First-Time System Administrator

Over the past 6 weeks, I was given the task of setting up a few server roles for the site I administer. These included Domain Services and OS Deployment Services in addition to the supporting services like DNS and DHCP. As an ICT Technical Officer system administration is part of my responsibilities although this is one of the areas that I am weakest. I had little exposure to it up until this point outside of the single lab at UTT where I installed several server roles. So, I need a crash course and fast.

Luckily, I was not alone in needing help. I was able to get some support from my colleagues that had these systems set up at their campuses for some time through a one-day group training session. This training included:

• Windows Server 2019 installation
• Adding the Sever Roles
  • Active Directory
  • DHCP
  • DNS
  • Microsoft Deployment Server
• Configuring Active Directory
  • Setting up a domain
  • Adding users and devices
  • Setting up Organizational Units
  • Applying Group Policies
• Configuring DHCP
  • Configuring a scope for addresses
  • Setting DNS address
• Configuring DNS
• Configuring Microsoft Deployment Server
  • Installing Windows ADK
  • Installing ADKWinPE addons
  • Installing Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
  • Setting up PXE Boot for clients on the network

Every engineer has their own preferences for the setup and configuration of systems they manage and for me, it’s not different. I make a small change to the design of my installation, and this was having the DHCP server stay in the network equipment instead of being configured in the server equipment. I think this will make changes and upgrades be simpler when the eventual build-out of the network upgrades I have planned.

The domain I set up is currently only deployed to 4 desktops in the lab. This is due to reducing the chance of disruption during the semester for students and staff. Most importantly I was able to have it done in the prescribed time. This exercise allowed me to get the basics of Windows System Administration something that I had put off due to my love of networking.

During the semester break, I intend to roll this out within the Computer Lab and then Teaching and Admin devices. By the time of the September semester, I will have taken all devices and put them on the domain, remotely administer all of them, remote deploy a Windows Installation over the network, and allow for remote access to internal systems. But that story is for another time