Best windows server guides according to redditors
We found 264 Reddit comments discussing the best windows server guides. We ranked the 100 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
9. Exam Ref 70-410 Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2 (MCSA)
6 mentions
Microsoft Press
This book covers rootkit development, not analysis, on Windows 7 and x86/IA32. It's a must read, if you're interested in rootkits.
While not yet released, it looks very promising. Over the years, Microsoft has continually introduced better protections against rootkits and malware in Windows. Among other things, the book will cover how some of the rootkits/bootkits seen in the wild have bypassed protections such as Secure Boot, kernel-mode signing, Patch Guard and Device Guard.
I'd also recommend having a look at the following books:
Also, Windows Internals for both Windows 7 and Windows 10 is a great reference to have laying around.
Thanks ;). Not so skilled on that and my advice might be misleading; though I got a background in cs:This would be my suggestion for someone beginning.
You can also search for those books pdf by using google hacks eg
filetype:pdf "title of the book here"orintitle:index.of "title of the book here"Windows Internals is among, if not the best, book on the Windows OS imo.
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Part-architecture-management/dp/0735684189/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
It won't teach you explicit "hacking" procedures but it will explain details at a very low/in depth level. I have the 5th & 6th addition, need to pick up the 7th myself (they basically follow major OS releases)
Powershell in a month of lunches by Don Jones...
http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617290211/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311721510&sr=8-1
I'm a big fan of Don Jones... That's a really good intro book imho.
Hi!
I keep a list of resources I've found helpful for learning PowerShell here. Books, cheat sheets, videos, etc.
Highlights (from my perspective)
If you prefer videos:
If you prefer books:
If you learn by example:
Stop by #powershell on IRC (Freenode), and check out twitter. Many folks idle or chat in the IRC channel, and from my perspective, you can't beat twitter for up to date PowerShell content.
If you want to see the vision for PowerShell, check out the Monad Manifesto
Good luck!
How deep do you want to go?
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..
​
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!
I'd stick with Server 2012 given the amount of materials out there and the fact that companies take awhile to jump to the next server OS. Get your MCSA 2012, then when good materials hit down the road just take the upgrade exams to be MCSA/MCSE 2016.
As for training, I'd check out video training at: CBTnuggets and PluralSight.
For books I'd go with: Mastering Server 2012 R2: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479126961&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=masterinng+server+2012
and MCSA complete study guide: https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/111885991X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479126991&sr=8-1&keywords=MCSA+2012
It’s gonna be hard to give you much without picking a specific OS—details can vary widely even within a single OS family line—but an OS book is probably a good place to start. Tanenbaum’s book is the go-to.
Alternatively, there are books on specific techniques like garbage collection, or books more generally on programming for UNIX/POSIX/Linux or Windows (via Win16/32/64 API, not the six-mile-high shitheap piled atop), which would tell you some about how memory management works in down at least to whatever abstract hardware interface the kernel uses.
This article is almost a 1:1 copy of Wikipedia[1] combined with diagrams from Wikimedia[2] (and doesn't even cite the sources on top of that). If you want a simplified, yet accurate, explanation of virtual memory then check out page 15 of Windows Internals Part I (6th Edition).
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_memory
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_segment
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_segment
[2] https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6e/Virtual_memory.svg/2000px-Virtual_memory.svg.png
I found the book "Mastering Windows Server 2012 R2" really helpful for my MCSA: https://amzn.com/1118289420
It definitely shouldn't be the only book you read, but it goes over a lot of the new features in 2012/2012R2 that you'll need to be familiar with. Especially useful if you're coming from only 08 or 08R2.
The best series of books is the Inside SQL Server series, and although they are quite advanced, database internals aren't a simple topic. The idea is to find an area that you're interested in, and take a deep dive from there. Maybe I should write a series of articles on the topic, for people with your experience level.
If you are interested in how the storage engine works, then Microsoft SQL Server 2008: Internals is a good choice.
If you're more interested in how queries are processed, then perhaps starting with Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2008: T-SQL Querying would be a better option.
Additionally, I highly recommend a good selection of blogs, particularly the guys and girls over at SQLskills. Also, consider reading the Books Online pages on Planning and Architecture.
Any questions, feel free to ask - I love chatting about SQL Server, particularly on the MSDN SQL Forums, or SQL Server Central.
> I have my A+ cert
>
>they recommended a segmented network. and I had to google what that even was.
>
>I am the "IT Guy" The previous "IT Guy" got me this job
You need to start reading cbks right now in all your free time. Even if you don't take the cert exams for the cbks below, it is knowledge you need to know asap.
​
I suggest these (in order):
​
https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Network-Certification-Seventh-N10-007/dp/1260122387/ref=sr_1_3
https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Server-Certification-Guide-SK0-004/dp/125983803X/ref=sr_1_1
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/111885991X/ref=sr_1_4
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-PowerShell-Cookbook-Scripting-Microsofts/dp/1449320686/ref=pd_sbs_14_5/143-0552349-3403540
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Complete-Study-Guide/dp/1119359147/ref=sr_1_3
https://www.amazon.com/CompTIA-Security-Guide-Fifth-SY0-501/dp/1260019322/ref=sr_1_4
I like the following meaty tomes:
AD:
https://www.amazon.com/Active-Directory-Designing-Deploying-Running/dp/1449320023/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=active+directory&qid=1568884370&s=gateway&sr=8-2
GP:
https://www.amazon.com/Group-Policy-Fundamentals-Security-Managed/dp/1119035589/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=group+policy&qid=1568884382&s=gateway&sr=8-1
I put off learning PowerShell for a long time; felt like it didn't apply to my needs. Hit a quiet month and bought PowerShell in a month of lunches and suddenly realised I was wrong, oh so wrong.
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Part-architecture-management/dp/0735684189/
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-PowerShell-Cookbook-Scripting-Microsofts/dp/1449320686/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=PowerShell+moDULE&qid=1555182385&s=books&sr=1-2-catcorr
batch coding is a good start, but ultimately limited. If you ever start messing with VMware, there are a ton of really awesome tools and utilities coded in Powershell that are far more efficient than any other solution out there.
Also check out a book called Learn Windows Powershell in a Month of Lunches. http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617290211
Also look into Python.
Honestly, I started with the Powershell Cookbook but it took me forever to get anything done. I never really fully got the hang of it until I started working through Project Euler that I started to really understand what was occurring, and how to accomplish my goals.
Additionally, there is a great resource for transitioning from bash to PS, but it is a video.
Windows Server 2016 Unleashed is very comprehensive!
Learn windows server. It's a great way to move out of the help desk.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/learning/windows-server-certification.aspx
https://www.amazon.ca/70-410-Installing-Configuring-Windows-Server/dp/0735684243/
Microsoft Virtual Academy.. That would be a good place to start, and then maybe check out the exam ref books. Although those are more geared towards certification, they are pretty amazing at at least laying out the concepts.
Some other notable courses from MVA:
If you want to dive into AD, the best book I have purchased regarding would be this.
I used this book. It has short, concise lessons and gives a good overview of things. There's also a followup book about scripting.
I'm sure a free powershell tutorial online would be fine to start with also.
I'd also recommend Windows PowerShell Cookbook Scripting but it isn't cheap ether. I've always found cookbooks useful because they are just a bunch of examples of how to create tooling once you know the foundation for anything. I'd also recommend reading some of the Powershell MVPs blogs they do some excellent content for the community. I learn a lot from them as well.
I have this book and it is very comprehensive.
https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420
First, read our Wiki. It is very thorough and answers a lot of these common questions such as
day to day? The Practice of System and Network Administration
And the topical reference books listed below.
Books to help in shaping a sysadmin? The above &:
The Phoenix Project
Time Management for System Administrators
Topical Books I see mentioned often and have been very helpful to me:
Powershell in a month of lunches
Learn Python the hard way
Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook
Windows Server 2016: Inside Out
Group Policy
AbsoluteBSD
FreeBSD mastery:ZFS
CCNA
RHCSA/RHCE
Pro Puppet
SSH Mastery
On my docket:
FreeBSD Mastery: Advanced ZFS
Michael W. Lucas and Thomas Limoncelli are very good sysadmin writers, you can't go wrong with a topic they have chosen to write about.
Most of the *nix stuff assumes a baseline knowledge of how to use a unix-based system. I learned as I went but did pick up an old copy of Unix Visual Quickstart Guide not too long ago at a used books sale, which seems like a good starting place for someone overwhelmed with sitting at a terminal and being productive.
I notice I don't have any Virtualization books, perhaps someone else can fill in good books. Most of my knowledge regarding virtualization and network storage has been a mix of official docs, video training, and poking at it. Seems innate but it isn't.
Windows Internals Pt 1
VS2015 and VS2017 are practically identical (at least from a learner's perspective). But there's no reason to not upgrade or to have both installed.
I'd recommend getting a book to read and also following along with a video course (Microsoft Virtual Academy is a great place for videos). You can watch videos and work alongside when able, and read the book to flesh out things you're not sure of (or just revise when you can't access a computer).
I recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Visual-2013-Step-Developer/dp/073568183X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492133728&sr=8-1&keywords=c%23+visual+2013
I found the writing style explained things to me better than most other material, and I could grasp concepts that I felt many resources glossed over or didn't explain as well (the Yellow Book is also good at this).
Also, mixing resources helps a lot. You could read one author's take on a concept over and over again and never understand it, only to read a different explanation and it just clicks. When you get stuck on something just find another source.
The closest book I’m aware of is the Windows Internals series. 7th edition covers windows 10 1607 and windows server 2016. Here’s a link to the book on Amazon US.
The guys writing it are a Microsoft MVP, a low level systems expert who teaches the windows internal course around the world, and the chief technology officer of Microsoft Azure.
It’s probably the most comprehensive book you’ll find on the subject.
I was in the same boat as you when I first started learning PowerShell. I had experience in C++, C and Java. I bought The Windows PowerShell Cookbook to use as a reference and just started to wing it. It helped that I'm a sysadmin at a large company and I'm pretty much left to my own devices as long as I get my tickets and projects done. Each time I'd want to do something in PowerShell, I'd just plunk away at it. I'd use Get-Help, the reference book, and Google to help me along. A lot of it was just thinking about how I'd do something in another language, then figuring out the equivalents in PS.
When I first started, I would write structured scripts, but now I pretty much do everything on the command line.
I subscribed to CBTnugget couple weeks prior to my test to recap with the videos, and it gives you access to Transcender test which in and of itself is worth it. It's a great practice test. I like how it explains why the wrong answers are wrong. It comes with digital flash cards too.
I got around 50 questions. Besides powershell, make sure you know Hypver-V really well and study up on IPv6 too.
I used Don Poulton's 70-410 book mainly and William Panek's MCSA Complete Study Guide as supplement.
Good luck!
Buy the Microsoft Press books.
70-640:
http://www.amazon.com/Self-Paced-Training-Kit-Exam-70-640/dp/0735651930/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1377721524&sr=1-10&keywords=server+2008
70-642:
http://www.amazon.com/Self-Paced-Training-Exam-70-642-Infrastructure/dp/0735651604/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y
70-646:
http://www.amazon.com/Self-Paced-Training-Exam-70-646-Administrator/dp/073564909X/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_z
/r/powershell is a nice place to begin and there are a number of links on the sidebar that can help get you started. When I was getting started I used the book Windows PowerShell Unleashed which I really liked. I have heard good things about Learn Windows PowerShell In A Month Of Lunches but I haven't had the chance to look in to it myself.
For free online resources I like ss64 and I also referenced computerperformance.co.uk when getting started.
I am currently studying for this exact cert right now! I am using these books
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1509303669/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502043211&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=mcsa+windows+server+2016&dpPl=1&dpID=51AaSFuObML&ref=plSrch
I think this will be my plan of action
Okay so there are a couple of good places to start with malware. The first is Malware Analyst's Cookbook. It is a pretty decent beginner level resource.
From there, Practical Malware Analysis is excellent and goes a lot deeper.
For free resources I've heard good things about Dr. Fu's Malware Analysis Tutorials.
You will need to have a strong understanding of reverse engineering. I like Practical Reverse Engineering or Reverse Engineering for Beginners. The latter is free.
With RE comes assembly. I learned from the free book PC Assembly Language. The RE books should have some info on assembly as well.
You should also know the systems programming API and OS internals for whatever OS you're interested in. This is most likely Windows, so I recommend Windows System Programming and Windows Internals. You can find similar books for Linux and macOS too. Having a good understanding of C and C++ is helpful for this. Also get comfortable using your assembly level debugger on your OS of choice. WinDBG, x64dbg, and OllyDBG are all good on Windows. GDB is pretty much the default on Linux, and LLDB on macOS.
I also highly recommend some scripting language, whether it's Python, Ruby, Powershell or whatever for hacking up your own tools.
Lastly, there is a list on GitHub with a ton of helpful links.
I think that's enough for now.
As far as demand it's hard to say and probably depends a lot on where you're from. It's certainly not like the demand for webdevs but there's also not nearly as many people with the skillset. I'm not a malware analyst myself, I'm more focused on security research and embedded development.
I know those skills are especially high in demand around the Washington, DC area with defense contractors and government agencies. Especially if you can get a security clearance. Most other security firms I know of are always looking for good people with strong reversing and OS internals knowledge.
Let me know if you have any questions and I will try to answer.
As an IT guy myself, look into industry certs. My field is mostly server-related sysadmin stuff, so I'm not sure it works in your field though.
For example, for my field, you could just order a book like this for $40, and when you've read it, done examples/excercises on VMs to the point where you're confident enough, just go take the exam for $150.
After that $200, you can be a Microsoft Certified Professional.
In terms of knowledge, these certs aren't walks-in-the-park, that's why they're valuable on a CV, but if they're in a field that you're already knowledgeable about, then just getting that already-present knowledge certified shouldn't be too difficult.
And they are great for CVs, because that one line on the CV mentioning the cert, it summarizes an approximate amount of skills and knowledge that you have, and suggest a minimum amount of intelligence and trainability. In that sense, it's similar to a degree.
https://www.amazon.com/Active-Directory-Designing-Deploying-Running/dp/1449320023/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474667521&sr=8-1&keywords=active+directory
I realized after I posted this that there is no Cert Guide book for 70-411....but the one I was referring to for 70-410 is this one: http://www.amazon.com/MCSA-70-410-Cert-Guide-Configuring/dp/0789748800
Anyway, now I'm trying to figure out if I should just stick with the Sybex combined 410/411/412 book keeping in mind how bad it is and read a lot more Technet articles to supplement, or if I should try to find something else. There doesn't seem to be anything out there that gets glowing reviews as a comprehensive exam prep book for the 70-411.
Try this: https://www.amazon.com/Active-Directory-Designing-Deploying-Running/dp/1449320023
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
Grab Don Jones' PowerShell in a Month of Lunches, it's well worth it, and an easy way to become proficient. That said, Ed Wilson's Hey Scripting Guy blog is also a fantastic resource.
Took this exam and passed on my first attempt. I used this to help me study.
not a problem. Google and ms technet are your friends.
I have heard great things about
beginner level:
http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617290211/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323979474&sr=8-1
more of an intermediate/advanced:
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-PowerShell-Cookbook-Scripting-Microsofts/dp/0596801505/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323979485&sr=8-1
You'll have to grab a book on the topic- one of the big hurdles most people face is just figuring out the sort of questions you've asked at the end here: how do I execute a script? how do I write portable code? where can I execute this script?
The answer to all of these depend greatly on the script. A generic script can be executed from any machine with powershell installed and an execution policy of "remotesigned" or better.
Here's the book I like:
http://www.amazon.com/Windows-PowerShell-Cookbook-Scripting-Microsofts/dp/0596801505/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314721194&sr=8-1
And here's a tool that will help you get started:
http://powergui.org/downloads.jspa
You're more than welcome to PM me any questions- I'm no expert, but having recently learned a lot of this, I can relate to not understanding it, and the questions you'll have are fresh on my mind.
I read the first few chapters to see if I wanted to read the whole book and I liked the approach so its on my list to read. Haven't dug into it yet I also got [Learn Windows PowerShell in a Month of Lunches] (http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617290211/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325095521&sr=8-1) but haven't tried it yet since I enjoy my lunches lol
https://www.codecademy.com/
Codecademy is also a good resource for learning to code in general - Python is a great cross-platform language. I've honestly never encountered a great batch resource for learning; my advice is to learn PowerShell, as /u/Oodeer suggusted, and learn the fundamentals of programming/scripting. Once you understand how code works, then googling how to do something in a specific language is pretty easy and it's just looking up the syntax/commands for the language you're using.
If you're interested in PowerShell, I have three books on my shelf at all times:
Learn PowerShell in a Month of Lunches: https://www.manning.com/books/learn-windows-powershell-in-a-month-of-lunches-second-edition
Learn PowerShell Toolmaking in a Month of Lunches: https://www.manning.com/books/learn-powershell-toolmaking-in-a-month-of-lunches
And a PowerShell cookbook. I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/Windows-PowerShell-Cookbook-Scripting-Microsofts/dp/1449320686
These are all my personal recommendations, but I highly encourage learning a language like PowerShell or Python, which are going to be far more powerful should you ever move into a Systems Administration/Engineering role, or even implement application deployments/OS provisioning and things like that on a large scale.
These are going to be your best goddamn friends for the next few months:
https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/
/r/sysadmin
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0470249846/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1118289420/
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hh215959.aspx
These ones:
https://www.amazon.com/MCSA-Windows-Server-2016-3-Pack/dp/1509303669/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=mcsa+server+2016&qid=1564598295&s=gateway&sr=8-4
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Inside-Current-Service-dp-1509302484/dp/1509302484/ref=mt_paperback?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1549689994
As many other users have stated, it really sounds like you're dealing with a bunch of dinosaurs. For a guide on getting things right, I wholeheartedly recommend Jeremy Moskowitz's group policy book. http://www.amazon.com/Group-Policy-Fundamentals-Security-Managed/dp/1118289404 (you can get a taste on google books too)
Maybe if you're Michael Kevin Kearney you could.
I'm currently taking an MCSA course at college and it's abysmal. They're using Testout.com to teach and grade the class. Testout is garbage and there's no context to what I'm reading.
I bought an excellent book to supplement my studies: Mastering Windows Server 2012. I'm also using CBT Nuggets, Udemy, and Microsofts training website.
It's pretty deep stuff. I've never had exposure to servers before.
You're mileage may vary.
You're looking for step by step: Microsoft Visual C# 2013. I keep it on my desk at work. It's intermediate level, which means it assumes you know what programming is and you know what an IDE is, etc., and he does a fantastic job of holding your hand through the basic syntax before launching you off on the more difficult things. Highly recommended.
In that case...
You may want to wait for the 5th edition of UNIX and Linux System Administration, as it should release near the end of this year and they don't release new versions that often.
A good way to get started building a college library is to see what the curriculum for the school is and what books are required by professors. Often other colleges will list their book recommendations for the courses online to get an idea of where to start looking. (I know my school has an online bookstore that lists the books for each course and is open to the public)
At least one or two good books in each of those categories, to get a rough idea to start:
C, C++, Java, Python and Ruby are popular to start with
https://www.amazon.com/Advanced-Programming-UNIX-Environment-3rd/dp/0321637739
https://www.amazon.com/Programming-Paperback-Addison-Wesley-Microsoft-Technology/dp/0134382250
you already have a couple here
https://www.amazon.com/Artificial-Intelligence-Modern-Approach-3rd/dp/0136042597
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Part-architecture-management/dp/0735684189 (coming soon)
Edit: On second thought, pretty much every college teaches system programming on linux - so perhaps just the linux texts would be adequate for that.
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Part-Developer-Reference/dp/0735648735
There's a more recent version coming out for Windows 10, but you can get used copies of 6th edition for a low cost and if you're just interested in how Windows works you don't need the latest edition.
As annoying as it is (given Windows doesn't make this completely clear), he is right. If you or anyone else wants to know more about how Windows manages memory, I'd suggest getting this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0735684189/
I've not read it, but Windows Internals occasionally gets a mention. Now at 7th edition. There is a soon to be released part II.
I recently got this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Active-Directory-Designing-Deploying-Running/dp/1449320023
I was mostly looking at it for the sites and subnets things since that recently became something I had to learn about real quick, but overall I'm pretty happy with it.
If you want Windows server in general, you can't go wrong with the "mastering" series of books.
For powershell, I recommend the jump start series:
https://channel9.msdn.com/Series/GetStartedPowerShell3
That (and the toolmaking one that follows) are the best single resource I've seen so far.
I'm not sure why it's not running, but you should think about changing your if-elseif to a switch statement. Here is a link that will explain it more. In this script it won't make much of a difference, but eventually you will begin to do more things with Powershell, and it's better to start with good practices before making bad habits.
I recommend this book. I haven't read it, but I have heard many good reviews on it from many different people.
Hope that helps some, and enjoy Powershell. It will really assist you as an admin, and it is very powerful once you start to understand the basics of how to work with it.
And follow it up with Windows Internals (which apparently is now split across two books). The Petzold book and this book by Russinovich & Solomon are the two books you have to read to do Windows system programming.
http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617290211
I just ordered that, it is supposed to be pretty good.
Would Windows Cookbook work for you?
Yes, and http://www.amazon.com/Training-Installing-Configuring-Windows-Microsoft/dp/0735684332/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=164D4Y41GB3J385NFBX9
And went through CBT and some bloggs and labbed a little bit.
I got like a 640 needed 700
Powershell commands are a big one.
Agreed. My experience is on the Windows side of the house, and if I were you I'd go with a Win7 cert. This cert is probably the best one to shoot for first - it should be relatively easy for any first time learner. If you get a nice exam book (not necessarily promoting this one, I liked this series but others have complained, and it's a good place to start your search) you should be able to do well on the exam. Server-based exams would also help you on your way.
Other than that, give it your all in school, as many companies do keep an eye on your GPA.
There's always errors or obvious issues - if you know where to look, unfortunately there is no book that really gives you a chance to getting to the bottom of things... the biggest recommendation I can tell you is learning how Windows really works. For that, this book will tell you all you need to know, but it's VERY advanced and can cause headaches.... http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Part-Covering-Server/dp/0735648735/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368094717&sr=8-1&keywords=windows+internals
EDIT - This is part 1 of a 2 series which covers Windows 7 and Server 2008. Each edition of Windows has it's own copy (Windows 8 has not been written yet)
You need to stop messing with production right now.
Get this book or one similar and read the chapter on Group Policy. http://www.amazon.com/Self-Paced-Training-Configuring-Directory-Microsoft/dp/0735651930/
Then do it in test, then move that to production.
No all GPOs should not be linked to the DC OU.
In modern computing & when dealing with a domain, you're rarely going to touch the Registry much less consider fucking with it exception for very rare circumstances or if you're a very very very very big organization.
There are some books this book is usually the standard recommended that I've seen. Otherwise, you're using sites like these from the source. (I wish that site wasn't so hard to find.
I also recommend, judging by the comments, reading this may be helpful: https://darksim905.com/blog/index.php/2017/02/17/rsysadmin-frequently-asked-questions-an-ongoing-series/
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1118289420/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482264076&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=windows+server+2012+r2&dpPl=1&dpID=51na%2B3vL4cL&ref=plSrch
Get that, Microsoft's available virtual labs, and setup a virtual environment to lab changes in. Experience will end up being a great teacher.
Figure out what you want to standardize your documentation platform on, and implement that. Writing clear documentation will go a long way. There are Wordpress templates available, or cloud hosted documentation platforms. Just be aware you'll want something that can scale right from the start and is easy for everyone to use ( which means not Excel, Word, or OneNote).
Get the MS-Press 70-640 book. It's 17 chapters that cover all the high points of DCs, ADUC, DNS, sites, domains, trusts, certificates, auditing, roles etc. It has 2-4 exercises in each chapter so you do what it just described.
It's certainly not in depth and doesn't cover PowerShell or all the command line options that are necessary in more than a topical manner, but it'll do. If you plan on using this book to pass exam, definitely go beyond the labs with hands on practice. Also, get a second book, like Sybex to bone up on what practice tests say you lack.
I have just passed the Examination of 740 last January 31. With the study materials of CBT Nuggets videos, A book which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/MCSA-Windows-Server-2016-3-Pack/dp/1509303669/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519171770&sr=8-1&keywords=mcsa+2016
and some practice test and some Virtual Lab with CBT Nuggets also. And I can tell you, practice test aren't legit. I struggled for almost 30 to 40 mins while taking the exam. Thank God that I barely passed the exam with the score of 760/1k. The passing score is 700. Anyway, It's a good thing that practice test weren't that accurate. It's because you can really test your skills if you really know the course.
If you really want to learn about Windows malware then you need to understand Windows Internals, reverse engineering, x86 assembly, C++ at the very least.
Here are some books that cover some of this material:
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Malware-Analysis-Hands--Dissecting/dp/1593272901/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468521904&sr=8-1&keywords=practical+malware+analysis
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Part-Developer-Reference/dp/0735648735/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468522022&sr=8-2&keywords=Windows+Internals
https://www.amazon.com/Rootkit-Arsenal-Escape-Evasion-Corners/dp/144962636X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1468522149&sr=8-3&keywords=Rootkits
The books are old and somewhat outdated, but still relevant.
I got this one:
Exam Ref 70-740 Installation, Storage and Compute with Windows Server 2016 1st Edition
It goes trough basicly everything the exam wants you to know.
Depending on how far you want to go, I used to get the Mastering Windows server books. They are basicly a complete overview/guide of everything Windows Server has to offer. Mastering Windows Server 2016
Hey Chicagoan here as well. You're lucky to find a place that gives reimbursement for your SQL classes. I too looked for a long time around chicago to no avail. I pretty much just taught myself using the books online through amazon and the tutorials there as well. They worked well for me, and as with all things you only get out what you put into it.
http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Microsoft%C2%AE-SQL-Server%C2%AE-2008/dp/0735626030/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1372191271&sr=8-9&keywords=sql+server+2008
EDIT * - go hawks!
The only book you will need.
http://www.amazon.com/Active-Directory-Designing-Deploying-Running/dp/1449320023/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370956851&sr=8-1&keywords=active+directory
That's why I just pre-ordered the 2nd Edition of the 70-640 Microsoft Press book http://www.amazon.com/MCTS-Self-Paced-Training-Exam-70-640/dp/0735651930/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1310011109&sr=8-12
It's updated with R2 content. Have to wait until July 15 for its release though.
I just read the majority of this: Group Policy Fundamentals... - thought it was great. It filled in a lot of little gaps in knowledge I had.
Fair enough.
With that in mind, you may want to consider getting Exam Prep books to aid you. This isn't bad and you might want to check it out:
https://www.amazon.com/MCSA-70-410-Cert-Guide-Configuring/dp/0789748800/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=Exam+Prep+70-410&qid=1567121990&s=gateway&sr=8-2
Also, go through 70-411 content. That tends to supplement any gaps you may have noticed in the questioning.
Don't give up. You WILL ace that exam.
This is out of my league in terms of knowledge, as I don't know the way Unix security is implemented too well but I will say this, syncing Windows permissions to Unix will be easy, just group the write permissions into Windows into a write permission on Unix, the other way though is going to be considerably hard unless you start working with the Unix version of extended attributes, which I certainly don't know about.
For information on the Windows Security system, and how ACLs work, then the Windows Internals 6th Edition books will be your best bet, Mark Russinovich, David Solomon and Alex Ionescu practically know the OS inside and out and they are a great read for learning more about the insides of Windows. Security is in part 1 chapter 6 on page 509 or 487 depending on your reader, but it helps to read through both just in case there are some additional details listed elsewhere.
I've linked the books below on the US version of Amazon, if you are in a different country it should be available using the search box on their, additionally you can probably
Part 1: http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Edition-Developer-Reference/dp/0735648735/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405718207&sr=8-1&keywords=windows+internals+7th+edition
Part 2: http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Edition-Developer-Reference/dp/0735665877/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1405718207&sr=8-2&keywords=windows+internals+7th+edition
Additionally I think Russinovich has a public email that you can contact him on to discuss stuff if you like. Apologies that I couldn't help a bit more but like I said, the requirements are far beyond my scope of knowledge.
When I say exam guides I mean things like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/MCTS-Self-Paced-Training-Exam-70-680/dp/0735627088 as in the press kit type book.
I have to say though the only reason I probably find that easy is because I have extensive practical experience on the platforms I am taking the exams on. I also play about a hell of a lot in a virtual lab for features I've never played with.
This is what you are looking for
It introduces you to all concepts you need to learn under your first year(s) of programming with C#. It has great, easy-to-grasp instructions and every chapter ends with exercises that it walks you through. I went from a novice to comfortable with the language in ~3 months.
After this, you have to get your hands dirty. Google for "programming exercises" or something like that. The point is that you will learn 100 times more when you take on a task that you have to solve by using your brain.
I didn't really have problems with the Microsoft book - do you mean this one?
You may have better luck with us over at /r/IT_CERT_STUDY
I just typed the exam reference into amazon and bought the MS branded ones.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/70-740-Installation-Storage-Compute-Windows/dp/0735698821/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1539205545&sr=8-1&keywords=70-740
Check these pages https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-741.aspx for changes to exam, there is some stuff in the first? book that isn't on the exam anymore.
I read through the books once. Then I used itexams.com to look at old exam questions to get a feel of what I didn't know. Then skimmed through the book again. It only me about 3 days revision per exam.
EDIT: 3 long days!
Link is on Amazon.ca but same books
https://www.amazon.ca/70-740-Installation-Storage-Compute-Windows/dp/0735698821/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
MCSA Windows Server 2016 Exam Ref 3-Pack: Exams 70-740, 70-741, and 70-742 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1509303669/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1hbTBbX2QB1Q2
MCSA Windows Server 2016 Complete Study Guide: Exam 70-740, Exam 70-741, Exam 70-742 and Composite Upgrade Exam 70-743 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1119359147/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_slbTBb0HZ0XCV
I've been struggling with the same thing in my environment, so I'm not sure I can answer this question for you. That being said, I've been doing a fair bit of reading on best practices for this issue and from what I can tell the general consensus is "what works best for your environment".
I've been organizing users and computers into their own OUs by department. That may not work best for your environment though. You may need to do by physical location, both in the office, and nationally/internationally.
I've been architecting mine to best be able to use GPOs and GPPs. Again, you'll want to think about your final setup here. Are you going to have printers mapped by location? Are you having specific printers for specific users or groups? Do your users move between floors? Between sites?
These are questions I've been learning to ask when thinking about AD design. I've been reading The Practice of System and Network Administration and I can't recommend it enough. Another book I've been reading is Group Policy: Fundamentals, Security, and the Managed Desktop. The Group Policy book is a great resource and poses different scenarios out to help with organizing AD which I found particularly helpful.
As for those "migrated" users, you'll likely want to put them in the proper OUs, it sounds like there was a merge or something similar in this environment. It may be best to just start over and rebuild the domain, but that's a big if.
Look at the 70-410; 70-411; 70-412 Test reference guidebooks. It's for Server 2012R2.
70-410 Amazon Link
This will get you the knowledge to support 2012R2 & forward. Unless your company is big into containers on windows, not a ton of core functionality has changed since 2012R2.
https://www.amazon.com/MCSA-Windows-Server-2016-3-Pack/dp/1509303669/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541302016&sr=8-1&keywords=70-740&dpID=51xxOXuS%252BBL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch
​
These books are pretty good and you can get them cheaper on kindle. They're pretty good for a reference.
​
That and
Sorry for getting back so late, I've been out of the office and busy with audit stuff. Here's a link to the green MS book. https://www.amazon.com/70-410-Installing-Configuring-Windows-Server/dp/0735684243 Admittedly, I haven't taken that test or studied for it so I can't comment on that book specifically.
70-410 is a Server 2012 test and mainstream support has ended for that OS, but extended support is still planned through October 2023. I'm not sure if you're able, but I would consider a cert in Server 2016. Much of it is the same as 2012 but you'll be ahead of the curve with 2016. Although that might change your certification path too. Good luck either way
This was a big help for me getting into Powershell.
You're probably going to absolutely hate my advice, but I recommend you read these two books:
Windows Internals, Part 1 and Windows Internals, Part 2
They're very long books, and they can be very dry if you're not interested in them. But if you want one surefire way to learn driver development, it's to learn how the inner mechanisms work. When I first started trying to teach myself Linux driver development (which I feel is actually even easier than Windows), I noticed most of the tutorials I did pretty much went in one ear and out the other. I could write the drivers up and get them working with the tutorial, but I just didn't know what to do next. You'll probably retain maybe less than 25% of the material when you read both those books (probably around 1,300 pages). However, what you will retain is the breadth of knowledge.
When you start working with WDF, you probably won't know nearly anything required to develop your first real driver. What you will know after reading those books though is how to learn. Once you have the breadth to figure out what you don't know/remember, you can easily look it up and figure it out for yourself. If you don't know what you don't know, it's unlikely anyone (including online resources) will be able to help you.
I'm currently studying for my 70-740 and have my exam soon. I was given advice from other users on here and I can honestly say I've come a long way with the resources I used. I started studying on and off in September but I would say 3 solid months would be sufficient in a typical 'full-time work/family life' situation. You could smash it out earlier if you wanted to put in the time, but I personally found that going at a steady pace you will retain the information better. These are the resources I have been using:
CBT Nuggets - IMO this is probably the best resource I used. You sign up to a monthly subscription for $59 which you can cancel at any time (you also get a free week if you want to try it out). With this you get the full range of course videos by excellent trainers. I was able to retain a lot of information from their teaching methods. Very interesting stuff. You also have access to pre-built labs specific for each video and can follow along with the trainer. I'm more of a visual/hands-on learner so this was very beneficial. You also have access to mini quizzes and the Kaplan practice test. Personally I found the test slightly off-topic in some areas and the question styles don't match Microsofts, however it's still useful to benchmark yourself and identify weak areas.
https://www.cbtnuggets.com/it-training/microsoft-windows-server-2016-70-740-installation-storage-and-compute
EdX Notes - I started off with this. It's basically a collection of notes directly from Microsoft giving you all the information you need to know for the Server 2016 exams. If you go to their website and search for Server 2016, there are around 30 different sections you can use, however for the 70-740 exam I would only focus on Infrastructure, Virtualization and Basic/Advanced Storage. Other course notes such as Networking or Directory services can be used for later exams.
https://www.edx.org/course?search_query=server+2016
70-740 Exam Ref by Craig Zacker - Very in-depth which covers all the objectives in the exam. I felt it was necessary to add a bit of extra theory to the videos. The book is fairly cheap off Amazon and goes into a little more detail on certain objectives that may have been missed in CBT Nuggets. I find that a combination of books/videos helps.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/70-740-Installation-Storage-Compute-Windows/dp/0735698821/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1550575563&sr=8-2&keywords=70-740
Microsoft Docs - Invaluable resource. Their documents cover everything up to date in the current Server 2016 world. If I was ever unsure about anything I would go here and read up on it. For example, a quick google search 'Failover Cluster MS Docs' would take me straight to where I wanted to be and I could go over the areas I was weaker in.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/failover-clustering/failover-clustering-overview
MeasureUp Practice Tests - I always use MeasureUp for all of my exams. It's a great resource for testing yourself towards the end of your studies. Their tests are customisable and they give detailed responses to both correct and incorrect answers, so you can actually see why something might be different to what you answered. Recommended by MS and included in their exam bundles.
https://www.measureup.com/
There are other resources but this is just what I used. You can also create your own server labs at home and play around with the stuff if you're new to Windows Server, however I didn't do that just because of my current home setup and where I work uses the technologies anyway. CBT Nugget labs were enough for me. But if you're not experienced with servers then some form of labbing or practical content is a must.
Last point - do not rely on practice tests 100%. MS keeps changing their objectives and not all the tests are up to date. Use them to get use to 'Microsoft style questions' and fill in any gaps you are unsure about.
My test is on Tuesday. I'll let you know how I get on.
I'm not too sure if this is the sort of answer you're looking for because it appears that you are pretty new to all this but...
If you read these books, then you will know everything you need (ranked by reward to required effort ratio):
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Malware-Analysis-Hands-Dissecting/dp/1593272901
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Reverse-Engineering-Reversing-Obfuscation/dp/1118787315
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Part-architecture-management/dp/0735684189
However, the books might be pretty difficult to understand with how much you currently know.
You absolutely MUST read these books:
1 - Microsoft SQL Server 2012 T-SQL Fundamentals
2 - Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2008 T-SQL Querying
Happy learnig!
My apologies if it seems like I was jumping down your throat about these things - I do think that you should spend some time with AD in a testing environment, and studing the specifics of AD (Try the 70-640 study material if you are going 2008 http://www.amazon.com/Self-Paced-Training-Configuring-Directory-Microsoft/dp/0735651930/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422558588&sr=8-1&keywords=70-640).
It is definitely an important topic for you to learn about - just be aware that this is an intermediate to advanced topic that needs to be handled appropriately and not in a "learn as you go" sort of way.
To understand Windows OS, check out Windows Internals Part 1 and Part 2 books: http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Internals-Part-Developer-Reference/dp/0735648735
I know that literally noone wants a career removing malware, my org uses SCCM Endpoint and that's basically all I do now : /.
But
You can remove 97%+ of all malware manually and quickly with a bit of intelligence and the techniques decribed in this video.
Video is TechEd talk with Mark Russinovich who quite literally wrote the book on how Windows works and discovered the Sony Rootkit. He also developed these tools mostly himself (now owned by Microsoft).
Give this a shot...
http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420
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.
I'm going for the 2016 version, but this is the same company I used for my 2016 books. They were quite helpful along with setting up a test lab..
https://www.amazon.com/70-410-Installing-Configuring-Windows-Server/dp/0735684243/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1520535651&sr=8-3&keywords=mcsa+windows+server+2012+r2
From recent experience I advise the Pearson book for the 70-410:
http://www.amazon.com/MCSA-70-410-Cert-Guide-Configuring/dp/0789748800
And the MS Press ref guide for 70-411:
http://www.amazon.com/Exam-70-411-Administering-Windows-Server/dp/0735684790/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452740697&sr=1-2&keywords=70-411
This is the book I'm currently using for my MCSA 70-410 exam. The book itself is fantastic. The only downfall is that the series got cancelled after this book because of a fallout between the author and the publisher. Highly recommend this as a starter.
MCSA 70-410 Cert Guide R2: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 (Cert Guides) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0789748800/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_AvZHwb1P2SKVM
Props to you! I've been reading through the Windows Powershell Cookbook: http://www.amazon.com/Windows-PowerShell-Cookbook-Scripting-Microsofts/dp/0596801505, but this looks much more manageable.
Not a website, but: Windows Internals, Part 1: Covering Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7
Wow, you are really digging deep, mate. I only have this book and the Udemy course.
I also have a few years of experience in System Administration as well. I will see how I will do in the 70-410 exam.
> Querying T-SQL by Ben-Gan or any of his other books.
So say, this one?
https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Microsoft-Querying-Developer-Reference/dp/0735626030/ref=la_B001IGQENW_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506320525&sr=1-10
A+ and Net+ and all the other +-certs are entry level. CCNA is entry level, and 70-680 is entry level.
Something to consider is that everyone has certs these days, so the certs you get must make you better than "everyone".
For example, CCNP is a rather high-end cert. You don't see a lot of CVs with this on, because people with this cert only need a Linkedin page, and the offers will come in endless streams.
MCSE is absolutely good to have if you want to go anywhere in a Microsoft environment, though Microsoft doesn't really do high-end certs anymore, so the only thing you can really aim for with an MCSE is an MVP award, but that does take some serious effort.
WCNA is worth some brownie points in the right places.
You should also supplement certs with in-depth knowledge, and recommended practices, for example,
I can't really help much with regards to Linux though. It's not really my area.
The W10 kernel is proprietary, afaik there aren't any infographics that explain how it or its subsystems work.
There is a Microsoft Press book for developers that may provide some help though it does make a point to mention that Internals are subject to change without notice. The book is called Windows Internals, and the latest version, 7th Edition (Part 1) has a section on the I/O subsystem. [Amazon Link]
This really isn't a linux question though.
Windows Server 2012 Unleashed was good the 2016 version should be out soonish: https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-2012-Unleashed-Morimoto/dp/0672336227
Mastering Windows Server 2012r2 is good, make sure you check for corrections because there are some scripting issues in the original printing: https://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Windows-Server-2012-R2/dp/1118289420/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1479226853&sr=8-2&keywords=server+2012r2
Windows Server 2012 R2 Administrator Cookbook is good, but not really a beginners book: https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-2012-Administrator-Cookbook/dp/178439307X/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1479226852&sr=8-12&keywords=windows+server
I recently took (and failed) 70-417, the upgrade exam which combines 70-410, 70-411, and 70-412. I studied all three courses as prep for 70-417 as although it only covers a subset of each course you can be examined on any area.
By far the best book I've come across for 2012 is Mastering Windows Server 2012 R2 by Minasi et al. It's not geared specifically towards the exams, you'll need to pick out the objectives. It's eminently readable but at 1670 pages will take a while to get through.
Assuming the Exam Ref books for the individual courses are similar to the 70-417 Exam Ref book, as an overview of the objectives they'll be fine but they don't go deep enough.
If you're after videos, I wasn't that impressed with 70-410 or 70-411 content on PluralSight but there are now two 70-412 courses: a retired course by Mike Hammond and a new course updated for the R2 content by Greg Shields and I thought both were excellent.
Read this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617290211
I just started working toward getting certified for server 2008 by starting to work through this book. http://www.amazon.com/Self-Paced-Training-Kit-Exam-70-640/dp/0735651930/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348581912&sr=1-1&keywords=978-0-7356-5193-7
I got half way through the book and noticed you will be unable to earn the MCITP certification for Server 2008 on July 31, 2013.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcitp.aspx#tab2
I doubt what I have learned so far will be deemed "out of date" so no harm done but what should I do now? Should I work on getting my MSE for Server 2012. It looks like the certificate was just released and training material is sparse. I have yet to find the Server 2012 Training Kit from Microsoft Press yet. Should I go ahead and work the 2008 training kit books (most of the knowledge should transfer) then when the training kit is released for 2012 is released I can work those books and take the Exam's for 2012?
Thank you.
It's 1100 pages long because the A+'s scope is incredibly wide. You have to be comfortable with all of the objectives, which encompasses roughly every hardware component you would see in a lot of legacy and modern computers and multiple Operating systems and diagnostic tools. Sometimes yeah, he goes into a bit too much detail for the exam itself, but the knowledge is important. For example, his detailing on how the CPU pulls from RAM is a bit over the scope of the exam. But you'll get a better understanding of why he's telling you this as you get further into the field. Plus, knowing so much detail about every little bit of information will make it very, very difficult for you get to questions on the exam you're unfamiliar with.
And as a fair warning if you're planning to make it much further into IT, get ready for a lot more reading and a lot of it will probably be just as much of a slog. One of the fundamental Group Policy Object books is about 900 pages alone.
Which book? I found solid information in this one, but honestly the free video series online did more for my prep. In addition to professor messer there are a couple solid courses on YouTube.
I have also been preparing for the MCSA. I've been reading this book and think it's pretty good.
This is a great HV book - http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1118486498/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?SubscriptionId=AKIAIJ5WNI7ZSH7W4OXA&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1118486498&linkCode=xm2&tag=afm0c-20
Windows PowerShell Cookbook: The Complete Guide to Scripting Microsoft's New Command Shell
http://amzn.com/0596801505
Here is your best bet:
https://www.amazon.com/Windows-Server-Inside-Current-Service/dp/1509302484/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?keywords=server+2016&qid=1565742949&s=gateway&sr=8-8
Also if you want to become good server admin learn Powershell early and learn it well. Build many core servers and learn to set them up only using command line and power shell.
https://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617294160/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=powershell+in+a+month+of+lunches&qid=1565743055&s=gateway&sprefix=powershell+in+&sr=8-1
Congrats on the new gig
Did you base your studying around the exam objectives? https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-410.aspx
In my experience with MS exams they will stick to the objectives they outline. The kicker of course, is that you have to be prepared to answer the MS way. I'd highly recommend buying their study material so that you can get an idea of the way they expect you to answer.
https://www.amazon.com/Training-Installing-Configuring-Windows-Microsoft/dp/0735684332/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=70-410&qid=1567086196&s=gateway&sr=8-8
https://www.amazon.com/70-410-Installing-Configuring-Windows-Server/dp/0735684243/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=70-410&qid=1567086285&s=gateway&sr=8-7
The Microsoft sponsored books are good for complete beginners. Couple this with a Hyper-V lab at home to get hands on experience and the Exam prep book.
Books to recommend:
Exam Ref 70-740 Installation, Storage and Compute with Windows Server 2016
Published: January 2017
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/exam-ref-70-740-installation-storage-and-compute-with-windows-server-2016-craig-zacker/1124816630?ean=9780735698826
or
https://www.amazon.com/70-740-Installation-Storage-Compute-Windows/dp/0735698821/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496963816&sr=8-1&keywords=0735698821
Your definition of 'heavily using' a core may not agree with Microsoft's. As I mentioned, x86-Land has long used time-sharing on a single core to get multiple threads processed "at the same time". My understanding of newer Windows (the ones SMP-aware) is that the kernel has an 'affinity' for using the same core or two for as much work as possible. I don't dispute your assertion that an under-utilized core will pick up a new thread over a 'busier' one but I think if you were to put the ole microscope to what's going on you'll find that Core 0 may be operating 75% of the threads (as they are mostly kernel processes); Core 1 may be running 20% and the other 2 running what's left.
I used to work as a Microsoft Partner so a lot of my info comes from TechNet but also from well-respected sources such as AnandTech.com and Tomshardware.com. The deep down kernel type stuff comes from Mark Russinovich who founded Sysinternals (and the series of tools that bear that name) and has written a few books about how Windows works. He's one of the few people that know more about Windows than the people who actually wrote it.
I agree with your original point but throwing up a comment like that here is just asking for the fanbois on both sides to start foaming at the mouth.
It sounds like your company isn't that big, so when you do break everybody's machine by futzing around with group policy the recovery should be quick. If you'd like to avoid that (valuable) learning experience, I suggest reading this book: http://www.amazon.com/Self-Paced-Training-Kit-Exam-70-640/dp/0735651930
If you're in a hurry you can skip to the sections on group policy processing.