Deploy a domain
Install Active Directory and DNS, create accounts and configure PCs with GPOs.
Systems & Linux · Courses
Windows administration: from discovery to expertise
Complete free course on administering Windows and Windows Server 2025: PowerShell, users and NTFS, Active Directory, Group Policy, storage and Storage Spaces, networking and DHCP, services and logs, updates and security, backup, Hyper-V and troubleshooting.
At your pace, through practice.By the end of this course you will be able to
- Explain Windows architecture, editions, lifecycle and administration tools
- Administer Windows with PowerShell, locally and remotely, and write robust scripts
- Manage accounts, groups, NTFS permissions and SMB shares
- Deploy Active Directory and DNS, manage accounts and apply Group Policy
- Manage storage (Storage Spaces), networking, DHCP, the firewall and remote access
- Operate services, scheduled tasks, logs and performance counters
- Update, secure, back up, virtualize with Hyper-V and troubleshoot a Windows server
LEARNING PATH
Course curriculum
0Course overview1 lesson
1Introduction: Windows and Windows Server1 lesson
Versions, editions, architecture and tools.
2PowerShell2 lessons
Cmdlets, pipeline, scripts and remote administration.
3Users, NTFS and shares1 lesson
Accounts, groups, permissions and SMB.
4Active Directory and DNS2 lessons
Forest, domains, OUs, controllers and accounts.
5Group Policy1 lesson
Configure the estate and troubleshoot GPOs.
6Storage2 lessons
Disks, volumes, Storage Spaces and RAID.
7Networking and remote access1 lesson
IP, DNS, DHCP, firewall, RDP, WinRM, SSH.
8Services, logs and performance2 lessons
Services, scheduled tasks, events and counters.
9Updates and security1 lesson
WSUS, Defender, BitLocker, LAPS and hardening.
10Operations: backup, Hyper-V and troubleshooting2 lessons
Running a Windows server in production.
11Best practices1 lesson
Recommended practices for running Windows in production.
90Prepare for the certification2 lessons
Preparation paths for the vendor's official certifications: unlimited practice exams, dashboard and readiness verdict.
LEARN BY DOING
Use cases & applications
Put a file server into production
Redundant storage, SMB shares, NTFS permissions, quotas and shadow copies.
Solve an incident
Stopped service, full disk, GPO not applying, slow server: troubleshoot methodically.
Automate operations
Inventories, account creation and daily checks with PowerShell.
What next?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Windows Server skills to work in infrastructure?
Yes: Active Directory, Group Policy and Windows file servers remain at the heart of most companies, including those using Microsoft 365 and Azure. Being able to manage them with PowerShell is in high demand.
What do I need for the labs?
A Windows Server 2025 virtual machine (free 180-day evaluation) on Hyper-V, VirtualBox or in the cloud. For the Active Directory lab, a second VM (Windows Server or Windows 11) lets you test domain join and GPOs.
Do I need to know PowerShell already?
No. The PowerShell lesson starts from the basics (cmdlets, help, pipeline) and every lab gives its commented solution.
Does the course prepare for a Microsoft certification?
It covers the foundations of the AZ-800 and AZ-801 exams (Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate). Preparation paths with practice exams are offered as an add-on.