Learn Windows Server Fundamentals

Windows Server is a powerful operating system designed to manage and maintain complex networks, applications, and data storage in enterprise environments. As a foundational technology for many organizations, learning Windows Server is crucial for IT professionals looking to advance their careers.

Everyone wants to make a career in the best possible way, and certifications are undoubtedly one such way. The biggest questions for individuals are where to start and whether they will be able to do it.

So all those confused with Windows Server Administration Fundamentals can follow the below sections to get an idea about the training and certification courses so that they can start with a solid mindset.

Windows Servers Administration Fundamentals Certification

The certification is currently at the top list of “highly in-demand certifications for 2021” where the Windows Server Administration Fundamentals certification and its training course can help the candidate get the job that can help embrace their career.

The certification validates the skills of server installation and configuration, server roles, storage, Active Directory and Group Policy, web services, remote access, virtualization, application servers, troubleshooting, performance, reliability, and more. All these skills make an individual professional and capable of being titled as a Windows server administrator.

The certification helps to gain expertise as an MTA(Microsoft Technologies Associate) on Windows Server Fundamentals.

Skills for Windows Server Administration Fundamentals Certification

Here is the complete list of skills that are required to qualify for the certification exam with flying colors and also the list of skills that are covered during the training courses for the Windows Servers Administration Fundamentals.

Understanding server installation

● Understand device drivers

-Installation, removal, disabling, update/upgrade, rollback, troubleshooting, Plug & Play, IRQ, interrupts, driver signing, managing through Group Policy

● Understand services

-Which statuses a service can be in, startup types, recovery options, delayed startup, Run As settings for a service, stopping or pausing a service, service accounts, dependencies

● Understand server installation options

-Choose the correct operating system version options; Server core vs. Desktop Experience, Nano Server installation, interactive installs; automated install using WDS; VHD/VHDX installation source, perform unattended installs; perform upgrades, clean installs, and migrations

Understanding server roles

● Identify application servers

-Mail servers, database servers, collaboration servers, monitoring servers, threat management

● Understand Web services

-IIS, WWW, and FTPinstalling from Server Manager, separate worker processes, adding components, sites, ports, SSL, certificates

● Understand remote access

-Remote assistance, remote administration tools, Remote Desktop Services, multipoint services, licensing, RD Gateway, VPN, application virtualization, multiple ports

● Understand the file and print services

-Local printers, network printers, printer pools, web printing, web management, driver deployment, file, folder, and share permissions vs. rights, auditing, print job management

● Understand server virtualization

-Virtual memory, virtual networks, snapshots and saved states, physical to virtual conversions, virtual to physical conversions, VHD and VHDX formats, nested virtualization

Understanding Active Directory

● Understand accounts and groups

-Domain accounts, local accounts, user profiles, computer accounts, group types, default groups, group scopes, group nesting, understand AGDLP and AGUDLP processes to help implement nesting

● Understand organizational units and containers

-Purpose of OUs, the purpose of containers, delegation, default containers, uses for different container objects, default hidden and visible containers

● Understand Active Directory infrastructure

-Domain controllers. forests, child domains, operation master roles, domain vs. workgroup, trust relationships, functional levels, deprecated functional levels, namespace, sites, replication, schema, Passport

● Understand group policy

-Group policy processing, Group Policy Management Console, computer policies, user policies, local policies

Understanding storage

● Identify storage technologies and their typical usage scenarios

-Advantages and disadvantages of different storage topologies, local storage, network storage, Fibre Channel, iSCSI hardware

● Understand RAID redundancy

-RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 and combinations, hardware and software RAID

● Understand disk types

-Solid State Drive (SSD) and Hard Disk Drive (HDD) types and comparisons, ATA basic disk, dynamic disk, mount points, file systems, mounting a virtual hard disk, distributed file systems

Understanding server performance management

-Identify major server hardware components Memory, disk, processor, network, 32-bit and 64-bit architecture, removable drives, graphic cards, cooling, power usage, ports

-Understand performance monitoring Methodology, procedures, the effect of network, CPU, memory, and disk, creating a baseline, Performance Monitor, Resource Monitor, Task Manager, performance counters, and Data Collector Sets

-Understand logs and alerts, Event Viewer Purpose of performance logs and alerts

Understanding server maintenance

● Identify steps in the startup process

BIOS, UEFI, TPM, boot sector, bootloader, MBR, boot.ini, POST, Safe Mode

● Understand business continuity

-Backup and restore, disaster recovery planning, clustering, AD restore, folder redirection, data redundancy, uninterruptible power supply (UPS)

● Understand updates

-Software, driver, operating systems, applications, Windows Update, Windows Server Update Service (WSUS)

● Understand troubleshooting methodology

-Processes, procedures, best practices; systematic vs. specific approach, Performance Monitor, Event Viewer, Resource Monitor, Information Technology Infrastructure Library, central logging, event filtering, default logs

Career after Windows Server Administration Fundamentals Certification

Qualifying the examination or getting the hands-on training will lead to making your career as MTA Windows Server Administration Fundamentals. However, their other options or designations a candidate can start from after the training or certification, such as:-

1. IT Systems Administrator

2. IT Support Specialist

3. Windows Server Administrator

The training can help those who are planning to get a job or make their career in the field of IT sector or the Windows server field. The requirements of skills by a professional who is at their early stage in the IT sector under the Windows server field can go with Windows Server Administration Fundamentals Certification to shape their career brighter.

The skills taught in the certification exam like configuration, installation, server roles, storage, Active Directory, and many more related to Windows servers by Microsoft, are needed by many organizations to manage the devices and tools.

As a starting salary of a Windows Server Administrator, one can get 6,711.10 USD, this may differ from nation to nation and company to company. However, this is the starting salary package and will grow with experience and polished skills.

Prerequisites for the certification and training course

Firstly talking about the certification, since it is an entry-level certification, there is no formal prerequisite to appear in the examination for Windows Server Administration Fundamentals Certification.

However, some basic knowledge of Windows Server, Windows-based networking, Active Directory, account management, and system recovery tools and concepts is required to qualify for the certification exam.

However, on the other hand, the candidate may not need such deep knowledge to enroll in the Windows Server Administration Fundamentals Certification training course, although it depends on the institutes as well.

Some do set a stand boundary set of knowledge or experience whereas, some start the course from scratch. Hence, it depends on the student which institute he/she chooses.

Basic Details of the Certification Exam

If you have decided or are still planning to get the certification, the following are some of the details of Windows Server Administration Fundamentals Certification.

-Exam Code: Exam 98-365

-Examination Name: MTS- Windows Server Administration Fundamentals

-Available languages: English, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Spanish (Mexico).

-Exam format: MCQ

-Number of Questions: 30-50 questions approx

-Qualifying Score: 70

-Exam Time Limit: 50 minutes

-Conducted by: Pearson Vue

-Exam Fees: 127 USD (the fees may vary according to the country)

Summing Up

Earning the Windows Server Administration Fundamentals certification provides a solid foundation for a career in IT. This entry-level certification validates essential skills in server installation, configuration, and management, including Active Directory, storage solutions, and troubleshooting techniques.

By completing this certification, candidates demonstrate their proficiency in key areas that are critical for effective server administration. The certification not only enhances employability but also opens doors to various job roles, such as IT Systems Administrator and Windows Server Administrator.