http://blogs.technet.com/b/kevinremde/archive/2013/06/25/breaking-news-windows-server-2012-r2-and-system-center-2012-r2-preview-evaluations-are-now-available.aspx?goback=%2Egde_1864032_member_252808253
I am up and running with the new version of Windows Server 2012 R2 on 6/26/2013
The MCSA Server 2012 Exams are challenging so here I put together a list of some references I used during my studies. Note that this list will help those most that have the knowledge associated with an MCITP on Windows Server 2008.
I hope this helps and good luck.
General Info on What’s New in 2012 Networking (3 part series)
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles-tutorials/windows-server-2012/Whats-New-Windows-Server-2012-Networking-Part1.html
70-410
Exam Detailshttp://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-410
My Reference Links for 70-410
Active Directory
Active Directory Install http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh472162.aspx
AD Wizard http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831457.aspx
Offline Join http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/offline-domain-join-djoin-step-by-step(v=ws.10).aspx
Restricted Groups http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc957640.aspx
Implement Central Store and convert existing ADM files into ADMX
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askpfeplat/archive/2011/12/12/how-to-implement-the-central-store-for-group-policy-admin-templates-completely-hint-remove-those-adm-files.aspx
Content Management
Shadow Copies
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771305.aspx
Advanced Offline Files
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj966252.aspx
Disk Management
Spanned Volume http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc784653(v=ws.10).aspx
Convert MBR to GPT http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725671.aspx
GPO
Control Windows Store Installation
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh832040.aspx
Create Rules for Packaged Apps
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994588.aspx
Using GPP Rename Administrator Account
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/change-local-username-and-password-via-group-policy/3185
GUI/Core Transformation – Full – Core/GUI – Core
Info - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831786.aspx
More Info - http://blogs.technet.com/b/server_core/archive/2012/05/09/configuring-the-minimal-server-interface.aspx
GUI to Core Step by Step - http://blogs.technet.com/b/puneetvig/archive/2012/10/16/switch-between-full-and-core-in-windows-server-2012-using-powershell-3-0.aspx
Core to GUI – Step by Step - http://blogs.technet.com/b/john_taylor/archive/2013/01/09/converting-from-server-2012-core-install-to-full-gui.aspx
Good Article from Scripting Guy http://blogs.technet.com/b/heyscriptingguy/archive/2013/01/25/use-powershell-to-remove-the-gui-on-windows-server-2012.aspx
Command Reference
Import-Module ServerManager (needed for Uninstall-WindowsFeature cmdlets below)
Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell –Restart (Removes shell but leaves Server Management GUI)
Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra –Restart (Creates non-GUI server core)
Networking
Nic Teaming
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831648.aspx
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/15004.nic-teaming-windows-2012.aspx
Storage Spaces
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831739.aspx
Security
Connection Security Rules
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772017.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd448591(v=ws.10).aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725940(v=ws.10).aspx
Server Management
Remote Server Management http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh921475.aspx
Remote Server Core Management
http://blogs.technet.com/b/wincat/archive/2012/05/03/what-needs-to-be-configured-to-do-remote-disk-management-of-a-server-core-installation-in-windows-server-2012-via-powershell.aspx
Powershell 3.0 Requirements
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh847837.aspx
VirtualizationWhats New http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831410.aspx
VHDX - Hyper-V Virtual Hard Disk Format Overview
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831446.aspx
Virtual Fibre Channel http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831413.aspx
NUMA Features in Hyper-V http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj628164.aspx
Scaling Hyper-V (EUMA and SR-IOV) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831389.aspx
Hyper-V Keyboard Shortcuts http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/415.hyper-v-vm-connection-keyboard-shortcuts.aspx
WMI
More on WMI Filters http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/1432-using-wmi-filters-to-apply-group-policy-to-a-target-operating-system
More on WMI Tools http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/netmon/thread/72aae31a-bd24-4f24-9e54-356e4f30d857
Scriptomatic 2.0 http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=12028
70-411
Exam Detailshttp://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-411
WSUS – Windows Software Update Services
RAS – Remote Access
DCS – Data Collection Sets
GPO – Group Policy Objects
ADO – Active Directory Objects
My Reference Links for 70-411
Data Reduplication Overview
Network Policy Conditions Properties
Administering NPS
Introduction to Administering NPS
Network Policy Server Operations Guide
Network Policy Server Operations Guide
Group Policy Settings in Internet Explorer 10
Internet Explorer Group Policy Preferences do not apply to Internet Explorer 9 in a Windows Server 2008 R2 domain environment
Bit Locker: How to enable Network Unlock
Windows Server 2008 R2 : File Server Resource Manager (part 1)
Configure File Screen Audit
70-412
Exam Detailshttp://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-412
My Reference Links for 70-412
AD
What’s New http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831477.aspx
Installation AD Install Overview http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh472162.aspx
Installation AD 2012 Step by Step http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj574166.aspx
Selective Authentication Forest Trusts - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc816580(v=ws.10).aspx
Allow Authentication Permission http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc816733(v=ws.10).aspx
Securing Domain and Forest Trusts http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc794713(v=ws.10).aspx
AD Replication
AD Replication 2012 (How it Works) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772726(v=ws.10).aspx
Advanced Tools http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj574083.aspx
Getting Over Replmon http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2009/07/01/getting-over-replmon.aspx
Notification Based Replication
http://morgansimonsen.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/enabling-notify-driven-replication-across-active-directory-sites/
http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2013/01/21/configuring-change-notification-on-a-manually-created-replication-partner.aspx
RODC Replication http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730883(v=ws.10).aspx
Urgent Replication http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772726(v=ws.10).aspx#w2k3tr_repup_how_huzs
ADFS
ADFS Resource Center http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/dd448613.aspx
What's New ADFS http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831502
ADFS Endpoints* http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/adfs2-help-endpoints(v=ws.10).aspx
ADRMS
AD RMS Overview http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831364.aspx
2012 What’s New in AD RMS http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831554
AD RMS Installation Best Practice * http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj735304.aspx
AD RMS Team http://blogs.technet.com/b/rms/archive/2012/04/28/ad-rms-installation-best-practices.aspx
AD RMS Team Video http://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Information-Protection/Enabling-RMS-Everywhere-032013
Cert Management with certutil http://technet.microsoft.com/library/cc732443.aspx
Advanced Boot Optionshttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode
Backup and Restore – Disaster Recovery
2008R2/2012 Bare Metal Restore http://blogs.technet.com/b/askcore/archive/2011/05/12/bare-metal-restore.aspx
iSCSI Support http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee619769(v=WS.10).aspx
Custom Script in Windows PE Image http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766521(v=ws.10).aspx
Add tools to RE http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj126994.aspx
Microsoft Online Backup http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/03/28/microsoft-online-backup-service.aspx
Branch OfficeBranchCache http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj572990.aspx
BranchCache What’s New 2012 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj127252
BranchCache 2012 PDF http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30418
BranchCache 2008R2 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd996634(WS.10).aspx
BranchCache PowerShell http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh848392(v=wps.620).aspx
CORE
Server Core Supported Roles http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj574158.aspx
Server Core Support for AD DS, AD CS and AD RMS (NOTE: Identity Federation Support role service is not supported)
http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831554
DHCP
DHCP Groups http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc737716(v=ws.10).aspx
Hot Standby Mode http://blogs.technet.com/b/teamdhcp/archive/2012/09/03/dhcp-failover-hot-standby-mode.aspx
MAC Filtering http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ff521761.aspx
DNS
Secure DNS Deployment Guide http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee649266(v=ws.10).aspx
DNSSEC http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee649173(v=ws.10).aspx
DNSSEC Step by Step http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831411.aspx
DNSLINT http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321045
DNSLINT Troubleshooting AD Replication Issues http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321046
DNSLINT Overview http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321046
DNSLINT Creator Tim Rain’s http://blogs.msdn.com/b/tim_rains/archive/2004/12/15/316137.aspx
DNS Tools List * http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd197560(v=ws.10).aspx
Replmon vs Repadmin http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2009/07/01/getting-over-replmon.aspx
RODC DNS Replication http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/4031.how-read-only-domain-controllers-and-dns-works.aspx
RODC DNS Admin http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd736126(v=ws.10).aspx
Driver Signing
Install and Test Unsigned Driver http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff547565.aspx
Dynamic Access Control http://www.dynamicaccesscontrol.com/Troubleshooting Guide http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36830
Article http://redmondmag.com/articles/2013/01/01/group-control.aspx
Failover Cluster
Overview Configure and Manage http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612870.aspx
Quorum Modes http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh270280.aspx
Files and Storage http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/
Data Deduplication http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831602.aspx
Data Deduplication from Storage Team http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2012/05/21/introduction-to-data-deduplication-in-windows-server-2012.aspx
Data Deduplication* http://blogs.technet.com/b/uspartner_ts2team/archive/2012/10/08/data-deduplication-in-windows-server-2012.aspx
DFS Cluster (Three Part Series)
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/06/29/deploying-dfs-replication-on-a-windows-failover-cluster-part-i.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/06/29/deploying-dfs-replication-on-a-windows-failover-cluster-part-ii.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/b/filecab/archive/2009/06/29/deploying-dfs-replication-on-a-windows-failover-cluster-part-iii.aspx
ISNS http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772568.aspx
Scale-Out File Server http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831349.aspx
Storage Explorer http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753442.aspx
Storage Management http://blogs.msdn.com/b/san/archive/2012/06/26/an-introduction-to-storage-management-in-windows-server-2012.aspx
Storage Spaces http://blogs.technet.com/b/askpfeplat/archive/2012/10/10/windows-server-2012-storage-spaces-is-it-for-you-could-be.aspx
Hyper-V
Hyper-V Replica http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj134172.aspx
Hyper-V Replica Broker http://blogs.technet.com/b/yungchou/archive/2013/03/24/hyper-v-replica-broker-explained.aspx
Hyper-V - Export & Import http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2008/08/26/hyper-v-export-import-part-1.aspx
Use the Base Virtual Machine to Create a New Virtual Machine http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee247413(v=WS.10).aspx
Storage Migration http://blogs.msdn.com/b/virtual_pc_guy/archive/2012/03/14/how-does-storage-migration-actually-work.aspx
NLB and Failover Cluster
Failover Cluster http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj612870.aspx
Failover Cluster What’s New 2012 http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831414.aspx
Quorum Settings http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731739.aspx
Advanced Quorum http://windows-scripting.org/2013/02/21/dynamic-witness-improves-windows-2012-cluster-high-availability/
Intro to Cluster Quorum Model http://blogs.msdn.com/b/clustering/archive/2010/05/14/10012930.aspx
Cluster Groups http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc780778(v=ws.10).aspx
Preferred Owners http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc759663(v=ws.10).aspx
PFE Blog on Clustering http://blogs.technet.com/b/askpfeplat/archive/2012/06/27/clustering-what-exactly-is-a-file-share-witness-and-when-should-i-use-one.aspx
NLB Overview http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831698.aspx
NLB Port Rules http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc733056.aspx
NLB Parameters http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc778263(v=ws.10).aspx
NLBM Properties http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771709.aspx
NLB Step by Step http://robertsmit.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/windows-2012-clustering-network-load-balancing-nlb-how-to-step-by-step/
Remote Server Manager
WinRM http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa384295(v=vs.85).aspx
WinRM vs. DCOM* http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh921475.aspx
Add Servers to Server Manager http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831453.aspx
70-417
Keith Mayer – Great Study Guidehttp://blogs.technet.com/b/keithmayer/archive/2013/05/07/upgrade-your-mcitp-or-mcsa-to-windows-server-2012-with-this-free-certification-exam-study-guide-for-exam-70-417.aspx
More References
Cool Windows Server 2012 Extras Found While Studying
ARP Spoofing Preventionhttp://blogs.technet.com/b/wincat/archive/2012/11/18/arp-spoofing-prevention-in-windows-server-2012-hyper-v.aspx
How does AD Replication Work?
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-en/library/cc772726(v=ws.10).aspx
Monster page of links
http://www.enduria.eu/preparation-resources-for-the-exam-70-417/
Jumpstart Program for 70-417
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKJ4uTj5tbxHMdt1yT0FWNzderYzv5_Ca
