The goal of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to use Microsoft Application Center 2000 to create clusters of Web servers, and to use it as a platform to deploy and manage Web applications. Students will be able to deploy and manage Application Center for organizations that build and manage Web applications that demand scalability and reliability.

This course is intended for Information Technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for deploying, managing, and planning Application Center. The primary customer for Application Center is the IT professional who is responsible for ongoing operations of critical Web servers and applications in an organization.

After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the role of Application Center in a Web-based environment.
• Install Application Center.
• Configure network adapters for network load balancing, create a cluster, and manage a Web application cluster.
• Create, deploy, and manage Application Center applications.
• Monitor the clusters and applications in an Application Center deployment.
• Plan and implement an n-tier architecture by using Application Center.

Before attending this course, students must have:

• Successfully completed Course 2153, Implementing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure, or equivalent knowledge and skills.

This course will help the student prepare for this Microsoft Certified Professional exam:

• Exam 70-232, Implementing and Maintaining Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server Technologies and Microsoft Application Center 2000

The student kit includes a comprehensive workbook and other necessary materials for this class.

The following software is provided in the student kit.

• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Application Center 2000

Module 1: Introduction to Microsoft Application Center 2000

Topics:

• Application Center 2000 Product Benefits
• Application Center Concepts
• Application Center Features
• Microsoft Windows Server System™

Skills:

At the end of this module, you will be able to describe the role of Application Center in a Web-based environment. This includes:

• Describing the benefits of Application Center.
• Describing the key concepts and terminology that is associated with Application Center.
• Describing the major features of Application Center.
• Identifying how Application Center fits into the Microsoft .NET strategy.

Module 2: Installing Application Center 2000

Topics:

• Planning Network Connectivity
• Determining Hardware Connectivity
• Preparing Servers for Network Load Balancing
• Determining Software Requirements
• Installing Application Center
• Viewing the Administrative Client
• Identifying Default Accounts and Services

Skills:

At the end of this module, you will be able to install Application Center. This includes:

• Describing how Application Center clusters fit into a Windows network.
• Describing the hardware requirements for the installation of Application Center.
• Describing how to configure a cluster when you use NLB with Application Center.
• Describing the minimum software requirements for a typical installation of Application Center and an installation of the Administrative snap-in.
• Describing the typical and Administrative client installation options.
• Describing how to verify an installation of Application Center by using the Application Center tool.
• Describing the default accounts and services that Application Center creates during installation.

Module 3: Creating and Managing a Cluster

Topics:

• Introducing Load Balancing Mechanisms
• Introducing Windows 2000 Network Load Balancing
• Introducing Application Center 2000 Component Load Balancing
• Introducing Types of Clusters
• Creating a Cluster
• Managing a Cluster
• Managing a Cluster Member

Skills:

At the end of this module, you will be able to configure network adapters for network load balancing, create a cluster, and manage a Web application cluster. This includes:

• Describing the mechanisms that are available for balancing network load across clusters of servers in Application Center.
• Describing the Windows 2000 Network Load Balancing options for use in Application Center.
• Describing the Application Center Component Load Balancing service.
• Describing the three types of clusters that you can create by using Application Center.
• Describing the process of creating the three types of cluster by using Application Center.
• Identifying the major tasks that you perform to manage a cluster in Application Center.
• Identifying the major tasks that you perform when you manage a cluster member in an Application Center cluster.

Module 4: Deploying and Managing an Application

Topics:

• Using an Application Center Application
• Managing an Application Center Application
• Synchronizing an Application Center Application
• Deploying an Application Center Application
• Configuring Component Load Balancing

Skills:

At the end of this module, you will be able to create, deploy, and manage Application Center applications. This includes:

• Describing the concept of an Application Center application and the process of building one.
• Describing how to manage an Application Center application.
• Describing application synchronization.
• Describing how to deploy an application by using Application Center.
• Describing the requirements for configuring an application for CLB.

Module 5: Deploying and Managing Applications Using Application Center 2000

Topics:

• Introducing Health Monitor
• Configuring Health Monitor
• Examining Performance Data

Skills:

At the end of this module, you will be able to monitor the cluster and applications in an Application Center deployment. This includes:

• Describing the components and features of Health Monitor.
• Describing how to configure a monitor in Health Monitor.
• Describing the different ways that you can view and analyze performance data that Application Center records.

Module 6: Creating a Plan to Implement Application Center 2000 in a Web Environment

Topics:

• Implementing an N-Tier Architecture
• Defining a Change-Management Strategy
• Designing a Change-Management Infrastructure

Skills:

At the end of this module, you will be able to plan and implement an n-tier architecture by using Application Center. This includes:

• Describing the composition and benefits of an n-tier architecture
• Defining a strategy to manage the process of updating Web content on Application Center clusters
• Describing the components of a change-management infrastructure