Hope This Helps - A Tech Podcast

Hope This Helps
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Hope This Helps - A Tech Podcast

Tiff and Steve’s magical sysadmin adventures. You can expect fun banter about “the cloud,” Microsoft tech (Office 365, Azure, Defender, Exchange, etc), InfoSec, PowerShell, Docker, Zune (yes, Zune), existential thoughts on enterprise IT, and so much more.

  1. 07/01/2023

    HTH0043: Microsoft Viva Las Vegas

    The STiffs return to podcasting after a very long week. The cloud has changed, Loop still isn't a thing, Viva and Entra are around, and Linux Mint vs Windows 11! Extended show notes available at https://hthpc.com Boot-up (AKA, "LAST WEEK, ON HOPE THIS HELPS") It would be fun to do a "since we've been gone" run through of a high level overview of all of the things in tech that have happened… Some things have changed, while others have stayed the same Microsoft Teams External Access Flaw Poses a Malware Risk Phishing emails Red Hat in the hot seat Jeff Geerling: I'm done with Red Hat (Enterprise Linux) A Comprehensive Analysis of the GPL Issues With the Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) Business Model Loop (or: Loop: A Fiasco) Loop vs OneNote vs Notion vs Whiteboard vs Miro A Referendum on the Cloud in 2023 Correction: Multi-cloud talk was in HTH0041, not HTH0042. It used to be all cloud, then it was hybrid, then it was multi-cloud, now we're going back to on-premise? Hey: We're Leaving The Cloud Annoying Teams thing of the week: "You'll need to shorten your message to send it" I was pasting an Excel table, two columns, 53 cells Yet you can post huge chunks of code far longer than that? Microsoft Viva Las Vegas Tiff is saving an Entra story for next time… Stuff Tiff pasted into the HTH0042 show notes but we never got to discussing: Create a profile container with Azure Files and Azure Active Directory SharePoint Framework Client-Side Web Part Samples Windows 11 Thoughts on Windows 11 Zune Software in Windows 11 Linux Mint What the heck is up with the TPM requirements? Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd Feature updates called “moments” Co-Pilots Windows Co-Pilot, GitHub Co-Pilot, etc. GitHub Co-Pilot's tendencies to suggest other people's code without credit or licensing Remember Cortana? The end of Windows? Windows 11 Cloud The Year(s) of Linux In January 2022, Steve moved to Linux on his main desktop - Linux Mint So far, nearly every app, feature, and core experience made the jump without much fuss Linux Mint is very Windows-like OneNote on the web just isn't there yet. I have a VM to run the Windows version (it doesn't work in Wine) Mini-state of the Zunion: It’s capable of browsing files on a connected Zune device, USB passthru to VirtualBox works Teams on Linux needs work Asks for a login every time Input/output sound devices get confused during calls - unusable Just use teams.microsoft.com in a browser Steam/Proton is fantastic for gaming Should you do it? If you're willing to put up with learning fast and researching community fixes Most Microsoft-based stuff will work on Linux, with the exception of OneNote which is stuck being web-based (or use a VM) Outro - "Plus Delta" We help you, you help us: Rate us on iTunes

    36 min

  2. 12/13/2021

    HTH0042: You had me at Graph, You lost me at API

    Error messages, meeting etiquette, MFA improvements and concerns, PowerShell with MS Graph, PowerShell Crescendo, random PowerShell things, in a short-but-packed episode! Extended show notes available at https://hthpc.com =====Boot-up===== BSoDs and error messages Phrases I don't wanna hear anymore: "Thank you for your time." Microsoft Teams - Send praise to people Better meeting etiquette The stigma against accepting a meeting as "tentative" Accepting and not sending a response Shower thought: There should be a "Mute Mic AND Turn Webcam Off" button in Teams Parasocial relationships Real-time followup: There's a PowerToy for it! Go check it out. Microsoft Authenticator improvements Suspected Russian Activity Targeting Government and Business Entities Around the Globe =====PowerShell Drunk Jawer (it's like a Junk Drawer shut up)===== Microsoft Graph PowerShell got way easier + Azure AD Temporary Access Pass Tiff asks: Why are Enterprise Apps and App Registrations in two different places? Azure AD security attributes Microsoft Graph API: The dangerous line between script writer and developer. It's a high barrier of entry to a non-developer. Graph PowerShell Module The Ups and Downs of Connecting to the Microsoft Graph Using the PowerShell SDK Installing modules in PowerShell 7 vs Windows PowerShell (admin level vs user) PowerShell Crescendo Release Candidate - But why JSON? What's wrong with advanced functions? PowerShellGet 3.0 Preview 12 - More useful for developers developers developers? Global variables in PowerShell 7 are funky if you use -UseWindowsPowerShell with import-module Make test accounts with this one simple trick! 1..300|%{$_} Correction: This technically isn't an array Range Operators in PowerShell Always make your functions return psobjects containing data. It's better for you, the environment, and your pets. =====“Unplanned Outage” (Sponsor section - “Hope this Helps is helped by…‘)===== The rewind button. Be sure to rewind this podcast when done listening so the next person doesn't have to =====Outro - "Plus Delta"===== Montero (Call Me by Your Name) We help you, you help us: Rate us on iTunes

    46 min

  3. 11/05/2021

    HTH0041: This is Commander Bezos' Land

    Microsoft Ignite 2021 hot takes! Multi-Cloud MultiBall, Loop, Teams, Viva, PowerShell install variations, and Zune on macOS! Extended show notes available at https://hthpc.com ===Boot-up=== We help this hopes ===Microsoft Ignite 21H2=== Defender madness - so many confusing name changes! Multi-Cloud MultiBall "Now, native support for multicloud environments is available through the extension of Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and Cloud Workload Protection capabilities to Amazon Web Services (AWS)."…Do other clouds actually want Microsoft to butt in? Actual quote from someone (Mary Jo Foley?) at Microsoft: "It's like a Big Mac: Have it Your Way" Tiff's experience working at Wendy's LOOP THERE IT IS Does it replace OneNote?? (No) Does it replace Whiteboard? (Maybe?) Clarification: Loop is an Office app. The feature imparity between Windows and Mac versions of certain Office apps MS Roadmap updated and has moved MS Teams connect to March 2022, I just want shared channels. Speed/ease of use - When people choose illogical/unexpected solutions Remember Viva? PowerShell's store version versus the standalone MSI version Frustrating differences between them VS Code integration for Store version is off Running as a different user can get hairy Just install the MSI version, the Store version is annoying Installing PowerShell on macOS via HomeBrew is fantastic ===This is the way=== Microsoft presents for a long time about why passwords suck Types of Passwordless auth Unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch iOS Security Guide - Page 8 - Passcode supersedes biometrics at first boot Are passwords and policies truly worthless? Counterpoint: They have their place in the correct use cases. ===State of the Zunion=== Steve's attempts to get Zune working on macOS Big Sur

    1h 5m

  4. 10/23/2021

    HTH0040: Don't Fork Your Parent

    The Apple Event, Windows 11 features, Defender for Endpoint updates, Docker, Terraform, and fingers! Extended show notes available at https://hthpc.com Note: Our apologies for wavering audio quality, we had some technical difficulties again! The Fork-Up -Don't Fork your Parent -Finger Boot-up -Apple Creates the World's Best Computer...of 2009? New Macbook pro has real ports -The Surface event Win 11 -Vista 2.0? Not really -Windows 11 WSL 2 is almost as quick as running Linux natively -Installing Wine using Homebrew on macOS Player One DFEated -Defending Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2016 -"The solution does not use or require the installation of the Microsoft Monitoring Agent (MMA)." -There's an installer now! -So what about Server 2012 support? More Apple things -Apple Music "Voice Plan" - Bad for accessibility. What about those who are mute? Inconvenience for a lower price? -Pumpkin HomePod Hope This Helps Tip of the Something -Don't sudo rm -rf your docker storage folder -Things that may happen: -Images gone -Errors trying to update containers -If a container is restarted it will not come back -Portainer will explode -You'll have to rebuild all your docker-compose stacks in Portainer (hope you had a backup) Terraform -Tiff's experience with WSL + Linux + Docker + Terraform -Enabling Virtualization in AMD BIOS is oddly esoteric -F7 for Advanced Mode - CPU Configuration - SVM Mode - Enabled - Guide

    51 min

  5. 09/19/2021

    HTH0039: Crotch-Punching Security Vulnerabilities

    Microsoft Exams, Passwordless login, Identity and Access Management, Microsoft 365 landmines, and more! Extended show notes available at https://hthpc.com Note: Our apologies for wavering audio quality, we had some technical difficulties! Boot-up     Delilah     Human Robots + Cyborgs     Remember on-premise? There's a cert for that     Microsoft exams are hard!     Passwordless login     New identity partnerships and integrations to accelerate your Zero Trust journey     Metroid: Other M and Privileged Identity Management     DEFCON Patch Alerts It's like the French Toast Alert System for patches     Apple zero-day vulnerability     Update/correction: Snow Leopard was last updated in early 2016 just so you could jump to a newer version of OS X in the Mac App Store.     Update/correction: Steve meant the 2010 Macbook Air's ability to run Catalina, not the 2011 one.     Bo Burnham's "Inside" Various M365 landmines to be aware of     Via Joe Stocker (@ITguySoCal)     We go over almost everything listed here: https://twitter.com/ITguySoCal/status/1431734989792563201 M365 vs O365 vs Azure     Some things are the same between the two     Where do they link/not link?     Two user portals     Things change and documentation isn't always updated     Exchange Online's dual portals     Exchange scripts/Documentation still referencing Skype for Business That is Accurate     SSH and Secure Shell have the same amount of syllables

    1h 18m

  6. 09/09/2021

    HTH0038: Complain-O-Meter

    Outlook Web Access, Scrum, Windows Admin Center complaints, Defender for Endpoint complaints, and the world of InfoSec, among other things! Extended show notes available at https://hthpc.com Boot-up     OWA Suggested Pre-reads on meeting reminders, interesting idea     Not mad, just disappointed: Cloud shell kinda sucks, I'm complaining about it     Set-MSOLUserLicense is going away     The importance of learning programming/scripting/CLI/DevOps, Infrastructure-As-Code, etc.     Steve figures out git branching     Scrum, orgs adapting to agile, etc Windows Admin Center annoys me immensely, but it does work I guess     Ongoing follow-up from HTH episode 20 and 24 regarding WAC     Stupid little things, some complaints from HTH0020 are still in play     Remote PowerShell feature is really picky (and buggy)?     Must specify credentials in a certain way     UserVoice pages are 404'd in documentation     Speed/efficiency issues     Can't do advanced things like take ownership of registry keys or values, still need regedit to do that     Semi-related: Manage Active Directory Objects with the New Windows AD Provider for HashiCorp Terraform Defender for Endpoint device inventory/search/dashboards/reports could be better     I wish it would support wildcard searches     Is really picky about exact matches     Duplicate/misleading entries: Workgroup vs domain     Removing a device other than waiting for it to age out?     Fix unhealthy sensors in Microsoft DFE     Reordering columns isn't possible     Have to stretch out the browser window across multiple monitors to get full width     Entire interface is inefficient, sort of like WAC InfoSec - The new Sysadmin     CISO MindMap 2021: What do InfoSec Professionals Actually Do?     How To Get A Job in Cybersecurity     Look at all this stuff!     Are they actually sysadmins?     What IS a sysadmin? The OWA Experience     Missing UI elements     Flagged items in a sidebar     Has a "To Do" panel but it doesn’t include flagged items     Calendar flyout is not expanded by default     Categories (already discussed at length in our blog)     [old man complaint] Forward as Attachment is different     GMU.edu guide on how to do it in OWA     Meeting notifications aren't prominent/obnoxious enough     No unread "group by folder" view     Can't add an Office 365 Group as a favorite like you can in Outlook     Table management in OWA email composition is bugged     Can't set specific to-do dates for flagged items?

    59 min

  7. 06/30/2021

    HTH0037 - East from Weast

    Windows 11 is a thing, Solarwinds is still a thing, Zune is still a thing, PowerBI regional migrations, and Windows 10 learns a new trick. Hope This Helps is back! Extended show notes available at https://hthpc.com Pre-Boot     Windows 11 and the TPM     Golf is boring, unless it's mini-golf     LinkedIn is like the golf course of the internet Boot Up     Tiff and Steve's desktop computers, Macs     Proof of Work vs Proof of Stake     Solarwinds hacks + version number madness         Get them on the payroll!         Remember LulzSec? / LulzSec Leader 'Sabu' Flips on Friends for FBI         Orion web console tells you one thing in the web console, Database Manager tells you something different         Version number schemes don't line up…Product Upgrade Advisor uses YYYY.MM based versions while the database still uses legacy 12.x version schemes     What the heck is Bonjour?         Bonjour chat         Barrier uses Bonjour to find other Barrier nodes     Windows 11 phone integration         Android apps     Gripes about macOS Catalyst/"Project Marzipan" apps being half-baked     macOS uses Home/End keys wrong     More Windows 11 thoughts         Windows 11 will require TPM 2.0, UEFI, and Secure Boot         Surface Studio 2 can't run Windows 11         People is Removed     Brief tangent on disconnecting from social media/cloud services/Windows State of the Zunion     Elon Musk's tweet     Steve's Zune-to-M3U-to-AirSonic PowerShell script for playlists PowerBI data migrations + general cloud frustrations     Configure Multi-Geo support for Power BI Premium     Originally you could only pick one region, but more options expanded over time     Egress costs are expensive - On-prem datacenters wouldn't see these OpEx costs     It's a headache when moving regions     MS can sometimes even lose your data during a regional migration? Out-GridView is temporarily (?) dead (on Mac/Linux)     No more work is being done on Avalonia-based Out-GridView until we move to .NET MAUI     Let's talk about how great Out-GridView is on Windows and how nobody knows about it Windows 10 News (literally)     The new Windows 10 taskbar "News and interests" widget     Why exactly was this shoved into a cumulative update? This is a new feature.     Disabling "News and Interests" causes entire notification area to go blank     The actual content is low quality

    1h 11m

  8. 04/16/2021

    HTH0036 - Just Shovel That Into My Face

    Microsoft service disruptions, Exchange Plus Addressing, UserVoice, Ignite 2021 Recap, Defender for Endpoint, Zune, Outlook Signatures, and more! Extended show notes available at https://hthpc.com Boot Up     What even are NFTs, anyway? Nobody knows.     Blog post about PSWindowsUpdate and Outlook Categories     Outages + Microsoft lying about service issues     Exchange Plus Addressing     An SMTP email address uses the basic syntax: @. For example, sean@contoso.com. Plus addressing uses the syntax: +@. For example, sean+newsletter@contoso.com. Use case: newsletters, junk email, alternate smtps that users can handle on their own     Replying to individual messages in any chat coming to Teams     Microsoft breaks Win10 thrice in one month     No more UserVoice - A Loss For Words Ignite Recap     Mesh and bubbles     Inna-Gadda-Da-Viva Baby     MARKETING “Unplanned Outage” (Sponsor section - "Hope this Helps is helped by…")     "No Hello" Defender for Endpoint "Deef"     The portal changed to https://security.microsoft.com/machines from https://securitycenter.windows.com/machines     Bug in a Defender/SCEP GPO     Server 2012 is in extended support till 2023, so why is it excluded from DFE while 2008 R2 is still supported?     Correction: The PowerEdge 2850 can run 2012 but not 2012 R2. Steve got the model number wrong. State of the Zunion     Fix Zune software native video conversion! Swap out wmvcore.dll with the 1511 version.  Outlook Signatures are still a nightmare     Organization-wide message disclaimers, signatures, footers, or headers in Exchange Online Parting Words / “Unplanned Outage” (Sponsor section - "Hope this Helps is helped by…")     "Consider your environment before printing this podcast" Outro - "Plus Delta"     We help you, you help us: Rate us on iTunes

    1h 11m
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Tiff and Steve’s magical sysadmin adventures. You can expect fun banter about “the cloud,” Microsoft tech (Office 365, Azure, Defender, Exchange, etc), InfoSec, PowerShell, Docker, Zune (yes, Zune), existential thoughts on enterprise IT, and so much more.

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