Edition: Saturday, July 13th, 2024

On July 9th, 2024, Microsoft released a GDR update for multiple editions of SQL Server.  As a DBA, you may be planning how to install this update in your lower environments (DEV, QA, UAT, etc.), tested, and then deploy to production.

However, you may...

Edition: Saturday, June 8th, 2024

Are you familiar with the terms DevOps and Platform Engineering?  DevOps is the process of consistently and reliably deploying applications into production environments.  Platform Engineering focuses on building and maintaining the foundational...

Edition: Saturday, May 25th, 2024

Over the years, I've completed a lot of SQL Server installations.  Some of those resulted in having to move database files around afterward because I failed to ensure the disks were properly formatted and aligned.  I had to move files to a...

Introduction:

In part 4, we created the autounattend.xml and PackerShutdown.bat files and created the source block.  

Most machine builds require additional configuration after installing the OS.  At this point, you generally wouldn't turn the server over to the application or...

Introduction:

You know how annoying it is to install an OS manually.  Having to click through the initial setup, remember which drivers to install, and then apply your basic configuration to every new machine is cumbersome.  

Fortunately, both Windows and Linux operating systems...

Introduction:

In Part 2 of this series, we reviewed the different aspects of a Packer template file.  In this post, we'll begin creating the HCL template file for the Windows Server 2022 golden image.  Here's what you'll have by the end:

• Install tools we'll use to create the HCL file...

Introduction:

Part 2 covers the concepts of the build process and HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) templates.  Builders create machines and generate images from those machines for various platforms.  Multiple builders create the golden image in the Automated Sandbox...

Introduction:

If you're someone tasked with server provisioning, OS installations/configurations, or setting up a home virtual sandbox, this blog series is for you.  In it, you'll learn about Hashicorp Packer and how it can make your job easier.  We'll end the series with a set of...

I use Ansible in my virtual sandbox to configure and maintain Linux and Windows servers. I aim to set up my sandbox to match most of the production environments I've previously worked with.  Most require using Kerberos over NTLM or strongly encourage its use.  The sandbox I'm...

Introduction:

Imagine you're walking into a job interview or taking on a new role. During the interview, the hiring manager asks, "What sets you apart from the other twenty candidates I've interviewed?" How would you respond? If you've mastered Ansible and efficient automation, your answer might...

Introduction:

Inventory files lie at the core of Ansible.  They are a crucial component that organizes and categorizes the target hosts to which Ansible will apply configurations.  In this post, I'll walk you through the essentials of an Ansible inventory file, covering its basic...

Introduction:

Setting up a Windows managed node is a crucial step in leveraging Ansible for managing your Windows infrastructure efficiently.  In this post, we'll walk through the process of setting up a Windows managed node using Ansible, enabling you to automate tasks on your...