We will cover objectives 2.1 and 2.2 comparing and contrasting network devices and understanding protocols and their well-known port numbers. We review important concepts for the IT student and first-year help-desk employees. Understanding the real-world facts on protocols in today’s enterprise. Helping students gain an understanding of multi-function devices often called “routers or modems”. A great review for anyone preparing for the A+ exam.

IT students and professionals must learn networking, they need to pass certification exams and gain networking skills to be attractive to potential employers. We will look at why SOHO and SMB routers/firewall/security appliances are great equipment to gain network experience. We will look at the SOHO and SMB router market and recommend how to obtain this type of equipment at affordable prices for the limited budget individual. You will understand these products and how some can be obtained for free. In coming lectures, we will demonstrate labs you can do at home to configure complex DHPC servers, dynamic DNS, VLANs for protecting your business from your customers, configuring firewalls, setting up syslog servers, QoS, and much more. Watch for upcoming videos. Check out our video notes and PowerPoints below.

Building cloud firewall-router appliances for free: Installing Pfsense in Hyper-V

I will demo how to install a powerful router/firewall and much more for $0 dollars. Using Pfsense x64 version of FreeBSD we will install it in Hyper-V and configure and launch our virtual appliance’s web interface. We will place our production servers/containers behind the virtual appliances and test throughput. We will diagram our Hyper-V layout and diagram our network topology to help you understand this technology so you can use it at home. We will share many topologies you can build with Pfsense in your home lab.

Here is an example of Edge Wavelength Division Multiplex. It helps the IT professional better understand what these products can do for their networks and business groups.

A quick overview of how to install a Bootable PCIe M.2 RAID controller with Windows 11/10.

Make no mistake Microsoft’s Hyper-V Checkpoints are complex and those that plunge into Checkpoints without understanding are sure to find unpleasant surprises. We will look at what happens technically when creating, deleting, applying and reverting Checkpoints. We will follow the chain of files to understand the active running state of a virtual machine with Checkpoints. We will look at dormant branches (some call these parallel branches) of Checkpoints and what happens during deleting or applying. Detailed step by step demonstration of all four Checkpoint actions will be covered. Our goal is after the lecture you can use any type of Checkpoint with confidence.

When you migrate your users from Windows 10 to Windows 11 a quick reminder of items you need to consider in the upgrade or clean install of Windows 11.

A good article on this topic for review: https://petri.com/it-pros-these-windows-10-features-wont-be-in-windows-11

Microsoft’s Hyper-V Networking to internal virtual networks, LANs and Data Centers is critical to Hyper-V. We will demonstrate VLAN setup, VMbus loss, QoS and review practical network and enterprise configurations for Hyper-V. We will review VLANs and their role in physical networks and how Hyper-V allows VMs to participate. We will show the importance of many standards like SR-IOV, VMQ and NIC teaming to overcoming network performance. We will demonstrate port mirroring and how you can use Wireshark to analyze a VM. We will demonstrate QoS settings and how to configure. Check out our video notes in the link below for much more information.

Microsoft’s Hyper-V is all about efficiency, performance and utilization of server loads. Getting performance out of Hyper-V is learning to use perfmon, counters and developing baselines for hardware subsystems. Memory is critical to monitor; CPU performance is next and then storage. We will look at perfmon and Hyper-V. NUMA is supported on Hyper-V and is a complex subject, but we will look at the basics on my HP Server. Data centers are multi-tenant and security is a growing concern for Enterprise, state and federal governments. Microsoft has a entire system to provide security and assurance that hosts are not tampered with or data compromised.

Microsoft’s Hyper-V is designed to create and run virtual machines. We will break down the technology of virtual machines, show how to create an effective virtual machine, install a guest operating system. We will review the important checklists to configuring your virtual machine correctly. We will understand the options for why limiting vCPU assignments, memory and correctly configuring networking. We will look at performance settings for both the root partition operating system and the guest operating system. We will exclude files types, folder and processes in Windows Defender. We will reduce the CPU overhead of graphical eye-candy in both the root and child partitions.

Hyper-V is Microsoft's Enterprise-class type-1 hypervisor. We will explore important technologies that Hyper-V has embraced to move it quickly into the Enterprise and Data Center space. Isolation is what hypervisors are all about, but it quickly became an issue with migrating server loads with intensive bandwidth demands in network, storage, and eventually video graphic performance. We will look at the fundamentals of Hyper-V, demonstrate the problems, and how technologies like SR-IOV “Single-root input-output virtualization” combined with IOMMU provided a solution to the performance issues of PCIe bus and virtual machines. We will also look at Microsoft DDA “Discrete Device Assignment” giving high-performance virtualized servers bandwidth for the most demand server loads. We will look at some of the complex configurations needed for these technologies.

Oracle’s VirtualBox allows the use of many storage controllers for various types of software RAID configurations. You can play with Microsoft Storage Spaces, NTFS RAID types, Open ZFS for Linux, and much more. Using Windows 11 you can add up to 8 hard drives. VirtualBox supports advanced network topologies and eight NICs per Virtual Machine. Setup Active Directory environments for training IT professionals and students. Powerful command-line feature set using VBoxManage.exe.

0:00 Introduction to VirtualBox

1:40 Getting the most of training

2:43 VirtualBox Storage & Controllers

9:49 Troubleshooting tips for VirtualBox

11:09 Demonstrating adding hard drives for software RAID

16:25 VirtualBox Networking

Demonstration of how to effectively use VirtualBox’s snapshot technology, how it works, and explore the technology that allows capturing the “state” of an operating system. We will look at differencing disks and how they build a chain of dependency from the parent disk to the special UUID.vdi snapshots. Learn the purpose of files like *.nvram, *.sav, and UUID.vdi. Some advice on deleting snapshots and effective use of cloning to obtain the VM you desire every time. Snapshots provide excellent training, development, and testing environment for IT professionals and students. Come join us as we explore this professional type-2 hypervisor.

Demonstration of how to install Oracle VirtualBox and create a virtual machine for installing Server 2022. We will demonstrate step by step the process and show the tricks and tips for the effective use of type-2 hypervisors. Oracle VirtualBox is a powerful and professional hypervisor rich with features for IT professionals and students. We will show how to install and create a virtual machine the right way. IT professionals can use virtualization to advance their skills and knowledge and a must for every IT student.

Demonstration of how to install Oracle VirtualBox and create a virtual machine for installing Server 2022. We will demonstrate step by step the process and show the tricks and tips for the effective use of type-2 hypervisors. Oracle VirtualBox is a powerful and professional hypervisor rich with features for IT professionals and students. We will show how to install and create a virtual machine the right way. IT professionals can use virtualization to advance their skills and knowledge and a must for every IT student.

This video series is a comprehensive study using powerful tools to lift the hood of the Windows Operating System and allow the tech to understand and troubleshoot applications and services.

We will cover how to use Process Explorer, Process Hacker and many other Sysinternal tools but most importantly we will discover how Windows really works and how we can understand our applications and effectively troubleshoot problems. From your PC/laptop to servers this understanding is critical to every IT professional.

Day 2: Troubleshooting Windows Applications. Types of Applications and Processes.

This video series is a comprehensive study using powerful tools to lift the hood of the Windows Operating System and allow the tech to understand and troubleshoot applications and services. We will dive into process types and how our tools categorize processes.

We will cover how to use Process Explorer, Process Hacker, and many other Sysinternal tools but most importantly we will discover how Windows really works and how we can understand our applications and effectively troubleshoot problems. From your PC/laptop to servers this understanding is critical to every IT professional.

Understanding Server RAID requires a deep dive into concepts and terms. IOPS,

latency, queuing, queue depth, kernel or controller-based RAID are some of the concepts to be mastered.

Learn how to configure software, use proper cables and connect to just about any enterprise network equipment. Learn Putty and how to configure to connect via console ports and via a network.

ArubaOS Explore switches hardware and firmware via command line and configures critical switch functions. Learn how to use Putty to configure NTP time and SSH. A demonstration of how to set up and configure a typical Enterprise switch using a console port using ArubaOS.

We show how to use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to create your own Windows 10 ISO with all of the latest updates ready for deployment. A must-have tool in the IT Professional's toolkit. Don't leave home without it!

Advanced Windows 10 Concepts

Hardware and Security

OSI and TCP/IP Model Series

Compression algorithms of Microsoft NTFS compression, Xpress4K, Xpress8K, Xpress16, LZX, LZXD, and advantages of each. We'll look at Microsoft’s MS-ZIP utility based on DEFLATE data format found in RFC 1951. How Microsoft compresses *.WIM files for installation of Windows and Server.

WMI (Windows Management Infrastructure) is a critical, standards-based component of the Windows Operating System. WMI repository, WMI providers, and WMI Infrastructure make up core components of WMI. We'll look at the architecture of WMI, database, and protocols used to communicate with WMI. We'll also take a look at the GUI and command-line interfaces.

Storage Spaces Explained. Microsoft's new file system ReFS leverages Storage Spaces to provide resiliency and data protection.

Uses the B+ trees, integrity-streams, and 64-bit checksums. Compared to ZFS, BtrFS for Linux. We will look at the advantages and disadvantages of ReFS. Learn how to use Storage Spaces and create inexpensive backup or storage arrays using USB, Thunderbolt, or Firewire DAS enclosures. I will demo how to set up and configure Storage Spaces using Disk arrays, used Enterprise SATA drives.

A look at Bitcoin and other protocols at the top layer of the OSI. Is there a 7.5 OSI layer? Docker and containers are declaring layer 7.5! Learn how Browsers running in user mode access the protocols they need in the network stack.

Why *.dll files are critical to networking. How Windows 10 leverages layer 7. Peer into Outlook at layer 7 and see how services play a key role in layer 7. Over four hundred protocols exist at layer 7 of the OSI model.

We will look at the relational database, hidden system files that makeup NTFS. Use Active Disk Editor to view, disks, partitions, and file systems. A look at ReFS, using B+tree data structures and tips on how to properly set up Storage Spaces on PCs and 2016 Server. Explore the fundamentals of Windows’ NTFS files system,

Users, Applications, Named Pipes, Files, Folders, Printers, and much more in Windows User Mode must have security. These objects are controlled by ACLs and Security Principal listed in the ACLs. NTFS security and Share permissions are just some of the access controls built into Windows. Inheritance, ownership, and access tokens are critical in understanding Windows security. Processes, threads, and users depend on access tokens to obtain proper security, rights, and privileges.

The presentation layer is about HTTP compression using gzip, deflate, br, and TLS for creating secure connections between two hosts. Layer 6 is loaded with encoders/decoders, byte order format tools, data standard systems allowing communication across disparate operating systems, hardware architectures, developer languages, and syntax methodologies. We have MIME/SMIME, the amazing encoders for email. Layer 6 is often described in vague terms that aren't helpful for IT students or IT professionals to understand what takes place at Layer 6.

A technical look at the OSI layer 3 and IPv6. We will explore IPv6 Link-local addresses and their structure, why you may have two global unicast IPv6 addresses (stable and temporary). Understand unique-local addresses and anycast and how it works. Fire up PowerShell and see what it does for IPv6!

Begin to learn IPv6 concepts like Unspecified, Loopback, Multicast, Link-Local unicast, and Global Unicast. IPv4 mapped to IPv6, using an IPv6 address in a browser, using nslookup for IPv6, and much more in this presentation.

A technical look at the OSI layer 3 and will focus on IPv6. We will be looking at packet sniffers, Android apps that help us discover IPv6 traffic. Why is IANA so important to IT professionals? How is IPv6 allocation going to work? Understanding IPv6 prefix concepts. What role does ARIN play in IPv6, IANA and its role, the massive address space of IPv6, and how much is already allocated, and looking at Global unicast concepts? Learn how to simplify the IPv6 address and understand the IPv6 address prefix.

Learn how to protect against SIM swap fraud, your Google account from successful online hacking, encrypt your data, use the strongest security for authentication. Twenty-nine security settings and ten privacy settings for protecting your phone from improper access.

Understanding the complex hierarchical database used by Windows for system, software, and user configurations. Learn about the kernel-based configuration manager responsible for the registry. How has Microsoft improved the registry’s stability with the Kernel Transaction Manager? Learn how to locate and edit all your registry hives.

OSI layer 5 is a complex but very interesting layer where protocols like RPC, Winsocks and many more exist and run. Layer 5 is about synchronization of data, establishing, maintaining and ending communications. You will learn about H.245, iSNS, SMB, RTCP, and another layer 5 protocols. We will explore how Windows 10 implements layer 5. We will use tools to view and expose protocols operating at Layer 5.

We will use TCPview and Process Explorer to compare the privacy and security of Brave, Firefox, Edge, and Chrome running on Windows 10 Enterprise. I look at invasive tools used to collect private data on you as your browse. We will compare page file size, RAM size, and endpoints of each browser as we go to a major news site. We will look at privacy improvements when using the extension called Privacy Badger. Finally, we will run a virtual browser and compare it with Brave, Firefox, Edge, and Chrome.

Privacy impacts security not only as another vector for a security attack but also exposure of your personal information to companies seeking to exploit your personal data. A technical look at improving Windows 10 in terms of privacy and security. LTSC version of Windows 10 is reviewed and compared technically to Windows 10 Enterprise. A look at your removing your ISP as your DNS resolver for your mobile and home network. Third-party tools to improve privacy and security on Windows 10. Some PowerShell commandlets for services.

We analyze the components of Task Scheduler, using process explorer view the svchost.exe process that runs the Task Scheduler service and the process mmc.exe that runs the console. We will explore the registry and see how tasks are configured in subkeys. We will show how to run utilities using the system account and troubleshooting tips for tasks, scheduler service, and the console. We will analyze the creation of a task and the running of a task in the process monitor. I will debunk some of the myths on the internet on how to solve Task Scheduler services.

We'll take a look at SONET/SDH and its equipment, OTN Optical Transport Network, and its technology and equipment. We'll cover WDM wavelength division multiplexing, its two versions CWDM and DWDM, and compare SONET and OTN. Understanding Data Link Services, WAN technologies over time, Enterprise-Carrier-IPS at Layer 2, self-healing fiber links, and more.

We'll review DOCSIS and how cable operators deliver ethernet via RF and take a peek at DSL and its technology. Ethernet in the WAN, take a look!

The OSI layer 2 or Data Link Layer provides a host of services to both the Network Layer and Layer 1. Error detection, Flow control, data organization into frame structures, synchronization, and reliability are the complex features of Layer 2. We will look at ethernet, DSL, PPP, DOCSIS 3, SONET, and more.

Transfers data between adjacent network nodes! The principal service is transferring data from the network layer of the source to the network layer of the destination node. The importance of flags in the frame. We will explore frame check sequence (FCS) and Forward Error Correction (FEC). Automatic repeat Request or (ARQ) and its role in the standard ITU G.hm standard.

OSI Layer 1 made up of three sublayers: encoding, parallel to serial and amplifiers, LEDs, and lasers. Layer 1 pushes data to mind-blowing speeds of 20Tbps across the ocean floors via fiber cables. New server NICs are pumping data at 200Gbps in data centers.

Layer 1 is where signals are impacted by NEXT (Near End Crosstalk) FEXT (Far End Crosstalk), reflection, refraction, dispersion, absorption, and attenuation just to name a few! More money is spent at Layer 1 than all other layers combined!

Learn the technology behind PXE, proxyDHPC, TFTP servers, and see how to deploy operating systems quickly on a LAN. Learn the purpose of PXE and how it can be implemented. It is often integrated with Wake-on-LAN. How does DHCP get your client to a PXE server and what is an NBP file and why is it critical to PXE? We will use Serva's Windows PXE server in our demo.

Serva's homepage: https://www.vercot.com/~serva/

Understanding the Windows 10 "Windows As A Service" and its dependence on the Windows 10 update system. Learn the difference between "upgrade" and "clean install", what are cumulative updates, feature and quality updates. Why application compatibility is so critical to Microsoft? How big are updates? Learn how this complex technology works and how to troubleshoot a failed update.

Troubleshooting steps and procedures for solving most of the Windows 10 update issues. Understanding the Windows 10 "Windows As A Service" and its dependence on the Windows 10 update system. Learn the difference between "upgrade" and "clean install", what are cumulative updates, feature and quality updates. Why application compatibility is so critical to Microsoft? How big are updates? Learn how this complex technology works and how to troubleshoot a failed update.

Beamforming, Wider Channels, Speed, and MIMO are bundled in this new wireless standard that pushes wireless to a new level. Learn why efficiency is the one word to describe 802.11ax. Understanding the technologies that allowed RF engineers to use the 5Ghz spectrum for these new wireless standards.

Part 3 in a series on setup and configuring your wireless systems. Understanding poor wireless performance in homes. Learn about power output, RF frequency and RF loss and why these are so important. How to do a wireless survey yourself. What are good signal levels? How to properly place your wireless device in our home.

Part 1 in a series: Home Wireless: How to properly set up, configure, troubleshoot and establish strong security to your home wireless. A review of wireless standards. Understanding wireless spectrum. Learn how to properly place your wireless device for maximum effect. Wireless heat maps. How to properly purchase a wireless router for different types of homes.

Part 2 of a series on protecting yourself and your online business. This second session shows the improvements in security available in Windows 10. FIDO2 security keys and Two-factor authentication and why it is so important. Lock down your email, we will show you how. Windows 7 backup on Windows 10!

How secure boot works in Windows 10. Secure boot allows protection from "root-kit" attacks on both clients and servers. Secure provide a trusted path to boot devices. An in-depth look at the technology that allows a validated boot process. Learn about ELAM. A quick look at how Hyper-V supports secure boot.

How Microsoft is implementing TPM technology into Windows security features. Windows Hello for Business, BitLocker, Measured Boot, Virtual Smart Cards and Health Attestation are a few of the technologies that are dependent on TPM.

PM enabled on your motherboard will help against "bootkits", "rootkits", "keystroke harvesting", and many more online attacks against your operating system. We take a deep dive into Trusted Platform Module and explore this secure crypto-processor. TPM 2.0 is the lowest version that you want if you plan to set up TPM. We will look at virtual TPM, Intel's PTT, and how ARM is implementing TPM. We will look at TPM's secure storage, random number generator, cryptographic keys, that make up the components of TPM. Google Chromebooks use this technology to make their operating system much safer to use online.

TPM enabled on your motherboard will help against "bootkits", "rootkits", "keystroke harvesting", and many more online attacks against your operating system. We take a deep dive into Trusted Platform Module and explore this secure crypto-processor. TPM 2.0 is the lowest version that you want if you plan to set up TPM. We will look at virtual TPM, Intel's PTT, and how ARM is implementing TPM. We will look at TPM's secure storage, random number generator, cryptographic keys, that make up the components of TPM. Google Chromebooks use this technology to make their operating system much safer to use online.

We explore root servers, TLD servers and authoritative servers in the DNS system. We will focus on how resolving name servers work with authoritative name servers. Understanding DNS resolvers, recursive query and iterative query. The role of IANA and ICANN play in maintaining the DNS system. Explore DNS root server operators and how they monitor the health of DNS. What is a zone file and much more.

Cloudflare's DNS IP is: 1.1.1.1 Quad9 https://www.quad9.net/ owns 9.9.9.9

Moving from BIOS to new the UEFI is a major technical transition for motherboards. Think of UEFI as a small operating system. We will explore how Windows 10 changes to incorporate UEFI into the operating system boot structure. Why GPT is critical to UEFI and how Microsoft provides the utility to upgrade your disks for UEFI. What is the difference between UEFI and UEFI and CSM enabled? We will look at partitions and how they change moving from CSM to UEFI native mode.

A tutorial on how to boot Windows 10 into "startup settings". These menu options are advanced and we show how to navigate them. Safe mode is a critical option allowing you to better understand problems during the startup of your PC and boot problems. We will look at all of the advanced settings for boot your Windows 10 PC

Learn the steps to using Windows Recovery, how to boot a PC/laptop using a DVD or flash drive. Learn how to change the boot order. How to enter the BIOS of your PC to control what boots the device giving you control and allowing a recovery CD or flash drive to help you.

A classroom lecture on understanding concepts of RF signals. Most techs do not realize the incredible small signals that wireless and cell phones use to communicate. Understand the DB measurement that is used by all signal measurements. A look at interference and the number one interference devices in your home. A review of home and business devices that cause interference with both wireless and cell phones. What is RFI? I think you will learn some new concepts!

A classroom lecture. Understanding the technology of "fast-startup" introduced in Windows 8 and 8.1 and continued into Windows 10. How to reinitialize hardware with an operating systems that uses fast-startup. Understand how hibernation works in new operating systems. Why removing power from your PC is often a solution for many problems. Learn how to troubleshooting both startup and shutdown problems in Windows.

In this how-to video, Diego performs a tear-down and repair of a non-charging Kindle.

A classroom lecture series. Taking you under the hood of Windows and understanding processes, scheduler, preemptive multitasking, threads, IPC and more. This is critical knowledge you need to understand applications and how to effectively troubleshoot Windows. Jump on board this 5 day series of lectures and learn Windows at a whole new level.

What are inside processes? Threads run predominately by application and Windows' DLLs. Virtual memory and the impact of memory starved devices.

Understanding Threads and Handles inside Processes. Using Process Explorer to open and understand the basics of how applications work inside Windows. Threads do the work, handles are resources used by Windows: files, folders, registry keys and graphical objects.

Understanding DLLs in Windows and how they relate to processes.