Sybex - CompTia Server+ Study Guide 2nd Edition

(1)

To realize the full potential of this Sybex electronic book, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader with

Search installed on your computer. To find out if you have the correct version of Acrobat Reader, click on

the Edit menu—Search should be an option within this menu file. If Search is not an option in the Edit

menu, please exit this application and install Adobe Acrobat Reader with Search from this CD

(double-click rp500en

u.exe in the Adobe folder).

Navigation

To search, click the Search Query button

on the toolbar

or choose Edit >Search > Query to open the Search window. In

the Adobe Acrobat Search dialog’s text field, type the text you

want to find and click Search.

Use the Search Next button (Control+U) and Search

Previous button (Control+Y) to go to other matches in

the book. The Search command also has powerful tools for

limiting and expanding the definition of the term you are

searching for. Refer to Acrobat's online Help (Help > Plug-In

Help > Using Acrobat Search) for more information.

Click here to begin using

Search

Navigate through the book by clicking on the headings that appear in the left panel; the corresponding page from the book displays in the right panel.

(2)

Server+

TM

Study Guide

Second Edition

Brad Hryhoruk

Diana Bartley

Quentin Docter

(3)

Associate Publisher: Neil Edde

Acquisitions and Developmental Editor: Elizabeth Hurley Editor: Linda Stephenson

Production Editor: Liz Burke

Technical Editors: Andre Paree-Huff, Andy Barkl Graphic Illustrator: Tony Jonick

Electronic Publishing Specialist: Interactive Composition Corporation Proofreaders: Nancy Riddiough, Dave Nash, Laurie O’Connell, Richard Ganis Indexer: Lynnzee Elze

CD Coordinator: Dan Mummert CD Technician: Kevin Ly Book Designer: Bill Gibson Cover Designer: Archer Design

Cover Illustrator/Photographer: Natural Selection

Copyright © 2002 SYBEX Inc., 1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501. World rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or reproduced in any way, including but not limited to photo-copy, photograph, magnetic, or other record, without the prior agreement and written permission of the publisher. First Edition copyright © 2001 SYBEX Inc.

Library of Congress Card Number: 2001099339 ISBN: 0-7821-4087-4

SYBEX and the SYBEX logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of SYBEX Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Internet screen shot(s) using Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 reprinted by permission from Microsoft Corporation. SYBEX is an independent entity from Citrix Systems, Inc., and not affiliated with Citrix Systems, Inc. in any manner. This publication may be used in assisting students to prepare for a Citrix Certified Administrator Exam. Neither Citrix Systems, its designated review company, nor SYBEX warrants that use of this publication will ensure passing the relevant exam. Cit-rix is either a registered trademark or trademark of CitCit-rix Systems, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. TRADEMARKS: SYBEX has attempted throughout this book to distinguish proprietary trademarks from descriptive terms by following the capitalization style used by the manufacturer.

The author and publisher have made their best efforts to prepare this book, and the content is based upon final release soft-ware whenever possible. Portions of the manuscript may be based upon pre-release versions supplied by softsoft-ware manu-facturer(s). The author and the publisher make no representation or warranties of any kind with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents herein and accept no liability of any kind including but not limited to performance, merchant-ability, fitness for any particular purpose, or any losses or damages of any kind caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly from this book.

Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

(4)

To Our Valued Readers:

Sybex is proud to have served as a cornerstone member of CompTIA’s Server+ Advisory Committee. Just as CompTIA is committed to establishing measurable standards for certifying individuals who will support server environments in the future, Sybex is committed to providing those individuals with the skills needed to meet those standards. By working alongside CompTIA, and in conjunction with other esteemed members of the Server+ committee, it is our desire to help bridge the knowledge and skills gap that currently confronts the IT industry.

In the year since its release, the Server+ has gained industry-wide recognition as a solid indicator of competency in server technologies. Microsoft recently incorporated the Server+ certification into their new MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Associate) program as an elective option when paired with CompTIA’s A+ certification. Such integration into vendor-specific certification programs is a strong endorsement for Server+ and bodes well for those who possess it.

Our authors, editors, and technical reviewers have worked hard to ensure that this Server+ Study Guide is comprehensive, in-depth, and pedagogically sound. We’re confident that this books will meet and exceed the demanding standards of the certification marketplace and help you, the Server+ exam can-didate, succeed in your endeavors.

Good luck in pursuit of your Server+ certification!

Neil Edde

Associate Publisher—Certification Sybex, Inc.

(5)

Software License Agreement: Terms and Conditions

The media and/or any online materials accompanying this book that are available now or in the future contain pro-grams and/or text files (the “Software”) to be used in connec-tion with the book. SYBEX hereby grants to you a license to use the Software, subject to the terms that follow. Your pur-chase, acceptance, or use of the Software will constitute your acceptance of such terms.

The Software compilation is the property of SYBEX unless otherwise indicated and is protected by copyright to SYBEX or other copyright owner(s) as indicated in the media files (the “Owner(s)”). You are hereby granted a single-user license to use the Software for your personal, noncommercial use only. You may not reproduce, sell, distribute, publish, circulate, or commercially exploit the Software, or any por-tion thereof, without the written consent of SYBEX and the specific copyright owner(s) of any component software included on this media.

In the event that the Software or components include specific license requirements or end-user agreements, statements of condition, disclaimers, limitations or warranties (“End-User License”), those End-User Licenses supersede the terms and conditions herein as to that particular Software component. Your purchase, acceptance, or use of the Software will con-stitute your acceptance of such End-User Licenses. By purchase, use or acceptance of the Software you further agree to comply with all export laws and regulations of the United States as such laws and regulations may exist from time to time.

Software Support

Components of the supplemental Software and any offers associated with them may be supported by the specific Owner(s) of that material, but they are not supported by SYBEX. Information regarding any available support may be obtained from the Owner(s) using the information provided in the appropriate read.me files or listed elsewhere on the media.

Should the manufacturer(s) or other Owner(s) cease to offer support or decline to honor any offer, SYBEX bears no responsibility. This notice concerning support for the Soft-ware is provided for your information only. SYBEX is not the agent or principal of the Owner(s), and SYBEX is in no way responsible for providing any support for the Software, nor is it liable or responsible for any support provided, or not pro-vided, by the Owner(s).

Warranty

SYBEX warrants the enclosed media to be free of physical defects for a period of ninety (90) days after purchase. The Software is not available from SYBEX in any other form or media than that enclosed herein or posted to www.sybex.com.

If you discover a defect in the media during this warranty period, you may obtain a replacement of identical format at no charge by sending the defective media, postage prepaid, with proof of purchase to:

SYBEX Inc.

Product Support Department 1151 Marina Village Parkway Alameda, CA 94501

Web: http://www.sybex.com

After the 90-day period, you can obtain replacement media of identical format by sending us the defective disk, proof of purchase, and a check or money order for $10, payable to SYBEX.

Disclaimer

SYBEX makes no warranty or representation, either expressed or implied, with respect to the Software or its con-tents, quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will SYBEX, its distributors, or dealers be liable to you or any other party for direct, indi-rect, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages arising out of the use of or inability to use the Software or its contents even if advised of the possibility of such damage. In the event that the Software includes an online update feature, SYBEX further disclaims any obligation to provide this fea-ture for any specific duration other than the initial posting. The exclusion of implied warranties is not permitted by some states. Therefore, the above exclusion may not apply to you. This warranty provides you with specific legal rights; there may be other rights that you may have that vary from state to state. The pricing of the book with the Software by SYBEX reflects the allocation of risk and limitations on liability con-tained in this agreement of Terms and Conditions.

Shareware Distribution

This Software may contain various programs that are distrib-uted as shareware. Copyright laws apply to both shareware and ordinary commercial software, and the copyright Owner(s) retains all rights. If you try a shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register it. Individ-ual programs differ on details of trial periods, registration, and payment. Please observe the requirements stated in appropriate files.

Copy Protection

The Software in whole or in part may or may not be copy-protected or encrypted. However, in all cases, reselling or redistributing these files without authorization is expressly forbidden except as specifically provided for by the Owner(s) therein.

(6)

This book is dedicated to my motivation, strength, and support. —Brad Hryhoruk

To Kara and Abbie. —Quentin Docter

(7)

Acknowledgments

I

n creating a project of this magnitude there are a great number of peo-ple involved. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who helped make this book a reality. Liz Burke and Elizabeth Hurley have been wonderfully supportive and patient with me as I worked toward this goal. Special thanks to Linda Stephenson for her support and positive criticism throughout this entire process. I would also like to acknowledge Martial Marcoux. Thank you for your enduring support and friendship over the years and especially your support and strength in the last few months. I would not have made it with out you. Finally I would like to mention my close friends Nancy and Jerret. The two of you have helped me in more ways then I can ever repay.

—Brad Hryhoruk I would like to thank my wife Kara for her unwavering support and uncon-ditional love. I would also like to thank the entire Sybex crew. You are all great to work with, and very under appreciated.

—Quentin Docter To the talented staff who assisted us in this undertaking: Liz Burke, Elizabeth Hurley, Andre Paree-Huff, Andy Barkl, Nancy Riddiough, Dave Nash, Laurie O’Connell, Richard Ganis, Lynnzee Elze, Stacey Loomis, Dan Mummert, and Kevin Ly. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to this project.

(8)

Introduction

W

elcome to the Sybex Server+ Certification Study Guide. The pur-pose of this text is to assist you in preparing to challenge and succeed at the CompTIA Server+ Exam. This book was created with the understanding that you have already successfully completed your A+ certification. Several key elements in the A+ certification are built upon within the Server+ certifica-tion. On their website (www.comptia.com) CompTIA recommends that can-didates wishing to achieve Server+ certification first obtain their A+. From my experience with the Server+ Exam, I recommend also obtaining your Network+ certification prior to attempting the Server+. Concepts dealing with networking and network protocols are covered very well in the Net-work+ Study Guide, by David Groth (Sybex, 2001), and appear within the Server+ Exam questions.

This text contains several key elements that will assist you on this journey to Server+ certification. Each chapter begins with an objective outline. The objectives are outlined in detail later in the introduction, but for now you should know that they are the key elements that you are expected to know in detail. This will help you focus your studies on the specifics of the objec-tives at hand. Each chapter in this book prepares you for the detailed objectives that are covered in the exam.

Throughout each chapter there are also real world scenarios. These are real experiences: some describe good situations and others serve as a warning. Either good or bad, they serve as a means of seeing in action the information learned.

At times in the chapters, warnings will be given. Performing certain tasks could pose a threat to server or user safety. Other times the warning is used to draw your attention to a serious matter that requires your complete focus. Each time that a warning appears, you will see a small bomb icon.

This is an example of how a warning will be presented within a chapter. Please be sure to read every warning carefully before proceeding with the activity.

Chapters end with several important elements. These include a chapter summary, exam essentials, key terms, and review questions.

The chapter summary gives a brief explanation of the key essential com-ponents of each major topic covered in the chapter. This serves as a refresher

(9)

xxiv Introduction

to you as well as a means of finding out if you remember the major features discussed.

Exam essentials are brief statements (one sentence) that reemphasize the most important points that you need to be aware of prior to taking the exam. Each statement is followed by a brief explanation of why this point is essen-tial. Be sure to know these essentials before proceeding to the next chapter. Key terms are exactly what the name implies: a collection of important terms unique to the chapter and exam. They are defined within the context of the chapter and then sorted into a list at the end of the chapter. You need to be aware of these terms as well as their meanings in order to successfully challenge the Server+ Exam.

The most significant feature in our Study Guides is the practice exam. Each chapter includes 20 review questions at the end. These practice ques-tions test your comprehension of the information and key details covered in each chapter. It is imperative that you work through these chapter tests. They not only help you remember the information presented in the chapters, but also assist you in preparing for the real Server+ Exam.

Don’t just study the questions and answers—the questions on the actual exam will be different from the practice ones included in this book and on the CD. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of a concept or objective, so use this book to learn the objective behind the question.

What Is Server+ Certification?

T

he Server+ certification was created by the Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) with the purpose of providing a vendor-neutral means of certifying the competency of a Server Hardware Specialist. A Server Hardware Specialist is someone who spends time solving problems to ensure that servers are functional and applications remain available. The specialist should have an in-depth understanding of how to plan a network and how to install, configure, and maintain a server. This should include knowing the hardware that goes into a server implementation, how data storage subsystems work, the basics of data recovery, and how I/O sub-systems work. CompTIA recommends that Server+ candidates have between

(10)

Introduction xxv

18 and 24 months of experience in the server technology industry, as well as experience working on a server. This will provide you with the essential hands-on experience to understand as well as work through the concepts successfully. A Server+ specialist should be able to demonstrate competency in the following areas:

Has in-depth knowledge of servers, including working knowledge of

troubleshooting, physical security, and disaster recovery. Can recover from a server failure.

_{Ensures high availability by meeting the Service Level Agreement}

requirements, including proactively recognizing and responding to problems and performing recovery.

Has thorough working knowledge of hardware configuration and

net-work connectivity. Includes the ability to perform problem determi-nation for all aspects of the server (hardware, software, networking).

_{Installs and configures server hardware to meet application}

requirements.

_{Implements current and emerging data storage and transfer}

technolo-gies such as SCSI and RAID.

_{Has a thorough working knowledge of networking protocols (e.g.,}

TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, SNMP, DMI) for diagnosing the impact of the net-work on the server and vice versa.

Provides support, including second-level support, for resellers and end

users.

Performs maintenance on server systems, data storage subsystems,

and network devices.

Has good planning and integration skills to be able to upgrade a server

without impacting network users; increase storage capacity without impacting network users; design and implement a data recovery plan in the event of a network device failure; and perform peripheral upgrades, BIOS upgrades, memory upgrades, processor upgrades, mass storage upgrades, and adapter upgrades

Demonstrates high levels of leadership through mentoring and training others in server concepts and operations.

(11)

xxvi Introduction

Why Become Server+ Certified?

O

btaining the Server+ Certification will open several doors for you. Not only is it gratifying to know you have obtained a personal growth achievement, but you are also improving your employability skills. The Server+ certification demonstrates a proof of professional achievement. You will receive a certificate for framing and a wallet card. It increases your marketability in today’s information technology–driven industry. Having your Server+ certification also will help your pursuit for advancement in the computer field. If you are hoping to become involved or more involved in computer technical work, having your Server+ certification will assist tremendously in validating your commitment and expertise.

There are a number of reasons for becoming Server+ certified:

_{It demonstrates proof of professional achievement.} It increases your marketability.

_{It provides greater opportunity for advancement in your field.} It is increasingly found as a requirement for some types of advanced

training.

It raises customer confidence in you and your company’s services.

Let’s explore each reason in detail.

Provides Proof of Professional Achievement

Specialized certifications are the best way to stand out from the crowd. In this age of technology certifications, you will find hundreds of thousands of administrators who have successfully completed the Microsoft and Novell certification tracks. To set yourself apart from the crowd, you need a little bit more. The Server+ exam is the starting point for the Server Specialist and will give you the recognition you deserve.

Increases Your Marketability

Almost anyone can bluff their way through an interview. Once you have cer-tified in an area such as Server+, you will have the credentials to prove your competency. And certifications are not something that can be taken from you when you change jobs. Once certified, you can take that certification with you to any of the positions you accept.

(12)

Introduction xxvii

Provides Opportunity for Advancement

Those individuals who prove themselves as competent and dedicated are the ones who will most likely be promoted. Becoming certified is a great way to prove your skill level and shows your employers that you are committed to improving your skill set. Look around you at those who are certified. They are probably the ones who receive good pay, raises, and promotions when they come up.

Fulfills Training Requirements

Many companies have set training requirements for their staff so that they stay up-to-date on the latest technologies. Having a Server+ certification pro-vides administrators another certification path to follow when they have exhausted some of the other industry-standard certifications.

Raises Customer Confidence

As companies discover the advantages of having staff with the Server+ cer-tification, they will undoubtedly want staff to challenge for this certification. Many companies outsource the work to consulting firms with experience working with servers. Those firms that have certified staff have a definite advantage over other firms that do not.

How to Become Server

+

Certified

T

here is only one exam that you must pass in order to achieve your Server+ certification (SKO-001). This exam is administered by Sylvan Prometric and can be taken at any authorized Prometric testing center. To locate the closest testing center to you, call 1 800 755-EXAM. If you want to register for your Server+ Exam, you can call the exam registration at 1-800-776-4276. If you have not booked an exam through Sylvan Prometric before, you will need give them your name, social security number, mailing address, phone number, employer, and a credit card number for payment. If you choose, you can also register for the test at the Sylvan Prometric online registration site (www.2test.com).

In order to obtain your Server+ certification, you must achieve a passing mark of at least 75 percent on the 80-question exam in the 90 minutes

(13)

xxviii Introduction

allocated. All the questions are multiple choice and can contain one or more answers. The questions are often tricky, often with several possibly correct answers. You must select the most correct answer. Be sure to read each question carefully. The Server+ Exam at this time is not adaptive. This means that you can skip questions and come back to them at a later point in the exam. CompTIA has not announced a date that the Server+ Exam will become adaptive, or in fact whether it will at all.

Who Should Buy This Book?

I

f you want to acquire a solid foundation in Server+, this book is for you. You’ll find clear explanations of the concepts you need to grasp and plenty of help to achieve the high level of professional competency you need in order to succeed in your chosen field.

If you want to become certified as a Server+ technician, this book is definitely for you. However, if you just want to attempt to pass the exam without really understanding servers, this study guide is not for you. It is written for people who want to acquire hands-on skills and in-depth knowledge of network servers.

How to Use This Book and the CD

W

e’ve included several testing features in both the book and on the CD-ROM bound at the front of the book. These tools will help you retain vital exam content as well as prepare to sit for the actual exam. Using our custom test engine, you can identify weak areas up front and then develop a solid studying strategy using each of these robust testing features. Our thor-ough readme will walk you thrthor-ough the quick and easy installation process.

Before You Begin At the beginning of the book (right after this intro-duction, in fact) is an assessment test that you can use to check your readi-ness for the actual exam. Take this test before you start reading the book. It will help you determine the areas you may need to brush up on. The answers to each assessment test appear on a separate page after the last question of the test. Each answer also includes an explanation and a note telling you in which chapter this material appears.

(14)

Introduction xxix

Chapter Review Questions To test your knowledge as you progress through the book, there are review questions at the end of each chapter. As you finish each chapter, answer the review questions and then check to see if your answers are right—the correct answers appear on the page fol-lowing the last review question. You can go back to reread the section that deals with each question you got wrong to ensure that you get the answer correctly the next time you are tested on the material.

Electronic “Flashcards” You’ll also find 150 flashcard questions for on-the-go review. Download them right onto your Palm device for quick and convenient reviewing.

Test Engine In addition to the assessment test and the chapter review tests, you’ll find two sample exams. Take these practice exams just as if you were taking the actual exam (i.e., without any reference material). When you have finished the first exam, move onto the next one to solidify your test-taking skills. If you get more than 90 percent of the answers cor-rect, you’re ready to go ahead and take the certification exam.

Full Text of the Book in PDF Also, if you have to travel but still need to study for the Server+ exam and you have a laptop with a CD-ROM drive, you can carry this entire book with you just by taking along the CD-ROM. The CD-ROM contains this book in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format so it can be easily read on any computer.

Exam Objectives

A

s with the other CompTIA certifications, a series of exam objectives or topics have been identified by the Advisory Committee as being key to becoming certified as a competent technician. In the Server+ certification, these objectives fall under seven major areas: installation, configuration, upgrading, proactive maintenance, environment, troubleshooting and prob-lem determination, and disaster recovery. Each key area is weighted on the

Exam objectives are subject to change at any time without prior notice and at CopmTIA’s sole discretion. Please visit the Certification page of CompTIA website at www.comptia.org for the most current listing of exam objectives.

(15)

exam differently. The exam weights are set to focus on the areas that a server technician needs to be most knowledgeable in.

Behind every computer industry exam you are sure to find exam objec-tives—the broad topics on which the exam developers want to ensure your competency. The official Server+ exam objectives are listed here.

Server+ Exam Blueprint

1.0 Installation (17%)

1.1 Conduct pre-installation planning activities

Plan the installation _{Verify the installation plan}

Verify hardware compatibility with operating system _{Verify power sources, space, UPS and network availability} Verify that all correct components and cables have been delivered

1.2 Install hardware using ESD best practices (boards, drives, processors, memory, internal cable, etc.)

_{Mount the rack installation} Cut and crimp network cabling _{Install UPS}

Job Dimension % of Exam (approximate)

1.0 Installation 17%

2.0 Configuration 18%

3.0 Upgrading 12%

4.0 Proactive Maintenance 9%

5.0 Environment 5%

6.0 Troubleshooting and Problem Determination

27% 7.0 Disaster Recovery 12%

(16)

_{Verify SCSI ID configuration and termination}

Install external devices (e.g., keyboards, monitors, subsystems,

modem rack, etc.)

Verify power-on via power-on sequence

2.0 Configuration (18%)

2.1 Check/upgrade BIOS/firmware levels (system board, RAID, controller, hard drive, etc.)

2.2 Configure RAID 2.3 Install NOS

Configure network and verify network connectivity Verify network connectivity

2.4 Configure external peripherals (UPS, external drive subsystems, etc.) 2.5 Install NOS updates to design specifications

2.6 Update manufacturer specific drivers

2.7 Install service tools (SNMP, backup software, system monitoring agents, event logs, etc.)

2.8 Perform Server baseline 2.9 Document the configuration

3.0 Upgrading (12%)

3.1 Perform full backup

Verify backup

3.2 Add Processors

On single processor upgrade, verify compatibility _{Verify N 1 stepping}

Verify speed and cache matching _{Perform BIOS upgrade}

(17)

_{Perform OS upgrade to support multiprocessors}

Perform upgrade checklist, including: locate/obtain latest test drivers,

OS updates, software, etc.; review FAQs, instruction, facts and issues; test and pilot; schedule downtime; implement ESD best practices; confirm that upgrade has been recognized; review and baseline; doc-ument upgrade.

3.3 Add hard drives

Verify that drives are the appropriate type _{Confirm termination and cabling}

For ATA/IDE drives, confirm cabling, master/slave and potential

cross-brand compatibility

Upgrade mass storage _{Add drives to array} Replace existing drives

_{Integrate into storage solution and make it available to the operating}

system

_{Perform upgrade checklist, including: locate and obtain latest test}

drivers, OS updates, software, etc.; Review FAQs, instructions, facts and issues; test and pilot; schedule downtime; implement using ESD best practices; confirm that the upgrade has been recognized; review and baseline; document the upgrade.

3.4 Increase memory

_{Verify hardware and OS support for capacity increase} Verify memory is on hardware/vendor compatibility list

_{Verify memory compatibility (e.g., speed, brand, capacity, EDO,}

ECC/non-ECC, SDRAM/RDRAM)

_{Perform upgrade checklist including: locate and obtain latest test}

drivers, OS updates, software, etc.; review FAQs, instructions, facts and issues; test and pilot; schedule downtime; implement using ESD best practices; confirm that the upgrade has been recognized; review and baseline; document the upgrade

(18)

_{Verify that server and OS recognize the added memory} Perform server optimization to make use of additional RAM

3.5 Upgrade BIOS/firmware

Perform upgrade checklist including: locate and obtain latest test

3.6 Upgrade adapters (e.g., NICs, SCSI cards, RAID, etc.)

3.7 Upgrade peripheral devices, internal and external

Verify appropriate system resources (e.g., expansion slots, IRQ,

DMA, etc.)

3.8 Upgrade system-monitoring agents

3.9 Upgrade service tools (e.g., diagnostic tools, EISA configuration, diagnostic partition, SSU, etc.)

_{Perform upgrade checklist including: locate and obtain latest test}

drivers, OS updates, software, etc.; review FAQs, instructions, facts and issues; test and pilot; schedule downtime; implement using ESD

(19)

best practices; confirm that the upgrade has been recognized; review and baseline; document the upgrade

3.10 Upgrade UPS

4.0 Proactive Maintenance (9%)

4.1 Perform regular backup

4.2 Create baseline and compare performance 4.3 Set SNMP thresholds

4.4 Perform physical housekeeping 4.5 Perform hardware verification 4.6 Establish remote notification

5.0 Environment (5%)

5.1 Recognize and report on physical security issues

_{Limit access to server room and backup tapes} Ensure physical locks exist on doors

_{Establish anti-theft devices for hardware (lock server racks)}

5.2 Recognize and report on server room environmental issues (tempera-ture, humidity/ESD/ power surges, back-up generator/fire suppression/ flood considerations)

6.0 Troubleshooting and Problem Determination (27%)

6.1 Perform problem determination

Use questioning techniques to determine what, how, when. Identify contact(s) responsible for problem resolution

(20)

_{Use senses to observe problem (e.g., smell of smoke, observation of}

unhooked cable, etc.)

6.2 Use diagnostic hardware and software tools and utilities

_{Identify common diagnostic tools across the following OS: Microsoft}

Windows NT/2000; Novell Netware, UNIX, Linux, IBM OS/2

Perform shut down across the following OS: Microsoft Windows NT/

2000, Novell Netware, UNIX, Linux, IBM OS/2

_{Select the appropriate tool} Use the selected tool effectively

_{Replace defective hardware components as appropriate} Identify defective FRUs and replace with correct part

_{Interpret error logs, operating system errors, health logs, and critical}

events

_{Use documentation from previous technician successfully}

Locate and effectively use hot tips (e.g., fixes, OS updates, E-support,

web pages, CDs)

Gather resources to get problem solved: identify situations requiring

call for assistance; acquire appropriate documentation

Describe how to perform remote troubleshooting for a wake-on-LAN _{Describe how to perform remote troubleshooting for a remote alert.}

6.3 Identify bottlenecks (e.g., processor, bus transfer, I/O, disk I/O, network I/O, memory)

6.4 Identify and correct misconfigurations and/or upgrades 6.5 Determine if problem is hardware, software or virus related

7.0 Disaster Recovery (12%)

7.1 Plan for disaster recovery

Plan for redundancy (e.g., hard drives, power supplies, fans, NICs,

(21)

_{Use the technique of hot swap, warm swap and hot spare to ensure}

availability

_{Use the concepts of fault tolerance/fault recovery to create a disaster}

recovery plan

_{Develop disaster recovery plan} Identify types of backup hardware

_{Identify types of backup and restoration schemes} Confirm and use off site storage for backup

_{Document and test disaster recovery plan regularly, and update}

as needed 7.2 Restoring

Identify hardware replacements _{Identify hot and cold sites}

Implement disaster recovery plan.

Tips for Taking the Server+ Exam

As you reach your final steps in preparing for the Server+ Exam, keep a few general tips in mind:

Try to arrive at your exam early. This will allow you to familiarize

yourself with the location and exam setting. You can (try to) relax and collect yourself for the task ahead.

Bring two forms of identification. It helps to have a photo

identifica-tion. You will be required to sign in and the examiner will perform some last-minute registration with you.

Ask for a pen and sheet of paper. You are allowed to have these items

at your computer station with you. Many people are unaware of this, or don’t take advantage of it. If you have to refer to charts, tables, or infor-mation that you crammed in at the last minute, they can be written down on this paper. When you are sitting at your station, the clock on your exam does not start until you click Start. You can spend some time writing your notes at this point. When you have written out all the information that you need to, then click Start on the computer.

(22)

Read the questions carefully. Numerous questions are written with

multiple correct or apparently correct answers. You must select the most appropriate answer. Many discussion groups based on certification exams have complaints and in-depth discussions on specific questions, as they appear so open-ended.

Don’t leave questions unanswered. You have a better chance of getting

a point if you guess.

Because the test is not adaptive, you can mark questions for review so you can go back to them later. If you are not positive about your answer,

use this feature. It is possible that questions or answers later in the test will tip you off to the questions that stumped you.

Questions can have more than one correct answer. In the test, answer

blanks will appear as check boxes, not radio dials. If more than one option should be selected, the question will inform you that you are to select multiple answers. If you select too many answers, the testing soft-ware will prompt you—and this can come in handy if you are unsure of how many answers are correct. Check all the answers that you feel could be correct, and if the software alerts you that you have selected too many responses, you can then eliminate the weakest options.

Work through the test in several phases. Your first run-through should

be to answer the easy questions as well as reading through all the ques-tions and answers to familiarize yourself with what you are presented with. Next go through and answer the medium-difficulty questions and review your easy questions and answers. Save the hard ones for last. This will let you know exactly how many hard ones there are left and the amount of time you have remaining to deal with them. This way you can best budget your time to complete the test.

There are many different websites with information pertaining to certifi-cation exams. Many of these websites claim to have exam questions and

exam information posted on them. Part of the CompTIA exam require-ment is that you agree not to share exam information after you have com-pleted your test. You will ultimately decide on your own whether or not to visit these websites. Many aspiring technicians feel that it takes away from the validity of the exams and the certification. Another major con-cern is the validity of the information presented on these websites. Every-one appears to be an expert, yet there is a lot of incorrect information

(23)

posted. I would recommend not using these exam information websites for this reason alone.

Good luck on your path to Server+ certification.

About the Authors

B

rad Hryhoruk has been actively instructing for over 10 years. He has his bachelor of Education degree as well as A+, Network+, Inet+, Server+, and MCP. He currently teaches at the Aboriginal Community Campus in Winnipeg Manitoba. Brad also instructs certification programs as well as working as a project manager. You can reach Brad at [email protected].

Diana Bartley, B.ED., MCSE, MCP+I, MCT, A+, Network+, i-Net+, and Server+, is currently an MCSE instructor and technical writer for various IT-related topics. She has co-authored many books covering Windows 2000 Directory Services, MCSE Clustering, and ISA Server.

Quentin Docter, MCSE, MCT, CCNA, CNE, A+ and Server+, is a 9-year industry veteran with experiences ranging from administrator, consultant, to instructor. He is currently working as an independent consultant and author. Quentin has worked on 7 books for Sybex, most recently, the MCSE Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure Design Study Guide.

(24)

1. Name three ways adapters can work together (select all that apply).

A. Adapter grouping

B. Adapter fault tolerance

C. Adapter virtual private networks

D. Adapter Load Balancing

E. Adapter teaming

2. What are three possible configurations for an ATA/IDE device (select all that apply)?

A. Master, with slave present

B. Slave, with a master present

C. Slave, no master present

D. Master, no slave present

3. If you have a RAID 3 system made up of four 20GB drives, how much usable disk storage space would you have?

A. 80GB

B. 60GB

C. 40GB

D. 20GB

4. You want to filter packets of certain TCP/IP types coming in from and going out to the Internet. What type of server application do you need?

A. Firewall

B. Proxy server

C. Router

(25)

5. Pick the levels of cache that can be present in a computer with a Pentium III Gigahertz processor.

A. L1

B. L2

C. L3

D. L4

6. SNMP is part of what protocol suite?

A. TCP/IP

B. NetBEUI

C. IPX/SPX

D. AppleTalk

7. What type of server resolves DNS names to IP addresses?

A. DHCP

B. DNS

C. UDP

D. SMTP

8. What is the default ID setting for a SCSI host bus adapter?

A. 7

B. 5

C. 3

D. 6

9. Which of the following TCP/IP addresses is in a private address range?

A. 183.239.179.171.

B. 127.0.0.0.

C. 240.64.0.24

(26)

10. With which Internet standard protocol is Active Directory accessed?

A. SNMP

B. SMTP

C. LDAP

D. POP3

11. A BNC connector is used on what type of Ethernet implementation?

A. Thinnet

B. Thicknet

C. UTP

D. STP

12. In every SCSI-3 bus, how many terminators are there?

A. Four

B. Three

C. Two

D. One

E. One per device

13. Your server’s backups are taking so long that you find you must start them as you’re leaving work for the day and they often don’t finish until noon the next day. What are some options you can consider (select all that apply)?

A. Set up differential backups.

B. Add more backup tape drives.

C. Cut down on the number of files being backed up.

D. Set up incremental backups.

14. Which of the following is a memory error check?

A. EDO

(27)

15. You want to set up your computer room so that an exact duplicate exists in a different building and you somehow replicate the informa-tion on the servers in your producinforma-tion room to this duplicate room. What kind of function are you performing?

A. Backups

B. Fault tolerance

C. High-availability

D. Disaster recovery

16. Single mode fiber optics uses which of the following as a light source?

A. Laser

B. LED

C. Fluorescent

D. Incandescent

17. Memory Interleaving is another way of doing which of the following:

A. Error checking

B. Accessing information stored on the memory chip

C. Determining parity

D. Installing chips

18. What are some common diagnostic tools that you can utilize no matter what NOS you’re working with (choose all that apply)?

A. Event logs

B. TCP/IP software

C. FDISK

(28)

19. How is a PCI bus configured?

A. Through jumpers

B. On the motherboard

C. Through the system BIOS

D. With a CD-ROM

20. Which of the following is a server-specific CPU?

A. Intel Itanium

B. AMD Duron

C. Intel Celeron

D. AMD Athlon

21. Name some areas of concern to look at when you are attempting to diagnose system bottlenecks (select all that apply).

A. IRQ conflicts

B. CPU speed

C. Hard disk RPMs

D. SCSI version

22. What kind of hard disks will typically be installed in a RAID 5 system?

A. ATA

B. IDE

C. SCSI

D. ESD

23. Most servers today are equipped with what kind of system memory chips?

A. SIMMs

B. ECC SIMMs

C. EDO SIMMs

(29)

24. Why are maintenance logs important?

A. They provide a clear picture of what the service techs have been doing.

B. They provide a background of what has been done to a computer.

C. They provide an instruction manual for doing routine tasks.

25. When cabling a building, what should you do?

A. Only use fiber optic cable.

B. Always use copper conduit.

C. Always check local building codes.

D. Assume that you do not need a permit.

26. How many terminators are there on a Thinnet network?

A. One

B. Two

C. One for every 50 hosts

D. One for every 100 hosts

27. Which is true of fiber optics?

A. It is affected by EMI.

B. It is affected by heat.

C. The cable can be made of glass.

D. The cable is always made of copper.

28. You have a single network card with four ports on it. What can that card not be configured to do?

A. Adapter Load Balancing

B. Adapter teaming

(30)

29. Four network cards grouped together for Load Balancing will have how many IP addresses?

A. Four

B. Three

C. Two

D. One

30. What category of UTP is rated for 1000Mbps transfer speeds?

A. Category 3

B. Category 5

C. Category 4

D. All of the above

31. You have just purchased a motherboard that supports dual proces-sors. Which Pentium III processors can be used on the board?

A. Any Xeon with any P-II

B. P-IIIs of the same speed

C. Any P-III

D. Any P-II with any P-III

32. What happens when a parity-checking memory module determines that corruption has occurred?

A. The problem is immediately corrected and the end user is none the wiser.

B. An error message pops up on the screen describing the error to the end user and giving the user a chance to fix the problem.

C. An entry is made in the memory error log, but the system continues to operate.

(31)

33. What does ESD stand for?

A. Electromagnetic static discharge.

B. Electronic static device.

C. Environmental static discharge.

D. Electrostatic discharge.

34. When carrying memory chips from one place to another, what type of ESD equipment should you use?

A. Wrist strap.

B. ESD vest.

C. Antistatic bag.

D. No ESD protection is required.

35. What is the plenum?

A. The type of metallic shielding surrounding a fiber optic cable

B. The type of cable used in fiber optic installations

C. The air space between the ceiling and the actual roof of a building

(32)

Answers to Assessment Test

1. B, D, E. Adapters can work together with Load Balancing, fault tolerance, or teaming. See Chapter 6 for further information.

2. A, B, D. IDE devices can be a master with no slave present, a master with a slave present, and a slave with a master present. See Chapter 4 for more information.

3. B. You would have three 20GB drives for storage and one 20GB drive for parity. Therefore, you would have 60GB of usable storage space. See Chapter 4 for more information.

4. A, B. Proxy servers and firewalls are closely comparable. Firewalls perform network address translation (NAT), taking a private net-work’s IP address and converting it to a public address; they also filter incoming and outgoing packets. A proxy server filters incoming and outgoing packets and might be able to NAT as well, though you prob-ably didn’t buy proxy server software for its network address transla-tion capabilities. Both firewalls and routers can prevent packets of certain types from going out to the Internet or coming in from the Internet. Routers route packets, and gateways provide an opening to a different system or environment. See Chapter 1 for more information.

5. A, B. Level 1 and Level 2 cache can only be present with a Pentium III processor. See Chapter 3 for further information.

6. A. Simple Network Management Protocol is part of the TCP/IP protocol suite. See Chapter 12 for more information.

7. B. A DNS Server resolves a DNS name to an IP address. See Chapter 1 for further information.

8. A. The SCSI bus adapter uses ID 7 by default. See Chapter 4 form further information.

9. D. There are three IP address ranges that are considered to be private: 10.0.0.0, 172.16.0.0, and 192.168.0.0. See Chapter 8 for further information.

10. C. Active Directory is based on LDAP. See Chapter 1 for further information.

(33)

11. A. BNC connectors are used on Thinnet Ethernet networks. See Chapter 6 for further information.

12. C. There will always be two terminators, one at each end of the SCSI chain. See Chapter 4 for further information.

13. B, C, D. You can add backup tape drives to the system, thus provid-ing more places for backups. You can also groom the file list to see if there are files that are being backed up that don’t actually need to be. You can also go to a system where you perform a full backup over the weekend and then use incremental backups during the week. Incre-mental backups only back up the files that have changed since the previous day’s backup. See Chapter 14 for further information.

14. B. ECC stands for error-correcting code and is used as a memory error checker in RAM. See Chapter 12 for further information.

15. D. When you have a room in a different building that contains dupli-cate computing gear and also contains data that has been replidupli-cated to it from the primary servers, you’re working with a disaster recovery (DR) methodology. DR is, as you might imagine, expensive. The technology has grown and become viable for entities needing assurance that, should something disastrous happen, they could continue on with everyday business functions. See Chapter 15 for further information.

16. A. Single mode fiber optics technology uses a laser as the light source. This is the more expensive form of fiber optic transmissions, but the most efficient. See Chapter 6 for further information.

17. B. Memory interleaving is a way of quickly getting access to infor-mation stored on the memory chip. See Chapter 12 for further information.

18. A, B, D. All network operating systems create logs that inform you of critical events. The method you use for reading the logs might be different, but you can be assured that event logs are generated within any NOS. You can use TCP/IP software commands such as PING and NSLOOKUP to perform basic network connectivity troubleshooting. You can use the server BIOS utilities and peripheral utilities to check to see if the hardware is correctly configured. Option C would not be an answer because not all machines have DOS installed on them. See Chapter 12 for further information.

(34)

19. C. A PCI bus is configured through the system BIOS. See Chapter 3 for further information.

20. A. The Intel Itanium is a server-specific processor. All others listed were originally created for a desktop computer. See Chapter 3 for fur-ther information.

21. B, C, D. A CPU’s speed can create a bottleneck if the applications and users trying to access the computer outpace the speed with which the processor can answer requests. In SCSI you’ll also need to be con-cerned about the hard disk’s RPMs and the SCSI version level. See Chapter 12 for further information.

22. C. In almost all cases (except systems that utilize software RAID) you’ll use SCSI drives in your RAID array. See Chapter 4 for further information.

23. D. Most commercial servers today come equipped with 72-pin Dual Inline Memory Modules (DIMMs). The reason for this is twofold: you get 64-bit memory and SIMMs need to be installed in pairs whereas DIMMs can be installed singly. See Chapter 3 for further information.

24. B. Maintenance logs provide a background of what has been done to a computer. See Chapter 9 for further information.

25. C. When cabling a building, you should check the local building codes. These codes will vary by locality. See Chapter 6 for further information.

26. B. There is a 50-ohm terminator at each end of the bus on a Thinnet network. See Chapter 6 for further information.

27. C. Fiber cable is made of glass or plastic. See Chapter 6 for further information.

28. C. Fault tolerance requires more than one card, not more than one port. See Chapter 6 for further information.

29. D. A group of network cards used in Load Balancing will have one IP address. See Chapter 6 for further information.

30. B. Category 5 is the only option that supports transfer speeds of 1000Mbps. See Chapter 6 for further information.

(35)

31. B. With Pentium III processors, the multiplier and the FSB must match. See chapter 3 for further information.

32. D. With parity, if it is determined that there has been some corruption, the system is halted. See Chapter 12 for further information.

33. D. ESD is electrostatic discharge—rapid discharge of static electricity from one conductor to another of a different potential. If your body is holding a static charge and you touch an electronic component, that discharge can seriously damage the electronics. See Chapter 15 for further information.

34. C. Antistatic bags are used to carry electronic equipment from one place to another. This will prevent ESD from damaging the chips. See Chapter 15 for further information.

35. C. The plenum is the space created for air circulation between a drop-down ceiling and the roof, or under a raised floor; this space is commonly used to run cables. See Chapter 6 for further information.

(36)

PART

I

Installation

(37)

Chapter

1

(38)

F

or the most part, each chapter in this book closely maps to the Server+ Exam Blueprint from CompTIA. We have listed the exam objec-tives covered by each chapter at the start of the chapter, and fully covered each objective to the best of our ability in that one chapter. In a couple of cases objectives cross chapter lines, but this is infrequent, and is done to arrange the information in the most readable and useful format possible.

Chapter 1, though, sets the stage for our later studies, and as such does not specifically map to any objective. For many of you, this first chapter may be review. That’s excellent, and the authors won’t mind at all if you move quickly through this information—or any topic where your current level of experience makes you extremely confident. This chapter will help get you get started on achieving your goal of the Server+ Certification.

What Is a Server?

W

hen preparing for the Server+ exam, one question needs to be gotten out of the way immediately: What exactly are servers, and what makes them special enough to deserve an entire exam dedicated to them? The answer to this requires that the term server itself be defined. Put simply, there are two key definitions of server in the Information Technology world:

serv·er (sûrvr), n. 1. Computer software designed to assist other computers on a network by performing tasks for them or providing information to them. 2. Computer hardware optimized for the task of running server software.

Each of these definitions needs to be considered separately, along with its implications for what a “server” is. We’ll take some time in the following sections to dissect these definitions, taking care to examine servers as software as well as servers that operate solely as hardware. We will cover

(39)

What Is a Server? 5

dependability, and finally stability and redundancy. Before we move into discussing the various roles of a server, we will overview server add-ons.

Server as Software

Let’s start by examining the first definition. For any computer to function, it needs an operating system (OS). This is the code that tells the computer how to function. You know that, of course. You have also probably encountered the term NOS (network operating system), which is used to describe a server OS. Things become a bit tricky, though, when we start trying to distinguish an OS from a NOS.

The reason for this is that by the definitions we’ve just shown you, any OS that can perform services or share files on the network is a server. Many of you have used the file sharing capabilities of Windows 98, for instance. All of Microsoft’s modern OSs have the ability to share out files, and even to maintain NetBIOS browsing lists that allow computers to find each other on the network. Even so, we don’t generally think of Windows 98 as a “server OS,” and neither does the Server+ exam. Rather, the NOS term is reserved for products such as Novell NetWare, Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, or Sun Solaris.

In order to decide which software you will need as your NOS software, you will need to examine and consider the following characteristics:

Scalability Security Stability

Client prioritization

Reviewing each of these characteristics in full is a good starting place when considering server hardware for your NOS. As such, we will start by examining the concept of scalability and how it relates to server performance.

Scalability

Most computers serve only a single master, in that the user working locally on the machine is the only one giving orders. The user may run one application, or a number of them, but the amount of computer power a single user needs is relatively limited, especially as we enter the world of multi-gigahertz pro-cessing on the desktop. Because only one user is expected to be using the OS at a time, a normal OS is intended for use on machines with limited resources. Windows 98, for instance, cannot recognize or use more than one processor.

(40)

6 Chapter 1 Server Types and Roles

Windows 2000 Advanced Server, on the other hand, supports 8 processors, and Sun’s Solaris supports up to 128 processors on a single system.

Besides just allowing for more hardware, network operating systems are designed to allow for features like clustering and load balancing:

Clustering Used to allow a number of servers to share resources, clustering essentially creates a single “virtual server” out of a number of machines. The computers share an IP address and generally use the same data array, as shown in Figure 1.1.

F I G U R E 1 . 1 Server clustering

Load Balancing Similar to clustering, in that two or more servers team up to do a single job. The thing that distinguishes load balancing, though, is that each server retains its own identity and often keeps its own copy of needed resources, as shown in Figure 1.2.

F I G U R E 1 . 2 Server load balancing

Server Server Hub Data Server Hub Server

(41)

What Is a Server? 7

Scalability, then, is the ability of a computer system to support large num-bers of users, and run extremely demanding software applications. That is just one job for a NOS, though. Next comes the ability to keep things safe.

Security

Network operating systems also are generally far more secure (or at least securable) than client operating systems. This enhanced security can take the form of a username/password database, access restrictions on files or services, or any number of system security policies.

One of the odd things about the Server+ Exam is that, because most of the questions follow a generic format, and because very little security information falls into this “generic” category, you will find few system security–related elements on the exam. This is strange, of course, because network security is among the primary job functions of a server administrator!

The physical security of the server, however, is a major concern of the exam. Locking down the server room will be dealt with in Chapter 13, “Managing and Securing the Server Environment.” Some general security topics will also be considered on a NOS-by-NOS basis in Chapter 7, “Network Operating Systems.”

Stability

While most desktop PCs are shut down each night, and are used only a few hours each day, servers are generally on 24/7, and as such they need an OS that is extremely stable. Moreover, as tens or hundreds of people are interacting with the server each day, it is critical that the OS be resilient and able to deal with this constant onslaught of requests without locking up or giving up.

To help guard the health of these machines, NOS software is often pickier about what software it allows to run, and which applications and drivers it will allow you to install. While this helps to insulate the server from prob-lems caused by bad software, it also means that NOS applications often are specifically written for the OS, and can be extremely expensive.

Client Prioritization

One last characteristic of a server OS is that it gives priority to client connections when allocating resources. The primary purpose of a NOS is to take care of clients, and as such a user at the server console is treated as just another user, or sometimes even given a lower priority than network users.

(42)

Some examples of server-class operating systems are listed below, along with website information so you can go to learn more about each of them.

_NetWare:_{www.novell.com/products/netware/} OS/2: _{www-4.ibm.com/software/os/warp/} _Solaris:_{www.sun.com/software/solaris/}

Windows 2000 Server: _{www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/}

Solaris is a Unix-based system, and Unix operating systems are all based on a server-class platform. Linux is also Unix based. Still, both Linux and Solaris are often used as a desktop OS, and are as flexible as Windows in that they can be used for pretty much any role in the enterprise. Start at www.linux.org/dist/ to learn more about the emerging Linux challenge to the established NOS/OS leaders.

Servers as Hardware

The second definition of a server is one that involves specialized hardware designed to handle the extreme demands of NOS software and network users. Companies such as IBM and Compaq produce computers specifi-cally for these needs, and sell them in separate product lines. Compaq, for instance, has its extremely popular Proliant series, and Dell sells the Power-Edge line. At a very general level, servers are essentially just enhanced PCs. Many managers look at the price of a new Compaq Proliant 1GHz server and say, “Why are we paying $10,000 for this computer, when we could get a Compaq PC that is just as fast for $1,000 at Circuit City?”

This is a valid question, because Windows 2000 Advanced Server or Sun’s Solaris can be installed on a desktop-class PC without any trouble. If you are in the position of proposing a server purchase to a manager or client, you should be prepared to explain the reasons behind the higher cost of special-ized server hardware.

It is worth emphasizing here that server-class software can be installed on a desktop PC and that Windows 98 can be installed on an IBM server. To get best performance, though, both the hardware and software need to be server-class.

(43)

What Is a Server? 9

To help you with that explanation, let’s take a closer look at the benefits a server provides for that extra money:

Expandability

One of the most important characteristics of server-class hardware is that it is generally built with generous expansion capability. Most servers allow for far more RAM (often over 4GB), more drive space (most servers have 5–10 drive bays) and more processors—it is hard to get a desktop PC that fits 8 processors because the cases for normal PCs simply do not have room for that much hardware. Along with all of this additional hardware comes the need for additional fans and a larger power supply as well, which also take up room.

Dependability

Server hardware needs to be reliable. Unlike desktop PCs, which are gener-ally shut down each evening, servers often are expected to run constantly for weeks or months. The length of time a server has been running, or sometimes the percentage of time it has been running, is referred to as its uptime. Some servers prominently display the amount of time they have been up on their console, while others (Windows, anyone?) tend to hide that information!

Any time a server is not running, the dreaded word downtime is used to describe the amount of time that it is off. Because servers are critical to modern networks, and networks are critical to modern organizations, a server down situation rarely goes unnoticed. E-mail doesn’t work, or users can’t get to files, or “the Internet doesn’t work,” and calls start flooding into the help desk.

Along with backup and security, the prevention of downtime is probably one of the most important jobs of an administrator. Server-class hardware helps to maximize uptime through higher quality hardware and the ability to duplicate critical hardware for redundancy.

Quality

One of the reasons servers cost more than desktop PCs is that the pieces used to build the server are better. No one argues about why a Porsche costs more than a Yugo, but somehow a lot of people who drive very nice cars find it difficult to understand why they should pay for quality in their server room as well.

Server components are manufactured to higher standards, both in terms of the materials used and the precision of the craftsmanship. Moreover, these components are tested to ensure that they work well together. This is done

(44)

to ensure that a server will remain operating and reliable regardless of the amount of work required of it. Much of this information is very different from the way those same resources are discussed in the A+ book, which deals with the maintenance of “normal” desktop PCs.

Redundancy

Quality components are great, but even the best machines sometimes fail, and computers are no exception. In order to try to prevent hardware problems from resulting in immediate downtime, though, most server-class computers support redundant hardware for key components. This practice is known as redundancy.

Redundant components can include power supplies, for instance. If a server has two or more power supplies, both of them can work together to power the system. However, if one of them fails (or is unplugged), the other is able to take on an increased load and power the entire system. Other examples of commonly duplicated hardware include hard drives, drive controllers, and network cards.

Two items that are not redundant are processors and RAM modules. Even if you have four processors in a machine, if one processor fails, the server will go down. The same with RAM. Remember that expandability and redundancy are different things!

Server-Only Features

Besides just supporting more and better hardware, and offering helpful ser-vices not available on regular operating systems, modern servers also can be equipped with a dizzying array of add-on equipment. Although some of these components are making their way into the desktop computer environment, they are normally associated with server environments. These include RAID controllers (standard on most servers), SCSI controllers, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), external drive arrays, fax or modem bank hardware, and tape backup drives. Any of these can be installed into desktop-class machines as well, but generally their expense and resource requirements dictate that they be used in server-class machines with server-class OSs.

You may already be in charge of a network, and have your own server(s) to refer to as you read this book, but if not it might be useful to get an idea of what these machines are like. Before reading too much further, you may want to take a look at some of the beasts that the Server+ certification