Windows Server 2012 Self-Study Guide (The Fundamentals)

As I start this blog entry, it's been nearly 8 months since I created my last self-study guide. For those of you following this blog, I apologize for the long gap. All I can say is that the requirements of work and life, coupled with a mountain of good intention, has seemed to push this new installment back for some time. I hope going forward that I will be able to publish at least once a month, but like always I have no idea what the future holds. So I appreciate everyone's patience and continuing encouragement to move forward with these self-study guides.

With this post, my plan is to focus on Windows Server 2012. Given that this is the newest server operating system for Microsoft, I have no idea in advance how long it will take to feel like I've covered it thoroughly. I am not even sure in advance how I will break out the various specialty areas in Windows Server 2012. With this entry, my purpose is to try and address the fundamentals. As always, the links I am providing below are all validated as of this writing, but I can make no promises about whether they'll continue to work over time. If you find some that don't resolve properly in the future, please write me and let me know which ones they are so I can try and keep them updated.

Now, on to the material...

To begin with, for those who need a definition up front, here is how Microsoft defines Windows Server 2012. I have taken this definition from here:

"Windows Server powers many of the worlds' largest datacenters, enables small businesses around the world, and delivers value to organizations of all sizes in between. Windows Server 2012 redefines the server category, delivering hundreds of new features and enhancements spanning virtualization, networking, storage, user experience, cloud computing, automation, and more. Simply put, Windows Server 2012 helps you transform your IT operations to reduce costs and deliver a whole new level of business value."

Windows Server 2012 Self-Study Guide (The Fundamentals)

Top-level link for Windows Server 2012 is: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/default.aspx 

 

Microsoft Virtual Academy

  • Windows Server 2012 Training: Technical Overview
    • Server Virtualization
      • Server Virtualization Student Manual (PDF)
      • Server Virtualization Part 1 (video)
      • Server Virtualization Part 2 (video)
      • Server Virtualization Part 3 (video)
      • Server Virtualization Part 4 (video)
      • Server Virtualization Part 5 (video)
      • Server Virtualization Part 6 (video)
      • Server Virtualization White Paper (PDF)
      • Download and Evaluate Windows Server 2012 (download)
    • Management and Automation
      • Management & Automation Student Manual (PDF)
      • Management and Automation White Paper (PDF)
    • Networking
      • Networking Student Manual (PDF)
      • Networking Part 1 (video)
      • Networking Part 2 (video)
      • Networking Part 3 (video)
      • Networking Part 4 (video)
      • Networking Part 5 (video)
      • Networking Part 6 (video)
      • Networking White Paper (PDF)
    • Storage
      • Storage Student Manual (PDF)
      • Storage Part 1 (video)
      • Storage Part 2 (video)
      • Storage Part 3 (video)
      • Storage Part 4 (video)
      • Storage White Paper (PDF)
    • Identity and Access
      • Identity and Access Student Manual (PDF)
      • Identity and Access Part 1 (video)
      • Identity and Access Part 2 (video)
      • Identity and Access White Paper (PDF)
    • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
      • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Student Manual (PDF)
      • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Part 1 (video)
      • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Part 2 (video)
      • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Part 3 (video)
      • Virtual Desktop Infrastructure White Paper (PDF)
    • Web and Application Platform
      • Web and Application Platform Student Manual (PDF)
      • Web and Application Platform Part 1 (video)
      • Web and Application Platform Part 2 (video)
      • Web and Application Platform Part 3 (video)
  • Windows Server 2012 Jump Start: Preparing for the Datacenter Evolution
    • 01: Core Hyper-V
      • Introduction (PDF)
      • Core Hyper-V (video)
      • Core Hyper-V: Presentation (PDF)
    • 02: Virtualization Infrastructure
      • Virtualization Infrastructure Part 1 (video)
      • Virtualization Infrastructure Part 2 (video)
      • Virtualization Infrastructure: Presentation (PDF)
    • 03: Storage Architecture
      • Storage Architecture Part 1 (video)
      • Storage Architecture Part 2 (video)
      • Storage Architecture: Presentation (PDF)
    • 04: Continuous Availability
      • Continuous Availability (video)
      • Continuous Availability: Presentation (PDF)
    • 05: Multi-Server Management
      • Multi-Server Management Part 1 (video)
      • Multi-Server Management Part 2 (video)
      • Multi-Server Management: Presentation (PDF)
    • 06: Security and Access
      • Security and Access Part 1 (video)
      • Security and Access Part 2 (video)
      • Security and Access: Presentation (PDF)
    • 07: Remote Connectivity and Networking
      • Remote Connectivity and Networking (video)
      • Remote Connectivity and Networking: Presentation (PDF)
    • 08: IIS, DHCP and IPAM
      • IIS, DHCP and IPAM (video)
      • IIS, DHCP and IPAM (PDF)
  • Upgrading Skills to Windows Server 2012 Jump Start
    • 01: Installing and Configuring Servers Based on Windows Server 2012
      • Installing and Configuring Servers Based on Windows Server 2012 (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 02: Monitoring and Maintaining Windows Server 2012
      • Monitoring and Maintaining Windows Server 2012 (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 03: Managing Windows Server 2012 by Using Windows PowerShell 3.0
      • Managing Windows Server 2012 by Using Windows PowerShell 3.0 (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 04: Managing Storage for Windows Server 2012
      • Managing Storage for Windows Server 2012 (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 05: Implementing Network Services
      • Implementing Network Services (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 06: Implementing Direct Access (DA)
      • Implementing Direct Access (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 07: Implementing Failover Clustering
      • Implementing Failover Clustering (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 08: Implementing Hyper-V
      • Implementing Hyper-V (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 09: Implementing Failover Clustering with Hyper-V
      • Implementing Failover Clustering with Hyper-V (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 10: Implementing Dynamic Access Control
      • Implementing Dynamic Access Control (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 11: Implementing Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
      • Implementing Active Directory Domain Services (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
    • 12: Implementing Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
      • Implementing Active Directory Federation Services (video)
      • Slide Presentation (PDF)
  • Windows Server 2012: Server Virtualization
    • Virtual Machine Scale and Mobility
      • Virtual Machine Scale (PDF)
      • Live Migration Student Manual (PDF)
      • Live Migration of Virtual Machines with nothing Shared (video)
      • Live Migration of Virtual Machines using SMB File Share to store Virtual Machine Files (video)
      • Live Migration between Clusters Video (video)
      • Storage Migration Student Manual (PDF)
      • Storage Migration Video (video)
      • Virtual Machine Import Student Manual (PDF)
      • Importing a VM Video (video)
      • Mobility and Technology Protection Review (PDF)
      • Download and Evaluate Windows Server 2012 (download)
    • Virtual Machine Availability with Hyper-V Replica
      • Hyper-V Replica Overview (document)
      • Hyper-V Replica: Step 1: Prepare to Deploy Hyper-V Replica (document)
      • Hyper-V Replica: Step 2: Enable Replication (document)
      • Hyper-V Replica: Step 3: Test the Replication Deployment (document)
      • Hyper-V Replica: Step 4: Perform a Planned Failover (document)
      • Hyper-V Replica: Step 5: Respond to an Unplanned Failover (document)
      • Getting Started with Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V Replication (document)
  • Windows Server 2012: Storage
    • Storage Spaces
      • Download and Evaluate Windows Server 2012 (download)
      • Storage Spaces Student Manual (PDF)
      • End to End Management Video (video)
    • SMB 3.0
      • SMB 3.0 (PDF)
      • SMB 3.0 High Performance Storage with Transparent Failover (video)
    • Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) and Cluster-Aware Updating
      • Introduction to Cluster Shared Volumes and CSV Architecture (PDF)
      • Setting up Clustered Shared Volumes (video)
      • CSV Resiliency, Performance, Deployment Considerations, Backup & Restore and Failover Clustering (PDF)
      • Add disk to CSV in Windows Server 2012 (video)
      • BitLocker on Cluster Share Volumes (video)
      • Add Storage Space to CSV (video)
      • Node Drain (video)
    • File System Enhancements
      • File System Enhancements (PDF)
      • Managing Data Deduplication (video)
      • Storage White Paper (PDF)
  • Windows Server 2012: Identity and Access
    • Active Directory New Features and Improvements
      • Active Directory New Features and Improvements Student Manual (document)
      • Download and Evaluate Windows Server 2012 (download)
    • Remote Desktop Services (RDS)
      • Overview of Windows Server 2012 Remote Desktop Services (document)
      • Getting Started with RDS (video)
      • Easy Server Setup (video)
      • RDS Features and Components (PDF)
      • RDS Features and Components Drill Down (video)
      • End User Experience (PDF)
      • End User Experience (video)
    • DirectAccess for Remote Access
      • Introducing DirectAccess in Windows Server 2012 (PDF)
      • DirectAccess Client Experience (video)
      • Technical Overview (PDF)
      • Multi-Site and High Availability (video)
    • Dynamic Access Control
      • Data Classification (PDF)
      • Using Data Classification (video)
      • Expression-Based Access Control (PDF)
      • Expression-Based Access Control (video)
      • Creating an Access Policy (video)
      • Central Access Policy with User Claims (video)
      • Data Encryption (PDF)
      • Automatic Rights Management Protection (video)
      • Expression-Based Auditing (PDF)
      • Expression-Based Auditing (video)
  • Windows Server 2012: Solution Accelerators
    • Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP) 7.0
      • Windows Server 2012 Readiness Assessment (video)
      • Windows Server 2012 Readiness Assessment Student Manual (PDF)
      • Download Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit (download)
    • Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012
      • Deploying Windows Server 2012 with MDT 2012 Update 1 (video)
      • Deploying Windows Server 2012 with MDT 2012 Update 1 Student Manual (PDF)
      • Download Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Update 1 (download)
    • Microsoft Security Compliance Manager (SCM) 3.0
      • Security Baseline for Windows Server 2012 (video)
      • Security Baseline for Windows Server 2012 Student Manual (PDF)
      • Download Security Compliance Manager 3.0 (download
  • Windows Server 2012: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
    • VDI Solution Details
      • Microsoft Desktop Virtualization Overview and User State Virtualization (PDF)
      • User Experience Virtualization (UE-V) tool (video)
      • Application Virtualization (PDF)
      • Application Virtualization (App-V) 5.0 (video)
      • Operating System Virtualization (PDF)
      • Using VDI (video)
      • Download the Windows Server 2012 Evaluation (download)
  • Licensing Windows Server 2012
    • Licensing Windows Server 2012
      • Licensing Windows Server 2012 (PDF)
      • Licensing Windows Server 2012 (video)
 Videos/Webcasts
 Articles/Documentation
  • Windows Server 2012 Overview
  • Windows Server 2012 Evaluation Guide
  • Windows Server 2012
    • What's New in Windows Server 2012
    • Technical Scenarios
      • Building Your Cloud Infrastructure
        • Designing Your Cloud Infrastructure
        • Non-Converged Data Center Configuration
        • Converged Data Center with File Server Storage
        • Converged Data Center without Dedicated Storage Nodes
      • Dynamic Access Control
        • Scenario: Central Access Policy
          • Plan for a Central Access Policy Deployment
          • Deploy a Central Access Policy (Demonstration Steps)
          • Deploy Claims Across Forests
            • Deploy Claims Across Forests (Demonstration Steps)
            • Claims Transformation Rules Language
        • Scenario: File Access Auditing
          • Plan for File Access Auditing
          • Deploy Security Auditing with Central Audit Policies (Demonstration Steps)
        • Scenario: Access-Denied Assistance
          • Plan for Access-Denied Assistance
          • Deploy Access-Denied Assistance (Demonstration Steps)
        • Scenario: Classification-Based Encryption for Office Documents
          • Planning Considerations for Encryption of Office Documents
          • Deploy Encryption of Office Files (Demonstration Steps)
        • Scenario: Get Insight Into Your Data by Using Classification
          • Plan for Automatic File Classification
          • Deploy Automatic File Classification (Demonstration Steps)
        • Scenario: Implement Retention of Information on File Servers
          • Plan for Retention of Information on File Servers
          • Deploy Implementing Retention of Information on File Servers (Demonstration Steps)
        • Appendix A: Dynamic Access Control Glossary
        • Appendix B: Setting Up the Test Environment
      • Hosting-Friendly Web Server Platform (IIS)
        • Build a Static Website on IIS
          • Configure Request Filtering in IIS
          • Configure Logging in IIS
        • Build a Classic ASP Website on IIS
        • Build an ASP.NET Website on IIS
          • Plan an ASP.NET Website on IIS
            • Step 1: Plan IIS Web Server and ASP.NET Modules Installation
            • Step 2: Plan ASP.NET Settings
            • Step 3: Plan Data Source Settings
            • Step 4: Plan Application Security
          • Configure an ASP.NET Website on IIS
            • Step 1: Install IIS and ASP.NET Modultes
            • Step 2: Configure ASP.NET Settings
            • Step 3: Configure Data Source Settings
            • Step 4: Configure Application Security
        • Build an FTP Site on IIS
        • Build a PHP Website on IIS
          • Plan a PHP Website on IIS
            • Step 1: Plan IIS Web Server and PHP Installation
            • Step 2: Plan PHP Settings
            • Step 3: Plan PHP Application Security
          • Configure a PHP Website on IIS
            • Step 1: Install IIS and PHP
            • Step 2: Configure PHP Settings
            • Step 3: Configure PHP Application Security
        • Build a Web Farm with IIS Servers
          • Plan a Web Farm with IIS Servers
            • Step 1: Plan IIS Web Farm Infrastructure
            • Step 2: Plan IIS Web Farm Configuration
            • Step 3: Plan IIS Web Farm Load Balancing
            • Step 4: Plan SSL Central Certificate Store
            • Step 5: Plan Application Deployment
          • Configure a Web Farm with IIS Servers
            • Step 1: Install IIS Web Farm Infrastructure
            • Step 2: Configure IIS Web Farm Servers
            • Step 3: Configure IIS Web Farm Load Balancing
            • Step 4: Configure SSL Central Certificate Store
            • Step 5: Configure Application Deployment
      • Increasing Server, Storage, and Network Availability
        • Deploying Fast and Efficient File Serves for Server Applications
        • Scale-Out File Server for Application Data
          • Plan for Scale-Out File Server
            • Step 1: Plan for Storage in Scale-Out File Server
            • Step 2: Plan for Networking in Scale-Out File Server
          • Deploy Scale-Out File Server
            • Step 1: Install Prerequisites for Scale-Out File Server
            • Step 2: Configure Scale-Out File Server
            • Step 3: Configure Hyper-V to Use Scale-Out File Server
            • Step 4: Configure Microsoft SQL Server to Use Scale-Out File Server
            • Step 5: Advanced Deployment
    • Install and Deploy Windows Server 2012
      • Installing Windows Server 2012
      • Release Notes: Important Issues in Windows Server 2012
      • Evaluation Versions and Upgrade Options for Windows Server 2012
      • Windows Server Installation Options
        • Server Core and Full Server Integration Overview
      • Configure and Manage Server Core Installations
        • Deploy a Server Core Server
        • Configure a Server Core Server
        • Configure a Server Core Server with Sconfig.cmd
        • Install Server Roles and Features on a Server Core Server
        • Manage a Server Core Server
        • Services Updates on a Server Core Server
        • Quick Reference for Server Core Tasks
      • Features Removed or Deprecated in Windows Server 2012
      • Common Management Tasks and Navigation in Windows Server 2012
    • Migrate Roles and Features to Windows Server 2012
      • Install, Use and Remove Windows Server Migration Tools
      • Migrate AD FS Role Services to Windows Server 2012
        • Prepare to Migrate the AD FS 2.0 Federation Server
        • Prepare to Migrate the AF FS 2.0 Federation Server Proxy
        • Migrate the AD FS 2.0 Federation Server
        • Migrate the AD FS 2.0 Federation Server Proxy
        • Migrate the AD FS 1.1 Web Agents
      • Migrate File and Storage Services to Windows Server 2012
        • File and Storage Services: Prepare to Migrate
        • File and Storage Services: Migrate the File and Storage Services Role
        • File and Storage Services: Verify the Migration
        • File and Storage Services: Post-migration Tasks
        • File and Storage Services: Appendix A: Optional Procedures
        • File and Storage Services: Appendix B: Migration Data Collection Worksheets
        • File and Storage Services: Appendix C: Migrate iSCSI Software Target
          • iSCSI Software Target Migration Overview
          • Prepare to Migrate iSCSI Software Target
          • Migrate iSCSI Software Target
          • Verify the iSCSI Software Target Migration
          • Troubleshoot the iSCSI Software Target Migration
          • Roll Back a Failed iSCSI Software Target Migration
      • Migrate Health Registration Authority to Windows Server 2012
        • HRA Server Migration: Preparing the Migrate
        • HRA Server Migration: Migrating the HRA Server
        • HRA Server Migration: Verifying the Migration
        • HRA Server Migration: Post-migration Tasks
      • Migrate Hyper-V to Windows Server 2012
        • Hyper-V: Prepare to Migrate
        • Hyper-V: Migrate the Hyper-V Role
        • Hyper-V: Verify the Migration
        • Hyper-V: Post-migration Tasks
      • Migrate IP Configuration to Windows Server 2012
        • IP Configuration: Prepare to Migrate
        • IP Configuration: Migrate IP Configuration Data
        • IP Configuration: Post-migration Tasks
        • IP Configuration: Appendix
      • Migrate Network Policy Server to Windows Server 2012
        • NPS Server Migration: Preparing to Migrate
        • NPS Server Migration: Migrating the NPS Server
        • NPS Server Migration: Verifying the Migration
        • NPS Server Migration: Post-migration Tasks
        • NPS Server Migration: Appendix A - Data Collection Worksheet
      • Migrate Print and Document Services to Windows Server 2012
        • Prepare to Migrate
        • Migrating the Print and Document Services Role
        • Verifying the Migration
        • Post-Migration Tasks
        • Appendix A - Pringbrm.exe Command-Line Tool Details
        • Appendix B - Additional Destination Server Scenarios
        • Appendix C - Printbrm Event IDs
      • Migrate Remote Access to Windows Server 2012
        • Remote Access: Prepare to Migrate
        • Remote Access: Migrate Remote Access
        • Remote Access: Verify the Migration
        • Remote Access: Post-migration Tasks
      • Migrate Windows Server Update Services to Windows Server 2012
        • Step 1: Plan for WSUS Migration
        • Step 2: Prepare to Migrate WSUS
        • Step 3: Migrate WSUS
        • Step 4: Verify the WSUS Migration
    • Secure Windows Server 2012
      • Security Tools to Administer Windows Server 2012
    • Manage Privacy in Windows Server 2012
      • Managing Internet Communication and Privacy in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • Activation and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows Server 2012
      • Dynamic Update and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • Internet Explorer 10 and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • SmartScreen Filter and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • User Access Logging and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows Server 2012
      • Windows Customer Experience Improvement Program and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • Windows Defender and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • Windows Error Reporting and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • Windows Store and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • Using a Microsoft Account to Logon and Resulting Internet Communication in Windows 8
      • Appendix A: Resources for Learning about Automated Installation and Deployment for Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
      • Appendix B: Group Policy Settings Listed Under the Internet Communication Management Category in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012
    • Support Windows Server 2012
    • Server Roles and Technologies
      • Active Directory Certificate Services
      • Active Directory Domain Services
      • Active Directory Federation Services
      • Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services
      • Active Directory Rights Management Services
      • Application Server
      • Failover Clustering
      • File and Storage Services
      • Group Policy
      • Hyper-V
      • Networking
      • Print and Document Services
      • Remote Desktop Services
      • Security and Protection
      • Telemetry
      • User Access Logging
      • Volume Activation
      • Web Server (IIS)
      • Windows Deployment Services
      • Windows System Resource Manager
      • Windows Server Backup Overview
      • Windows Server Update Services
    • Management and Tools
      • Windows PowerShell Support
      • Manage Multiple Remote Servers with Server Manager
      • Deploy Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8
      • Deploy Windows PowerShell Web Access
      • Getting Started with Windows PowerShell Workflow
      • Command-Line Reference
  • Windows Server 2012 Understand and Troubleshoot Guides
    • Volume Activation Overview
    • AD DS Simplified Administration
    • BitLocker Overview
    • Cluster-Aware Updating (CAU) Overview
    • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Overview
    • Overview of DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC)
    • Dynamic Access Control: Scenario Overview
    • High Availability Printing Overview
    • Hyper-V Replica Overview
    • IP Address Managment (IPAM) Overview
    • Windows Azure Online Backup Overview
    • Print and Document Services Architecture
    • Remote Access (DirectAccess, Routing and Remote Access) Overview
    • Remote Desktop Services Overview
    • Scale-Out File Server for Appplication Data Overview
    • Storage Spaces Overview
    • Virtualized Domain Controller Technical Reference
  • Windows Server 2012 Test Lab Guides
 Virtual Labs
 Scripts/Code Samples
 Useful Websites
 Useful Blogs
 Downloads
 Forums