Windows NT Server Reference Version 0.6.0 December 1, 2000

Introduction

This guide is meant to be a reference for learning NT server. It does not replace the more complete MCSE study guides, but is mainly intended as a reference and review help prior to testing. Other than that, the reader may use this guide to gain familiarity with NT operation and structure. This guide assumes basic knowledge in the use of the Windows operating system environment. To use this guide, if a term is not understood, look it up on the terms page.

NT Server Features

Refer to the NT Workstation guide for a summary of NT server features along with information about the component parts of NT. Some of these features are:

Up to 32 micorprocessors may be used on one NT server system.
Fault tolerance provided by giving each program its own memory space
Can provide file and print service for Macintosh clients.
Supports multiprotocol dynamic routing.
Provides for directory replication.
Can be a DHCP, WINS, and/or DNS server.
Can load the DOS or Windows operating system remotely over the network.

Possible Future Capabilities

These capabilities do not yet exist on NT but may be added in the future.

Plug and play
Power management
64 Bit computing

Security

Normal users cannot: (Pervasive security)

Install device drivers
Change networking protocols

NTFS Operation

Stores data changes in a log in order to provide for data recovery.
Provides file and directory access control.
Provides auditing of use of files which allows administrators to log attempts to access files

Terms

Abstraction - Different devices of similar type are made to look the same to upper layer software.
DFS - Distributed File System service
Drop - Required for each networked device.
Enhanced Scalability - Allows domains and trust relationships between domains to support WANs.
Subnetwork - Part of a network that may use one specific data link layer protocol such as ethernet.
Network - A group of subnetworks that are connected using a bridge or switch.
IDF - Intermediate distribution frame is space for wiring in central closets which may be the central point of a star on a star network.
Internetwork - Networks connected using routers.
intranet - Use of internet functions such as www, FTP, and gopher on internal networks.
internet - The world wide web
Logon authentication - Restricts network access to users with a valid logon name and password.
Backbone - High speed link that connects subnetworks
Bridge - Connects different subnetworks
Router - Connects subnets with different topologies.
Switch - Subnetworks of the same or different topology may be connected depending on the type of switch.
WORM - Write once, read many. A special type of optical hard drive used to record transactions and permanent data. Typically used by application servers.
Write back caching - Caching between the hard drive and a RAM buffer where data writes that are waiting in the cache can be read from the cache.
Write through caching - Caching between the hard drive and a RAM buffer where writes to disk cache are immediately written to the hard drive.