HOWTO: Handle Windows Update on non-domain-joined Web Application Proxies

Most Microsoft-based Hybrid Identity implementations use Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) Servers, Web Application Proxies and Azure AD Connect installations. In this series, labeled Hardening Hybrid Identity, we’re looking at hardening these implementations, using recommended practices. In this part of the series, we’ll look at best practices to handle Windows activation on non-domain-joined Web … Continue reading "HOWTO: Handle Windows Update on non-domain-joined Web Application Proxies"

HOWTO: Handle Windows Activation on non-domain-joined Web Application Proxies

Most Microsoft-based Hybrid Identity implementations use Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) Servers, Web Application Proxies and Azure AD Connect installations. In this series, labeled Hardening Hybrid Identity, we’re looking at hardening these implementations, using recommended practices. In this part of the series, we’ll look at best practices to handle Windows activation on non-domain-joined Web … Continue reading "HOWTO: Handle Windows Activation on non-domain-joined Web Application Proxies"

HOWTO: Handle Time synchronization on non-domain-joined Web Application Proxies

Most Microsoft-based Hybrid Identity implementations use Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) Servers, Web Application Proxies and Azure AD Connect installations. In this series, labeled Hardening Hybrid Identity, we’re looking at hardening these implementations, using recommended practices. In this part of the series, we’ll look at best practices to handle time synchronization on non-domain-joined Web … Continue reading "HOWTO: Handle Time synchronization on non-domain-joined Web Application Proxies"

HOWTO: Disable Unnecessary Services on Web Application Proxies

Most Microsoft-based Hybrid Identity implementations use Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) Servers, Web Application Proxies and Azure AD Connect installations. In this series, labeled Hardening Hybrid Identity, we’re looking at hardening these implementations, using recommended practices. Let’s harden the Web Application Proxy installations, by disabling unnecessary services running on it. This way, we lower … Continue reading "HOWTO: Disable Unnecessary Services on Web Application Proxies"

Configuring the Azure AD Connect Health Agent for AD FS on Server Core

When you get serious about security in Hybrid Identity implementations, you would opt to implement AD FS servers and Web Application Proxies as Server Core installations. However, this poses a slight problem with the Azure AD Connect Health Agent for AD FS, because at first glance, you can’t configure it on Server Core installations of … Continue reading "Configuring the Azure AD Connect Health Agent for AD FS on Server Core"

I’m hosting a ‘Minimalism in Windows Server’ event with Jeff Wouters and Ajilon

When I started my speaking career back in 2006, I didn’t have fancy demo hardware and Azure Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) wasn’t even born, then. To talk about an interesting IT Pro topic and provide appealing demos, I choose to talk about Server Core. On June 22, I’m coming full circle. While I’ve been demoing Azure Active … Continue reading "I’m hosting a ‘Minimalism in Windows Server’ event with Jeff Wouters and Ajilon"

How to install a Server Core R2 Domain Controller

Server Core installations were a new feature in Windows Server 2008. Now, in Windows Server 2008 R2, it has been given a major upgrade. It now includes the .Net Framework, Active Directory Certificate Services, etc. (for a full list, see this blogpost) Over three years ago I showed you how to install a Server Core … Continue reading "How to install a Server Core R2 Domain Controller"

iSCSI configuration in Hyper-V Server 2008 R2

Last time I took a look at Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Beta, I shared the surprise of having Failover Clustering and the possibility to have highly available virtualized workloads on it. This time I look at an implication of having the Windows Enterprise-like Quick Migration and Live Migration features: increased complexity and configuration burden.

CoreConfigurator brought back to life by Smart-X

I remember pretty well when Guy Teverovsky shared his CoreConfigurator tool, to help Server Core Systems Administrators perform everyday tasks through a Graphical User Interface (GUI). I still remember the buzz it generated throughout the blogosphere, I still remember the amount of kudos to Guy for building and sharing this tool, I still remember the … Continue reading "CoreConfigurator brought back to life by Smart-X"

An early look at new features in Server Core

At Tech∙Ed last week some information emerged on Windows Server 2008 R2. Specifically some information was handed out on the Server Core installation option in the successor to Windows Server 2008. Let’s take an early look at the differences between Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 and Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 … Continue reading "An early look at new features in Server Core"