Ask the Experts

Ask the Experts

• Azure Resource Manager templates ease private cloud struggles

  Azure Resource Manager aims to streamline cloud application deployment and management. But do admins have to jump through hoops to use this feature?  Continue Reading

• How far does the Microsoft Server Management Tools suite go?

  Microsoft SMT is a free Azure-based tool that offers remote Windows Server management, but there are some limits to this cloud service.  Continue Reading

• Will Azure Stack features and functionality be the same as Azure?

  Microsoft plans to release Azure Stack by mid-2017 to bring the Azure platform down to Earth -- but don't expect all the features in Microsoft's cloud to appear right away.  Continue Reading

• Use the Group Policy settings reference guide to avoid disruptions

  With Windows Server's updates to Group Policy settings and templates comes a danger for administrators: users flooding the help desk with tickets.  Continue Reading

• What improved in Service Management Automation, Orchestrator 2016?

  Migrating to Service Center 2016 requires a good deal of preparation and work. Are the features in Orchestration and Service Management Automation better in Service Center 2016?  Continue Reading

• How do Hyper-V and Windows Server 2016 containers differ?

  Containers are revolutionizing the design of cloud and mobile apps. Tech expert Michael Otey explains the crucial differences between Hyper-V and Windows Server 2016 containers.  Continue Reading

• What's new with Group Policy administration in Windows Server 2016?

  Windows Server 2016 includes a suite of new Group Policy settings. These settings allow admins to manage mobile app access and set numerous security policies.  Continue Reading

• How can administrators improve WSUS performance?

  The Windows Server Update Services utility helps to update numerous systems, but it can require significant bandwidth. What are good ways to reduce the demands?  Continue Reading

• Which Microsoft OMS license is best for my IT deployment?

  What do you get for your money -- and for free -- when using the Microsoft Operations Management Suite to handle workloads running in different environments?  Continue Reading

• What kind of log analytics does Microsoft OMS perform?

  Microsoft OMS features 'solution packs' that track resource usage, which can help administrators plan for future capacity needs.  Continue Reading

• How does the Group Policy Object Editor manage .admx templates?

  Newer versions of Windows Server use an .admx template that has changed from a proprietary format to give administrators more flexibility with user and computer management.  Continue Reading

• What is the easiest way to bring Microsoft OMS into my organization?

  My organization wants to use Microsoft Operations Management Suite. What's the best way to establish a connection to our existing environment?  Continue Reading

• How do I troubleshoot Exchange mail flow problems?

  My users can send email messages from Exchange Server, but cannot receive messages from external senders. How can I resolve these inbound mail flow issues?  Continue Reading

• How does Microsoft OMS affect IT management?

  Our organization uses System Center and its components for management, but we want to reduce the number of tools we use. Can Microsoft Operations Management Suite help us?  Continue Reading

• What's involved to fix a disconnected mailbox?

  Exchange administrators can disable or delete disconnected mailboxes using the EAC or Exchange Management Shell.  Continue Reading