LAB.DEMO

Use cloud groups to manage role assignments in Azure Active Directory (preview) Now in public preview in Azure AD, we can now assign a cloud group to Azure AD built-in roles. Were groups can be use to grant admin access in Azure AD with minimal effort from the Global and Privileged role admins. Just take … Continue reading →

This post will show the step-by-step process on how to install Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (current branch – version 2002) as a Standalone Primary Server in a Windows Server 2019 lab environment from scratch and later on we will upgrade it to current branch – version 2006. Step 1. Primary Site Server Installation Prerequisites LAB Environment For the … Continue reading →

In this blog I am sharing how I upgraded my Windows Server 2016 Hyper-V host that been running an Intel NUC for a solid 3 years now to Windows Server 2019. Before anything else I’m taking my collecting my current server info (reference link: here) Open a command prompt and type systeminfo.exe. Copy, paste the info … Continue reading →

During Microsoft Ignite 2019 it was announced that Configuration Manager is now part of Microsoft Endpoint Manager and then on November 5th, 2019 the Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager Technical Preview 1911 was released to the public. This blog post will walk through the installation process of Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager Technical Preview. If you want … Continue reading →

Availability If you have downloaded and installed the ConfigMgr technical preview branch, sooner or later you’ll get a notification that a new version is available for install. Note: Make sure that all Technical Preview versions are only to be used in your lab or isolated environment, in other words, don’t use them in your production … Continue reading →

Overview Applicable to Windows 1809 and later versions, here’s an overview how the Windows Autopilot Hybrid Azure AD join works. Assuming that the device(s) are registered with Windows Autopilot, Hybrid Azure AD Autopilot deployment profile has been created and the Intune Connector for Active Directory is installed, we’re good to go. 1) When a user … Continue reading →

Availability Windows 10 version 1909 business and consumer editions are now available in the Visual Studio Subscriptions Installation During the installation if you what to just have a local account in your Windows 10 1909, at the Sign in with Microsoft page, click on the Domain join instead option below it will prompt you to … Continue reading →

Here’s a manual method on how to import the Configuration Manager module to PowerShell. I am running ConfigMgr v1906 First launch Windows PowerShell by right-clicking on it and select “Run as administrator”. By default the location of the ConfigurationManager.psd1 is in ConfigMgr installation folder, e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Configuration Manager\AdminConsole\bin\ (the drive letter may depend … Continue reading →

Problem: Windows 10 Desktops & Laptops that was re-imaged through SCCM OSD were not receiving all the Required applications and updates even after countless running of the M.U.A.S.S in the Configuration Manager Properties. Troubleshooting steps: You can see that the clients are active however they are not present / or are not being seen by … Continue reading →

After you install the Windows ADK 1093 and WinPE Add-on you can right away create a custom Windows PE media. Example of this is adding PowerShell support to Windows PE. First we need to prepare a local copy of the Windows PE files. From the Start Menu, launch the Deployment and Imaging Tools Environment as … Continue reading →

Windows Sandbox is a feature made available during the release of Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903) designed to run applications in an isolated environment. To install Windows Sandbox, go to: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Programs and Features and then select Windows Sandbox click OK. Click the Close button to complete the installation. To launch … Continue reading →

This post will show the step-by-step process on how to install System Center Configuration Manager (Current Branch) version 1902 as a Standalone Primary Server in a Windows Server 2019 lab environment from scratch and later on we will upgrade it to SCCM Current Branch version 1906. I have broken down this post in a series of steps: Step 1. … Continue reading →

This post will show the step-by-step procedure on how to promote a Windows Server Core to a Domain Controller and executing it from Windows Admin Center using a PowerShell script. In Windows Admin Center > Server Manager connect to the server that will be promoted, for this post we will use LABDC01. In LABDC01, under … Continue reading →

This post will show how the communication between Windows Admin Center and Virtual Machines is configured in a mobile lab environment. Setup VM Environment Here are the checklist to make sure your Windows Admin Center will properly talk with your VMs: VMWare Workstation is installed and VM(s) created VMWare Workstation’s VMNet is configured with NAT … Continue reading →

I recently got a new mobile lab from work and I intend to keep the resource utilization as low as possible, with that I decided to use Windows Server Core and later manage them using Windows Admin Center. Below is the simple steps taken to install and configure a Windows Server Core server. Installing Windows … Continue reading →

This post will show the step-by-step installation of Windows ADK for Windows 10 1903 and Windows PE add-on ADK. 1) Download the Windows ADK for Windows 10 version 1903 from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/get-started/adk-install 2) Download the Windows PE add-on for the ADK on the same page 3) Install Windows Assesement and Deployment Kit – Windows 10 4) … Continue reading →

Here’s how you can update your Windows 10 machine using the Windows 10 Update Assistant from the Download Windows 10 page. Warning: before you begin, make sure that there are no SD card attached to your computer, else you will get this window at the middle of the process: “To work around this issue, remove all external media, … Continue reading →

My LAB server is consist of Microsoft Identity Manager 2016 and it’s components plus SQL Server is also installed in the same server. Problem: After installing SSMS the next time I launch it, it will just show the splash screen and will not launch. Repairing it from the Control Panel\Programs\Programs and Features doesn’t solve the problem. Solution: Copy … Continue reading →

In this post you’ll find the steps on how to install the SCCM Reporting services point role. Make sure that SQL Reporting Services is installed and configured in your environment. Install the role In the SCCM console go to Administration > Site Configuration > Servers and Site System Roles  Right click on the server that will … Continue reading →

I tried to enroll my Samsung smartphone to Microsoft Intune few days ago, and here are the step taken: First you have to set the mobile device management authority under Device enrollment > Choose MDM Authority in the Azure Portal.     I have selected Intune MDM Authority and clicked the Choose button. Once the MDM Authority is set, you need to download … Continue reading →

Recently I was troubleshooting a case on Database Replication – Link has Failed between the CAS and one of the Primary Sites. Case Summary Problem: The main issue is with the Data Replication Service (DRS). It was found out that the Primary Site’s Database Server is running low on storage. However after increasing the database storage the link … Continue reading →

I’ve been exploring Microsoft 365 for the past few weeks and then just recently properly introduced  to it after attending a 2 day readiness session conducted by Microsoft PFEs where we had overwhelming information (fun times for geeks like me). They covered Windows 10 (Modern desktop) |Office 365 | &  Enterprise Mobility + Security.  There were just too … Continue reading →

I visited a client last Friday, to troubleshoot a case were after a batch of HP laptops got OS Refreshed to Windows 10  some of them are NOT getting anything pushed down in Software Center. Problem: Actual report received: Windows Updates and Software does not appear in Software Center. Reported that they have re-image these machine on correct … Continue reading →

I was asked by my Project Manager to generate a report for HP machines (desktop and laptops) that lists Hosts names, Hardware Model, BIOS version and Operating System version. I Run the Query below SQL Management Studio and saved the result to a CSV file: SELECT Bios.SerialNumber0 as [Serial Number], Bios.SMBIOSBIOSVersion0 as [BIOS Version], Comp.Name0 … Continue reading →

Scenario: A client requires their Windows 10 drives C: and D: Encryption Method is XTS-AES 256, fully encrypted and BitLocker Recovery key stored in Active Directory. The steps below will show how to set it up in the task sequence. Set Windows 10 Registry Settings After post OS install create a group called BitLocker Registry Settings, we … Continue reading →

Problem:  I was ask to come down to a client last Friday to troubleshoot an issue where the required Windows Update installations are stuck in Software Center for almost 2 days, although it’s confirmed that the ConfigMgr client can resolve the Site and after several restart of the machine and running M.U.A.S.S. Machine Policy Retrieval … Continue reading →

Watch out for our webinar “Always up to date with Windows 10 and Windows as a Service,” with Jay Paloma, soon! Official link will be provided once it’s up.

Last month we presented Always Up To Date with Windows 10 and Windows as a Service during the Microsoft Tech Summit Singapore and there’s a part of the talk where we showed how easy it is to update System Center Configuration Manager. Administrators can just find the new update when it’s released under the Administration … Continue reading →

When delivering an infrastructure projects, one of the tasks is to implement Server Hardening via Group Policy it could be less or more restricted depending on the security guide lines. Problem: This past week we had a desktop lock-down scenario where after joining a server to the domain we see this window pop-up “explorer.exe – System … Continue reading →

Most the time when deploying the 1st server in the network, the internet connection is not yet up my WSUS servers to serve its purpose, however as per project tender requirements, all of the servers, especially the Domain Controllers must be installed with the latest Security/Critical updates being even getting live. So for those who … Continue reading →

This post will show the step by step implementation of 3 node Failover Cluster for Hyper-V. # Steps 1 Make sure that the Failover Clustering Roles is installed in the 3 host. 2 a)     Login in one of the hosts, e.g., Host01 and launch the Failover Cluster Manager b)     In the Actions pane, click on Validate … Continue reading →

Notes from the field: In our projects, as much as I want to automate the deployment my domain controllers from scratch, our team doesn’t own the hosted platform, we come with the VMs already pre-created for us. In this scenario we are deploying a new Domain with the following configurations: Domain name: Jdeployment Single-Forest, Single Domain … Continue reading →

Problem: An engineer was claiming that a certain audit policy was not applying to his servers. Findings: The engineer was refering to the Local Group Policy Editor (GPEdit) Resolution: When checking computer GPO settings always perform a Group Policy Results command. How to: Launch CMD gpresult /h C:\temp\result.html /scope computer As you may know Local … Continue reading →

Microsoft’s Surface family has a new member, Surface Studio. Display 28” PixelSense™ Display features 192 dpi resolution, 10 point multi-touch, and 3:2 aspect ratio. Processor i5/i7 Intel® Core™ . GPU Up to 4GB NVIDIA® GeForce® Memory Up to 32 GB RAM. Storage 1TB or 2TB Rapid Hybrid Drive. Dimensions 637.35 mm x 438.90 mm x … Continue reading →

This should be fixed by installing KB3194798 Refer to Cumulative update for Windows 10 Version 1607 and Windows Server 2016: October 11, 2016 Some of have us downloaded the Windows Server 2016 from Technet Evaluation Center and one of the first thing we do is to install the Active Directory Role, however you later find out that the … Continue reading →

Philippine Windows Users Group (PHIWUG) is celebrating its 10th year as user group this 2016. Sharing from photos of the event. Promotional banner… and yes, those are not boots, but its been observed that most Microsoft MVPs usually wears chucks. Woke up early in my hotel room to finalized my slides and demo. Jay Paloma and John … Continue reading →

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 Update 2 is now available for download and was release last December 22nd 2015. Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 Update 2 is for operating system deployment leveraging the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 10. Feature Summary MDT is the recommended process and toolset for automating desktop and server operating … Continue reading →

Solution We found out that Symantec Endpoint Protection (SEP) on the Hyper-V host is preventing the DP site role installation. Problem I was at one client last month to deploy a SCCM 2012 R2 and spent sometime troubleshooting why “Distribution Manager failed to install distribution point“. Log “Error   Milestone            PS1         2/12/2015 1:22:54 PM    CMSP01               SMS_DISTRIBUTION_MANAGER              2370                … Continue reading →

What’s new in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in Windows Server Technical Preview: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt163897.aspx The following new features in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) improve the ability for organizations to secure Active Directory environments and help them migrate to cloud-only deployments and hybrid deployments, where some applications and services are hosted in the cloud … Continue reading →

System Center Configuration Manager Technical Preview 4 was released last November 12, 2015. As of today, SCCM Tech Preview 4 is not yet available in MSDN Subscription so it can only be downloaded from the Microsoft Eval Center. *** Do take note that this Technical Preview must be installed as a new site, and cannot … Continue reading →

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 Update 1 is now available for download at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48595 MDT 2013 Update 1 will support the following Operating Systems: Windows 10 Windows 7 Windows 8/8.1 Windows Server 2008 R2 Windows Server 2012/2012 R2 Windows Server Tech Preview You are required to install Windows ADK 10 for all deployment scenarios and … Continue reading →

If you want to deploy Windows Server Technical Preview using MDT 2013 follow the instruction in these blog posts: Beyond unsupported – Deploying Windows Technical Preview with MDT 2013 by Johan Arwidmark Deploy Windows 10, Windows Server, and Hyper-V Server Technical Preview Using MDT 2013 by Frank Lesniak Though these are for Windows 10 Technical Preview deployment, it … Continue reading →

Here’s a command line for unattended installation of System Center Technical Preview Operations Manager OMServer, OMConsol and OMReporting . I am running Windows Server Technical Preview. First download the SCOM perquisites: ReportViewer SQLSysClrTypes Unattended Install parameters below, just change highlighted text. Start-Process -FilePath setup.exe -ArgumentList ‘/install /InstallPath:”C:\Program Files\Microsoft System Center Technical Preview\Operations Manager” /components:OMServer,OMConsole,OMReporting /ManagementGroupName:SCOMMgmt /SqlServerInstance:<SQLSERVER\MSSQLSERVER> /DatabaseName:OperationsManager … Continue reading →

This post will show to create and configure your SQL ConfigurationFile.ini for unattended installation or deployment(s). Download  SQL Server 2014 at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-sql-server-2014 For this exercise, I’am using Windows Server Technical Preview: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-technical-preview and make sure that the .Net Framework 3.5 Feature is installed. Run the setup.exe file and go through the normal installation process. You can then fetch the … Continue reading →

I am setting up a new Windows Server Technical Preview that I will name VMM01 and later will be added to a domain, so in that server I launched PowerShell to set a static IP Address and rename the server. Here are the steps: IP Configuration Type Get-NetIPConfiguration to get the information needed like, InterfaceAlias, InterfaceIndex and … Continue reading →

Here’s to join your Windows Server Technical Preview to an existing domain: Launch PowerShell ISE Type this command: Add-Computer -DomainName <yourdomain.com> -Restart Enter a domain credential   After the restart, your server is now domain joined.

PowerShell is king! that’s what they say, and indeed it is. I have Windows Server Technical Preview which has been available to the public since October 2014 for download at this link http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-technical-preview Here’s the one liner script on how to create a new Active Directory Forest in PowerShell on Windows Server Technical Preview. Install-ADDSForest -DomainName lab.demo -Confirm … Continue reading →

Updated: These steps still applies in installing NIC drivers on Windows Server 2016 and Windows Server 2019 The Intel NUC are very handy when you need a portable Windows lab environment (most geeks do need it) and recently I got an Intel NUC D54250WYKH  and installed Windows Hyper-V Server 2012 R2 but after the installation I got a … Continue reading →

Saw a post from Deployment Reseach   Access and learn: Windows 8.1 image with ConfigMgr 2012 R2 and MDT 2013. Link: http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9845756