Windows Server 2008 "How Do I?" Videos

These short videos focus on specific tasks and show you how to accomplish them in Windows Server 2008. Subscribe to the Windows Server 2008 videos RSS feed to see new content every month.
 

On this page:

  • Active Directory
  • Application Server
  • Backup and Recovery
  • Failover Clusters
  • Hyper-V
  • Management and Server Manager
  • Networking
  • Network Policy and Access Services
  • Performance and Reliability
  • Security and Protection
  • Windows Deployment Services

Active Directory

Active Directory

Protecting a Word Document with AD RMS
(05:13)

Data Management using Windows Server 2008 R2

Data Management using Windows Server 2008 R2
(12:12)

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look- System Health Report

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look- System Health Report
(4:36)

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Group Policy Management

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Group Policy Management
(5:33)

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Server Core

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Server Core
(5:07)

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Active Directory Recycle Bin

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Active Directory Recycle Bin
(6:25)

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - PowerShell V2

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - PowerShell V2
(9:11)

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Active Directory Administrative Center

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Active Directory Administrative Center
(6:25)

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look- Installing the Migration Tools

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look- Installing the Migration Tools
(7:33)

How Do I: AD RMS with AD FS Identity Federation: Verifying AD RMS and AD FS Functionality?

How Do I: AD RMS with AD FS Identity Federation: Verifying AD RMS and AD FS Functionality?
(3:47)

How Do I: AD RMS with AD FS Identity Federation: Configuring AD RMS to Work with AD FS?

How Do I: AD RMS with AD FS Identity Federation: Configuring AD RMS to Work with AD FS?
(4:05)

How Do I: AD RMS with AD FS Identity Federation: Installing and Configuring AD FS ?

How Do I: AD RMS with AD FS Identity Federation: Installing and Configuring AD FS ?
(14:08)

How Do I: Activate AD RMS in Windows Mobile?

How Do I: Activate AD RMS in Windows Mobile?
(2:24)

Using AD RMS to Protect Documents in a SharePoint Document Library

Using AD RMS to Protect Documents in a SharePoint Document Library
(9:08)

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Hyper-V

In this video, Gordon Ryan shows how to install the Network Policy and Access Server role on Windows Server 2008 and configure it to use a wireless network adapter to provide internet access for virtual machines running using Hyper-V.

NAT Hyper-V
(4:58)

Join Keith Combs as he shows prerequisites to think about when you install Windows Server 2008 Server Core.

Server Core Hyper-V Prerequisites
(7:37)

The session features a discussion of the virtualization technology roadmap and an outline of Microsoft's vision for how these technologies will combine with future capabilities in processors, chipsets, and I/O devices to enable unprecedented flexibility by the Windows Server platforms.

Virtualization in Windows Server
(51:59)

The session features a discussion of the virtualization technology roadmap and an outline of Microsoft's vision for how these technologies will combine with future capabilities in processors, chipsets, and I/O devices to enable unprecedented flexibility by the Windows Server platforms.

How Do I: Configure a Cluster Shared Volume to support Live Migration with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V?
(13:54)

The session features a discussion of the virtualization technology roadmap and an outline of Microsoft's vision for how these technologies will combine with future capabilities in processors, chipsets, and I/O devices to enable unprecedented flexibility by the Windows Server platforms.

How Do I: Use the Microsoft Assessment and Planning toolkit to identify servers suitable for virtualization with Hyper-V?
(25:39)

The session features a discussion of the virtualization technology roadmap and an outline of Microsoft's vision for how these technologies will combine with future capabilities in processors, chipsets, and I/O devices to enable unprecedented flexibility by the Windows Server platforms.

How Do I: Implement Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V High Availability and Quick Migration?
(19:32)

Windows Server 2008 R2 makes setting up a Hyper-V cluster easier than ever before. In this video Gordon Ryan shows how to create a 2 node failover cluster with Windows Server 2008 R2 with Hyper-V and how you can use live migration to move a virtual machine from one host machine to another with minimal impact on your end users.

How Do I: Build a highly available virtualization cluster with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V?
(15:27)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal will show you how to get started using Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008. He demonstrates some of the basic administration configuration and the delegation of administration as well as adding new hosts and virtual machines to the management console.

How Do I: Use Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008?
(20:49)

Virtualized RHEL 5 on Hyper-V v2

Virtualized RHEL 5 on Hyper-V v2
(11:20)

Virtualized Ubuntu 9.10 on Hyper-V v2

Virtualized Ubuntu 9.10 on Hyper-V v2
(14:51)

Virtualized SLES 10.2 on Hyper-V v2

Virtualized SLES 10.2 on Hyper-V v2
(17:40)

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Management and Server Manager

This session discusses the new dynamic partition capabilities in Windows Server Longhorn. Hardware partitioning enables customers to create multiple isolated hardware environments on the server, each able to host a Windows Server operating system and applications. In a dynamically partitionable server, changes to the partition configuration can be implemented without interrupting operation of the applications in the affected partitions. This scenario requires the server to dynamically interact with the Windows Server Longhorn operating system in each partition to enable the operating system to process the requested hardware change to the partition. Details of this support in Windows Server Longhorn will be presented, and a demonstration of a dynamically partitionable Windows Server Longhorn will be shown.

Dynamic Partition: Windows Server
(50:40)

Windows Server 2008 makes significant improvements in server manageability with a one-stop administrative solution called Server Manager. This streamlined management tool allows IT administrators to complete setup of Windows Server using the Initial Configuration Tasks page, and configure and manage server roles and features with prescriptive wizards and a unified management console. Server Manager is built on the Service Modeling Language (SML) platform, used to model complex IT services and systems in software, including structure, constraints, configuration, and best practices. This session presents and demonstrates the configuration and management capabilities of Server Manager, and discusses how Server Manager as an administrative solution leverages the model-based management infrastructure provided by the SML platform.

Managing Windows Server 2008 with Server Manager
(36:53)

In an earlier video, Mark Wilson looked at getting started with the Server Core installation option for Windows Server 2008. This video takes those concepts a little further and examines remote administration of server core computers using WS-Management and Windows PowerShell as well as some tips to help out administrators who are working from the console.

Windows Server 2008 Server Core - Remote Management, Tips and Tricks
(26:18)

Join Chris Henley as he provides a look into Windows Server 2008 Server Manager which consolidates tools into a single interface to allow you to more effectively administrate and manage your server.

Windows Server 2008 Server Manager
(11:32)

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Network Policy and Access Services

Web servers are one of the services that most often are in need of remote administration by an external consultant. Many companies outsource web development activities and as a result, need to grant external users access to both manage content and configuration on their web servers. IIS 7 includes a new management service which addresses this need and TS RemoteApp provides a secure way to make management tools available outside the firewall. This demo shows how you can configure the management service, work with feature delegation, and connect to IIS Manager from outside the firewall using TS RemoteApp.

Allowing External Users to Manage IIS7 Web Applications
(10:16)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal examines the improvements and changes in Group Policy management in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. He looks at the new format of Group Policy templates, the central store, and multiple local group policies, then drills down into device management using Group Policy.

Using Group Policy in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
(18:06)

This scenario-based walkthrough uses a series of demonstrations to offer an in-depth understanding of new and enhanced Group Policy functions in Windows Vista, and plans for the Windows Server 2008 timeframe. This session showcases Windows Vista as a Windows Vista Group Policy administrative workstation. Learn about new Group Policy features in Windows Vista, including the new format and functionality of Administrative Template (ADMX) files (and interop with legacy ADM files), the ADMX central store, improved awareness of changing network conditions, using multiple local Group Policy Objects (MLGPOs), and Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) integration into the operating system. Demos include using the new event viewer ("Crimson"), and showcase a selection of the hundreds of new policy settings delivered with Windows Vista. Finally, we provide an introduction to the products acquired from DesktopStandard and discuss their future availability and roadmap.

Using Group Policy with Windows and Windows Server 2008
(1:2:45)

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Networking

Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2008 includes new features and enhancements that are focused around the fundamentals: improved security, reliability, performance, reduced operational complexity, and increased deployment flexibility. This session presents the Windows Server 2008 features in Active Directory.

Active Directory Domain Services in Microsoft Windows Server 2008
(48:08)

This demo illustrates how the collection of tools and technologies in the Windows Presentation Virtualization scenario enable companies to deploy and manage remote workforces. The demo contains demonstrations of TS Gateway for internal desktop and application access, TS Web Access as an internal application portal functioning on top of TS Gateway, and TS RemoteApp. The goal is to show how seemless the experience is for the remote user who wants to run applications and tools using Presentation virtualization.

Enabling a Remote Workforce
(9:42)

In this video, Keith Combs goes through a demonstration of Windows Server 2008 - Core Installation Option, where he configures a virtual machine and shows you how to establish baseline network connectivity.

Server Core Networking
(6:37)

Provide users with seamless corporate network access from anywhere with Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and DirectAccess

How Do I: Provide users with seamless corporate network access from anywhere with Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 and DirectAccess ?
(30:30)

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Performance and Reliability

This demo shows some of the neat things you can do with PowerShell with regards to server administration. There are 10 demos you can run through ranging from simple queries for services to enumerating information in Active Directory. Some of the scripts use lists of computers, some prompt for a computername. Each script shows a different thing you can do with PowerShell to quickly create administration scripts.

10 Cool Things to do with the Powershell
(12:28)

Server Core is a new installation option for Windows Server 2008. With a limited user interface and streamlined component model it can also be daunting for some administrators. In this video, Mark Wilson takes a look at the commands that are needed to get started with a Server Core installation.

Getting Started with Windows Server 2008 Server Core
(17:12)

Get the latest technology and architectural information about Microsoft's corporate Web site and many other hosted business services such as Microsoft Update, MSDN, TechNet, and Communities. The system engineers share how they are leveraging the next generation Web platform stack including Windows Server 2008/Internet Information Services 7, SQL Server 2005, SharePoint/Microsoft Office SharePoint Services, and System Center Operations Manager.

Employing Windows Server 2008 and Internet Information Services 7 As a Next Generation Platform for SaaS Web Applications
(1:01:47)

This session discusses the power management features in Windows Server. It details the motivation for power management in server systems, the importance in terms of total cost of ownership (TCO) and environmental impact, and what can be achieved today in Windows Server 2003 SP1 through Windows Server Longhorn. It concludes with a series of insights into the challenges that face future server platform designs.

Power Management: Windows Server
(41:45)

In this video, Keith Combs describes why to consider the core installation option from a technical overview perspective.

Server Core
(11:32)

This demonstration highlights the benefits of Server Core, with its low overhead, and highlights how it is easy to manage Server Core with the new management tools and technologies included in Windows Server 2008.

Server Core Remote Management
(10:28)

Microsoft released the new desktop, Windows Vista, in November 2006... but that's just the start. A new version of Server's right on its heels -- formerly code-named "Longhorn Server". Windows Server 2008 will pack a ton of new stuff, from some really good news in Active Directory to some nifty new deployment tools, a quarantine system that'll help you keep the worm-ridden systems off of your network, a revamped Web server, and a few truly long-awaited changes in group policy. How to find out about all of this? Well, you could download a few terabytes' worth of white papers and start sifting through them to separate the wheat from the chaff, or you could attend this short talk by Mark Minasi, the guy who's been explaining new operating systems since Windows 1.0. Come to this talk and find out why Server Core may be your favorite new piece of software!

What’s Up With Windows Server 2008
(59:32)

This session, presented by the co-author of Windows Internals (Microsoft Press), goes beneath the surface to explore the new features and enhancements in the Windows Server 2008 operating system to improve security, scalability and reliability. Learn about cycle-based scheduling, hot-plug CPU and memory support, self-healing NTFS, I/O priorities, kernel transaction manager, service security improvements, Address Space Load Randomization, and more.

Windows Server 2008 Kernel Advances
(1:14:56)

Technical Writer Martin McClean talks about the Windows Server 2008 R2 Feature Components Poster for IT Pros. Download the free poster at: https://bit.ly/8YeAEl

Download Windows Server 2008 R2 Feature Components Poster for IT Pros
(3:52)

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Security and Protection

In Windows Server 2008, the combination of a Server Core installation and the Read Only Domain Controller role is ideal for Branch office deployments, but what happens if you have bandwidth constraints and don't want to replicate all your AD data across the wire? Gordon Ryan will show you in this video how to use NTDSutil to create an install from media set ,an answer file to use with DCPROMO on the server core installation and then run dcpromo to promote the server core box.

Creating a Read-only Domain Controller on Windows Server 2008 Core Using the Install From Media Option
(13:12)

Read-only domain controllers (RODCs) are a new feature in Windows Server 2008 allowing domain controllers to be deployed in locations where security might otherwise be a concern (e.g. branch offices). In this video Mark Wilson takes a look at the password replication policies that are used to control credentials stored on RODCs.

Windows Server 2008 Read Only Domain Controllers - Password Replication Policies
(4:58)

In this demo you will see several ways that user accounts in a branch office can be secured. Branch offices traditional are a place of high risk for domain controllers. Placing domain controllers in branch offices good for functionality and productivity, but bad for security. This demo shows how you can place a domain controller in a branch office, and take measures to make those branch office accounts more secure. The demo uses a combination of BitLocker, RODC, Fine Grained Password Polices using a tool from Special Operations Software, and Admin Role Seperation to achieve this goal.

Securing Branch Office User Accounts
(12:8)

Read-only domain controllers are a new feature in Windows Server 2008 allowing domain controllers to be deployed in locations where security might otherwise be a concern (e.g. branch offices). In this video Mark Wilson shows viewers how to prepare an existing Active Directory for Windows Server 2008 before pre-staging and installing an RODC.

Windows Server 2008 Read Only Domain Controllers – preparation and deployment
(22:30)

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Windows Deployment Services

Mark Wilson discusses remote management as well as some tweaks that are available with freeware software that helps in administration at the command line console.

Managing Server Core Installation in Windows Server 2008
(26:17)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal steps through the new boot configuration tool: BCDEDIT. He will demonstrate how to view boot records, create new entries, modify settings, and export for back up the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store.

Modifying Boot Records in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Using BCDEDIT
(13:13)

Windows Deployment Services now offers the option of using multicast transmission to cut down the time it takes to deploy multiple clients. In this video Gordon Ryan shows how to create a multicast session using Windows Server 2008 and how to create a client boot image that makes use of it.

Use Multicast Transmission to Deploy Multiple Clients
(16:23)

In this video, Keith Combs continues his demonstration of Windows Server 2008 - Core Installation Option, where he configures a virtual machine and shows you activation.

Server Core Activation
(5:36)

In this video, Keith Combs continues his demonstration of Windows Server 2008 - Core Installation Option, where he configures a virtual machine and shows you how to join this virtual machine to the Contoso.com domain.

Server Core - Domain Join
(2:37)

In this video, Keith Combs demonstrates how to install roles and features associated with the core installation option.

Server Core Role Installation
(3:03)

Windows Server 2008 deployment will leverage many of the core concepts and tools provided in Business Desktop Deployment 2007 and extend those to Windows Server 2008. The new accelerator will offer comprehensive role-based guidance for all phases of deployment, aligned to IT Service Management best practices. It will also take advantage of new deployment features in System Center Configuration Manager 2007. This session introduces you to the differences between Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2000 deployment, and what is in store from the Solution Accelerators Team for automating Windows Server 2008 deployment.

Windows Server 2008 Deployment Overview
(1:5:14)

In this screencast, Matt Hester, Sr. IT Professional Evangelist from Microsoft, will take another quick look at the enhancements in Best Practices Analyzers in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Quick Look - Best Practices Analyzers
(6:9)

Get the latest technology and architectural information about Microsoft's corporate Web site and many other hosted business services such as Microsoft Update, MSDN, TechNet, and Communities. The system engineers share how they are leveraging the next generation Web platform stack including Windows Server 2008/Internet Information Services 7, SQL Server 2005, SharePoint/Microsoft Office SharePoint Services, and System Center Operations Manager.

How Do I: Reduce WAN costs with Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 and BranchCache?
(26:21)

In this screencast, Matt Hester, Sr. IT Professional Evangelist from Microsoft, will take another quick look at the enhancements in Best Practices Analyzers in Windows Server 2008 R2.

How Do I: Deploying Windows 7 using System Center Configuration Manager ?
(26:34)

In this video, Mark Wilson demonstrates the process for running Microsoft's standalone hypervisor from a USB device using boot from VHD technology.

How Do I: Running Hyper-V Server from a USB drive?
(15:49)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal, demonstrates how to configure Incident Settings and create new templates for incidents and change management requests in System Center Service Manager.

How Do I: Incident and Change Management with System Center Service Manager?
(17:41)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal, demonstrates Creating a new class representing a new automated Activity, Automated Activity: Add Computer To AD Group, and a new form that allows users to enter information for instances of this class.

How Do I: Extending Microsoft System Centre Service Manager with a new Activity Class and form?
(07:08)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal will demonstrate how to use Windows PowerShell V2 to manage objects in Active Directory. This will include how to manage single objects as well as making bulk changes.

How Do I: Using Windows PowerShell V2 to manage active directory objects?
(22:07)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal demonstrates how to extend the usage of SCOM 2007 by installing additional Management Packs.

How Do I: Add additional Management Packs to System Center Operations Manager 2007?
(10:35)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal will demonstrate how to manage the computers in your network using the Windows PowerShell V2 remote functions. He will demonstrate how to effect single computers and how to manage multiple computers at the same time.

How Do I: Using Windows PowerShell V2 to remotely manage computers?
(15:18)

In this video, Kyle Rosenthal demonstrates how to use group policy to enable and disable services and to ensure that remote management is able to be used.

How Do I: Using Group Policy to manage services and enable remote management?
(11:13)

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