Category Archives: Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2

New features in Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2012 R2, Part 2: Protected Users

In Active Directory, all Domain Controllers are equal, but some are more equal than others. As you gain experience in managing networking environments, you’ll find the same principle is true for user accounts: all user accounts are equal, but some are more equal than others… For instance, some colleagues to whom these accounts belong, require […]

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New features in Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2012 R2, Part 1: Introduction

Microsoft has invested three years of development time in Windows Server 2012 and has introduced a slew of Active Directory features, including claims-based authorization to files and folders, a new licensing solution, safe virtualization, Kerberos armoring, cross-forest KCD and group MSAs. I’ve published a whitepaper on this stuff last year. Hot on the heels of […]

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The videos of the presentations of Ngi-NGNs ‘Systems Management: beyond Control’ event are now available

As you might recall, Raymond and I delivered a session on Windows Server 2012 R2 at Ngi-NGNs ‘Systems Management: beyond Control’ event on June 24, 2014. Jeff Wouters (PowerShell MVP) uploaded five videos he shot during this event to YouTube. You can watch them here: Note: All these videos are in Dutch.

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The video of my presentation at TechEd North America 2014 is now available

Microsoft has posted the 80-minute video of PCIT-B341 Upgrading Active Directory the Safe Way: Using Virtualization Technologies, the session Mike Resseler and I presented on Friday May 15, 2014 at Microsoft TechEd North America 2014. You can watch this session free of charge over on Channel 9, regardless of whether you’ve attended TechEd North America […]

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Security Thoughts: LSASS Protection in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

I’ve written about Pass-the-Hash (PtH) attacks before. Today, I’m writing on the cleanup mechanisms to remove lingering password(hashe)s from Windows, that Microsoft has introduced with Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2. These mechanisms help protect against Pass-the-Hash (PtH) attacks.

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I’ll be speaking at the Datacenter Group’s Partner Event

Working at a Systems Integrator (SI) has its perks. I get to discuss interesting technologies with interesting customers and interesting partners. Sometimes, my playing field feels like an ecosystem where manufacturers, partners and customers think and act like one. One of the partners we’re working closely these days and gives me that special feeling is […]

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I’ll be speaking at Ngi-NGNs ‘Systems Management: Beyond Control’ event

I’ve been associated with the Dutch Networking User Group (NGN) for almost five years now. I’ve been speaking at their events and have helped others achieve the same goal. NGN has recently joined forces with the Dutch Platform for IT Professionals (Ngi), and an old tradition has been dusted off: We’re organizing a Windows Server-themed […]

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KnowledgeBase: You cannot log on as a local administrator when you restart in Directory Services Repair Mode

As part of the May 2014 Update Rollup, Microsoft has fixed a problem that I hope has not been bugging any Active Directory Admin… On Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2-based Domain Controllers, an issue was identified that blocks access to the Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM).   The situation On Windows Server […]

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Virtualization-safe(r) Active Directory in VMware environments, Part 2

In the first post of this series, I’ve shown how to uncover the VM-GenerationID, the random value that unlocks all that Windows Server 2012 Active Directory Domain Services magic, on VMware’s vSphere and Workstation virtualization solutions. Today, I’m showing you how to interpret this value and how this value might be different between versions of […]

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Pictures of the three Dutch IT Camps (The unofficial Hyper-D Farewell Tour)

I’ve had the pleasure of hosting three Microsoft IT Camps in the past three weeks and with them, effectively, organizing the unofficial ‘Hyper-D Farewell Tour’… Hyper-D (Daniel van Soest) and I hosted all three IT Camps, consisting of four half-day Windows Server 2012 R2 Camps and two half-day System Center 2012 R2 Camps, following this […]

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