MCSE Now

In the present day scenario, computer networks play a vital role in most of the organizations. Networks provide a very rapid method for sharing and transferring files. One of the greatest benefits of installing a network in an organization is that all the software can be loaded on one computer. This eliminates the need to spend more time and energy for installing updates and tracking files on independent computers throughout the organization. Sharing resources is another benefit of a network. Most organizations cannot afford to install laser printers, fax machines, scanners etc., on each computer in the network. Hence, if these devices are added to a network, they can be shared by many users.

Terminal Service Manager is a utility that is used to view information about Terminal servers in trusted domains. It provides information about all sessions, users, and processes for each Terminal server. By using Terminal Service Manager, a user can perform the following tasks:

• Connect to another session.
• Disconnect from a session.
• Log off a user from a session.
• Send a message to a user.
• End a process.
• Reset a session.

A browser is an application that enables a user to view Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) documents on the World Wide Web, on another network, or on his computer. Internet Explorer is an example of a browser application. A browser is also known as a Web browser.

The Computer Browser service is used by Windows-based computers on the network. Computers designated as browsers maintain an up-to-date list of computers and provide the list to applications when requested. When a user attempts to connect to a resource in the network, the Browser service is contacted to provide a list of available resources.

The Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) is used to migrate from an earlier implementation of Windows NT to Windows Server 2003 or Windows 2000 Server. ADMT supports not only migration from Windows NT 4.0 to Active Directory but also interforest and intraforest migrations. ADMT is designed to migrate an Active Directory schema from one forest to another, regardless of whether a change in operating systems is involved.

ADMT 2.0 has many new features such as a command-line interface and a better interface to work with Microsoft Exchange Server. ADMT also supports a user-account password migration.

The forest functional levels are the various states of a forest, which enable forest-wide Active Directory features within a network environment. Windows supports three types of functional levels:
1.Windows 2000: This is the default functional level. When a first domain controller is installed or upgraded to Windows 2003, the forest is configured to run in the Windows 2000 functional level. In this mode, domain controllers running the following operating systems are supported:
◦Windows NT Server 4.0

◦Windows 2000 Server

◦Windows Server 2003
At this level, only the global catalog replication improvement feature of the Windows 2003 operating system is supported and that too when both replication partners are running Windows Server 2003.

HFNETCHK.EXE is a command-line utility that checks the patch status of one or more machines across the network. Earlier HFNETCHK was a separate command-line utility. However, its latest version is built into MBSA version 1.1, and is used by MBSA to display information in a graphical format. Users can run the HFNETCHK utility using the MBSACLI.EXE /hf command. The MBSACLI.EXE program is installed as a part of MBSA.

The domain functional levels are the various states of a domain, which enable domain-wide Active Directory features within a network environment. Domain levels are the same as domain modes in Windows 2000. Windows supports four types of functional levels:
1.Windows 2000 Mixed: This is the default domain functional level. When a first domain controller is installed or upgraded to Windows 2003, the domain controller is configured to run in the Windows 2000 mixed functional level. In this mode, domain controllers running the following operating systems are supported:
◦Windows NT Server 4.0

◦Windows 2000 Server

◦Windows Server 2003

NETDOM is a command-line tool that allows management of Windows domains and trust relationships. It is used for batch management of trusts, joining computers to domains, verifying trusts, and secure channels.

ADSI EDIT is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in. It is used for viewing objects in the directory, modifying objects, and setting access control lists on objects.