Enable remote access to server manager for 2008 servers

Enable remote access to server manager for 2008 servers

1.    Log on as an administrator to the remote server by using the console or by using Remote Desktop Services.
2.    Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
3.    At the command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
winrm quickconfig
4.    Connect to the remote server by using Server Manager.

Note: You do not have to restart the remote server.

Folder redirection and Group Policy for Server 2003

This article discusses the Folder Redirection feature and how it can be used, particularly by administrators.

Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows 2000 Server have a feature that can redirect specific user folders to server locations by using a Group Policy extension called Folder Redirection. By default, the Folder Redirection feature enables the user to have exclusive access to the redirected folder.

Many administrators want the Folder Redirection feature to enable a user's folders to be automatically redirected to a newly created folder for each user, but, at the same time, to have the Administrators group automatically added to the NTFS file system's access control list (ACL).

Server 2008: get notificatons from tasks

Server 2008: get notificatons from tasks

Open Server Manager, expand Diagnotics | Event Viewer | Windows Logs | Microsoft | Backup | Operational

Right click the desired event, and Attach a Task......
in 2003 you will need a script.

For example: you may want to send yourself a mail when a standard backup has completed: and be warned of any errors!

Apply company desktop theme via Group Policy

Apply company desktop theme via Group Policy

You could create a custom Windows theme by modifying an existing "default" one by changing the background colour, then apply this by group policy under -

User configuration - administrative templates - control panel - display - desktop themes - load a specific visual style file or force windows classic

The default location for windows themes is %windir%\resources\themes

Copy the style file(s) to all machines or a network location and in conjunction with the above GPO specify the desktop background and job should be done...

Fix missing PCs in WSUS Console

Fix missing PCs in WSUS Console

I (like most admins) use ghost to prep new or repaired workstations. I don't do a sysprep after the image is built.

This can lead to these new machines not showing up in the WSUS console even after a "wuauclt /resetauthorization /detectnow" : although they do pick up the updates anyway.