Windows 10 Creators Update

Microsoft Windows Client, ,

creators

Overview

2016 brought us the Anniversary Update to Windows 10. Now early 2017 brings us the Creators Update. This update targets the creative types, supposedly. I say this because adding 3D Paint to the existing Microsoft Paint application really seems to be the extent of that, and that is pretty lame.

When You Get It

I am testing the update for you here as a Microsoft Insider. You can download the update for yourself on or after April 11, 2017.

The Enhancement

Here is the full list of feature enhancements in this update:

  • Privacy Dashboard – this Web-based interface is now part of your Microsoft account screen online and permits you to control Privacy settings all from one location
  • Game Mode – places Windows into an operational mode that is optimized for games; found in an Xbox icon in settings
  • Paint 3D – a new built in painting app
  • Windows 10 Holographic Shell – this enables VR (particularly the HoloLens) to function with Windows 10 right out of the box
  • Windows Updates improvements – for example, Pro, Enterprise, and Education users can now delay updates for a time period; Home edition users are now the only test candidates! 🙂
  • Dynamic Lock – walk away from your PC and it can dynamically lock; this trick is done using Bluetooth to your phone
  • Cortana improvements – this feature gets smarter all the time of course, most noticeable in this update is the scheduling of monthly reminders; she can also help with Setup now, and will suggest things better as you type
  • E-books – the Windows Store is picking up an e-books section and the Edge Browser now serves as a Reader
  • Edge improvements – tab previews, set-aside tabs, and Microsoft Wallet all arrive in the browser
  • Start menu folders
  • New display settings – including a night mode
  • New Touchpad and Surface Dial settings 
  • Windows Defender improvements 
  • Bug fixes – (duh)

InformIT (Pearson Education)

Cloning Windows Server 2016 Domain Controllers

Microsoft Windows Server, , ,

Cloning

Overview

Using virtualization technologies certainly sounds exciting when it comes to your Domain Controllers in a Windows Server 2016 environment. After all, think about scalability. You need more of it, just clone an existing Domain Controller and add the additional clone to your infrastructure.

The Steps

To ensure cloning is a success, Microsoft outlines a process for us and provides us with some new tools.

Step 1: On the virtual machine you want to clone (the source VM), run the Get-ADDCCloningExcludedApplicationList cmdlet. This shows you services and applications you might have installed on the Domain Controller that do not support cloning. Uninstall any that are true concerns.

Step 2: Rerun Get-ADDCCloningExcludedApplicationList with the -GenerateXml and -Path arguments in order to create an allow list XML file.

Step 3: Add your source VM you want to clone to the Cloneable Domain Controllers group. You can use the Add-ADGroupMember cmdlet or the GUI for this.

Step 4: Create a cloning configuration file for your new system. This XML file provides parameters like computer name and IP address for the new virtual machine. The easiest way to create this file is to use the PowerShell cmdlet of New-ADDCCloneConfigFile cmdlet.

Step 5: Shut down your source VM and duplicate it to create your clone. I recommend the Export and Import approach for the VM to ensure you get all your snapshots and other goodies.

Step 6: Boot your cloned Domain Controller and watch as the process of AD Cloning completes at startup.