Microsoft Windows Admin Center is a web based App working in your modern browser like Edge or Chrome to manage your datacenter infrastructure. You can download it here
You can manage Windows Servers, Windows10 Desktops, Clusters, Hyperconverged Clusters, Storage Spaces Direct and more in a Hybrid environment and that’s what I like.
My Servers can be on-premises or in the Cloud like Azure and will manage them with Windows Admin Center.
With 30+ Community talks, learning sessions, and skill-building activities exploring Minecraft, MakeCode, Visual Studio, AI, Azure, and more, there is something here for every student and every level of experience!
If you like to test the new features of Windows 10 and give feedback to the Microsoft product team, then the Windows Insiders Program is the place to Join. Here you can become a Windows Insider
I’m a Windows Insider since 2014 and a Windows Insider MVP since July 2019 and I love the collaboration with the Community and with the Microsoft Product Team to make a better product like Windows 10 together.
On my windows Insiders Build version 19613, I like to have my tools and Apps installed like :
I’m in the Microsoft Windows Insiders FAST Ring, and I want to test everything like Windows 10 operating system but my Tools must also be working on every new Windows Insiders Build.
Installing WSL 2 and Windows Terminal on Windows Insider Build version
When both dism commands are successfully completed, you have to restart your machine.
wsl –set-default-version 2
Now you have set WSL 2 version in the basic, but you have to install a Linux distro where you can find here in the Microsoft Store
I installed Kali Linux distro from the Microsoft Store.
Enter a New User name and password.
Kali Linux distro is now running on WSL 2 on my Windows Insiders Build.
One of the Cool features in Windows Insiders Build version 19613 is that you can use your File explorer for Kali Linux 😉
Linux in Windows Insider Explorer.
Exploring Kali Linux
And of course updating the Kali Linux distro with
Sudo apt-get update
And at last…….
sudo apt-get upgrade
The Next tool is Windows Terminal (Preview) from the Microsoft Store
Just Click on Get ( in the Microsoft Store)
Click on Launch
This Windows Terminal Preview version on Windows Insiders can run :
Command Prompt
Powershell
Kali Linux distro (WSL 2)
Azure CloudShell
From here I can Manage and Install Microsoft Azure Cloud Services with Cloud Shell running on my Windows Insiders Build
for testing all the new features and this goes really easy :
Click next to PowerShell in the pulldown bar on Azure Cloud Shell and copy the Code
into the next URL https://microsoft.com/devicelogin
Enter here your Code from Windows Terminal.
Done you are logged-In Azure via Windows Terminal on Windows Insiders Build.
Azure Cloud Shell in Windows Terminal 😉
Conclusion
The Windows Insiders Program is Awesome to join when you like to test the Newest features of Windows 10 but also the Tools and applications running on the newest Windows Insiders Build version are Cool. When you work with Fast ring releases and Preview versions of tools you can hit a bug, or something is not working. That’s the moment you give feedback in the Windows Insider Feedback HUB to support the Microsoft Windows Insiders Product Team to fix the Bug.
Together we are building for the future of Windows 10 !
Windows Insider Program Feedback Hub.
And as a Windows Insider you can earn Badges for your Support 😉
Microsoft Windows Admin Center for Hybrid IT Management
I really like to work with Microsoft Windows Admin Center for managing my Hybrid workloads Windows Servers in Azure Cloud Services but also our On-premises Servers on Hyper-V and VMware platform. Even our physical Windows Servers can be managed from Windows Admin Center.
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, including the following:
Protect virtual machines and use cloud-based backup and disaster recovery (HA/DR) with Azure Site Recovery.
Track what’s happening across your applications, network and infrastructure with the help of advanced analytics and machine learning in Azure Monitor.
Simplify network connectivity to Azure with Azure Network Adapter.
Keep virtual machines up to date with Azure Update Management.
Azure hybrid services work with Windows Servers in the following configurations:
Stand-alone physical servers and virtual machines (VMs)
I’m working with Windows Admin Center since day one, and you see the hybrid management tool evolving with great new features to make your life as an Administrator more easier. For example you get notifications when there are updates in extensions.
Notification details about update Extensions
When you click on the link “Go to Extensions” you will see the Extensions installed and the Updates which you can install from there.
Here you see an Azure Security Center Extension update.
There are not only Microsoft extensions, but also third party solution extensions and you could build your own extension for your solution. Here you find all the information about Windows Admin Center Extensions
Third Party Windows Admin Center Extensions
Installing a New extension is easy to do, the Azure Cloud Shell (Preview) was the last extension I installed in my Azure MVP Lab to work with. Azure Cloud Shell is an interactive, authenticated, browser-accessible shell for managing Azure resources. It provides the flexibility of choosing the shell experience that best suits the way you work, either Bash or PowerShell. Cloud Shell enables access to a browser-based command-line experience built with Azure management tasks in mind. So how does this look in Windows Admin Center?
Install the Azure Cloud Shell (Preview) Extension
You find the Installed Azure Cloud Shell in the pulldown menu of WAC
For Management of your Windows Servers you need some tools and consoles. Windows Admin Center is supporting you to get the Management consoles in one place to do your administration and updates.
The next tree Features are in Windows Admin Center to manage your Windows Server.
Powershell inside WAC of my Domain Controller
Windows PowerShell is a task-based command-line shell and scripting language designed especially for system administration. Built on the .NET Framework, Windows PowerShell helps IT professionals and power users control and automate the administration of the Windows operating system and applications that run on Windows.
Here you find more information about Windows Commands
Windows Update in Windows Admin Center.
Of course you need to update your Windows Servers, and what I like in WAC is that you get the information if an update needs a reboot before you click on Install Updates. This option is good for my Azure MVP Lab but when you need to update more then 100 Servers, you would do that centrally managed like with Update Management solution in Azure
Windows Remote Desktop in WAC
Remote Desktop is one of the Features of Windows Admin Center, to take over the desktop for installations of Applications for example.
Windows Admin Center got a lot more Features and Tools to Manage your Windows Servers in a Hybrid world.
Like these :
Storage
Security
System Insights
Scheduled Tasks
Installing Roles and Features of Windows Server
Registry
Processes running on your Windows Server
Managing and deploying Clusters
and much More………
You can install the following Resources to Manage with WAC
Windows Admin Center Overview
Conclusion:
Microsoft Windows Admin Center is the New Management tool for your Hybrid IT Management to Controle your Servers for your Business. It got all the Management consoles covered of Windows Servers to manage from one tool.
It’s easy to use and It keeps you Up-to-date of what is happening on your Windows Server but also what is New and updated. With Microsoft Windows Admin Center your are learning on the job and that’s what I Like 😉
Hope you will use Microsoft Windows Admin Center too for your Business, download it here for Free!
Be sure to participate in this event by:
Ensuring your PC is running the latest Preview Build in the Fast ring.
Watching a quick video that explains the Bug Bash in more detail.
Exploring new features by completing Quests in Feedback Hub (new Quests will be released daily during the Bug Bash). Logging actionable feedback regarding issues encountered, as well as suggestions for future improvements as you use the product.
The more Quests you complete during the Bug Bash, the more points you’ll earn towards your Achievements, including a special badge just for participating!
To be the first with the Microsoft Windows Insiders Community testing all the New features is awesome to do!
I’m a Windows Insider since October 1st, 2014 and I like to see every week what’s new? In the Feedback HUB Preview you can Follow other Windows Insiders and see the Challenges and features requests. From there you can give them feedback or vote for the new features.
Windows Insiders Feed Back HUB
To become a Microsoft Windows Insider, you have to register your self here : BECOME AN INSIDER
In the Windows Insiders HUB you find also the New announcements of the Preview Build versions. Microsoft Windows Insiders also have a blogsite here to follow:
When you are active in the Microsoft Windows Insiders Community you can Earn badges and Learn a lot of the New Features Microsoft releases every week. This gives you always a step a head and It’s fun 🚀😎👍
Earning Badges
It’s not only the Windows 10 Insiders program but also Windows Server Insiders or Microsoft Edge Insiders
Here you find more information :
Save Profiles.json and you will see that the background will be Awesome in Ubuntu Terminal :
How Awesome is this !! 😎🚀👍
Conclusion:
I Love my Hobby and my Hobby is my Work !
The Microsoft Windows Insiders Program is Awesome together with the Community to make Windows a Great product for everyone.
