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Tables of Contents for Server+ Certification Training Kit
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
About This Book
xv
Intended Audience
xv
Prerequisites
xv
Reference Materials
xvi
About the CD-ROM
xvi
Features of This Book
xvi
CompTIA Certifications
xxviii
The CompTIA Server+ Certification
xxix
Technical Support
xxxi
Part 1 Planning for a Server and Its Environment
Laying the Groundwork
3
32
About This Chapter
3
1
Before You Begin
4
1
Why and When to Read Documentation
5
7
Identifying Important Documentation
5
2
Practice: Scan a Printer Manual for Warnings and Cautions
7
1
Using Alternatives to Documentation
8
2
Practice: Search Newsgroups for Product Information
10
1
Practice: Search a Knowledge Base for Potential Installation Issues
10
1
Lesson Summary
11
1
Logging Information
12
Taking Effective Troubleshooting Notes
12
1
The High Cost of Not Taking Notes
13
1
Maintaining an Activity Log
14
1
Practice: Create an Activity Log
15
1
Lesson Summary
15
Determining Need
16
25
Identifying Organizational Risk Tolerance
16
3
Avoiding Risk
19
3
Practice: Identify Your Processor's Stepping Level
22
1
Deciding What Services the Server Will Perform
23
1
Lesson Summary
24
1
Selecting an Operating System
25
2
Methods for Selecting an Operating System
25
1
Features and Benefits of Popular Operating Systems
26
1
Lesson Summary
26
1
Architecture Basics
27
6
PC Buses
27
2
Features of the PCI Bus
29
3
Intelligent Input-Output (I2O)
32
1
Lesson Summary
32
1
Review
33
2
Planning a Server's Environment
35
44
About This Chapter
35
1
Before You Begin
36
1
Space Planning
37
6
Providing Physical Security
37
1
Providing Climate Control
38
3
Planning for Floods
41
1
Lesson Summary
42
1
Addressing Power Needs
43
14
Understanding Direct and Alternating Current
43
2
Converting Alternating Current to Direct Current
45
1
Understanding Circuit Breakers and Capacity
45
1
Identifying Power Problems
46
2
Solving Power Problems
48
6
Practice: Size a UPS System for a Small Environment
54
1
Practice: Size a UPS System for a Larger Environment
54
1
Monitoring Power Problems
55
1
Lesson Summary
55
2
Planning the Physical Installation
57
5
Understanding the Importance of Racks
57
1
Planning Installations in a Rack
58
1
Installing Keyboard-Video-Mouse Switches
58
1
Routing and Managing Cables
59
2
Lesson Summary
61
1
Preparing for Backups and Monitoring
62
10
Selecting the Correct Tape Backup Device
62
4
Choosing a Tape Rotation Scheme
66
2
Planning for Monitoring
68
2
Practice: Select a Tape Drive and Rotation Scheme for a Small Office
70
1
Practice: Select a Tape Drive and Rotation Scheme for a Manufacturing Company
70
1
Lesson Summary
71
1
Creating a Disaster Recovery Plan
72
4
Developing a Disaster Recovery Plan
72
2
Planning for a Catastrophic Disaster
74
1
Lesson Summary
75
1
Review
76
3
Planning the System
79
32
About This Chapter
79
1
Before You Begin
79
1
Processing Capacity
80
4
Identifying CPU Characteristics
80
1
Selecting a Cache
81
1
Considering Symmetric Multiprocessing
82
1
Lesson Summary
83
1
Memory Requirements
84
4
Memory Types
84
2
Parity
86
1
Error Checking and Correcting
86
1
Lesson Summary
87
1
Disk Storage
88
14
Physical vs. Logical Storage
88
1
Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks
89
2
The SCSI Drive Bus
91
4
The IDE Drive Bus
95
2
Fibre Channel
97
2
Hard Disk Performance
99
1
Practice: Select a Hard Disk Configuration for a DHCP Server
100
1
Practice: Select a Hard Disk Configuration for a Database Server
101
1
Lesson Summary
101
1
Network Connectivity
102
6
Network Topologies
102
4
Network Card Performance
106
1
Fault Tolerance
107
1
Lesson Summary
107
1
Review
108
3
Part 2 Installing and Configuring a Server
Gathering and Configuring Firmware and Drivers
111
20
About This Chapter
111
1
Before You Begin
112
1
Downloading Firmware and Drivers
113
3
Locating Firmware and Drivers
113
1
Practice: Download Novell NetWare 5 Drivers and Firmware for a 3Com 3C985-SX Gigabit EtherLink Server
114
1
Extracting Firmware and Drivers
114
1
Reviewing the Extracted Files
115
1
Lesson Summary
115
1
Implementing Firmware Updates
116
3
Preparing for Firmware Upgrades
116
1
Booting for Firmware Operations
117
1
Saving the Previous Version of the Firmware
118
1
Upgrading the Firmware
118
1
Lesson Summary
118
1
Optimizing BIOS Settings
119
8
Getting into the BIOS
119
1
Recording Settings
119
1
Configuring Basic Settings
120
1
Configuring Advanced Settings
121
3
Configuring Chipset Settings
124
1
Setting UP Plug and Play, PCI, and Integrated Peripherals
125
1
Lesson Summary
126
1
Configuring RAID Settings
127
3
Verifying Controller and Drive Status
127
1
Creating a RAID Array
128
1
Marking Drives as Hot Spare
128
1
Identifying Failing Drives
129
1
Lesson Summary
129
1
Review
130
1
Installing and Configuring the Network Operating System
131
34
About This Chapter
131
1
Before You Begin
132
1
Choosing an Installation Method and Type
133
4
Installation Methods
133
1
Installation Types
134
1
Installation Timing
135
1
Lesson Summary
136
1
Installing the Operating System
137
18
Understanding the Basic Installation Procedure
137
1
Installing Windows 2000
138
6
Installing Novell NetWare 5
144
6
Installing Linux
150
4
Lesson Summary
154
1
Configuring the Network Operating System
155
7
Installing Service Packs, Patches, and Updates
155
2
Implementing Security
157
2
Installing Client Software
159
1
Installing Standard Applications
160
1
Lesson Summary
161
1
Review
162
3
Installing Hardware and Peripheral Drivers
165
18
About This Chapter
165
1
Before You Begin
165
1
Configuring External Peripherals
166
6
Understanding UPS Connectivity
166
4
Installing a Drive Cabinet
170
1
Lesson Summary
171
1
Updating Manufacturer-Specific Drivers
172
9
Identifying Hardware Requiring a Driver Update
172
2
Practice: Check Hardware Drivers in Windows 2000
174
3
Practice: Update a Hardware Driver in Windows 2000
177
3
Lesson Summary
180
1
Review
181
2
Performing Routine Tasks
183
14
About This Chapter
183
1
Before You Begin
183
1
Reviewing Event and Console Logs
184
7
Reviewing the Error and Console Logs
184
3
Practice: Review an Error Log in Windows 2000
187
2
Practice: Change the Log Settings for Windows 2000
189
1
Lesson Summary
190
1
Performing Manual and Unattended Shutdowns
191
4
Performing a Manual Shutdown
191
2
Performing Unattended Shutdowns
193
1
Lesson Summary
194
1
Review
195
2
Monitoring a Server's Performance
197
34
About This Chapter
197
1
Before You Begin
197
1
Understanding Performance Data
198
10
Establishing Baseline and Trend Data
198
1
Monitoring Specific Components
199
6
Performance Monitoring vs. Benchmarking
205
1
Managing the Performance Recording Interval
206
1
Lesson Summary
207
1
Running Performance Baselines
208
9
When to Take a Baseline
208
1
Options for Performance Monitoring
209
1
Practice: Run a Performance Baseline in Windows 2000
210
6
Lesson Summary
216
1
Comparing Performance Trends
217
12
How Components Affect Each Other
217
1
Order of Analysis
217
5
Chain Reactions
222
1
Practice: Review a Windows 2000 Performance Log File
223
5
Lesson Summary
228
1
Review
229
2
Documenting the Installation
231
18
About This Chapter
231
1
Before You Begin
231
1
Creating a Hardware Inventory
232
6
Organizing Server Data
232
1
Creating a Documentation Worksheet
233
4
Making Additional Notes
237
1
Lesson Summary
237
1
Gathering Vendor Contact and Warranty Information
238
3
Capturing Vendor Warranty Information
238
2
Lesson Summary
240
1
Documenting the Network Operating System
241
4
Identifying the Data to Capture
241
3
Lesson Summary
244
1
Review
245
4
Part 3 Upgrading a Server and Peripherals
Upgrading Processors and Memory
249
20
About This Chapter
249
1
Before You Begin
249
1
Adding or Replacing a Processor
250
11
Understanding Electrostatic Discharge
250
2
Preventing Damage from Electrostatic Discharge
252
1
Supporting an Additional Processor
253
1
Installing an Additional Processor
253
3
Replacing a Processor
256
1
Optimizing the Server for Additional Processors
257
3
Lesson Summary
260
1
Adding Memory
261
6
Choosing Appropriate Memory
261
1
Installing Memory
262
4
Lesson Summary
266
1
Review
267
2
Adding Hard Disks
269
24
About This Chapter
269
1
Before You Begin
269
1
Verifying Drive Type and Cabling
270
11
Ribbon Cable Characteristics
270
3
SCSI Connectors, Cabling, and Settings
273
4
ATA/IDE Connectors, Cabling, and Settings
277
1
Fibre Channel Connectors, Cabling, and Settings
278
2
Lesson Summary
280
1
Installing a Hard Disk
281
6
Maintaining Airflow
281
2
Installing a Hard Disk on a Sled
283
2
Installing a Hard Disk in a Server Case
285
1
Lesson Summary
286
1
Adding to a RAID Array
287
4
Options for Expanding a RAID Array
287
1
Back UP and Restore
288
1
Resize and Reboot
288
1
Online Expansion
289
1
Lesson Summary
290
1
Review
291
2
Adding and Upgrading Add-On Cards
293
12
About This Chapter
293
1
Before You Begin
293
1
Verifying Resource Availability
294
4
Slots and Resources
294
2
Interrupts
296
1
DMA Channels
296
1
I/O Ports
297
1
Lesson Summary
297
1
Verifying Compatibility
298
3
Checking Compatibility Lists
298
2
Verifying Hardware Compatibility
300
1
Lesson Summary
300
1
Installing Add-On Cards
301
3
Installing a New Card
301
1
Installing the Card's Software
302
1
Lesson Summary
303
1
Review
304
1
Upgrading UPSs, Monitoring the System, and Choosing Service Tools
305
26
About This Chapter
305
1
Before You Begin
305
1
Upgrading UPSs
306
5
Replacing UPS Batteries
306
3
Adding New UPS Batteries
309
1
Working with Matrixed UPSs
310
1
Replacing an Entire UPS
310
1
Lesson Summary
310
1
Monitoring the System
311
9
System Monitoring Hardware
311
3
System Monitoring Software
314
5
Practice: Select an Appropriate Monitoring Solution
319
1
Lesson Summary
319
1
Selecting Service Tools
320
7
Essential Hardware Tools
320
3
Software Tools
323
3
Lesson Summary
326
1
Review
327
4
Part 4 Performing Proactive Maintenance
Establishing a Backup Plan
331
26
About This Chapter
331
1
Before You Begin
331
1
Types of Backup Plans
332
9
Types of Backups
332
3
Backup Rotations
335
2
Alternate Backup Methods
337
1
Tape Wear
338
1
Tape Failure and Tape Rotations
339
1
Delayed Identification
340
1
Lesson Summary
340
1
Establishing a Backup Plan
341
9
Understanding the Procedural Components
341
1
Assigning a Responsible Party
342
1
Choosing Sites for Tape Storage
343
2
Scheduling Tape Drive Cleanings
345
1
Solving Startup Problems and Testing the Backups
346
2
Practice: Select a Person to Implement Backups
348
1
Lesson Summary
349
1
Maintaining Backups
350
4
Establishing Notification
350
1
Addressing Problems
351
2
Planning Tape Retirement
353
1
Lesson Summary
353
1
Review
354
3
Performing Physical Housekeeping and Verification
357
12
About This Chapter
357
1
Before You Begin
357
1
Performing Physical Housekeeping
358
3
Making a Visual Inspection
358
1
Performing Proactive Testing
359
1
Lesson Summary
360
1
Performing Hardware Verification
361
4
Verifying Fault-Tolerant Components
361
1
Verifying Component Operation
362
1
Removing Dust in the Case
363
1
Checking for Theaft
364
1
Lesson Summary
364
1
Review
365
4
Part 5 Troubleshooting
Understanding the Troubleshooting Process
369
18
About This Chapter
369
1
Before You Begin
369
1
Applying the Scientific Method to Troubleshooting
370
6
The Learning Process
370
5
Lesson Summary
375
1
Quantifying the Problem
376
4
Localizing the Problem
376
2
Isolating the Problem
378
1
Localizing a Problem vs. Testing a Hypothesis
378
1
Dividing the Process in Half
379
1
Lesson Summary
379
1
Knowing Who to Call and What to Do
380
6
Who to Call
380
1
Practice: Solve a Software Copy Protection Problem
381
1
Practice: Troubleshoot an Adaptec SCSI Controller
381
1
What to Do When Nothing Makes Sense
382
3
Lesson Summary
385
1
Review
386
1
Troubleshooting Common Problems
387
28
About This Chapter
387
1
Before You Begin
387
1
Bootup Problems
388
5
Understanding the Bootup Process
388
1
Troubleshooting Missing Hard Disks
389
1
Eliminating Boot Sector Viruses
390
2
Lesson Summary
392
1
Network Problems
393
17
Understanding How Protocols Interact
393
3
Diagnosing Physical or Data Link Problems
396
1
Diagnosing TCP/IP Problems
396
7
Diagnosing Problems with DHCP
403
4
Practice: Review TCP/IP Settings in Windows 2000
407
2
Lesson Summary
409
1
Other Common Problems
410
3
Working with Core Dump Files
410
1
Minimizing Hard Disk Vibration
411
1
Lesson Summary
412
1
Review
413
2
Appendix
Questions and Answers
415
24
Glossary
439
24
Index
463