Introduction

Unit 4: Week 1: Microsoft Networking

Unit 4: Week 1: Microsoft Networking

Essential Questions

  • What rights do I have for the groups I’m in? How might they be different from the rights of other group members?
  • Who should decide how resources are shared? And what is the best way to share them?

Big Ideas

One of the greatest benefits of having computing devices at a school or a business is that they can be connected, or networked together. The IT network is not just cables, routers, and Wi-Fi. It includes the devices that access the local network and Internet as well as the people who use them. But not everyone has, nor probably should have, the same level of access to every device and every piece of information or data on the network. You know that we all have Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and we have the right to keep that confidential. If it’s stored on a network, like in your report card or an attendance record, IT staff have to have a way to make sure that only the people who have the right to access confidential information can do so.

There are times when you might want to give people access to information, like when you’re working on a group project, or even to a device connected to your computer. A printer is an example of a device that a lot of people might want to use but don’t have access to unless it is shared with them. A network of devices can be set up so that users can share information and resources, but it’s up to the IT department to set those up correctly.

Connection to Student Lives

Think about the different groups you’re in. You’re in a family group, and being a student is a group. You might also be in clubs, sports teams, band, or other groups. Within the groups you are in, many are set up where some people have different duties or responsibilities than others. On a football team there are different players as well as coaches, all of whom are able to do some things when it comes to playing football, but there are some that are given unique responsibilities, like calling plays, determining who gets to play at any given time, and even who should be on the team (or in the group).

And the people in your groups have access to different resources, but maybe not the same access to every resource. Students in the band have access to the band room and possibly a field to practice marching on, and some may share music or chairs, but rarely do people share their instrument or especially their mouthpiece.

Groups are like networks. No, they don’t use them to get online, but depending on who you are in a group that accesses a network, you have access to different resources. Think about the network you use at school. Probably all of the students and faculty can log on to the network, use a web browser, and maybe even put folders and files on a shared drive. But usually you have to give permission to people to view or edit a file you’ve created, even if it’s online. And there are some network resources that are only available to some people, like gradebook programs for teachers, or even the network management tools that only IT staff have access to.

Framing Problem

What’s the best way to share folders or files or even hardware to others in my network?

Cornerstone Assessment

Create a workgroup and practice sharing or securing folders and files.

DPI Standards

  • NCCTE.2020.II22.01.04 - Use appropriate Microsoft command line tools.
  • NCCTE.2020.II22.01.05 - Use Microsoft operating system features and tools.
  • NCCTE.2020.II22.01.06 - Use Microsoft Windows control panel utilities.
  • NCCTE.2020.II22.01.08 - Configure Microsoft Windows networking on a client or desktop.
  • NCCTE.2020.II22.02.06 - Compare Microsoft Windows OS security settings.

A+ Standards

TOPIC 10A: Manage Users

1002-1.4 Given a scenario, use appropriate Microsoft command line tools.
1002-1.5 Given a scenario, use Microsoft operating system features and tools.
1002-1.6 Given a scenario, use Microsoft Windows Control Panel utilities.
1002-2.6 Compare and contrast the differences of basic Microsoft Windows OS security settings.

TOPIC 10B: Configure Shared Resources

1002-1.4 Given a scenario, use appropriate Microsoft command line tools.
1002-1.8 Given a scenario, configure Microsoft Windows networking on a client/desktop.
1002-1.6 Given a scenario, use Microsoft Windows Control Panel utilities.
1002-2.6 Compare and contrast the differences of basic Microsoft Windows OS security settings

Knowledge

  • The difference between administrator and standard accounts
  • How to manage user accounts and system rights
  • The different types of security groups and their permissions
  • Options for configuring security policies
  • The advantages and disadvantages of Single Sign On
  • Configure permissions on network shares
  • How share and NTFS permissions interact
  • Tips for troubleshooting homegroups in Windows 7 and 8
  • The implications of defining a network as either Public or Private
  • How to hide a local share from general browsing
  • The difference between printer sharing and network printer mapping
  • net commands utilities to view and configure shared resources on a Windows network
  • Benefits and properties of NTFS file and folder sharing, including the property of inheritance and how it can be enabled or disabled

Skills

  • Access and use the Local users and Groups management console in Pro, Professional, and Enterprise editions of Windows to
    • Create a new user and configure the user account
    • Rename or delete user accounts
    • Add users to a group
  • Manage accounts using commands
  • Configure or revise policies using the Local Security Policy or Local Group Policy snap-ins
  • Use Credential Manager for passwords and network accounts
  • Use the Network and Sharing Center to configure a network profile
  • Configure shared folders
  • Map a share as a drive and remove the share
  • Make files available offline to other workgroup users
  • Configure NTFS permissions on a file or folder, including configuring inheritance
  • Establish conditions to move or copy NTFS files and folders

Vocabulary

Manage Users

Security Group

Policies

  • Local Security Policy snap-in (secpol.msc)
  • Local Group Policy snap-in (gpedit.msc)

Single Sign On (SSO)

Credential Manager

Configured Shared Resources

Peer-to-peer Network

Homegroup (Windows 7 and 8)

Network Drive

Weekly Map

Monday

Introduction to problem: Create a workgroup and consider sharing of resources

Online Pre-assessment  (available for student practice, as well)

Team meetings to develop project plan and goals

Tuesday

Review content resources with whole group: 10A: Manage Users

Small group and independent exploration of resources

Activity 10-1: Discussing Windows User Management

Contribute to team project

Wednesday

Hands-on exploration with IT professionals: Considerations for User Groups

Small group and independent exploration of resources: 10B: Configure Shared Resources

Team progress check with supervisor (using project plan)

Thursday

Hands-on exploration with IT professionals: 10-3: Configuring Shared Resources

Small group and independent exploration of resources

Activity 10-2: Discussing Shared Resource Configuration

Contribute to team project

Friday

If necessary, complete or review 10-3: Configuring Shared Resources

Progress check with individuals or whole whole group

Online post-assessment

Lesson Ideas

Students can practice setting up a small workgroup, creating accounts and groups, and considering levels of access users in the groups can have. Students may want to brainstorm the configuration of a group first before implementing it, perhaps considering a group they might relate to, whether that’s the Help Desk or possibly a school store or some other organization. They should consider different roles, perhaps with the teacher as the supervisor but with students also performing different types of management roles and then assign permissions to what those roles might need.

Potential Resources

The Official CompTIA A+ Core 1 & Core 2 Instructor Guide for Exams 220-1001 and 220-1002

  • Topic 10A: Manage Users (pp. 650-657)
    • Activity 10-1: Discussing Windows User Management (p. 658)
  • Topic 10B: Configure Shared Resources (pp. 659-674)
    • Activity 10-2: Discussing Shared Resource Configuration (p. 675)
    • Activity 10-3: Configuring Shared Resources

Professor Messer at ProfessorMesser.com and YouTube offers numerous free videos of various lengths for many of the topics for the CompTIA 220-1001 A+ Exam. They are easy to understand, narrated videos with visuals. If you are teaching a CompTIA course, the site notes “You’re welcome to use them as much as you’d like, provided you embed the videos with the associated YouTube link or link directly to my site. Please click the “Contact Us” link at the top of our web page and let me know how you’re using them.”

Entry Level I.T. Training from Technology Gee

  • Microsoft Command Line Tools (Article | Video – 7:09) – introduced previously
  • Microsoft Operating System Features (Article | Video – 20:22) introduced previously
  • Microsoft Windows Control Panel (Article | Video – 8:27) introduced previously
  • Microsoft Windows OS Security Settings (Article | Video – 12:31) introduced previously

Microsoft Support

Other Articles or Resources:

Guide to Windows 10 Network and Sharing Center from WebNots

How to apply Windows 10 Local Group Policy settings to specific users from Windows Central (has many advertisements)

Setting NTFS Permissions from NTFS.com