Active Directory.

BoomAM · 24 Jan 2007 at 00:03

Hi.
Can anyone point me in the direction of a quick guide, or normal guide, to active directory on Server2K3?
Im startin a new job in a bit, and as im only familier with RM stuff atm, i thought it best to learn more than i do about AD before i start the job.

Thanks in advance all.

##EDIT##
Oh, and guides to norton ghost.

I got the impression from the lingo the interviewer was using that ghost was being used to image the stations.
Thanks again.

BoomAM · 24 Jan 2007 at 00:33

oddjob62 said:
You're best off downloading VMWare, a copy of Windows 2003 Server (trials available on the MS site), and setting up a test server. Then going though a couple of tutorials on the web (www.petri.co.il has a few good ones).

Thats a good link. Thanks.
Where on the MS site are the trials, i cant find any?

Also, are the 'Dummies' books for 2K3 & AD worth a look?

BoomAM · 24 Jan 2007 at 00:59

oddjob62 said:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/trial/default.mspx

Thanks.
Do you think its worth getting the pre-virtualised version off there, or a normal version?

Im considering setting up an older server that isnt in use with one of the trial versions, then networking it with some old stations, like a 3-4 machine mini network to play around with and test things with. Worth doing do you think?

Not planning on the MSCE stuff tbh. But good to know for future reference.
Thanks.

BoomAM · 24 Jan 2007 at 10:47

Which trial version should i go for, Enterprise or R2? (difference?).
Might see if i can find some of those books today in a local shop, see what they're like.

BoomAM · 24 Jan 2007 at 12:45

lol.
I'll download R2 and burn it this afternoon then.

Does Server2K3 have a management console? As ive heard that the management console that ive been using for the last few years with RM, is just a rebranded MS app. Is that true? If so, i take it that its near identical apart from the branding?

BoomAM · 25 Jan 2007 at 12:15

Is there anything like a 'master' console?
On RM servers, there was a management console that allowed things like printers, users, computers to be managed, added, removed, edited, ect; from this one management GUI.

BoomAM · 30 Jan 2007 at 17:14

Was clearing out all the rubbish in the server room today, and found a MS Server 2003 guide book. V.thick as well. So i should be alright with that i think.

BoomAM · 31 Jan 2007 at 16:19

Hmm. First problem.
Some stations are 'forgetting' the printers allocated for them for the students. Any ideas why? (they can still manually print to a printer in the directory, but must do this each time).

BoomAM · 1 Feb 2007 at 09:09

oddjob62 said:
Not sure what you mean.

You map a printer (is this manually or by script?) it works fine then next time the student logs on it's gone. Is that correct?

Using mandatory profiles?

Basically each station, as i understand the existing setup, on the network has been allocated specific printers, usually by room. A few computers in one room, keeps losing whats allocated to it. But, they(users) can see the printers, if they manually add the printer each time.
Ordinarily, i'd go to the management console and sort it all out from there, but unfortunatelly, management console seems to be an RM thing.

Dingleberry88 said:
List of Ghost switches:

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/ghost.nsf/pfdocs/1998082612540625

Could come in useful.

Thanks.

BoomAM · 1 Feb 2007 at 17:45

afraser2k said:
I recommend "Mastering Active Directory for Windows Server 2003" by Robert R. King (publishers are Sybek). Was a very good book from what I've read so far and doesn't treat you like an idiot. It helped me a whole lot more than the Internet guides I found.

My usual book source lists it as out of print? :confused:

BoomAM · 1 Feb 2007 at 19:21

Cool.
I'll have a look at that book in the morning then, see if i can find a supplier and then get work to order it for me!

BoomAM · 2 Feb 2007 at 11:03

Can anyone recommend some good window server forums?

BoomAM · 3 Feb 2007 at 16:50

bitslice said:
NTSYSADMIN etc
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/community.cfm

others
http://www.myitforum.com/lists/

.

Thanks for the links.

But they both appear to be a newsletter or a newsgroup, and not a forum in the sence that OCUK is a forum. Unless im missing something? :confused:

BoomAM · 5 Feb 2007 at 12:42

bitslice said:
yep, true, they are both mailing lists

but some top US admins live on NTSYSADMIN,
so if you post a difficult question on there you'll get a correct answer
with the first reply (and the 2nd, 3rd etc.)

as opposed to this place, where you really need to recheck your thread two days later,
instead of going with the first reply

.

So how exactely does it all work? As i cant see any specific way to 'register'.

kip02 said:
Booooooooo RM! Nah only joking!

For my apprenticeship i worked in a school as a techie for a bit, then got a job.
I miss the RM console it made things so easy
I remember when i got my current job and i seen Active Directory for the first time, actually working not just in books etc. i was a bit puzzled but its basicly the same just need to get your head around it.

Now i was no expert at the console as i didn't use it for very long or extensivly, just add printers, build machines, add users etc. but it was just a web front end for AD.
The way it seemed to me that the console was made for people that did not have a great deal of knowledge of servers that most people could manage if shown how. (Don't take it the wrong way, i don't mean it , give me it back!)

If you have any questions on what features are simular and present in AD and RM console, i'll try to help if i can but do have limited knowledge in both.

Allocating printers to rooms/computers?

BoomAM · 5 Feb 2007 at 17:01

bitslice said:
click the "subscribe" button for each link, and either fill in your email details,
or send the email it generates on your behalf

the mailing lists are automated, so a bot will send you a confirmation email with details on how it works, how to unsubscribe, what address to post questions to etc. (keep this 1st email safe, you'll need it later)

you'll start getting copies of every email that's sent to the list,
so I'd use a gmail account for setting this up initially, as some lists have a lot of traffic.

.

I dont quite understand.
-How do i post messages/replys.
-Why would i get email for topics that arnt ones i subscribed to?
-Why is it so archaic.
-Are there any proper forums around?

BoomAM · 5 Feb 2007 at 19:31

bitslice said:
1. by email, sent to the "list" posting address, it'll be explained in the list reply

2. yes you'll get every email sent to the list, but then you'll also learn about real life IT problems (they assume members know how to filter email)

3. it's because they are so L33T
(but really it's just more bandwidth friendly to the host server)

4. do you want free IT advice from US admins/hackers,
who get paid $150K just for getting out of bed ?

....or do you want animated smilies and your choice of avatar ?

.

Good point.

I think i'll wait till tomorrow, and then sign it upto my work email account rarther than my gmail one.
I'll probably be posting back in the morning asking more questions!

BoomAM · 6 Feb 2007 at 11:31

bitslice said:
umm, posting to a public forum with a work account may not be ideal,
I think the posts may be archived online, so a post might get get your email havested by a spam bot.

I have it going to my work account too,
but if I'm posting, I sign up a spare gmail account to the list and just use that account to post from.

.

Might setup a second gmail account then.
Its a shame that gmail doesnt allow folders on the web interface.

If you dont mind me asking, do you have it going to a second gmail account, or your primary?

BoomAM · 6 Feb 2007 at 17:01

bitslice said:
yep, I'm not sure why they thought the star/label thing was a good idea, tis a PITA tbh
I just use it as storage and download all the email into Outlook when I get home.

"primary/secondary" ?
I've got about 10 gmail accounts, so I'm not sure what you mean, sorry.

.

lol.
I might setup a work email account exclusivly for that usage then, ive got a lot of un-used invites to use. :-p

Just need to wait for MS to stop faffing so i can get access to the volume licencing website, which will in turn allow me to access a CD key for Office07, and hence, Outlook07.

BoomAM · 7 Feb 2007 at 12:37

Right, ive setup a gmail account just for this job.
What 'lists' do you recommend me subscribing to?

BoomAM · 7 Feb 2007 at 13:06

Odd.
Ive subscribed to it. Got the activation email. Then another saying 'thanks for joining'. But there is no way that i can see at all, either in the emails or on the website that allows me to post questions or view anything! :confused:

##EDIT##
Sorted, i think.
Managed to get access to Lyris manager for my account, it allows me to view the forums ive subscribed to in a more traditional manor. Ive posted a message with my query there. I take it thats correct?