Mastering Windows Server 2019 – Second Edition

Windows Server 2019, From First Install to Mobile Workforce 💻

Windows Server 2019 brought a mix of familiar tools and newer cloud-aware features, and this second edition of Jordan Krause’s guide is built around what administrators actually do with them. It starts with installation, licensing, and the interface changes that arrived with the Windows 10-era server experience, then moves into the daily work of managing roles, features, and servers at scale.

Krause writes for IT professionals who need to stand up and maintain real Windows Server environments. The book keeps one eye on traditional infrastructure and the other on hybrid and cloud-connected operations, including Windows Admin Center, Hyper-Converged Infrastructure, Azure integration, and Always On VPN.

What the Second Edition Covers

Published by Packt in 2019, the second edition updates the original guide for Windows Server 2019. Across its chapters, it works through:

• Installing Windows Server 2019, adding roles and features, and rolling out servers with Sysprep
• Centralized management with Server Manager, RSAT, Remote Desktop Connection Manager, and Windows Admin Center
• Core infrastructure services: Active Directory Domain Services, Group Policy, DNS, and DHCP
• Certificate Services, certificate templates, auto-enrollment, and public SSL certificates
• Networking tools, IPv6, routing, NIC teaming, software-defined networking, and Azure connectivity
• Always On VPN user and device tunnels for mobile workforces

Core Infrastructure Without the Guesswork ⚙️

The infrastructure chapters are the heart of the book. Active Directory, Group Policy, DNS, and DHCP are treated not as isolated exam topics but as connected services that keep a Windows network predictable. The material walks through domain controllers, user and computer accounts, GPO creation and filtering, DNS record types, DHCP scopes and reservations, and backup and restore workflows.

Later sections extend that foundation into security and access. Readers work through common certificate types, PKI planning, enterprise versus standalone CAs, certificate requests, and auto-enrollment. The networking chapters then cover practical diagnostics with ping, tracert, Test-Connection, and packet tracing, alongside IPv6 addressing and routing table construction.

Networking, Certificates, and Remote Access

For administrators supporting remote workers, the Always On VPN coverage is especially relevant. The book explains user tunnels and device tunnels, then connects those options to the broader picture of software-defined networking, Windows Server Gateway, and Azure Virtual Network. It is a practical look at how Windows Server 2019 fits into environments that are no longer confined to a single physical office.

Who Will Get the Most From This Book 🧠

This book suits system administrators, infrastructure engineers, and IT professionals who already know their way around Windows Server and want a working reference for the 2019 release. It can also help readers preparing to manage hybrid or remote-access projects where Active Directory, certificates, DNS, and VPN services overlap. Chapters close with summaries and questions, which makes the material easier to revisit or use alongside lab work.

A Working Guide, Not Just an Overview

Mastering Windows Server 2019, Second Edition is a substantial, task-focused resource from an author who works daily with Microsoft networking and remote access technologies. If your responsibilities include installing servers, tightening infrastructure services, or extending the network to remote users, this ebook offers a structured path through the features and tools that matter most.