The Energized Tech

New Blackberry Curve 8520

2010-03-12T18:19:30Z

I’ve never been a Fan of the Blackberry. Just not a fan.

For what’s it meant to do, it’s good but I don’t like being locked down, I don’t like the lack of compatibility in it’s Browser.

It’s just not “ME”.

But I DO have to give some Kudos to the new Curve. It’s what the entry level unit finally needed. A good cleanup.

The present Curve sports the same newer “Look” as the Blackberry Bold. Whether you like that or not is up to you, but it IS a fresher look. They were also smart to NOT change the size of the Curve. This means if you own one and upgrade, you don’t have to go scrambling for a new case.

It seems to be sporting a faster CPU and definitely responds nicer. My particular model has Wifi which allows to cut down on the Data plan costs. And finally, Finally, FINALLY somebody got a *CLUE* at Research in Motion to get RID of that STUPID mouse ball.

How many users had to put up with THAT stupid idea based upon technology that was scrapped by the rest of the Industry ages ago? How many people spent $50 to replace a 1/2 centimeter object that was ruined over and over by nothing other than a piece of FLUFF?!

Well the new Curve at least changed that, or more correctly; CAUGHT UP with the industry. The Laser tracking is a much better mouse on the Curve. The display appears brighter and moderately larger as well. They also kept some legacy as well. Same Battery and your memory card ALSO transfer over.

This is liked.

What they took away was the little light for the Video camera, which really didn’t matter. The only time I used that was to stumble about my room in the morning as a “mini flashlight” (Call that an Undocumented Feature)

I’m still not a fan of the Blackberry as a whole, but this new model at least makes me feel less unhappy about using it.

Sean
the Energized Tech

Powershell - “Heaven and Hell – Code Powershell”

2010-03-12T00:47:28Z

A little “Black Sabbath” with Ronnie James Dio was coursing through my ears this morning and I just COULDN’T get this phrase out of my head.

“Code Powershell.”

So enjoy this and sing to yourselves quietly if you can find a copy of “Heaven and Hell” from “Black Sabbath”. Sing this loudly and proudly. I simply call this.

THE SCRIPTER

Send Him a task
That has lingered
Releasing his Code
He's a Killer of Evil

His CommandLets flow out
To his bidding
Automations bow down
To the Scripter

For his code goes on and on
With Powershell

Get-It
Out-Host

He's Launching Remote
His One Liners
The Objects Pipe Through
And get filtered

He'll close up the loops
And repeat them
Do block until
all The Process is TRUE

For his code goes on and on
For his code goes on and on
It goes on and on and on
With Powershell

Coooooode
Flllllooooow
Freeeeeee

Oh yeah the systems repeat
All that's needed
Cuz The Shell it is out
And the Power is Here

The Functions will call
All the methods
With Dot Net empowered
All the processes flow free

For his code goes on and on and on and on...

In the Darkness
You'll never feel a fright
Power up Servers
In the middle of the night

Invoke-Method and
Set-Console
In Windows Vista
it's just a Role

With Powershell

Repeating your work
Is such a breeze
Manipulate
those many A/D's

Flowin’ through data
with nary a thought
Perfection is here
the system you sought

With Powershell

Foo Foo

Don't forget to use GET-MEMBER

Foo Foo

Using GET-HELP you find the Answer

Foo Foo Foo

Powershell – Unlocking the DEEP DARK Secrets hidden within Dot Net

2010-03-11T03:49:24Z

Powershell is truly a wondrous giant box of toys.

Just when you think you’ve figured it out, somebody puts something in front of you. Like the other day when Shay Levy unlocked the secret to Clearing the Windows Event logs. I had to ask how he did it.

The process is both complex and simple but it DOES show you how you can play with Powershell and unlock the hidden treasures within.

In the case of the GET-WINEVENT Cmdlet (where there was no corresponding CLEAR-WINEVENT) Shay used a GET-MEMBER on the GET-WINEVENT Commandlet.

I didn’t understand at first why until I tried it myself.

Beside EVERY property, Method, Note Property is a reference to the Windows .NET Framework library being used.

At this point every IT PRO in the net reading this Blog post just fell asleep!

For those of you still awake, think of the Library as the world’s BIGGEST Database of information and systems within Windows. They all have “funky little names”.

Let’s do one on GET-CHILDITEM to show you. On the right hand side of CreationTime you’ll see a reference to System.DateTime

You can go to www.msdn.com to pull up specs on what this Library has and how it can be used. Just type in the name within the top search box. You’ll probably see a list pull down below you. Click on the one that matches what you’re searching for.

The next Windows will pull up a HUGE pile of results from the MSDN online Documentation. You’ll want to filter that out by .NET Framework 3.5 or 3.0 (Depending on whether you’re working with Powershell 1.0 or 2.0, not being a Developer I would suspect there are SOME differences between 3.0 and 3.5, so for best results, choose the version matching your Powershell)

In the resulting list odds are the one at the top is your “Holy Grail” of information about that Library, or at least a tablet into it’s knowledge

The article should give you some indication about what you can do with it. To me an ITPro? It’s mostly gibberish! But’s COMPUTER Gibberish, so it’s sort of makes sense!

But here’s a neat trick Shay showed me to find out what you might be able to play with. Take the Libary name and type it like this in Powershell

[System.Datetime]::

Yes A square bracket at the Beginning, one at the end and TWO Colons.

Don’t hit Enter, Hit tab, you may see some additional functions appear, sometimes properties. I chose “DateTime” because it Does give us a few easy ones to play with

It produces with the Tab

[System.Datetime]::Now

[System.Datetime]::Today

Amongst others. Hitting enter will either yield results or yield an error. If it’s a feature in Windows that presently does not have a Powershell Commandlet, this is your doorway into unlocking those features.

It’s pretty heavy for ItPros I admit. This is not our world. But understanding a LITTLE of that world, unlocks a LOT within Windows and helps within the greater Master of Powershell

The Power is in YOU.

Sean
The Energized Tech

Lotus Foundation Server – FREE SEMINAR!

2010-03-10T19:44:52Z

TRON – LEGACY

2010-03-10T03:28:54Z

I just had a complete Jaw drop. Another Teaser

“TRON”

“TRON”, one of the very movies that gave me that gentle nudge into Geekdom.

“TRON” Legacy is making it’s way towards theatres. Another Trailer released.

CAN’T

WAIT!

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Toronto Code Camp 2010

2010-03-09T23:29:52Z

Are you a Developer? Interested in Code? Do you Live Sleep and BREATHE in nothing but Binary?

Do you friends find you huddled in a corner of the house drooling over the latest .NET libraries?

Do you REALLY have to think hard about whether to spent your money on a new compiler or your wife?

Did you DROOL all over the table when somebody said “AZURE”?

If this sounds like you, you REALLY need to sign up for the Toronto Code Camp!

It’s a Free All day event held on a SATURDAY! A Perfect excuse to leave your wife and kids behind

“…I’m sorry honey… *sniff* … but I HAVE to go for Training … *sniff*…”

Details are STILL up in the air for what sessions will be there but it’s GUARANTEED to make Developers ‘W00000T!’ and ITPros run in terror. (Unless they Script in Powershell, in which case they might only cringe)

CODE has never been this fun!

Curious?

Watch for Details on www.torontocodecamp.net

Be there or ADMIT you know how to calculate SUBNET Masks!

Saturday May 1st 2010 – BRING on the DATA BONDAGE!

Powershell – Clearing the Windows Event Logs

2010-03-09T23:14:20Z

Within Windows 7 / Vista and Server 2008 / R2 there is a set of Event logs.

Not the “Classic ones” we are used to but a whole new Class of of logs that can be expanded on simply called the Windows Event Logs.

You can access their contents in Powershell using the GET-WINEVENT CommandLet in the following fashion.

GET-WINEVENT –Logname Setup

GET-WINEVENT –Logname ‘Microsoft-Windows-WindowsUpdateClient/Operational’

To get a list of these logs that are available you key in

GET-WINEVENT –ListLog *

for a complete list or you can type in Wildcards as well such as

GET-WINEVENT –Listlog S*

For all those Starting with the letter “S”

But oddly somebody forgot an important CommandLet … the one to CLEAR the logs!

Now they can also be managed from the Command prompt using WEVTUTIL.EXE which works very nicely. But we people in Powershell land like to keep everything on the same page.

So thanks to Shay Levy for pointing out the proper Acclerator and technique, we now have a NEW commandLet we can add to Powershell. There are a number of ways to bring it in, the choice is yours.

I could do it as a Module but I got lazy today and just opened up my $PROFILE for Powershell and added it in.

Here’s the code so YOU TOO can “Share and Enjoy” as the Nutrimatic would say.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Function Global:Clear-Winevent ( $Logname ) {
<#

.SYNOPSIS
Given a specific Logname from the GET-WINEVENT Commandlet
it will clear the Contents of that log

.DESCRIPTION
Cmdlet used to clear the Windows Event logs from Windows 7
Windows Vista, Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2

.EXAMPLE
CLEAR-WINEVENT -Logname Setup

.EXAMPLE
Get-WinEvent -listlog * | foreach { clear-winevent -logname $_.Logname }

Clear all Windows Event Logs

.NOTES
This is a Cmdlet that is not presently in Powershell 2.0
although there IS a GET-WINEVENT Command to list the
Contents of the logs. You can utilize this instead of
WEVTUTIL.EXE to clear out Logs. Special thanks to Shay Levy
(@shaylevy on Twitter) for pointing out the needed code

[System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader.EventLogSession]::GlobalSession.ClearLog("$Logname")

}

------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks a bunch Shay! We owe you BIG! :)

Sean
the Energized Tech

Certification – A Call to the Community for MCTS Scripting Certification

2010-03-09T18:16:43Z

Certification as an MCP, MCT sets a bar for others to not only Aspire to, but sets a standard employers can work with.

There are many certifications out there that beautifully serve this purpose.

But there is one lacking. One for “Scripters” or I like to think as “Environment Automation”

There is some rumbling that stirs up whenever it is mentioned in the Community. Powershell scripters crave for it. There is nothing right now that sets the bar.

But I’m thinking a lot more specific on “Scripting” or “automation” as a skill set that ENHANCES what an MCP is.

Some people in Microsoft think it’s ok that Powershell or vbScript is touched on lightly in the Certs as part of the exam structure. But that isn’t the case. Having had to start implementing these techniques in my most recent position I recognize something truly important.

A person that understands automation as a specialization is as EQUALLY as Important as having somebody who knows how to Architect the system. But not knowing whether an Administrator is qualified on some level makes it difficult to gauge those abilities. And in today's Economy, Employers are going to want EFFICIENCY. Not so much to get more done, but to get that “More” done quickly, effectively and most importantly CONSISTENTLY.

Proper automation and the ability to leverage those technologies (and more importantly WHICH ones) changes a Network Administrator or Systems Administrator from a simple manager that can get things running, to a key technologist that can spend more time looking into long term solutions on the Infrastructure. Knowing how to deploy these technologies in a more Automated and Seamless fashion on a day to day basis allows for a much greater level of consistency than somebody that lightly touches on Powershell, vbScript or GPO.

But presently there is no way (other than field use) to determine what Level a potential Administrator is.

And so I propose this. I propose Microsoft Development AND Microsoft Learning team up together to promote the creation of a New certification. It may not set aside the individual as an actual MCP but it SHOULD complement existing certifications (IE: MCITP or MCTS in Server) to identify the Individual as a competent “Scripter”. Competent in a good range of Technologies, GPO, Powershell, vbScript and classic Commands.

With this type of enhancement on a certificate (As a separate Single Exam) Microsoft could identify individuals that not only know the server for installation, but are ESPECIALLY qualified to maintain those systems.

Such an exam would involve more simulation or practical application questions. Such a certification would help employers identify people best suited to manage their networks in the most Efficient and Consistent fashion.

And so to you, the Community. The IT Professionals, the Scripters, the Powershell Experts, the GPO Gurus and all Future Network administrators, I send you a task.

I have been told, if we can get the attention of Microsoft corporation, and more importantly, Steven Ballmer’s attention. Something could happen. We have to ring the bells LOUD

So we as a community need to contact steveb@microsoft.com directly. Do NOT spam him. Take two minutes (or three) compose and EMAIL and put in the TITLE of that email ATTENTION: IT Community Demand for MCP Certification in Scripting and Automation Technologies.

CLICK HERE to COMPOSE EMAIL

Our target is no less than 5,000 emails. I want to see it happen. We can do this. vbScripters, Powershell, GPO, Command specialists.

And it all starts with us

Sean
The Energized Tech

Backing up all Data Natively in Server 2003 – Part 2

2010-03-09T17:08:25Z

One of the big reasons people would back away from NTBACKUP was Server 2000. It’s a great simple utility but it didn’t have ONE REALLY IMPORTANT feature.

Open File Option.

The Open File Option (What Full Veritas BackupExec had an a $1000 Add on) was the ability to backup files that were in use. If you had important Word documents or a particular Quickbooks database open, they wouldn’t backup.

Then along came Server 2003. Server 2003 introduced “Shadow Copy” which was actually a technology which contained a built in “Open File Option” that NTBackup just used.

Some people didn’t realize this!

Yes, if you’re a small Business Owner looking into options for Backup and you don’t have the budget for Veritas Backup Exec, NTBACKUP is a viable option now. Even if you’re a large Corporation, the fact that you can leverage a solution to backup those open files WITHOUT incurring additional cost is a great boon.

Now I am NOT knocking Veritas Backup Exec. It is NOT an overpriced boondoggle. It IS the BIG BROTHER to NTBackup. It logs in GREAT detail how to the backup ran. If even ONE file does not backup, Veritas considers the backup a fail so you’re on your toes. Veritas will make your Backup far more compliant for SOX with the built in reports.

But keep in mind that if you have a Server 2003 computer (or even Windows XP Pro!) that built in NTBACKUP can backup your open files. I’ve even seen it backup Exchange 2003 Databases with Open File

Now THAT’s Power! Free Power to “Boot”

Sean
The Energized Tech

Scripting and Automation – What Solution Do I Use?

2010-03-09T13:13:47Z

As anybody knows me, I consider myself a “Scripter”, a creature not quite ITPro nor Dev and as such, a halfling from both words.

In short, I a “computer Hobbit”.

Scripters work in a world of Automation, in an attempt to make their jobs more efficient by PROGRAMMING repeated tasks rather than “click click clicking away” into Tedium Hell.

When you step into the world of Scripting and Automation you will probably find one solution you’re comfortable with, whether it be Powershell, vbScript, Group Policy or even the venerable and Classic Command prompt.

And you may (Like I did) have a tendency of Guardedly sticking to ONLY ONE solution and doggedly refusing to look at other options no matter what happens.

But the thing to keep in mind, why did you get into Automation? Was it to make your job more difficult? Of course not!

So, when DO you look at other solutions?

Honestly it’s a little combination of “What are you comfortable with”,“Just how much time *DO* you want to spend at it” and “Are you spending the extra time to LEARN for fun or just out of dogged frustration”

I am reasonably certain that if you sat down, dug through the internet, you might find a solution for just about everything you can in Powershell (not all but just about) within a Command Prompt. You could also go completely bonkers trying to ensure everything works via vbScript. Or you could go Powershell nuts and try to become a .NET developer overnight and do everything in oneliners.

But in this mad process, you often overlook some excellent and very obvious solutions. And there are situations where you can leverage multiple solutions against each other.

So here’s what I do. I have one “Axe”, one solution I am comfortable with. Powershell. I LOVE working with Powershell. If it feels enjoyable to find a solution in Powershell because it’s fun or challenging, I’ll do it without question.

However again, there are tons of prebuilt Command prompt applications, Group Policies and vbScripts I can leverage. For me, sometimes I’ll try to see if there is a WMI solution already existing in vbScript and try to port that to Powershell. There are situations that NETSH makes far more sense than reading the registry to get an IP address along with many other built in goodies. Using GPO makes more sense many times to deploy or remove rather than running from logon script.

My overall opinion is this. Learn.

Learn what makes YOU more productive. Don’t tie yourself into a box saying “I can’t” because your “main Axe” doesn’t easily do it. Don’t be afraid to see if there are more than two solutions to a problem (There often are). Sometimes in learning a different solution as well, you may find a way to produce the answer in what you’re comfortable with.

Remember. Computing should be fun, try to keep it that way whenever possible.

And the job, should always feel less like a “Job”

Sean
The Energized Tech

Powershell – Ooooo! More coolness with “Restore” and “Checkpoints”

2010-03-08T22:10:37Z

I opened up Pandora's box and found more goodies!

Did you know you can easily Enable and Disable Monitoring on your Windows drives with Powershell? the same feature which offers “Shadow Copy restores” ?

By default it’s normally enabled on Drive C:, but let’s say this is a Server Environment. You deploy them on a habitual basis, and like any good IT Pro, you keep the DATA from the SYSTEM.

But out of the Box, anything other than C: does not have system Restore enabled. So normally that means, GUI, Right click, find option… AIGHAHGAHHHGA!!

But not with Powershell

In Powershell it’s just run as Administrator and

ENABLE-COMPUTERRESTORE DriveLetter

and

DISABLE-COMPUTERRESTORE DriveLetter

EASY!

So if you’re running a Domain Controller by default you might want to shut off the Volume tracking feature because you DON’T want “previous versions” available to alter your SYSVOL structure. That’s just a mess waiting to happen.

DISABLE-COMPUTERRESTORE C:

And if all of your data is sitting on the new Drive E: and needs to be monitored so you CAN do “Previous versions”

ENABLE-COMPUTERRESTORE E:

There!

Your work is done! Now relax and break out the bubbly!

Sean
The Energized Tech

Backing up all Data Natively in Server 2003 – Part 1

2010-03-08T16:18:31Z

Part 1 – Hello Free backup, I never knew you so well

In a previous life I spent my days working with clients and using the native backup solution from Windows “NTBACKUP”

Now a lot of people look down upon NTBACKUP as the poor man’s backup. Stripped down, hurt.

Let’s take a second look at NTBACKUP. In Server 2003 with NTBACKUP you had the following features

Licensing cost – NIL (Free to use with the O/S)
Open File option – Built in (Yes, thanks to Shadow Copy you can backup many if not all open files)
Exchange agent – Built in
Media supported – Tapes and Physical Media
Ability to Email logs – programmable

You have to remember that “NTBACKUP” is really just a stripped down version of BackupExec (owned by Symantec now) and really ISN’T that bad of a backup.

You can run it from a command line, the configuration files are pure text (and easy to edit) and if you leverage just a few of the features built into Windows you, as an Administrator can have a backup system capable of emailing, printing and archiving logs.

“But I have an SQL Server!” (I hear a voice in the background scream)

And SQL has it’s OWN built in backup which can be scheduled and will co exist with NTbackup.

So feeling a little less nervous? Good

Follow along with me as I try to lightly touch on leveraging the built in Backup solutions provided by Microsoft to extend your abilities and pad your wallet with savings.

Sean
The Energized Tech

Powershell – Easily create System Restore Points

2010-03-08T14:09:01Z

Hey did You know you can create a System Restore snapshot in Powershell ?

I didn’t until five minutes ago. The Cmdlet name wasn’t one of the typical “GET” or “SET” ones,as such I missed it.

But I ran a GET-COMMAND this morning looking for some interesting CmdLets to learn and saw this one

CHECKPOINT-COMPUTER

And it’s about the easiest one to run!

CHECKPOINT-COMPUTER –Description “This is My System Restore Point”

It has to be run with Administrative Privledges and produces a nice simple status bar as is executes.

What does this mean to you?

That no matter what you do, you have an EASY way to trigger a System Restore Checkpoint. A simple shortcut to a Powershell script to run it and cover your bases.

Powershell, stressfree for you

Sean
The Energized Tech

Scripted My Way

2010-03-07T15:40:17Z

This is dedicated to ALL scripters. Anybody including vbScript, Logon Script, Shell Monkeys, Powershell Dudes whatever you want to call yourself.

Scripting is a passion to those that do it.

And to you, Sing this to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way”

I Script it My Way

And now the Server's Off
The Switches Blink within a green glow
I need, to launch it now
But it's locked away behind Medeco

I'll use a Wake On Lan
In Powershell, I'll launch and then play
No more, won't pay for code
I'll script it My Way

And with, my vbScript
I'll go and warn of interventions
My logs have triggers too
They tell me now from my inventions

I carved and shaped them all
I automate my work for my pay
An ITpro and yet I Code
I'll script it My Way

Oh there were days, I wished I could
Whip out a Visa now, I surely would
But rather than give in to Hell
I'll code it in with Powershell
And vbScript and Batch Files too
I'll script it My Way

I speak in Syntax now
ItPros, they don't know me
And Devs, they shun me too
My code it runs so very slowly

But I, will not shy on down
For I stand proud of my automations
For I, I did it all
I Scripted My Way

For what is code no matter small
Whether a function or simple Call
To automate in Joy and Glee
I’ll do it all Enternally
The systems bow and move to me
They're scripted my way

Yes I SCRIPTED MY WAY

Powershell – What is a Profile and how do I use it?

2010-03-05T19:14:55Z

In Powershell there is a VERY use to feature that many of us didn’t touch (*especially those of use NEW to Powershell*)

It’s called your “Profile”

The Profile is just settings and Functions that are SPECIFIC to a Powershell session. Most of the time you will see them in use by software such as “Quest ActiveRoles Management Shell”. When you see “Custom Management Shells” such as the Exchange Server 2007 and DPM Shell, those are just really customized profiles for the most part.

So how can YOU make a profile in Powershell that meets your daily needs?

Very easy in fact. You won’t be surprise either, it’s dead simple too!

Your personal profile be default does not exist BUT the variable to point where it is DOES. All YOU have to do is run this simple command

NEW-ITEM –ITEMTYPE File –PATH $PROFILE –FORCE

And you now have a blank profile.

By launching NOTEPAD $PROFILE you can edit it and add useful features to your Powershell session.

For example, is there a particular script you use DAILY or functions you would like to have native your Powershell session?

Turn them into Functions in Powershell and add it to your profile. It’s as simple as copy paste!

Do you have going between Quest and Exchange 2007 and would like it all as ONE shell?

Put the ADD-PSSNAPIN for each feature as the top lines of your profile.

How about something as simple as “I want my Shell each and everyday to greet me with a Cheery HELLO!”

Well you can do that to! Make the last line (or the first as you prefer)

Here’s a sample profile so you can understand the syntax. It’s not really any different from a PS1 file, in some ways it’s a LOT like a PS1 file that runs on the startup of Powershell

----------------- Sample Profile -----------------------

# Add Snapins

ADD-PSSNAPIN Quest.ActiveRoles.AdManagement

# Say Hello to the nice person

WRITE-HOST “Hello and Goodday to you Glorius Administrator”
WRITE-HOST “I am your Powershell Administration Session.”
WRITE-HOST “Your wish is my command”

#Define a useful function

function global:OUT-HAPPYMESSAGE {
WRITE-HOST “I am the King of my Universe, all shall run away from me…”
}

#Make an Alias

NEW-ALIAS O INVOKE-EXPRESSION

----------------- Sample Profile -----------------------

So with this very simple profile My Powershell session will now start like this

As you can see I now Have a new Custom function called “OUT-HAPPYMESSAGE” I can run anytime to make myself feel good and mighty.

I can now Open Files and launch their respective applications.

I can also access my Quest Commandlets and be more Productive and leave work earlier and go…… I mean MAKE THINGS FASTER SO I CAN WORK HARDER! (did my boss see that?)

All in all not difficult to use, to change or to share (As it’s just a text file under the

%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Windows Powershell\

Folder that you can copy onto other systems as well.

Powershell, Live the good Life for free

Sean
The Energized Tech