Windows Server 2008 Deployment - Case Study Example

Windows Server 2008 deployment Executive summary Blue sky is a business that uses Windows XP, Windows7 and Windows server 2003 operating systems to provide information technology (IT) services throughout the organization. The organization has two sites with the main office Located in Tucsin Arizona and a remote site located in Pheenix, Arizona. The two offices are connected via a VPN connection between two routers. The organization has a two-domain controller the Bluesky and the local. All servers run windows server 2003 and the client computers may either be running on Windows XP or and Windows7. As a result of technological growth in service, delivery and efficiency there is a need to implement server 2008R2. The migration to server 2008 will help the business meet its requirements. This is because Server 2008 is flexible, secure and has a scalable server management. It gives a consistent user experience including that of mobile workers. It also gives an opportunity to consolidate multiple servers onto fewer physical computers, as well as third party applications (Smyth 105). The two servers in Tucson and Phoenix will be installed with server 2008R. The configuration will include DNS, DHCP, AD DS, Security policy, Backup and recovery and continuity plan. The acquisition of two 64-bit machines should be done since windows server 2008R2 can only run on this platform. Planning windows server 2008 deployment Network configuration of Bluesky organization To allow smooth migration from window server 2003 to windows server 2008, the applications and hardware must remain operational throughout the migration process. This will enable the organization to maintain computer system uptime during the entire process. It will further enable the IT department to continue meet the requirements of both users and the organization at large. Some of things to be considered during the migration process include what plan exists at present for hardware replacement. What are the current hardware maintenance supports? What opportunities are there for consolidation of server through virtualization? In the deployment of windows server 2008R2, the implementation team will follow Microsoft Operation framework (MOF) that is based on IT infrastructure Library (ITIL) standard in order to ensure that they achieve a successful deployment of windows server 2008R2. There is a need to acquire two new 64-bit server because windows server 2008R2 only runs on 64bit to replace the current domain controllers. The servers, however, should support virtualization. Thus a x64 CPU, AMD-V or (AMD) VT (Intel) hardware extensions, No eXecute (NX)/eXecute Disable (XD), and full BIOS support for hardware virtualization. Although one server (virtualized and running enterprise edition) could suffice for redundancy, two will be ideal (Technet). Set up Windows server 2008R2 on the new servers and assign IP address 192.168.0.4 (BLUESKYAD1) and 192.168.0.5 (BLUESKYAD2) (IP addresses of clients start from 192.168.0.25). Active directory Domain Services (AD DS) will be installed in windows server 2008R2 to simplify user and resource management while managing the organization network infrastructures. Before installing the first Windows Server 2008 R2 domain controller (DC) into the existing network, the AD forest and domain is preparedprepared to use the adprep command on BLUESKYDNS1. Active directory will then be installed on the two servers to allow for failover in the first subnet (Thomas 326). The DNS are setup and configured to allow replication between the two servers (BlUESKYDNS1 and BLUESKYDNS2). Instead of setting up the primary and secondary DNS servers, they will be installed as Active Directory Integrated then setup replication. Install DHCP protocol to BlueskyPhoenix for the Phoenix location that allows the distribution of important network information to network clients. DHCP role will reduce the complexity and amount of administrative work by using automatic TCP/IP configuration. This ensures that IP addresses are supplied automatic, correct configuration information client configuration is updated automatically, and a common source of network problem is eliminated (Matthew Hester 142). Define a scope for the Tucson network 192.168.0.0/24 (subnet mask of 255.255.255.0) with a range of 192.168.0.25 through 192.168.0.254 and Phoenix network 192.168.1.0/16 (subnet mask 255.255.255.0) with a range of 192.168.1.25 through 192.168.1.254. Once everything is set, authorize the two DHCP’s and activate the scope to start issuing TPC/IP configurations to the clients. Other roles to install on this server include file server and print server. Set up WSUS on BLUESKYDNS2 with the server in phoenix subnet as a replica so that clients in that subnet also receive updates Application and data provisioning In the application and data provisioning plan all the available functionality, application requirements and additional functionality will be listed. Whereby they will be determined whether there are any compatibility issues with existing applications on server 2003. The application server role is then installed (Thomas 36). Security Policies Since the network infrastructure is based on a domain group policy will be used to deploy the settings. This will include Restricted groups to force adherence to the specified membership list File system to apply NTFS file system permissions to a folder structure. Wired and wireless network polices that will provide options such as 802.1x authentication. Network Access Protection (NAP) that provides configuration option to deploy and manage NAP. And IP security policies that can be use to apply policies to restrict traffic on certain ports to be authenticated, encrypted, or both. Backup and recovery plan Disaster recovery plan is an important factor in managing any server infrastructure. First, the two servers BlueskyDNS1 and Blueskyphoenix need a backup mechanism. Therefore, the windows server 2008 backup feature should be installed to both servers and the responsibility assigned to IT personnel for ensuring backup success. A schedule of weekly backup of volumes that contain shares on the servers and volumes that contain confidential information will be developed and data retention plan adopted. Business continuity plan Windows server 2008R2 operating system provides a platform for network attached storage appliances. The technology will be used to allow deployment and management of individual appliances and gives a high availability of storage clusters. Quotas and file screens will be configures to monitor the type of files stored by users as well as minimize the shared storage media. The strategy will work towards coping with system outage (Corporation). Formulate policies and procedures and distribute to everyone in order to ensure that everybody in the organization adheres to the agreed change management. Other continuity plan involves reviewing, and monitoring of log files to improve server management as well as secure the environment. Once everything is running fine the olds server will be decommissioned, and all files backed up (Stanek 422). Works Cited Corporation, Microsoft. The virtual machine could not be started because the hypervisor is not running. 2012 . 08 12 2012 . Matthew Hester, Chris Henley. Windows Server 2008 R2 Administration Instant Reference. John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Smyth, Neil. Windows Server 2008 R2 Essentials. eBookFrenzy, 2011. Palmer, Michael. Mcitp Guide to Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Server Administration (exam # 70-646). Boston, MA: Course Technology, 2010. Stanek, William R. Windows Server® 2008 Administrators Pocket Consultant. OReilly Media, Inc, 2010. Thomas, Orin. Windows Server 2008 R2 Secrets. John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Read More