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Are Windows servers easy to learn?

post #1 of 34
11/9/12 at 4:13am
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I run a business repairing and building home computers, but I have no experience with server software or hardware whatsoever. And companies want me on contract but I keep turning them down.

Is it easy to learn? This company wants me to set up a new user plus an email for them on the server next week, would knowing how to do it in Windows XP/Vista/7 etc. be enough? I have knowledge of serverless home workgroups.

And what about the hardware? I know about RAID already and I understand you have specific server mobos and CPUs but can I just use standard off the shelf hardware to build one? Do servers still use SCSI?
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post #2 of 34
11/9/12 at 4:16am
If using Windows Home Server, it can be very easy to set up. WHS allows for media sharing and automated backup. I have a FreeNAS server that I use for all of the backups for the 4 computers in my house. As for SCSI, I think that some servers still use them, but SATA is becoming more predominant.
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post #3 of 34
11/9/12 at 4:32am
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I think these companies are using Windows Server 2003 or 2008....I have to set up another account for them in Outlook. Would that be Outlook Exchange??
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post #4 of 34
11/9/12 at 4:35am
What you are going to want to read up on is Active Directory. It's easy to learn, but it takes a long time to master.
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post #5 of 34
11/9/12 at 4:36am
Hey there,

you need to know and understand active directory well in order to do server work.

I would advise you continue to turn down the work and spend some money taking you mcts exams in active directory and windows server. That will give you the knowledge you need and the qualifications you should have to back you up too.

they arent expensive and you can self study. pm me if you want any help wink.gif u could finish them in a fortnight each and work at the same time
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post #6 of 34
11/9/12 at 8:02am
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Yeah I keep thinking that. I'll go anyway, see what sort of setup they have...Youtube seemed to have numerous tutorials on setting up mailboxes in Outlook Exchange and it doesn't seem too complicated...so long as all the default settings will work on their computer...
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post #7 of 34
11/9/12 at 8:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PTRACER View Post

Yeah I keep thinking that. I'll go anyway, see what sort of setup they have...Youtube seemed to have numerous tutorials on setting up mailboxes in Outlook Exchange and it doesn't seem too complicated...so long as all the default settings will work on their computer...

Working as a network administrator supporting Windows Servers and having done work with Exchange, I really don't think doing this sort of work for them is a good idea. There is a lot of stuff to be learned to be good with active directory and exchange, and while it may "work" when you are done with it, it likely wont be done the proper way, meaning someone would have to do work down the road to clean it up. Also, It wouldn't be good if they were assuming you were an expert, where really you were not. I definitely support getting certified and doing work on your own to become good at it. I think it will be good for you down the road. Check out this link to look into Server and Exchange.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/view-by-technology.aspx
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post #8 of 34
11/9/12 at 9:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PTRACER View Post

Yeah I keep thinking that. I'll go anyway, see what sort of setup they have...Youtube seemed to have numerous tutorials on setting up mailboxes in Outlook Exchange and it doesn't seem too complicated...so long as all the default settings will work on their computer...

Assuming they have an onsite Exchange setup, which is getting increasingly rare, setting up a new user is very simple as long as the Exchange system is configured correctly and conventionally. Setting them up on the end user PC is usually easy, too, especially if they have auto discover enabled. The problem is when they ask you to do something above and beyond the initial setup. You will become very lost very quickly.

As for SCSI, a lot of servers uses SAS (serial attached SCSI) for their local storage.
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post #9 of 34
11/9/12 at 9:36am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Oedipus View Post

Assuming they have an onsite Exchange setup, which is getting increasingly rare, setting up a new user is very simple as long as the Exchange system is configured correctly and conventionally. Setting them up on the end user PC is usually easy, too, especially if they have auto discover enabled. The problem is when they ask you to do something above and beyond the initial setup. You will become very lost very quickly.
As for SCSI, a lot of servers uses SAS (serial attached SCSI) for their local storage.

Mmm. And it seems like setting up an account with Microsoft Exchange is a case of hitting New Mailbox and filling in some fields, which should pretty much just auto-populate or have very obviously configurable options right?

You're correct though, if they ask too much of me, I will get lost.

For example, they have a server on a separate network next door. They just want to be able to connect to it wirelessly. Is it possible to install a standard wireless card into the machine and then log onto it via that, assuming the server is hooked up to a wireless router?
Edited by PTRACER - 11/9/12 at 9:38am
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post #10 of 34
11/9/12 at 9:44am
No wireless card in the server. There needs to be a route configured to allow the two networks to talk to each other, along with proper ACLs/permissions in place to allow the wireless clients on network 1 to talk with the server on network 2.

Again, this is out of your league for now.
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