The Ultimate Guide to MCSA 70-410 Certification: Master Windows Server 2012 R2 Installation and Configuration
MCSA 70-410 Exam Guide: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2
If you are planning to take the MCSA 70-410 exam, you might be wondering what it is all about, what topics it covers, and how you can prepare for it. In this article, we will answer these questions and provide you with some useful tips and resources that can help you ace the exam.
mcsa 70 410 ebook pdf 14
What is MCSA 70-410 exam and why is it important?
The MCSA 70-410 exam is one of the three exams that you need to pass in order to earn the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification for Windows Server 2012 R2. This certification validates your skills and knowledge in installing, configuring, administering, and troubleshooting Windows Server 2012 R2 environments.
The MCSA certification is a valuable credential that can boost your career prospects as a Windows Server administrator, engineer, or consultant. It can also serve as a prerequisite for more advanced certifications such as MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert) or MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer).
What are the main topics covered in the exam?
The MCSA 70-410 exam covers five main domains:
Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2 (15-20% of the exam)
Configuring Hyper-V Server Virtualization (15-20% of the exam)
Configuring Network Services (15-20% of the exam)
Installing and Managing Active Directory (15-20% of the exam)
Configuring Group Policy (15-20% of the exam)
Each domain consists of several objectives that describe the specific skills and tasks that you need to master for the exam. You can find a detailed list of these objectives on the official Microsoft website: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/70-410
How to prepare for the exam using ebooks and other resources?
Preparing for the MCSA 70-410 exam requires a combination of theoretical and practical learning. You need to understand the concepts and principles of Windows Server 2012 R2, as well as how to apply them in real-world scenarios. You also need to practice your skills and test your knowledge using various tools and resources.
One of the best resources that you can use to prepare for the exam is an ebook pdf 14. This is a digital version of a book that covers all the topics and objectives of the exam in a comprehensive and concise manner. It also includes practice questions, exercises, and tips that can help you reinforce your learning and improve your performance.
One of the most popular and recommended ebooks for the MCSA 70-410 exam is the MCSA 70-410 Cert Guide R2: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 by Don Poulton and David Camardella. This ebook pdf 14 provides you with a complete study guide that covers all the domains and objectives of the exam in depth. It also includes chapter-ending quizzes, exam preparation tasks, review questions, and a final preparation chapter that guides you through tools and resources to help you craft your final study plan.
Another ebook pdf 14 that you can use to prepare for the exam is the MCSA Windows Server 2012 R2 Complete Study Guide: Exams 70-410, 70-411, 70-412, and 70-417 by William Panek. This ebook pdf 14 covers not only the MCSA 70-410 exam, but also the other two exams that are required for the MCSA certification, as well as the upgrade exam for those who already have the MCSA Windows Server 2008 certification. It provides you with a comprehensive study guide that covers all the topics and objectives of the exams in detail. It also includes hundreds of practice questions, exercises, flashcards, and glossary terms that can help you review and test your knowledge.
Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 R2
The first domain of the MCSA 70-410 exam is installing and configuring Windows Server 2012 R2. In this domain, you need to demonstrate your ability to perform the following tasks:
Install Windows Server 2012 R2 and configure basic settings
Configure local storage and access to files and shares
Configure and monitor print and document services
Configure remote management of servers
How to install Windows Server 2012 R2 and configure basic settings?
To install Windows Server 2012 R2, you need to have a compatible hardware device that meets the minimum requirements for processor, memory, disk space, network adapter, graphics card, monitor, keyboard, mouse, DVD drive, and internet connection. You also need to have a valid product key or license for Windows Server 2012 R2.
You can install Windows Server 2012 R2 using one of the following methods:
Boot from a DVD or USB flash drive that contains the installation media
Boot from a network location that contains the installation files
Perform an unattended installation using an answer file
Perform an upgrade from a previous version of Windows Server
Perform a migration from a previous version of Windows Server
During the installation process, you need to choose one of the following editions of Windows Server 2012 R2:
EditionDescription
Windows Server 2012 R2 StandardThe standard edition that provides core features and functionality for physical or lightly virtualized environments
Windows Server 2012 R2 DatacenterThe premium edition that provides unlimited virtualization rights and advanced features for highly virtualized or cloud environments
Windows Server 2012 R2 EssentialsThe simplified edition that provides essential features and functionality for small businesses with up to 25 users or 50 devices
Windows Server 2012 R2 FoundationThe basic edition that provides core features and functionality for small businesses with up to 15 users or devices
You also need to choose one of the following installation options:
Server Core: A minimal installation option that provides only the essential components and services for running Windows Server. It does not include a graphical user interface (GUI), but it can be managed remotely using command-line tools or graphical tools.
How to configure local storage and access to files and shares?
After installing Windows Server 2012 R2, you need to configure the local storage on your server. Local storage refers to the physical disks and partitions that are attached to your server. You can use the Disk Management tool or the Diskpart command-line tool to create, format, and assign drive letters to your disks and partitions. You can also use the Storage Spaces feature to create virtual disks from multiple physical disks and provide resiliency and performance benefits.
To access the files and folders on your server, you need to create and configure shares. Shares are network locations that allow users and devices to access the files and folders on your server over the network. You can use the File and Storage Services role or the Computer Management tool to create and configure shares. You can also use the Share and Storage Management tool or the Net Share command-line tool to manage shares.
To control the access to your files and shares, you need to configure permissions. Permissions are rules that determine who can access what files and shares and what actions they can perform on them. You can use the Security tab or the Icacls command-line tool to configure NTFS permissions on files and folders. You can also use the Share Permissions tab or the Net Share command-line tool to configure share permissions on shares.
How to configure and monitor print and document services?
To enable printing on your server, you need to install and configure the Print and Document Services role. This role allows you to manage printers, print servers, print drivers, print queues, and print jobs on your server. You can use the Print Management console or the Printbrm command-line tool to install and configure printers and print servers. You can also use the Devices and Printers folder or the Printui command-line tool to manage print drivers, print queues, and print jobs.
To monitor printing on your server, you need to use the Performance Monitor tool or the Get-Counter PowerShell cmdlet to collect and analyze performance data related to printing. You can also use the Event Viewer tool or the Get-WinEvent PowerShell cmdlet to view and troubleshoot events related to printing.
How to configure remote management of servers?
To manage your server remotely, you need to enable and configure remote management features on your server. Remote management features allow you to perform administrative tasks on your server from another computer or device over the network. Some of the remote management features that you need to enable and configure are:
Remote Desktop: A feature that allows you to connect to your server using a graphical user interface (GUI) and interact with it as if you were sitting in front of it. You can use the System Properties dialog box or the Sconfig command-line tool to enable Remote Desktop on your server. You can also use the Remote Desktop Connection client or the Mstsc command-line tool to connect to your server using Remote Desktop.
Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT): A set of tools that allow you to manage various roles and features on your server using graphical tools from another computer that runs Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. You can use the Add Roles and Features Wizard or the Install-WindowsFeature PowerShell cmdlet to install RSAT on your computer. You can also use the Server Manager console or the ServerManager PowerShell module to manage your server using RSAT.
Windows PowerShell: A scripting language and a command-line shell that allow you to perform administrative tasks on your server using commands and scripts from another computer that runs Windows PowerShell. You can use the Enable-PSRemoting PowerShell cmdlet or the Winrm command-line tool to enable Windows PowerShell remoting on your server. You can also use the Enter-PSSession PowerShell cmdlet or the Psexec command-line tool to establish a remote session with your server using Windows PowerShell.
Configuring Hyper-V Server Virtualization
The second domain of the MCSA 70-410 exam is configuring Hyper-V server virtualization. In this domain, you need to demonstrate your ability to perform the following tasks:
Create and configure virtual machines and virtual networks
Manage virtual machine storage and snapshots
Implement high availability and disaster recovery solutions for virtual machines
How to create and configure virtual machines and virtual networks?
the Hyper-V role on your server. Hyper-V is a feature that allows you to create and run virtual machines on your server. Virtual machines are isolated and independent environments that can run different operating systems and applications on the same physical hardware. You can use the Hyper-V Manager console or the Hyper-V PowerShell module to create and configure virtual machines on your server. You can also use the New-VM PowerShell cmdlet or the Vmcmd command-line tool to create virtual machines from the command line.
To create virtual networks on your server, you need to use the Virtual Switch Manager in the Hyper-V Manager console or the New-VMSwitch PowerShell cmdlet. Virtual networks are logical networks that connect virtual machines to each other or to external networks. You can create three types of virtual switches:
External: A virtual switch that connects virtual machines to a physical network adapter on the host server and allows them to access external networks.
Internal: A virtual switch that connects virtual machines to each other and to the host server, but not to external networks.
Private: A virtual switch that connects virtual machines to each other, but not to the host server or external networks.
How to manage virtual machine storage and snapshots?
To manage virtual machine storage on your server, you need to use the Edit Virtual Hard Disk Wizard in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Set-VHD PowerShell cmdlet. Virtual machine storage refers to the virtual hard disks (VHDs) or virtual hard disk files (VHDXs) that store the data and operating system of a virtual machine. You can perform various tasks on virtual hard disks, such as:
Create: You can create a new virtual hard disk using the New Virtual Hard Disk Wizard in the Hyper-V Manager console or the New-VHD PowerShell cmdlet. You can choose from three types of virtual hard disks:
Fixed size: A virtual hard disk that has a fixed size and allocates all the space at creation time.
Dynamically expanding: A virtual hard disk that has a maximum size and allocates space as needed.
Differencing: A virtual hard disk that has a parent disk and stores only the changes made to it.
Modify: You can modify an existing virtual hard disk using the Edit Virtual Hard Disk Wizard in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Set-VHD PowerShell cmdlet. You can perform various modifications on virtual hard disks, such as:
Compact: You can reduce the size of a dynamically expanding or differencing virtual hard disk by removing unused space.
Convert: You can convert a virtual hard disk from one type to another, such as from VHD to VHDX, or from fixed size to dynamically expanding.
Expand: You can increase the size of a fixed size or dynamically expanding virtual hard disk by adding more space.
Merge: You can merge a differencing virtual hard disk with its parent disk or another differencing disk.
Attach: You can attach a virtual hard disk to a virtual machine using the Settings dialog box in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Add-VMHardDiskDrive PowerShell cmdlet. You can choose from two types of attachment:
IDE: An attachment that emulates an IDE controller and supports up to four devices per controller.
SCSI: An attachment that emulates a SCSI controller and supports up to 64 devices per controller.
To manage snapshots on your server, you need to use the Checkpoints section in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Checkpoint-VM PowerShell cmdlet. Snapshots are point-in-time images of a virtual machine that capture its state, data, and configuration. You can perform various tasks on snapshots, such as:
the Checkpoint-VM PowerShell cmdlet. You can give a name and description to the snapshot and choose whether to create a standard or production checkpoint.
Apply: You can apply an existing snapshot of a virtual machine using the Apply option in the Action menu in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Restore-VM PowerShell cmdlet. Applying a snapshot restores the virtual machine to the state, data, and configuration that were captured in the snapshot.
Delete: You can delete an existing snapshot of a virtual machine using the Delete option in the Action menu in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Remove-VMCheckpoint PowerShell cmdlet. Deleting a snapshot removes the snapshot and merges its changes with the parent disk or another snapshot.
Export: You can export an existing snapshot of a virtual machine using the Export option in the Action menu in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Export-VM PowerShell cmdlet. Exporting a snapshot creates a copy of the snapshot and its associated files in a specified folder.
How to implement high availability and disaster recovery solutions for virtual machines?
To implement high availability and disaster recovery solutions for virtual machines on your server, you need to use the Failover Clustering feature and the Hyper-V Replica feature. These features allow you to protect your virtual machines from hardware failures, network outages, or other disasters by replicating them to another server or site.
The Failover Clustering feature allows you to create a cluster of two or more servers that work together to provide high availability for virtual machines. A cluster consists of nodes (servers), shared storage (such as SAN or SMB), and cluster roles (such as virtual machines). You can use the Failover Cluster Manager console or the FailoverClusters PowerShell module to create and manage a cluster. You can also use the Validate a Configuration Wizard or the Test-Cluster PowerShell cmdlet to test the compatibility and functionality of a cluster.
The Hyper-V Replica feature allows you to create a replica of a virtual machine on another server that is located in the same site or a different site. A replica consists of a primary server (the source of replication), a replica server (the destination of replication), and a replica virtual machine (the copy of the original virtual machine). You can use the Enable Replication Wizard in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Enable-VMReplication PowerShell cmdlet to enable replication for a virtual machine. You can also use the Test Failover option in the Hyper-V Manager console or the Test-VMReplicationConnection PowerShell cmdlet to test the replication and failover process.
Configuring Network Services
The third domain of the MCSA 70-410 exam is configuring network services. In this domain, you need to demonstrate your ability to perform the following tasks:
Configure IPv4 and IPv6 addressing and subnetting
Configure DHCP and DNS servers and clients
Implement IP security policies and firewall rules
How to configure IPv4 and IPv6 addressing and subnetting?
the Network and Sharing Center in the Control Panel or the Netsh command-line tool. IPv4 and IPv6 are protocols that assign unique identifiers (IP addresses) to devices on a network and enable communication between them. Subnetting is a technique that divides a network into smaller segments (subnets) and assigns a range of IP addresses to each subnet.
To configure IPv4 addressing and subnetting on your server, you need to perform the following steps:
Assign a static or dynamic IPv4 address to your server. A static IPv4 address is a fixed address that you manually configure on your server. A dynamic IPv4 address is an address that you obtain automatically from a DHCP server.
Assign a subnet mask to your server. A subnet mask is a 32-bit number that defines the size and structure of your subnet. It determines which part of the IPv4 address represents the network ID and which part represents the host ID.
Assign a default gateway to your server. A default gateway is a device (such as a router) that connects your subnet to other subnets or networks. It provides a route for your server to communicate with devices outside your subnet.
Assign one or more DNS servers to your server. A DNS server is a device (such as a server) that resolves host names (such as www.example.com) to IP addresses (such as 192.168.1.1). It provides a service for your server to locate devices on the network by their names.
To configure IPv6 addressing and subnetting on your server, you need to perform the following steps:
Assign a static or dynamic IPv6 address to your server. A static IPv6 address is a fixed address that you m