Reddit reviews Windows Server 2016 Unleashed (includes Content Update Program)
We found 5 Reddit comments about Windows Server 2016 Unleashed (includes Content Update Program). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
When I started as sysadmin, reading this sub and learning about products helped me in my field. Someone mentioned CCNA certification, personally I think that would be overkill for your job, however you can still look at syllabus and just skim through. I do not know about CompTia, if it is easy then maybe that is worth it. Sysadmin is broad field, it includes networks and security, servers, storage and various solutions. You know all this as you sell it all. But how do you put it all together -- defines your infrastructure.
Just before I begin, quite a lot of terms are just a product knowledge. I.e. if you sell racks, you know what unit is. If you sell switches, you know what are SFP ports. And so on.
As a buyer, sometimes I find it difficult to make a decision how to setup my infrastructure, even as a team of 3 we spend time meeting, drawing diagrams and discussing etc. If project is big, we may come up with 3 different plans within a month.
If you find certificates boring and taking long, I suggest you just read this sub from time to time, most popular topics, and learn with others. /r/homelab definitely check this sub as well.
If your clients are mostly Windows, perhaps skim through this book: Microsoft Server 2016 unleashed , most SMEs setup AD environment, Hyper-V or VMWare, and storage.
What are storage array levels ( any easy random link from google about raid level 0, 1, 5 and 10 for starters ) and raid calculator. While at it, ask your technicians difference between SAN and NAS, but you may already know it.
I cannot think of anything about networks, but we mostly use fierwalls, as we need to segregate networks and setup access controls between them. Setup DMZ (google it). Routers are of little use for us. SMEs would buy firewall with intrusion detection or prevention. Something like Checkpoint, which could prevent intrusions and also control which applications can access internet (i.e. is facebook allowed?).
Networks switches is easy to understand. Little more complicated network can make use of VLANs (i.e. each department can have their own VLAN. also telephone network (VoIP) usually connected into separate VLAN for QoS). How Spanning Tree protocols (STP) work is complicated for beginners, but good to know they exist and what they are for. The (STP) feature found in managed Layer 2 switches. PoE is another term you might hear - it means power over ethernet, when you can connect phones and IP video cameras to computer network without need of power socket. Expensive stuff.
software wise, apart from Windows, SMEs may need monitoring, logging and backup systems.
Look at this guy's backup question May be your type of customers. Sometimes people mention 3-2-1 backup approach.
It is also important to have monitoring setup to monitor infrastructure: SNMP from network switches to monitor traffic speed, various metrics from Windows operating system, and server health. It is on our wiki You can setup PRTG quick and easy on windows box to play with, for fun. Logging tools are complicated subject for security and compliance, suggest leave it for later (marketing term: SIEM).
If all of this is still not enough, can read PCI DSS SAQ D questionnaire and whatever you can pick up from there - read up. If something is complicated - skip for another time/year/life. This will give you some insights into best practices and good security approach in planning and managing infrastructure.
Hope my thoughts are relevant to your question. Good luck, ask us anything. Try to setup small lab yourself but do not be discouraged..
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EDIT:
I recommend you also read about OSI model in networking. 7 Layers. It is good knowledge for any techie, not only for network admins. OSI model is kind of theoretical, TCP/IP model is practical -- just FYI.
If you happen to learn this much, I think you may even become a consultant one day. Something to look up for!
Windows Server 2016 Unleashed is very comprehensive!
Time Management for System Administrators: Stop Working Late and Start Working Smart
The Practice of System and Network Administration, Second Edition
Windows Server 2008 R2 Unleashed
Windows Server 2016 Unleashed includes Content Update Program
The Practice of Cloud System Administration: DevOps and SRE Practices for Web Services, Volume 2
The Practice of System and Network Administration: Volume 1: DevOps and other Best Practices for Enterprise IT
Network Warrior: Everything You Need to Know That Wasn't on the CCNA Exam
I still think this is one of the best series of books ever written.
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Unleashed-Content-Program/dp/0134583752
I have every edition since 2003 for windows server and they are great for looking over things. Taking the exam preps are nice but these can be just as useful since they broken down and do take the time to explain things.