Building a Windows IT Infrastructure in the Cloud

Building a Windows IT Infrastructure in the Cloud

by David K. Rensin
Released September 2012
Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ISBN: 9781449333546

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Book description

Run your entire corporate IT infrastructure in a cloud environment that you control completely—and do it inexpensively and securely with help from this hands-on book. All you need to get started is basic IT experience.

You’ll learn how to use Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build a private Windows domain, complete with Active Directory, enterprise email, instant messaging, IP telephony, automated management, and other services. By the end of the book, you’ll have a fully functioning IT infrastructure you can operate for less than $300 per month.

  • Learn about Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and other AWS tools you’ll use
  • Create a Windows domain and set up a DNS management system
  • Install Active Directory and a Windows Primary Domain Controller
  • Use Microsoft Exchange to set up an enterprise email service
  • Import existing Windows Server-based virtual machines into your VPC
  • Set up an enterprise-class chat/IM service, using the XMPP protocol
  • Install and configure a VoIP PBX telephony system with Asterisk and FreePBX
  • Keep your network running smoothly with automated backup and restore, intrusion detection, and fault alerting

Table of contents

  1. Building a Windows IT Infrastructure in the Cloud
  2. SPECIAL OFFER: Upgrade this ebook with O’Reilly
  3. Preface
    1. Intended Audience
    2. Organization of This Book
    3. Conventions Used in This Book
    4. Using Code Examples
    5. Acknowledgments
    6. Safari® Books Online
    7. How to Contact Us
  4. 1. To the Cloud!
    1. Who I Think You Are and Why I Think You Care
    2. Introducing Amazon Web Services
    3. The Plan of Attack
    4. Setting Up the Domain and DNS
    5. Setting Up Your Security Credentials
    6. Setting Up Your First Virtual Private Cloud
    7. Standing Up Your First Server Instance
      1. Choosing Your VPN Configuration
      2. Picking an AMI and Launching It Into Your VPC
      3. Connecting for the First Time
    8. Understanding and Configuring Your VPN Server
      1. Creating Your Own Client Certificate
      2. Setting Up Your Client Machine and Connecting for the First Time
      3. Tidying Up and Connecting for the First Time
    9. Your New Topology
    10. Wrapping Up
  5. 2. Directories, Controllers, and Authorities—Oh My!
    1. So Young for Such a Big Promotion!
      1. Changing the Name
      2. Promoting the Instance to an Active Directory Server
      3. A Few Words About DNS and DHCP
        1. The “normal”
        2. The “new normal”
    2. Configuring the Default VPC DHCP to Play Nice with Your New Domain
      1. Changing the VPC DHCP Option Set
      2. Reconnecting with RDP
    3. Creating Your Own Certificate Authority
    4. Wrapping Up
  6. 3. Let There Be Email!
    1. Setting Up the Instance
    2. Installing Exchange
    3. Configuring Your New Mail Beast for Incoming Messages
    4. Configuring Outgoing Mail
    5. Telling the Outside World About Yourself
      1. Revisiting Your Security Rules and Firewall
      2. Getting the Rest of the World to Send You Mail
    6. Wrapping Up
  7. 4. Doing Things the Easy Way
    1. Introducing the EC2 API Command Line Tools
    2. Downloading, Installing, and Configuring the Tools
      1. Creating a Client Certificate
      2. Setting Up Your Environment
    3. Downloading and Importing a Test Image
    4. Cleaning Up and Wrapping Up
  8. 5. Do You Have Some Time to Chat?
    1. Chat? Really? Isn’t That So 1990s?
    2. One Standard to Rule Them All
      1. Step 1: Picking an XMPP Server
      2. Step 2: Downloading and Installing
      3. Configuration
    3. Configuring the Network
      1. Windows Has a Firewall?
      2. Enabling the VPC
    4. Installing and Configuring Your XMPP Client
      1. Mac OS X
      2. Windows
      3. Receiving Your First Message
    5. Wrapping Up
  9. 6. The Voice of a New Generation
    1. Enter SIP
    2. Picking and Installing a PBX Package
      1. The Contenders
      2. Picking an Asterisk Distribution
      3. Installing the PBX
        1. Finding and launching the instance into the VPC
        2. Securing the instance
      4. The Basics of Administration and Configuration
        1. Modules
        2. Extensions
        3. Conference bridges
        4. Trunks
          1. SIPStation
          2. Skype
        5. Configuring Secure SIP with TLS and SRTP
        6. Detecting and dealing with hacking attempts
      5. Configuring the Network for VoIP
    3. Making VoIP Calls
      1. Blink (PC/Mac)
      2. Bria (iPhone/iPad/Android)
    4. Wrapping Up
  10. 7. Keeping Your Network Fit, Trim, and Healthy
    1. Regular Backups
      1. Automated EC2 Backups
    2. Monitoring
    3. System Updates
      1. SSH: Your New Best Friend
      2. From a Mac or Linux Machine
      3. From Windows
      4. Setting Up Daily Updates
    4. PBX Module Updates
    5. Recovering from Disaster
      1. Restoring an Instance to a Previous Snapshot
      2. Creating a New Instance from a Snapshot
    6. Wrapping Up
  11. 8. For Those About to Grok, We Salute You
    1. Building a PBX from Scratch on a Stock Amazon AMI
    2. Inside SSH—The Really Useful Edition
      1. Teleportation
      2. SSH as a Poor Man’s VPN
    3. Really, Really Wrapping Up
  12. About the Author
  13. SPECIAL OFFER: Upgrade this ebook with O’Reilly
  14. Copyright

Product information

  • Title: Building a Windows IT Infrastructure in the Cloud
  • Author(s): David K. Rensin
  • Release date: September 2012
  • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
  • ISBN: 9781449333546