COURSE NAME: Server+ BootCamp(4015)

Course length: 5 days

Overview:

The Server+ Certification course builds on your existing mid- to upper-level knowledge and experience with personal computer operating systems and networks to validate advanced skills and concepts that you will use on the job in dealing with server technologies. If you are pursuing a CompTIA technical certification path, the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certifications are excellent first steps to take before preparing for the CompTIA Server+ certification.

Prerequesite Courses:

• A+ Hardware (4010) or equivalent knowledge
• A+ Operating Systems (4010) or equivalent knowledge
• Network+ (4011) or equivalent knowledge

Performance-based Objectives:

• Explain various motherboard buses and describe how clock frequency affects performance; identify common server processors and various types of memory; and configure the BIOS and identify common server configuration items.
  
• Optimize server placement and diagram server plans; plan the server environment and physical site readiness; and implement sound physical server security practices.
  
• Prepare for a server upgrade, verify availability of system resources, and adequately test and pilot the server upgrade; upgrade the processor and memory; and upgrade the BIOS, power supply, UPS, and adapters.
  
• Discuss general network operating system (NOS) characteristics and versions, list NOS hardware requirements, and perform NOS installations and upgrades; and identify the major NOS characteristics and versions, list hardware requirements, perform an installation and a proper shutdown of each NOS.
  
• Identify and understand major network operating system services; discuss other NOS services such as e-mail, Web, FTP, and fax; and discuss the different ways that servers run network applications and specify the functions of the server as a network device, router, and firewall.
  
• Describe the primary types of hardware used to back up critical data; discuss the primary types of software used to back up critical data, and the strategies to their use; describe the need for high server availability/redundancy, and identify key areas for SNMP monitoring; and determine key server management and disaster recovery strategies for preserving system uptime.
  
• Effectively use performance monitoring tools; establish a baseline; and recognize acceptable and unacceptable performance thresholds, and provide solutions to performance bottlenecks.

Course content:

Unit 1: Motherboard architecture, processors, memory, and BIOS
Motherboard architecture
Processors
Memory
CMOS, BIOS, and POST

Unit 2: Storage
Hard disks
The IDE interface
The SCSI interface
SCSI configuration
Network storage
RAID

Unit 3: Server planning
Planning physical site readiness
Disaster planning

Unit 4: Server power and rack installation
Server power
The rack
Network cabling

Unit 5: Server upgrades
Preparing for a server upgrade
Upgrading the processor and memory
Topic C: Updating the BIOS, upgrading power supplies and adapters

Unit 6: Configuring a network operating system
General NOS configuration concepts
Novell NetWare
UNIX/Linux
Windows NT Server
Windows 2000 and Server 2003

Unit 7: Services and applications
DHCP, DNS, and WINS
Other services
Application servers

Unit 8: Disaster planning
Backup hardware
Backup software and strategies
Server redundancy and other disaster precautions
Developing a disaster recovery plan

Unit 9: Performance monitoring and optimization
Monitoring the server
Establishing a baseline
Acceptable levels of performance

Unit 10: Troubleshooting and problem determination
Troubleshooting
Diagnostic tools
Working remotely
Troubleshooting viruses and FRUs
Troubleshooting tips and getting help