Category: Windows Server

Windows Server related.

PS RoomSigning 2022.02.05 (New Version)

    Stefan Peters

Introduction

PSRoomSigning 2022 is a complete new version of the PowerShell based solution for RoomSigning. The solution has been reinvented because of issues with the 2021 version. If you installed the 2021 version and have “server error 500” sometimes please remove the old version and install this one.

RoomSigning 2022 will display the meetings in your meeting rooms in your environment. If you have an information display in your company restaurant or foyer you can display this information. Only meetings of today are displayed and meetings in the past are no longer on the screen, keeping it nice and clean.


Example of RoomSigning

How does it work?

The PowerShell script is designed to run as a scheduled task, or scheduled Azure Automation Runbook. The script needs a Service Principal Name in Azure AD with ‘Calendar.Read’ and ‘User.Read’ permissions. And when your target is Azure Web App Service the SPN needs Contributor permissions on the App Service.

When the script runs it will read the configured Exchange Online Room mailboxes and will render an HTML file in a configured target location. This HTML file is the visual representation of the Exchange Rooms. The HTML location needs to be a location where your display device can access it. This can be a webserver running local or in Azure or can be a local folder or a shared folder on a file share. If your client can access it, it will work.

Revision History:

2022 – Second release
• Reinvented the solution with extra jQuery script and splitting the HTML into two files.
• Add jQuery script for refreshing the page, making it more robust and stable.
• Requires webserver, doesn’t work local anymore.
• Fixed the PSRoomsigning_CreateResources.ps1 script now it works.

2021 – First release

Download the PSRoomSigning 2022 solution here.

PS RoomSigning

    Stefan Peters

Introduction

PSRoomSigning is a PowerShell based solution for RoomSigning, you can run this script on your Windows based display device, webserver or run natively in Azure. RoomSigning will show the meetings of your meeting rooms in your environment. If you have an information display in your company restaurant or foyer you can display this information. Only meetings of today are displayed and meetings in the past are no longer on the screen.


Example of RoomSigning

How does it work?

The PowerShell script is designed to run as a scheduled task, or scheduled Azure Automation Runbook. The script needs a Service Principal Name in Azure AD with ‘Calendar.Read’ and ‘Directory.Read’ permissions. And when your target is Azure Web App Service the SPN needs Contributor permissions on the App Service.

When the script runs it will read the configured Exchange Online Room mailboxes and will render an HTML file in a configured target location. This HTML file is the visual representation of the Exchange Rooms. The HTML location needs to be a location where your display device can access it. This can be a webserver running local or in Azure or can be a local folder or a shared folder on a file share. If your client can access it, it will work.

The HTML file generated contains a 30 second auto refresh setting so when the script writes a new version it will be updated automatically.

Download the PSRoomSigning script here.

Azure VPN – Part 1/2

    Stefan Peters

This new Azure related blog describes how to extend your on-premises network to the Azure datacenter. The blog explains how to create an Azure Virtual Network, create VPN gateway, and connect it to your on-premises environment. In part 2 we expand this solution with Point-to-Site VPN, with Always ON – Azure VPN, allowing Modern Managed clients to connect via VPN to Azure Virtual Network, and if required to your on-premises network.


This picture shows the setup we are going to create in this BLOG.

The blog assumes you have basic knowledge about networking and how the Azure portal works. The region I usually work in is West Europe. Please adjust your region to you preferred Azure Region.

Part 1: Site-to-Site VPN

  1. Create Azure VNET
  2. Create Azure Virtual Network Gateway
  3. Create Virtual Machine in Azure
  4. Create Site-2-Site between Azure and Sophos XG
    1. Configure Azure
    2. Configure Sophos XG
    3. Proof of the pudding

Coming Soon: Part 2: Azure VPN (Point-to-Site)

Continue reading Azure VPN – Part 1/2 →

Manage non domain Joined Windows Server 2019 Core

    Stefan Peters

In this blog I will explain how to install a Hyper-V role on a Windows 2019 Standard Server Core. I also install and configure the DHCP and RRAS role. To configure these roles, I use a Windows 2019 Standard Server (Desktop Experience).

This normally is pretty easy when all are joined to the domain, but for my “LAB” scenario I do not use a Domain Controller. Procedures should work also on Hyper-V Server 2019, except for the DHCP and RRAS role.

In my LAB network I want to use a Sophos XG HOME edition for network protection to the Internet. I want to virtualize this software to maximize the usability of the MiniPC I purchased.

From a major Chinese webshop I purchased a J1900 based MiniPC with 4x Intel Network card in it. It came with 8GB and 120GB SSD. The J1900 processor supports Hyper-V.

I want to use the DHCP/RRAS and Hyper-V role on this BOX. Because the J1900 only supports 8GB of RAM I use the Server Core edition of Windows 2019 instead of the Desktop Experience.

Continue reading Manage non domain Joined Windows Server 2019 Core →