Windows Server Deployment - Case Study Example

Windows Server Deployment Introduction The purpose of this paper is to develop a detailed, organized, unified technical solution and implementation plan of Windows network infrastructure for Worldwide Advertising Inc. (WAI). Correspondingly, the implementation plan of Windows network infrastructure focuses on developing a creative and realistic methodology, which would enable WAI to establish and configure IT services with accelerated efficiency for hiring staff in its various operational departments. To be specific, the key aim of this paper is to supply an effective Windows network infrastructure solution, which provides a clear description regarding the implementation and configuration of the WAI’s core IT functions. In order to establish a detailed, and relevant technical solution, the focus of network infrastructure plan for WAI will be on configuring and implementing Windows Server 2012. Brief Description of the Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2012 is often referred as one of the most effective server-operating systems, inclusive of a number of exceptional features that is able to help any type of organisation to configure a wide range of IT services across different managing and functional departments. According to the obtained specification details, the new Windows Server 2012 consist a list of exceptional features and enhancements with a greater level of impacts that may substantially improve IT functions of an organisation (Microsoft Corporation, 2012). Few of the major features along with their key benefits have been elaborated in the following sections henceforth. Easier Licensing Easier licensing models within the new Windows Server 2012 can be referred as one of the key and primary features that enable server managers to determine the appropriate version of Windows Server, which needs to be licensed and installed. The new Windows Server 2012 offers an easy process of licensing versions, which further increases efficiency of the users to install a common operating system simultaneously, across different systems within WAI (Microsoft Corporation, 2012). De-duplication Data de-duplication can also be considered as the key feature of the new Windows Server 2012. It is in this context that the de-duplication of the storage data has been embedded within the core Operating System of the Windows Server, which would remove duplicate space and would assist WAI to increase data storage capability thereafter (Thomas, n.d.). Hyper-V 3.0 Hyper-V 3.0 is one of the important features that provide key support to the server operating system through protecting the whole system from malwares. It is also known as VMware destroyer, which can support 64 processors with 1TB of RAM, and 1,024 active VMs per host that further enables the server to effectively perform 8,000 VMs per cluster. In addition, Hyper-V 3.0 also operates on 64TB VHDx with 256 disks per VM in the new Windows Server 2012, which would facilitate WAI to virtualize the overall controlling process of the domain (Microsoft Corporation, 2012). Deployment and Server Editions According to the scenario, WAI is highly focused on opening its two major branches in Los Angeles (LA) and New York (NY) with 90 employees for its wide range of operational and managerial departments. According to the strategic measure of WAI, the company has determined to allocate majority of its staff members in LA for its different functional departments, including management executives, accounts and sales, creative and media productions as well as IT and Human Resources. Windows edition 8.1 has been selected to perform different management and operational functions in each department of the organisation in order to improve the efficiency of IT works. Therefore, the deployment strategy of the Windows Server 2012 has been determined to establish distinct networking infrastructure for each site, i.e. LA and NY and connect them with the main server to be located in the headquarter of the firm. In this regard, three servers are essentially required to accumulate along with effectively store and operate data recording as well as management functions. In the context of roles to be combined, the deployment function of the server has integrated multiple deployment methods that include configuring Windows Imaging (WIM), servicing WIMs, using Dism.exe to service images, adjoining drivers along with updates to images, and adding app packages and different other required features (Microsoft, 2014a). In order to reduce potential flaws and errors associated with data storing and managing functions, the server will be integrated with a core server. The core server will be designed to manage multiple remote servers that were constructed for each operational and managing departments of WAI, including its two major business sites. The servers to be assigned for different management and operational functions will be located in each organisational site of WAI. The servers will also be deployed in an automated process, which will aid in reducing the possibility of flaws that can hinder any of the operational or managing functions of the organisation. In order to reduce possible errors, a centralised deployment will also be performed while installing operating system in each computer system involved in different functions of the organisation (Policelli, 2007). Active Directory Number of AD Domains Managing Active Directory plays an important role for server administrators while performing within Windows Server 2012. It enables the administrator to perform a single master role and helps optimisation and defragmentation of the database in ‘Active Directory Domain Services’ (AD DS). Therefore, the function further facilitates the server administrator to efficiently backup as well as perform different recovery operations of the database. Moreover, the domains will be developed in the forest topology in order to provide appropriate partitioning of the AD DS database. The process is further expected to help the server administrator to replicate data associated with different functions of the departments as per their requirements. Moreover, the AD DS is designed to manage and control functions of the database, which will include ‘Read Only Domain Controller’ (RODC). The process will further facilitate WAI to gain appropriate control of the domain capabilities assigned for each system installed within the organisation. The second site factor into the RODC will be designed in accordance with the capability along with control and management performances of the AD DS. In order to ensure effective structure of the secondary site in RODC, the AD DS will be configured with a simple and flexible structure, so that the database, to be stored in the domains, can be easily defragmented or optimised as per needed (Policelli, 2007). The process of designing the placement of the organisational units will be performed emphasising an effective mechanism by integrating group policy. Moreover, organising users to be assigned in different functional roles will also be a major part for deployment of the Windows Server 2012. In this context, the developed ‘Group Policy Objects’ (GPO) will enable the administrator to configure effective settings for both the users and the systems associated with different departments of the organisation (Microsoft, 2014a). Domain Name System (DNS) and Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) The Domain Name System (DNS) and Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), as required for the deployment of Windows Server 2012, will be organised effectively to transmit intra-organisational database across different functional units located in both LA and NY of WAI. DHCP Scope Design With the objective of designing the scope of DHCP, the network infrastructure for deploying Windows Server 2012 will be characterised into multiple roles and functions. The lease processing functions will accordingly be specified in seconds in terms of transmitting files from one specified address to other, within the actual lease time. It will further focus on including number of scopes such as controlling and managing address conflicts, managing options in the DHCP, multicasting DHCP, and maintaining appropriate administering of the overall DHCP database. In order to increase the efficiency level of the scopes, a fault tolerance and reservation of the DHCP will also be implemented. The inclusion of DHCP reservation and fault tolerance capability would further help to deal with potential errors that might be identified while sharing files amid the systems of the organisation (Tulloch, 2012). Fig 1: Server Setup In addition, the domain namespace for the associated website will be structured and stored in the DNS server (www.wai.com/192.168.100.90). In the context of the second site, the DNS name will be structured as similar to the organisational websites with other IP address. For instance, the namespace for the business location located in LA will be as www.wai.com/la and for NY, the namespace will be www.wai.com/ny. The DNS structured for the websites in WAI will handle separate DNS /IP addresses accordingly. In order to increase efficiency of the server connectivity, the server and the client systems will be having own and separate DNS addresses (Tulloch, 2012). Fig 2: DNS IP Setup Application Services Assigning and publishing software programs will deploy the applications associated with the Windows Server 2012. In order to perform appropriate publishing of the DNS, the networking functions for WAI will create its own distribution point on its publishing server. In this regard, the GPO will be integrated while publishing server for the application services. Accordingly, a detail of the GPO functional steps to be used in software deployment process has been provided hereunder. Step1. Click on the Start button and then select ‘Administrative Tools’ from the Programs option and select ‘Active Directory Users and Computers’ Step2. Go to the option (Right Click) on the domain names and select context menu of through the Properties Step3. Select New from Group Policy tab Step4. Set desired name and click Security tab after opening Properties Step5. Click on Checkbox, select ‘Apply Group Policy’ and then select OK Source: (Microsoft, 2014b; Tulloch, 2012) In order to increase efficiency of the server operations, the overall functions will be operated through effective software application. In this regard, the implementation of a Group Policy Software will be integrated for the server established for WAI (Microsoft, 2014b; Tulloch, 2012). File and Printer Sharing Sharing of file and printer within a common network server is often halted by the firewall ports of the system. The process generally halts the function, as it might carry unstructured setting of the ports that can cause risks on the server to control or manage functions of each system linked with it. In the context of the proposed network infrastructure for WAI, the firewall of the server system will be designed in accordance with a particular set of port numbers that would further enable sharing file and printer options. In this function, the DFS Namespace will also be integrated, which will enable automatic identification of the appropriate address for the server and reduce potential obstacles within the organisational IT functions (Microsoft, 2014). It is expected that through these measures, the Windows Server 2012 will automatically configure the quotas and/or ‘File Server Resource Manager’ (FSRM) based on the directories. The automated function of configuring quotas/FSRM will further enable the server to restrict in uploading amount to a specified Website root directory (Microsoft, 2014). Conclusion Establishing an appropriate network structure is one of the most essential tasks for the organisation while developing its IT infrastructure. In relation to the features and beneficial aspects, Windows Server 2012 is considered as one of the most effective attributes that can enable WAI to establish its network domain and improve operational and managing functions across its two major business units located in LA and NY. It is in this context that the previously mentioned plan for infrastructure development in the organisation can substantially increase the efficiency of the organisation to share its files and data to different functional units as needed. Moreover, the proposed network development plan can also reduce potential risks that might be faced by WAI while sharing its business information from one to another business segments. In this respect, windows network infrastructure developed on the basis mentioned above in WAI would meet its needs for the next 2 to 3 years. References Microsoft. (2014a). Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012. Retrieved from http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh801901.aspx Microsoft. (2014b). Using DNS servers with DHCP. Retrieved from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc787034(v=ws.10).aspx Microsoft Corporation. (2012a). Evaluation guide: Windows Server 2012. Retrieved from https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CBwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdownload.microsoft.com%2Fdownload%2F5%2FB%2F2%2F5B254183-FA53-4317-B577-7561058CEF42%2FWS%25202012%2520Evaluation%2520Guide.pdf&ei=KUMpVOK2OdOfugTMv4GIDQ&usg=AFQjCNFViUi5FefmgvSgj-2ZhYCy1JQwsQ&bvm=bv.76247554,d.c2E Policelli, J. (2007). Chatper 1: Introduction to active directory domain services. Retrieved from http://www.networkworld.com/article/2255953/infrastructure-management/chatper-1--introduction-to-active-directory-domain-services.html Thomas, O. (n.d.). Administering Windows Server 2012: Training guide. Retrieved from http://gegeek.com/documents/eBooks/Training%20Guide%20Administering%20Windows%20Server%202012.pdf Tulloch, M. (2012). Installing and configuring Windows Server 2012: Training Guide. USA: Microsoft Press. Read More