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MCSE
All MCSEs are required to know a certain level of knowledge to get their job done. With technology changing so rapidly, it is hard to keep up on the latest and greatest Windows technologies. This track is geared to the professional MCSE that must keep their knowledge fresh, but has limited time to learn the new technology. These sessions will give you a broad, yet very deep view of some of the most important technologies an MCSE must know. We will cover Active Directory, DNS, network management, awesome tools, virtualization, Group Policy, and much, much more. When you are done with your week, you will feel as if you just sat six months worth of Microsoft training, without all of the waiting for the slow students in the class!
Managing Files, Folders, Registry and AD objects
12:30 – 2:00pm
Derek Melber
You have some files, folders, computers, and Active Directory objects stored somewhere on your network Are they secured? This session covers some of the key control mechanisms you can use to lock down these resources, while allowing users to maintain access to them. You’ll learn about key concepts like NTFS permissions, Access Based Enumeration, Encrypting File System and Distributed File System. This session will also cover how to grant users access to these resources simply by using Group Policy.
IIS: Internet and Intranet
2:15 – 3:45pm
Chris McCain
Does your company have a Web presence? Of course it does. Microsoft’s Internet Information Services is a versatile technology that can serve many purposes for the Web. This session will look at common IIS deployments for internal and external networks. See how Microsoft’s Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2006 can help you deploy a secure IIS implementation by pre-authenticating users and providing reverse proxy servers for internal Web services. You’ll also see how IIS functions as the core for Windows SharePoint Services, WSUS and other common Web Applications in a Windows Network.
Delegating and Auditing within Active Directory
4:00 – 5:30pm
Derek Melber
Take control over your Active Directory infrastructure. Microsoft provided delegation of authority within Active Directory, but are you using it properly? This session will cover the delegation model built into Active Directory, hit some key areas to make your delegation more powerful and give you some design tips. Once you have delegation in place, now you need to audit what everyone is doing in Active Directory. You’ll learn everything you need to make great decisions with your delegation of Active Directory.
Windows Terminal Services vs. Citrix: Which One Wins?
10:15 – 11:45am
Greg Shields
In one corner, we have a low-cost, manual solution for remote application access. In the other, we have a higher-cost and somewhat automated solution for the same problem. Which do you choose? It really depends on what you need. In this face-off between terminal services and Citrix, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of both approaches. Focusing heavily on Terminal Server in Server 2008 and Citrix Presentation Server 4.5, we’ll talk candidly about the features you should care about and those to ignore. You’ll leave being able to decide on a solid winner for your network’s remote access solution.
Real World PKI and Certificate Implementation
2:30 – 4:00pm
Chris McCain
Do you think PKI is too hard to implement or not a right fit for you? Think again. This is the true story of an often avoided technology and how you can use it to secure your network environment from the user to the client to the server. You’ll learn how to implement and manage a stable and secure PKI implementation with a look at tips, best practices and the most common real world scenarios.
Using IPSec and other Network Security Techniques
4:15 – 5:45pm
Chris McCain
Do you feel you’re in a battle for network security supremacy? Join this session to get a solid understanding of three common network security practices: IPsec, SSL and SMB Signing. You’ll get a close look at the strengths, advantages and disadvantages of each security technique. In the session, you’ll be able to watch demos of quick and easy ways to increase security for individual servers or groups of servers using local security policy and Group Policy.
Clustering: When and Where to use it
8:30 – 10:00am
Chris McCain
Does clustering seem like a black, mystical box? Windows Clustering is often considered a difficult and highly technical technology. This session will demystify and break down the clustering concept and identify the appropriate usage scenarios -- SQL Clusters, Exchange Clusters and more. You’ll see demonstrations, best practices and tips for implementing Windows Server Clusters. The session will also include a look at how to build hot sites with geographically dispersed clusters.
Managing DNS in an Active Directory Environment
10:15 – 11:45am
Rhonda Layfield
DNS is easily the most critical component in an Active Directory environment. When it’s not working properly, people notice. This session will turn you into a DNS black belt, covering the basics and taking you through the most advanced features such as service locator records, secure zone transfers and Longhorn’s new DName records. Understanding how DNS really works will help you when it comes time for troubleshooting.
Wireless Networking and Security Essentials
2:30 – 4:00pm
Todd Logan
Want a better wireless experience from your computer? There are a significant new features, enhancements, and updates in the areas architecture, user interface, security and performance to wireless networking in Windows Vista. In this session, you’ll learn about user interface improvements for wireless connections and changes in Wireless Auto Configuration. You’ll learn about the significant changes made to the wireless architecture and new wireless Group Policies you can use to configure fast roaming and auto configuration. If that isn’t enough, you’ll also learn about the new diagnostic tools that help troubleshoot wireless connection issues. This session is intended for administrators with previous wireless experience.
Recipes for Scripting: Automating without Becoming a Programmer
4:15 – 5:45pm
Don Jones
Sure, you want to script. You just don’t have time to learn how, right? Let Don Jones, PowerShell MVP and author of Windows Administrator’s Automation Toolkit, give you a cookbook full of scripting “recipes” that let you automate key administrative tasks without writing a line of scripting code. You’ll get a quick walk-through of each script, which is a great way to learn scripting basics. You’ll learn how to use easy-to-assemble “snippets” as the building blocks of your own power-packed scripts (sorry, snippets and batteries not included). You’ll get all the scripts used in the session so you can immediately put them to use in your production environments.
Managing and Monitoring Windows and Active Directory Performance (Layfield)
8:30 – 10:00am
Rhonda Layfield
How do you know when you need to add more RAM or hard drive space to a server? Monitoring your AD and server performance can help to save you time and money by heading off issues before they actually become issues. In this session, you’ll learn about the various System Monitor objects and counters that can indicate downward trends and give you a chance to alleviate problems before your users are aware of them at all. Netdiag, DCDiag, Repadmin, Replmon are just a few of the tools we will cover.
Where and When to use Server Virtualization
10:15 – 11:45am
Chris McCain
To “V” or Not to “V”? That is the question. Virtualization is quickly becoming a common data center practice. Today’s network architects and administrators must be able to understand the principals and practices behind virtualization in order to identify the appropriate scenarios for virtualizing servers in the data center. This session will cover tips, best practices, and real world scenarios for implementing virtual servers in a small business or enterprise environment.
The Best Free Tools for Windows Server Administration
1:00 – 2:30pm
Greg Shields
Why buy anything if you can get it for free? With hundreds of free tools out on the Internet, you can find one that will do just about anything. Finding the right one is the hard part. Considered a must-see session, come see Master Toolsmith and Windows Insider columnist Greg Shields. He’ll share the free tools in his quiver that help ease the burden of systems administration – without having to beg for money from the boss.
GPOs Soup to Nuts
2:45 – 4:15pm
Derek Melber
Do you want to know all there is to know about Group Policy? Spend the day with Group Policy MVP and author of The Group Policy Guide, Derek Melber, and he’ll cover everything you need to know about Group Policy. If you’re already a guru, have no fear. Derek will fill in those small gaps of knowledge regarding Group Policy. He’ll cover Group Policy management, processing, application, design, architecture and more. When you leave, you will have the core knowledge of Group Policy that you need.
Good GPO Management: GPMC - Better GPO Management: AGPM
8:30 – 10:00am
Derek Melber
You want to get a better handle on your Group Policy management? Microsoft has come to your rescue by providing the perfect solution for you: Advanced Group Policy Management. This new tool is a must have for any Active Directory and Group Policy environment. The AGPM solves all the nagging issues you may have experienced. You’ll see the power of AGPM’s offline editing, rollback, change management and much more.
Active Directory Sysvol Replication Today and Tomorrow
10:15 – 11:45am
Rhonda Layfield
Have the contents of Sysvol ever failed to replicate to a particular domain controller? If so, you’re not alone. With the right knowledge, troubleshooting replication issues has never been easier. This session will explain in detail both the legacy replication engine -- called the File Replication Service -- and the new and improved DFS-R. When you leave this session, you’ll be armed with the knowledge and tools needed to ensure that your Sysvol replication is consistent and reliable.
