Stefanos Cloud Podcast (stefanos.cloud)
By Stefanos Evangelou
Knowledge Base (KB) how-to articles
Cloud Computing terms dictionary
Cloud Computing crosswords
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft 365
Microsoft Power Platform
Microsoft Powershell
Citrix Cloud and on-premise VDI and networking technologies
Windows Server Hybrid administration
Enterprise Mobility and Security
Linux
Devops technologies
Cloud computing news and events
Cloud computing courses and books
Stefanos Cloud Podcast (stefanos.cloud)Oct 29, 2022
How to navigate in the Azure management portal
If you are new to Azure, you need to attend a series of introductory how-to videos to familiarize yourself with the basic features of the Microsoft Azure portal. In this how-to article, we will show you how to navigate to all sections of the Azure management portal. Bear in mind that all Azure features are first made available in the Azure REST APIs and then appear in Azure Powershell, Azure CLI and the Azure management portal. For instructions on how to connect to all Azure management tools, refer to the following article: https://stefanos.cloud/azure-management-tools.
This is a high-level introduction article which introduces Azure concepts for beginners and new Azure administrators. To navigate to the various sections of the Azure management portal, carry out the following steps.
The full stefanos.cloud blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-navigate-in-the-azure-management-portal/.
How to configure Microsoft 365 settings in the admin center portal
How to monitor Microsoft 365 service health status
You need to monitor and manage the health status of all Microsoft 365 services in your tenant as well as manage Microsoft 365 performance monitoring and email alerts on Microsoft 365 health issues and new service features.
In this how-to article, we will show you how to monitor Microsoft 365 service health status in the admin center. This includes service health, message center, product feedback and network connectivity. To access the Microsoft 365 admin center portal, browse to https,admin,dot,microsoft,dot,com and login with your global administrator credentials.
The original blog post is available at https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-monitor-microsoft-365-service-health-status/.
How to manage Microsoft 365 licenses and billing options in the admin center portal
You need to manage all your licensing and billing configuration inside the Microsoft 365 Admin Center portal.
In this how-to article, we will show you how to manage Microsoft 365 licenses and billing options in the admin center portal. To access the Microsoft 365 admin center portal, browse to https://admin.microsoft.com and login with your global administrator credentials.
Original blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-manage-microsoft-365-licenses-and-billing-options-in-the-admin-center-portal/.
How to create usage reports in Microsoft 365 admin center portal
In this how-to article, we will show you how to view Microsoft 365 usage reports in the admin center portal. To access the Microsoft 365 admin center portal, browse to https://admin.microsoft.com and login with your global administrator credentials.
How to manage Microsoft 365 technical support cases in the admin center portal
In this how-to article, we will show you how to manage Microsoft 365 technical support cases in the admin center portal. To access the Microsoft 365 admin center portal, browse to https://admin.microsoft.com and login with your global administrator credentials.
Original blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-manage-microsoft-365-technical-support-cases-in-the-admin-center-portal/.
How to manage Microsoft 365 user role assignments and administrative units
You need to manage existing user roles, create new custom user roles and assign users and groups to existing roles in Microsoft 365. You need to also manage Microsoft 365 administrative units. In this how-to article, we will show you how to manage Microsoft 365 user role assignments and administrative units.
Original blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-manage-microsoft-365-user-role-assignments-and-administrative-units/.
How to create resource mailboxes and Sharepoint sites in Microsoft 365 admin center
You need to provision Exchange Online resource mailboxes and Sharepoint Online sites from the Microsoft 365 Admin Center portal.
In this how-to article, we will show you how to create resource mailboxes and Sharepoint sites from the Microsoft 365 Admin Center portal. By creating a resource mailbox in Exchange Online via the Microsoft 365 Admin Center portal, you can use it for things like a conference room, company car, or equipment which everyone in the organization needs to use, so that those resources are reservable.
How to access all Microsoft 365 online apps
In this how-to article, we will show you how to navigate to all Microsoft 365 online apps. We will also provide an overview of the functionality offered by each online app. Original blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-access-all-microsoft-365-online-apps/.
How to access all Microsoft 365 admin centers
You need to familiarize yourself with all the available Microsoft 365 Web-based admin centers and keep a list of URLs from which to access these admin centers. In this how-to article, we will show you how to navigate to all Microsoft 365 admin centers. We will also provide a brief overview of the functionality available in each admin center. The original blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-access-all-microsoft-365-admin-centers/.
How to manage Microsoft 365 shared mailboxes
You need to created, edit and delete shared mailboxes in Microsoft 365. In this how-to article, we will show you how to manage Microsoft 365 shared mailboxes via the Admin Center portal. A shared mailbox is an initially unlicensed mailbox which includes an email address and calendar that multiple people can use. The original blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-manage-microsoft-365-shared-mailboxes/.
How to manage Microsoft 365 groups
You need to create, edit or delete a Microsoft 365 group. In this how-to article, we will show you how to manage Microsoft 365 groups via the Admin Center portal. Original blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-manage-microsoft-365-groups/.
How to manage Microsoft 365 guest users
You need to create, edit or delete Microsoft 365 guest users. In this how-to article, we will show you how to manage Microsoft 365 guest users via the Admin Center portal. Original blog post available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-manage-microsoft-365-guest-users/.
How to manage Microsoft 365 contacts
In this how-to article, we will show you how to manage Microsoft 365 contacts via the Admin Center portal. Contacts are people outside your organization who you would like everyone to be able to find. Anyone listed in the Contacts section can be found in Outlook under People in Microsoft 365. Original blog post is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-manage-microsoft-365-contacts/.
How to delete and restore Microsoft 365 users
You need to delete or restore one or more Microsoft 365 users. This articles provides step by step guidance on how to delete and restore Microsoft 365 users from the Admin Center portal and from the Powershell msonline module.
Original article available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-delete-and-restore-microsoft-365-users/
How to add multiple users to a Microsoft 365 tenant via the Admin Center portal
In this how-to article we will show you how to add multiple users to a Microsoft 365 tenant via the Admin Center portal.
Original article is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-add-multiple-users-to-a-microsoft-365-tenant-via-the-admin-center-portal/.
How to reset the password of a Microsoft 365 user
The current articles provides guidance on how to reset the password of a Microsoft 365 user, in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
Original article is available at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-reset-the-password-of-a-microsoft-365-user/.
How to add a Microsoft 365 user from a user template
You need to add a Microsoft 365 user from a user template in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
Original blog post at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-add-a-microsoft-365-user-from-a-user-template/.
How to create a new user in Microsoft 365 Admin Center
In this how-to episode, we will show you how to create a new Microsoft 365 user from within the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.
How to assign a license to a Microsoft 365 user from the Microsoft 365 Admin Center
In this how-to article, we will show you how to assign a license to a Microsoft 365 user from the Microsoft 365 Admin Center Web portal. You can find an audio transcript at: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-assign-a-license-to-a-microsoft-365-user-from-the-microsoft-365-admin-center/
How to manage a Microsoft 365 tenant as CSP
You are an IT administrator of a Microsoft Cloud Service Provider (CSP) and you need to be able to manage all CSP tenants' Microsoft 365 subscriptions, either from a single pane of glass or individually. This article will provide high-level guidance about how to manage a Microsoft 365 tenant as CSP.
CompTIA Certified Trainer CTT+ exam tips
I am happy to have recently been awarded the CompTIA Certified Trainer (CTT+) certification. The CTT+ badge is being made available by Credly: https://www.credly.com/users/stefanosevangelou/badges.
The CTT+ certification exam tests in and out of class teaching expertise, including preparation, facilitation and physical or virtual classroom evaluation. To earn the certification, two exams must be passed. In addition to TK0-201, you’ll have to pass either TK0-202, or TK0-203. More details about the CTT+ certification can be found at: https://stefanos.cloud/blog/comptia-ctt-certification-overview/.
This post provides some hands-on tips for passing the CompTIA Certified Trainer CTT+ exams.
How to troubleshoot your Internet connection
Listen to this podcast episode to find out a recommended troubleshooting method if you cannot connect to any Internet resources via TCP/IP from your local endpoint.
Cloud migration options for software applications
It is a common theme in various Cloud migration projects to migrate a number of on-premise apps to a public or hybrid cloud infrastructure. Depending on the application development framework and the dependencies which the application has to run efficiently (e.g. runtime frameworks, database and file storage requirements, user identity management and so forth), a custom choice is made each time regarding how to migrate an application to the Cloud. This article provides a quick overview of viable options for application cloud migration.
Security and privacy tips
Security and privacy is a frequent topic of discussion nowadays. With ever increasing IT infrastructures at the service provider and enterprise level as well as with increasing IT knowledge among the average knowledge workers and home users, being aware of security and privacy fundamentals is of paramount importance for ensuring smooth operations of IT systems involved at all levels.
Windows Failover Clustering Design Handbook
Windows Failover Clustering (WFC) is one of the oldest technologies utilized by Windows Server for the high availability of systems and services, whether that be traditional on-premise IT infrastructures or hybrid and multi cloud infrastructures in Microsoft Azure. Failover clustering and other relevant Microsoft technologies such as Always On Availability Groups are in many cases the cornerstone of a resilient and solid infrastructure design. In various real life scenarios however, administrators come across incidents and issues in their Windows failover clustering infrastructure which have a significant impact on business operations and may incur catastrophic downtime for services offered to customers.
How to fix Office 365 sign-in or activation issues
You are facing issues when trying to login to Microsoft 365 apps, such as Outlook 365.
Source blog post: https://stefanos.cloud/kb/how-to-fix-office-365-sign-in-or-activation-issues/.
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Troubleshooting book
I am happy to announce the publication of my new Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Troubleshooting book, which is available for order on Amazon and Smashwords. The Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Troubleshooting book is now live in the Amazon Kindle store.
Status page for cloud service providers
It is a best practice for every cloud service provider (and more generally any company offering cloud services to end-users, such as an independent cloud software vendor) to operate a Web application called status page, through which to communicate in real time the status of their services to the end customers and users.
Office client compatibility with Microsoft 365
As per Microsoft, starting on October 13, 2020, only these versions of Office will be supported for connecting to Office 365 (and Microsoft 365) services:
Apps for enterprise (previously named Office 365 ProPlus) Microsoft 365 Apps for business (previously named Office 365 Business) Office 2019, such as Office Professional Plus 2019 Office 2016, such as Office Standard 2016
Windows User Profiles and Folder Redirection options
There are various technologies available in Windows client and server operating systems for managing user profiles and folder redirection in an Active Directory environment. User profiles and folder redirection are methodologies used for accomplishing User State virtualization, also most recently called User Experience virtualization (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/configuration/ue-v/uev-for-windows).
There are two main approaches in the user profile technology. One major approach is the file-based approach where user profile files are synced back and forth between the central user file repository residing in a highly available SMB file share and a locally synced copy. Such an example is Citrix Profile Management (see below section for more details). The other major approach is container-based user profiles, which are based on vhdx containers where all relevant user profile information is stored. Such an example is Microsoft FsLogix profile technology (see below section for more details).
Folder redirection works alongside a roaming profile solution to redirect user folders to a distributed location. Folder Redirection enables users and administrators to redirect the path of a known folder to a new location, manually or by using Group Policy. The new location can be a folder on the local computer or a directory on a file share. Users interact with files in the redirected folder as if it still existed on the local drive.
New e-book Windows Server Administration Tools and Management Consoles
I am happy to announce the publication of my new e-book entitled "Windows Server Administration Tools and Management Consoles". The e-book is available for order in the Amazon Kindle store. The book will soon be available for download from the Amazon Kindle store.
Recommended services for on-prem virtualization infrastructures
When deploying an on-premises virtualization infrastructure (which could also be thought of as a private cloud with the sole customer being the enterprise/organization itself) various services and server roles should be considered in order to achieve a complete virtualization solution.
Windows 10 kits and tools
Microsoft has released a series of kits and tools which are made available for use with Windows 10 for desktop editions (Home, Pro, Enterprise, and Education), Windows 10 Mobile for development and manufacturing and Azure Cloud IoT for IoT applications. A handful of kits and tools are available.
Data center diagram software
Microsoft Visio is one of the leading software packages for data center diagram design. VisioCafe is an independent non-profit web site for the gathering together of IT industry Visio collections. Each collection is copyrighted to its respective owner, and is not the property of VisioCafe. soft Visio, there are various free pieces of software available for data center diagram design.
Apache Guacamole
Apache Guacamole is a clientless remote desktop gateway. It supports standard protocols like VNC, RDP, and SSH. it is called clientless because no plugins or client software are required. Thanks to HTML5, once Guacamole is installed on a server, all you need to access your desktops is a web browser.
Data exchange formats
There are various scenarios in which both software and systems engineers need a way to exchange data between users, systems, scripts and applications using mutually understandable protocols and formats. The most widely accepted data exchange formats are the following:
XML YAML CSV JSON