Server hardening\building

Newbielad1

Hi would like to know if there are any good Irish blogs concerning server hardening\building\ using Raid 5 with Open Manage and System Management, this is just for help with interviews, some of the stuff online can be general, i have worked with it, its just wasnt the main guy working with it, so any info would be appreciated...

cance

Newbielad1 wrote: »

Hi would like to know if there are any good Irish blogs concerning server hardening\building\ using Raid 5 with Open Manage and System Management, this is just for help with interviews, some of the stuff online can be general, i have worked with it, its just wasnt the main guy working with it, so any info would be appreciated...

I'm not aware of any blogs that would cover what you are interested in.

Good article on Server 2003 hardening:
http://www.windowsecurity.com/articles/Windows-Server-2003-Hardening-List-Part1.html
http://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/featuredTopic/0,290042,sid68_gci1069557,00.html#

Dell OpenManage overview: (like HP insight etc)
http://www.dell.com/html/us/products/demos/openmanage/OpenManage-OMSA2Overview.html

Basic Raid overview:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID

Ref server building, are you speaking of pxe/imaging technologies (ghost, altiris, enteo)? Cd installation?

if it helps feel free to ask questions, if i can answer i will.

aidan_walsh

And don't forget to support funk-you's Servers and Systems forum request

cance

Newbielad1 wrote: »

Do u work with servers....

Indeedy.

Newbielad1 wrote: »

I guess just queries about HP's System Management...
Do you build your own servers, if so can you give me a few lines of what you would do, i have the general stuff, just need some specific sites on hardening,building, HP and Dell server overview,thanks for your reply....

I cant really give you specific sites on non specific information mate.

Ok well you mentioned hp/building so lets start there.

To build a hp server (blades aside) you boot from the hp cd called "hp insight manager". this cd is a unix/linux style interface and in here you carve up your disks, create array's and specify what version of operating system you are going to install. You also enter your license key at this stage and specify your snmp trap information (for systems management) and your licensing choice.

Once you've done the above, you are prompted for the windows cd, it copies the contents of the windows cd to the local disk, reboots, converts the disk to NTFS then builds the server from the local copy of the cd. When its installing you are stopped once or twice for network and password settings etc, then the first time you log in to windows insight manager installs the hp software and drivers for you.

(you can do the following from remote over the ilo network connection if its connected and configured ,http://h18013.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/ilo/ for more information)

Dell and IBM servers are the same principal, i just forget the name of the cd dell and IBM uses, its probably open manage for dell but i dont want to be proven wrong.

Other ways of installing are as follows:

Ris,
WIM,
ENTEO
GHOST
Altiris
unattended setup with answer file

cance

Newbielad1 wrote: »

If it were possible for someone to create a thread on working with servers, and the type of questions which an interviewer may ask, that would be great, with me personally, its more a matter of confidence, much appreciated...

Similar to this

http://www.petri.co.il/mcse-system-administrator-pc-technician-interview-questions.htm

Going through what u document your own job to be

ah here, I'll answer questions, i wont do your interview!

Cuddlesworth

Newbielad1 wrote: »

If it were possible for someone to create a thread on working with servers, and the type of questions which an interviewer may ask, that would be great, with me personally, its more a matter of confidence, much appreciated...

Similar to this

http://www.petri.co.il/mcse-system-administrator-pc-technician-interview-questions.htm

Going through what u document your own job to be

I really don't think you want Canc to document his own job, I can barley understand half of what he does.

And you seem to be very confused about the exact job here. IT is widely varied in terms of skillsets and you seem to expect us to know what you want.

ntlbell

Newbielad1 wrote: »

Sorry didnt mean it like that at all, just its hard to find good documentation online, thats all....have worked with servers for past 2 and a half years, backups, maintenance, i was about 4th or 5th down from priority of dealing with it if there was a problem,so it feels now like that time was slightly wasted (with priority being desktop), want to break away from that,meant no insult

Going for job now with more level 3 experience.....

With relation to raid, how in practice would u setup raid 5 on a controller??do u go through raid 0 , 1 first and then raid 5?

you start by reading doc's and not getting other people to do your job for you..

seriously....

get the basics and come back with specific problems your having..

my word..

Cuddlesworth

Newbielad1 wrote: »

With relation to raid, how in practice would u setup raid 5 on a controller??do u go through raid 0 , 1 first and then raid 5?

No offence mate, but as desktop support myself looking to go into 3rd level(got a few interviews coming up), I would say you have a very low level of knowledge from asking that question. I would look into a basic MCSA before you even bother. I wouldn't hire you.

Newbielad1 wrote: »

Guess meant if u were to interview someone for ure job what server questions u would ask thats all??Thanks again.

I would ask questions relating to specific problems I have encountered in the past and ask for the possible reasons for the problem and methods of fixing it.

I would also question levels of knowledge relating to the area and job spec in which you wanted to work.

That and all the other HR stuff.

cance

Newbielad1 wrote: »

, have worked with Cisco security experts who couldnt switch a hd,

the point is they dont need to know how

good luck with your interviews, No harm in doing some study.

ntlbell

Newbielad1 wrote: »

Exactly, and my job description up to now wouldnt have been sole responsibilty of 50 servers or so, thats what i was trying to get at....I will look at those threads u sent, thanks again....

you were looking after 50 servers and can't configure raid?

Cuddlesworth

Newbielad1 wrote: »

How confident are you with servers??If as you say ure desktop support....

If you don't know how something works I don't believe you will be able to fix it competently. I work with server administration tasks myself but as I have said before a monkey can do basic server tasks. The ability to diagnose and fix comes from a understanding of what you are doing. You sound like you don't have that. The question about raid clearly shows you know nothing about it. I don't think you will find a single person who disagrees with that. Whats else do you know nothing about?