Lesson 1

This module provides an overview of the key Microsoft Windows networking services and outlines the network design aspects necessary to design a networking services infrastructure. The module begins by explaining the basic components of an infrastructure from the designer's perspective. It then reviews key networking technologies and how they fit into the Windows 2000 network architecture. This module ends with an examination of the key criteria to consider when designing a network. What are networking services? Networking services are any server level service or application that provides some type of network functionality. Examples of networking services include the

1. Windows Internet Name Service (WINS),
2. Domain Name System Server service (DNS),
3. Routing and Remote Access Service (RRAS),
4. Terminal Server and Client services (Terminal Server).

Windows 2000 provides significant improvements in networking services that were available with Windows NT 4.0 (DNS, WINS, RRAS) and adds many new networking services, such as Remote Installation Services, Terminal Services, Quality of Service (QoS) and many more.
By the end of the module, students will be able to:

The tedious and time-consuming method of assigning IP addresses used for configuring devices on a network was once commonplace. However, thanks to DHCP, a network administrator no longer has to manually configure each new network device before it can be used on the network. DHCP has enabled the use of laptops that roam between networks, by eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration when a laptop changes its access point. The use of DHCP is especially important with wireless LANs, in which mobile devices can move between access points without even reconnecting a cable. With the proliferation of DHCP, network administrators can also choose the level of control they want to exercise with regard to address allocation. They can still manually assign IP addresses to DHCP clients, or they can have the DHCP server automatically allocate IP addresses for clients. They can also decide whether clients must be registered before they are assigned IP addresses.

The concept of network virtualization is not new to most administrators. Many have always relied on physical networks and VLAN's to provide connectivity and isolation of network services. Now that the landscape has changed to support private and hybrid cloud computing environments however, there are new challenges that IT staffs must face.

1. Define the components of networking services and the basics of designing a network foundation
2. Define the network services that help manage access to the Internet and support remote users
3. Define the tasks involved in creating an integrated networking services design
4. Define how organizational goals map to specific design aspects

In the next lesson, you will learn the basic model of a networking services design cycle.