CompTIA Server+ Study Guide

ABOUT THE AUTHORTROY 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 xxiiiAssessment Test livAnswers to Assessment Test lxiChapter 1 Server Hardware 1Racking 3Enclosure Sizes 3Unit Sizes 3Rack Layout 5Power Cabling 14Voltage 15Redundant Power 18Power Connector Types 23Cable Management 25Network Cabling 26Redundant Networking 26Twisted Pair 27Fiber 30Gigabit 3110 GigE 31Small Form- Factor Pluggable (SFP) 32Sfp+ 32Quad Small Form- Factor Pluggable (QSFP) 33Cable Management 33Server Chassis Types 35Server Components 42NICs 55Summary 57Exam Essentials 57Review Questions 59  Chapter 2 Installing and Configuring Servers 63Installing Server Operating Systems 67Minimum Operating System (OS) Requirements 67Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) 68Installations 68Partition and Volume Types 73File System Types 75Configuring and Maintaining Server Functions and Features 76Server Roles Requirements 77Data Migration and Transfer 96Administrative Interfaces 97The Purpose and Operation of Virtualization 98Host vs. Guest 98Virtual Networking 99Resource Allocation and Provisioning 103Management Interfaces for Virtual Machines 108Cloud Models 110Summary 111Exam Essentials 111Review Questions 112Chapter 3 Server Maintenance 115Given a Scenario, Perform Server Hardware Maintenance 117Out- of- Band Management 117Local Hardware Administration 122Components 125Drives 126Hot- Swappable Hardware 129Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)/Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) 131Explain Licensing Concepts 132Models 132Open Source 134Subscription 135License vs. Maintenance and Support 135Volume Licensing 136License Count Validation 136Version Compatibility 136Summary 137Exam Essentials 137Review Questions 138Chapter 4 Storage Technologies and Asset Management 143Given a Scenario, Deploy and Manage Storage 146RAID Levels and Types 146Capacity Planning 151Hard Drive Media Types 153Interface Types 157Shared Storage 161Explain the Importance of Asset Management and Documentation 165Asset Management 166Documentation Management 169Document Availability 175Secure Storage of Sensitive Documentation 175Summary 175Exam Essentials 176Review Questions 177Chapter 5 Identifying Fault Tolerance Requirements 181Clustering 182Active–Active 182Active–Passive 183Failover/Failback 183Proper Patching Procedures 184Heartbeat 184Fault Tolerance 184Server- Level Redundancy vs. Component Redundancy 185Redundant Server Network Infrastructure 185Load Balancing 185Network Interface Card (NIC) Teaming and Redundancy 186Summary 191Exam Essentials 191Review Questions 192Chapter 6 Securing the Server 197Summarize Physical Security Concepts 200Physical Access Controls 200Environmental Controls 206Explain Data Security Risks and Mitigation Strategies 210Security Risks 210Mitigation Strategies 223Given a Scenario, Apply Server Hardening Methods 226OS Hardening 226Application Hardening 228Host Security 228Hardware Hardening 230Summary 238Exam Essentials 238Review Questions 239Chapter 7 Securing Server Data and Network Access 243Summarize Data Security Concepts 246Encryption Paradigms 246Vpn 248IPsec 248Retention Policies 249Data Storage 249UEFI/BIOS Passwords 250Bootloader Passwords 251Business Impact 251Explain Important Concepts Pertaining to Identity and Access Management for Server Administration 252User Accounts 252Permissions and Access Controls 256Auditing 261Multifactor Authentication (MFA) 264Single Sign- on (SSO) 265Summarize Proper Server Decommissioning Concepts 265Proper Removal Procedures 265Media Destruction 266Media Retention Requirements 268Cable Remediation 268Electronics Recycling 268Summary 269Exam Essentials 269Review Questions 270Chapter 8 Networking and Scripting 275Given a Scenario, Configure Servers to Use Network Infrastructure Services 277IP Configuration 277Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) 277Default Gateways 279Name Resolution 279Addressing Protocols 285Firewall 287Static vs. Dynamic 293MAC Addresses 296Summarize Scripting Basics for Server Administration 297Script Types 297Environment Variables 299Comment Syntax 299Basic Script Constructs 299Basic Data Types 301Common Server Administration Scripting Tasks 301Summary 302Exam Essentials 303Review Questions 304Chapter 9 Disaster Recovery 309Explain the Importance of Backups and Restores 311Backup Methods 311Backup Frequency 313Media Rotation 313Backup Media Types 315File- Level vs. System- State Backup 317Restore Methods 317Backup Validation 318Media Inventory Before Restoration 319Explain the Importance of Disaster Recovery 319Site Types 319Replication 320Testing 323Summary 323Exam Essentials 324Review Questions 325Chapter 10 Troubleshooting Hardware and Software Issues 329Explain the Troubleshooting Theory and Methodology 334Identify the Problem and Determine the Scope 334Establish a Theory of Probable Cause (Question the Obvious) 336Test the Theory to Determine the Cause 337Establish a Plan of Action to Resolve the Problem 337Implement the Solution or Escalate 338Verify Full System Functionality and, if Applicable, Implement Preventive Measures 338Perform a Root Cause Analysis 338Document Findings, Actions, and Outcomes Throughout the Process 339Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Common Hardware Failures 339Common Problems 339Causes of Common Problems 351Tools and Techniques 359Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Common OS and Software Problems 363Common Problems 363Causes of Common Problems 369OS and Software Tools and Techniques 374Summary 387Exam Essentials 387Review Questions 389Chapter 11 Troubleshooting Network Connectivity and Security Issues 393Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Network Connectivity Issues 396Common Problems 396Causes of Common Problems 402Tools and Techniques 411Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Security Problems 419Common Problems 420Causes of Common Problems 421Security Tools 433Summary 439Exam Essentials 440Review Questions 441Chapter 12 Troubleshooting Storage Issues 445Given a Scenario, Troubleshoot Storage Problems 447Common Problems 447Causes of Common Problems 458Tools and Techniques 467Summary 489Exam Essentials 489Review Questions 490Appendix Answers to Review Questions 495Chapter 1: Server Hardware 496Chapter 2: Installing and Configuring Servers 497Chapter 3: Server Maintenance 499Chapter 4: Storage Technologies and Asset Management 501Chapter 5: Identifying Fault Tolerance Requirements 502Chapter 6: Securing the Server 504Chapter 7: Securing Server Data and Network Access 506Chapter 8: Networking and Scripting 508Chapter 9: Disaster Recovery 509Chapter 10: Troubleshooting Hardware and Software Issues 511Chapter 11: Troubleshooting Network Connectivity and Security Issues 513Chapter 12: Troubleshooting Storage Issues 515Index 517