Azure - Deploy and automatically domain join a VM with Azure Automation Runbooks

I was looking for a way to deploy and automatically domain join a VM in Azure. The solution was quite simple: Azure Automation. I found the blog post of DexterPOSH very useful, but the script doesn’t work for me. Follow the steps on his blog and use this script below. I’ll update this post if I find some improvements. Don’t forget to update the domain in the Add-Computer part. To-Do list: - Custom static IP as variable. ...

18-02-2015 · 3 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg

Azure - Automatically deploy a VM in Azure (Runbook)

I was looking for a way to automatically deploy a VM in Azure. The solution was quite simple: Azure Automation. I found the blog post of DexterPOSH very useful, but the script doesn’t work for me. Follow the steps on his blog and use this script below. I’ll update this post if I find some improvements. To-Do list: Custom static IP as variable. Custom domain as variable. workflow Deploy-NonJoined-VM { param( [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $VMName, [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $ServiceName = "contoso<Insert name>", [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $InstanceSize = "Small", [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $VMImageName = "Specify custom or default image name", [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $AzureSubscriptionName = "Subscription-1", [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $StorageAccountName = "contoso", [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $VMSubnetName = "subnet-1", [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $VMVnetName = "CORP.contoso.com", [parameter(Mandatory)] [String] $VMAffinityGroup = "West-Europe" ) $verbosepreference = 'continue' #Change this to your needs $DomainJoinAccount = "Domain Join Account" $LocalAccount = "LocalAdmin" $AutomationAccount = "Azure Automation Account" #Get the Credentials to authenticate agains Azure Write-Verbose -Message "Getting the Credentials" $Cred = Get-AutomationPSCredential -Name $AutomationAccount $LocalCred = Get-AutomationPSCredential -Name $LocalAccount $DomainCred = Get-AutomationPSCredential -Name $DomainJoinAccount #Add the Account to the Workflow Write-Verbose -Message "Adding the Azure Automation Account to Authenticate" Add-AzureAccount -Credential $Cred #select the Subscription Write-Verbose -Message "Selecting the $AzureSubscriptionName Subscription" Select-AzureSubscription -SubscriptionName $AzureSubscriptionName #Set the Storage for the Subscrption Write-Verbose -Message "Setting the Storage Account for the Subscription" Set-AzureSubscription -SubscriptionName $AzureSubscriptionName -CurrentStorageAccountName $StorageAccountName #Select the most recent Server 2012 R2 Image Write-Verbose -Message "Getting the Image details" $imagename = Get-AzureVMImage | where-object -filterscript { $_.ImageName -eq $VMImageName } | Sort-Object -Descending -Property PublishedDate | Select-Object -First 1 | select -ExpandProperty ImageName #use the above Image selected to build a new VM and wait for it to Boot $Username = $LocalCred.UserName $Password = $LocalCred.GetNetworkCredential().Password New-AzureQuickVM -Windows -ServiceName $ServiceName -Name $VMName -ImageName $imagename -Password $Password -AdminUsername $Username -SubnetNames $VMSubnetName -VNetName $VMVnetName -InstanceSize $InstanceSize -AffinityGroup $VMAffinityGroup -WaitForBoot Write-Verbose -Message "The VM is created and booted up now.. Deployment done." } #Workflow end

18-02-2015 · 2 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg

Windows Storage Spaces - Remove physical disk from storage pool with PowerShell

I have an Intel NUC with 8 GB as media center and Hyper-V host for a test domain controller. I attached 2 physical external disks (1x 2,5" USB 3, 1x 3,5" USB 2) and created a storage pool. A couple of weeks later, I bought a new 2,5" USB 3 disk with 1 TB to replace the older USB 2.0 disk. That disk is a lot quieter than the older one. ...

02-01-2015 · 3 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg

SCCM - Unable to connect to WMI (root\ccm) on remote machine

Problem The following error occurs in the ccm.log when doing a remote client install: Unable to connect to WMI (root\ccm) on remote machine “COMPUTER” Solution Allow the following rules in Windows Firewall: Outbound and inbound: File and Printer Sharing Inbound: Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

28-12-2014 · 1 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg

Citrix XenApp 6.5: the central store inspection failed (Single Sign-On)

I was training for my Citrix XenApp 6.5 certification. When I was running the “Configure and discovery” wizard in the Citrix XenApp application, I received the error below. I presume that SSO is already installed. Make sure you login as a Domain Admin on your domain controller. (Very important) Cancel the wizard and start the XenApp 6.5 CD on your domain controller. Browse to Manually install components -> Server Components -> Additional Features -> Single Sign-On -> Central Store -> Active Directory -> Step 1: Extend Active Directory. After completing the first step, run Step 2: Create Central Store ...

09-08-2014 · 1 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg

AMD drivers are not functioning properly after updating Dell Latitude E6540 BIOS to A8/A10

I updated my Dell Latitude E6540 BIOS to A10 today. After updating, the screen stays black after rebooting. If you reboot your PC, your resolution has changed and the drivers are not working anymore. Opening the AMD Catalyst Control Center gives the error “AMD drivers are not functioning properly”. Solution: go to the Dell website. Click the Support page and type your Service Tag. Download the newest AMD and Intel graphics drivers. I installed the AMD driver after installing the Intel driver. You don’t have to delete the old driver. Reboot after installing the 2 drivers. Your notebook should work as before.

21-07-2014 · 1 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg

Exchange 2013 - Service FMS failed to reach status 'Running' on this server.

When I was installing Exchange 2013 in my home lab, I received an error message on 98 %. You will see the screen below for 15-20 minutes. [ ](https://cloudenius.com/images/2014/12/exchange-2013-service-fms-failed-to-reach-status-running-error-702x576.jpg) After a moment your installation ends up in an error: Error: The following error was generated when “$error.Clear(); if ($RoleStartTransportService) { start-SetupService -ServiceName FMS } ” was run: “Service ‘FMS’ failed to reach status ‘Running’ on this server.”. When I was searching on Google I found some topics who say that FMS stands for Filtering Management Service. Some people say it’s because you’ve enabled IPv6 or it’s about your write permissions on the harddisk. I tried a couple of things without luck. Because I’m using the Exchange server is running in my home lab, I don’t need to install the malware protection. ...

05-01-2014 · 1 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg

Magento – Inserting the Customer’s Email Address into the Email Templates

A customer asked me to define the customer’s email address in the order confirmation emails, sent out by Magento. You will have to edit or create a new template and add this shortcode:``` {{htmlescape var=$order.getCustomerEmail()}}

01-12-2013 · 1 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg

Cisco - Catalyst Express 500 PoE switch not working with Windows Vista/7/8/8.1

**I was installing a Cisco Catalyst Express 500 switch, but I failed a couple of times to enter the setup menu. When you try to restart the switch to factory default, you should get an IP address from the switch. Mostly this is 10.1.1.2. It works only with my old Windows XP laptop, not with my Windows 8.1 machines.** To fix this problem, set your IP address to: IP address: 10.1.1.2 Subnetmask: 255.255.255.0 Default gateway: 10.1.1.1 Try again to reset your switch to factory settings and you will now have access to the website of the switch. ...

17-10-2013 · 1 min · Jean-Paul van Ravensberg