Active Directory Jumpstart: 0 to 60 in one day! (6-8 hrs)
You've read about it in all the trade journals, magazines, and even seen it on CNN. But can you really answer the question “What is the Active Directory?” If you need to know, then come to this informative session. You'll learn how to “frame” your current NT 4.0 knowledge in the brave new Windows 2000 world.

This session will be full of useful demonstrations highlighting all the key concepts. After attending this session, you'll have a grip on the fundamentals of Active Directory.
Topics to be detailed include:
· NT 4.0 vs. Windows 2000
· Why do you Need Active Directory?
· Active Directory “Nuts and Bolts” — Sites, Domains, OUs
· DNS — the backbone of Active Directory
· Leveraging your UNIX DNS
· Preparing for Migration from NT 4.0
· WINS and DHCP — What's New?
· OU Planning for Delegation
· OU Planning for Group Policy Design
· Native vs. Mixed Mode
· FSMOs and Global Catalog Servers
· Test Lab Tips
· Group Policy Implementation
· IntelliMirror Implementation

Who should attend:
This one-day course is designed for intermediate to experienced NT 4.0 network administrators. Some experience with Windows 2000 domains is helpful, but not required.

Prerequisites:

• Knowledge of NT 4.0 domain structure
• Some hands-on experience with Windows 2000 server
  

Advanced Group Policies (3 hrs)
(Combination of Group Policy Basics and Group Policy Master Class)
Group Policy is great — until it stops working. You know you'll be getting a phone call if an unexpected change suddenly appears on the users' desktops. They've lost something they've always had, they've gained something they didn't want, or they're suddenly too restricted to do any work.

Sometimes, these types of headaches can be mitigated with a little planning for Group Policy. Once your design for Group Policy for Active Directory is planned out, you can dive into sculpting it. Learn how to restrict who can and who can't create Group Policies in the Active Directory (and why you might want to start off restricted).

Is there something wrong with Active Directory that's preventing your Group Policy objects from applying? Find out with built-in and third-party tools. Is your Windows 2000 Professional machine the one giving you fits? Find out with advanced registry hacks how to squeeze all the knowledge you can out of the machine.

Take away a bonus tip on how to use Group Policy "loopback" mode in your everyday administration. Learn how to prevent or require your dial-up users to avoid or get Group Policy. Learn how to use Group Policy to lock down your client machines to protect them from hackers (and your users).

Group Policy and IntelliMirror Academy (6 Hours)
(Combination of Group Policy Basics, Group Policy Master Class, Group Policy Security and IntelliMirror Nirvana)

Just getting started with Windows 2000 Group Policies? Or have you already gotten yourself in a heap of trouble? In this intensive, all-day Group Policy and IntelliMirror Academy session, you'll learn just what Group Policy is, and how you can deploy it correctly! You'll see how to modify Group Policy objects to lock down desktops and manage your user environments. You'll gain insights into the thorny issues surrounding permissions. You'll discover how to delegate the job of creating Group Policies.

Once you've got the basics down, shouldn't you really understand what's really going on under the hood to make the Group Policy magic happen? Do you know when to use Loopback Policy Processing (and when not to)? Learn how to deploy some heavy-duty software via Group Policy. How does Windows XP process Group Policy differently from Windows 2000? Without coming to this session, you'll be in the dark! Learn about the free and not-so-free troubleshooting tools that are at your disposal when the going gets tough!

Learn how to leverage Group Policy to lock down your desktops! If you had to lock down 100 machines in 5 minutes, could you do it? With Windows 2000 Group Policy along with the Security and Configuration Manager Toolkit — you can! Learn how to lock down all your systems in the Active Directory or how to specifically tighten down just one machine. Learn how to set up Windows 2000 auditing. Learn about which Group Policies have special "Super Powers"! Learn to get the right balance between security and usability on your Windows 2000 machines. With just a little know-how from this session, you can do it!

Finally, you'll put your Group Policy knowledge to practical use by learning about how to deploy Windows IntelliMirror. More than just a collection of technologies, IntelliMirror is the Nirvana you're seeking on your desktops! Want users' settings to follow them? You'll learn how. Want to vanquish home drives from your environment? You'll learn how. Want to enable your executives to keep working on their networked data while at 30,000 feet? You'll learn how. Want to stop running around to each desktop to deploy software? You'll learn how. Want to deploy full images of machines without third-party tools? You'll witness how to do all these things using the built-in features of Windows 2000's IntelliMirror.

You will learn:

• Best-practice Group Policy deployment techniques.
• Group Policy basics and advanced troubleshooting techniques
• Software Distribution techniques
• Windows XP Professional vs. Windows 2000 with Group Policy
• The Security and Configuration Manager toolkit
• Command-line tools such as SECEDIT, GPRESULT, and GPOTOOL
• Roaming Profiles configuration
• Folder Redirection configuration
  

Prerequisites:
You should have a working knowledge of Windows 2000 Server.

Desktop Deployments: Rollouts, software installation and support (6 hours)
(Combination of XP and W2k Deployment Strategy, Remote Installation Services — Soup to nuts, MSI Magic, and XP and W2k — So, you've deployed. Now what?)

Getting out of the Windows 9X and Windows NT business and making a beeline for Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional? How are you going to get there? In this intensive, all-day deployment and maintenance session, you'll learn what you need to know.

First, you need to get to know your (numerous) installation options. Are you going to do an "Over the network" installation? How about just popping in that installation CD-ROM? Or maybe you've got a disk-imaging tool like Ghost you want to use? Each has its pros, cons, and pitfalls — so you'd better be prepared! Don't forget to automate that installation! Additionally, you'll need to be wellversed in the latest Microsoft-sanctioned deployment options, including SYSPREP and Remote Installation Services.

Once you've got the systems installed, you're only halfway done! You've got a boatload of applications to install. How are you going to do that? You're not going to use Sneakernet, are you? Of course not! Find out the latest way, by deploying existing MSI applications and creating your own MSI and ZAP files.

Finally, once your desktops are loaded and your applications are installed, what should your support mechanism be? Windows XP Professional brings a lot to the table: Remote Assistance, Remote Desktop, and more. Does that leave your Windows 2000 Professional clients in the dark? Will you need some third-party apps to "seal the deal" to achieve the ultimate desktop? Come to this session to find out!

You will learn:

• Network and CD-ROM automated installation methods
• SYSPREP and Disk Imaging Tool techniques
• Remote Installation Services setup, deployment, and advanced implementation
• Deploying existing MSI files
• Creating your own MSI Files
• MSI File troubleshooting
• Remote Assistance
• Remote Desktop
• Third-party applications