With the new Windows 8.1 Update arriving this week (unless you use WSUS), I grabbed the updated Administrative Templates for Group Policy. I use a Central Store for my environment, so I copied the updated .admx templates to there and now all policy administrators have the updated policies to manage the new settings. I was specifically looking for the new Internet Explorer 11 … [Read more...]
Use Visio in your documentation with official stencils
Out of date documentation is a bane to system administrators. Bad documentation can almost be worse than no documentation. One way to improve your documentation is to make it visual. This makes it easier to understand at a glance and also means there is less typing to document the information. I always find it helps to remember that documentation might be for you now or others … [Read more...]
Grab the latest HP server firmware updates while you can
HP published a facetious post yesterday to their Technical Support Services Blog. In it, they try to spin their decision to stop providing firmware updates to customers not under warranty and belittles those criticizing their decision. Besides the marketing speak, we learn that HP says this change will take effect February 19th, 2014. Despite the fact that I saw it blocking … [Read more...]
Customizing Windows 8.1 for deployment
I was hoping to hit the ground running when Windows 8.1 reached general availability and get everything ready for deployment pretty quickly. Unfortunately, some other projects came up and Windows 8.1 got put off to the side. Even more detrimental to the project was the fact that Windows 8.1 changed how things worked compared to my customized Windows 7 SP1 deployment. Namely, … [Read more...]
Android apps for the sysadmin
If you have your smartphone or tablet with you all the time, you might as well get the most out of it. For IT professionals, some of these apps for Android may make your device even more handy. In no particular order... Name Price Description PC Monitor Free Monitor up to 5 systems for free for non-commercial use. It ties into the service at www.mobilepcmonitor.com, if … [Read more...]