windows server 2008 resources recommendation

wijcc · 9 Nov 2009 at 17:02

Hey all, Can anyone recommend me good windows server 2008 resource or book(s) to learn about server 2008. I have experience of running server 2003 at my current workplace which is a small business. I am wanting to learn all about server 2008, inside and out.. which will hopefully help me to get another job elsewhere at a larger company.
Thanks in advance guys

Sin_Chase · 9 Nov 2009 at 18:15

Get it, put it on a virtual machine, learn.

Books will only get you so far. Sorry to be blunt but having read a book will not help you get a job.

wijcc · 9 Nov 2009 at 18:20

I intend on doing, i will install and play with it on a old machine.. but I need something as a guide and where i can learn more advanced things than just installing.

Sin_Chase · 9 Nov 2009 at 18:32

Best way is to play and check out stuff online. Theres a tonne of guides/white papers and info to be had.

I would recommend mirroring your 2003 setup in 2008, would be a great way to get the "base" knowledge out of the way which to be honest, is most of the leg work.

You should invest some time in Exchange 2007 also as this is a huge change over what you might be used to in 2003.

Skidilliplop · 16 Nov 2009 at 15:21

wijcc said:
Hey all, Can anyone recommend me good windows server 2008 resource or book(s) to learn about server 2008. I have experience of running server 2003 at my current workplace which is a small business. I am wanting to learn all about server 2008, inside and out.. which will hopefully help me to get another job elsewhere at a larger company.
Thanks in advance guys

Don't assume more experience in more things will get you places in a bigger company. Often it works the other way. Smaller businesses with small IT departments want a jack of all trades that can multi role. Most larger companies (talking 2500+ employees here) will have quite sizable IT departments and you'll tend to have people doing specialist jobs. I.e they will have one guy that does nothing but look after SQL, another for AD another guy creating and disabling accounts all day, another doing swithcing and routing, someone else doing VPN and security and someone solely monitoring and maintaining backups and DR. In this scenario it's no good being a jack of all trades, master of none. They will be looking to create their own guild of master craftsman at that level because of the business cost resting on thier systems.

wijcc · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:25

i realise that in smaller company that they want a jack of all trades.. as that is what i am currently doing. I'd like to more on, onto bigger things and a bigger pay packet after working at this company for over 8 years

Lanz · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:44

Best thing to do when learning 2008(R2) is to go through each of the server rolls, install them and get them working. There's so many guides online for doing everything, they are much better than books. You wont really learn anything going through books, as they are all mainly for reference.

Even a Win2008 course wont give you much of an insight, you really have to just use the package and familarise yourself with it and every roll.

Skidilliplop · 16 Nov 2009 at 16:51

with 8 years experience in lots of things, you should have no trouble picking one that's in demand and pushing that forward.
It's kind of happening by accident with me, after 5 years of general system admin, architect, analyst helpdesk, telecoms, does everything guy i've kinda found a niche in networking, which has spanned a little bit into telecoms and SANs now. So those are the areas i enjoy and will be pushing forward.
As far as windows networking and it's related subjects go, there's not much beyond MCSE level that doesn't involve getting a bit specialised.

I wouldn't advise getting all your eggs in one basket, that would be silly. But two or 3 strong areas rather than trying to do everything would be worth it as by the sounds of it you already have a firm foundation on branch off.