1.
Install/Upgrade Windows Server OS Versions

a.
Install new Windows Server operating systems according to organizational standards and requirements.

b.
Perform in-place upgrades and migrations with minimal downtime.

c.
Manage OS deployment in virtual machines (VMs) within hypervisor environments, using templates or ISO images stored on network shares or

hypervisor data stores.

d.
Validate hardware compatibility and virtual hardware configuration before installation.

e.
Use of sysprep and unattended installation scripts to automate deployment in VM environments.

2.
Basic Active Directory Knowledge

a.
Manage users, groups, organizational units (OUs), and group policies (GPOs) within the existing (HPE-IT owned AD environment).

3.
Create and Apply Permissions to a Shared Resource

a.
Share folders and configure NTFS and share permissions appropriately.

b.
Understand and explain the di erence between share permissions and file system (NTFS) permissions, and how they interact (the most restrictive permission applies).

c.
Manage permission inheritance and explicit permissions to ensure correct access control.

d.
Document permission changes and implement least privileged principles.

e.
In virtual environments, ensure shared storage (cluster shared volumes, SMB

4.
Patching/Updating Methods

a.
Plan and implement patch management strategies for Windows Servers.

b.
Utilize Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to distribute updates in controlled manner.

c.
Understand WSUS integration with virtual infrastructure to minimize reboot impact on VMs and host clusters.

d.
Manage update cycles with a balance of automatic and manual controls:

e.
Automatic Updates for critical security patches.

f.
Manual approval for feature updates or testing in staging environments (including pre-production VMs).g.
Use maintenance windows in hypervisor management consoles (e.g. Proxmox, VMware vSphere Update Manager, System Center Virtual Machine Manager) to coordinate patching of VMs and hosts.

5.
Admin Tools

a.
Utilize Windows Admin Center for centralized management of Windows Servers across physical and virtual environments.

b.
Employ PowerShell for automation of repetitive tasks, including hypervisor- specific modules (e.g., Hyper-V, VMware PowerCLI).

c.
Use remote server management tools and secure connections (WinRM, RDP with Network Level Authentication).

d.
Integrate with hypervisor management consoles (vSphere Client, Hyper-V Manager, SCVMM) to manage virtual infrastructure alongside OS-level management.

6.
Virtualization Knowledge

a.
b.
Manage VMs including changes to allocated CPU, memory, and disk resources. Increase disk sizes or add vDisks to VMs safely, including inside the guest OS (disk management, extending volumes).

c.
Add or adjust CPU/Memory resources based on workload requirements and host capacity.

d.
Understand and troubleshoot virtual hardware issues and configurations that

a ect Windows Server performance.

e.
Work with storage technologies in virtual environments, including SAN, NAS, and software-defined storage.

f.
Create, maintain, and optimize VM templates for quick provisioning of standard Windows Server environments.

g.
Implement virtual networking configurations, managing switches, VLAN tagging, and IP addressing schemes compatible with Windows Server roles and services.

h.
Use snapshots cautiously in production environments, especially with domain controllers and applications sensitive to time and state changes.

7.
Backup and Disaster Recovery (DR)

a.
Configure and manage native Windows backup solutions for files, applications, and full server backups.

b.
Administer enterprise-grade backup products like Veeam Backup & Replication, Veritas NetBackup, or similar.

c.
Understand backup options specific to VMs, including image-level backups, application-aware backups, and guest file-level restore capabilities.

d.
Plan and execute disaster recovery testing for physical and virtual servers including VM restore, failover to secondary sites or clusters.e.
Coordinate backup operations with hypervisor features to ensure consistent snapshots (e.g., application-consistent VM snapshots using VSS writers).

f.
Document recovery procedures and ensure o site or cloud backups are maintained for critical data.

Additional Recommended Skills for Hypervisor Environments

Resource Management:

• 
  Monitor VM and host resource utilization; set reservations, limits, and shares
  to balance performance.

High Availability & Clustering:

• 
  Configure Windows Failover Clusters on VMs and integrate with hypervisor
  clustering features for maximum uptime.

Security and Compliance:

• 
  Implement secure boot and encryption for virtual machines; maintain host
  security hardened configurations.

Performance Monitoring:

• 
  Use performance counters within Windows Servers and tools like PerfMon,
  as well as hypervisor-level performance metrics (vSphere Performance Charts, Hyper-V Performance Monitor)