Microsoft Server 2019 Essentials

In this entry-level Microsoft skills training, you'll learn to install, configure, and maintain Windows Server 2019. After finishing this Windows Server 2019 training, you'll know how to upgrade to Windows Server 2019, and then configure and administer your systems infrastructure. This training has a number of virtual labs pre-loaded with Server 2019.

Garth SchulteSystems Administration & Database Administration

Updated March 2020

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11Skills

73Videos

44Virtual Labs

13hTotal

Who This Course Is For

This Windows Server 2019 training is based on administrator-level Microsoft training, which means it was designed for systems administrators. This Server 2019 skills course is valuable for new IT professionals or experienced systems administrators who are currently using Server 2019.

Skills Your Team Will Gain

Remote Administration of Windows Server 2019
Installation, configuration, and use of Windows Admin Center
What’s New in Windows Server?
Configuring Windows Server 2019
Joining an Active Directory Domain
Configuring Windows Server using PowerShell

Course Curriculum

One skill is free to watch — no signup needed. The other 10 premium skills unlock for your whole team with a CBT Nuggets plan.

Free skill preview

Administer Active Directory Domain Services

Garth Schulte

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Premium skill.Windows Server 2019 Foundations27m · 14 videos
Premium skill.Install and Upgrade to Windows Server 20191h · 14 videos · 5 labs
Premium skill.Configure Windows Server 20191h 6m · 16 videos · 5 labs
Premium skill.Remotely Administer Windows Server 20191h 4m · 14 videos · 4 labs
Premium skill.Configure Storage with Windows Server 20191h 47m · 18 videos · 6 labs
Premium skill.Configure Networking Services in Windows Server 20191h 1m · 14 videos · 3 labs
Administer Active Directory Domain ServicesFree1h 21m · 16 videos · 5 labs
Premium skill.Administer Group Policy1h 10m · 14 videos · 3 labs
Premium skill.Implement Virtualization with Hyper-V1h 13m · 14 videos · 4 labs
Premium skill.Pwning with PowerShell1h 53m · 16 videos · 6 labs
Premium skill.TSHOOT: Windows Server 2019 Lab Challenges1h 11m · 18 videos · 3 labs

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For IT leaders

What IT leaders need to know before assigning this course

Windows Server environments create operational risk when administrators configure, upgrade, and troubleshoot servers inconsistently. IT Directors and Team Leads can assign this beginner-level course to standardize Server 2019 fundamentals across systems administrators, junior IT Practitioners, and experienced admins already supporting Server 2019. The course is a realistic 13 hours, 13 minutes per learner, covering installation and upgrade, remote administration, storage, networking services, Active Directory Domain Services, Group Policy, Hyper-V, PowerShell, and troubleshooting lab challenges. For change management, this training is best used before Server 2019 rollout, admin handoff, or infrastructure refresh work so teams can practice core tasks before touching production. CBT Nuggets Virtual Labs support hands-on Server 2019 practice in a preloaded environment, while Playlists and Team Reporting can help Training Managers assign the course and monitor completion.

Team Impact

How this training helps your team succeed

IT teams complete this training to reduce avoidable server issues caused by inconsistent Windows Server 2019 administration. The course maps to day-to-day infrastructure work rather than abstract theory.

Smoother Server 2019 adoption: Admins practice installation and upgrade concepts before production changes.
More consistent operations: Teams align on remote administration, storage configuration, networking services, AD DS, and Group Policy tasks.
Reduced escalation pressure: Junior IT Practitioners build practical troubleshooting confidence through dedicated Windows Server 2019 lab challenges.
Better infrastructure readiness: Teams gain shared working knowledge of Hyper-V and PowerShell for managing modern Windows Server environments.

After completion

Capabilities your team walks away with

Knowledge

Windows Server 2019 foundations and core administration concepts
Installation and upgrade considerations for Server 2019
Storage, networking services, AD DS, and Group Policy fundamentals
Hyper-V virtualization concepts in a Server 2019 environment
PowerShell’s role in Windows Server administration

Ability

Install, configure, and maintain Windows Server 2019 systems
Remotely administer Server 2019 infrastructure
Configure storage and networking services for common server scenarios
Administer Active Directory Domain Services and Group Policy
Implement basic virtualization with Hyper-V and troubleshoot Server 2019 lab challenges

Readiness check

Confirm prerequisite knowledge before training begins

A short placement assessment on the CBT Nuggets assessments platform measures whether a learner already has the foundation this course assumes. IT Directors use it to put the right people in the right training — and any learner can take it right now to make sure they'll get full value from day one.

Questions generated from this course's own video transcripts — what gets measured is exactly what gets taught
Instant, per-learner results that show whether the prerequisite foundation is in place
Results roll up into team readiness reporting, so training hours go where they change outcomes

Take the placement assessment How assessments work

Runs on assessments.cbtnuggets.com — sign in with an Adept account so results roll up into team readiness reporting. Need one? .

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Windows Server 2019 Essentials?

Windows Server 2019 Essentials is a special edition of the server operating system you probably recognize from Microsoft. Windows Server 2019 Essentials is meant for small businesses, and it allows licenses for up to 25 users and 50 devices. While it does have differences from the full Windows Server operating system, with a different interface and expedited setup, it still contains the essential features like file and printer sharing, remote access, and data backup.

What are the key benefits of using Microsoft Server 2019 Essentials?

The most obvious benefit to using Server 2019 Essentials is that it's lightweight and simplified enough to be operated without a dedicated IT staff. Unlike other server management operating systems that often require full-time server administrators and network engineers, Server 2019 Essentials is specially designed for organizations with small networks. All the other benefits and features you'd expect are still there: file sharing, remote access and integration with Microsoft cloud services.

What are the key limitations of Microsoft Server 2019 Essentials?

Server 2019 Essentials is great for small businesses and small networks, but it has pretty steep limitations where scale and growth are concerned. 25 users or 50 devices is a hard limitation on the licensing, so you won't be able to expand your network without transferring to a more traditional licensing structure. Also Server 2019 Essentials doesn't support virtualization rights, which means multiple instances cannot be run without additional licenses.

Was Microsoft Server Essentials discontinued?

No, Microsoft Server Essentials hasn't technically been discontinued, but in 2018, Microsoft did announce that many of the features of previous versions were getting stripped, and Server 2019 Essentials may be the last version of the software package. We can probably expect Server 2019 Essentials to be one of, if not the very, last condensed Server OS Microsoft releases, as they continue encouraging users toward their live (cloud) service offerings.

Is this Microsoft Server 2019 training associated with any official certifications?

No, there's no Microsoft certification related to operating and managing Microsoft Server Essentials 2019. This course is focused on practical skills related to implementing, managing, and optimizing the server environment for small businesses. Microsoft offers certifications like Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate for other editions of Windows Server, but Essentials doesn't have any official certification pathway. Instead, you'll learn small-scale server management and how to support small business operations effectively.

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