Windows Server 2016 Fundamentals: Storage, Networking, and Security

Windows Server 2016 Disk Storage Types: Basic vs. Dynamic

Windows Server 2016 supports two essential disk storage types: basic disks and dynamic disks. They differ significantly in how they manage partitions and volumes:

• Basic Disks: Use traditional disk management techniques and contain primary partitions, extended partitions, and logical drives.
• Dynamic Disks: Do not use traditional partitioning. Dynamic disks offer greater flexibility than basic disks, providing virtually no restriction on the number of volumes that can be created on a single disk.

Purpose and Function of a Subnet Mask

A subnet mask is a crucial component in networking used to divide an IP address into two distinct parts: the network portion and the host portion. Its primary purpose is to enable devices to determine efficiently whether a destination IP address is local or remote.

Two Types of ACLs in Windows Server 2016

Windows Server 2016 utilizes two types of Access Control Lists (ACLs): discretionary and system control.

• Discretionary ACL (DACL): An ACL configured by a server administrator or the owner of an object. It defines who can access the object and what permissions they have.
• System Control ACL (SACL): Contains information used specifically to audit access attempts (both successful and failed) to an object.

Volume vs. Partition: Understanding Disk Organization

Understanding the difference between a volume and a partition is fundamental to disk management:

• Partition: A physical designation of disk space.
• Volume: A logical designation of disk storage that is created out of one or more physical disks. A volume is partitioned and formatted with a single file system, such as NTFS. Note that a volume can span multiple partitions (or even multiple physical disks, depending on the configuration).

Comparing Full, Incremental, and Custom Backups

Backup strategies differ based on what data is saved and how the archive attribute is handled:

1. Full Backup: A backup of an entire system, including all system files, programs, and data files. A full backup resets the archive attribute of each file to show that it has been backed up.
2. Incremental Backup: Only backs up files that are new or that have been updated since the last full or incremental backup.
3. Custom Backup: Enables the administrator to configure a file-by-file backup, allowing them to back up a specific drive, folder, or subfolder based on tailored criteria.

What is Sigverif?

Sigverif (Signature Verification Tool) is a utility used to check and verify the digital signatures of system files and drivers installed on a Windows system, ensuring their integrity and authenticity.

Windows Server Container Types

Windows supports two different types of containers designed for application isolation and deployment:

• Windows Server Containers
• Hyper-V Containers

The Five Windows Registry Root Keys

The Windows Registry is organized around five primary root keys (or hives):

• HKLM: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
• HKCU: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
• HKCR: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
• HKU: HKEY_USERS
• HKCC: HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG