A walkthrough of installing and configuring the Apache HTTP server on a Windows Server 2008 Server Core installation, demonstrating that even without a GUI, Server Core can run pop...

After installing Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003, the Remote Installation Services (RIS) may stop working. This post covers the steps needed to get RIS functional again afte...

Windows Server Update Services 3.0 brings significant improvements over previous versions, including a new management console, improved reporting, and better targeting of updates t...

Understanding Microsoft's support stance on running their software in third-party virtual machines, including VMware and other non-Hyper-V hypervisors....

A roundup of useful free tools for Windows Server administrators, including Joe Richards' PSOMgr tool for managing Password Settings Objects in Windows Server 2008....

Exploring tab completion functionality in the Windows command prompt and PowerShell, and how to enable and configure it for more efficient command-line work....

How to transition from a retail or MSDN installation of Windows Server 2003 R2 to a volume license key (VLK) installation to avoid the product activation requirement....

Troubleshooting common issues encountered with Microsoft Update, including failed updates, stuck downloads, and error codes that administrators frequently encounter....

Essential commands for administrators getting started with Windows Server Core, covering basic configuration, networking, and management tasks in the minimal Server Core environmen...

Lessons learned from a failed upgrade attempt, covering common pitfalls and the correct procedure for upgrading Windows Server 2003 to the R2 release....

A security discussion about how PowerShell can inadvertently expose passwords in plain text through command history and transcript logging, with recommendations for secure credenti...

An overview of Microsoft's planned service pack releases for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, including expected timelines and key features....

Troubleshooting connectivity issues with Windows Server clusters, including name resolution problems and network configuration challenges....

Windows Server 2008 has reached RTM (Release to Manufacturing) status. Details on the launch plans and availability timeline for different editions....

A comprehensive overview of the key features in Windows Server 2008, including Server Core, Hyper-V, improved networking, and enhanced security capabilities....

Step-by-step guide to performing a comprehensive health check on Active Directory, including tools like dcdiag, repadmin, and netdiag for diagnosing common issues....

The /console switch has been deprecated in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1 for Remote Desktop Connection. The replacement command is: mstsc /v:servername /admin....

How to configure Mac OS X to authenticate against Active Directory, enabling centralized user management across Windows and Mac environments....

A reflection on the IT industry's tendency to celebrate firefighters over those who prevent fires, and why good infrastructure planning is more valuable than heroic troubleshooting...

Windows Server 2008 officially launches today alongside Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008. A look at the launch events and what this means for IT professionals....

A detailed guide to configuring Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition as a workstation, covering hardware requirements, Hyper-V setup, and enabling client features like Desktop Ex...

How to enable and configure wireless networking on Windows Server 2008, which requires installing the Wireless LAN Service feature....

Understanding the product activation options for Windows Server 2008 volume license customers, including KMS and MAK activation methods....

Addressing networking issues when running ISA Server 2006 in a Hyper-V virtual machine, particularly related to TCP offloading features that can cause connectivity problems....

Options for burning CDs and DVDs in Windows Server 2008, including built-in ISO mounting capabilities and third-party tools like ImgBurn and ISO Recorder....

Further exploration of integrating Linux and Mac OS X systems with Active Directory authentication using Winbind and Samba, building on the previous post about Mac OS X AD integrat...

Understanding networking in Hyper-V, including virtual switch types, network adapter configuration, and best practices for virtual machine networking....

Microsoft has released the Hyper-V Release Candidate (RC0), bringing improved performance and stability. Details on what's new and how to upgrade from the beta....

Details of the UK launch event for Microsoft's 2008 product wave including Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008, and SQL Server 2008....

The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2008 provides a unified approach to desktop and server deployment, with improved support for Windows Server 2008 and Vista SP1....

Step-by-step guide to upgrading from the Hyper-V beta to RC0, including VHD migration considerations and post-upgrade verification steps....

How to customize Windows Server 2008 Server Core installations, including adding roles, features, and configuring the minimal environment for specific server workloads....

Exploring web browsing options on Server Core, including using alternative browsers like Firefox, Opera, and text-based browsers like Lynx....

Understanding the Windows runas command with the /netonly switch, which allows running programs with different network credentials while keeping local credentials unchanged....

How to identify and remove phantom or ghost network adapters that accumulate in virtual machines, using Device Manager's hidden devices view and devcon utility....

Coverage of the Microsoft Community Day event, featuring presentations on Hyper-V, Server Core, and other Windows Server 2008 technologies....

Microsoft has officially released Hyper-V to manufacturing (RTM), marking the production-ready availability of their hypervisor technology....

Reflecting on Bill Gates' last full-time day at Microsoft and his transition to focusing on the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation....

A curated collection of resources for deploying Hyper-V in production environments, including documentation, best practices, and community guides....

An analysis of how Hyper-V positions against VMware ESX, noting that while Hyper-V won't replace VMware, it brings welcome competition to the server virtualization market....

Microsoft's support policy for running Exchange Server in Hyper-V virtual machines, including supported configurations and performance considerations....

A collection of videos from the Hyper-V product team explaining the architecture and inner workings of the hypervisor technology....

Workarounds for providing audio playback from Hyper-V virtual machines, since Hyper-V does not natively support audio in VMs....

A comprehensive collection of useful links for Hyper-V administrators, including documentation, blog posts, and tools from the community....

Guide to configuring print services in Windows Server 2008, including the new Print Management console and improved printer sharing capabilities....

The concept of a virtualised hardware hotel - a centralized facility for hosting virtualized server infrastructure, and how organizations can benefit from this approach....

How to find and access the Mail Control Panel applet on 64-bit Windows systems, where it can be hidden due to 32/64-bit application differences....

Microsoft has released the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool, which automates the process of applying updates to offline virtual machine images....

A technical comparison of Microsoft Hyper-V and the Xen hypervisor as implemented in Red Hat Enterprise Linux, covering performance, features, and management capabilities....

The Windows Server User Group UK now has a presence on LinkedIn, providing another way for members to connect and network with fellow IT professionals....

A tool to convert Windows Server 2008 into a workstation-class operating system by enabling desktop features and optimizing settings for daily desktop use....

Understanding the different versions and editions of Hyper-V, including standalone Hyper-V Server and the role included with Windows Server 2008....

How disconnected remote desktop sessions can cause account lockouts when passwords are changed, and strategies to prevent this common issue....

Step-by-step instructions for upgrading from pre-release versions of Hyper-V to the RTM release, ensuring virtual machines are preserved during the upgrade....

Latest news from Microsoft on virtualization, including Hyper-V updates, System Center Virtual Machine Manager improvements, and the virtualization roadmap....

How to use the Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) for efficient file distribution across networks, with examples of PowerShell scripts for BITS management....

Core Configurator is a utility by former MVP Guy Teverovsky that provides a GUI for configuring Windows Server Core installations. Download it while it's still available....

Offline store (.OST) files and features that rely on them are disabled when running Outlook on a server with Terminal Services enabled, by design....

A new user group has started - the Active Directory UK user group (ADUG) - aiming to build a community of Active Directory users, be they experts or beginners....

Microsoft is running a series of webcasts under MCS Talks covering infrastructure architecture, core infrastructure, messaging, security, PKI, identity management, and more....