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Author Archive for ryangl

Powershell Tweak

Published by ryangl August 12th, 2008 in Windows Server 2008. 0 Comments

If you have ever noticed a lag with powershell, here is a way to speed things up.

Update-Gac.ps1

Below is the content of the Update-GAC.ps1 script that I run whenever I install a new version of PowerShell. Our installation is supposed to ngen the assemblies in the background. If that works, it doesn’t work fast enough for me. Also I’ve seen lots of examples where people run this script long after their install and things get a TON faster so …. The install team is looking into the issue but until then – here is the script I use:

Set-Alias ngen @(
dir (join-path ${env:\windir} "Microsoft.NET\Framework") ngen.exe -recurse |
sort -descending lastwritetime
)[0].fullName
[appdomain]::currentdomain.getassemblies() | %{ngen $_.location}

PowerShell Team Blog : Update-Gac.ps1

MOSS 2007: Hide Edit Page in Site Actions Menu

Published by ryangl April 1st, 2008 in MOSS 2007, Tools, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. 0 Comments

This always annoyed me.  Users with contribute rights are given the right to "Edit Page" under site actions.  This quick write-up resolves that issue by only providing that function to users with Full Control, rather than Contribute.  As always, be careful when modifying default.master and make sure you have backups readily available.

  1. Open the master page for the site.

  2. Find the following lines of code:
           <SharePoint:MenuItemTemplate runat="server" id="MenuItem_EditPage"
            Text="<%$Resources:wss,siteactions_editpage%>"
            Description="<%$Resources:wss,siteactions_editpagedescription%>"
            ImageUrl="/_layouts/images/ActionsEditPage.gif"
            MenuGroupId="100"
            Sequence="200"
            ClientOnClickNavigateUrl="BLOCKED SCRIPTMSOLayout_ChangeLayoutMode(false);"
            />

  3. Add to the following lines to the code:
    PermissionsString="ManageSubwebs"
            PermissionMode="Any"

  4. The code should now look like:
           <SharePoint:MenuItemTemplate runat="server" id="MenuItem_EditPage"
            Text="<%$Resources:wss,siteactions_editpage%>"
            Description="<%$Resources:wss,siteactions_editpagedescription%>"
            ImageUrl="/_layouts/images/ActionsEditPage.gif"
            MenuGroupId="100"
            Sequence="200"
            ClientOnClickNavigateUrl="BLOCKED SCRIPTMSOLayout_ChangeLayoutMode(false);"
            PermissionsString="ManageSubwebs"
            PermissionMode="Any"
            />

  5. Save the master page and login with an account that does not have Full Control, but is not read only either…  The Site Actions drop down should now resemble:

Hide Edit Page

Hide Edit Page in Site Actions Menu - The SharePoint Redemption

Windows 7 To Be Released Next Year?

Published by ryangl March 4th, 2008 in Vista. 0 Comments

windows7-wall

Is Vista a bigger bust then Windows ME?  Could be seeing that there are rumors out there that "Windows 7" might be here sooner than expected.

"A recently-released roadmap for the next major Window release — Windows 7 — indicates that Microsoft is planning to release the new operating system in the second half of 2009, rather than the anticipated release date of some time in 2010. This quickly-approaching release date would seem to be at least partially verified by news of a milestone build available for review by an anonymous third party."

Slashdot | Windows 7 To Be Released Next Year?

PowerShell Script: Zip up a folder and email it

Published by ryangl March 4th, 2008 in Powershell and Scripts. 0 Comments

Cool method for scripting attaching a file and emailing using Powershell.  The script also displays how to zip up a destination using Out-zip.

$sender = sender@host.com
$recipient = recipient@host.com
$server = mail.host.com
$targetFolder = c:\MyFolder
$file = c:\MyZipFile.zip if ( [System.IO.File]::Exists($file) )
{
  remove-item -force $file
}

gi $targetFolder | out-zip $file $_
$subject = “Sending a File ” + [System.DateTime]::Now
$body = “I’m sending a file!”
$msg = new-object System.Net.Mail.MailMessage $sender, $recipient, $subject, $body
$attachment = new-object System.Net.Mail.Attachment $file
$msg.Attachments.Add($attachment)
$client = new-object System.Net.Mail.SmtpClient $server
$client.Credentials = [System.Net.CredentialCache]::DefaultNetworkCredentials
$client.Send($msg)

Mike Hodnick : PowerShell: Zip up a folder and email it

Powershell Script : Generate rdp-files from AD

Published by ryangl March 4th, 2008 in Powershell and Scripts. 0 Comments

NOTE:  this script requires the Quest Active Directory cmdlets

#generate-rdpfiles.ps1

$input = Get-QADComputer -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -SizeLimit 0 | Where-Object { $_ .operatingsystem -match “Server” }

$RDPRoot = ‘C:\RDP-Files’

if ( -not ( Test-Path -Path $RDPRoot )) {

    New-Item -Path $RDPRoot -ItemType Directory | Out-Null

}

$input | ForEach-Object {

    $path = “$RDPRoot\$($_.Name).rdp”

    $rdpfile = Test-Path -Path $path

    if ( $rdpFile -eq $true ) {

        Clear-Content -Path $path

    }

    Add-Content -Path $path -Force -Value @”

screen mode id:i:1

desktopwidth:i:1152

desktopheight:i:864

session bpp:i:16

winposstr:s:0,1,0,0,1032,795

full address:s:$($_.Name)

compression:i:1

keyboardhook:i:2

audiomode:i:2

redirectprinters:i:0

redirectcomports:i:0

redirectsmartcards:i:1

redirectclipboard:i:1

redirectposdevices:i:0

drivestoredirect:s:*

displayconnectionbar:i:1

autoreconnection enabled:i:1

authentication level:i:0

prompt for credentials:i:0

negotiate security layer:i:1

remoteapplicationmode:i:0

alternate shell:s:

shell working directory:s:

disable wallpaper:i:0

disable full window drag:i:0

allow desktop composition:i:1

allow font smoothing:i:1

disable menu anims:i:0

disable themes:i:0

disable cursor setting:i:0

bitmapcachepersistenable:i:1

gatewayhostname:s:

gatewayusagemethod:i:0

gatewaycredentialssource:i:4

gatewayprofileusagemethod:i:1

“@

}

PowerGUI - Administrative Powershell Console : Generate rdp-files from AD …

Microsoft releases Viridian hypervisor in Windows Server 2008 RCO

Published by ryangl September 9th, 2007 in Releases, Virtualization and Windows Server 2008. 0 Comments

Virtualization.info posted this news first seen on WinBeta about the release of Windows Server 2008 RCO and the inclusion of the much anticipated Windows Server Virtualization component.  This release will be available first to Microsoft TAP customers, prior to being released as a public beta.

New to Windows Server Virtualization?  Checkout the WSV detailed architecture layout or Microsoft webcasts to understand the new offering.

Few hours ago WinBeta broke the news Microsoft just released Windows Server 2008 RC0 to TAP customers.

Now virtualization.info has learned from trusted sources that this new version contains first preview version of new Microsoft hypervisor Windows Server Virtualization (WSV), codename Viridian.

As expected the hypervisor comes as a server role, but the surprising news is that virtualization role is available also for complete installations of Windows, not only Server Core one as originally stated by Microsoft.

This may change once started the beta program, but if it stays this way it may imply Microsoft is changing its plans for hypervisor integration, and may even consider embedding a specific version for desktop operating systems (e.g.: Vista).

Once activated the new role will reboot the machine in hypervisor mode, putting Windows operating system in the so called Parent Partition, as Viridian architecture implies.

If TAP customers have access to this preview it means general public will access beta 1 within the end of this year or early 2008.

p2vd.com » Microsoft releases Viridian hypervisor in Windows Server 2008 RCO

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Revealed

Published by ryangl September 6th, 2007 in Releases, Service Packs and Vista. 0 Comments

 Paul Thurrott has detailed the first service pack for Vista, SP1, on his site winsupersite.com. 

With Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), now due in the first quarter of 2008, Microsoft is deemphasizing the role that service packs play in the ongoing updating and maintenance of its operating systems. That is, Vista SP1 will be a traditional service pack, collecting previously-issued updates into a single installation, and including few new end user features. It will, however, improve the Vista experience in a number of ways and include new device drivers and other improvements.

There are a number of reasons for this de-emphasis of service packs with Vista SP1. Most customers of Microsoft’s latest OS releases have pervasive Internet connections and regularly update their systems automatically via the company’s numerous online updating services, which we might collectively think of as Microsoft Update. (These services include Microsoft Update, Windows Update, Office Update, Automatic Updates, Windows Server Update Services, the Microsoft Download Center, and others.) And thanks to new updating mechanisms in Vista itself, Microsoft can drive improvements to customers more quickly than via service packs.

…

Microsoft says it will make the following quality improvements in Vista SP1.

Security improvements include previously-announced changes to Windows Security Center that will allow third-party security software makers to more effectively communicate with and replace Microsoft’s security dashboard with their own solutions, new APIs aimed at helping security software makers work with the Kernel Patch Protection feature in 64-bit versions of Vista (also previously announced), changes to RemoteApp and the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), the addition of a new Elliptical Curve Cryptography (ECC) pseudo-random number generator (PRNG), and a change to BitLocker Drive Encryption that adds optional multifactor authentication method combining keys protected by a TPM hardware module, a Startup Key stored on a USB memory key device, and a user-generated personal identification number.

Reliability. For reliability, Vista SP1 will include better reliability and compatibility with newer graphics cards, improved reliability when using notebook computers with an external display, improved networking configuration reliability, improved reliability of systems that are upgraded from XP to Vista, better compatibility with many printers, and increased reliability and performance when entering and resuming from sleep mode.

Performance. Vista SP1 adds a number of performance improvements as well by increasing the speed of copying and extracting files, increasing the performance of Hibernate and Resume, increasing the performance of domain-joined PCs when working offline from the domain, improving the performance of Internet Explorer (IE) 7 by reducing CPU utilization and speeding JavaScript parsing, improving battery life on certain mobile systems by reducing screen redraws and thus CPU utilization, increasing the performance of the CTRL+ALT+DEL logon dialog, and improving the performance of browsing network file shares.

Administrative improvements

Vista SP1 will include a number of changes aimed at the system administrators who deploy, support, and maintain Vista-based systems. These changes include:

BitLocker Drive Encryption. In the initial version of Vista, BitLocker could only automatically encrypt the C: drive. Now, in SP1, BitLocker can also optionally encrypt other drive volumes (D:, E:, and so on), as is possible with Windows Server 2008.

Terminal Service printing. Local printing from a Windows Terminal Services session will be improved.

Network Diagnostics. Windows Vista SP1 will add a new version of the Network Diagnostics tool that will also help administrators and end users diagnose common file sharing problems. (Available from the Diagnose and Repair link in Network and Sharing.)

Disk Defragmenter. The built-in Disk Defragmenter service will be updated so that customers can configure exactly which volumes are automatically defragged.

Group Policy. Vista SP1 will include a number of Group Policy (GP) changes. Most controversial, the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) will be uninstalled so that the GPEdit management console can be used to manage local policies. Microsoft will also ship a tool before SP1 that will let admins add comments to Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and individual GP settings.

Support for new hardware and standards

Since Windows Vista shipped in early 2007, a number of emerging new hardware types and international standards have emerged. SP1 will address these changes by adding support for them to Windows Vista. They include:

Extended FAT (exFAT) file system. A future standard for flash memory storage and consumer-oriented mobile devices. Based on FAT, exFAT adds support for longer file names and other improvements.

Secure Digital (SD) Advanced Direct Memory Access (DMA). This update to SD technology improves transfer performance while decreasing CPU utilization. It will require SD DMA-compliant host controllers.

EFI network booting on x64 systems. In the initial shipping version of Windows Vista, 64-bit (x64) versions of the OS could boot on EFI-compliant PCs, which replace ancient BIOS technology with a more modern solution. With SP1, EFI-based x64 Vista systems can also support network boot, a feature that was previously available only on 32-bit (x86) Vista versions on BIOS-based PCs.

DirectX 10.1. Vista SP1 will support Microsoft’s latest multimedia and gaming libraries.

Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP). Vista SP1 will add support for the SSTP remote access tunneling protocol.

Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Revealed

 

Microsoft To Buy Parlano

Published by ryangl September 3rd, 2007 in Releases, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. 0 Comments

Microsoft’s Latest acquisition to improve the overall native functionality of Office Communication Server 2007. 

Microsoft announced on Thursday that it intends to buy Parlano, a Chicago-based company it has already worked closely with on enterprise communications software.

Parlano makes the MindAlign group chat platform. MindAlign currently integrates with Microsoft’s Office Communications Server 2007 and Office Communicator, but following the acquisition the software will be a native feature of Microsoft’s unified communications stack.

Redmond Developer News | News: Microsoft To Buy Parlano

What’s Behind the Windows Server 2008 Delay?

Published by ryangl September 3rd, 2007 in Releases, Service Packs, Vista and Windows Server 2008. 0 Comments

 Earlier last week Microsoft announced the RTM of Windows Server 2008 would be delayed, without giving much reasoning behind the announcement.  Redmond Developer News has some specualative information based around the release of Vista SP1, which would make sense.

Microsoft published almost no details earlier this week with its announcement that Windows Server 2008’s release to manufacturing (RTM) date had slipped from late this year into early next. Only vague explanations of needing to meet high quality standards were given, leaving most in the dark. Does the delay mean that Windows 2008 development has hit some kind of snag, and could more delays be coming?

…

Enderle, though, believes the timing of the delay is directly tied to another announcement Microsoft made on the same day: that Windows Vista SP1 was expected to RTM early next year.

Vista and Windows 2008 share the same codebase, and it’s important that one version of the code not get too far ahead of another version. With the many changes coming in Vista SP1, Microsoft didn’t want Vista’s code to be too far ahead of Windows 2008’s. “From the standpoint of servers, Microsoft would rather have [Windows 2008] at [Vista] SP1 level when it ships,” Enderle said.

Gillen agreed that the need to keep the code at roughly the same level could be a factor. “They can’t afford to let the two code bases get too far apart.”

Whatever the reason, the continued delays for Windows 2008 — formerly known as Longhorn Server — certainly take a toll on Microsoft’s reputation, which already suffers from a perception that it can’t make publicly-stated deadlines.

And if, for some reason, the RTM date were to slip again, it could be an ominous sign. Enderle does not anticipate another delay because, he said, Windows 2008 is now “Gated on [Vista] SP1’s” release, and there is finally an established timeline, if not yet a very specific one, for the service pack.

Said Gillen, “I really would not expect them to delay it again. If they did, it wouldn’t bode well in terms of how they would deliver this product.”

Redmond Developer News | News: What’s Behind the Windows Server 2008 Delay?

10 Steps to Installing the Web Server Role in Windows Server 2008

Published by ryangl September 3rd, 2007 in Guides, IIS and Windows Server 2008. 0 Comments

TrainSignal Training presents this easy to follow process for installing the IIS 7.0 Web Server Role in Windows Server 2008. 

The following exercise will walk you through the process of deploying the Web Server Role on a clean installation of Windows Server 2008. Installing the role services selected in these steps will provide you with a web server with the following features and capabilities:

  • Internet Information Services 7.0
  • Common HTTP Features for serving static web content
  • Application Development Services for hosting dynamic web content
  • Basic logging functionality and tools
  • Security Protocols for serving content securely to the internet or intranet
  • All management tools for local and remote web server administration
  • FTP Publishing Service for manageable file hosting

10 Steps to Installing the Web Server Role in Windows Server 2008

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