With Windows Admin Center you can remotely manage Windows Server running anywhere—physical, virtual, on-premises, in Azure, or in a hosted environment.
The tool, available with your Windows Server license at no additional charge, consolidates and reimagines Windows OS tools in a single, browser-based, graphical user interface.
At Microsoft Ignite 2021 Global Virtual Event they launched Windows Admin Center version 2103. Here you find the download.
Set Proxy Server in Windows Admin Center Settings.
Open in a Separate Window
This is a Separate Window on my Second Screen, this works Awesome!
Windows Admin Center Virtual Tool improvements 🙂
Conclusion
Microsoft is working hard to make Hybrid IT Management better for Administrators to manage Hybrid Cloud datacenters. Windows Admin Center is a must have for managing
Windows Server Core, AzureStack HCI, and Cluster Services. I can say: I love to work with Windows Admin Center 🙂
The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) gives you the most command-line tools, utilities, and applications directly on Windows. I’m using Microsoft Windows Admin Center and Windows Server Core 20H2 with Build version 19042.746 to deploy WSL 2 with Ubuntu 18.04 Linux Distro. Here you find the installation of the Windows Server Core 20H2 with Windows Admin Center
In the following steps we will install the Following :
Ubuntu 18.04 is Running in WSL2 on Windows Server Core 20H2 😉
Conclusion
First of All Microsoft Windows Admin Center is supporting me in the Installation of Windows Subsystem for Linux. We have WSL 2 Running with Ubuntu 18.04 with a lot of possibilities!
What I really like is integration, like in Windows 10 and Docker for desktop with the WSL 2 Engine. Here my Blogpost
Together with VSCode Remote WSL is Cool.
Would be awesome to run Docker Windows and Linux Containers in combination with WSL 2 integration on Windows Server Core edition. Maybe in the Future, who knows?
Working with Dapr in WSL2 Remote VSCode and Ubuntu 20.04 distro
Dapr is a portable, event-driven runtime that makes it easy for any developer to build resilient, stateless and stateful applications that run on the cloud and edge and embraces the diversity of languages and developer frameworks.
Developer language SDKs and frameworks
To make using Dapr more natural for different languages, it also includes language specific SDKs for Go, Java, JavaScript, .NET and Python. These SDKs expose the functionality in the Dapr building blocks, such as saving state, publishing an event or creating an actor, through a typed, language API rather than calling the http/gRPC API. This enables you to write a combination of stateless and stateful functions and actors all in the language of their choice. And because these SDKs share the Dapr runtime, you get cross-language actor and functions support.
I’m using Windows Insider Build version 21277-RS with Docker for Windows Edge and Visual Studio Code.
Docker for Windows Edge Version Running.
Because Docker for Windows Edge support WSL2 Engine and Visual Studio Code too, brought me to an idea to build dapr into Ubuntu 20.04 WSL Distro on my Windows Insiders 21277 RS version on my Surface Book 3. There for you must activate the WSL2 integration with my default WSL distro Ubuntu-20.04.
Dapr init ( in the Ubuntu-20.04 WSL2 Linux distro )
Here you find the Dapr dev environment installation types for Dapr init, I did the standalone version. Dapr makes then the following containers :
Dapr Containers.
Then we have the following running :
Dapr Dashboard
Zipkin
Zipkin is a distributed tracing system. It helps gather timing data needed to troubleshoot latency problems in service architectures. Features include both the collection and lookup of this data.
Zipkin Traces
Dapr Dashboard
Now we have Dapr running in the WSL2 Ubuntu-20.04 distro, you can use Visual Studio Code on Windows Insiders using Remote WSL and work with your favourite dapr SDK like the list above 😉
From here you can work with your dapr application.
In this guide dapr is running with Docker containers, but you can also install it on Kubernetes or K8s, AKS, Azure any where, see this overview :
Dapr with Kubenetes Containers.
Dapr Overview.
Important Note : Dapr is now production ready with version 1.0 ! Developers, DevOps, AzOps, you can start with it and Build and Test your own microservices and Container apps ! Hope you are having fun with it too 😉
It’s a year full of misery with the Covid-19 virus around the world. People who lose their loved one, It’s a very sad time for all of us! Microsoft technologies are still going on strong with new features in Azure Cloud Services but also supporting the people who are working in the healthcare, data analytics, Microsoft Teams for Collaboration and much more. But what I want to say to all HealthCare people over the world : THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO 👍
I have deep respect for you all !
Community, Microsoft Product Teams, MVP Lead, WIndows Insiders, I wish you and your family happy holidays and a Healthy 2021 with lot of Success! 🎄😍
Manage all your server environments with familiar yet modernized tools, such as the reimagined Server Manager and streamlined MMC tools, from a single, browser-based, graphical user interface. Admins can manage Windows Server instances anywhere: on-premises, in Azure, or in any cloud.
Operate hybrid seamlessly
Extend on-premises deployments of Windows Server to the cloud by using the Azure hybrid services found in Windows Admin Center. Use Azure for:
Backup and disaster recovery
Additional capacity for compute, file servers and storage
Centralized management for monitoring, threat protection and update management
In the following steps we will install Windows Server Core 20H2 version Build 10.0.19042 via Windows Admin Center on my Hyper-V Host called Starship01.mvplab.cloud.
I have Windows Admin Center already running for my MVPLAB with a Windows Server 2019 Hypervisor host. From here I will install a New Windows Server Core 20H2 Machine.
Click in the Left toolbar on Virtual Machines
and then on Add New
Deployment settings for the New Virtual Machine.
Here we set the following settings :
Virtual Machine Name
Generation VM ( gen 2 is recommended )
The path of the VM settings and Disk
Virtual Processors
a mark for nested virtualization ( for the Hyper-V feature )
Memory
Network / Virtual Switch
Storage
When you Add Storage you can select also the new ISO file for Installation.
I changed the Size of the Operating Disk from 127GB to 50GB
And I selected the path to the Windows Server Core 20H2 ISO.
Then Click on Create.
Windows Admin Center will create the Virtual Machine really fast.
Now the Window Virtual Machine Dark20H2 is created by Windows Admin Center on the Hyper-V Host, we can do the Windows Server Core 20H2 Installation by starting the Virtual Machine.
Before you Start running the VM, have a look at the settings
If you want you can set more Security features here.
You can set Encryption and Security Policy.
Start the Virtual Machine here for Installation of Windows Server Core 20H2
( The ISO is connected )
Installation of Windows Server Core 20H2 version Build 10.0.19042
The virtual Machine is running and now we can connect it via Windows Admin Center to do the installation of Windows Server.
Click on Connect
Use your Windows Admin Center account and mark
for the certificate. Then Click on Connect
Here we see the Console for the Windows Server Installation.
Install Now.
The Windows Server Core 20H2 is Installed.
Of course you can now configure the Machine via SConfig.exe, I only gave the Server name and a static IP address with DNS.
Via Windows Admin Center ( Manage) you can add the Machine to the domain.
Add the Server to the domain with your account and Click on Join
Server will Restart, Click on Yes
Dark20H2 Joined the Domain MVPLAB.CLOUD Successfully
Adding the Windows Server Core 20H2 to Windows Admin Center
Add Dark20H2.mvplab.cloud to Windows Admin Center.
Of course I want to manage the server with Windows Admin Center and use all the tools I need to securely manage this Server.
Windows Server Core 20H2 in Windows Admin Center.
First thing what I do in my MVPLAB is Windows Updates.
December Updates for Windows Server Core 20H2
Updates Installed Successfully 🙂
Azure Hybrid Services
Azure Hybrid Services
You can extend on-premises deployments of Windows Server to the cloud by using Azure hybrid services. These cloud services provide an array of useful functions, both for extending on-premises into Azure, and for centrally managing from Azure. Think of :
Windows Admin Center is a must have when you have to manage Windows Server Core versions, you don’t have to worry about all the Commands of Windows Server Core. With Windows Admin Center it becomes easy to do the complete installation of the server and this include also all features of Windows Server Core 202H2 Build 10.0.19042. It becomes really powerful when you use it in a Hybrid way by connecting to Microsoft Azure Cloud Services. Earlier I wrote a blogpost about Windows Admin Center and Azure Security Center
I Hope this is useful for you, and start your journey with Windows Admin Center & Windows Server Core versions 😉
Security Center is in active development and receives improvements on an ongoing basis. To stay up to date with the most recent developments, this page provides you with information about new features, bug fixes, and deprecated functionality.
Azure Security Center’s features cover the two broad pillars of cloud security:
Cloud security posture management (CSPM) – Security Center is available for free to all Azure users. The free experience includes CSPM features such as secure score, detection of security misconfigurations in your Azure machines, asset inventory, and more. Use these CSPM features to strengthen your hybrid cloud posture and track compliance with the built-in policies.
Cloud workload protection (CWP) – Security Center’s integrated cloud workload protection platform (CWPP), Azure Defender, brings advanced, intelligent, protection of your Azure and hybrid resources and workloads. Enabling Azure Defender brings a range of additional security features as described on this page. In addition to the built-in policies, when you’ve enabled any Azure Defender plan, you can add custom policies and initiatives. You can add regulatory standards – such as NIST and Azure CIS – as well as the Azure Security Benchmark for a truly customized view of your compliance.
Microsoft Azure Sentinel is a scalable, cloud-native, security information event management (SIEM) and security orchestration automated response (SOAR) solution. Azure Sentinel delivers intelligent security analytics and threat intelligence across the enterprise, providing a single solution for alert detection, threat visibility, proactive hunting, and threat response.
I Love being the first to see what’s next for Windows in the Windows Insider Program. For me It’s a way of Life to support Microsoft by giving feedback, suggestions and ideas for Windows 10 New innovations and improvements. I feel I’m building together with the Microsoft Product Team and Community to make a better product every week. It’s awesome too see that Microsoft is solving your feedback issue or your idea is coming in the next Windows Insider Build Release 🙂 I’m a Windows Insider MVP but also a Cloud and Datacenter Management MVP for the Community sharing New Microsoft Technologies.
You can join the Microsoft Windows Insider Programtoo and work with the newest Windows Insider Preview Builds of Microsoft.
Windows Insider Feedback Hub
Windows Insider Program
When you joined the Windows Insider program, you only have to activate the right Windows Insider Channel in your Windows10 Operating system. Go to Settings and Click on Windows Insider Program.
Windows Insider Program
First you login with your Windows Insiders Registration email address to get connection with the Windows Insiders Preview Build version. Then you have to select in which Windows Insiders Channel you want :
Here you see the Windows Insiders Channels.
I’m using all the Channels on different Machines as a MVP
When you select your Windows Insiders Channel, then you go to Windows Updates and get the latest Windows Insiders Preview Build of your Channel to download and Install.
Downloading Windows Insider Preview Build 20251 in the Dev Channel.
After downloading, rebooting, installing the new Windows Insiders Preview Build, you can test Windows 10 with the newest features of Microsoft and give your feedback and ideas in the Feedback Hub on your Machine.
Here you find the Microsoft Windows Insider Blogpost about this Preview Build 20251
When you found a new Issue in Windows Insider Preview Build or you want to give your idea to Microsoft, open the Windows Insiders Feedback Hub on your local machine here:
Click here on Give Feedback.
Summarize your feedback and Explain in more details
Select at Category if it’s a problem or Suggestion
and the category recommendations.
Click on Next
Find Similar Feedback Click Next
Add More Details.
For the Microsoft Windows Insider Engineers It’s important to get Screenshots and the data. Start recording and show Microsoft your issue in this Windows Insider Preview Build. Save the recordings ! and Send your feedback to Microsoft.
You can support Microsoft by giving feedback when something is fixed for you.
Here I report that the File Explorer issue is solved in Build 20251.
In the Feedback Hub you find more like Quests, Achievements, and Announcements from Microsoft Windows Insider Program.
Windows Insider Achievements
For the work you do free because you like to test the newest Microsoft Windows features, you can earn Microsoft Badges.
Microsoft Windows Insider Quests
With Microsoft Windows Insider Quests, Microsoft ask you to test new features and give your feedback about it.
They explain the feature and the steps so you can try it yourself. I love these quests, because then you learn about the new features and innovation you try out.
here you see the Microsoft Windows Insider Announcements to keep you Up-to-Date
Windows Insider Community
Being a Windows Insider in the Community is Awesome, you make friends on social media who share the same technology interest, asking questions and keep each other posted on new updates. Microsoft Windows Insiders program is really active on Twitter with handler @windowsinsider
We use Hashtag’s : #WindowsInsiders #WIMVP #Windows10
When you like to work with the Newest Microsoft Windows Insider Preview Build versions to test and explore New innovated features in Windows 10 or Windows Server, then JOIN the Windows Insider Program.
I really like this program and being connected with Microsoft Product Group, giving feedback and working Together with the Community to make a better product every time. For me It’s a way of life, It’s a Great Hobby for me but also my Work 😉
Have Fun with the Windows Insider Program, and Learn on the Job !
As an Administrator, I like to work with Microsoft Windows Admin Center, It’s a locally deployed, browser-based app for managing Windows servers, clusters, hyper-converged infrastructure, as well as Windows 10 PCs. You can download Windows Admin Center hereand use it for Free in your Production environment. What is Windows Admin Center? What are my benefits? Here you see Windows Admin Center Architecture how it works.
Windows Admin Center Architecture.
So you can use Windows Admin Center everywhere, you can Install it on a Server on-premises without any internet connections, or in a hybrid way with a internet connection for Cloud
services integrations like Azure Backup, Azure Security Center, Azure Monitor or Azure File Sync and to manage your Virtual Machines in the Cloud.
Microsoft is now busy with Windows Admin Center in the Azure Portal in Preview to manage your Hybrid Datacenter. Here you find a blogpost about it in the Microsoft Tech Community.
Manage Internet Access in Windows Admin Center.
Datacenter Administrators want to manage Windows Servers in an Easy way but it must be secure. Microsoft has some user access options for using Windows Admin Center.
The one I like most is Microsoft Azure MFA (Two-Factor-Authentication) on your Windows Admin Center environment. Here you find more information about User Access WAC.
Choose the right Windows Admin Center installation for your environment:
Windows Admin Center Installation types.
These are Production Ready.
But don’t forget the Microsoft Windows Admin Center in the Azure Portal Preview :
Windows Admin Center in the Azure Portal Preview.
Windows Admin Center | Management | Azure Security Center Integration.
The Power of a Modern Management tool like Windows Admin Center is the Extensions feature to integrate with external Services like Azure Cloud Services, or third party vendors like Dell EMC or HP, Fujitsu, Data-On with great management solutions. An other example of a Windows Admin Center Extension are Containers.
In the following steps you will see how easy it is to manage and integrate Azure Security Center into Windows Admin Center for your Servers.
When you have installed Windows Admin Center, you have to add your Microsoft Azure Subscription into WAC.
Azure Registration in Windows Admin Center.
In the upper right you have the settings icon of Windows Admin Center, from there you can select Azure and do the registration. What it will do is making a API with your Microsoft Azure subscription:
Here you see the Registration in Microsoft Azure.
When that is completed successfully, you can add the Microsoft Azure Services via Extensions in Settings. We are going to Select Azure Security Center.
Install the Microsoft Azure Security Center Extension.
From here you have installed the basics for your Servers, now the Microsoft Azure Security Center feature is added in the left management bar at each Server in Windows Admin Center.
Now we only have to register the Servers into Azure Security Center with Windows Admin Center.
Here you see my MVPLAB Machines.
I have two Azure Stack HCI virtual Machines and I like to know if they are secure. ( Skywalker01 and Skywalker02) I start with the Azure Security Center Installation on Skywalker01 VM.
Azure Stack HCI VM called Skywalker01.mvplab.cloud
Sign into Azure.
Select your Azure Subscription, Create or Use existing workspace.
Select Region, and Create or use existing Resource Group.
Click on Setup.
The Virtual Machine will be added to Azure Security Center.
From here it need some time to do the job with doing assessments, getting the metadata of the server with log analytics. Microsoft Azure Security Center will come with security recommendations like:
Here you can do a Quick Fix and do Remediation.
After a view minutes the Security issues are also coming into Windows Admin Center.
Here I get some Security advice in Windows Admin Center for Skywalker01 VM
Here you see the Power of the Azure Cloud with Log Analytics and the
Azure Security Center baselines for Skywalker01 Azure Stack HCI VM.
I forgot Skywalker02 VM to do the monthly security updates and that is a Security Risk too of course :
Skywalker02 Azure Stack HCI VM at High Security Risk.
(No updates)
Of course we have Windows Updates in Windows Admin Center, Just have to select and approve the updates for Skywalker02 to solve this high Risk issue.
Skywalker02 Azure Stack HCI VM Security Risk Solved 😉
Conclusion
In a Hybrid IT world today is Better Together my motto with Windows Admin Center and Microsoft Azure Security Center you have a Great solution. You can make your own Azure Security Center Baseline policy to deploy on your Windows Servers to make them more Secure. Get a High Security Score ! And don’t worry you can add all your Windows Servers into Windows Admin Center if they are on-premises or in the Cloud.
With Azure MFA Two-Factor access authentication, you make your Management tool Windows Admin Center more Secure for your environment. If you don’t use Windows Admin Center yet, start Today !
