Windows Server 2012 Deployment - Research Proposal Example

Windows Server Deployment Proposal Overview Worldwide Advertising, Inc., also acknowledged as “WAI”, is a new advertising firm, which is intending towards building an effective network infrastructure of Windows. Currently, the firm is in need to get its internal information technology (IT) services configured for performing varied operational functions in an efficient manner. Thus, by taking into consideration this situation, effective solutions that describe the implementation as well as the configuration of core IT services have been provided to the new firm i.e. WAI. In this similar context, it will be vital to mention that the solutions have been provided based on analyzing varied significant aspects. These aspects comprise examining the new features of Windows Server 2012, determining the deployment along with server editions and explaining active directory. Moreover, the other factors entail elaborating the concepts of “Domain Name Server” (DNS) and “Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol” (DHCP), assessing the varied application services and evaluating the file along with printer sharing procedure. The above discussed aspects based on which effective solutions have been provided to WAI are explained in the following section. New Features of Windows Server 2012 “Windows Server 2012” is an updated operational tool, which is mainly employed for conducting various tasks with dynamic recovery options. Apparently noted, there lay numerous features of Windows Server 2012 through which WAI can reap significant advantages in the context of getting its internal IT services configured. In this regard, the new facets of Windows Server 2012 can be apparently observed as improved storage, better networking facility, wider remote access, developed server administration, enhanced efficiency, along with fostering innovation and broader flexibility and agility among others (Microsoft, n.d.). It is anticipated that with better execution and incorporation of the aforementioned features, WAI can be able to get its internal IT related services configured with utmost efficacy. Deployment and Server Editions Based on the scenario provided, it can be ascertained that WAI will have two sites particularly in Los Angeles and New York. Since the company will start with 90 employees, the employment of two servers will be sufficient for getting its internal IT services configured. It is worth mentioning that the roles, which will be combined within the requisite two servers, include “Active Directory Certificate Services” (ADCS), “Hyper-V” and “Active Directory Domain Services” (ADDS) among others. In this similar concern, the role of ADCS will involve in facilitating the servers towards offering certificates to the clients. On the other hand, “Hyper-V” will play the role of installing as well as configuring the support services within the two servers. Finally, the role of ‘ADDS’ will be configuring the two servers to ‘Directory database’, enabling in authenticating users for logon purpose (HubPages Inc., 2014). Notably, both the editions of Windows Server 2012 i.e. “Standard” and “Datacenter” possess similar features without having any sort of limitation. Most importantly, the disparity prevailing between these two editions is apparent in the rights of product usage (Dennis Publishing Limited, n.d.). Thus, based on this discussion, it can be affirmed that any of the aforesaid editions can be used within WAI for each server. The following diagrammatical representation provides a better understanding about the aforesaid subject matter: Source: (Altech Computers, 2012) It is to be affirmed that the notion of service core will definitely be used on the two servers owing to the reason that it is regarded as a minimal installation option, which will be required at the time of deploying any of the editions i.e. Datacenter or Standard of Windows Server 2012 (Microsoft, 2014). With regard to the scenario provided, it can be affirmed that each of the servers will be located on the two sites of WAI i.e. one in Los Angeles and the other one in New York. The two servers will be mainly deployed manually through numerous ways. These ways will mainly comprise conducting manual configuration of computers through the help of installation DVD and implementing personalized application configurations as well as system images. Besides, an automated process will also be used while deploying the two servers only at the start of the installation procedure through using the application of “Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager” (Microsoft, 2014). Active Directory “Active Directory” (AD) domain is fundamentally regarded as a distributive database, which tends to store as well as manage data concerning network resources. The major features of AD domain mainly encompass greater replication service, effective management of network infrastructure and enhanced “directory-enabled applications” among others (Microsoft, 2014). Thus, with this concern, two AD domains will be required to set up for the two servers located in Los Angeles and New York. “Read-Only Domain Controllers” (RODC) are duly considered to be a new and advanced facet of AD domain persisting within Windows Server 2012. Theoretically, RODCs are often viewed to be effective and quality domain controllers that generally host read-only copies of folder contents as well as AD database (Microsoft, 2014). Thus, RODCs will be deployed on the two sites of WAI, ensuring that the domain functional levels of the servers in the respective sites get enhanced to the fullest extent. This can be better understood with the help of the following pictorial representation: Source: (Microsoft Corporation, 2014) It is worth mentioning that the second site will factor into domain controller placement through organizing diverse sorts of networking constituents into an ordered containment arrangement and considering a global catalog, which comprises data regarding every object present in a directory. It is vital to mention in this similar concern that the AD sites will be mainly configured through forming along with developing rules that describe the features contained in a directory and introducing such an index along with query mechanism based on which the properties of network applications can be published (Microsoft, 2014). Considering how group policy will be used and users required to be controlled, the organizational units of AD may be organized through linking “Group Policy Objects” (GPOs) to such AD organizational units. Specially mentioning, the consequence of this linkage can be determined in the form of centralizing the requisite settings for varied users or computers within the two servers located in dissimilar sites of WAI (Microsoft, 2014). DNS and DHCP DHCP generally assigns diverse Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to varied network devices. It offers an internal framework with the intention of passing configuration related information to the clients. After acquiring a brief idea about DHCP, it can be ascertained that its scope design engages the description of the parameters and also the settings towards establishing the boundaries of a provided DHCP configuration. In relation to analyzing the scope design of DHCP, it can be apparently observed that the lease time or duration is 8 days. In addition, the number of scopes related to DHCP is identified to be 10-219. Specially mentioning, the address range starting from routers, DNS servers, DNS domain, WINS node type to ‘WINS server’ is found to be persisting within the scope design of DHCP (Microsoft, 2014). A pictorial representation has been provided hereunder for better comprehension of the above discussed subject matter: Source: (Microsoft, 2014) DHCP fault tolerance is mainly employed by organizations for the purpose of maintaining the servers and most vitally monitoring the configuration options frequently. Since two servers will be required for installation in two of the sites of WAI, there will lay the necessity of implementing DHCP fault tolerance (Microsoft, 2014). DHCP reservations are regarded as the procedure based on which a specific IP address is plotted within one particular computer with the objective of smoothly handling the servers (Rountree, 2013). Thus, by taking into concern this significant aspect, it can be affirmed that DHCP reservations can be used for the two servers, which will be required to be installed in two of the sites of WAI. Conceptually, DNS helps in translating different domain names into diverse IP addresses. In this similar context, in order to assist WAI towards getting its internal IT services configured efficiently, the chosen domain names will be “The Domain Root”, “Top-Level Domain” and “Subdomain” among others. Apart from this, the split DNS for internet/intranet relating to WAI can be judged based on how DNS domain namespace will be organized within this firm while getting its internal IT services configured in an effectual manner. Specially mentioning, the zones will mainly interpret the above stated chosen domain names, resulting in appropriately comprehending the DNS domain namespace (Microsoft, 2014). It is worth mentioning that the conception of DNS will be handled for the second site of WAI i.e. New York through establishing a DNS server, which is responsible for storing relevant information about the hosts within specific domains. Besides, for the second site, DNS will be handled in terms of monitoring DNS records that are made while making varied DNS requests (Microsoft, 2014). Application Services The application services will be mainly deployed through following certain significant methods. These methods entail establishing along with following better operational procedures, ensuring better understanding about any sort of prevailing interoperability issue and comprehending the business requisites of firms (Microsoft, 2014). It is to be affirmed that the deployment of applications within the two sites of WAI can be made through focusing on the above discussed methods. If the solution of Group Policy is used, the details on how it will be executed to deploy the software can be assessed through identifying the procedure of implementing this solution i.e. Group Policy. In this regard, the process mainly comprises the phases of planning along with designing, deploying and most vitally preserving the solution for generating favorable consequences. Specially mentioning, the software applications that will likely to be needed are “System Center Configuration Manager 2012” and “Get Connected in Windows Server Essentials” among others (Microsoft, 2014). File and Printer Sharing File and printer sharing may be required within the two sites of WAI while making efforts towards getting the internal IT services of the firm configured efficiently. In this similar concern, the sharing of networking connections or applications and files containing valuable data might be needed for attaining the aforesaid objective (Microsoft, 2014). The concept of “distributed file system” (DFS) is often regarded as a service, which facilitates a firm utilizing Windows Server 2012 to organize and to share distributed files into a dispersed file system. It is worth mentioning that this particular notion i.e. DFS is required to be taken into concern for the purpose of reaping several significant benefits. These benefits comprise restoring valuable files and facilitating automatic retrieval of the same after power loss (Microsoft, 2014). Subsequently, quotas can be configured through creating along with editing the properties of quotas and generating an effective quota template among others. On the other hand, “File Server Resource Manager” (FSRM) may be configured through appropriately conducting quota management, developing infrastructure of file classification and performing the management of file screening (Microsoft, 2014). Thus, it can be affirmed that the above discussed approaches will certainly provide greater support to WAI in getting its internal IT services configured effectively with better implementation as well as configuration by a considerable extent. References Altech Computers. (2012). Windows server 2012. Retrieved from http://altech.com.au/Launch/Article/1004/Windows_Server_2012_Editions Dennis Publishing Limited. (n.d.). Which version of Windows server 2012 should I choose? Retrieved from http://windowsserver2012.itpro.co.uk/business-benefits/72/which-version-windows-server-2012-should-i-choose HubPages Inc. (2014). Windows server 2012: server roles and features. Retrieved from http://mcbigrub.hubpages.com/hub/Windows-Server-2012-Server-Roles-and-Features Microsoft. (n.d.). Introduction. Windows Server 2012: Evaluation Guide, 3-176. Microsoft. (2014). What is server core? Retrieved from http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd184075.aspx Microsoft. (2014). 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Retrieved from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/library/hh831701.aspx Microsoft Corporation. (2014). The lab environment. Retrieved from http://www.microsoft.com/hk/community/article/article_060803.aspx Rountree, D. (2013). Windows 2012 server network security: securing your windows network systems and infrastructure. Australia: Newnes. Read More