Hope This Helps - A Tech Podcast Hope This Helps
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- Technology
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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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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
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?