Patch Manager can be very annoying, so annoying that plugins for Automate now rule the patch management space. However, the plugins don't do any more than what Patch Manager is capable of and with some configuration help you can benefit from the features and reporting inside Patch Manager. Here's the baseline configuration for Patch Manager so you can successfully deploy patches in an easy-to-use way. Patch Manager is divided up into a few different configuration settings so you can more … [Read more...] about LabTech Automate Patch Manager Configuration for Successful Windows Updates
Enable TPM on MSI for Windows 11 Updates
There are a few prerequisites that you'll need to have in place before you can upgrade to Windows 11. Namely, you'll need to have TPM 1.2 or higher enabled on your machine. Here's how to check to see that you do and how to fix it, if possible. All of these fixes apply to a Windows 10 OS hoping to update to Windows 11: Check to see if your TPM settings are compatible for Windows 11: Hit your Windows key and type in "Insider Program" If you don't meet the requirements, you cannot join … [Read more...] about Enable TPM on MSI for Windows 11 Updates
PowerShell – Parsing and creating variables from Events in Event Logs using XML
Guys I was dying trying to find something that could let me take the details of the XML data of a specific event so I could then use it to, say, send an email with just that data. Here's how to do that: Here's all the code right away: # Get the event you want and then format that event in XML Format $event = Get-WinEvent -MaxEvents 1 -FilterHashtable @{logname="Security"; id=5379} $event = [xml]$event.ToXml() # Drill down into the XML. In this example we're getting Event > EventData … [Read more...] about PowerShell – Parsing and creating variables from Events in Event Logs using XML
OWA and ECP Web Errors after SSL Cert Update – Error 2001
If you just updated your SSL Cert (and it looks as though it is correctly installed) but both OWA and ECP have broken, you're going to need to associate the roles with the SSL Cert. Don't both to do this through IIS, just do this instead: Get the Thumbprint of your newest SSL Cert by doing the following: Start > Run mmc.exe or mmc.mcs. File > Add\Remove Snap-In Computer User Certificates > Add Ok Certificates > Personal > Certificates > Double Click on … [Read more...] about OWA and ECP Web Errors after SSL Cert Update – Error 2001
Creating your first Apache Airflow User
I've learned a few things while working with Apache Airflow: Apache Airflow is awesome. Apache Airflow documentation sucks. If you were able to launch Airflow and run the webserver, you'll notice you're being told: WARNING: No user yet created, use flask fab command to do it. Here's that command: FLASK_APP=airflow.www.app flask fab create-admin Follow the prompts and once complete you'll be able to log in with that user. … [Read more...] about Creating your first Apache Airflow User
Windows 10 Hyper-V Ubuntu Can’t Connnect when Enhanced Session is Enabled – Blue Screen
I've recently been toying around with the Quick Create in Windows 10 Hyper-V and I noticed that I couldn't connect once the VM was created if I chose to connect using an Enhanced Session. As it turns out, if you enable auto login during the setup of the Ubuntu VM it will not let you remotely connect using any option you have. It just gives you a blue screen. Make sure this option is not set to auto: If you have already set that setting to Log in automatically and you want to … [Read more...] about Windows 10 Hyper-V Ubuntu Can’t Connnect when Enhanced Session is Enabled – Blue Screen
The “do something to all machines” PowerShell Script
On a domain? You can do something to all machines on a domain with this quick little script here. Your best bet is to open up an elevated (admin) Powershell Prompt on a domain controller and then run that here: Get-ADComputer –filter * | foreach { < do the thing > } Here are some examples that have really helped me in my administrative journeys: Force GPUpdate for all machines on the domain: Get-ADComputer –filter * | foreach { Invoke-GPUpdate –computer $_.name -force } Force … [Read more...] about The “do something to all machines” PowerShell Script
Updating NTP Servers in vCenter 6.7
Time servers can be a pain. In this case, once completing a vCenter upgrade from 6.5 to 6.7, I noticed the time wasn't syncing. It took a bit to find where to update the NTP servers and enable the NTP service for vCenter. Here's how to do that: Log into vCenter and head to Menu > Administration > Deployment > System Configuration. Click on the LOGIN button for the vCenter you'd like to administer. This will take you to the Appliance settings. Log into the Appliance Head to … [Read more...] about Updating NTP Servers in vCenter 6.7
Error during dcpromo: “The source server is currently rejecting replication requests”
Problem You cannot demote a domain controller using dcpromo. You receive the following error: Resolution There's a good chance your Domain Controller has an important service not running or, most likely, replication has been disabled for some reason. Here are some quick things you can do to test: In your source domain controller, head to Active Directory Sites and Services Expand the sites until you find the server you are trying to demote. Right click the NTDS settings under … [Read more...] about Error during dcpromo: “The source server is currently rejecting replication requests”
Powershell script won’t run portion requiring Excel in Scheduled Task
Some of the scripting I've recently done requires Excel to be launched (non interactively) on a domain controller to gather usernames and whatnot. For some reason, the entire script would work perfectly besides the portion that requires Excel. I could run the script as an admin in ISE and it would work, but not via the Task Scheduler. Here's the fix: Create these two folders on your server: C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile\Desktop … [Read more...] about Powershell script won’t run portion requiring Excel in Scheduled Task
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