Milestone : Introduction to Windows Server

Objective: Understand the role of Windows Server in IT infrastructure.

Tasks:

• Install and configure Windows Server (any version like 2019 or 2022).


• Explore the Windows Server interface (Server Manager, Control Panel, Task Manager).


• Understand Windows Server editions (Standard, Datacenter).


• Real-World Project Scenario: Set up a Virtual Lab for Testing
  


• Create a virtual machine (VM) environment using Hyper-V or VMware to test and configure your first Windows Server installation.

Milestone : Configuring Active Directory (AD)

• 
  Objective: Set up and manage Active Directory to centralize user management.


• Tasks:


• Install and configure Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).


• Create and manage user accounts in Active Directory.


• Set up Organizational Units (OUs) and Group Policy Objects (GPOs).


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Establish a Company’s Domain Controller
  


• Configure a Windows Server as a Domain Controller for a fictional company. Create user accounts for employees, set up groups for different departments (e.g., HR, IT, Finance), and implement basic Group Policies.

Milestone : User and Group Management

Objective: Manage users, groups, and permissions in Active Directory.

Tasks:

• Create user accounts, groups, and manage permissions.


• Learn how to manage password policies, account lockout policies, and user rights.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Configure User Access Based on Roles
  


• For a fictitious company, create different user roles and group memberships (e.g., Admins, Managers, Regular Employees) and apply appropriate Group Policies for access control. Implement password expiration and lockout settings.

Milestone : Configuring Network Services

• 
  Objective: Configure essential network services such as DHCP and DNS.


• Tasks:


• Install and configure DHCP and DNS services.


• Set up IP addressing (static vs. dynamic).


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Configure a Company’s Internal Network
  


• Set up DHCP and DNS on a Windows Server for a small office network. Ensure that IP addresses are dynamically assigned to devices, and ensure name resolution is correctly handled via DNS.

Milestone : File and Print Services

• 
  Objective: Set up file sharing and print services.


• Tasks:


• Configure shared folders with appropriate permissions.


• Set up and manage network printers.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Implement a Centralized File Sharing System
  


• Set up a file server that allows users in different departments to store, share, and manage files centrally. Configure access permissions based on user roles.

Milestone : Remote Administration and PowerShell

• 
  Objective: Use remote administration tools and PowerShell for automation.


• Tasks:


• Use Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for server management.


• Automate administrative tasks using PowerShell scripts.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Automate Routine Administrative Tasks
  


• Write PowerShell scripts to automate tasks such as creating multiple user accounts, setting up file permissions, or configuring services across multiple servers.

Milestone : Backup and Recovery

• 
  Objective: Set up and manage backup and recovery strategies.


• Tasks:


• Configure Windows Server Backup to back up critical data.


• Restore a system using the backup.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Develop a Disaster Recovery Plan
  


• Implement a comprehensive backup solution that includes daily backups, scheduled weekly full backups, and monthly system image backups. Simulate a disaster and practice recovery.

Milestone : Performance Monitoring and Optimization

• 
  Objective: Optimize server performance and troubleshoot common issues.


• Tasks:


• Monitor system performance using Performance Monitor and Resource Monitor.


• Implement performance tuning for better server responsiveness.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Optimize Server Performance for Critical Applications
  


• Analyze performance issues in a test environment, optimize the server’s resource allocation (CPU, RAM, disk I/O), and ensure it runs efficiently during peak usage for critical applications (e.g., web or database servers).

Milestone : Introduction to Linux

• 
  Objective: Get familiar with the Linux operating system.


• Tasks:


• Install a Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu Server, CentOS, or Debian).


• Learn basic Linux commands for navigation (ls, cd, cp, mv, rm).


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Set Up a Virtual Linux Environment
  


• Install Linux on a VM using VirtualBox or VMware. Set up your first Linux server instance and perform basic operations to familiarize yourself with the environment.

Milestone : User and Group Management

• 
  Objective: Manage users, groups, and permissions.


• Tasks:


• Create and manage user accounts and groups.


• Set file and directory permissions.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Manage Users and Permissions in a Web Server Environment
  


• For a company’s web server, create user accounts for system administrators, developers, and support staff. Set permissions on various directories based on roles (e.g., read-only for support staff, full access for developers).

Milestone Network Configuration

• 
  Objective: Configure networking for Linux servers.


• Tasks:


• Configure static IP addresses and network interfaces.


• Test network connectivity and troubleshoot basic networking issues.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Configure a Linux Web Server with Static IP
  


• Set up a web server (e.g., Apache or Nginx) and configure a static IP address for external access. Test the server’s ability to handle incoming requests from the internal network.

Milestone : Package Management

• 
  Objective: Install, update, and manage software packages.


• Tasks:


• Install packages using the package manager (apt, yum, dnf).


• Configure automatic updates and handle dependencies.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Set Up a LAMP Stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP)
  


• Install and configure a LAMP stack for hosting dynamic websites. Ensure that the necessary packages are installed and kept up-to-date for security and functionali

Milestone : Service Management

• 
  Objective: Manage services and system daemons.


• Tasks:


• Start, stop, and restart services using systemctl.


• Configure services to start at boot.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Deploy a Critical Web Application
  


• Set up Apache or Nginx to serve a web application, ensuring it starts automatically on boot and is accessible from external networks. Monitor service logs to troubleshoot any issues.

Milestone : File System Management

• 
  Objective: Manage disk partitions and file systems.


• Tasks:


• Create, format, and mount file systems.


• Use LVM (Logical Volume Management) for advanced disk management.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Set Up a Shared File Storage Solution
  


• Implement NFS or Samba to share files between Linux and Windows systems. Ensure secure file sharing between employees and department-specific file storage.

Milestone : Security and Firewall Configuration

• 
  Objective: Secure the server and configure firewalls.


• Tasks:


• Configure and manage firewalls using ufw or firewalld.


• Secure SSH access and set up SSL certificates.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Implement Security for a Public-Facing Web Server
  


• Configure a firewall to restrict access to only necessary ports (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS, SSH). Set up SSH key-based authentication to secure server access and implement SSL certificates for web traffic.

Milestone : Security Management

• 
  Objective: Implement security measures for Windows Server.


• Tasks:


• Use Windows Defender, configure firewalls, and security auditing.


• Set up security policies for users and systems.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Harden the Server and Implement Security Policies
  


• Apply security best practices to secure the server from external threats, including configuring firewalls, implementing strong user authentication policies, and running Windows Defender.

Milestone : Automation and Scripting

• 
  Objective: Automate system administration tasks with shell scripting.


• Tasks:


• Write basic shell scripts for task automation.


• Use cron jobs to schedule tasks.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Automate Backups for Critical Data
  


• Write a shell script that automates daily backups of critical directories and stores them in a remote location. Set up a cron job to run the script daily.

Milestone : Backup and Recovery

• 
  Objective: Set up backup and recovery procedures.


• Tasks:


• Use rsync or tar to back up critical data.


• Restore data from backups.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Develop a Backup and Recovery Plan for a Web Server
  


• Create an automated backup solution that runs nightly backups for a web server. Ensure the ability to restore data quickly in case of system failure.

Milestone : Performance Monitoring and Tuning

• 
  Objective: Monitor and optimize system performance.


• Tasks:


• Monitor resource usage with tools like top, htop, and iostat.


• Tune the system for optimal performance.


• 
  Real-World Project Scenario: Optimize a Web Server for Peak Traffic
  


• Monitor the system during peak traffic hours and tune server parameters (e.g., caching, memory allocation) to ensure that the server handles high load efficiently.

To be provided.