CompTIA Server+ Certification:
2009 Objectives
Frequently asked questions and instructor notes
All our courses assume that each student has a personal computer to use during the class. Our hands-on approach to learning requires that they do. This topic gives information on how to set up the classroom to teach this course. It includes minimum requirements for the students’ personal computers, setup information for the first time you teach the class, and setup information for each time you teach after the first time you set up the classroom.
Hardware requirements
Students can work in pairs. Each lab station will need at least one server computer for each student. The instructor will need a server to match student lab stations. You will need an additional Linux-compatible computer for each lab station so students can install Linux during Unit 8 (“Installing a network operating system”).
Lab station servers should have:
· A PS/2 keyboard and a mouse
· At least 1 GHz 32-bit or 1.4 GHz 64-bit processor (2 GHz or faster recommended)
· At least 1 GB RAM (2 GB or greater recommended)
· At least 40 GB hard drive
· A DVD-ROM drive
· SVGA monitor at 1024´768 or higher
Additional equipment
You will need this additional equipment for each student. If you don’t have enough hardware for each student to complete an activity on his or her own Student PC, have students complete the activity and independent practice activities in small groups at a Group PC.
· Computer toolkit with assorted screwdrivers (including nonmagnetic Phillips-head screwdriver)
· A second, unpartitioned hard drive for each student PC, with related media and cables
· External storage device, such as a USB hard drive or flash drive.
· Any expansion card, with associated software, and any required adapters or components
· Bootable CD-ROM. An operating system install disc may be used.
· Bootable floppy disk, if student machines have floppy drives
· Network cable (RJ-45 connectors)
· KVM switch and necessary cabling
Software requirements
You will need the following software:
· Windows Server 2008 Standard
· Debian 5.0 (Lenny); newer versions will probably work, but the Linux installation activity in Unit 8 might not key exactly as written.
Network requirements
The following network components and connectivity are also required for this course:
· Internet access, for the following purposes:
– Downloading the latest critical updates and service packs from www.windowsupdate.com
– Completing activities within the units.
· Classroom computers need to be connected through TCP/IP and must receive IP addressing information from a DHCP server.
First-time setup instructions
The first time you teach this course, you will need to perform the following steps to set up each student computer.
1 Install Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition on the instructor and student computers.
a Select the appropriate language, time and currency, and keyboard or input method for your location.
b Select Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition (Full Installation).
c Accept the license terms.
d Click Custom, and create at least a 40 GB partition.
e When prompted to change the user’s password, click OK. For the Administrator account, enter and confirm a password of !pass1234. Press Enter and click OK.
f If prompted to install drivers, install them now.
2 Use the Initial Configuration Tasks window to configure the following settings.
a Set the time zone appropriate for your location.
b Configure networking so the instructor and student computers have dynamic IP addressing information from a DHCP server (including default gateway and DNS server address) and can connect to the Internet. Internet connectivity is required throughout the course.
c Name the computer WINSRV##, where ## is the number of the lab station. Name the instructor server WINSRV00. Leave the computer in the default workgroup named WORKGROUP. Restart the computer when prompted.
d Log back on as Administrator with the password !pass1234. In the Initial Configuration Tasks window, select “Do not show this window at logon,” and click Close.
3 Open Device Manager and ensure that all devices were installed. Install any additional drivers, if necessary.
4 In Server Manager, in the details pane, click Configure IE ESC. Turn of ESC for both administrators and users. Click OK.
Setup instructions for every class
Every time you teach this course you will need to perform the steps in the section titled “First-time setup instructions.”
Setting up troubleshooting activities
Some of the units contain a troubleshooting activity. In these activities, students are asked to solve problems related to the material of that unit. This section presents ideas for problems that can be implemented.
We suggest two ways to implement these problems. In the first, you would send students off to a break while you induce these problems in their computers. In the second scenario, you would divide students into two groups. Each group would induce problems in a set of computers. The groups would switch places and solve the problems that the other group created.
When determining which problems to implement, make sure you consider the technical proficiency of your students.
Unit 5: Troubleshooting methodology
For the Topic C activity entitled “Troubleshooting power supply problems,” you can implement one or more of these problems:
· Unplug the computer from the wall outlet.
· Plug the computer into a non-functioning UPS device or surge protector.
· Disconnect the power supply from the motherboard.
· Disconnect the hard disk from the power supply.
· Replace the power supply with a non-functioning power supply.
For the Topic C activity entitled “Troubleshooting problems with system startup,” you can implement one or more of these problems:
· Switch the keyboard and mouse cables so that each one is plugged into the other’s port.
· Substitute a keyboard with a stuck key or some other defect that would cause the POST to fail.
· Replace the CMOS battery with a dead battery, or simply remove the battery from the motherboard.
· Reset one or more BIOS setup values that would leave the computer unbootable or unusable. For example, change the boot drive order, disable the hard drive controller (if it’s the boot device), or configure the on‑board video controller to an extremely low-resolution display.
· Install a defective memory module so that the POST fails when it tests memory.
· (Advanced) Flash the BIOS with an incorrect or outdated version.
For the Topic C activity entitled “Troubleshooting memory,” you can implement one or more of these problems:
· Replace one or more memory modules with a defective memory module.
· Loosen a module in its socket so that its pins don’t make proper connections.
· Reconfigure the BIOS with an incorrect quantity of memory.
· Install the incorrect type of module for the computer—install modules that are too slow, implement parity when the motherboard doesn’t, or don’t implement parity when the motherboard does, and so forth.
· Install modules of different size or speed within a single bank.
· Remove one of the modules from a bank.
Unit 9: Networking
For the Topic C activity entitled “Troubleshooting network problems,” you can implement one or more of these problems:
· Disconnect or loosely connect the network cable on either the NIC end or the hub end of the connection.
· Change the IP address to an invalid address for the network.
· Change the subnet mask to one that is invalid for the network.
· Replace the network cable with a crossover Ethernet cable.
· Replace the network cable with a broken network cable.
· Disable the network card in the system’s BIOS.
· Install the wrong driver for the network card.
· Replace the NIC with a non-working NIC.
· Configure the DHCP server to hand out invalid IP addresses, an invalid gateway address, or an invalid DNS server address.
· Disconnect or disable the connection between the classroom network and the Internet.
· Create a local routing table with invalid routing information for the default gateway or a specific host.
Topic B: Frequently asked questions
There are no frequently asked questions for this course at this time.
Topic C: Course notes
There are no notes for this course at this time.
Topic D: Additional information
There is no additional information for this course at this time.