Chapter 1, Getting Started with Windows Server 2019, gives us an introduction to the new operating system and an overview of the new technologies and capabilities that it can provide. We will also spend a little bit of time exploring the updated interface for those who may not be comfortable with it yet.
Chapter 2, Installing and Managing Windows Server 2019, dives right into the very first thing we will have to do when working with Server 2019; installing it! While this seems like a simple task, there are a number of versioning and licensing variables that need to be understood before you proceed with your own install. From there, we will start to expand upon Microsoft's centralized management mentality, exploring the ways in which we can now manage and interact with our servers without ever having to log into them.
Chapter 3, Core Infrastructure Services, gives us a solid baseline on the technologies that make up the infrastructure of any Microsoft-centric network. We will discuss the big three—Active Directory (AD), Domain Name System (DNS), and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)—and also address some server backup capabilities, as well as a cheat-sheet list of Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and Microsoft Configuration (MSC) shortcuts to make your day job easier.
Chapter 4, Certificates in Windows Server 2019, jumps into one of the pieces of Windows Server that has existed for many years and yet, the majority of server administrators that I meet are unfamiliar with it. Let's take a closer look at certificates as they become more and more commonly required for the new technologies that we roll out. By the end of this chapter, you should be able to spin up your own PKI and start issuing certificates for free!
Chapter 5, Networking with Windows Server 2019, begins with an introduction to that big, scary IPv6, and continues from there into building a toolbox of items that are baked into Windows Server 2019 and can be used in your daily networking tasks. We will also discuss Software-Defined Networking.
Chapter 6, Enabling Your Mobile Workforce, takes a look at the different remote access technologies that are built into Windows Server 2019. Follow along as we explore the capabilities provided by VPN, DirectAccess, Web Application Proxy, and the brand new Always On VPN.
Chapter 7, Hardening and Security, gives some insight into security and encryption functions that are built into Windows Server 2019. Security is the priority focus of CIOs everywhere this year, so let's explore what protection mechanisms are available to us out of the box.
Chapter 8, Server Core, throws us into the shrinking world of headless servers. Server Core has flown under the radar for a number of years, but is critical to understand as we bring our infrastructures into a more security-conscious mindset. Let's make sure you have the information necessary to make your environment more secure and more efficient, all while lowering the amount of space and resources that are consumed by those servers.
Chapter 9, Redundancy in Windows Server 2019, takes a look at some platforms in Server 2019 that provide powerful data and computing redundancy. Follow along as we discuss Network Load Balancing, Failover Clustering, and information on the updated Storage Spaces Direct.
Chapter 10, PowerShell, gets us into the new, blue command-line interface so that we can become comfortable using it, and also learn why it is so much more powerful than Command Prompt. PowerShell is quickly becoming an indispensable tool for administering servers, especially in cases where you are adopting a centralized management and administration mindset.
Chapter 11, Containers and Nano Server, incorporates the terms open source and Linux in a Microsoft book! Application containers are quickly becoming the new standard for hosting modern, scalable applications. Learn how to start enhancing your DevOps story through the use of tools such as Windows Server Containers, Hyper-V Containers, Docker, and Kubernetes.
Chapter 12, Virtualizing Your Data Center with Hyper-V, covers a topic that every server administrator should be very familiar with. Organizations have been moving their servers over to virtual machines in mass quantities for many years. Let's use this chapter to make sure you understand how that hypervisor works, and give you the resources required to build and manage one if and when you have the need.
