The Tech Journal

Synology NAS backup to Synology C2 Cloud

Synology, Synology C2, Synology DiskStation, Video Posts 2 Responses »

Oct 092021

One of the new real cool features of the Synology C2 Cloud and Synology DSM 7.0 is the ability to back your Synology DiskStation NAS up to the cloud.

Using the Synology’s “C2 Storage” service, you can use Synology Hyper Backup on DSM 7.0 to backup your your File Shares, NAS, applications, and data to the cloud.

Below, I will show the process of creating a Hyper Backup Backup task to backup a few Synology File Shares to the Synology C2 Storage Service.

NAS Backup (and Restore) with Synology C2 Cloud Video

For a full video guide and demonstration, please enjoy this video! Please continue scrolling for a text guide (with images).

Synology DiskStation NAS Backup (and Restore) with Synology C2 Storage Cloud!

Backup NAS to Synology C2 Storage

It’s very easy to back your NAS up to the cloud. Here’s a quick guide showing how it’s done.

We’re going to assume you already have some File Shares configured on your NAS. These can be Windows File Shares, NFS Exports, and even Active Backup for Business storage repositories. In my case, I want to back up 2 Windows File Shares to the Synology C2 Storage service.

Open Hyper Backup
If you have no existing backup jobs, the “Backup Wizard” should automatically open to configure a new job. If you have existing jobs, select the “+” on the top left of the window.
Under “Backup Destination”, choose “Synology C2 Storage”.
This will open a new window asking you to log on to the Synology C2 Storage Service. You may have to create a new account, or log in with your existing Synology credentials. From here you can start a free trial.
Choose a subscription and plan. You should get a 30-day free trial.
Confirm your subscription
Accept the TOS (Terms of Service)
You must now “Grant access to C2 Storage”. This will allow your user account to access the C2 Storage service.
You will now be presented with information on your Synology C2 Storage Account
You will now be redirected back to Hyper Backup. You’ll need to create a name for the new backup task destination directory.
Here’s where you will configure which File Shares (or volumes) to backup to Synology C2.
You also have the ability to backup Synology Applications. This is helpful should you wish to backup your entire Synology NAS to Synology’s C2 cloud. I’m only doing shares, so I hit next without selecting anything.
Now we will configure the Backup Task settings. This includes the task name, notifications, file change logs, bandwidth limits, backup schedule, and integrity check schedule. We can also “Enable client-side encryption” which we will use to encrypt the data on the cloud.
After proceeding, we will now configure backup rotation settings. I enabled backup rotation with “Smart Recycle”.
If you enabled encryption, you will be prompted to download your encryption key. Save this file in a safe location as you will need it in the event your NAS fails and you need to access your cloud storage.

And that’s it! You have now configured your NAS to backup to Synology C2 Cloud!

Hyper Backup NAS Backup to Synology C2 Cloud

We have now configured the backup job. Let’s go ahead and kick off a backup by clicking on “Back up now”.

And that’s it! After some time, your backup should complete and you data should be safe on the Synology C2 Cloud.

What happens when your run of out space

This is a question many of you will be asking, and I was curious myself. I went ahead and uploaded a bunch of garbage data to max out my plan.

Synology Hyper Backup C2 Storage - Not enough quota available on the target — Synology Hyper Backup C2 Storage – Not enough quota available on the target

To my surprise Synology allowed me to exceed my plan by a decent amount of storage until the backup job went in to a “Suspended” state reporting “Not enough quota available on the target”. I actually exceeded the storage by 128GB!!! This is extremely generous!

Synology C2 Storage - Storage overage — Synology C2 Storage – Storage overage

To find out how well the NAS would recover from this situation, I logged on to the Synology C2 Storage service and increased my purchased storage. I was able to simply click on “Action” and “Resume” the backup without any issues… It actually resumed where it left off.

Conclusion

The Synology C2 Storage Cloud service is a great option for backing up your DiskStation NAS and all your important files to the cloud. In my case I use my NAS as a backup, and then further backup my NAS both to a removable hard drive, and the Synology C2 Cloud, keeping me compliant with the 3-2-1 backup rule.

The pricing is amazing and there’s extra cost to backup and restore, which means no upload or download costs. They even provide de-duplication so you’re not paying to store duplicated data.

As part of the backup process, Hyper Backup only copies over blocks of data and files that have changed, which significantly helps bandwidth usage as only what’s changed is copied.

I highly recommend using Synology C2 Storage with your Synology DiskStation NAS!

Windows 11 Fresh Install – This PC can’t run Windows 11

Microsoft, Windows 11 6 Responses »

Oct 092021

When attempting to do a fresh install of Windows 11 using the ISO, you may receive the message “This PC can’t run Windows 11”. Additionally, “This PC doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements to install this version of Windows.”

Windows 11 has a new set of minimum system requirements and these include certain CPUs as well as a TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module Version 2.0) chip, Secure Boot, and 8GB of RAM.

If you’re trying to do an upgrade instead of a fresh install, please see Windows 11 Upgrade – This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements.

Below you’ll find an explanation of the problem, and two different methods to workaround it.

The Problem

You’ll see this message while performing a fresh install if your system does not meet the minimum requirements.

Windows 11 Fresh Install - This PC can't run Windows 11 — Windows 11 Fresh Install – This PC can’t run Windows 11

Just like my previous post on upgrading to Windows 11, you’ll encounter this when attempting a fresh install because some pre-requisite checks are failing:

CPU is not supported
Windows 11 Installer cannot find a TPM 2.0 chip
Secure Boot is not enabled
EFI or UEFI is Required

One thing to note is that you may see these messages even if your system has a TPM 2.0 chip.

Most computers purchased in the last 6 years probably have a TPM 2 chip that just needs to be enabled via the system UEFI/EFI. If you boot to your UEFI, you can attempt to enable the TPM 2.0 chip.

It may already be enabled, however it may be configured to run at version 1.2. If this is the case, change it to version 2.0. You’ll also need to make sure you have “Secure boot” enabled.

If this doesn’t work, please see below for multiple workarounds.

The Fix

At this point in time, there are two different methods to workaround the minimum system requirements:

Method 1 – Use Rufus to create a modified Windows 11 Installer from ISO and disable the TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and 8GB of RAM requirement.
Method 2 – Use native Windows 11 installer and ISO to modify registry during Windows Setup.

You can either either method, depending on which one you may find easier or more convenient.

Method 1 – Use Rufus to create a modified Windows 11 Installer from ISO and disable the TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and 8GB of RAM requirement.

You can use a utility called “Rufus” (Reliable USB Formatting Utility, with Source) to convert the Windows 11 ISO in to a bottable USB key to install Windows.

Using the latest version of Rufus, you can modify the Windows 11 Setup installer to bypass the requirements for TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and 8GB of RAM.

To use this method, you’ll need the following files:

Rufus, the USB key maker – https://rufus.ie/
Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11

Please enjoy this video demonstrating the process:

Windows 11 Fresh Install – TPM and Secure Boot Bypass for “This PC can’t run Windows 11”

To use this method as a workaround:

Download Rufus and place in a folder
Download Windows 11 ISO and place in a folder
Insert USB key that is larger than the size of the Windows 11 ISO (larger than 5.5GB)
Open Rufus
Select your USB key under “Device”
Under “Boot Selection”, click on “SELECT”
Navigate to and select the Windows 11 ISO file
Under “Image option”, choose “Extended Windows 11 Installation (no TPM/no Secure Boot/8GB- RAM”
Click “Start”.
PLEASE NOTE: This will erase and repartition your USB drive. All existing data on the USB drive will be deleted.

Rufus – Windows 11 Fresh Install TPM, Secure Boot, and RAM bypass

Now simply wait for the USB key to be created. It can take 30-90 minutes depending on the speed of your USB drive.

Once you have created the USB key, make sure your computer is configured to use UEFI and make sure you disable Secure Boot in the UEFI.

Simply boot from the USB Key your created above, and install Windows 11.

Method 2 – Use native Windows 11 installer and ISO to modify registry during Windows Setup.

Bypass the check for TPM 2.0

If you don’t have TPM 2.0 or it’s not working, you can disable the TPM 2.0 check on the Windows 11 installer. Please note, you still require TPM 1.2 for this bypass to function. This workaround only disables the requiremnt for TPM 2.0. You still need to have Secure Boot enabled, and you must have a TPM 1.2 chip.

To do this, boot from the Windows 10 ISO:

When you see the above screen, press “SHIFT + F10” and a Windows Command Prompt should open.

From the command prompt, type “regedit” and press enter.

Windows 11 Installer with command prompt and Registry Editor "regedit" — Windows 11 Installer – Registry Editor “regedit”

Now we must create a registry key called “MoSetup” and a DWORD Value to disable the TPM and CPU check.

Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup”
Right click on “Setup”, select “New”, and choose “Key”, name it “MoSetup”
Navigate to “MoSetup”
On the right pane, right-click an empty space, select “New”, and select “DWORD (32-bit) Value”
Name it: “AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU” (without quotations)
Set it to “1” (without quotations)

After performing the above, it should look like this.

Windows 11 Installer - MoSetup and AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU — Windows 11 Installer – MoSetup and AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU

Now simply close the Registry Editor, type “exit” to close out of the command prompt and continue with the Windows 11 Installer.

After performing the above, you should now be able to successfully perform a fresh install of Windows 11 with the TPM and CPU check disabled.

Windows 11 Upgrade – This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements

Microsoft, Video Posts, Windows 11 8 Responses »

Oct 072021

When attempting to upgrade to Windows 11, you may receive the message “This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements”.

Windows 11 has a new set of minimum system requirements and these include certain CPUs as well as a TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module Version 2.0) chip.

I ran in to this issue on a Lenovo X1 Carbon as well as an HP Z240 Workstation. The Lenovo X1 Carbon does have a TPM 2 chip, however still would not install.

If you’re trying to a fresh installation instead of an upgrade, please see Windows 11 Fresh Install – This PC can’t run Windows 11 for instructions on performing a Fresh install with TPM and Secure Boot bypass.

The Problem

You’ll see this message if your system doesn’t meet the minimum requirements.

Windows 11 installer failing with "Windows 11 - This PC doesn't currently meet Windows 11 system requirements" — Windows 11 – This PC doesn’t currently meet Windows 11 system requirements

On most systems, you’ll see the following 2 prequisite checks fail:

“The processor isn’t supported for this version of Windows”
“The PC must support TPM 2.0.”

One thing to note is that you may see these messages even if your system has a TPM 2.0 chip.

You’ll also need to make sure your system has UEFI/EFI and has Secure Boot enabled.

The Fix

You have TPM 2.0 but can’t upgrade to Windows 11

Try to check and see if you have a TPM 2.0 chip. Most systems purchased in the last 6 years probably have a TPM 2 chip that just needs to be enabled via the system BIOS or UEFI.

If you boot to your BIOS/UEFI, you can attempt to enable the TPM 2.0 chip.

You may also already have it enabled, however it is configured to run at version 1.2. If this is the case, change it to version 2.0.

You’ll also need to make sure you have “Secure boot” enabled.

Bypass the check for TPM 2.0

If you don’t have TPM 2.0, you can disable the TPM 2.0 check on the Windows 11 installer. Please note, you still require TPM 1.2 for this bypass to function.

To do this, we must make a registry key.

Start -> Run -> “regedit.exe” (without quotations)
Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\Setup\MoSetup”
On the right pane, right-click an empty space, select “New”, and select “DWORD (32-bit) Value”
Name it: “AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU” (without quotations)
Set it to “1” (without quotations)

After creating this, it should appear like so:

REG_DWORD: AllowUpgradesWithUnsupportedTPMOrCPU set to “1”

After setting this you should now be able re-launch the Windows 11 installer, and successfully install Windows 11. You’ll now notice the new message below:

Windows 11 – Bypass TPM and CPU Disclaimer

Simply “Accept” the warning and continue!

Please Note: Microsoft has warned that by using this TPM 2.0 bypass, you may run in to compatibility issues: “Your device might malfunction due to these compatibility or other issues. Devices that do not meet these system requirements will no longer be guaranteed to receive updates, including but not limited to security updates.”

You’ll see this disclaimer and warning on the Windows 11 installer after enabling the TPM 2.0 check bypass.

Additional Resources

Download Windows 11 – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows11
Windows 11 Installation Assistant – https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2171764
Windows 11 Media Creation Tool – https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2156295

DST Root CA X3 Certificate Expiration Problems and Fix

Certificates, Security, Sophos, Sophos UTM 139 Responses »

Sep 302021

Today, the DST Root CA X3 certificate expired, leaving many devices on the internet having issues connecting to services and certificates that use this Root CA, including those using Let’s Encrypt certificates.

Some of these problematic devices include Samsung Galaxy phones, iPhones, VDI zero and thin clients, and even Sophos UTM firewalls.

In my environment, I noticed a number of issues when browsing to websites that use the free Let’s Encrypt certificates, as the Web Protection Web Filtering service on my Sophos UTM firewall would report the certificate has expired and not allow me access to the websites using it.

The Problem

Let’s Encrypt originally used the “DST Root CA X3” certificate to issue Let’s Encrypt certificates. However, as time has passed and the service has been used more, they now use “ISRG Root X1” and “ISRG Root X2” as Root CA’s and “Let’s Encrypt R3” as an intermediate certificate.

Older devices may be using the older Root CA which expired today (September 30th, 2021). Please see https://letsencrypt.org/docs/dst-root-ca-x3-expiration-september-2021/ for more information.

The Fix

To fix this issue, you need to add the 2 new Root CAs to your computer or device.

Root CA Certificates (PEM format):

ISRG Root X1 (Or ISRG Root X1 DER Format)
ISRG Root X2 (Or ISRG Root X2 DER Format)

Intermediate Certificate (PEM format):

Let’s Encrypt R3 (Or Let’s Encrypt R3 DER Format)

You can download them by clicking the links above or go to https://letsencrypt.org/certificates/ for more information and to download if you don’t trust the above links.

After downloading and adding these Root CAs and the Intermediate CA to your computer or device, you should have the full certificate chain to validate the Let’s Encrypt certificates. You only need to add the two root certificates. The Let’s Encrypt certificates that are used on websites that you visit and that you might have deployed on your servers should now work without any issues.

If you’re still having issues, you can try deleting the “DST Root CA X3” certificate from your existing Root CAs. Also, you may need to close and reopen any software and/or browsers for it to work with the new certificate.

HTTPS Scanning/Filtering Firewall Fix (Sophos UTM as example)

If you have a firewall that scans HTTPs traffic, you’ll need to add the two root certificates above to the HTTPS Certification authority list.

As an example, to fix this on the Sophos UTM firewall, follow the instructions below:

Download the 3 certificates above.
Log on to your Sophos UTM
Navigate to “Web Protection”, “Filtering Options”, and “HTTPS CAs” tab.
Disable the old “Digital Signature Trust Co. DST Root CA X3” Certificate in the list.
Using the “Upload local CA”, browse to and select 1 of the 3 certificates, then click upload.
Repeat step 5 for each of the 3 certificates listed above.
The issue has been fixed! You should now see all 3 certificates in the “Local verification CAs” list.

The steps should be similar for other firewalls that provide HTTPS Scanning and Filtering.

Install, Configure, and Deploy WSUS on Windows Server 2022

Microsoft, Video Posts, Windows Server 2022, WSUS 9 Responses »

Sep 252021

Today, I will be showing you howto install, configure, and deploy Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) on Windows Server 2022. I’ll also show you how to use the WSUS MMC interface, approve/manage updates, and more!

This video will demonstrate the process of the WSUS role installation, post-installation tasks, first-time WSUS configuration wizard, and the WSUS MMC.

Check it out and feel free to leave a comment! Scroll down below for more information and details on the guide.

Who’s this guide for

This guide is perfect for a seasoned IT professional or a beginner who is looking at getting experience with Windows Server 2022.

What’s included in the video

In this guide I will walk you through the following:

Server Manager
- Windows Server Update Services Role Installation

WSUS Considerations and Requirements
- WID (Windows Internal Database)
- SQL Express
- GPO Group Policy Objects
- WSUS Maintenance
- Upstream and Downstream WSUS Servers
- Bandwidth Optimization

WSUS Usage and Platform
- WSUS Infrastructure Design
- WSUS Synchronization Schedule
- WSUS Language, Products, and Classifications selections
- WSUS MMC Overview
- “gpupdate /force” command usage
- WSUS Update Approval
- WSUS Reporting

Additional Information

Please see below (click to enlarge) for a WSUS GPO Configuration Example.

GPO Settings for WSUS Configuration — WSUS GPO Configuration Example

Please Note: This example contains configuration to automatically install updates. This example should only be used for workstations and not servers. Please use this example as a guide for your own study.

What’s required

To get started you’ll need:

1 x Server (Virtual Machine or Physical Server)
Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Licensing
A running Windows Server 2022 Instance (OSE)
A network router and/or firewall

Hardware/Software used in this demonstration

VMware vSphere
HPE DL360p Gen8 Server
Microsoft Windows Server 2022
pfSense Firewall

Blog Posts mentioned in this video

Synology C2 Cloud: Backup and Storage – An easy, powerful, (and awesome) way to backup!

Backup, Synology, Synology C2 1 Response »

Sep 232021

Synology C2 Cloud, C2 Backup and C2 Storage are new ways to backup smart! Using Synology’s C2 Cloud, you can not only back up your Synology DiskStation NAS and all of it’s contents to the cloud, but you can also backup your endpoints directly to the cloud as well now, including Workstations and Servers providing “Centralized protection for Microsoft workloads”.

I want to give a brief overview with what you can do with it, and yes I’ve tried it and so far love it! It works great!

With DSM 7, came a big expansion of Synology’s C2 Cloud Offering

I first heard about Synology C2 Cloud during a VMUG User Group presentation that was sponsored by Synology a few months ago.

I was very impressed with the presentation on the new Synology DSM 7 operating system, it’s capabilities, and the integration with the new Synology C2 Cloud. It really peaked my interest!

With the release of DSM 7.0 (on June 29th 2021), Synology also launched a number of Cloud initiatives delivered by their C2 Cloud platform. This included C2 Transfer, C2 Identity, and C2 Storage. As of today, they have released C2 Backup!

With the fresh release, I want to go over Synology’s C2 Backup, and C2 Storage.

What can we do with C2 Backup and C2 Storage?

The possibilities are almost endless, but let’s list some of the main uses that come to mind:

Backup Synology DiskStation NAS to Synology C2 Cloud
- Backup your Synology DiskStation File Shares
- Backup your Synology Photo Collection and Videos
- Backup your Synology Apps
- Backup your backups to the cloud (disk to disk to cloud)
Active Backup for Business
- Backup Workstations and Servers to NAS, then replicate to Cloud
- Backup Microsoft 365 to NAS, then replicate to Cloud
- Backup Virtual Machines to NAS, then replicate and/or archive to Cloud
Endpoint Backup direct to Synology C2 Backup
- Backup a Windows Desktop or Laptop directly to Synology C2 Cloud

One of the biggest threats we have today is ransomware. Ransomware has been ravaging businesses and corporations, destroying and deleting their backups and holding the companies at hostage. It’s even effected the home user, holding their private and valuable files on their computers and NAS devices hostage.

Another common threat is general disasters, including hardware failure, fires, and other events causing complete loss of data.

Using both the Synology DiskStation and the Synology C2 Cloud we can mitigate these risks by backing up your data.

And with any backup, we should always abide by the 3-2-1 rule having 3 copies, on 2 different platforms/media types, and one off-site. Backing up to your Synology NAS and then replicating it up to Synology C2 cloud, you can achieve this level of protection.

Synology C2 Cloud also provides C2 Identify and C2 transfer for business services, which I won’t cover in this post.

Use Case Examples

Below I’ll list a few of the most common uses cases I would expect.

Home or Small Business File Share backup

For home or small business users, file and data storage is typically handled via Windows Shares, and the Synology DiskStation NAS is perfect for providing this type of storage.

Using the Synology DiskStation, you can back these shares to Synology’s C2 Storage Service further protecting your data and also keeping it off-site. You can still also backup to other sources such as removable hard drives.

Complete NAS backup

You can now fully backup your entire NAS to the Synology C2 Storage service. Providing an easy way to restore it, should you ever have a disaster including ransomware, a catastrophic failure, or fire, and have lost your unit needing to replace it fully.

Active Backup for Business Replication

If you’re using Active Backup for Business, you probably already know you can backup the following to your NAS:

Microsoft Windows Servers
Microsoft Windows Workstation
Microsoft 365 (Office 365) data
VMware Virtual Machines
And more!

Now we have the ability to replicate these backups to Synology’s C2 Storage service, to further protect our backups and also archive data.

Endpoint Backup (new with Synology C2 Backup)

Now you can backup Microsoft Windows endpoints (workstations, laptops, and tablets) directly to the Synology C2 Backup service!

You can backup an unlimited numbers of Microsoft endpoints with the only limitation being how much storage you’re paying for.

Endpoint backups include full-system backups (using incremental updates to save bandwidth), and provide bare mental restore capabilities, as well as file-level recovery when you only need to grab a few files from a backup without restoring the entire system.

You also have the ability to deploy the C2 Backup agent via Active Directory GPOs for ease of deployment.

And don’t forget, this is a perfect way to backup mobile users with laptops!

Is it Encrypted?

One question you might be asking is if the data is safe and encrypted. It sure is (if you enable it)!

The Synology C2 Cloud provides client-side encryption using AES 256-bit encryption with private keys.

In my testing when enabled, the data is encrypted on my Synology DiskStation NAS and then uploaded to Synology’s C2 Cloud. Encryption is handled via a password and a PEM key (AES 256) that you must save and keep safe (preferably not on any of your computers, but on a USB key somewhere safe)! Hold on to this, because you’ll need it in the event of a disaster.

In the case of C2 Storage, while the data is encrypted and then stored on Synology’s servers, there are some actions you can take via a web interface to view/download your data to your computer, instead of restoring to your NAS. Keep in mind if you do this, you’ll need to enter your password in to Synology’s servers, however they state the password will not be saved and will be destroyed after the task completion.

In the case of C2 Backup, you’ll have a powerful web interface where you can manage backups, restore backups, restore files, and more.

How much does it cost?

For the C2 Storage Service, the pricing table below (US Dollars):

For the C2 Backup Service, the pricing table is below (US Dollars):

You’ll notice that right now the C2 Backup Service is limited to only a 300GB plan and 2TB plan.

Features to come

While you can today deploy any of the features listed in this post, there are some future capabilities that are coming soon…

Soon, using Synology C2 Backup, you’ll be able to automatically backup your Microsoft 365 data (including Exchange Online and OneDrive for Business) direct to Synology’s C2 Backup.

While you can already back this data up to your NAS (and then replicate to C2 Storage), soon you’ll be able to cutout the NAS and have it go direct.

In conclusion

I’d highly recommend checking out the Synology C2 Cloud portfolio of services as I’ve already deployed and am currently using the Synology C2 Storage service in my homelab with my Synology DiskStation NAS.

Synology also has another datacenter available to choose from Germany.

More information can be found at the following links:

C2 FAQ

Synology C2 Backup (for business)

Synology C2 Transfer (for business)

Synology C2 Identity (for business)

Synology C2 Storage (for business)

Pricing information can be found at the following links:

Synology C2 Backup Pricing (for business)

Synology C2 Storage Pricing (for business)

I’ll be posting some tutorials and reviews so stay tuned! In the meantime, leave a comment if you’ve used any of these products in your environment!

The Tech Journal – Vlog Episode 03.1 – VMware Horizon 8 Version 2106 (Live Stream)

End User Computing, VDI, Video Posts, Vlog, VMware, VMware Horizon View, YouTube No Responses »

Sep 202021

Welcome to Episode 03.1 of The Tech Journal Vlog (Special Episode on VMware Horizon 8 Version 2106)

In this episode – VMware Horizon 8 Version 2106

This is a special episode dedicated to the release of VMware Horizon View 8, version 2106.

What’s new

In the video, I cover what’s new in the 2106 release.

My Favorite Changes & Enhancements:

Audio recording support for 48Khz Audio via RTAV, defaults to 16Khz
- Persistence on Audio quality recording settings across sessions
- Sample Rate can be configured via GPO
VMware Horizon Linux Client supports Microsoft Teams Optimization
- Linux Based Zero Clients should add functionality shortly (10ZiG already has!)
Raspberry Pi 4 Support!!!!
- Also supports RTAV

Other interesting changes and enhancements:

UI Change on VMware Horizon Client
Instant Clones now support SysPrep: Instant Clones with Parent
- No duplicate SIDs when using SysPrep
Ability to use 6 x 4K Displays
No Longer have to re-install VMware Horizon Agent after VMware Tools Upgrade
Forgot to mention: Support added for USB Redirection with Xbox Gaming Controllers

Additional Items:

VMware OSOT Optimization tool Versioning now matches Horizon
- Removal of Custom Templates
VMware VDI Base Image Creation Guide has been updated
- New guide on automating the VMware VDI Base Image Creation added

Links Mentioned in this post:

Don’t forget to like and subscribe!

Leave a comment, feedback, or suggestions!

Deploying a Windows Server 2022 Member Server (domain join) & Domain Credentials vs Local Credentials

Microsoft, Video Posts, Windows Server, Windows Server 2022 1 Response »

Sep 192021

Today we’re deploying a Windows Server 2022 member server and joining it to the domain we created in previous videos. I’ll also be explaining the difference between Domain Credentials and Local Credentials on member servers.

This video will demonstrate and explain the process of deploying a Windows Server 2022 member server, network configuration, DHCP vs Static IPs, and domain credentials vs local credentials.

Check it out and feel free to leave a comment! Scroll down below for more information and details on the guide.

Who’s this guide for

This guide is perfect for a seasoned IT professional or a beginner who is looking at getting experience with Windows Server 2022.

What’s included in the video

In this guide I will walk you through the following:

Document a new Server deployment
Configure Networking
- Configure Static IP on Windows Server 2022
- Information on Static IP vs DHCP Reservation (https://www.stephenwagner.com/2019/05/07/static-ip-vs-dhcp-reservation/)
Join Windows Server 2022 Server to domain as member server
Discussion on time importance with Active Directory and Domains
Discussion on Domain Credentials vs Local Credentials

What’s required

To get started you’ll need:

1 x Server (Virtual Machine or Physical Server)
Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Licensing
A running Windows Server 2022 Instance (OSE)
A network router and/or firewall

Hardware/Software used in this demonstration

VMware vSphere
HPE DL360p Gen8 Server
Microsoft Windows Server 2022
pfSense Firewall

How to create an Active Directory Domain on Windows Server 2022

Microsoft, Video Posts, Windows Server, Windows Server 2022 1 Response »

Sep 192021

Today, I will show you how to create an Active Directory Domain on Windows Server 2022.

This video will demonstrate and explain the process of configuring, and deploying a Windows Server 2022 instance as a Domain Controller, DNS Server, and DHCP Server and then setting up a standard user.

Check it out and feel free to leave a comment! Scroll down below for more information and details on the guide.

Who’s this guide for

This guide is perfect for a seasoned IT professional or a beginner who is looking at getting experience with installing Windows Server 2022.

What’s included in the video

In this guide I will walk you through the following:

Document a new Server Installation and domain
Promote a Windows Server 2022 Server to a Domain Controller with Active Directory
- Installation and configuration of Microsoft Active Directory
- Promote a server as a new domain controller
  - Overview of Forest Functional Level
  - Overview of Domain Functional Level
  - Overview of DSRM (Domain Services Restore Mode) and Password
- Installation and configuration of DNS Role
- Installation and configuration of DHCP Role
Setup and configuration of a new user account on domain
Creation of DHCP Scope for Network

What’s required

To get started you’ll need:

1 x Server (Virtual Machine or Physical Server)
Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Licensing
A running Windows Server 2022 Instance (OSE)
A network router and/or firewall

Hardware/Software used in this demonstration

VMware vSphere
HPE DL360p Gen8 Server
Microsoft Windows Server 2022
pfSense Firewall

Installing Windows Server 2022

Microsoft, Video Posts, Windows Server, Windows Server 2022 2 Responses »

Sep 182021

With the recent release of Microsoft Windows Server 2022, I felt I needed to give it a shot. Join me as I install Windows Server 2022.

These instructions are also valid for previous versions of Microsoft Windows Server.

This video will demonstrate and explain the process of installing, configuring, and deploying a Windows Server 2022 instance.

Check it out and feel free to leave a comment! Scroll down below for more information and details on the guide.

Who’s this guide for

This guide is perfect for a seasoned IT professional or a beginner who is looking at getting experience with installing Windows Server 2022.

What’s included in the video

In this guide I will walk you through the following:

Installing Windows Server 2022 (with Desktop Experience)
Document a new Server Installation
VMware Tools Installation
Configuring Network Settings
Computer Name Change
Windows Server 2022 Server Manager Overview
Windows Updates

What’s required

To get started you’ll need:

1 x Server (Virtual Machine or Physical Server)
Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Licensing
A network router and/or firewall

Hardware/Software used in this demonstration

VMware vSphere
HPE DL360p Gen8 Server
Microsoft Windows Server 2022
pfSense Firewall

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