Windows XP Administration:

The Basics

An Institute of Technology Labs

Basic Skills Seminar
 Agenda
● Windows XP Overview
● Differences between Home and Pro Versions
● System Administration Tasks
● Hands-on Time
 Overview
● Security
● Reliability
● Communication
● Media Support
● Compatibility
● Performance
● Extensibility
● Portability
 Features
● Registry & File System
● Desktop
● Disks
● Users & Groups
● Networking & Security
● Services & Processes
Differences between XP Home/Pro
• XP Home Lacks:
– 64-bit edition
– desktop policy management
– offline folders
– remote installation
– roaming profiles
– encrypting file system
– ACL editor
– five connections for file-sharing
– automated system recovery
– dynamic disks
– remote desktop support
– multiprocessor support
– IIS (web server)
– ability to join a domain
 System Administration
● Install/uninstall/upgrade software and patches
● Manage desktops
● Define and manage files and disks
● Manage users and groups
● Create startup/shutdown scripts
● Log activity and review logs
● Schedule periodic tasks
● Define and manage processes & services
● Manage and audit resources
● Configure network & network security
 Install/uninstall/upgrade
● Windows Update
 CPL/Automatic Updates
● CPL/Add or Remove Programs
● Application updaters
● www.pxserver.com
 winaudit
 Manage desktops
● User profiles, home directory, startup
● Icon placement
● Startup menus
● Tray icons
● Folder views
 Define/manage files and disks
● CPL/AT/Comp Mgmt/Disk Management
 basic vs. dynamic
 RAID levels
 mounting
● File permissions
● Junctions
● Backup/restore
● Encryption/Compression
 Manage users and groups
● CPL/AT/Comp Mgmt/Local Users and Groups
 Define:
● logon accounts
● groups (for authorization)
● profile, logon script, home directory
 Disable accounts
 Set passwords
● CPL/Local Security Settings/Account Policies
● CPL/Local Security Settings/Local Policies/User
Rights Assignments
 Create startup/shutdown scripts
● Startup scripts
● Logon scripts
● Logoff trapping
● shutdown command
● Choice of language
 batch files
 Visual Basic
 Perl,Python,OORexx,etc.
 Log activity and review logs
● Event Viewer
● Logging events
 WshShell.LogEvent()
 Perl Win32::EventLog Report()
● Resource kit tools
 dumpevt
 eventquery.vbs
 eventtriggers.exe
 Schedule periodic tasks
● Task scheduler
● schtasks command
● Gotchas
 Runas
 Run only if logged on
 verifying execution
● *.job files in C:\windows\tasks
 Define/manage processes &
services
● start, runas commands
● Task Manager
● tasklist, taskkill commands
● sc command
● www.sysinternals.com
 Process Explorer
 PS Tools
 Manage and audit resources
● CPL/System
 Hardware/Device Manager
 Advanced/Performance/Settings
● CPL/AT/Local Security Policy
 Local Policies/Audit Policies
● CPL/AT/Performance
 also, Task Manager
● Other tools
 www.pxserver.com: winaudit
 www.sysinternals.com
 Configure network & network
security
● CPL/Network Connections
 Local Area Connection Properties
● Client for Microsoft Networks
● File and Printer Sharing
 with passwords on files and printers
● suggest using tray icons for connection status
● CPL/Windows Firewall
 Exceptions/Add Program and Port
 Advanced/Security Logging and ICMP
● netsh command
● netstat command
 Hands-On Time
● runas command
● Backing up and Restoring
● Setting File Permissions
● Using Task Manager
● Scheduling a Task
● Viewing Events
● Setting Windows Firewall Exceptions