You can manage SQL Server from a command line just as you would any other service. Here are the commands you need to know. ...

Read more!

Once you’ve thoroughly researched and planned your implementation of Failover clusters, you’re ready to actually create the cluster. The mechanism to create and manage Failover clusters is the Cluster Administrator application, part of the Administrative Tools folder. Here are the 12 easy steps! ...

Read more!

With a core server installation, you have a minimal UI that includes a limited desktop environment for local console management of the server. Here is an overview of key commands and utilities you’ll use for managing server core installations while logged on locally. ...

Read more!

You can easily prevent costly queries from executing by configuring the query governor. Find out how to do this in just a few simple steps. ...

Read more!

Discover a new command line switch in Windows 7 for easily analyzing and troubleshooting power management settings. ...

Read more!

Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 introduce important changes to BitLocker, including support for data volumes and improved protection against cryptographic attacks. Byron Hynes explores the new features, demonstrates how to use BitLocker on a server, and discusses some of the recent media coverage affecting BitLocker.

Byron Hynes

TechNet Magazine June 2008

...

Read more!

Without too much effort, you can deploy a terminal server to host the applications you need in your environment. But there are some important decisions you’ll need to make to ensure your implementation meets user expectations. Greg Shields discusses the various options you have and explains how they will affect you.

Greg Shields

TechNet Magazine January 2009

...

Read more!

Discover how to use the Excel.Application automation model for a more powerful way to process data from your servers and take advantage of the analysis and charting tools built into Excel.

The Microsoft Scripting Guys

TechNet Magazine January 2009

...

Read more!

Learn how you can implement error-handling in Windows PowerShell.

Don Jones

TechNet Magazine January 2009

...

Read more!

Raymond Chen explains why it is often the developers who have their acts together who end up checking in the final bug fixes to products.

Raymond Chen

TechNet Magazine January 2009

...

Read more!

NAP monitors the health of specified computers when they attempt to connect to a network and includes a number of mechanisms to enforce health requirements. In this article, Geek of All Trades Greg Shields gives readers an overview of these enforcement mechanisms and, as an example, takes a closer look at setting ...

Read more!

Use Windows PowerShell to Manage Virtual Machines Here are a few examples of how you can use Windows PowerShell scripts to manage virtual machines running on a Server Core installation. Note that these scripts are presented as samples and may need to be customized to work in your environment.

Create a New ...

Read more!

Disabling an Unused Part of Group Policy Objects One way to disable a policy is to disable an unused part of the GPO. By disabling part of a policy that isn’t used, the application of GPOs and security will be faster.

Administer Windows Server 2008 Server Core from the Command Prompt ...

Read more!

In the August 2008 issue of TechNet Magazine, Paul Randal wrote an article Top Tips for Effective Database Maintenance.  It was geared toward "involuntary  DBAs" (IT pros who inadvertently wind up responsible for a SQL Server instance).  The article had a great response from our readers so Paul has written another ...

Read more!

Microsoft Forefront is designed to deliver an integrated security solution that makes it much easier to deploy and manage security across an organization’s IT infrastructure. In this, our annual security issue, we feature two articles that describe how Forefront Security protects instant messaging and e-mail.

Protect ...

Read more!