Systems Administration: Windows and Linux Server Management

Information Technology and Digital Systems October 25, 2025
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Introduction

This comprehensive course is designed to provide participants with the essential skills to deploy, configure, and maintain both Windows and Linux servers, which form the backbone of most modern IT environments. The curriculum focuses on the practical aspects of systems administration, including user management, service deployment, security hardening, and routine maintenance tasks on both platforms. By mastering the core concepts of these two dominant operating systems, learners will become versatile systems administrators capable of managing heterogeneous server environments.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Install and configure both Windows Server and a popular Linux distribution (e.g., Ubuntu/CentOS).
  • Manage user accounts, groups, and permissions using Active Directory and Linux access controls.
  • Configure essential network services such as DNS, DHCP, and web servers (IIS and Apache/Nginx).
  • Implement file sharing and storage solutions on both server platforms.
  • Apply security hardening techniques and firewalls on Windows and Linux servers.
  • Perform routine maintenance, monitoring, and patch management.
  • Utilize command-line interfaces (PowerShell and Bash) for efficient task automation.
  • Troubleshoot common server-side performance and connectivity issues.

Target Audience

  • Aspiring and current System Administrators.
  • IT professionals moving from desktop support to server management.
  • Developers requiring a better understanding of their deployment environments.
  • Cloud engineers managing IaaS server instances.
  • Individuals pursuing professional certifications like MCSA or Linux Foundation Certifications.

Methodology

  • Dual-platform hands-on labs for configuration practice.
  • Individual exercises focused on command-line scripting (PowerShell/Bash).
  • Scenario-based troubleshooting of common server errors (e.g., DNS failures).
  • Group activities for planning and implementing server deployment projects.
  • Case studies on server hardening and security breach recovery.

Personal Impact

  • Acquire the versatile skill set to manage the two most prevalent server operating systems.
  • Enhance career marketability with cross-platform expertise.
  • Increase efficiency through automation using scripting and command-line tools.
  • Gain confidence in securing and maintaining critical server infrastructure.
  • Develop systematic diagnostic skills for server-side issues.

Organizational Impact

  • Improved stability and reliability of core organizational IT services.
  • Reduced total cost of ownership (TCO) by leveraging open-source Linux solutions.
  • Enhanced security posture across the entire server fleet.
  • Faster deployment of new applications and services to market.
  • More efficient utilization of IT staff with dual-platform expertise.

Course Outline

Unit 1: Windows Server Administration

Installation and Initial Configuration
  • Installation methods for Windows Server (GUI vs. Server Core).
  • Initial network configuration and server roles installation.
  • Introduction to PowerShell for server administration.
  • Licensing models and server activation.
Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS)
  • Deploying and configuring a Domain Controller.
  • Managing users, groups, and organizational units (OUs).
  • Implementing Group Policy Objects (GPO) for environment control.
  • DNS and DHCP configuration within an AD environment.

Unit 2: Linux Server Administration Fundamentals

Linux Installation and File System
  • Choosing a distribution (e.g., Red Hat, Debian, Ubuntu) and installation.
  • Understanding the Linux file system hierarchy (FHS).
  • Basic command-line navigation and file manipulation with Bash.
  • Managing users, groups, and permissions with chmod and chown.
Package and Service Management
  • Using package managers (apt, yum, dnf) for software installation.
  • Managing system services with systemd.
  • Configuring SSH for secure remote administration.
  • Introduction to scripting for simple automation tasks.

Unit 3: Server Services and Storage

Web and Database Services
  • Setting up and configuring IIS (Internet Information Services) on Windows.
  • Deploying Apache or Nginx web servers on Linux.
  • Basic configuration of SQL Server and MySQL/PostgreSQL.
  • Firewall configuration (Windows Defender Firewall and iptables/ufw).
Storage and File Sharing
  • Configuring local storage: partitions, volumes, and RAID.
  • Implementing Network File System (NFS) on Linux.
  • Setting up Server Message Block (SMB/CIFS) file shares on Windows.
  • Introduction to backup and disaster recovery methodologies.

Unit 4: Security, Monitoring, and Maintenance

System Hardening
  • Server patching and update management (WSUS and Linux methods).
  • Security best practices for securing both operating systems.
  • Log file analysis and event monitoring.
  • Securing remote access and managing certificates.
Monitoring and Performance
  • Using performance monitoring tools (Task Manager, top, htop).
  • Troubleshooting resource bottlenecks (CPU, RAM, Disk I/O).
  • Scheduling tasks and jobs (Task Scheduler and cron).
  • Implementing centralized logging solutions.

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