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October 1, 2014

Download – PowerShell Hyper-V Cookbook

Title: The Altaro PowerShell Hyper-V Cookbook
Author: Jeffery Hicks, PowerShell MVP
Twitter: @JeffHicks
Published: 2014
Publisher: Altaro Software
PDF: Altaro-PowerShell-Hyper-V-Cookbook.pdf
Size: 6.9 MB
Pages: 63
Scripts: Altaro-PowerShell-HyperV-Cookbook-Scripts.zip
Size 44.7 KB
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

Understand the basics of Hyper-V Cmdlets and how to create
a Hyper-V VM
How to display and discover information about your VMs and Hyper-V host
Get mounted ISO files & identify orphaned VHD/VHDX files
How to delete obsolete snapshots and query Hyper-V event logs

SAMPLE POWERSHELL SCRIPTS

Get-HyperVEvents.ps1
Get-ImageFromISO.ps1
Get-MyVM.ps1
Get-ObsoleteVHD.ps1
Get-VHDInfo.ps1
Get-VMMemoryReport.ps1
Get-VMOS.ps1
Get-VMSnapshotUsage.ps1
New-HVHealthReport.ps1
New-VMfromISO.ps1
New-VMFromTemplate.ps1
Remove-OldVMSnapshot.ps1

Rating: 10.0/10 (2 votes cast)

August 15, 2014August 15, 2014

PowerShell Cheat Sheet for Active Directory

All right, pop quiz, hotshot:

Do you still use any of the following commands?

CSVDE
DCPROMO
DNSCMD
DSACLS
DSADD
DSGET
DSMOD
DSMOVE
DSQUERY
DSRM
GPRESULT
GPUPDATE
IPCONFIG
NETDOM
NETSTAT
NLTEST
NSLOOKUP
PING
REPADMIN

If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of the previous items, you failed.

ALL of those commands have been replaced by PowerShell.

And they were replaced over a year and a half ago.

News flash: You’re falling further behind in your IT career.

“But PowerShell is hard to remember…” which is true.

Good news though. There’s a handy 4-page cheat sheet to help wean you off the sour milk of the command prompt and get you eating the solid food of PowerShell.

Title: PowerShell Command Line Conversion Guide: Active Directory
Published: 01/02/2013
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
File name: PowerShell Cmd Line Conversion Guide AD.pdf
Pages: 4
Size: 48 KB
Download URL: Click here for download

Enjoy your meal!

Rating: 7.0/10 (3 votes cast)

May 28, 2014May 28, 2014

Upgrading SQL Evaluation to Volume License

THE SCENARIO

You’ve installed SQL 2008 R2 (or newer) in 180-day evaluation mode as a pilot project (or proof-of-concept).
The project is successful and you get a green light.
The client purchases SQL through Microsoft Volume Licensing.
You want to simply add the license key to the SQL server that’s currently in evaluation mode, activate it, and move on.

THE RUB

And if you look up your keys in Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (MS VLSC), there are no keys for SQL.
And the second problem is that even if you had the key, the location to enter the SQL key on the trial server isn’t very obvious.

SOLUTION 1 – How to Get Your MS VLSC SQL Key

If you call Microsoft Volume License support, they will tell you that the keys are imbedded in the product (which is true) and that they can not give you the key information (which may or may not be true, depending on who you’re talking to).

Even worse, the VLSC tech support folks will advise you to remove the SQL installation, download the VLSC ISO, and install FROM SCRATCH.

This is a complete waste of time and a bunch of garbage!

Side note: I asked the VLSC support specialist why there’s a place to enter the key in SQL if the Volume License version of SQL doesn’t have a key. She said “That key is just for if you purchase Retail SQL”.

Again, this is complete garbage!

Rest easy and fear not! — You don’t have to reinstall SQL all over again just to activate it with a volume license key.

Here’s the work-around I used:

IMPORTANT: These steps are on a Hyper-V Server.
NOT on your SQL Evaluation server!

Log into Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center and download your SQL ISO (this ISO is pre-keyed).
https://www.microsoft.com/Licensing/servicecenter/
Spin up a generic Server 2012 or 2012 R2 virtual machine in Hyper-V.
(This should only take about 5 minutes if you have a pre-baked VM).
Add the .NET 3.5 Framework
GUI version
Server Manager | Manage | Add Roles and Features | Next | Next | Next | Next | .NET Framework 3.5 Features | Next | Install

PowerShell
Install-WindowsFeature Net-Framework-Core
Attach the SQL Volume License ISO to the virtual machine.
Boot the VM, set the admin password in the OOBE windows, then run the Setup.exe file on the SQL DVD / ISO.
Run the program without getting any help.*
*If you get a compatibility error on 2012 R2 with SQL 2008 R2, you can safely ignore it. (We’re just using this VM to get the key and will blow the VM away when we’re done).

…the setup bootstrapper continues…
Installation | New installation or add features to an existing installation.
Run the program without getting help.
(Ignore the Program Compatibility Assistant warning again.)

…as the SQL turns…
On Setup Support Roles, click OK.

…more SQL zzzzzz…
…and BOO-YAH, there is your Microsoft Volume License key for SQL!
Record that SQL Volume License key in a safe place.
You can now shut down and blow away that virtual server.

SOLUTION 2 – The Key Entry Location

Here are the instructions for where to install the SQL Volume License key on your trial server to activate it into a full-blown VL goodness.

IMPORTANT: These steps are on the SQL EVALUATION server.
Make sure you have a good backup of the server before you continue!

Start | All Programs | Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 | Configuration Tools | SQL Server Installation Center (64-bit)
Maintenance | Edition Upgrade

…SQL churns…
On the Setup Support Rules page, click OK.

…more SQL churning…
Enter the product key | Next.
Accept the EULA | Next.
Specify the instance of SQL Server (the evaluation one) | Next.

…waiting…
On the Edition Upgrade Rules page, click Next.
On the Ready to upgrade edition page, click Upgrade.
Congratulations, you’re done! Click Close.

Hopefully this tip will save you from the ‘mandatory’ reinstallation of SQL just to change from evaluation mode to a Volume License key.

Rating: 9.7/10 (41 votes cast)

May 15, 2014March 19, 2020

PowerShell 5.0 May 2014 Preview – Gotcha

I case you haven’t heard, the Windows Management Framework 5.0 Preview May 2014 got released at TechEd 2014 this week.

Link: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/powershell/archive/2014/05/14/windows-management-framework-5-0-preview-may-2014-is-now-available.aspx

Once installed, you should be seeing version 5 in the PowerShell console.

There’s some awesome stuff in PowerShell 5.0 preview (like PowerShellGet). Jeffrey Snover and Don Jones had two *awesome* PowerShell presentations at TechEd North America 2014 this week, shown below:

DCIM-B318
Windows PowerShell Unplugged with Jeffrey Snover
Speakers: Don Jones, Jeffrey Snover
http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2014/DCIM-B318

DCIM-B418
Windows PowerShell Best Practices and Patterns: Time to Get Serious
Speaker: Don Jones
http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/NorthAmerica/2014/DCIM-B418

PowerShell 5.0 Preview GOTCHA

Per the best bitcoin casino release document, do NOT install Windows Management Framework 5.0 Preview May 2014 on Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard. It’s not supported yet.

Rating: 5.5/10 (2 votes cast)

April 24, 2014

Download – PowerShell 4 Quick Reference Guide

Title: Windows PowerShell 4.0 and Other Quick Reference Guides
Published: 04/23/2014
Publisher: Microsoft / PowerShellMagazine.com
Size: 2.08 MB
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

Quickly learn tips, shortcuts, and common operations in Windows PowerShell 4.0, Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration, Windows PowerShell Workflow, Windows PowerShell ISE, Windows PowerShell Web Access, Server Manager for Windows Server 2012 R2, WinRM, WMI, and WS-Man.

CONTENTS

Windows PowerShell 4.0 Examples
Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) 4.0
Windows PowerShell 4.0 Language Quick Reference
Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration Overview
Windows PowerShell Web Access
Elements of Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI)
WMI in Windows PowerShell 4.0

Rating: 9.8/10 (4 votes cast)

April 23, 2014June 18, 2024

New Office Visio Stencil Website Management

WordPress – Themes – Management – Tying it all in with Visio

WordPress website maintenance is a critical aspect of managing a successful online presence. Regular maintenance ensures that the website remains secure, performs optimally, and provides a seamless user experience. Key maintenance tasks include updating the WordPress core, themes, and plugins to their latest versions, which helps protect the site from vulnerabilities and enhances functionality. Additionally, regular backups are essential to safeguard data and provide a recovery point in case of any issues. These backups should be automated and stored in secure, off-site locations to ensure they are readily available when needed.

Themes play a significant role in WordPress website maintenance. A theme determines the visual appearance and layout of the website, impacting user experience and engagement. It is essential to choose a theme that is regularly updated and supported by its developers. This ensures compatibility with the latest WordPress versions and plugins, as well as adherence to best practices in web development. Popular themes such as Astra, Divi, and GeneratePress offer robust support and frequent updates, making them reliable choices for long-term use. Regularly checking for theme updates and implementing them is a key part of maintaining a secure and functional website.

Moreover, customizing themes can sometimes lead to issues during updates. To mitigate this, using child themes is recommended. A child theme inherits the functionality of the parent theme while allowing for customizations without altering the parent theme’s core files. This approach ensures that updates to the parent theme do not overwrite customizations, thereby maintaining the integrity and unique features of the website. Maintaining a child themes is important. WordPress maintenance service involves keeping both the parent and child themes updated and ensuring that any custom code is compatible with new releases.

Integrating WordPress maintenance with tools like Microsoft Office Visio can enhance the management and visualization of the website’s architecture. Microsoft Visio is a powerful diagramming tool that can create detailed flowcharts, site maps, and process diagrams. By using Visio stencils specifically designed for WordPress, administrators can visually map out the structure of the website, including the relationship between different pages, plugins, and themes. This visualization aids in planning updates, troubleshooting issues, and communicating the website’s architecture to team members or clients.

Creating a Visio stencil for WordPress themes and plugins can streamline the maintenance process. A stencil includes shapes and templates representing different components of a WordPress site, such as themes, plugins, and widgets. By arranging these components in Visio, administrators can identify dependencies and potential conflicts before making changes. For example, if a plugin update might affect certain theme features, this can be visualized and addressed proactively. This strategic planning reduces downtime and ensures smoother updates and transitions.

Overall, combining WordPress website maintenance with Microsoft Office Visio stencils provides a structured and visual approach to managing complex websites. It enhances the ability to maintain a secure, efficient, and user-friendly website while allowing for better communication and planning. This integrated method ensures that all aspects of the website are considered during maintenance activities, leading to a more robust and reliable online presence. By leveraging these tools and best practices, website administrators can effectively manage their WordPress sites, ensuring they remain up-to-date and functional.

Title: New Office Visio Stencil
Published: 04/22/2014
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
File name: FLEX_Stencil_121412.vss
Size: 3.9 MB
Download URL: Click here for download

Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)

April 18, 2014April 24, 2014

Download – Active Directory Replication Status Tool

Title: Active Directory Replication Status Tool
Published: 04/17/2014
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
Version: 1.1
Size: 5.7 MB
File name: adreplstatusInstaller.zip
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

The Active Directory Replication Status Tool (ADREPLSTATUS) analyzes the replication status for domain controllers in an Active Directory domain or forest. ADREPLSTATUS displays data in a format that is similar to REPADMIN /SHOWREPL * /CSV imported into Excel but with significant enhancements.

CAPABILITIES

Expose Active Directory replication errors occurring in a domain or forest
Prioritize errors that need to be resolved in order to avoid the creation of lingering objects in Active Directory forests
Help administrators and support professionals resolve replication errors by linking to Active Directory replication troubleshooting content on Microsoft TechNet
Allow replication data to be exported to source or destination domain administrators or support professionals for offline analysis

Rating: 5.0/10 (3 votes cast)

April 3, 2014

Remote Desktop Connection Tips

OK, so I’m probably the last person on the planet to learn of this feature, but on the left side of Remote Desktop Connection (MSTSC.exe) there’s a drop-down that exposes features for Windows 8, 8.1, Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2.

This is helpful when you’re on a Win8.x or 2012/R2 machine, RDPed into another machine and you’re not sure if (when you mouse up to the top-right or bottom-right) if you’re popping up the charms menu for your machine or the remote machine.

Also, speaking of Remote Desktop, there are 2 pieces to the puzzle:

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) – server

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) – client

Below are the current versions and key features.

RDP 8.0 update (10/23/2012)
Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2592687

RemoteFX for WAN
RemoteFX Network Auto Detect
RemoteFX Adaptive Graphics
RemoteFX Media Streaming
RemoteFX USB Redirection for non-RemoteFX vGPU virtual desktops
Support for nested sessions
Performance counters for monitoring user experience

RDC 8.1 update (2/10/2014)
Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/2830477

Full support of transparent windows
Moves and resizes of RemoteApp windows
Thumbnails, aero peek, and live taskbar
Dynamic monitor and resolution changes
Support for session shadowing

Rating: 9.5/10 (2 votes cast)

March 3, 2014

PowerShell Tip – Get List of VMs, MACs, IPs & VHDs

Sometimes I wish you could add more fields to the Hyper-V Console, like MAC Addresses or IP Addresses.

As always, PowerShell to the rescue!

Here’s a quick tip to get a list of virtual machines on a Hyper-V host, along with the MAC addresses and IP addresses.

Here’s the PowerShell code:

Get-VM | Select -ExpandProperty NetworkAdapters | Select VMName, MACAddress, IPAddresses

And here are the results:

As you can see from the screen shot above, only *running* VMs show IP addresses.

Want to take it a step further and see which VMs are running Legacy NICs and which VMs have Synthetic NICs? Even virtual switch names?

Easy enough – just lose the second filtering statement.

Get-VM | Select -ExpandProperty NetworkAdapters

And this one is for Stanley…

Need a list of which VHDs are attached to which VM?

Get-VM | Get-VMHardDiskDrive | Select-Object -Property VMName, VMID, ComputerName, ControllerType, ControllerNumber, ControllerLocation, Path | Sort-Object -Property VMName | Out-GridView -Title "Virtual Disks"