start and then click Run. In the Run dialog box, type dcpromo /answer:answer file, where answer file is the name of the answer file, in the Open box and click OK.
Adding a New Domain Controller to an Existing Domain If you choose to add a domain controller to an existing domain, you create a peer domain controller, as shown in Figure 2-5. Peer domain controllers provide redundancy and reduce the load on the existing domain controllers. Peer domain controllers are often placed in different geographic locations to minimize Active Directory access traffic.
Whenever you configure Active Directory, it’s very important to consider two domain controllers per domain the absolute minimum. If you only have one domain con?troller, you can lose the entire domain and all accounts if a serious hardware issue occurs. Of course, if you take the time to back up your Active Directory domain, the domain is not lost entirely, but it can still cause a significant problem. For example, users may not be able to log on properly and no new accounts can be created until Active Directory is restored. Further, you’ll only have the data that is current as of your last backup of Active Directory. Any accounts created since that backup will be lost. To avoid this issue, always install a minimum of free Microsoft practice tests two domain controllers for each domain.

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Determining the Domain Name

In Windows Server 2003 and Active Directory, a domain name is a name given MCITP certification to a collection of networked computers that share a common directory. Because Active Directory uses DNS as its domain naming and location service, Windows Server 2003 domain names are also DNS names. When logging on to the network, Active Directory clients query their DNS servers to locate domain controllers.
In DNS, names are arranged in a hierarchy and can be partitioned according to the hierarchy. The hierarchy allows parentchild relationships where the name of the child domain is designated by the name of the parent domain, preceded by a label for the child domain. For example, uk.microsoft.com is a child domain of the microsoft.com domain; for the child name the “uk” label is placed before the name of the parent domain, microsqft.com. Thus, a domain’s name identifies its position in the hierarchy.
In the example shown in MCITP, the root domain is named contoso.com, while each of the child domains have been named for the physical locations that represent the domains.
Because domain names designated in Active Directory are employed by users as they navigate the forest, the names you select are very important. Select an easily identifiable name for the forest root domain, which is the basis for its child and grandchild domains. If you adhere to some basic guidelines, you should be able to determine domain names that meet the needs of your organization. The following are guidelines for naming domains:
Although Windows Server 2003 DNS supports the use of almost any Unicode character in a name, by using only Internet standard characters you ensure that your Active Directory domain names will be compatible with other versions of DNS.
Differentiate between internal and external namespaces. Because most organizations have an Internet presence, you should use different names for the internal
and external root domains to clearly delineate public resources from private resources and prevent unauthorized users from accessing resources on the internal network. For example, Microsoft is represented on the Internet by the DNS name free Microsoft practice tests. However, the organization might use corp.microsoft.com to represent their Active Directory forest root domain name.

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Stage Four—Creating a Site Topology Plan

After analyzing your organization’s requirements, the first step in creating a TS windows 7 configuration topology plan is to define sites. The main purpose of a site is to physically group computers to optimize network traffic. In Active Directory, site structure mirrors the location of user communities. You must define a site for each of the following:
Each LAN or set of LANs that are connected by a high-speed backbone
Each location that does not have direct connectivity to the rest of the network and
is reachable only by using SMTP mail
The second step in creating a site topology plan is to place domain controllers. Because the availability of Active Directory depends on the availability of domain controllers, a domain controller must always be available so users can be authenticated. For optimum network response time and application availability, you must place at least
One domain controller in each site
Two domain controllers in each domain
In addition, you might need to place additional domain controllers in a site if
There are a large number of users in a site and the link to the site is slow or near capacity
The link to a site is historically unreliable or only intermittently available
The third step in creating a 70-680 practice test topology plan is to define a replication strategy. An effective replication strategy ensures efficient replication and fault tolerance. In this step you configure site links, which includes designating the method of replication transport, site link cost, replication frequency, and replication availability. You also have the option to specify preferred bridgehead servers.
The final step in creating a site topology plan is to place global catalog servers and operations masters within a forest. The end result of a site topology plan is a site diagram that includes site links and a site link table that provides details about site link configurations, as well as locations of domain controllers and operations masters roles. Depending on the needs of the organization, a site topology plan might also include a table that provides details about site link bridges and preferred bridgehead servers.
To read more about DNS, launch an Internet search engine and run a search for RFC 1034 and RFC 1035. Requests For Comments (RFCs) are the official documents of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) that specify the details for new Internet specifications or protocols. RFC 1034 is entitled “Domain Names—Concepts and Facilities,” and free Microsoft practice tests is entitled “Domain Names—Implementation and Specification.”

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Understanding Active Directory Concepts and Administration Tasks

In the Windows Server 2003 family and Active Directory, there are several new concepts 70-270 practice test and some changes to the concepts used in Windows NT. These concepts include replication, trust relationships, change and configuration management, group policies, DNS, and object naming. It is important that you understand the meaning of these concepts as they apply to Active Directory. In addition, you should also familiarize yourself with the Active Directory administration tasks, which correspond to the chapters in this training kit.

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Requirements for Becoming a Microsoft Certified Professional

The certification requirements differ for each certification and are specific to the MCSA required exams and job functions addressed by the certification.
To become a Microsoft Certified Professional, you must pass rigorous certification exams that provide a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise. These exams are designed to test your expertise and ability to perform a role or task with a product, and are developed with the input of professionals in the industry. Questions in the exams reflect how Microsoft products are used in actual organizations, giving them “real-world” relevance.
Microsoft Certified Product (MCPs) candidates are required to pass one current Microsoft certification exam. Candidates can pass additional Microsoft certification exams to further qualify their skills with other Microsoft products, development tools, or desktop applications.
Microsoft Certified Solution Developers (MCSDs) are required to pass three core exams and one elective exam. (MCSD for Microsoft .NET candidates are required
to pass four core exams and one elective.)
Microsoft Certified Application Developers (MCADs) are required to pass two core exams and one elective exam in an area of specialization.
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSEs) are required to pass five core
exams and two elective free 70-270 test questions.
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrators (MCSAs) are required to pass three core exams and one elective exam that provide a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise.
Microsoft Certified Database Administrators (MCDBAs) are required to pass three core exams and one elective exam that provide a valid and reliable measure of
technical proficiency and expertise.
Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) are required to meet instructional and technical requirements specific to each Microsoft Official Curriculum course they are certified to deliver. The MCT program requires on-going training to meet the requirements for the annual renewal of certification.
This training kit contains hands-on exercises to help you learn about Windows Server 2003 Active Directory. Use this section to prepare your self-paced training environment.
To complete some of these procedures, you must have two networked computers or be connected to a free Microsoft practice tests larger network. Both computers must be running Windows Server 2003.

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