Tech Fix Daily

Centralized Management and Documentation on Windows Server 2022

 

🔹 Part 1: Deploy Centralized Management Tools

✅ Option A: Windows Admin Center (WAC) – Microsoft’s modern server management portal

🔧 Step-by-Step Install:

1. Download WAC from https://aka.ms/WACDownload

2. Run the installer on a Windows Server (can be the same or separate)

3. Choose to use port 443 and allow desktop shortcut

4. Open Windows Admin Center in your browser:
   https://localhost or https://<server-name>:443

✅ Features You Can Use:

• Monitor CPU/RAM/Storage per client VM

• Manage Active Directory, Users, File Shares

• Review Event Logs, Services, Firewall, Updates

• Remote PowerShell and Registry access

---

✅ Option B: System Center (SCOM, SCCM) – Advanced Enterprise Monitoring

Recommended for larger/multi-server environments

1. Download System Center installer

2. Deploy System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) for:

   • Real-time performance monitoring

   • Alerting and reporting

3. Use SCCM (Configuration Manager) for:

   • Patching and app deployment

   • Inventory & compliance checks

---

✅ Option C: Third-Party Monitoring Tools

• 🔹 PRTG Network Monitor (free for 100 sensors)

• 🔹 Nagios Core or XI

• 🔹 Zabbix

• 🔹 ManageEngine OpManager

These tools support dashboards, email/SMS alerts, and historical reporting.

---

🔹 Part 2: Prepare User Guides & Onboarding Documentation

✅ What to Include in Client-Facing Docs:

1. Welcome Guide:

   • Company Info

   • Support Contact Details

   • What services they’re assigned (AD, RDS, VM, etc.)

2. Login Credentials & Instructions:

   • Domain\Username + Password

   • How to connect via RDP or web access

   • MFA steps (if used)

3. Acceptable Use Policy (AUP):

   • List restrictions (e.g., no unauthorized installs, no file sharing apps)

   • Uptime and maintenance windows

4. Common FAQs:

   • “How do I reset my password?”

   • “What to do if I lose RDP access?”

📄 Tools to Create Documentation:

• Microsoft Word or Google Docs

• Notion, OneNote, or Confluence for a centralized knowledge base

• Save as PDF and share securely

---

🔹 Part 3: Maintain Configuration & Procedure Records

✅ What to Document (for Admin/Internal Use):

---

✅ Where to Store

• Central Share (e.g., \\server\documentation\)

• Secure cloud backup (e.g., OneDrive for Business or Google Drive with encryption)

• Regularly update when changes are made

---

✅ Optional: Automate Reports

Use PowerShell to export settings periodically:

powershell
CopyEdit
Get-WindowsFeature | Where Installed | Out-File "C:\Reports\installed_features.txt"
Get-ADUser -Filter * | Select Name,Enabled | Export-Csv "C:\Reports\ADUsers.csv"

---

📋 Summary of Recommended Tools