Chapter 4: Server Installation

1. Chapter 4: Server Installation

2. Learning Objectives • Make advance preparations to install Windows NT 4.0 Server, including listing hardware information and making decisions regarding installation setup parameters • Create an emergency repair disk • Perform NT Server installation using different methods • Troubleshoot installation problems • Remove Windows NT Server

3. Advance Preparations • Information about what hardware components are installed • Information about where the operating system files will be installed • The name of the server • An installed NIC

4. Server Hardware Components • Compile a list of hardware component information • Record the basic input/output system (BIOS) configuration settings • Make sure you have most up-to-date drives for hardware (SCSI adapters, RAID drives, NIC, CD-ROM drives) • If installing on SMP, obtain most recent copy of the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)

5. Server Hardware Component Information Form

6. Making Decisions in Advance • How to partition the disk(s) • What file system(s) to use • Where system files will be located • What the server name will be • What the password for the Administrator account will be • What protocol(s) will be selected • What the domain name will be • How the server will function

7. Disk Partition Selection • Partitioning: A process in which a hard disk section or a complete hard disk is set up for use by an operating system • Makes one drive act like several smaller disks • Partitions generally are drive letters (C:, D:, etc.). • Formatting: An operation that marks small disk sections (blocks or tracks and sectors) for use by a specific file system

8. Dual Boot System • Dual-boot system: A computer set up to boot from two or more different operating systems, such as Windows NT Server and MS-DOS • Take filesystems into account • ex. MS-DOS can’t read NTFS without special software

9. NT Server File Systems • NTFS recommended over FAT file system • Offers best security, performance, and file handling for network users • Offers logging and file compression

10. File Location and NT Directory Name • Critical with dual-boot system • Use separate directory for each operating system • System files in root directory of boot disk in folder called \winnt (default) • Other people may support server • NT software utilities anticipate Winnt folder

11. Server Name Guidelines • Relatively short and easy to type • Descriptive of server’s function or reflective of organization that uses it • Easy to remember and use • Not already used by another network computer

12. Administrator Account Password • Select a password that is difficult to guess • Avoid using information that can be identified with you • Use a long password (Windows NT Server accepts up to 14 characters)

13. Protocol Selection • NetBEUI • Small nonrouted networks of under 200 • TCP/IP • Larger or routed network • Internet connectivity • Client Service for NetWare (CSNW) and NWLink • Gateway to NetWare

14. Server Domains • Used to identify users, check their authorizations, and give access to resources • Simplify server management • Consist of clients and resources • Clients: User accounts and user groups • Resources: File servers, print servers, etc. used by clients • Can support as many as 40,000 objects, 26,000 users, and 250 groups

15. Server Functions • Primary domain controller (PDC) • Backup domain controller (BDC) • Member server • Standalone server

16. Primary Domain Controller (PDC) • Acts as the master server when there are two or more NT servers on a network • Holds the master database (called the security accounts manager, or SAM) of user accounts and access privileges

17. Backup Domain Controller (BDC) • Acts as a backup to the primary domain controller • Has a copy of the SAM database containing user account and access privilege information • Offers fault tolerance

18. Backing Up the PDC with BDCs PDC BDC BDC BDC Primary SAM Backup SAM Backup SAM Backup SAM Domain resources

19. Member Servers and Standalone Servers • Member servers • No account logon verification • Used as a special-purpose server, such as a database server • Standalone servers • Not part of an existing domain • ex., for testing, or personal use, etc.

20. Creating an Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) • Created when you install Windows NT and updated after the installation • Contains repair, diagnostic, and backup information in case there is a problem with Windows NT

21. Content of the ERD

22. Installation Options • Floppy disk and CD-ROM • Network installation • Network Client Administrator installation • Unattended installation

23. /? /B /E:command /F /I:initialization filename /O /OX /R:folder /RX:folder /S:drive:\folder/S:\\server\share\folder /T:drive\folder /U:script file /X Command-line Switches for WINNT.EXE & WINNT32.EXE

24. Floppy Disk and CD-ROM Installation • One of most common ways to start Windows NT Server setup • Three floppies containing bare-bones system • CD holds remainder of system, more drivers, etc. • Can make boot floppies from CD on another machine (handy!)

25. Network Installation • Enable installation from a shared network directory on another computer • Useful if your computer lacks CD-ROM drive • Useful if you operate a large network and plan to implement many NT servers • Fast and consistent

26. Network Client Administrator Installation • Enables installation even if prospective server computer has no operating system • Boot floppy contains just enough of the OS to be able to get on the network and get the rest

27. Unattended Installation • Usually performed over the network • Enables specification of a set of parameters before installation begins • Answer file • Uniqueness database file (UDF) • Not recommended for creating servers; saves time when setting up multiple Windows NT workstations

28. Stepping Through an Installation (Floppy Disk and CD-ROM) • Part 1 • Character-based Setup screens • Part 2 • Graphical display using Windows-based dialog boxes

29. Installation Part 1 (Text-based) • Detects hardware • Loads installation files onto the computer • Asks about disk partitioning/formatting choices • May require disk from peripheral manufacturer for special drivers

30. Installation Part 2 (Graphical) • Enables configuration of information specific to the server • Registration information • Server name • Server type • NIC setup

31. Troubleshooting Installation Problems: Preventive Steps • Purchase a processor and hardware components that are on Microsoft’s HCL • Test hardware before installing Windows NT • Compile and record information about hardware components and BIOS setup • Run comprehensive test of hard disk

32. Problems with Hardware Drivers or Actual Hardware • Setup did not find any mass storage devices on the computer or there is an inaccessible boot drive • There is a disk error on one of the three floppy setup disks • A problem is reported with HAL.DLL • Especially on multiprocessor systems • The installation fails when installing the network components continued

33. Problems with Hardware Drivers or Actual Hardware • A problem is reported with NTOSKRNL.EXE • A device driver is not available in Setup for a given component • May be able to install OS and install device driver later • A STOP message appears during the installation • Can be tough to diagnose

34. Uninstalling Windows NT Server • Necessary when new server hardware is purchased and you want to pass along the old hardware to someone else • licensing restriction, anti-piracy • In essence, simply blow away the contents of the drive • re-format, re-partition, or combination • …making sure you save user data first.

35. Chapter Summary • With advance preparation, installation of Windows NT 4.0 Server is likely to be trouble-free. • Record information about server hardware • Have current drivers for hardware in the server continued

36. Chapter Summary • Make important decisions before you start the installation. • Disk partition selection • File system • File location and directory name • Names for the server and its domain • Administrator account password • Protocol selection • Emergency Repair Disk (ERD) continued

37. Chapter Summary • Select appropriate installation method. • Floppy disks and CD-ROM • Network installation • Network Client Administrator installation • Unattended installation