[SOLVED] enterprise IT

Issue: You need to launch a new powershell window from a command prompt.  This is useful in many scenarios including managing a Windows Hyper-V core server.

Solution: From a command prompt, enter the following: runas /user:administrator “powershell.exe”

Or for PowerShell version 2.0:
runas /user:administrator “powershell.exe -version 2.0”

Look for my next article on managing Hyper-V Server Core from Powershell…

If you have the option of expanding the C drive, that's often the quickest way to get back up and running, but is often only possible in virtualized environments.  If you're reading this, that's probably not an option for you.  This article was originally intended for physical servers that were built with small C drives, however it can also be useful when you need to free up some disk space quickly in order to get a server back up and running. Quick ways to clear some C space: Run Disk Cleanup, Read more [...]

If you have an 11G or newer Dell Server (for example R61x, R71x, R81x) then you should use the Dell LifeCycle Controller: Step 1) Update the LifeCycle controller OS drivers pack: The Dell LifeCycle controller keeps a set of up to date drivers that will be used by the operating system during install. Step 2) Install the OS: launch the Dell LifeCycle Controller, select the OS you wish to install and follow the onscreen instructions.  The LifeCycle controller will slipstream Dell drivers into the Read more [...]

Issue: You need to decline or exclude an update from WSUS, for example the bad MS Outlook Update KB3114409. Background: Declining an update will stop it from being deployed to desktops and servers associated by WSUS (Windows Server Update Services). What is WSUS: WSUS is an in-house Windows Update Server that machines will use to download updates, rather than reaching out to Microsoft directly.  This repository saves bandwidth and allows granular control via policies in terms of what updates Read more [...]

Issue: You need to install drivers and firmware on a Dell PowerEdge Server running Windows Solution: 1) logon to support.dell.com 2) Enter your service tag and OS which will bring you to a page with all the drivers and firmware for your server.  Note: If you have Open Manage installed (step 8) you can see the systems service tag using open manage. 3) The problem here is that the firmware/drivers will show for any hardware that was available for your model of server, not necessarily the hardware Read more [...]