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Prepare for the Server+ exam—and an exciting new career in tech—with this hands-on guide
In the newly updated Second Edition of the CompTIA Server+ Study Guide: Exam SK0-005, veteran technology educator Troy McMillan delivers a comprehensive, hands-on blueprint for success on the Server+ SK0-005 exam. Learn about essential hardware and software technologies used in on-premise and hybrid server environments and prepare yourself for the exam and real-world, on-the-job challenges.
This Study Guide provides you with a solid understanding of how network and cloud storage systems work by helping you learn how to store, protect, and access the data that’s ever more crucial to modern businesses. Find coverage of every objective tested by the exam, including server hardware installation and management, server administration, security and disaster recovery, and troubleshooting. You also learn:
A can’t-miss resource for anyone preparing for a new role as a server administrator, data storage specialist, or related IT specialty, the CompTIA Server+ Study Guide: Exam SK0-005, Second Edition, will earn a place in the libraries of anyone looking for an efficient and effective way to prep for this challenging and rewarding technical certification.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TROY MCMILLAN has earned over 30 IT certifications, including Server+, A+, and Network+. He is a Product Developer and Technical Editor for CyberVista and helps individuals and organizations train on technology and prepare for certification exams. He specializes in teaching CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, and Wireless certifications.
Introduction xxiii
Assessment Test liv
Answers to Assessment Test lxi
Chapter 1 Server Hardware 1
Racking 3
Enclosure Sizes 3
Unit Sizes 3
Rack Layout 5
Power Cabling 14
Voltage 15
Redundant Power 18
Power Connector Types 23
Cable Management 25
Network Cabling 26
Redundant Networking 26
Twisted Pair 27
Fiber 30
Gigabit 31
10 GigE 31
Small Form-Factor
Pluggable (SFP) 32
SFP+ 32
Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable (QSFP) 33
Cable Management 33
Server Chassis Types 35
Server Components 42
NICs 55
Summary 57
Exam Essentials 57
Review Questions 59
Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Servers 63
Installing Server Operating Systems 67
Minimum Operating System (OS) Requirements 67
Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) 68
Installations 68
Partition and Volume Types 73
File System Types 75
Configuring and Maintaining Server Functions and Features 76
Server Roles Requirements 77
Data Migration and Transfer 96
Administrative Interfaces 97
The Purpose and Operation of Virtualization 98
Host vs. Guest 98
Virtual Networking 99
Resource Allocation and Provisioning 103
Management Interfaces for Virtual Machines 108
Cloud Models 110
Summary 111
Exam Essentials 111
Review Questions 112
Chapter 3 Server Maintenance 115
Given a Scenario, Perform Server Hardware Maintenance 117
Out-of-Band Management 117
Local Hardware Administration 122
Components 125
Drives 126
Hot-Swappable Hardware 129
Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)/Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) 131
Explain Licensing Concepts 132
Models 132
Open Source 134
Subscription 135
License vs. Maintenance and Support 135
Volume Licensing 136
License Count Validation 136
Version Compatibility 136
Summary 137
Exam Essentials 137
Review Questions 138
Chapter 4 Storage Technologies and Asset Management 143
Given a Scenario, Deploy and Manage Storage 146
RAID Levels and Types 146
Capacity Planning 151
Hard Drive Media Types 153
Interface Types 157
Shared Storage 161
Explain the Importance of Asset Management and Documentation 165
Asset Management 166
Documentation Management 169
Document Availability 175
Secure Storage of Sensitive Documentation 175
Summary 175
Exam Essentials 176
Review Questions 177
Chapter 5 Identifying Fault Tolerance Requirements 181
Clustering 182
Active–Active 182
Active–Passive 183
Failover/Failback 183
Proper Patching Procedures 184
Heartbeat 184
Fault Tolerance 184
Server-Level
Redundancy vs. Component Redundancy 185
Redundant Server Network Infrastructure 185
Load Balancing 185
Network Interface Card (NIC) Teaming and Redundancy 186
Summary 191
Exam Essentials 191
Review Questions 192
Chapter 6 Securing the Server 197
Summarize Physical Security Concepts 200
Physical Access Controls 200
Environmental Controls 206
Explain Data Security Risks and Mitigation Strategies 210
Security Risks 210
Mitigation Strategies 223
Given a Scenario, Apply Server Hardening Methods 226
OS Hardening 226
Application Hardening 228
Host Security 228
Hardware Hardening 230
Summary 238
Exam Essentials 238
Review Questions 239
Chapter 7 Securing Server Data and Network Access 243
Summarize Data Security Concepts 246
Encryption Paradigms 246
VPN 248
IPsec 248
Retention Policies 249
Data Storage 249
UEFI/BIOS Passwords 250
Bootloader Passwords 251
Business Impact 251
Explain Important Concepts Pertaining to Identity and Access Management for Server Administration 252
User Accounts 252
Permissions and Access Controls 256
Auditing 261
Multifactor Authentication (MFA) 264
Single Sign-on (SSO) 265
Summarize Proper Server Decommissioning Concepts 265
Proper Removal Procedures 265
Media Destruction 266
Media Retention Requirements 268
Cable Remediation 268
Electronics Recycling 268
Summary 269
Exam Essentials 269
Review Questions 270
Chapter 8 Networking and Scripting 275
Given a Scenario, Configure Servers to Use Network
Infrastructure Services 277
IP Configuration 277
Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) 277
Default Gateways 279
Name Resolution 279
Addressing Protocols 285
Firewall 287
Static vs. Dynamic 293
MAC Addresses 296
Summarize Scripting Basics for Server Administration 297
Script Types 297
Environment Variables 299
Comment Syntax 299
Basic Script Constructs 299
Basic Data Types 301
Common Server Administration Scripting Tasks 301
Summary 302
Exam Essentials 303
Review Questions 304
Chapter 9 Disaster Recovery 309
Explain the Importance of Backups and Restores 311
Backup Methods 311
Backup Frequency 313
Media Rotation 313
Backup Media Types 315
File-Level vs. System-State Backup 317
Restore Methods 317
Backup Validation 318
Media Inventory Before Restoration 319
Explain the Importance of Disaster Recovery 319
Site Types 319
Replication 320
Testing 323
Summary 323
Exam Essentials 324
Review Questions 325
Chapter 10 Troubleshooting Hardware and Software Issues 329
Explain the Troubleshooting Theory and Methodology 334
Identify the Problem and Determine the Scope 334
Establish a Theory of Probable Cause (Question the Obvious) 336
Test the Theory to Determine the Cause 337
Establish a Plan of Action to Resolve the Problem 337
Implement the Solution or Escalate 338
Verify Full System Functionality and, if Applicable, Implement Preventive Measures 338
Perform a Root Cause Analysis 338
Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes Throughout the Process 339
Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Common Hardware Failures 339
Common Problems 339
Causes of Common Problems 351
Tools and Techniques 359
Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Common OS and Software Problems 363
Common Problems 363
Causes of Common Problems 369
OS and Software Tools and Techniques 374
Summary 387
Exam Essentials 387
Review Questions 389
Chapter 11 Troubleshooting Network Connectivity and Security Issues 393
Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Issues 396
Common Problems 396
Causes of Common Problems 402
Tools and Techniques 411
Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Security Problems 419
Common Problems 420
Causes of Common Problems 421
Security Tools 433
Summary 439
Exam Essentials 440
Review Questions 441
Chapter 12 Troubleshooting Storage Issues 445
Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Storage Problems 447
Common Problems 447
Causes of Common Problems 458
Tools and Techniques 467
Summary 489
Exam Essentials 489
Review Questions 490
Appendix Answers to Review Questions 495
Chapter 1: Server Hardware 496
Chapter 2: Installing and Configuring Servers 497
Chapter 3: Server Maintenance 499
Chapter 4: Storage Technologies and Asset Management 501
Chapter 5: Identifying Fault Tolerance Requirements 502
Chapter 6: Securing the Server 504
Chapter 7: Securing Server Data and Network Access 506
Chapter 8: Networking and Scripting 508
Chapter 9: Disaster Recovery 509
Chapter 10: Troubleshooting Hardware and Software Issues 511
Chapter 11: Troubleshooting Network Connectivity and Security Issues 513
Chapter 12: Troubleshooting Storage Issues 515
Index 517
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