System Center Essentials 2010 announcements

• Link
  Frequently Posted Questions and Answers
  Anshu Agrawal Monday, January 11, 2010 8:49 PM

  Frequently Posted Questions and Answers

  Following list of questions are from SCE 2007 and SCE 2010 forums and answers applies to SCE 2010.
  Document Owner: Anshu Agrawal

   

  Question 1 - How can I create auditing rules in Essentials?

  Question 2 - How do I set up a remote console in a different domain or using local policy?

  Question 3 - How can I discover network devices to manage?

  Question 4: Can I run both Essentials and WSUS in the same domain?

  Question 5: Can I monitor a machine that is in a workgroup?

  Question 6:  My managed computers installed successfully, but still report a status of "unknown" in the computer space.  How can I get them to contact?

  Question 7: How can I create a dynamic deployment group?

  Question 8: I get an error when creating software packages saying verification failed.  How do I resolve the issue?

  Question 9: What would prompt an update to go in “Unknown” category in updates space overviews page?

  Question 10: What steps are required to uninstall Essentials from server A and reinstall on server B on same domain?

  Question 11: Is it possible to upgrade from SQL Express to SQL standard without reinstalling Essentials?

  Question 12: Can Essentials ask for the location of the VM files on the destination during the migration process?

  Question 13: Can a package be redeployed?

  Question 14: If we disable auto-select would it uncheck previously selected products?

  Question 15: Where can I find deployment guide of Essentials 2010?

  Question 16: What is the data retention schedule for reporting in Essentials? 

  Question 17: How can you send files to Microsoft for the Essentials team to review?

  Question 18: How can you verify if the computer (agent) is contactable via network?

  Question 19: What if the computer discovery fails for an agent box?

  Question 20: How can you choose installation path for SQL in Essentials installation process?

  Question 21: Why does running the automatic approval rule for all computers result in unapproved updates?

  Question 22: Can third party updates be approved by auto-approval feature?

  Question 23: What if you see monitoringHost.exe process consuming a lot of CPU?

  Question 24: How to troubleshoot if windows update (WU) and Essentials reports different status for updates?

  Question 25: What are the locations to find common logs to troubleshoot issues in Essentials?

  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Question 1 - How can I create auditing rules in Essentials?

  Answer: In Essentials, you can create custom rules that collect events from the security log. 

  Go to Authoring space -> Management Pack objects -> select Rules -> Create a rule -> Alert Generating Rules/Event Based/NT Event Log.

  Select the Essentials group you want to collect events from. To collect from all computers, select the Agent group.

  Select the Security Log to collect events from. Next you build the Filter Expression.

  The Source will be Security and the Event ID will be the security event you are interested in, for example event 612 is Audit Policy Changed.

  Finally, configure the alert with title and description to match the event, such as "Audit Policy was changed".

  You need to make sure that auditing for the type of event you want to capture is turned on at the domain group policy or local security policy level, otherwise the security events won't be written to the log for Essentials to see them.

   

  Question 2 - How do I set up a remote console in a different domain or using local policy?

  Answer: When in the same domain, the certificates used to connect to Essentials are generally available from the group policy, but for a different domain or local policy, the certificates require manual import on the UI machine.

  The two certificates are available on the Essentials server in the install directory folder titled Certificates.  The WSUSSSLCert.cer should be imported into the local computer's trusted root authority store.  The WSUSCodeSigningCert.cer should be imported into the local computer's trusted root authority, third party publishers and third party root certification authority stores.

  Question 3 - How can I discover network devices to manage?

  Answer: To discover network devices, launch the same wizard used to discover computers (it appears in the administration space of the splash page in Computer and device section with the name "Add new Computer and devices").  In the Discovery type page, chose network devices.

   

  Question 4: Can I run both Essentials and WSUS in the same domain?

  Answer: Individual machines can only report to one WSUS server.  Those machines managed by Essentials should only report to the Essentials server for updates, although users are not prohibited from contacting Microsoft update directly by default.  If not all machines in the domain report to the Essentials server, a second Essentials server can be used to manage just those machines not included in Essentials.

   

  If the current environment is running a WSUS 3.0 server, you can upgrade the current server to be a Essentials server and retain the settings and data currently stored.

   

  Question 5: Can I monitor a machine that is in a workgroup?

  
  Answer: Yes.  You will require two certificates from a trusted authority for both the Essentials server and the new manual agent.

  For more information on how to create the appropriate certificates, see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb735408.aspx

   

  To import the Essentials server’s certificate on the server machine, use the install directory\tools\MOMCertImport.exe tool. 

  Use the System Center Essentials 2010 media and choose a manual agent install.  You will need the two certificates from the install directory of SCE in a folder called ‘certificates’ (WSUSSSLCert.cer and WSUSCodeSigningCert.cer, as well as the PFX certificate from the trusted authority and the trusted authority .cer certificate.

   

  Question 6:  My managed computers installed successfully, but still report a status of "unknown" in the computer space.  How can I get them to contact?

  Answer:  The out of box experience wizard or configure product features wizard must have been run before computers will report status in this section.  If using group policy, the settings may take some time to update before the clients will contact.  If using local policy, the configure product features wizard must be run before agent deployment.

  If these steps have been completed successfully, check one of the machines that is reporting the "unknown" inventory by running the rsop.msc.  Computer Configuration\Administrative Settings\Windows Components\Windows Update\Specify intranet Microsoft updates location should point to https://sceserver.fqdn:8531.  If this is not the case, check that the computer is a member of the AD security group SCE Managed Computers (SCESERVER_MG) and if so, try relogging into the machine or rebooting to pick up the group membership.

  If the correct server is reported, check the %WINDIR%\WindowsUpdate.log to see if any errors are occurring with contacting the Essentials server.  As always, if the answer is not clear, these forums are here to help!  Including the log file information in your post will aid in quick answer.

   

  Question 7: How can I create a dynamic deployment group?

   Answer: Many dynamic groups are available in Essentials from imported management packs that are not initially update/software deployment groups.  For example, groups already exist for SQL servers, active directory servers, or exchange servers if the management packs have been imported for monitoring.  To make these deployment groups, chose to create a group from an already exiting group in the computers space grouping wizard.  If the group you would like to create does not exist by default, try choosing the option to Specify Criteria.  This will create a dynamic group based on manufacturer, model, operating system, service pack, and/or organizational units.

  The authoring space contains a more complex grouping wizard that can create a dynamic computer group based on computer properties.  Once the group has been created from the wizard, it will be available to become update/software deployment group in the computers space using the “create new groups wizard”.

   

  Question 8: I get an error when creating software packages saying verification failed.  How do I resolve the issue?

   

  Answer: Either the out of box experience wizard or the product configuration wizard must be run before using any of the software packaging features of the product.  If this is a remote UI, ensure that the WSUSSigningCert.cer is imported onto the local UI machines Trusted Root Authorities, Third Party Publishers and Trusted Publishers certificates store.  You can find this certificate on the Essentials server installation directory in a folder called Certificates.

   

  Question 9: What would prompt an update to go in “Unknown” category in updates space overviews page?

  Answer: The Update comes to unknown state if it’s not pending, failed or successful. When an update is not qualified for any other states it will put into unknown state.

  Basically “unknown” state is not an installation status as we have pending, failed and successful. Usually it is because an update is so “new” to Essentials that WSUS hasn’t run the applicability check on that update yet. So WSUS does not even know if the update is applicable to the clients. Not to mention the installation status which is after the applicability check, approval and installation of the update are done. Unknown is usually a transient state.

  The unknown state will not display on the overview page of the updates space in Essentials 2010.

   

  Question 10: What steps are required to uninstall Essentials from server A and reinstall on server B on same domain?

  Answer: You must uninstall Essentials from server A to install it on server B first if both servers are on same domain (Only one copy of Essentials per domain is supported).
  Please follow the following steps:
  
  1. Uninstall from server A
  2. Check to make sure the AD GPO and Security group objects are gone from AD (The security group is called SCE Managed Computers and the policy objects are named System Center Essentials All Computer Policy and SCE Managed Computer Policy)
  3. Install Essentials on server B.
  NOTE: Please go to administration->agent managed and uninstall all SCE agents prior to reinstalling Essentials.
  
  Also, uninstall Essentials will also uninstall WSUS.

  Question 11: Is it possible to upgrade from SQL Express to SQL standard without reinstalling Essentials?

  Answer: It is possible to upgrade SQL Express to SQL standard:
  http://www.toddklindt.com/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=55 

  Question 12: Can Essentials ask for the location of the VM files on the destination during the migration process?

  Answer: On the Migrate Virtual machine page, there is an option to specify the folder location on the destination host. There is also a "Browse..." button to select a different location on the destination host. The virtual machine will be placed on the location specified here.

  Question 13: Can a package be redeployed?

  Answer: If you have successfully deployed your package and try to redeploy it won't fail or give you any errors, it will just not re-deploy it. In other case if you are trying to redeploy a package because it failed before. You can fix the failures on the package and redeploy it and it will deploy it. You can also do:
  1)If the package is based on msi, you just uninstall it on the client and it will be redeployed.
  2) If the package is based on exe, you have to delete the file C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb (need to stop the automatic update service before). If you do this, all exe based applications that have been deployed to this machine before will be redeployed.

  Question 14: If we disable auto-select would it uncheck previously selected products?

  Answer: If you disable auto-select it will keep the products selection settings currently chosen but it will not add any or remove any product unless the user selects to manually.

  Question 15: Where can I find deployment guide of Essentials 2010?

  Answer: Deployment Guide

   

  Question 16: What is the data retention schedule for reporting in Essentials? 

  Answer: The data retention value is 37 days for reporting.
  If the retention period is increased on SQL Express you may hit the maximum allowed SQL Express database size.

  Question 17: How can you send files to Microsoft for the Essentials team to review?

  Answer: You can send data like logs, screenshots etc to us for review rather than posting them into a thread post.  This should help keep the posts smaller and easier to read.

  If requested, please send email to SCEData@microsoft.com.  If at all possible, please zip the files before sending.

  Please be sure to match the subject of the email with the subject of the post.

  Question 18: How can you verify if the computer (agent) is contactable via network?

  Answer:

  a.     Use the ping command to try and reach the computer using the same name provided to the discovery wizard.  You can do that by going to computer space -> select the computer -> Ping from task pane.

  b.    b. If the machine responds to a ping command, use the IP address of the computer to run ping with the “-a” switch and the IP address, e.g. “ping –a <IP address>”.  This will display the DNS name of the machine; it should match what was used in the original ping command.

  c.     c. Use “nbstat –a <computer name>” to see the registered NetBIOS name and the domain for the computer.  Use “nbstat –A <IP address>” to accomplish the same task using the IP address of the machine.

  d.    NetBIOS is not enabled by default and your network may not be configured to use it.  To determine NetBIOS status, use “ipconfig /all” from the command-line and look for a NetBIOS entry.

   

  Question 19: What if the computer discovery fails for an agent box?

  Answer:  Open the Event Viewer on Essentials server, check if any error message is logged on the Operations Manager event log with the computer name. You can forward the error message or screenshot at SCEData@microsoft.com

   

  Question 20: How can you choose installation path for SQL in Essentials installation process?

  Answer: Default installation does not allow choosing the SQL installation path. But you can install the SQL manually in the desired location and then try installing the SCE 2010. You can find the SQL 2008 Express bits under the prerequisite\SQL folder. SCE setup will detect the installed SQL instance.

   

  Question 21: Why does running the automatic approval rule for all computers result in unapproved updates?

  Answer: this can happen if EULA for that unapproved update has not been accepted. You can manually accept EULA and approve the update and then re-run your auto-approval rule. You will have to accept a EULA for each product separately.   Still it will save time of not approving all EULA for a single product manually.

   

  Question 22: Can third party updates be approved by the auto-approval feature?

  Answer: In Essentials 2010 you cannot run auto-approval rules to approve third party updates / catalogs.

   

  Question 23: What if you see monitoringHost.exe process consuming a lot of CPU?

  Answer: MonitoringHost.exe uses 100% of CPU is a known issue  - Kevin discusses it here from ops manager:
  http://blogs.technet.com/kevinholman/archive/2009/07/20/do-you-randomly-see-a-monitoringhost-exe-process-consuming-lots-of-cpu.aspx
  
  You can try restarting your health service for now.

   

  Question 24: How to troubleshoot if windows update (WU) and Essentials report different status for updates?

  Answer: If you are seeing more updates on WU/MU please take one update which is not shown in Essentials as needed and make sure the update is approved to the specific client.

  You can get the information by creating a view with the filter “Unapproved update” , select the specific computer group where your client machine resides. If you see the updates there you need to approve the updates.

  The other way you can achieve this by opening the %windir%/windowsupdate.log and look for the update and see what target group the update is approved to. E.g.

  2009-12-01 10:03:59:928  944 ee0 PT Initializing simple targeting cookie, clientId = d1b466eb-cc3c-43c1-bf48-d93323414e04, target group = , DNS name = sh13.shs.loc

  In the above log the target group is null and therefore the update is not approved.

  If you still see the discrepancy please post your query on Essentials forums.

   

  Question 25: What are the locations to find common logs to troubleshoot issues in SCE?

  Answer: You can find all the locations in the Essentials blog for Essentials 2010 troubleshooting guide:

  http://blogs.technet.com/systemcenteressentials/archive/2009/12/05/essentials-2010-troubleshooting-guide.aspx

  Please let us know if you have any other question along with answer which we can add in this post. 

   

   

  Credit for Answers Provided by:

  Stephanie Drenchen

  Anshu Agrawal

  Ranjith A

  Yog Li

  John Joyner

• Link
  Frequently Asked Questions for System Center Essentials 2010
  Richard Rundle Monday, September 28, 2009 9:25 PM

  Frequently Asked Questions

  General

  Q. What is System Center Essentials 2010?

  A. Microsoft System Center Essentials 2010 provides IT professionals in mid-sized organizations a unified physical and virtual IT management experience. It enables you to better secure, update, monitor, and troubleshoot from a single console, so you can efficiently and proactively manage your IT environment

   

  Q. When will System Center Essentials 2010 be available?

  A. The evaluation version of Essentials 2010 is available now. Essentials 2010 will be available for purchase from June 1, 2010.

   

  Q. How can I evaluate Essentials 2010?

  A. Download Essentials 2010 (registration required).

   

  Q. How long can I use the trial version of Essentials 2010?

  A. The trial version is valid for 180 days (6 months) from the date of installation.

   

  Q. Can I upgrade from the RC of Essentials 2010 to the final (RTM) version?
  A. Yes. You can upgrade from the RC to the RTM. Download the trial version and run SetupSCE.exe to upgrade.
  

  
  Q. Can I upgrade from the Beta of Essentials 2010 to the RC or the RTM?
  A. No. You need to uninstall the Beta and then install the RTM version.

   

  Q. What documentation is available for Essentials 2010?

  A. You can access Release Notes, Deployment Guide, Operations Guide, videos and other documentation from the Essentials 2010 evaluation site.

   

  Features and Specifications

  Q. How many computers can I manage with System Center Essentials 2010 RC?

  A. You can manage up to 50 computers running a Windows Server operating system and up to 500 computers running a Windows client operating system You can also monitor network devices using Essentials.  

   

  Q. What languages is System Center Essentials 2010 available in?

  A. Essentials 2010 is available in Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian and Spanish. English is the first language released, and all languages will be available within 90 days of the English language release.

   

  Q. Does System Center Essentials 2010 support Remote Operations Manager?

  A. No. Remote Opertions Manager is only supported for Operations Manager 2007 SP1 and Essentials 2007 SP1.

   

  Q. Can I upgrade from Essentials 2007 to Essentials 2010?

  A. Yes. It is possible to upgrade your existing Essentials 2007 installation to Essentials 2010 using the same server.  Run SetupSCE.exe and your existing installation will be detected and you will have the option to upgrade.

   

  Q. Can I run both Essentials 2007 and Essentials 2010 in the same environment?

  A. Yes, but you must meet the following criteria:

  ·         You cannot monitor the same computers using both Essentials 2007 and Essentials 2010.

  ·         If Essentials 2007 is using domain policy then Essentials 2010 must use local policy.
  

  More information on domain and local policy configuration is in the Essentials Deployment Guide.
   

  Q. Can I run both Essentials 2010 and Virtual Machine Manager 2008 in the same environment?

  A. Yes. Do not manage the same hosts or virtual machines using both Essentials 2010 and Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2. Essentials 2010 includes its own functionality for managing virtual machines. You cannot install both the Essentials 2010 and Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 on the same computer. 
    

  Pricing and Licensing

  Q. How much does System Center Essentials 2010 cost?

  A. Final pricing and licensing will be available by the end of May 2010. There is currently a limited time offer to purchase Essentials 2007 and Virtual Machine Manager 2008 with one year of Software Assurance which includes a free upgrade to Essentials 2010.

• Link
  Welcome to System Center Essentials 2010!
  Richard Rundle Friday, September 25, 2009 10:33 PM

  Hello and welcome to the Microsoft System Center Essentials 2010 forum!

  This forum provides you an opportunity to join a community of IT Administrators who are using System Center Essentials 2010. Essentials 2010 is designed for managing IT environments with up to 50 servers and 500 client computers.

  Here you can share knowledge, get questions answered, and learn from others with IT environments similar to yours.

  Microsoft System Center Essentials 2010 is the successor to System Center Essentials 2007. If you have questions on Essentials 2007, please post them in the Essentials 2007 forums.

System Center Orchestrator - General announcements

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  FAQ: Frequently-Asked Questions About the Forum
  Robert_Hearn Monday, May 9, 2011 5:21 PM

  Welcome to the System Center Orchestrator forum! This forum is designed to help you find answers to questions about System Center Orchestrator (formerly Opalis Integration Server).
  
  Please note that this forum relates only System Center Orchestrator 2012.
  
  If you have questions about Opalis, please visit the Opalis forums here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/scinterop
  
  
  

  ---

  
  Q: Where can I find more information about the products, technical information and troubleshooting?
  
  A: You can find a number of Orchestrator-related resources from Microsoft and the community on the Opalis / Orchestrator team blog:
  http://blogs.technet.com/b/opalis/p/opalis_resources.aspx
  

  ---

  Q: Why are some threads locked?
  
  A: When a thread is marked as answered or was not replied to for a long period of time, new posts in that thread may not get recognized and may not get a response. To ensure that new posts get the visbility they need, we lock threads that are marked as answered or where we cannot get a response from the poster within a reasonable period of time, so that any new replies will be done in a new thread and gain immediate attention.
  
  If you have the same issue as mentioned in a previous thread, but the answer provided does not solve your problem, post a new question and refer to the existing thread so we can quickly rule out that issue as the cause of your particular problem. That will speed up the process of getting your problem solved.
  
  

  ---

  Q: How long should I expect to wait for an reply?
  
  A: We typically respond to new questions within 24-48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) depending on when the post occurred. If you need faster response or you have a critical issue, please contact Microsoft Support (http://support.microsoft.com/).

System Center Orchestrator - Quick Integration Kit / SDK Development announcements

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  FAQ: Frequently-Asked Questions About the Forum
  Robert_Hearn Monday, May 9, 2011 5:23 PM

  Welcome to the System Center Orchestrator forum! This forum is designed to help you find answers to questions about System Center Orchestrator (formerly Opalis Integration Server).
  
  Please note that this forum relates only System Center Orchestrator 2012.
  
  If you have questions about Opalis, please visit the Opalis forums here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/scinterop
  
  

  ---

  
  Q: Where can I find more information about the products, technical information and troubleshooting?
  
  A: You can find a number of Orchestrator-related resources from Microsoft and the community on the Opalis / Orchestrator team blog:
  http://blogs.technet.com/b/opalis/p/opalis_resources.aspx
   
  

  ---

  Q: Why are some threads locked?
  
  A: When a thread is marked as answered or was not replied to for a long period of time, new posts in that thread may not get recognized and may not get a response. To ensure that new posts get the visbility they need, we lock threads that are marked as answered or where we cannot get a response from the poster within a reasonable period of time, so that any new replies will be done in a new thread and gain immediate attention.
  
  If you have the same issue as mentioned in a previous thread, but the answer provided does not solve your problem, post a new question and refer to the existing thread so we can quickly rule out that issue as the cause of your particular problem. That will speed up the process of getting your problem solved.
  
  

  ---

  Q: How long should I expect to wait for an reply?
  
  A: We typically respond to new questions within 24-48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) depending on when the post occurred. If you need faster response or you have a critical issue, please contact Microsoft Support (http://support.microsoft.com/).

System Center Orchestrator - System Center Integrations announcements

• Link
  FAQ: Frequently-Asked Questions About the Forum
  Robert_Hearn Monday, May 9, 2011 5:22 PM

  Welcome to the System Center Orchestrator forum! This forum is designed to help you find answers to questions about System Center Orchestrator (formerly Opalis Integration Server).
  
  Please note that this forum relates only System Center Orchestrator 2012.
  
  If you have questions about Opalis, please visit the Opalis forums here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/scinterop
  
  

  ---

  
  Q: Where can I find more information about the products, technical information and troubleshooting?
  
  A: You can find a number of Orchestrator-related resources from Microsoft and the community on the Opalis / Orchestrator team blog:
  http://blogs.technet.com/b/opalis/p/opalis_resources.aspx
  

  ---

  Q: Why are some threads locked?
  
  A: When a thread is marked as answered or was not replied to for a long period of time, new posts in that thread may not get recognized and may not get a response. To ensure that new posts get the visbility they need, we lock threads that are marked as answered or where we cannot get a response from the poster within a reasonable period of time, so that any new replies will be done in a new thread and gain immediate attention.
  
  If you have the same issue as mentioned in a previous thread, but the answer provided does not solve your problem, post a new question and refer to the existing thread so we can quickly rule out that issue as the cause of your particular problem. That will speed up the process of getting your problem solved.
  
  

  ---

  Q: How long should I expect to wait for an reply?
  
  A: We typically respond to new questions within 24-48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) depending on when the post occurred. If you need faster response or you have a critical issue, please contact Microsoft Support (http://support.microsoft.com/).

System Center Orchestrator - Third-Party Integrations announcements

• Link
  FAQ: Frequently-Asked Questions About the Forum
  Robert_Hearn Monday, May 9, 2011 5:22 PM

  Welcome to the System Center Orchestrator forum! This forum is designed to help you find answers to questions about System Center Orchestrator (formerly Opalis Integration Server).
  
  Please note that this forum relates only System Center Orchestrator 2012.
  
  If you have questions about Opalis, please visit the Opalis forums here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/scinterop
  
  

  ---

  
  Q: Where can I find more information about the products, technical information and troubleshooting?
  
  A: You can find a number of Orchestrator-related resources from Microsoft and the community on the Opalis / Orchestrator team blog:
  http://blogs.technet.com/b/opalis/p/opalis_resources.aspx
  

  ---

  Q: Why are some threads locked?
  
  A: When a thread is marked as answered or was not replied to for a long period of time, new posts in that thread may not get recognized and may not get a response. To ensure that new posts get the visbility they need, we lock threads that are marked as answered or where we cannot get a response from the poster within a reasonable period of time, so that any new replies will be done in a new thread and gain immediate attention.
  
  If you have the same issue as mentioned in a previous thread, but the answer provided does not solve your problem, post a new question and refer to the existing thread so we can quickly rule out that issue as the cause of your particular problem. That will speed up the process of getting your problem solved.
  
  

  ---

  Q: How long should I expect to wait for an reply?
  
  A: We typically respond to new questions within 24-48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) depending on when the post occurred. If you need faster response or you have a critical issue, please contact Microsoft Support (http://support.microsoft.com/).

Systems Management Server 2003 announcements

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  Welcome to the SMS 2003 Forum!
  Wally (no longer at Microsoft) Tuesday, May 4, 2010 10:24 PM

  Welcome to the SMS 2003 forum. As you have heard, Microsoft is moving from the public newsgroups to forums. This is the one location for you to ask questions on SMS 2003.

  Please do not ask questions on Configuration Manager here (there are other forums specifically for Configuration Manager at: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/configurationmanager/). And please don't ask SMS 2003 questions on the Configuration Manager forums :-)

  There will be community presence here to help you with your questions on SMS 2003, however, be aware, that just like in the newsgroups, responses/answers are never guaranteed. You may need to go to Customer Support Services (CSS) to have questions resolved. We'll do our best to help here when possible.

  Thanks, and enjoy,

  Wally

TechNet Events announcements

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  PURPOSE US TechNet Events LAB Assistance ONLY!!!
  Dan Stolts ITProGuru Monday, December 28, 2015 1:11 PM

  Please note, this forum is for questions directly related to TechNet events LAB content (currently Azure and Windows 10) and from United States TechNet Events Attendees. It is only moderated by TechNet event speakers in the US so ONLY English questions directly related to events will be answered.  Please provide the page number and line number  of the lab manual where your question applies.   

TechNet Sandbox announcements

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  Ann_1234
  Forums Administrator Friday, March 25, 2011 7:58 AM

  Testing Replication db.
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  New Announcement Test Using Automation 70d381d4-8698-4340-8dd5-7ed4abe69a47
  forums moderator123 Friday, January 7, 2011 9:11 AM

  ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS. The services that Microsoft provides to you are subject to the following Terms of Use ("TOU"). Microsoft reserves the right to update the TOU at any time without notice to you. The most current version of the TOU can be reviewed by clicking on the "Terms of Use" hypertext link located at the bottom of our Web pages. By accessing or using the CodePlex web site in any way, including using any Services, downloading Materials, contributing to a Project or merely browsing the CodePlex web site, you agree to and are bound by the terms of this TOU. If you do not agree to all of the terms and conditions contained in the TOU, do not access or use the CodePlex web site. 5f41679b-28c1-4b0c-8520-6c76ebd56e62
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  New Announcement Test Using Automation 773333c1-1e55-4965-bb34-76af7b73f9ab
  forums moderator123 Thursday, January 6, 2011 9:29 AM

  ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS. The services that Microsoft provides to you are subject to the following Terms of Use ("TOU"). Microsoft reserves the right to update the TOU at any time without notice to you. The most current version of the TOU can be reviewed by clicking on the "Terms of Use" hypertext link located at the bottom of our Web pages. By accessing or using the CodePlex web site in any way, including using any Services, downloading Materials, contributing to a Project or merely browsing the CodePlex web site, you agree to and are bound by the terms of this TOU. If you do not agree to all of the terms and conditions contained in the TOU, do not access or use the CodePlex web site. 4e320a24-f1e9-4c5c-967f-e126abff5d89
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  TechNet Sanbox Forum TechNet Sanbox Forum TechNet Sanbox Forum TechNet Sanbox Forum TechNet Sanbox Forum TechNet Sanbox Forum
  forums moderator123 Friday, April 2, 2010 6:41 PM

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TechNet Wiki Discussion announcements

• Link
  Read before you post on this forum
  Peter Geelen Sunday, July 17, 2016 7:01 PM

  This forum is solely focussed on TechNet Wiki and is used to provide feedback, ask questions, request new features, discuss Wiki processes, governance, evolution and the future.

  IMPORTANT: This forum is not the right place for questions for other than TECHNET WIKI.
  Visit the other forums for posting questions for Microsoft platforms like Windows Server, Windows 10, development, general MS questions,.. as they will be removed from the Wiki forum.

  As this focus is neglected too many times, off-topic posts will be handled accordingly.

• Link
  WikiNinjas - Official Blog of TechNet Wiki
  Steef-Jan Wiggers Tuesday, May 7, 2013 6:38 AM

  Wiki Ninjas is a group of authors who celebrate and evangelize the community. They are a catalyst for and a social-authoring excellence for the TechNet Wiki. Access the blog through this link.
• Link
  The TNWiki community resources
  Peter Geelen Thursday, December 20, 2012 12:37 PM

  If you want to keep track of the Technet Wiki, these are the links to bookmark:
  - Technet Wiki: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki
  - TechNet Wiki Discussion Forum: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/tnwiki/threads
  - WikiNinjas - Official Blog of TechNet Wiki: http://blogs.technet.com/b/wikininjas/
  - WikiNinjas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wikininjas

  - Twitter hashtags #TNWIKI

  Welcome to the Wiki community!

• Link
  Welcome to the TechNet Wiki Discussion Forum!
  Eric Battalio Friday, February 26, 2010 11:17 PM

  Hello and Welcome!
  
  The TechNet Wiki Forum is a place for the TechNet Wiki Community to engage, question, organize, debate, help, influence and foster the TechNet Wiki content, platform and Community.

   

  Please note that this forum exists to discuss TechNet Wiki as a technology/application. If you have a question about another technology (such as Windows), you can ask in another forum. If you're unsure which forum, a Bing search often works the fastest or ask here: http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/whatforum/threads
  
  As we say on the TechNet Wiki, contribute boldly, edit gently...and POST!
  
  To learn about the Forums 3.0 platform upon which this Wiki resides, read the FAQ at http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/help.
  
  Happy Contributing!
  
  -eric b, Microsoft
  Wiki Ninja, Community Dude
  

  
  
  

The Official Scripting Guys Forum! announcements

• Link
  Posting Guidelines
  Marco Shaw Friday, September 23, 2011 3:30 PM

  You may have been redirected to this post by a moderator or user.  Thank you for posting to the Scripting Guys Forum.  We are here to help you with your scripting questions.  However, we are not here to write solutions to your scripting questions.  Questions like "I can't get this script to work that I've copied below, and here is the error I'm having" are welcome.  However, questions like "I don't have time to learn this myself, so I need someone to write me a script that does these 10 things" are typically not welcome.  In the latter case, ther eare various "freelance" web sites that you can search for with your favorite search engine full of people that would be willing to write scripts for you and they may charge you a fee.  After reading this, you may want to delete your post, as it may not be answered at all, except for a link being provided to this message.
• Link
  Moderators' names and brief scripting autobiographies last names N-Z (last Updated August 12, 2013)
  Boe Prox Tuesday, December 21, 2010 11:02 PM

  This is a running list of all moderators on The Official Scripting Guys Forum! They are listed

  alphabetically by last name. N-Z

  Aaron Nelson (forum user name: SQLvariant)

  Aaron Nelson ( blog | twitter ) is a Senior SQL Server Architect with over 10 years of experience in Architecture, Business Intelligence, Development, and Performance Tuning of SQL Server. He has experience managing enterprise wide data needs in both transactional and data warehouse environments.  Aaron holds certifications for MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer, Database Administrator, Database Developer; as well as MCTS: Windows Server Virtualization, Configuration (meaning Hyper-V).  He is also a Microsoft MVP for SQL Server

  Chris O’Prey (forum user name: cjoprey)

  I’m a self-confessed geek who has been a developer for longer than I care to remember (let’s just say I remember writing BASIC in the 70s). In my latest guise as a developer and tester at Microsoft, I am a heavy user of Windows PowerShell for automation of testing, build, and integration. I use Windows PowerShell on a daily basis, and I have no intention of weaning myself off it!

  Travis Page (forum user name: pagerwho)

  I have been in IT for about 7 years now, the past year has been primarily focused on scripting in Windows PowerShell.  I utilize Windows PowerShell quite a bit to help me in my routine tasks, and have come to be known at my employer as the scripting guy.  In my current role I work with Exchange, Active Directory, Server systems and Desktops and have been working to develop scripts to assist me in troubleshooting faster, and fix problems faster with Windows PowerShell.  I am active in PASS at the local level and can be reached on Twitter via http://twitter.com/pagerwho or on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/travispage

  Thiyagarajan Parthiban (forum user name: Thiyagu14)

  I work for a large Investment Bank, as a Exchange Administrator. I have been scripting for more than 7 years now. I am good at VBscript, but when I first laid my eyes on Powershell, I realized this is the coolest thing ever in scripting. I automate Exchange/AD tasks, am also good at WMI, ADSI and generating reports. I blog at www.myExchangeWorld.com . I have developed custom apps in C# for automation. I love to automate things. Scripting and Exchange Server is really my passion.

  Jason Premo (forum user name: LikeToCode)

  I have been in IT for 12 years. I started with installing and troubleshooting radio and data transmission networks for the government, and then I moved into the private sector as a lead IT project engineer, which is when I was first exposed to VBScript. To me, it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. Now I use VBScript, VB.NET, AutoIT, HTAs, and ORCA to engineer enterprise software deployments and manage Active Directory.

  Rich Prescott (forum user name: Rich Prescott)

  I am currently working as an Infrastructure Architect/Windows Engineer at a large media company, with my main areas of focus being automation and Active Directory.  The automation responsibilities allow me to work with a wide-range of technologies including virtualization, storage and monitoring.  I started learning PowerShell in 2009 while working as a Desktop Engineer and am the lead scripting guy for my organization.
  
  Blog: blog.RichPrescott.com
  Twitter: @Rich_Prescott

  Boe Prox (forum user name: Boe Prox)

  I have been working as an IT Pro since 2003 as Senior Windows System Administrator and started into scripting with VBscript in early 2008. I then started getting into Windows PowerShell in early 2009 and haven’t stopped using it since. I use Windows PowerShell on a daily basis at work for automation, reporting and anything else I can think of. My main focus areas are in ADSI and WMI and I am also learning more about .NET to further my Windows PowerShell experience. One of my favorite things about Windows PowerShell no matter what you know, you will always learn something new. My blog is at http://learn-powershell.net

  Mark Schill (forum user name: Meson3902)

  I live in Atlanta, Georgia, where I work as a contractor for the federal government. I began scripting with VBScript in 1999 and now work exclusively with Windows PowerShell.  My current areas of specialization are automated Windows system builds and Citrix environments.  VMWare is also of major interest to me. I work in development on a part-time basis and this has provided ease within the .NET Framework. I also serve as a resident advisor on the #PowerShell IRC channel on freenode.net. You can find me on my blog:  http://www.cmschill.net/stringtheory  .

  Andy Schneider (forum user name: Andy Schneider)

  I am a systems engineer at Avanade, Inc. I am on Avanade’s Internal IT team that works with Compute Utility and Storage infrastructure. I’ve been a professional in the IT industry since 1999. I remember the first time I started playing with VBScript. I ran into by boss’s office exclaiming “Holy Schnikees! Look what we can do with this stuff!” Seeing what I could do with automation, my view of IT changed forever. Now I am pretty much a pure Windows PowerShell fanatic. Windows PowerShell has provided me with a fairly smooth glide path into the world of development with .NET and C#. I’m not a developer, but I have a strong passion for bridging the world of development and systems engineering together by being able to interface with developers and other systems engineers. Learning Windows PowerShell has really given me the tools I need to become more educated about the world of development. You can find my blog at http://get-powershell.com/.

  Marco Shaw (forum user name: Marco Shaw)

  • Microsoft MVP, Windows PowerShell: https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Marco.Shaw
  • Co-Author of Sams Windows PowerShell Unleashed 2nd Edition
  • PowerShell Co-Community Director: http://www.powershellcommunity.org

  Brandon Shell (forum user name: BSonPosh)

  I have been in the IT industry since 1994. I spent the early years as a PC tech and general fix-it guy for numerous companies. I started a consulting company in 1999 to build, design, and support networks and Windows infrastructure. I offered Microsoft training as well. In 2000 I joined Microsoft as contractor for the Directory Services team (the first of several times). I joined Microsoft in 2002 as a full-time rapid response field engineer doing mostly Directory Service support for companies in the northeast. In 2004 the onsite travel requirement became too much, and I left for a finance firm where I am today.
  Blog: www.bsonposh.com.
  
  

  Bhargav Shukla (forum user name: Bhargav Shukla - MSFT)

  My name is Bhargav Shukla, and I am a premier field engineer (PFE) at Microsoft. Computers always fascinated me. By education I am a civil engineer but my passion for IT lead my way and I became what I am today. As a PFE, I represent Microsoft and provide dedicated support to enterprise customers.

  In my 14 years of IT experience, I have had the opportunity to work on many technologies including messaging, Directory Services, information security, virtualization, and others. As I progressed through my career stages, I also earned industry certifications from Microsoft, VMware, RSA and Citrix. When not working with Enterprise clients, I am leading Exchange User Group in the Philadelphia area, contributing to TechNet forums, and reviewing books. I am one of the reviewers of Roberta Bragg’s Windows Server 2003: A Technical Reference. I also help Clint Huffman on his open source tool Performance Analysis of Logs (PAL) when time permits. Besides my passion for IT and messaging, I love playing chess. You can find me on the Free Internet Chess Server; my handle is “bhargavs”.

  Glenn Sizemore (forum user name: glnsize)

  I have been in IT for the last 8 years, during that time I have held just about every job one could hold. I started scripting early in my career, and had mastered VBScript by the time Windows PowerShell arrived. Being a scripter, I was an early adopter of Windows PowerShell, and have since become a fanatic. Professionally I work as a virtualization administrator, and use VBScript, BAT, and Windows PowerShell to automate all levels of the infrastructure. In my free time, I run www.Get-Admin.com, and contribute to various scripting communities.

  Bill Stewart (forum user name: AbqBill)

  I first began automating computers in 1985 using batch files in MS-DOS 3.0. My first experience with an enhanced command shell was with 4DOS (a Command.com replacement) in 1989, and this whet my appetite for more powerful automation. I studied Pascal programming on my own for several years, and I had a renewed interest in OS automation when I began working with Windows NT 4.0 in 1997. When Windows 2000 came with baked-in WSH, I was hooked. I learned VBScript first, but I came to appreciate JScript's power and flexibility, and I now greatly prefer it to VBScript when writing WSH scripts. I also enjoy using Windows PowerShell and have applied it to numerous automation tasks. I have written numerous articles for Windows IT Pro magazine as well as a number of freeware utilities to help scripters, which you can download from my Web site: http://www.westmesatech.com/. For my day job, I am the systems and network administrator for French Mortuary, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States.

  Trevor Sullivan (forum user name: Trevor Sullivan)

  I started learning to write scripts back in 2004. I started out as a desktop support person, and quickly realized that an understanding of programming would be essential to pursuing a career in technology. At the time, VBScript was the best cross between ease of learning and scripting power, so I started there. A couple years later, Windows PowerShell came around, and although I was quite keen on it, I didn't adopt it right away. I took some time to study C#/.NET because I wanted to understand programming a little bit deeper. Over the past year, I have picked up Windows PowerShell, largely built on my previous knowledge of the Microsoft .NET platform, and I write primarily in Windows PowerShell today.

  Jakob Svendsen (forum user name: Jakob Svendsen)

  I began my scripting/programming career when I got my first computer, at age 8. Later on I got the C64, and progressed toward writing small games. I studied C++, PHP, HTML, CSS, ASM, and others during my technical education. In the past 2 years, I have worked at Coretech A/S, Denmark (http://blog.coretech.dk) as an IT Consultant and Microsoft Certified Trainer. I spend most of my workdays scripting, programming, or teaching Windows PowerShell, VBScript, and .NET applications (VB or C#).

  Jonathan Tyler (forum user name: Jonathan Tyler)

  Jonathan Tyler is a senior software engineer employed by one of the world’s leading providers of commercial transport solutions. Jonathan has been in the IT industry since 1997. He currently supports the global SharePoint farm for the company’s Internet, extranet, and intranet solutions. Since working as a consultant, Jonathan started working with VBScript to automate tasks. He has done work in Visual Basic, C#, and Windows PowerShell. Check out his blog, PowerShell Reflections.

  Jason Walker  (forum user name: Jason Walker)

  Jason is an active member of the Charlotte PowerShell User’s Group, PowerShell evangelist and lives by the motto “Real admins don’t click them <TAB>”

  Fredrik Wall (forum user name: Fredrik Wall)

  I have been scripting since 1997. Since then I have been scripting with batch files, VBScript, KiXtart and Windows PowerShell. I work with Active Directory, Web servers, SQL servers, Windows Servers and Clients, Deployment, and more. So I script against most of Microsoft’s applications. My blog: http://powershell.se/blog. My Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/walle75. I’m the co-founder of the Scandinavian PowerShell User group.

  Brian Wilhite (forum user name: Brian Wilhite)

  Brian Wilhite works as a Windows System Administrator for a large health care provider in North Carolina.  He has over 15 years of experience in IT.  In his current capacity as a Windows SysAdmin, he leads a team of individuals that have responsibilities for Microsoft Exchange, Windows Server Build, Management and System Performance.  Brian also supports and participates in the Charlotte PowerShell Users Group.  He can be found on twitter.com/bwilhite1979

  Andrew Willett (forum user name: Andrew Willett)

  I am the projects manager for the IT department of a Steinhoff group company. Based in London, I spend most of my time deploying, designing, and developing Microsoft-based architectures.

  
  
  
• Link
  Moderators' names and brief scripting autobiographies last names A-M (last Updated August 12, 2013)
  IamMred Tuesday, December 21, 2010 10:54 PM

  This is a running list of all moderators on The Official Scripting Guys Forum! They are listed alphabetically by last name. A-Z

  Andrew Barnes (forum user name: Andrew Barnes)

  I have more than 15 years of experience ranging from desktop support to third line/server specialist. My first program was on the BBC Micro in 1982. I wrote:

  10 PRINT "ANDREW IS COOL!"

  20 GOTO 10.

  I remember thinking, “Wow, Andrew is cool!” I continued scripting in enterprise environments with DOS batch files on a boot floppy, KIX in logon scripts, and then VBScripts in Active Directory. Now as a Microsoft Certified IT Professional, I'm taking on Windows Powershell for today’s automation. I have always used scripting to automate everyday IT tasks, reduce workloads, and resolve technical issues. After all, why do it when you can script it?

  Bartek Bielawski (forum user name: Bartek Bielawski)

  Bartek has been working in IT for more than 10 years for one company, PAREXEL, a global organization with headquarters in the U.S. Before he got a real job, he was big Linux fan and amateur Linux admin, with some bash scripting and all kinds of awking, seding, cutting, and greping. That's why one of his first tasks at work (other than putting out fires all around) was to improve backup scripts (done in cmd back then). That forced him to get to know cmd.exe better. The experience was bad when compared to bashing, but it paid the bills...

  A few years later, he tried to automate some tasks, which required something that cmd could not provide. His options were VBScript or Windows PowerShell. Even though he knows VBScript a bit, he always preferred the interactive Windows PowerShell. In his opinion, Windows PowerShell is the best product from Microsoft.

  Kai Bluesky (forum user name: kai.bluesky)

  VBScript is one of the most powerful tools that I have. I am used to scripting in WMI and ADSI. At the beginning, it just did my boring daily job automatically. Later, more complex tools—such as an inventory system and an application deployment tool—were implemented without costing my boss any money. Now, scripting has enabled me to join a professional team and my job has become more challenging.

  Jaap Brasser (forum user name: Jaap Brasser)

  Jaap is a Senior System Engineer in the Financial Services industry. He focuses on Microsoft and related technologies and has a passion for PowerShell. In his spare time he maintains his Blog, Twitter feed, @Jaap_Brasser, is a board member of the Dutch PowerShell User Group, and contributes on the Official Scripting Guys Forum and Windows PowerShell TechNet forums.

  Uros Cala (forum user name: urkec)

  My first couple of years as a system and DB administrator were really painful. My tasks kept piling up, I kept losing my head, and just when I was about to quit, I stumbled upon the Microsoft Script Center. I made use of a couple of simple scripts I found there, and for the first time I felt I was in control. My second big discovery was WMI—along with VBScript, it completely changed the way I do my job. I am currently exploring the .NET Framework and Windows PowerShell, trying to make my administrator life even easier.

  Rob Campbell (forum user name: mjolinor)

  I work at a medium-to-large corporate financial institution, as an AD and Exchange administrator. I have worked in IT for over 35 years, starting as a night operator on IBM System 3 and 360 series mainframes. I never really got the hang of VB, but love Windows PowerShell. I have done a few large-scale scripts, but most of my scripting work is ad-hoc, on-demand reports and maintenance changes. I do not know that I can lay claim to any particular area of specialization. The nearest I ever came up with for a good job description was “tactical logician”. 

  Marc Adam Carter (forum user name: marcadamcarter)

  I am currently a senior systems administrator with the Department of the Army.  I started in the IT industry in 1996 with DOS and various flavors of *NIX.  I was introduced to VBScript in 2000 and scripting became a regular obsession sometime in 2005.  In 2008 I made the move to Windows PowerShell and have never looked back.  My daily responsibilities keep me involved with Active Directory, supporting Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint, and various ASP.NETapplications.  In 2011, I founded the Corpus Christi PowerShell User Group and try to help bring others up to speed on PowerShell.

  Ravikanth Chaganti (forum user name: Ravikanth.Chaganti)

  I have 9+ years of experience in IT and mostly in the Windows Server operating system  related areas. My scripting experience dates back to my school days where I used to write DOS batch files to automate a few things on Windows 3.1. I did a lot of VBScripting, and a few popular ones include HVS2008 UI (http://hvs2008ui.codeplex.com), VHDShell Extensions (http://code.msdn.com/VHDShellExt), and a few other scripts on my blog. I primarily work on Hyper-V and SharePoint technologies. I use Windows PowerShell these days to automate a  lot of activities around these two technologies.

  Daniel Cruz (forum user name: Cruz_Daniel)

  In the past five years as an IT Professional, I have focused on Microsoft products and have earned my MCSE 2003 and MCITP: Server Administrator 2008 Certifications. Windows PowerShell is my primary scripting language and I use it on a daily basis with Active Directory, Exchange and for other admin tasks. I mostly use Cmdlets, WMI and .NET in my scripts and have recently been focused on reusable code and automation. I have learned a ton from the Windows PowerShell community and am now doing my best to give some back. You can learn more about me on Twitter or my Blog.

  Jeremy Engel (forum user name: engelj@labcorp.com)

  I started coding at the age of 10, writing games in BASIC for my lightning-fast Commodore 64. From there I ventured into the high-tech world of text-based online gaming, affectionately known as MUDs—specifically EverDark. Later, I made the jump to systems engineering, and it was there that I discovered VBScript. I currently use VBScript for access into all sorts of namespaces and frameworks: WMI, ADSI, SQL, Office, .NET, etc. I also write in HTML and C#, and I am currently casting a wary eye at Windows PowerShell.

  Niklas Goude (forum user name: Niklas Goude)

  I'm from Stockholm, Sweden, where i work at Enfo Zipper, a company that concentrates on client infrastructure. When I started scripting, i mainly focused on HTML and Javascript. Over time i got into PHP and finally VBScript, for managing the Windows environment. When I started at Enfo Zipper, one of the developers handed me a book on Windows PowerShell (PowerShell in Action, Bruce Payette ) and from that day on, I've been living Windows PowerShell. I also run a blog, http://www.powershell.nu,  where I post scripts, ideas, and guides on Windows PowerShell.

  Shane Hoey (forum user name: Shane Hoey)

  My scripting experience started back when Windows XP was the new kid on the block, and I soon found myself scripting on a daily basis with VBScript, WMI, and ADSI. Fast forward to the 2009 Summer Scripting Games, and I finally discovered Windows PowerShell. I’ve been hooked ever since. One of the things I like most about Windows PowerShell is its ability to easily automate, especially my daily repetitive tasks. My background is system and network administration, but at work they just call me the PowerShell Geek these days. By the way, I also run the Powershell Usergroup Brisbane.

  Matt Johnson (forum user name: MWJComputing)

  Matt Johnson (MWJComputing) is a system administrator and founder of the SE Michigan PowerShell Script club. Matt has been scripting for eight years and is proficient in Windows PowerShell, Perl, Python, and several other languages. He currently specializes in WMI, ADSI, and the .NET Framework. You can find Matt on Twitter (@mwjcomputing) and online at http://www.mwjcomputing.com or http://www.michiganpowershell.com.

  Laerte Junior (forum user name: Laerte Junior)

  I started programming computers in clipper. I went through the stage of visual basic and SQL SERVER DBA am 10 years or so. In addition to tuning and development(C#, TSQL), like a lot to automate processes in SQL SERVER. 1 year ago I have been developing scripts in Powershell with SQL Server to facilitate automation.I have a blog in Portuguese www.laertejuniordba.spaces.live.comwhere I put my progress in PowerShell with SQL Server and I am a guest blogger at www.simple-talk.com .

  Sean Kearney (forum user name: ye110wbeard@hotmail.com)

  I am a network administrator, a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist in Windows Server Virtualization and Configuration, and a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. I’m a devoted and passionate computer enthusiast from the early 80s to the present day, having used just about every microcomputer ever. I taught myself computer programming with 65xx machine code, working with many technologies―but primarily Microsoft. I deal with “anything thrown at me,” from gnawed keyboards to recovery of Exchange servers, to networking setups and isolating the realm of the unknown. Currently, I test and deploy just about any new Microsoft Technology; I also deal with users in an enterprise class environment. I love Windows Powershell, Windows 7, and Hyper-V, in that order.

  Tom Lavedas (forum user name: Tom Lavedas)

  I built my first computer in 1980 (a Sinclair, ZedX80) to replace my programmable HP calculator and realized how useful personal computing could be.  I've never held an IT position in my career, though as a staff engineer in a small manufacturing company I was pressed into service for a while.  I worked out the transition from the company's antiquated mini-computer inventory system onto a WinNT file server based system just before Y2K made the mini inoperable.  Rather, I'm an electrical engineer who scripts. Sometimes the scripts handle small engineering computations, but usually I use them to automate redundant desktop management tasks. I'm fluent in a few obsolete languages (or used to be), like FORTRAN, Algol, Pascal and PL1, conversant in C and JScript, but mostly I stick with the command console (aka batch), VBScript and VBA in Excel and PowerPoint. I especially like building user interfaces in HTML/HTA to make my scripts more versatile.

  Thomas Lee (forum user name: Thomas Lee)

  I've been scripting pretty much forever. I used to be pretty hot at JCL on the IBM 360 in the late 1960s, did a ton of shell scripting in the 70s on ICL VME. I learned batch scripting with DOS 2.0. I never really grokked VBS (and never got infected with *ix). But I truly “got” Monad when I first saw it in September 2003 and never looked back. I'm proficient in Windows PowerShell 1.0 and 2.0, and specialize in the .NET and WMI aspects. My one interesting fact is that I was the first person to blog about Monad.

  Shay Levy (forum user name: Shay Levi)

  I'm from Israel. I've been working in IT since 1998 as a system administrator, mostly using Microsoft Server technologies. I started to script HTML pages (JavaScript and ASP) and soon enough I converted Web pages scripting to system scripting using VBScript, WMI, ADSI, etc. Since the first days when PowerShell was introduced, I found myself diving into this new technology and I couldn't stop using it. For quite some time I wondered if one could fall in love with a piece of software. Now I know that's possible! Most of the time I like to hang out in the Windows PowerShell newsgroup and scripting related forums . They provide real world problems where I can help and learn from users alike. I also run a blog at http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/blogs/ScriptFanatic  , so stop by and say hello.

  Oliver Lipkau (forum user name: Oliver Lipkau)

  I have been scripting for more than 10 years. I started with Batch at the age of 13 by modifying the school’s PC. Today my main scripting language is Windows PowerShell. It allows me to automate the majority of my routine management of servers and clients. My specializations are ADSI and WMI.

  I also code in vbs, ahk, html, js, batch, php, and asp . But Windows PowerShell is my favorite. My blog: http://oliver.lipkau.net/blog.

  Salvador Manaois III (forum user name: Salvador Manaois III)

  I have been writing scripts for 10 years in my role as an IT administrator. In my day-to-day work, I extensively make use of VB scripts, with a bit of .NET programming and Windows PowerShell on the side. Being in charge of ensuring compliance to our standard operating environment, I make use of a great deal of WMI, ADSI, and other wsh objects (registry, file streams, etc) to ensure that the majority, if not all, of the machines under my care adhere to our standards.

  Michael Moore (forum user name: lizaoreo)

  My name is Michael Moore; I was born in Greenville, TX and moved to Georgia when I was five because of my dad’s work. I like long walks on the beach and the occasional … oh you didn’t want that did you?

  I live in Calhoun, GA and work at Mohawk Industries, one of the world’s largest flooring manufacturers.  I started working with batch files in 2008 when I started a new job where they had a Batch file that I improved, and then continuously added tasks to. I later moved to Windows PowerShell in 2010 when I started trying to do stuff that just couldn’t be done in Batch and before I even got a handle on VBScript I ran across Windows PowerShell several times in the Hey Scripting Guys Blog.

  I have pretty much been hooked since then.

  Richard Mueller (forum user name: Richard Mueller)

  I worked for a large electric utility for many years where I managed IT budgets, developed mainframe applications, and coded batch files for administrative tasks, including logon scripts, desktop configuration, and tracking computers and users . Now I do consulting and application development for small organizations such as schools. I write programs using ADSI, WMI, ADO, SQL Server, VBScript, classic Visual Basic, and VB.NET. I've been a Microsoft MVP since 2003, first in Windows Server and now Directory Services. My Web site is http://www.rlmueller.net/ and is dedicated to scripts for administering Windows Active Directory networks.

  ·         Laerte's unedited profile:

• Link
  August 12 2013 Please welcome our new moderators, Jaap Brasser and Jason Walker
  IamMred Monday, November 22, 2010 5:40 PM

  Jaap Brasser (forum user name: Jaap Brasser)

  Jaap is a Senior System Engineer in the Financial Services industry. He focuses on Microsoft and related technologies and has a passion for PowerShell. In his spare time he maintains his Blog, Twitter feed, @Jaap_Brasser, is a board member of the Dutch PowerShell User Group, and contributes on the Official Scripting Guys Forum and Windows PowerShell TechNet forums.

  Jason Walker  (forum user name: Jason Walker)

  Jason is an active member of the Charlotte PowerShell User’s Group, PowerShell evangelist and lives by the motto “Real admins don’t click them <TAB>”

Utilities Suggestions announcements

• Link
  The Utilities Suggestions forum will be migrating to a new home on Microsoft Q&A!
  Luke Kim (Microsoft) Monday, November 23, 2020 12:00 AM

  This forum will be closed to all new and existing posts and all interactions will be in Microsoft Q&A.