JDeployment

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 prompt that no network adapter present in my computer where it should be the Intel (R) Ethernet Controller … Continue reading →

Windows Server Technical Preview Evaluation now Available here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-vnext-technical-preview?i=1 Description: At the heart of the Microsoft Cloud OS vision, Windows Server brings Microsoft’s experience delivering global-scale cloud services into your infrastructure. Windows Server Technical Preview provides a wide range of new and enhanced features and capabilities spanning server virtualization, storage, software-defined networking, server management and … Continue reading →

Download the PDF file here: University Of Makati ICT Seminar 10.09.2014 This preparation guide is to prepare the attendees for the actual event and it is expected that the attendees have installed all the required Tools (ADK, MDT) and Windows 8.1 ISO is downloaded for the workshop.

I’ve recently installed Altaro and it’s quite easy to use, Main features in Altaro Hyper-V Backup  Hot Backups – MS VSS Integration – Back up live VMs with zero downtime by leveraging the Microsoft VSS Hyper-V Writer. Restore Clones – Restore VMs to the same Hyper-V Host but with a different name. Restore to different … 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

Here how to unblock BGInfo.lnk that you put in the “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp” folder during your LTI deployment. Create a simple PS1 file containing the CGI <file> | Unblock-file command line.  gci “C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\StartUp\Bginfo.lnk” | Unblock-file In your notepad, copy-paste the command line above and save it as a .ps1 file in the Scripts folder. In your task sequence … Continue reading →

Problem: Sysprep and Capture task sequence fails when I was capturing Windows 2012 R2 Update. Workaround: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2797676 Go to the Scripts folder Distribution Share and go ahead edit LTIApply.wsf   Add the following below Copy bootmgr section: If not oFSO.FolderExists(sBootDrive & “\Boot”) then oFSO.CreateFolder(sBootDrive & “\Boot”) End if Save LTIApply.wsf and Update Deployment Share and run the Capture Task … Continue reading →

Been doing deployment testing once again. Issue: GetDPLocations failed with error 0x80072ee2 Root cause: DNS entry of my DP was not updated. I rebuilt my SCCM 2012 R2 but changed my IP Address. Solution: Update DNS entry of DP and run the task sequence.

Get your update today! Windows 8.1 Update and Windows RT 8.1 are now available for free Windows Update. Follw the instructions from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/install-latest-update-windows-8-1 The updates are already available few day back to MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Read more the Windows 8.1 Update review from Paul Thurrott’s WinSuperSite  http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/windows-81-update-1-review

This post will show you the step-by-step guide on how to backup your Hyper-V Virtual Machines with Windows Server Backup in a lab environment just in case your VMs won’t boot up anymore after your Hyper-V host have restarted. Windows Server Backup can be installed as an added feature of your Windows Server 2012 or … Continue reading →

It’s back! Asia Pacific’s Premier Community Event to learn from Experts and International speakers in Desktop and Device Management, Datacenter Management, Virtualization and Cloud technologies. REGISTER Please contact info@systemcenteruniverse.asia Please visit our Registration Page for more details. Speaker during the event Maarten Goet (Netherlands), top ranked speaker at MMS, regular speaker at TechEd and industry … Continue reading →

Following the installation of System Center 2012 Configuration Manager, for OS Deployment here’s how to integrate MDT 2012 Update 1 to the Configuration Manager. Download and install Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2012 Update 1: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=25175 In the Windows Server 2012 Start Menu right-click on Configure ConfigMgr…  and from the menu choose Run as administrator. should UAC prompts click Yes. Select Install … Continue reading →

In this post I will share the step-by-step process on how to install System Center 2012 Configuration Manager as a Standalone Primary Server in a Windows Server 2012 lab environment. What you need: Windows Server 2012 SCCM 2012 SQL Server 2012 Enterprise with SP1 x64 Download the iso files from your TechNet/MSDN subscription or TechNet Evaluation … Continue reading →

After installing Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 the next thing to do is to configure it, I have already changed the name of my Hyper-V server now it’s time to set it’s Network Settings and join it to my existing domain which is jdeployment.com. You can download Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/hyper-v-server/ Changing IP Address In … Continue reading →

Just for fun, if you want to try out the touch experience of Windows in your iPad, there’s a handy app from Splashtop Inc. that is available in App Store called Win8 Metro Testbed. Once that the is app in your iPad go to your Windows 8 machine to download and install the streamer client. Should … Continue reading →