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Collecting roles and features on remote Windows computers
Almost all roles and features in Windows can be managed using PowerShell. However, when it comes to managing roles and features itself on remote Windows computers, Microsoft provides the necessary...
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Not just for developers: Accessing WMI objects through PowerShell
Over the years I have written a number of articles explaining how to create various types of reports using data that has been obtained through various PowerShell cmdlets. While it is true that...
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More power PowerShell: Working with the Out-String cmdlet
Recently, I have spent quite a bit of time working with PowerShell’s Out-String cmdlet. The basic idea behind using this cmdlet is that sometimes text output within PowerShell can become a bit...
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Do it the easy way: Working with file hashes in PowerShell
A while back I wrote an article on this site in which I discussed a PowerShell error indicating that a term is not recognized as a cmdlet. A few days ago, someone commented on the article that they...
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Windows clipboard headaches? Try these solutions
As a business owner for more than 20 years, the Windows clipboard has been one of my go-to tools for performing many routine tasks associated with running an IT content development business. Such...
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Keep Windows 10 updated with Delivery Optimization
A few months back, an administrator working an older job reached out to a colleague of mine named Todd Lamothe to ask how they might reduce the bandwidth Windows Update was taking on their network....
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Creating PowerShell functions that support common parameters
The vast majority of Windows’ native PowerShell cmdlets include support for common parameters. If you look at the figure below, for example, you can see that the syntax for the Get-Service cmdlet lists...
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Troubleshoot WSUS Server connectivity problems with this free tool
I have always had something of a love/hate relationship with Microsoft’s WSUS Server. On one hand, WSUS provides a very useful service by centralizing patch management. On the other hand, I have...
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Servicing the Windows servicing stack: Welcome to the nightmare
Bootstrapping the laces on your boots is hard enough. And no one wants to walk around with their laces untied as you’re likely to trip and crack your skull. Keeping the servicing stack updated on your...
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Tee-Object cmdlet: Powerful PowerShell tool for redirecting output
As someone who writes a lot of PowerShell scripts, there are certain cmdlets and scripting techniques that I find myself using quite often. Last week it occurred to me that I had never written about...
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Are your GPOs applying? Use this PowerShell script to find out
Group Policy Objects must be applied to correct objects in order to apply policy settings configured in the GPOs. For example, if you intended to apply settings from a GPO to finance team and if you...
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Using PowerShell to check domain controllers’ uptime
PowerShell offers greater flexibility when it comes to interacting with Windows operating systems and interacting with Windows Server roles and features. Microsoft provides PowerShell modules for...
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PowerShell Core vs. PowerShell: What are the differences?
PowerShell has been a significant component of the Windows operating system for many years now. Although there are no signs that PowerShell is going away, Microsoft has been promoting a PowerShell...
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Microsoft Windows Admin Center: A work in progress
If there’s one thing that Microsoft excels in it’s doing things over and over trying to get it right. Managing servers is a good example of this. Starting back with Windows Server 2003, Microsoft tried...
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New System Center 2019 focuses on datacenters, security, hybrid cloud
Microsoft recently unveiled the new version of its System Center program. Microsoft System Center 2019, generally available as of March 2019, allows users to deploy and manage Windows Server 2019 at a...
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Are domain controllers using correct DNS settings?
DNS is an integral part of Active Directory subsystem. Without DNS, Active Directory functionality will not work. DNS is required when authenticating the client computers, when GPO settings are applied...
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Robocopy: Best practices for working with this helpful Windows utility
As someone who grew up using the old DOS “copy” command, copy is often my go to when I only need to copy a few files. However, Windows includes another file copy utility called Robocopy. Robocopy is...
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Always On VPN configuration in Windows 10 using Microsoft Intune
I’ve often had to employ various virtual private networking (VPN) solutions the years as I’ve worked developing documentation, white papers, courseware, and other technical collateral for business...
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Make it work: Preparing Windows 10 deployment for Sysprep
Part of the process used in creating a Windows image that can be deployed to multiple PCs is using Sysprep to generalize the image. Sysprep removes the system ID (the computer’s SID) from the Windows...
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Simplify systems management with Cloud Management Gateway
Managing client systems over the Internet has never been easy for enterprises. Expensive infrastructure is often required, and there’s always the risk of exposing a greater footprint for your corporate...
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