IT Library

How to: Interact with Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services) for Windows Server with PowerShell

2011-10-18T20:06:00.000-07:00

How to: Interact with Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services) for Windows Server with PowerShell

Install this: http://archive.msdn.microsoft.com/PSTerminalServices

Here is an example of logging off all disconnected sessions except the one with a username 'usernameX':

Get-TSSession -Filter {$_.Username -notlike 'usernameX' -And $_.ConnectionState -like 'Disconnected'} | Stop-TSSession -force

How to: Get a List of all Installed Applications on Windows Server (VBScript)

2011-10-17T13:23:00.000-07:00

How to: Get a List of all Installed Applications on Windows Server (VBScript)

strComputer = "."

Const HKLM = &h80000002

Set objCtx = CreateObject("WbemScripting.SWbemNamedValueSet")

objCtx.Add "__ProviderArchitecture", 32

objCtx.Add "__RequiredArchitecture", TRUE

Set objLocator = CreateObject("Wbemscripting.SWbemLocator")

Set objServices = objLocator.ConnectServer("","root\default","","",,,,objCtx)

Set objStdRegProv = objServices.Get("StdRegProv")

WScript.Echo "32-bit Applications"

WScript.echo "-------------------"

Call GetApplications

objCtx.Add "__ProviderArchitecture", 64

objCtx.Add "__RequiredArchitecture", TRUE

Set objLocator = CreateObject("Wbemscripting.SWbemLocator")

Set objServices = objLocator.ConnectServer("","root\default","","",,,,objCtx)

Set objStdRegProv = objServices.Get("StdRegProv")

WScript.Echo "64-bit Applications"

WScript.echo "-------------------"

Call GetApplications

Sub GetApplications

' Use ExecMethod to call the GetStringValue method

Set Inparams = objStdRegProv.Methods_("EnumKey").Inparameters

Inparams.Hdefkey = HKLM

Inparams.Ssubkeyname = "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\"

set Outparams = objStdRegProv.ExecMethod_("EnumKey", Inparams,,objCtx)

For Each strSubKey In Outparams.snames

Set Inparams = objStdRegProv.Methods_("GetStringValue").Inparameters

Inparams.Hdefkey = HKLM

Inparams.Ssubkeyname = "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\" & strSubKey

Inparams.Svaluename = "DisplayName"

set Outparams = objStdRegProv.ExecMethod_("GetStringValue", Inparams,,objCtx)

if ("" & Outparams.sValue) = "" then

'wscript.echo strSubKey

Else

wscript.echo Outparams.SValue

End iF

'Inparams.Svaluename = "QuietDisplayName"

'set Outparams = objStdRegProv.ExecMethod_("GetStringValue", Inparams,,objCtx)

'wscript.echo Outparams.SValue

End Sub

Reference: http://david.gardiner.net.au/2007/03/listing-installed-applications-on-vista.html

How to: Find if a Windows Server is a DC (VBScript)

2011-10-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

How to: Find if a Windows Server is a DC (VBScript)

Computer = "." ' use "." for local computer

WScript.Echo DomainRole(sComputer)

Function DomainRole(sNode)

Set oWMI = GetObject("winmgmts:" & "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & Computer & "\root\cimv2")

Set colComputer = oWMI.ExecQuery ("Select DomainRole from Win32_ComputerSystem")

For Each oComputer in colComputer

iDR = oComputer.DomainRole

Select Case iDR

Case 0

DomainRole = "Standalone Workstation"

Case 1

DomainRole = "Member Workstation"

Case 2

DomainRole = "Standalone Server"

Case 3

DomainRole = "Member Server"

Case 4

DomainRole = "Backup Domain Controller"

Case 5

DomainRole = "Primary Domain Controller"

Case Else

DomainRole = "Unknown"

End Select

End Function

How to: List and Delete Shadow Copies in Windows Server 2008

2011-10-12T10:10:00.001-07:00

How to: List and Delete Shadow Copies in Windows Server 2008

Vssadmin is deprecated in Windows Server 2008. Diskshadow is the equivalent to perform Shadow Copy administration. Here is an example of listing and deleting the shadow copies.

cmd>Diskshadow.exe

DISKSHADOW> List Shadows All

DISKSHADOW> Delete Shadows All

DISKSHADOW> help

The following is a list of DiskShadow commands. For more information about a command, type the command name.

All inputs in the form of must be replaced with parameters or environment variable aliases.

LIST WRITERS - List all writers on the computer.

LIST SHADOWS - List all volume shadow copies on the computer.

LIST PROVIDERS - List all VSS providers on the computer.

SET - List all current option settings and all DiskShadow aliases that are in the environment variable settings.

SET CONTEXT - Set the shadow copy context.

SET OPTION - Set options regarding the shadow copy and autorecovery.

SET VERBOSE - Change verbose output mode for DiskShadow.

SET METADATA - Specify the name of a .cab file to store metadata for transportable shadow copies.

SIMULATE RESTORE - Simulate a restore operation.

LOAD METADATA - Load a Backup Components Document before importing a transportable shadow copy or performing a restore operation.

IMPORT - Import shadow copies based on the metadata specified in a previous LOAD command.

WRITER VERIFY - Specify that the backup or restore operation must fail if the writer or component is not included.

WRITER EXCLUDE - Excludes a writer or component from backup or restore.

ADD - List currently added aliases and volumes.

ADD ALIAS - Add an alias.

ADD VOLUME - Add a volume to the shadow copy creation set.

ADD SHADOW - Add a shadow copy to the recovery set.

CREATE - Create a volume shadow copy set.

EXEC - Execute the specified shell command script.

BEGIN BACKUP - Begin a full backup.

BEGIN RESTORE - Begin a restore.

END BACKUP - Ends a full backup.

END RESTORE - Ends a restore.

EXPOSE - Expose a shadow copy.

UNEXPOSE - Unexpose a shadow copy.

REVERT - Revert a shadow copy.

RESYNC - Hardware shadow copy revert.

BREAK - Break a shadow copy.

MASK - Hide an imported hardware shadow copy from the system.

DELETE SHADOWS - Delete shadow copies.

RESET - Reset DiskShadow to its original state.

EXIT - Exits DiskShadow.

DISKSHADOW>

How to: Run PowerShell Scripts or Command with Full Privileges

2011-10-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

Here are two useful scripts from powershell.com for running a PowerShell command or script with Full privileges:

Executing PowerShell Commands with Full Privileges

If a script needs to run only particular commands with full Administrator privileges, you can run those in a separate elevated shell.

$code = "md $env:windir\newfolder | Out-Null"

if ((Test-Path $env:windir\newfolder) -eq $false) {

Start-Process powershell.exe -Verb RunAs -ArgumentList "-noprofile -windowstyle hidden -command $code"

}

if ((Test-Path $env:windir\newfolder) -eq $false) {

'Folder still does not exist, something went wrong'

} else {

'Folder was created with admin privileges'

}

Running Script with Full Privileges

On UAC-enabled systems, to make sure a script is running with full admin privileges, add this code at the beginning of your script:

param([switch]$Elevated)

function Test-Admin {

$currentUser = New-Object Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal $([Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent())

$currentUser.IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltinRole]::Administrator)

}

if ((Test-Admin) -eq $false) {

if ($elevated) {

# tried to elevate, did not work, aborting

} else {

Start-Process powershell.exe -Verb RunAs -ArgumentList ('-noprofile -noexit -file "{0}" -elevated' -f ($myinvocation.MyCommand.Definition))

}

exit

}

'running with full privileges'

How to: Install SharePoint Server 2010 on Windows Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2008 R2

2011-10-11T10:26:00.001-07:00

http://andreasglaser.net/post/2009/11/17/Installing-SharePoint-Server-2010-on-Windows-Server-2008-R2-and-SQL-Server-2008-R2-Part-1-Overview.aspx

How to: Automate Sharepoint 2010 installation

2011-10-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Links : autospinstaller.codeplex.com

How to: Use Powershell Text-to-Speech Function

2011-10-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

Text-to-Speech

Here is a fun function that converts text to speech. It even has a switch parameter called -Drunk to change the voice accordingly:

function Out-Text {

param(

[Parameter(Mandatory=$true)]

$Text,

[switch]

$Drunk

)

$object = New-Object -ComObject SAPI.SpVoice

if ($drunk) { $object.Rate = -10 }

$object.Speak($text) | Out-Null

}

This tip is from powershell.com

How to: Fix the Slow Tab in SCOM 2007 Powershell

2011-10-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

Run FixTab.ps1 to fix the Slow Tab expansion in SCOM 2007

Code: FixTab.ps1

$tabExpand = (get-item function:\tabexpansion).Definition
if($tabExpand -match 'try {Resolve-Path.{49}(?=;)')
{
$tabExpand = $tabExpand.Replace($matches[0], "if((get-location).Provider.Name -ne 'OperationsManagerMonitoring'){ $($matches[0]) }" )
invoke-expression "function TabExpansion{$tabExpand}"
}

How to test:

PS># How long does it take to tab expand "get-manage[TAB]"
PS># before...
PS>measure-command {TabExpansion 'get-manage' 'get-manage' } | select TotalSeconds

TotalSeconds : 9.6371766
PS># after...
PS>measure-command {TabExpansion 'get-manage' 'get-manage' } | select TotalSeconds

TotalSeconds : 0.0091002

Reference:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/momteam/archive/2009/12/09/slow-tab-expansion-in-ops-mgr-powershell-v2-console.aspx

How to: Install RSAT for Windows Server 2008

2011-02-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

servermanagercmd -install RSAT-Role-Tools -allSubFeatures

other options for servermanagercmd:

-query: Output a list of the roles and features currently installed on your server. This command also shows you the roles and features that are available, but not yet installed.

-install: Installs the roles or features that you specify on the command line. Add -allSubFeatures to the command line when using this command in order to add the supporting roles/features to a specified parent role/feature. Also, some components require a server reboot in order to complete. To automate a server restart that takes place after the installation of a role/feature requiring a restart, use -restart

-remove: This is the opposite of the install command and removes the specified roles or features.

For a full list of roles and feature that you can install via command line visit: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/install-windows-server-2008-features-with-servermanagercmd/294

How to: Install SNMP for Windows Server 2008 from command line

2011-02-21T13:04:00.000-08:00

servermanagercmd -install -allSubFeatures SNMP-Services

other options for servermanagercmd:

-query: Output a list of the roles and features currently installed on your server. This command also shows you the roles and features that are available, but not yet installed.

-install: Installs the roles or features that you specify on the command line. Add -allSubFeatures to the command line when using this command in order to add the supporting roles/features to a specified parent role/feature. Also, some components require a server reboot in order to complete. To automate a server restart that takes place after the installation of a role/feature requiring a restart, use -restart

-remove: This is the opposite of the install command and removes the specified roles or features.

For a full list of roles and feature that you can install via command line visit: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/datacenter/install-windows-server-2008-features-with-servermanagercmd/294

How to: Set SNMP settings through registry

2010-01-27T15:49:00.000-08:00

Here is the registry settings to set SNMP configuration:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SNMP\Parameters\PermittedManagers]
"1"="Server1"
"2"="Server2"
"3"="localhost"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SNMP\Parameters\RFC1156Agent]
"sysContact"="Company INC"
"sysLocation"="Location"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SNMP\Parameters\TrapConfiguration\#Readonlykey#]
"1"="trapserver1"
"2"="trapserver2"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SNMP\Parameters\ValidCommunities]
"#Readonlykey#"=dword:00000004
"#Readwritekey#"=dword:00000008

note: The read only key is #Readonlykey#,
and the read/write key is #Readwritekey#

This works on Windows Server 2000/2003/2008 (UAC needs to be off).

How to: Stop services from command line Windows Server 2000/2003/2008

2010-01-27T15:40:00.000-08:00

To stop a service from command line you can use the following commands:

net stop "Service name"

For example:

net stop "Automatic Updates"

How to: Install Recovery console from command line for Windows Server 2000/2003

2010-01-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

To install recovery console run the following command:

.\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons /noreboot /unattend

This command will install the recovery console silently.

How to: Registry file to Turn off SNP features (kb948496)

2010-01-27T15:30:00.000-08:00

Registry settings to turn off SNP (this requires a reboot):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters]
"EnableTCPA"=dword:00000000
"EnableRSS"=dword:00000000
"EnableTCPChimney"=dword:00000000

If you want to turn off TCP/IP offloading without a reboot, take a look at this.

Link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948496

How to: Install SNMP through command line for Windows Server 2000/2003

2010-01-27T15:13:00.000-08:00

1. Create the following text file (ocm.txt and place it on %SystemDrive%):

[NetOptionalComponents]
SNMP = 1
[SNMP]

2. Create a batch file with the following line:

%windir%\system32\sysocmgr.exe /i:%windir%\inf\sysoc.inf /u:"%SystemDrive%\ocm.txt"

Run the batch file and it'll install SNMP.

I've tested this on Windows Server 2000 and 2003 (x32 and x64).

How to: Disable a service with VBScript

2010-01-27T15:09:00.000-08:00

Here is a script to disable a windows service (in this example service 'wuauserv' is being disabled):

strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
Set colServiceList = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_Service " _
& "where Name='wuauserv'")
For Each objService In colServiceList
StartMode = UCase(objService.StartMode)

If (StartMode = "MANUAL") Or (StartMode = "AUTO") Then
errReturnCode = objService.ChangeStartMode("Disabled")
End If
Next

I've tested this script with Windows Server 2000/2003.

How to: disable TCP/IP offloading in Windows Server 2003 by command line

2010-01-27T13:51:00.000-08:00

To disable TCP/IP offloading in Windows Server 2003 use the following command:

Netsh int ip set chimney DISABLED

To Enable TCP/IP offloading in Windows Server 2003 use the following command:

Netsh int ip set chimney DISABLED

How to: add a user account to a local group in Windows Server 2000 and 2003 by command line

2010-01-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

To add a user account to a local group by command line use the following command:

net localgroup "{groupname}" "{useraccount}" /add

example: net localgroup "Administrators" "MyAccount" /add

How to: create a user account in Windows Server 2000 and 2003 by command line

2010-01-27T13:34:00.000-08:00

To create a user account by command line in Windows Server 2000/2003 use the following commands:

net user {username} {password} /add /expires:never