After logging into a Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Core installation you may use the following commands to configure the hostname of the server.
1. powershell
2. hostname
3. Rename-Computer HOSTNAME
4. shutdown -r -t 00
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Core – Configure Hostname
Group Policy Object – Disable Windows PowerShell
You may use a Microsoft Active Directory (AD) Group Policy Object (GPO) to restrict access to the Windows PowerShell. Below you will find the settings for this configuration.
Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Software Restrictions > Additional Rules
Right click Additional Rules and select New Path Rule…. In the New Path Rule dialog box, enter C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe for the Path:, and select Disallowed for the Security level:, then click OK.
Group Policy Object – Disable Server Manager
You may create a Group Policy Object (GPO) to prevent access to the Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Server Manager as well as prevent it from opening automatically after login. Below you will find the settings for this configuration.
Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > System > Server Manager > Do not display Server Manager automatically at logon
User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > System > Don’t run specified Windows applications
Group Policy Object – Hide Drives in My Computer
You may use the following setting to configure a Group Policy Object (GPO) in Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 that will allow you to restrict access to local drives in My Computer.
User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer > Hide these specified drives in My Computer
Telnet – Testing Network Ports
You may use the command below, in the Windows command prompt or Windows PowerShell, to verify network ports are open on a specific host in your network. The example below is verifying that port Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port 80 is open on Internet Protocol (IP) address 192.168.1.1.
Syntax: telnet <<<HOST>>> <<<PORT>>>
Example: telnet 192.168.1.1 80
Cisco Unified Computing System – Diagnostics for the Unified Computing System (UCS)
The following is a step by step guide running the Cisco Unified Computing System blade diagnostic utility.
- Mount the ucs-blade-server-diags.1.0.1b.iso which may be found here.
- On the Unified Computing System Blade Server Diagnostics homepage select Offline Diagnostics (GUI).
- On the UCS Blade Diagnostics v1.0(1b) page select < Accept >.
- On the UCS Blade Diagnostics UCS B200 M3 page select Diagnostic Tools > Tests > Comprehensive Tests > Run all comprehensive tests.
- After the completion of the Comprehensive Tests the output will be provided.
Symantec Endpoint Protection – CleanWipe Uninstallation
The following is a step by step guide for uninstalling Symantec Endpoint Protection 12.1.6 using CleanWipe.
- Right click CleanWipe.exe and select Run as administrator.
- On the CleanWipe dialog box click Next >.
- On the CleanWipe – License agreement dialog box click the check box to select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next >.
- On the CleanWipe – Products dialog box click the check box to select Client Software and click Next >.
- On the CleanWipe – Options dialog box click Next >.
- On the CleanWipe dialog box click OK to reboot the server.
- On the CleanWipe – Progress dialog box click Next >.
- Open the temporary files location.
- On the Removal Completed dialog box click Finish.
- Upon reboot verify the application has been uninstalled in the Programs and Features window.
Microsoft Windows PowerShell – Scheduling a Microsoft Windows PowerShell Script
You may use the following settings to configure a Microsoft Windows PowerShell script to run as an automated task in Task Scheduler. This is a very helpful feature for running scripts during the evening.
- General
- When running the task, use the following user account: DOMAIN\– USERNAME
- Run whether user is logged on or not
- Actions
- Start a program
- powershell.exe -file “<<<INSERT PATH TO SCRIPT>>>”
- Settings
- Allow task to be run on demand
- run task as soon as possible after a scheduled start is missed
- Stop the task if it runs longer than: 3 days
- If the running task does not end when requested, force it to stop
Dell OpenManage Essentials 2.1 – Configure Email Server Settings
Dell OpenManage Essentials 2.1 may be configured to provide email alerts for hardware failures and loss of network connectivity to the servers is manages. The email settings may be found below.
Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 8 – Command Line Reset
You may use the following (2) commands from a Microsoft Windows Server command prompt or Microsoft Windows PowerShell to remotely reset an Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 8 (iDRAC8).
racadm racreset soft
racadm racreset hard –f