Windows Server 2016 on Virtual machine, Kiosk mode - powershell

I am trying to set up Kiosk Mode on a Windows Server 2016 set-up on a Hyper-V VM.
I have used Windows Imaging and Configuration Designer to create a Kiosk package but cannot apply it. When I use the Powershell cmdlet Add-ProvisioningPackage
I get an error saying:
'Add-ProvisioningPackage is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet'
Has anyone else had similar issues?
EDIT: Here is the full error, I tried both the folder path and also the .ppkg
EDIT2: It appears to not be possible on Windows Server 2016 to utilize provisioning packages.

Related

Opening Internet Explorer in Powershell or CMD

I'm using Windows Server 2016 Standard core and cannot figure out how to open Internet Explorer.
Internet explorer isn't available in Windows Core.
However, if you are running Windows Server 2019, then you could install the Server Core App Compatibility Features on Demand and then add support for IE11.
To do this, first, add support for the Server Core App Compatibility FoD (all of the steps listed below are available in the documentation that I have linked to):
Download the Server FOD optional packages ISO, and copy the ISO to a shared folder on your local network:
If you have a volume license you can download the Server FOD ISO image file from the same portal where the OS ISO image file is obtained: Volume Licensing Service Center.
The Server FOD ISO image file is also available on the Microsoft Evaluation Center or on the Visual Studio portal for subscribers.
Sign in as Administrator on the Server Core computer that is connected to your local network and that you want to add the FOD to.
Use net use, or some other method, to connect to the location of the FOD ISO.
Copy the FOD ISO to a local folder of your choosing.
Start PowerShell by entering powershell.exe at a command prompt.
Mount the FoD ISO by using the following command:
Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath drive_letter:\folder_where_ISO_is_saved\ISO_filename.iso
Type exit to exit PowerShell.
Run the following command:
DISM /Online /Add-Capability /CapabilityName:"ServerCore.AppCompatibility~~~~0.0.1.0" /Source:drive_letter_of_mounted_ISO: /LimitAccess
After the progress bar completes, restart the operating system.
Once this is completed, you can begin the process of installing Internet Explorer:
Sign in as Administrator on the Server Core computer that has the App Compatibility FOD already added and the Server FOD optional package ISO copied locally.
Start PowerShell by entering powershell.exe at a command prompt.
Mount the FoD ISO by using the following command:
Mount-DiskImage -ImagePath drive_letter:\folder_where_ISO_is_saved\ISO_filename.iso
Type exit to exit PowerShell.
Run the following command:
Dism /online /add-package:drive_letter_of_mounted_iso:"Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-Optional-Package~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~.cab"
After the progress bar completes, restart the operating system.
By completing the above steps, you will then have installed the Windows Core version of Internet Explorer. It is not the same as the desktop version for the obvious reason that Server Core is missing the majority of GUI packages - Microsoft mainly supply it for debugging and support of IIS.

How to run eclipse on AWS

I have successfuly run rStudio on Amazon Web Services and it is extremely useful.
I want to run eclipse on AWS as well. When I type this in to google most tutorials are about the eclipse plugin. That's not what I want. I want to run eclipse on AWS.
I tried setting up an instance on EC2 which allowed me to run windows server 2012 but I couldn't install anything because of various internet explorer configuration issues and anyway I hat windows. I also tried a remote linux installation but its not really what I want. I want to run eclipse so that I can access it from a public DNS in the same way that I have managed to do with rStudio. Is this possible. Are there other (even non-AWS) ways?
I presume that by "AWS" you are actually referring to Amazon EC2 virtual machines.
Installing software on an Amazon EC2 instance is no different to installing on any other computer -- it's the same copy of Microsoft Windows you would use elsewhere.
The difficulties you mention of running Internet Explorer on Windows 2012 is entirely part of Microsoft's (rather strange) security settings that discourage using Internet Explorer as a system administrator, in order to combat security weaknesses that people try to exploit. Windows 2012 will no longer be supported by Microsoft in 2018.
I recommend using Windows 2016, which does not seem to impose such restrictions. It's also a newer, supported operating system that matches Windows 10.
Then, just install the software as normal and things will work a lot better for you.
Update:
You're right -- IE has problems on Windows 2016 but they are different to what is happening on Windows 2012 (last time I looked).
To get around the silly Microsoft IE security:
Run Server Manager
Go to Local Server
Click IE Enhanced Security Configuration ("On")
Turn both settings off
Internet Explorer then works and you can install Eclipse.

FailoverClusters module is not getting listed while running the cmdlet Get-Module -ListAvailable

I tried below command
Get-Module -ListAvailable
But it did not showed me "FailoverClusters" in the list
From where I can download this module? Do I have to install any SDK?
Note: I do not want to install Azure SDK. Is there any other way?
Update
I am using my local windows 10 to remote connect to the Azure Virtual Machine (Windows Server 2012 R2). I do want to manage all configurations using powershell from my local windows 10 machine.
As jisaak already explained, the FailoverClusters module is installed when you install the Failover Clustering feature on a Windows Server.
If, however, you want to manage a cluster from a computer without the Failover Clustering feature installed, this is what you do:
Download the appropriate version of Remote Server Administration Tools
Run the installer
Navigate to the Programs and Features control panel pane (run appwiz.cpl)
Choose "Turn Windows Features on or off"
Find the "Failover Cluster Management" feature under Remote Server Administration Tools
Enable it
Voila
The FailoverClusters Windows PowerShell module is installed on the
computer with the Failover Clustering feature
Source
Install the Failover Clustering Feature

Auto configuring IIS websites / app pools using PowerShell or other scripts

We have a need in our project to automate the process of creating AppPools and Websites in IIS . We would like to write some batch script to get this done. From my research I found that PowerShell has commands that can be used. However when I tried to run IIS module commands in PowerShell on Windows Server 2012 , it does not recognize the commands. Is it correct that this feature was only available for Windows 7 / IIS 7 ? Is it also available now on Windows 2012 R2 / IIS 8. If so where can I find proper documentation and help ?
This feature is of course available in Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Server 2012/2012 R2.
You probably forgot to run Add-PSSnapin WebAdministration before executing other IIS cmdlets.
You can find the full documentation on the Microsoft Technet.
If you run Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 (i.e. you have Windows PowerShell 4.0) you can also use the new PowerShell Desired State Configuration feature with the xWebAdministration Module to create WebAppPools and Websites.

Hyper-V not allowing the mouse in Windows Vista

OK, I am having a problem setting up a virtual machine in Hyper-V, I’m not getting the use of the mouse. When I connect to the machine from Hyper-V and click somewhere I get:
Virtual Machine Connection
Mouse not captured in Remote Desktop session.
The mouse is available in a Remote Desktop session when integration services are installed in the guest operating system.
If I try the same from Virtual Machine Manager I get:
Virtual Machine Connection
The mouse is unavailable in a Remote Desktop session when virtual guest services are not installed in the guest operating system.
The operating system is Vista Ultimate x86 Service Pack 2.
I have installed the integration services disk (Action | Insert Integration Services Setup Disk). This runs through the installation, says it was successful and prompts for a restart. After the restart I log in, click on something and get the same error above.
I have been Googling and as a result I have tried:
Detecting the HAL
Adding a 2nd CPU
Installed all available Windows updates
Trying installing the integration services again by running as administrator
Building a new Vista machine
Importing a Vista .vhd file from VirtualBox
Nothing. No joy.
Does anyone know how I can allow my Vista machine to accept the mouse?
Thank you.
This might sound trivial, but have you tried enabling "Guest Services" on the Vista VM? Here is how you can do it:
* From Hyper-V manager, right click on the Vista VM and go to Settings
* Management > Integration Services > Check "Guest Services".
If that does not help, let me know the version of your Windows host and also the result of following Powershell cmdlet (You need to execute this when VM is running):
Get-VM -Name <Your VM Name> | Select IntegrationServicesVersion, IntegrationServicesState
Typically, attaching the ISO file from Host's "C:\Windows\System32\vmguest.iso" and running the Setup from inside the VM should enable Mouse on Vista VMs. This is automatically done when you do "Insert Integration Services Setup Disk" action.
Hopefully it is not too late. First of all, you need to turn off the VM, and change the OS type to Vista in VM summary. Then you are allowed to install Virtual Guest Services. After installation, issue disappeared.
Basically I think the issue is from the fact that Hyper-V was not to identify the OS correctly.
I added all the hyper-v system devices in manually. Check with another working VM to see what system devices are not shown. Re-started and it worked fine.