Behind the feature “Automatic Virtual Machine Activation” is a function in Microsoft Windows Server 2012R2 Datacenter, Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Datacenter and Microsoft Windows Server 2019 Datacenter for Hyper-V, but it works only with the Datacenter Edition activated. With this feature, all supported Windows Server operating systems since Microsoft Windows Server 2012R2 can be automatically activated by the Hyper-V host. But only up to the own version, which means that a Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter Hyper-V cannot activate Windows Server 2016. The limitation of this feature to the Datacenter Edition is due to the unlimited Virtual Windows Server Guests covered by the Datacenter License. The advantage is that it is now easier to assign the license to the corresponding datacenter license during a software audit on the AVMA license key.
Microsoft Windows
German Federal Office for Information Security (German BSI) security recommendations for Windows 10
The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has published new documents on Microsoft Windows 10 and how to secure it. I looked at the BSI security recommendations for Windows 10 before I wanted to report on them. The background to this is that in the past, publications in this direction were sometimes more than outdated when they were published or they were very superficial.
Intune packaging made simple
I like to work with installation wrappers for packaging. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) or Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (MECM) or the Microsoft Deploment Tollkit (MDT), I have also used them for Microsoft Intune packaging.
Software management with Chocolatey
This time it is about a so-called “freemium” software management solution. Feemium is made up of the two words “Free” and “Premium” and means that the software can be used free of charge, but certain functions cost extra. With mobile apps, this also means banner ads and annoying video commercials, but that is not the case here. This article is exclusively about the free version.
A new home for the downloads
After my download solution annoyed me a few times, I outsourced the download. The new home for the downloads is GitHub. This also makes it easier for me to maintain and update.
The Windows 10 Sandbox
The Microsoft Windows 10 Sandbox is a new security feature in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise. The idea behind it is to try something out in a safe “sandbox”. For example, installing a potentially insecure application.
Let’s get started with the sandbox game….
What’s new in the Windows 10 LTSC and Office LTSC lifecycle?
Microsoft is changing its product life cycle for the Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) for Office and Windows. Some will still know the LTSC version as LTSB. Previously, this Windows 10 version, which was not intended for office environments, had a life cycle of 10 years. Microsoft Office LTSC, also known as Microsoft Office 2016 and Microsoft Office 2019) also had 10 years at the beginning, but this has already been reduced to 7 years with MS Office 2019
“Domain Controller Enforcement mode” will be activated as of 9 February 2021
With the security update of 11 August 2020, Microsoft has addressed a security vulnerability (CVE-2020-1472). This has not yet been closed automatically, as compatibility problems may occur. How to close the vulnerability beforehand is explained in KB article 455722.
Network installation with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit – Part 4: Integration of the Base Image and the Windows Deployment Service
This is the last part of the article series. The series consists of Part 1 is “Network Installation with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit – Part 1: Notes, Preparation and Setup“, Part 2 is “Network Installation with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit – Part 2: Service Account, Drivers, Software, Base Image Considerations” and Part 3 is “Network Installation with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit – Part 3: Task Sequences.”
Network Installation with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit – Part 3: Creating Task Sequences
This is the penultimate part of the article series. Part 1 is “Network Installation with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit – Part 1: Notes, Preparation and Setup” and Part 2 is “Network Installation with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit – Part 2: Service Account, Drivers, Software, Base Image Considerations”
