It’s Alive .. Windows Server 2012

REDMOND, Wash. — Sept. 4, 2012 — Today in a global online launch event Satya Nadella, president of Microsoft Server and Tools Business, announced the general availability of Windows Server 2012. In his keynote speech, Nadella described how Windows Server 2012 is a cornerstone of the Cloud OS, which provides one consistent platform across private, hosted and public clouds.

“The operating system has always been the heartbeat of IT and is now undergoing a renaissance in the new world of continuous cloud services, connected devices and big data,” Nadella said. “Microsoft’s unique legacy in the most widely used operating systems, applications and cloud services positions us to deliver the Cloud OS, based on Windows Server and Windows Azure, helping customers achieve a datacenter without boundaries.”

Launch site can be found here and more information here;

Windows Server 2012 PowerShell Web Access

Windows PowerShell Web Access is a new feature in Windows Server 2012 that acts as a Windows PowerShell gateway, providing a web-based Windows PowerShell console that is targeted at a remote computer.

It enables IT Pros to run Windows PowerShell commands and scripts from a Windows PowerShell console in a web browser, with no Windows PowerShell, remote management software, or browser plug-in installation necessary on the client device.

All that is required to run the web-based Windows PowerShell console is a properly-configured Windows PowerShell Web Access gateway, and a client device browser that supports JavaScript and accepts cookies.

Quick Installation Guide;
Install-WindowsFeature -Name WindowsPowerShellWebAccess –IncludeAllManagementTools –Restart

Install-PswaWebApplication -UseTestCertificate
(valid for 90 days)

Add-PswaAuthorizationRule -UserName domain\username -ComputerName * -ConfigurationName *

Accessing Windows Powershell Web Access
https://hostname/pswa

More information can be found here, here and here.

Exchange 2010 Back Pressure

Back pressure is a system resource monitoring feature of the Microsoft Exchange Transport service that exists on Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Hub Transport and Edge Transport servers. Exchange transport can detect when vital resources, such as available hard disk space and memory, are under pressure, and take action in an attempt to prevent service unavailability.

Back pressure prevents the system resources from being completely overwhelmed, and Exchange tries to deliver the existing messages. When utilization of the system resource returns to a normal level, the Exchange server gradually resumes normal operation.

Reference here and here;
Nice Powershell tool here;

Active Directory Replication Status Tool (ADREPLSTATUS)

The Active Directory Replication Status Tool (ADREPLSTATUS) helps administrators identify, prioritize and resolve Active Directory replication errors on a single DC or all DCs in an Active Directory Domain or Forest.

Some features include:

• Auto-discovery of the DCs and domains in the Active Directory forest to which the ADREPLSTATUS computer is joined
• “Errors only” mode allows administrators to focus only on DCs reporting replication failures
• Upon detection of replication errors, ADREPLSTATUS uses its tight integration with resolution content on Microsoft TechNet to display the resolution steps for the top AD Replication errors.

More information can be found here.

Available for download at the Microsoft Download Center.

Exchange 2010 Delegated Sent Items

There has been a major change with Exchange Server 2010 SP2 RU4 with reference to Delegate Sent Items.

Scenario
The user “Delegate” has been assigned Full Mailbox Access and Send As permissions to the user “Manager” mailbox. This is accomplished using the below powershell cmdlets.

Add-ADPermission -identity Manager -User Delegate -ExtendedRights "Send As”
Add-MailboxPermission Manager -User Delegate -AccessRights FullAccess -InheritanceType all

With Exchange Server 2010 SP2 RU3 and lower, whenever Delegate would use Send As permissions and send an e-mail to any user, the item would show up in the Sent Items Folder of Delegate. With Exchange Server 2010 SP2 RU4, this behaviour changes; you can now make a copy of the e-mail in the Sent Items folder of the Manager Mailbox. To achieve this functionality we are introducing 2 new powershell cmdlets;

Get-MailboxSentItemsConfiguration
Set-MailboxSentItemsConfiguration

More information can be found here.

Update for Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 (KB2734608)

WSUS update to patch Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012.

More information can be found here.

Lync 2010 for Mac 2011 improved device support hotfix 14.0.3

This update provides improvements in device support and audio quality for a select group of devices.  The devices supported by this update are:

• Polycom CX300 – USB Desk Phone
• Plantronics Calisto P540-M – USB Desk Phone
• Logitech B530 – earbud-style headset
• Jabra Pro 9450 – Wireless headset
• Sennheiser DW Office – Wireless headset
• Microsoft LifeCam Studio – webcam

These device are now automatically set as the default audio device when connected to a Mac.  There are also a few new features in the Lync client for managing audio devices.

More information on this hotfix can be found here and here.

Windows 8 To Go USB Drive

Required;
Blank USB Drive 32GB or more (USB 3 or as fast as you can afford).
Windows 8 Enterprise Installation Disk.

Insert USB Drive into PC.
Command Prompt {runas administrator}

Diskpart
List disk
Select disk #_of_USB_Drive
Clean
Create partition primary
Format fs=ntfs quick
Active
Exit {to leave diskpart}

In the same command window;

Copy cd_drive \sources\install.wim to c:\tmp
Copy Imagex.exe to c:\tmp

imagex.exe /apply install.wim 1 u:\     {where u: is your USB Drive}
(This step can take a wee while to complete)

bcdboot.exe u:\windows /s u: /f ALL   {where u: is your USB Drive}

Download ImageX here.

Windows 8 Enterprise Activation Errors and MAK

If you encounter the following error code; please try the following commands.
Windows Activation error: Code 0x8007232b
Windows Activation error: Code 0x8007007B
No DNS Servers Configured: Code 0x8007267C

By default Windows 8 Enterprise will look for a KMS Server and automatically activate, the rule of thumb is a minimum of 25 clients contacting the KMS server to activate the key.  However, the following commands will work for KMS. In the event that you do not have a KMS Server but a MAK Key then try the following.

Open a command prompt (administrator preferable)
slmgr.vbs /ipk Your-MAK-Key or Your-KMS-Key
(sets the new product key)

slmgr.vbs /ato
(activates the key)

Or from a command prompt type; {slui.exe is the Windows Activation Client};

slui.exe
(for windows activation details)

slui 3
(To enter new Product Key)

slui 4
(Find activation telephone numbers)

Visual Studio 2012 upgrade Trial to Full Version.

If you have previously installed a trial version of Visual Studio 2012, the software can be upgraded to the full version with your Volume Licensing key, without the need to reinstall the software. For full instructions on how to activate Visual Studio 2012 with your key, click here.