comptia server+ certification (exam sk0-004) with labs · evaluation use only acknowledgements...
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Evaluation Use Only
CompTIA Server+ Certification (Exam SK0-004)
Study Guide
Study Notes
G602eng v066
Evaluation Use Only
Acknowledgements
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Course Developers ..... James Pengelly, Paul Taylor, and Andrew
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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Course Introduction i
Table of Contents .......................................................................................... iii Getting Started .............................................................................................. ix About This Course ......................................................................................... x About CompTIA Certifications ...................................................................... xv
Module 1 / Server Setup 1
Module 1 / Unit 1 Servers and Racks 3
Server Hardware and Software ..................................................................... 3 Server Form Factors...................................................................................... 7 Rack Systems ............................................................................................. 10 Rack Installation and Safety ........................................................................ 12
Module 1 / Unit 2 Storage Devices 15
Mass Storage Drives ................................................................................... 15 The SCSI Interface ...................................................................................... 18 Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) ........................................................................ 20 The Serial ATA Interface ............................................................................. 22 Solid State Drives (SSD) ............................................................................. 23
Module 1 / Unit 3 RAID 27
Drive Arrays (RAID) ..................................................................................... 27 RAID Mirroring and Parity ............................................................................ 29 Nested RAID ............................................................................................... 31 Hardware and Software RAID ..................................................................... 32 Enterprise RAID Configurations ................................................................... 36
Module 1 / Unit 4 System Setup 40
BIOS and UEFI Configuration ...................................................................... 40 Upgrading Firmware .................................................................................... 44 MBR and GPT Partitions ............................................................................. 46 File System Choices .................................................................................... 48
Module 1 / Unit 5 Server Operating Systems 53
Server Pre-installation Planning .................................................................. 53 Network Operating Systems ........................................................................ 57 Hardware Compatibility List (HCL)............................................................... 59 Installation and Deployment Methods .......................................................... 60 Driver Installation ......................................................................................... 65
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Virtual Memory ............................................................................................ 66
Module 1 / Unit 6 Troubleshooting Procedures 70
Troubleshooting Procedures ........................................................................ 70 Identifying the Problem ................................................................................ 71 Establishing a Probable Cause .................................................................... 73 Establishing a Plan of Action ....................................................................... 75
Module 1 / Summary Server Setup 79
Module 2 / Server Networking 81
Module 2 / Unit 1 Ethernet 83
Twisted Pair Cabling and Connectors .......................................................... 83 Installing Network Cables ............................................................................ 86 Patch Cable Types ...................................................................................... 88 Fiber Optic Cabling and Connectors ............................................................ 90 Ethernet Standards...................................................................................... 92 Network Adapter Cards ............................................................................... 94 Troubleshooting Cabling .............................................................................. 97
Module 2 / Unit 2 Internet Protocol 100
The TCP/IP Suite ...................................................................................... 100 Internet Protocol and IP Addressing .......................................................... 101 Subnet Masks ............................................................................................ 102 Configuring IP ............................................................................................ 105 Classless Addressing ................................................................................ 109 Planning an IPv4 Addressing Scheme ....................................................... 110 Troubleshooting IP .................................................................................... 112 IP Version 6 ............................................................................................... 116
Module 2 / Unit 3 Routers and Firewalls 120
IP Routing Basics ...................................................................................... 120 Troubleshooting Routing Issues ................................................................ 123 TCP and UDP Ports .................................................................................. 125 netstat ....................................................................................................... 128 Zones and Access Control Lists (ACL) ...................................................... 129 Basic Firewalls .......................................................................................... 132 Host-based Firewalls ................................................................................. 135 VLAN Configuration ................................................................................... 136
Module 2 / Unit 4 Network Services 139
Network Services Servers ......................................................................... 139 Host Names and FQDNs ........................................................................... 139 Domain Name System (DNS) .................................................................... 141 Configuring DNS Servers .......................................................................... 144 nslookup and nbtstat ................................................................................. 146
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Configuring DHCP ..................................................................................... 150 NTP Server ............................................................................................... 153
Module 2 / Unit 5 Virtualization Services 155
Virtualization Basics .................................................................................. 155 Hypervisors ............................................................................................... 156 Resource Requirements ............................................................................ 160 Virtual Networks ........................................................................................ 161 Purposes of Virtual Machines .................................................................... 163 Virtualization Best Practices and Risks ...................................................... 165
Module 2 / Summary Server Networking 169
Module 3 / Server Applications 171
Module 3 / Unit 1 Configuring Server Roles 173
Installing Roles and Applications ............................................................... 173 Database and Application Servers............................................................. 175 Web Servers ............................................................................................. 177 File Transfer Services (FTP) ...................................................................... 182 Email (SMTP / POP / IMAP) ...................................................................... 185 Messaging Servers .................................................................................... 186 Troubleshooting Services .......................................................................... 187
Module 3 / Unit 2 Storage Services 189
DAS, NAS, and SAN ................................................................................. 189 Fibre Channel ............................................................................................ 192 Tape Drives ............................................................................................... 195 Other Storage Media ................................................................................. 197 Storage Capacity Planning ........................................................................ 199
Module 3 / Unit 3 Volume Management 203
Disk Management Tool .............................................................................. 203 Adding Arrays (Dynamic Storage) ............................................................. 206 Drive Status and Disk Tools ...................................................................... 208 Managing Disks in Linux ............................................................................ 211 Troubleshooting Storage ........................................................................... 213 Troubleshooting RAID ............................................................................... 215 Troubleshooting Disk Performance............................................................ 218
Module 3 / Unit 4 Directory Services 220
Configuring Directory Services .................................................................. 220 Active Directory ......................................................................................... 223 Managing Users ........................................................................................ 226 Managing Group Accounts ........................................................................ 230 Account Policy Enforcement ...................................................................... 233
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Module 3 / Unit 5 File and Print Services 237
Configuring File Shares ............................................................................. 237 NTFS File and Folder Permissions ............................................................ 240 Securing a Linux File System .................................................................... 245 Print Servers.............................................................................................. 247
Module 3 / Unit 6 Troubleshooting Software 254
Server Monitoring ...................................................................................... 254 Measuring Performance in Windows ......................................................... 258 Measuring Performance in Linux ............................................................... 264 System Logs.............................................................................................. 266 Troubleshooting Software Problems .......................................................... 270
Module 3 / Summary Server Applications 277
Module 4 / Server Maintenance 279
Module 4 / Unit 1 Server Hardware 281
Motherboard Components ......................................................................... 281 CPU Features ............................................................................................ 284 CPU Packaging and Sockets ..................................................................... 289 CPU Upgrades .......................................................................................... 290 System Memory ........................................................................................ 292 Dual-channel Motherboards ...................................................................... 296 Other Memory Features ............................................................................ 297 Expansion Cards ....................................................................................... 299
Module 4 / Unit 2 Environment and Maintenance 304
Developing a Server Management Plan .................................................... 304 Server Chassis Features ........................................................................... 305 Performing Shut Down .............................................................................. 307 Server Cooling ........................................................................................... 311 Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) ........................................... 314
Module 4 / Unit 3 Power Distribution 319
Power ........................................................................................................ 319 Power Supply Unit ..................................................................................... 322 Connector Types and Voltages ................................................................. 324 Power Problems and UPS ......................................................................... 325 UPS Sizing ................................................................................................ 327 UPS in the Data Center ............................................................................. 330 PDUs and Power Circuits .......................................................................... 333
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Module 4 / Unit 4 Server Hardware Troubleshooting 337
Adding and Removing Components .......................................................... 337 Troubleshooting Power and POST Problems ............................................ 339 Troubleshooting Processor, Memory, and I/O Failure ................................ 343 Performing a Memory Upgrade ................................................................. 345
Module 4 / Unit 5 Server Management 349
Server Management Methods ................................................................... 349 Local Hardware Administration .................................................................. 352 OS Administration Tools ............................................................................ 354 Network Hardware Administration Tools .................................................... 356
Module 4 / Unit 6 Configuration Management 359
Change and Configuration Management ................................................... 359 Documentation .......................................................................................... 362 Procedures and Standards ........................................................................ 367
Module 4 / Summary Server Maintenance 373
Module 5 / Server Security 375
Module 5 / Unit 1 Site Security 377
Authentication ........................................................................................... 377 Designing a Secure Site ............................................................................ 380 Site Security Controls ................................................................................ 382 Hardware Security ..................................................................................... 386 Data Encryption ......................................................................................... 387 Data Wiping and Disposal ......................................................................... 390 Fire Prevention and Suppression .............................................................. 392
Module 5 / Unit 2 Remote Access Services 396
Digital Security .......................................................................................... 396 Remote Access Server .............................................................................. 398
Module 5 / Unit 3 Server Hardening 406
Hardening Techniques .............................................................................. 406 Firmware Security ..................................................................................... 408 Patch Management ................................................................................... 409 Windows Update ....................................................................................... 410 Linux Patch Management .......................................................................... 412 Application Patch Management ................................................................. 414
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Module 5 / Unit 4 Security Software 416
Anti-malware Software .............................................................................. 416 Preventive Measures ................................................................................. 419 Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) ............................................................. 420 IDS Analysis Engine .................................................................................. 423 Endpoint Security ...................................................................................... 424 Vulnerability Assessments ......................................................................... 426
Module 5 / Unit 5 Disaster Recovery 429
Business Continuity Concepts ................................................................... 429 Disaster Recovery Planning ...................................................................... 433 IT Contingency Planning ........................................................................... 435 Clusters and Sites ..................................................................................... 437
Module 5 / Unit 6 Backup 442
Backup Plans and Policies ........................................................................ 442 Database and System Backups ................................................................. 445 Backup Execution and Frequency ............................................................. 447 Restoring Data and Verifying Backups ...................................................... 450
Module 5 / Summary Server Security 453
Taking the Exams 455
Glossary 467
Index 485
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Storage Devices
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Module 1 / Unit 2 Storage Devices
Objectives
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
■ Describe the features and performance characteristics of server-class hard
disks and solid state drives.
■ Describe features of the SCSI interface and know how to configure devices
correctly.
■ Describe features of the SATA and SAS interfaces and know how to
configure devices correctly.
Mass Storage Drives
Like a desktop PC, a server will be configured with one or more mass storage
devices to store the operating system and applications software. Disk space
may also be provided on a file server as a shared resource for network users.
Unlike most desktop PCs however, server disks will typically be faster for
higher performance and add resilience features such as RAID - the ability for
multiple hard disks to work together to increase access speed to files or
provide redundancy in case one of the drives fails.
All new servers use disk interfaces based on either Serial Attached SCSI
(SAS) or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA). Some older servers
may be configured with parallel SCSI interfaces.
Drives are available in several sizes. Most hard drives are 3.5" or 2.5" width
(the width refers to the size of the drive bay rather than the disk unit). 2.5" now
dominates the market, with 3.5" drives gradually being phased out. Internal
optical and tape drive units often use the larger 5.25" form factor. There is also
a distinction between half height and low profile units.
Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
Most hard disks are of the mechanical type (HDD). Data is stored on a number
of metal or glass platters coated with a magnetic substance. The top and
bottom of each platter is accessed by its own read/write head, moved by an
actuator mechanism.
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Stack of platters on spindle
The heads do not actually touch the
surface of the platters. The platters are
mounted on a spindle and spun at high
speed and the heads "float" above them
at a distance of less than a millionth of
an inch. The disk unit is kept sealed to
maintain a constant air pressure
(important for keeping the drive heads
at the correct distance from the platters)
and to prevent the entry of dust.
Each side of each platter is divided into circular tracks and each track contains
a number of sectors, each with a capacity of 512 bytes. The collection of
tracks in the same place on each platter is called a cylinder. This low-level
formatting is also referred to as the drive geometry.
As hard drive sizes have increased, some disk models now use
Advanced Format, with 4 kilobyte (4K) sector sizes. If supported
by the OS and PC firmware, these can be used in native mode; if
not, the drive controller will usually present the disk in 512
emulated (512e) mode.
The performance of a hard disk is a measure of how fast it can read and write
data. There are a number of factors that determine overall hard disk
performance. One factor is the speed at which the disks can spin (measured in
Revolutions Per Minute [rpm]). The higher the rpm, the faster the drive is.
High performance drives are rated at 15,000 or 10,000 rpm; average
performance is 7200 or 5400 rpm.
RPM is one factor determining access time (measured in milliseconds), which
is the delay that occurs as the read/write head locates a particular track
position (seek time) and sector location (rotational latency) on the drive. A
high performance drive will have an access time below 3 ms; a typical drive
might have an access time of around 6 ms.
The internal transfer rate (or data or disk transfer rate) of a drive is a
measure of how fast read/write operations are performed on the disk platters.
A 15K drive should support an internal transfer rate of up to about 180 MBps
while 7.2K drives will be around 110 MBps. The external transfer rate (often
simply described as the transfer rate) measures how fast data can be
transferred to the CPU across the bus. Cache memory can help to sustain
better transfer rates. A high performance disk may feature an 8 MB or better
cache.
The last, but by no means least, characteristic of a hard drive is its capacity.
Advances in hard disk technology have enabled disks of up to 8 terabytes
(8000 GB) to be produced but often smaller capacities are used because they
offer better reliability and redundancy (as part of an array).
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Enclosures and Backplanes
A drive is housed in an enclosure or caddy. The drive may then be connected
to the host bus adapter via a cable but on enterprise-class servers it is more
usual for the enclosures to be connected via a backplane. Rather than using
cabled connectors, the drives plug (or "mate") into a combined data and power
port on the enclosure. This means that drives can be easily added and
removed from the front of the case without having to open the chassis.
Enclosure and backplane on an HP server - 1) The drive mates with the port on the backplane
card; 2) Data and power cables on the other side of the backplane card connect to the drive port and PSU
The drives are secured and released from the server using a latch. Many
server drives are hot-swappable, meaning that they can be added or removed
without powering down the server.
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The SCSI Interface
The Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) has been in use as an
expansion bus interface since the 1980s. There have been many revisions to
the standard. Originally a parallel interface, SCSI is now used for serial
connections for disk drives (Serial Attached SCSI) and peripheral devices
(Firewire or IEEE 1394).
More information about SCSI can be located on the T10 Committee website
(www.t10.org) and from the SCSI Trade Association (www.scsita.org).
Parallel SCSI Standards
The original iterations of the SCSI standards defined a parallel bus, originally 8
bits wide but later updated to 16 bits (wide SCSI). As a parallel interface, SCSI
is more-or-less obsolete but the main iterations are listed below:
Interface Devices
(Excluding
Host Adapter)
Rate Max Cable Length
(m)
Connector
SE LVD HVD
SCSI-1 7 5 MBps 6 - 25 50-pin
Fast SCSI 7 10 MBps 3 - 25 50-pin
Fast-Wide
SCSI
15 20 MBps 3 - 25 68-pin
Ultra
SCSI
7 20 MBps 1.5 - 25 50-pin
Wide Ultra
SCSI
15 40 MBps - - 25 68-pin
Ultra2
SCSI
7 40 MBps - 12 25 50-pin
Wide
Ultra2
SCSI
15 80 MBps - 12 25 68-pin / 80-
pin
Ultra3
SCSI
(Ultra160
SCSI)
15 160 MBps - 12 - 68-pin / 80-
pin
Ultra320
SCSI
15 320 MBps - 12 - 68-pin / 80-
pin
Ultra640
SCSI
15 640 MBps - 12 - 68-pin / 80-
pin
The number of devices listed in the table excludes the host
adapter. So for example, narrow SCSI supports 8 devices including
the host adapter and wide SCSI supports 16.
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Parallel SCSI Configuration Issues
Given the number of different versions of the standard, SCSI configuration is
relatively complex.
■ Host adapter - the SCSI host adapter must be installed and recognized by
the system for devices to be attached and detected. A third-party driver
might have to be installed for the host adapter to be recognized.
■ Bus width - SCSI originally supported 8 devices (the host adapter counts
as a device). Wide SCSI supports up to 16 devices.
■ Signaling - SCSI specifies three signaling methods. Most buses and
devices now use LVD (Low Voltage Differential). SE (Single Ended)
devices can be added to a LVD bus, but it reduces the performance of the
whole bus. H(igh)VD is incompatible with the other two and must not be
mixed.
■ Termination - a SCSI bus must be terminated at both ends, usually by
enabling termination on the first and last devices in the chain. Termination
may either be enabled internally on the device by setting a switch or by
physically connecting a terminator pack to a device or the host adapter.
There are passive and active terminators. Passive terminators are
generally used with older devices (pre-Ultra SCSI). When installing a
terminator pack, the terminator must match the signaling type (SE, LVD,
HVD, or SE/LVD). Termination is also made more complex if there is a mix
of narrow (8-bit) and wide (16-bit) devices on the bus.
Correct termination and device identification of a SCSI chain
■ ID - each SCSI device must be allocated a unique ID, from 0 to 7 (or 15 for
wide SCSI). IDs may be allocated automatically or by setting a jumper or
click-wheel on the device itself. The order of SCSI ID priorities (from
highest to lowest) is 7 through to 0 then 15 through to 8.
The host adapter is usually set to 7 or 15. A bootable hard disk is
usually allocated ID 0.
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■ Logical Unit Number (LUN) - some parallel SCSI devices can perform
more than one function (an auto-loading tape drive for instance). In this
case, each function must be allocated a Logical Unit Number (LUN) from
0 to 7 or 0 to 15. This is normally assigned by the manufacturer.
Longer (64-bit) LUNs are also used in Storage Area Networks
(SAN) based on Fiber Channel or iSCSI. See Unit 3.2 for more
information about SANs.
Parallel SCSI Connectors
A SCSI port is denoted by the following symbol: . There are numerous
SCSI connectors. The most common are:
■ IDC50 - a 50-pin internal connector used with early SCSI devices (SCSI-1).
■ CN50 - a 50-pin Centronics-style connector used for external connections
in early SCSI devices.
■ HD68 - 68-pin connectors used for internal and external ports. 68-pin
adapters support Wide SCSI.
Internal (left) and external male HD connectors
■ Single Connector Attachment (SCA) - an 80-pin connector that
incorporates both a power connector and configuration wires, allowing for
hot swappable drives.
Serial Attached SCSI (SAS)
Serial Attached SCSI is the next generation of SCSI interface. It uses a serial
interface with full-duplex communication over 2-pair wiring (much like PCI
Express) but retains support for the SCSI command set.
SAS components can be rated at 3 Gbps (SAS-1), 6 Gbps (SAS-2), or 12
Gbps (SAS-3).
A significant feature of SAS is support for thousands of devices (up to 16,384),
using an Ethernet switch-like device called an expander. Each device is
identified by a unique, manufacturer-coded ID, so there is no manual
configuration to be performed. Also, SAS does not require termination,
removing another complex configuration issue.
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SAS also goes some way to uniting the SATA and SCSI standards. It provides
both hardware support (the same connectors and cable) and software support
(through the SATA Tunneling Protocol) for SATA drives. This offers the
opportunity to mix low-cost SATA drives with high-cost, high-performance SAS
drives in an integrated storage solution.
Serial Attached SCSI Installation
SAS devices feature a combined 7-pin data port and 15-pin power port (though
some drives may also have a legacy 4-pin Molex power port too). In fact, on
most SAS devices there are two data connectors (for redundancy). This is
referred to as "dual-port". Obviously the backplane or cable must also support
a redundant connection for this to work.
SAS connections are typically either single-lane (a simple adapter to device
connection) or multi-lane (a single port on the adapter is connected to four
devices).
Ports can either be "straight-through" or flush / surface mounted with right-
angle connectors. Flush-mounted fittings are used in blade servers and other
systems with restricted space. SAS backplane connectors are designed to
"blind-mate", which means that a connection is made reliably when a drive
caddy is inserted into a backplane. The design of the pins also reduces the
chance of damage through ESD or a power spike (the full power pins connect
after the other pins).
Hot-pluggable drives are not screwed into the chassis but slot into a drive
cage. The cables for the devices connect to the drive cage (backplane) rather
than the drive units.
Hot-pluggable drives on HP Proliant server
When removing a drive, you will probably need to use a utility or the OS to stop
the device. This completes any cached write operations and prevents the NOS
from trying to write data to the device while it is being removed. You also need
to power down the device, either using software or a switch on the drive bay.
Indicators on the drive bay should show when a drive is safe to remove. The
drives are physically released and inserted using a lever or latch mechanism.
Unused drive slots should be filled with blanks to maintain the
correct airflow and cooling within the chassis.
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Serial Attached SCSI Connectors
A number of connectors are associated with the use of SAS host adapters and
drives:
■ SFF 8087 - internal mini connector for both adapter card ("host") and drive
or backplane ports ("target").
■ SFF 8088 - external mini connector for both adapter card and drive
enclosures.
■ SFF 8484 ("Multilane") - legacy 32-pin internal or external HD connector
(host) supporting four 7-pin lanes (target). The remaining pins are used for
"sideband" signals (LEDs and status monitoring).
■ SFF 8470 ("Infiniband") - legacy jackscrew connector for both internal and
external use.
■ SFF 8482 - internal connector compatible with both SAS and SATA drives.
This type of connector would be used principally to attach SATA devices
(such as DVD drives) to an SAS bus.
The Serial ATA Interface
Serial ATA (SATA) was developed to address the limitations of the now
obsolete parallel ATA or IDE interface. SATA would be used on low-end server
hardware as a cheaper option than SAS.
4 SATA motherboard ports in front of an IDE port on an Intel motherboard
As the name suggests, SATA transfers data in serial format. This allows for
thinner, longer, more flexible cables (up to 1m [39"]) with smaller, 7-pin data
connectors. Each port supports a single device.
SATA cable for HP workstations
The first commercially available SATA standard supports speeds of up to 1.5
Gbps. This standard was quickly augmented by SATA revision 2 (3 Gbps) and
then SATA revision 3 (6 Gbps). Another key advantage of SATA over PATA is
that SATA is a hot swappable interface. This means that a compatible drive
can be connected or disconnected while the system is running.
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Other additions in SATA revision 2 include the use of port multipliers, which
allow up to 15 drives to be connected to a single SATA adapter, and Native
Command Queuing (NCQ), which enables the drive to analyze read/write
operations and perform them in the most efficient manner, depending on the
location of data on the disk
SATA revision 3 adds some extensions to NCQ to support isochronous data
transfer (prioritizing real time data such as video to ensure smooth playback).
SATA revisions 3.1 and 3.2 add better support for Solid State Drives (SSD).
More information on SATA standards can be obtained from www.sata-io.org.
Hot Swapping
One of the major advantages of SATA over PATA is the support for hot
swapping and consequently better compatibility with RAID configurations.
Serial ATA 15-pin power connectors have been redesigned to provide support
for both hot plugging and a 3.3V power supply in addition to the usual 5V and
12V.
Many drives retain a 4-pin Molex port for
compatibility with legacy power supplies).
Molex-SATA conversion adapters are also
available.
SATA power connector
SATA and SAS
As mentioned earlier, SAS includes hardware and software support for SATA
devices. The reverse is not true however; SAS devices cannot be plugged into
a SATA bus.
Solid State Drives (SSD)
Recently, flash memory based drives (Solid State Drives [SSD]) have been
introduced to the market.
There are broadly two types of SSD: Single Layer Cell (SLC) and Multi Layer
Cell (MLC). SLC stores 1 bit per cell while MLC stores 4 or more bits per cell,
yielding higher capacities at lower cost. MLC can be slower however as it
requires substantial error correction processing. It is also perceived as not
reliable enough for enterprise server applications as it supports fewer write
cycles, though improvements in the technology (enterprise-grade eMLC
technology for instance) may change that perception over time.
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HP SSD with SATA interface (Image © 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company)
The advantages of flash memory-based SSDs are that the lack of moving parts
makes them quieter, more power efficient, and less prone to catastrophic
failure or damage due to shock (dropping or moving a device rapidly for
instance). Read times are better because seek time and consequently the
effect of file fragmentation is eliminated. They are also less susceptible to data
loss in the event of power failure. Most drives still feature DRAM-based write
cache to improve performance. In the event of a power failure, unwritten cache
would be lost. However, the DRAM cache may be backed up by a battery to
cover this eventuality.
The main disadvantage is the high cost; a 64 GB SSD costs a bit more than a
2 TB HDD (a 1 TB SSD can cost the same as a top-end server).
SSD Interfaces
An SSD might be installed as the server's only internal drive. The SSD would
normally be used to install the OS and software applications while a disk array
or other shared storage would be used for data files.
An SSD might be installed to an SAS or SATA port as with a mechanical HDD.
SSDs are now often provided as PCIe adapter Add In Cards (AIC) though,
taking advantage of the higher bandwidths available from a native PCIe
interface. Where SAS uses SCSI and SATA uses the Advanced Host
Controller Interface (AHCI) to communicate with the bus, PCIe-based SSDs
use the Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface Specification
(NVMHCI) or NVM Express (NVMe) for short. One of the big advantages of
NVMe over SCSI and AHCI is support for much longer command queues
(64,000 versus 64 in SCSI).
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An SSD can also be packaged as a 2.5" drive and connect to an
NVMe controller via a SFF 8639 / U.2 port.
SSD Performance
SSDs normally outperform HDDs but there are situations where they can
perform worse than HDDs, when serving large (GB) files for example.
When making a detailed comparison between different types of storage
technology, you need to compare performance against different types of data
transfer. For example, read and write performance are not equivalent. There
are also differences between sequential access (reading data from the same
"block" as might happen when transferring a large file) and random access
(reading data from different locations on the drive or transferring lots of small
files for instance). Along with the data throughput (measured in Mbps) and
latency / access time, you may need to consider the number of Input / Output
Operations per Second (IOPS) that can be achieved by a device for different
kinds of data transfer operation.
Flash chips are also susceptible to their own type of degradation over the
course of many write operations, so the drive firmware and operating system
must use wear leveling routines to prevent any single storage location from
being overused and optimize the life of the device.
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Module 1 / Unit 2
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Review Questions / Module 1 / Unit 2 / Storage Devices
Answer these questions to test what you have learned in this unit. You can
submit your answers and review the model answers on the course website.
1) True or false? LFF and SFF represent two different fixed drive
technologies?
2) What two mechanical factors affect hard disk access times?
3) How would you expect hot-pluggable drives to be attached to a server?
4) What type of SCSI hard disk subsystem would you expect to be
provisioned on a new server - SAS or Ultra320?
5) What are the main issues to consider when configuring a parallel SCSI
bus?
6) True or false? SATA and SAS use compatible connectors.
7) What is the principal factor reducing the operational life of SSDs and what
process is used to mitigate it?
8) You need to configure servers to cache files for a content delivery network.
What type of storage technology is best suited to this task?
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CompTIA Server+ Certification (Exam SK0-004)
Study Guide
Labs
G602eng v066
Evaluation Use Only
Acknowledgements
www.gtslearning.com
Course Developers .............. James Pengelly and Andrew Warren
This courseware is owned, published, and distributed by
gtslearning, the world's only specialist supplier of CompTIA
learning solutions.
+44 (0)20 7887 7999 +44 (0)20 7887 7988
Unit 127, Hill House, 210 Upper Richmond Road,
London SW15 6NP, UK
COPYRIGHT
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LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
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material presented in this course. Neither the publisher nor its agents can be held legally
responsible for any mistakes in printing or for faulty instructions contained within this course.
The publisher appreciates receiving notice of any errors or misprints.
Information in this course is subject to change without notice. Companies, names, and data
used in examples herein are fictitious unless otherwise noted.
Where the course and all materials supplied for training are designed to familiarize the user
with the operation of software programs and computer devices, the publisher urges the user to
review the manuals provided by the product vendor regarding specific questions as to
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Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................... 1
Lab 1 / Preparing the Server.......................................................................... 2
Lab 2 / Installing an NOS ............................................................................. 11
Lab 3 / Configuring an NOS......................................................................... 15
Lab 4 / Configuring Network Settings .......................................................... 19
Lab 5 / Installing a Linux VM........................................................................ 21
Lab 6 / Configuring a DHCP Server ............................................................. 30
Lab 7 / Configuring Directory Services ........................................................ 34
Lab 8 / Configuring File Shares ................................................................... 38
Lab 9 / Monitoring Performance .................................................................. 45
Lab 10 / Deploying Windows ....................................................................... 47
Lab 11 / Upgrading Hardware ...................................................................... 54
Lab 12 / Maintenance Tasks........................................................................ 55
Lab 13 / Troubleshooting Scenarios ............................................................ 56
Lab 14 / Managing a Server ........................................................................ 57
Lab 15 / Disk Encryption .............................................................................. 62
Lab 16 / Backup .......................................................................................... 66
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Introduction
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Introduction
The following conventions have been used in the instruction steps for these
practical lab exercises.
■ Number lists and bullets - steps for you to follow in the course of
completing the exercise.
■ Using the mouse - when instructed to click or select, use the main mouse
button; when instructed to right-click, use the secondary button (that is, the
button on the right-hand side of the mouse, assuming right-handed use).
■ File and command selection - files, applets, dialog tabs, and buttons or
menus that you need to select as part of a step are shown in sans serif
bold. For example: Click OK, Select Control Panel, and so on.
■ Sequences of commands - a sequence of steps to follow to open a file or
activate a command are shown in bold with arrows. For example, if you
need to access the system properties in Windows, this would be shown in
the text by: Start > Control Panel > System.
■ Using the key combos - key combos where you must press both multiple
keys simultaneously are shown in Courier New Bold. For example: Press
Ctrl+C to copy the file. Sometimes you need to use both the keyboard
and the mouse. For example: Ctrl+click means hold down the Ctrl key
and click the main mouse button.
■ Commands and typing - information that you must enter using the
keyboard is also shown in Courier New Bold. For example: Type
[email protected]. Courier New Bold-Italic represents some
sort of variable, such as your student number. For example, if your student
number is "5", you would follow the instruction ping 10.0.0.x by
entering ping 10.0.0.5.
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
In this lab, you will set up and investigate the server computer and use the
configuration utility to create a virtual disk on a RAID array.
Exercise 1 - Investigating the Storage Components
In this exercise you will investigate how the drives are attached to the
motherboard. The steps assume you are working on a tower form factor server
with a hot-pluggable backplane. Your instructor will advise you if there are any
special steps to take with the servers available in your training room.
1) Remove the panels covering the chassis - most servers allow tool free
access but you may need to use a key to unlock the chassis or a
screwdriver to remove the panels.
2) Observe the drive caddies and the mechanism for releasing them. Eject
one of the drives and observe the ports at the back and on the backplane.
What type of drive is it?
___________________________________________________________
3) Fit the drive back into the same slot, making sure its locking lever is
properly in place.
4) Make a note of the number of drive and free bays and consequently the
RAID configurations you could deploy with the current devices and if all the
bays were filled:
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
5) Look at the connections behind the backplane - you should be able to
observe a power connector to the PSU and a drive connector to the RAID
controller card or motherboard RAID controller.
6) Re-fit the panels to the server chassis.
Exercise 2 - Setting Up the Server
In this exercise, you will connect peripheral devices to the server.
1) Connect the keyboard and mouse to USB or PS/2 ports as appropriate.
2) Use an appropriate display cable to connect the display port to the monitor.
Make sure the monitor is connected to the mains and switched on.
3) Use an RJ-45 patch cable to connect the network adapter to the classroom
network. If there are multiple ports, use port 1.
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
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If there is a management port, make sure you do not use that!
4) Connect the power cable and switch on the server.
5) Watch the boot messages and press the key combination to enter system
setup (F2 for example).
Selecting the system setup program at boot
Exercise 3 – Configuring System Settings
In this exercise you will use the firmware setup program to configure system
component settings and boot modes.
1) Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with the layout of the system
setup program. A newer server might have firmware supporting mouse
operation but for most setup programs you will navigate using the arrow
keys, with Enter to select a menu and Esc to return.
2) Verify that the program is showing the correct date and time. If these are
incorrect, it can be a sign that the Real Time Clock (RTC) / CMOS battery
needs replacing.
3) Locate the option for processor or CPU settings and open it.
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
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Verifying that virtualization technology is enabled
4) Confirm that Virtualization Technology is enabled. View the other CPU
settings then exit the menu.
5) Observe the settings and information about integrated devices and ports,
including SATA ports - cancel out of the menus without changing settings,
unless your instructor advises otherwise.
Viewing enable / disable options for integrated devices such as onboard Ethernet NICs
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
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Configuring the onboard SATA controller - note the option to change the mode and that this server only has a DVD drive connected (the hard drives are attached to a RAID controller expansion card)
6) Open the menu for Boot Settings.
Configuring boot settings
7) Unless your instructor advises otherwise, select UEFI for the boot mode.
8) Exit system setup, choosing to save changes to the configuration. When
the server reboots, choose the option to open the RAID controller
configuration utility.
If the server tries to boot from a device after exiting system setup,
press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to reboot. If you miss the option to start
the RAID controller utility, just press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to reboot
again.
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
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Exercise 4 - Configuring a Virtual Disk
In this exercise, you will explore the functions of the low-level firmware
configuration utility and use it to create a virtual disk.
Each setup utility is different so the instructions here are only a
general guide as to what to do. Review the system documentation
or ask your instructor for help if you cannot work out how to access
a particular option.
1) Observe the POST messages and when prompted, press the key combo
such as Ctrl+A or Ctrl+C to start the RAID configuration utility.
Starting the RAID (SAS) controller configuration utility (Ctrl+C in this example)
2) Observe the properties for the main storage controller (there should only be
one). Look for two key bits of information:
Firmware revision level - this is useful to know in case you have a
problem with the controller that could be fixed by a firmware update.
Boot priority - the controller should be enabled and top priority (boot
device 0).
Top-level menu of the controller utility showing the available adapters - pressing Enter here opens
the configuration settings for the PERC adapter
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
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3) Find the option to create a new volume:
Configuration settings for the PERC adapter - selecting RAID Properties allows configuration of a
new volume
4) Observe which RAID levels are supported by the controller.
RAID types supported by the controller
5) You can create any type of fault tolerant RAID volume available to you.
Select the type of volume you want to create then add the required number
of disks to the volume.
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
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Adding two disks to a new RAID 1 volume
6) Save changes then wait for the virtual disk to be configured.
Viewing the newly created volume
7) Explore options for managing the volume, such as viewing status and
performing a health check. In the following example, a hot spare is being
added to the RAID 1 (mirrored) volume:
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Lab 1 / Preparing the Server
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Options for managing the volume
Configuring the third disk as a hot spare for the volume
8) Finally, verify that the volume is configured as a boot device. In this
example, this is done via the SAS Topology menu.
Configuring the volume as a boot device
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9) When you are done, exit the configuration utility and the server will reboot.
10) Observe the POST and firmware status messages to verify that the volume
you created is detected.
Controller firmware status message showing the virtual disk that was configured
You should then see the server trying to locate a boot device, including
trying to boot from the network adapter. No boot device will be found
though.
No boot device found
11) Power down the server.