exchangesummit.net Information

Windows® 2008 SP2 Failover Clustering for Highly Available File Services - Advanced Training Lab Exercise Video

2009-09-06T15:53:00Z

I shared in a previous blog about creating 'Advanced Lab Exercise Training Videos' for fellow Systems Engineers...since launching exchangesummit.net, we have received an overwhelming response! Check out our latest product!

Windows® 2008 SP2 Failover Clustering for Highly Available File Services - Learn Advanced IT!!!

- Detailed course syllabus at exchangesummit.net along with 'free sample video' as well. -

In this lab, a 2-Node Cluster is Installed, Configured, Modified and Monitored using 17 Tasks. These Tasks include use of System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 for Alerting, Monitoring and Reporting on the Highly Available File Services made available in these exercises. The Module Contents include 1) Course Syllabus, 2) Logical Diagram of the Virtualized Lab Environment and 3) 17 Tasks (separate Video Lessons) that make available the Highly Available File Services on a 2 Node Windows 2008 SP2 Failover Cluster.

Add the Cluster Node Computer Accounts to the Active Directory Domain using Active Directory Users and Computers
Join Cluster Node 1 and Cluster Node 2 to the Active Directory Domain using Active Directory Users and Computers
Modify the Public and Private Network Interface Card
(NIC) Configuration for Failover Clustering using the Network and Sharing Center
Deploy the System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 Agent to both Cluster Nodes
Configure both Cluster Nodes for Storage using the Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
Add the Failover Clustering Feature on Cluster Node 1 using Server Manager
Validate Cluster Node 1 of 2 using the Failover Cluster Management Validation Process
Create Cluster Node 1 of 2 using the Failover Cluster Management Create Cluster Process
Add the Failover Clustering Feature, Validate Cluster Node and Create Cluster Node 2 of 2
using the Failover Cluster Management Console
Use the 'cluster.exe' Commands to Validate the Cluster Configuration from an Administrative Command Prompt
Create a Highly Available File Server Configuration using the Failover Cluster Management Console
Review the Client Experience when Moving File Services from Node to Node from a Windows 7 Enterprise Client Workstation
Use the Failover Cluster Management Console for Cluster Node Maintenance
Configure Preferred Ownership and associated Failover Recovery Options using the Failover Cluster Management Console
Monitor a Failover Cluster File Server using System Center Operations Manager 2007 SP1 Console
Patch a Failover Cluster File Server Configuration using Microsoft Update and the Failover Cluster Management Console
Review the Online Resources available through the IT Pro Secure Corporation Blog Site and RSS Feed

Lynn Lunik
Independent Security Consultant
Windows(R) Platform
IT Pro Secure Corporation
and
exchangesummit.net
http://itprosecure.com and http://www.exchangesummit.net
blog <at> itprosecure.com

Forefront® Client Security SP1 Single Server Topology on Windows 2008 - Advanced Training Lab Exercise Video

2009-09-06T13:57:00Z

If you are interested in 'Learning Advanced IT' , my training videos review in detail relevant Services provided by Core Windows components . For example, our 'Forefront® Client Security SP1 Single Server Topology on Windows 2008' is an Advanced Training Lab Exercise Video . This Training Material is summarized (from the Detailed Description ) as follows: The 'Forefront Client Security SP1 Server' is configured initially using Installation, Configuration and Administration...(read more)

Announcing the exchangesummit.net Web Site!

2009-07-26T14:05:00Z

Over the past several months we have been working 'after hours' to envision and create a web site to offer advanced IT Training materials. The objective is high quality 'advanced' video training materials for fellow System Engineers who (like myself) may struggle (due to ongoing Consulting Engagements and Corporate Projects) to attend Offsite Training Events. IT Pro Secure Corporation is pleased to offer fellow System Engineers and System Architects such 'advanced training'. Not introductory or slide material but serious, detailed, Command Line and/or Server Console training. Virtualized. Focused. High Quality. Period.

Our new web site, titled exchangesummit.net is now available!

We've selected the Windows Media Format (WMV) to create these videos and use a lightweight Decryption Client (called the exchangesummit.net Decryption Client) to dynamically decrypt the Windows Media files on the fly (the Decryption Client can be downloaded after your Purchase). The Sample Excerpt Videos available on exchangesummit.net do not use the Decryption Client, but instead are available for access 'free of charge' for individuals who have interest in understanding the content in the Module Lessons from our Product Catalog.

So, what types of materials are we offering?

If you take a look at our Product Catalog you will find several videos of interest:

Sample Excerpt Videos at No Charge - (You may view them on our website using Microsoft Silverlight.)

Module Lessons for Purchase

*Over the next weeks and months you will find additional Module Lessons for purchase*

Looks like good materials but I am interested in 'XXXXX' of 'YYYYY' that are part of the Windows Core Infrastructure Services - what about offering materials on this topic?

It is my intention to cover a number of the Windows Core Infrastructure Services with Module Lessons. I will generate these Module Lessons one at a time over the coming weeks and months. Topics of interest (per Feedback and the obvious need in the marketplace) include:

Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering
Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Group Policy Object (GPO) Administration for Windows Vista, Windows 2008 Server and Windows 7
Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Rights Management Services including Exchange 2007 Integration
Exchange 2007 Messaging Integration into an Existing Exchange 2003 Organization
System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 Configuration for Operational Monitoring of a Corporate Network and DMZ Network Targets
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Public Key Infrastructure for a Corporate Network
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Configuration for Mixed Mode and Native Mode Client Support

I like the topics you are considering, how do I validate the Module Lesson content is 'advanced'?

Several ways:

Review the Blog entries found on this Blog Site.

Review the Sample Excerpt Video found on the exchangesummit.net Web Site for Forefront Client Security SP1 Single Server Topology on Windows 2008.

Drop me a line by e-mail with questions - blog <at> itprosecure.com.

How much of your Module Lesson material is recorded from the Server Console or Command Line?

Over 75% of the material is recorded at the Server Console or Command Line. This advanced Training material is different in several aspects. First, I build everything from the ground up. Second, once built, I show you how to configure, optimize and secure the configurations in detail. Third, I use proven techniques from Microsoft and real life experience. Fourth, you have the ability to follow along in your Virtualized Lab environment and build what I built step by step. Fifth, we begin each Lesson with the shared assumption you understand 'what' we are discussing (I don't introduce it to you with Slides) and then I show you 'how' to configure it in detail. Totally different than my experiences with most Training formats.

I'm interested, do you offer any type of purchase discount?

As part of introducing these new Module Lessons to fellow Windows Platform System Engineers and System Architects I would like to offer a limited time (through 9-1-2009) Discount Code for individuals interested in purchasing the Module Lesson titled 'Forefront Client Security SP1 Single Server Topology on Windows 2008'. The Discount Code is:

ITPS-777

This Discount Code offers $100 off the Purchase Price for this individual Module Lesson.

Finally, here is a Sample Exerpt Video for your review. This Video will allow you to see my style throughout the 18 Lessons that comprise this single Module. Additionally, as I create more Modules my hope is to continue to improve in how the materials are presented with a focus on time at the Server Console being the priority. This is from the Module Lesson titled 'Forefront Client Security SP1 Single Server Topology on Windows 2008' and is an excerpt from Lesson 11 (excerpt 7 Minutes 20 Seconds of a 1 Hour 11 Minute Lesson).

Sample Video - Module 7-407 Lesson 11 - Excerpt 1

This excerpt from Lesson 11 (of 17 Lessons) includes Video Material focused on review of the Windows 2008 Active Directory Group Policy Objects for Hardening Services and Registry Entries for the Forefront Client Security SP1 Agent. Use of several User IDs are used for Login based on unique User Context. The review includes Logging into Vista Enterprise SP2 as a ‘Local Administrator’ and being unable to modify Service or Registry Values for Forefront Client Security SP1 Agent on the Local Workstation based upon Group Policy Object (GPO) Settings in Windows 2008 Active Directory.

00:07:20 Minute Excerpt Sample of a 01:11:

Note: Double Click on the Video image during playback for 'Full Screen' viewing!

Thank you for reviewing this material on exchangesummit.net. I appreciate the opportunity to make these Video materials available to fellow Windows System Engineers and System Architects and hope you will find them of value!

Lynn Lunik
Independent Security Consultant
Windows(R) Platform
IT Pro Secure Corporation
and
exchangesummit.net
http://itprosecure.com and http://www.exchangesummit.net
blog <at> itprosecure.com