As a sysadmin you are not just managing software. You are working with real hardware every single day. In this course you will get a practical introduction to the physical devices that make up a business IT environment. Know what you are looking at, understand what it does, and walk into any server room with confidence.

Windows Server is at the heart of most business IT environments and knowing how to install and configure it is a core sysadmin skill. In this course you'll see an install of Windows Server 2025 from scratch inside a homelab, step by step.

Active Directory and DNS are the backbone of almost every business network in the world. In this course you'll learn what they are, why they matter, and how to install and configure them from scratch on Windows Server 2025. From promoting your server to a domain controller to setting up DNS resolution across your network, this is the hands-on foundation every sysadmin needs to have nailed.

Every device on your network needs an IP address, and DHCP is what handles that automatically. In this course you will learn what DHCP is, how it works, and how to install and configure a DHCP server on Windows Server 2025 from scratch inside your homelab. From creating scopes and setting reservations to authorising your server in Active Directory, this is a core sysadmin skill you need to have nailed.

Internet Information Services, or IIS, is Microsoft's web server platform and a core component of many business environments. In this course you will learn what IIS is, how it works, and how to install and configure it on Windows Server 2025. From hosting your first website to managing application pools, bindings, and SSL certificates, this is a practical hands on guide to one of the most widely used services a Windows sysadmin will encounter.

Managing storage and shared resources is one of the most common responsibilities a sysadmin will face in any Windows environment. In this course you will learn how to configure disks and volumes, set up file shares, manage NTFS and share permissions, and implement storage solutions that reflect how real businesses manage their data. Hands on, practical, and built around real world scenarios.

Knowing how to install Windows Server is just the start. Knowing how to manage, monitor, and maintain it is what makes you an effective sysadmin. In this course you will get hands on with the essential management tools every Windows sysadmin relies on daily, including Task Manager, Event Viewer, Performance Monitor, Windows Server Backup, and more. Built around real world scenarios inside the homelab.

Virtualisation is at the heart of modern IT infrastructure, and Hyper-V is Microsoft's built in hypervisor platform for Windows Server. In this course you will learn what Hyper-V is, how it works, and how to install and configure it on Windows Server 2025 inside your homelab. From creating and managing virtual machines to configuring virtual switches and managing snapshots, this is a core sysadmin skill built around real hands on lab work.

The best way to learn Windows 11 is to get hands on with it, and installing it inside a virtual machine gives you an environment to do exactly that. In this course you will see me install Windows 11 from scratch inside a VM, work through the setup process step by step, and see a fully running Windows 11 device.

Windows 11 is on the desks of your users every single day. Knowing it inside out is a core sysadmin skill. In this course you will get hands on with the Windows 11 interface covering the Start Menu, Settings, Control Panel, Taskbar, System Tray, File Explorer, essential productivity tools, Microsoft Edge, and even a quick look at CoPilot. Everything a sysadmin needs to confidently support and manage Windows 11 in a real workplace environment.

Deploying Windows 11 is just the beginning. Knowing how to manage, configure, and support it in a real business environment is where the sysadmin skills kick in. In this course you will get hands on with the essential management tasks every IT professional needs to know, from managing local users and groups, configuring system settings, and working with the registry, through to remote management, troubleshooting tools, and keeping devices secure and up to date.

IP addressing and subnetting are the building blocks of every network you will ever work on. In this course you will learn how IP addresses work, how subnetting divides networks into manageable segments, and how to calculate subnets with confidence. No prior networking knowledge needed. Master these fundamentals and every other networking topic you study becomes significantly easier.

Before data can move around a network something physical has to carry it. In this course you will learn about the core network devices that build and connect modern networks including switches, routers, firewalls and access points, as well as the cabling standards and connector types that tie it all together. Practical, beginner friendly and built around the real world hardware you will encounter in any IT environment.