Windows Management Framework (WMF) 5.0 RTM released (again)

Microsoft just re-released the new version of Windows Management Framework (WMF) 5.0 RTM for Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 2008 R2 SP1, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 SP1.

The PowerShell Team previously released WMF 5.0 RTM two months ago but it was pulled-back mainly because of the $PSmodulePath issue.

Download WMF5

Changes in the republished packages

• The KB numbers of these packages (KB3134758, KB3134759, and KB3134760) are different than previously released WMF 5.0 RTM packages (KB3094174, KB3094175, and KB3094176).
• These packages have fixes only for the PSModulePath issue compared to the previously released WMF 5.0 RTM packages.

Uninstall previously released WMF 5.0 RTM packages

You must uninstall previously released WMF 5.0 RTM (KB3094174, KB3094175, and KB3094176) packages.

No impact to Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview builds

Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 Technical Previews builds are not impacted by the above mentioned PSModulePath issue. This issue was only impacting down-level systems where WMF 5.0 RTM can be installed.

To install WMF 5.0 by using Command Prompt

1. After you have downloaded the correct package for your computer's architecture, open a Command Prompt window with elevated user rights (Run as Administrator). On the Server Core installation options of Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2012 or Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Command Prompt opens with elevated user rights by default.
2. Change directories to the folder into which you have downloaded or copied the WMF 5.0 installation package.
3. Run one of the following commands.

• On computers that are running Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows 8.1 x64, run Win7AndW2K8R2-KB3134760-x64.msu /quiet
• On computers that are running Windows Server 2012, run W2K12-KB3134759-x64.msu /quiet
• On computers that are running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or Windows 7 SP1 x64, run Win7AndW2K8R2-KB3134760-x64.msu /quiet
• On computers that are running Windows 8.1 x86, run Win8.1-KB3134758-x86.msu /quiet
• On computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 x86, run Win7-KB3134760-x86.msu /quiet

Overview of all scenarios enabled by WMF 5.0

• New and updated cmdlets based on community feedback
• Generate Windows PowerShell cmdlets based on an OData endpoint with ODataUtils
• Manage .ZIP archives through new cmdlets
• Interact with symbolic links using improved Item cmdlets
• Network Switch management with Windows PowerShell
• DSC authoring improvements in Windows PowerShell ISE
• 32-bit support for the configuration keyword in DSC
• Audit Windows PowerShell usage by transcription and logging
• Extract and parse structured object out of string content
• Configure DSC’s Local Configuration Manager with the meta-configuration attribute
• Configure piece by piece with partial configurations in DSC
• Manage with cross-computer dependencies in DSC
• More control over configurations in DSC
• Find more detail about configuration status in DSC
• Support for -? during DSC configuration compilation
• Support for DSC RunAsCredential
• Rich information for DSC LCM State
• Side-by-Side installation of DSC Resources
• PSDesiredStateConfiguration Module version updated to 1.1
• Discover and install software with PackageManagement
• Discover modules and DSC resources with PowerShellGet
• Develop with classes in Windows PowerShell
• More control and remoting in Windows PowerShell Debugging
• Report configuration status from DSC to a central location
• Software Inventory Logging.

Resources

• PowerShell Team Blog Article
• Get WMF5 on Microsoft Download
• MSDN Documentation WMF 5.0 RTM Release Notes Overview

PowerShell 5.0

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, leave a comment or send me an email at fxcat@lazywinadmin.com. I invite you to follow me on Twitter @lazywinadm / Google+ / LinkedIn. You can also follow the LazyWinAdmin Blog on Facebook Page and Google+ Page.

Microsoft MVP 2016 for Cloud and Datacenter Management

It is a great pleasure and honor to receive for a third year the PowerShell MVP Cloud and DataCenter Management MVP Award!!!

Chère/Cher Francois-Xavier Cat,

Félicitations! Nous sommes heureux de vous remettre le titre MVP Microsoft® 2016! Ce titre est accordé aux leaders d'exception de la communauté technique qui partagent activement leur expertise pratique de grande qualité. Nous apprécions vos remarquables contributions dans les communautés techniques Cloud and Datacenter Management lors de cette année passée.

HUGE thanks to my family, friends and people who support me!!!!!

Some updates:
In the recent months, I have been really busy on many projects at work involving, of course a great deal of automation and using the System Center Suite. Working in the game industry is really fun but you’ve got to keep up the high pace. I'll start blogging soon and I already have a bunch of drafts. There are also a couple of nice scripts and Github projects that I'd like to get out there, and get them eventually published on the PowerShell gallery.

Another reason why I wasn't super present, my girlfriend is currently studying abroad. She returns only during the winter holidays and summer breaks, so I was away from my computer. One has to know one’s priorities!! :-)

Last year, I had organised a few successful PowerShell User Group meetings and I'm looking forward to organizing some more in the coming weeks. The Meetup group is growing fast and it currently shows 126 members; I might need to find a bigger meeting room!!!

Stay tuned!

Microsoft Ignite 2015 in Chicago

This week I will be in Chicago, Illinois to attend the Microsoft Ignite 2015. The last time I was in Chicago was for the Marathon in 2012. I kept a great souvenir of the city and people were super nice!

This time I'm going to attend the Microsoft Ignite all week but first I will meet my coworkers at the NetherRealm video games studio (where they work on Mortal Kombat) and visit their workplace.



If you want to meet me, I'm planning to attend sessions related to Nano servers, Docker/Containers, Windows Server/System Center and anything interesting on Automation.

I will also be at the Scripting Guys and Sapien Booth:

• Scripting Guys Booth - Tuesday May 5 - 10:30am
• Sapien Technologies Booth #355 - Wednesday May 6 - 3:00pm

Willis Tower

Running the Chicago's Marathon in 2012
Marathon is a 26 miles/42 km race, I finished in 3 hours and 20 minutes! :-)

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, leave a comment or send me an email at fxcat@lazywinadmin.com. I invite you to follow me on Twitter @lazywinadm / Google+ / LinkedIn. You can also follow the LazyWinAdmin Blog on Facebook Page and Google+ Page.

Microsoft MVP 2015 for PowerShell !

What an Amazing way to start the year !!! It is a great pleasure and honor to receive the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for a second year for my contributions in Windows PowerShell. Can't wait to stack the 2015 ring on the MVP Award trophy!

HUGE Thank you to my family, friends and people who support me!!!

Chère/Cher Francois-Xavier Cat, 

Félicitations! Nous sommes heureux de vous remettre la récompense MVP Microsoft® 2015! Cette récompense est accordée aux leaders d'exception de la communauté technique qui partagent activement leur expertise pratique de grande qualité. Nous apprécions vos remarquables contributions dans les communautés techniques PowerShell lors de cette année passée.

Cloning Windows Server 2008 R2 - Use Sysprep (no more NewSID)

Source

It is not uncommon for system administrators to clone virtual servers or take an image of physical servers running Windows Server 2008 these days. There are plenty of tools to do that these days (Ghost, Acronis, Platespin for P2V conversions, etc.) If this is something you do regularly then you won’t be unfamiliar with Sysprep or NewSID, but according to Mark Russinovich at Microsoft, the SID doesn’t matter and Sysinternals have now retired NewSID (written by Mark). NewSID isn’t supported in Windows Server 2008 and the only option now is to use Sysprep. Whilst the facts presented on Mark’s blog are correct, I have personally seen many issues cloning or imaging Windows Server 2008 machines that haven’t been cloned with Sysprep first. Let me present a typical scenario that would cause problems here.

Bill Gates: How a Geek Changed the World [Video]

Bill Gates: How a Geek Changed the World [Video]


Just before he stepped down from Microsoft, BBC2’s “The Money Programme” put together a special on Bill Gates and how he made the company into a money making machine. Those of you who love geek history will definitely enjoy this hour long documentary video.