Deploy Windows Core Server 2022 with Server Core App Compatibility Feature on Demand with Packer

I while ago I started with parker to create simple templates for use in my homelab.

It take some time to find the rights scripts and learning en understanding the HCL2 coding

But in related to Security reasons I want to use a Windows Core Server the smaller footprint.

What is Server Core App Compatibility Feature on Demand: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/server-core-app-compatibility-feature-on-demand

Installing Features on Demand through Powerschell contains a bug. You may see “failure to download files”, “cannot download”, or errors like “0x800F0954” or file not found.

To Solve that I created I powerschell script to run the install twice: featuresondemand.ps1

You can find al the needed files on my Public Github Packer repository: https://github.com/WardVissers/Packer-Public

When running is showing like this:

A blue screen with white squares

Description automatically generated

It works for now, but there is one thing that would the hole thing a quiet nicer.
Passwords encrypted in a separate file.

Important update for Azure Active Directory Connect – Version 1.1.553.0

Microsoft released Azure Active Directory Connect version 1.1.553.0 on June 26, 2017. More importantly, they published an important security advisory one day later.

Microsoft Security Advisory 4033453 – Vulnerability in Azure AD Connect Could Allow Elevation of Privilege explains,

The [ADD Connect version 1.1.553.0] update addresses a vulnerability that could allow elevation of privilege if Azure AD Connect Password writeback is misconfigured during enablement. An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could reset passwords and gain unauthorized access to arbitrary on-premises AD privileged user accounts. The issue is addressed in the latest version (1.1.553.0) of Azure AD Connect by not allowing arbitrary password reset to on-premises AD privileged user accounts.

Microsoft highly recommends all customers update to version 1.1.553.0 or later to mitigate this vulnerability, even if you don’t use the optional password writeback feature. If you are unable to update immediately, the article above describes mitigation steps you can consider.

  • If the AD DS account is a member of one or more on-premises AD privileged groups, consider removing the AD DS account from the groups.
  • If an on-premises AD administrator has previously created Control Access Rights on the adminSDHolder object for the AD DS account which permits Reset Password operation, consider removing it.
  • It may not always be possible to remove existing permissions granted to the AD DS account (for example, the AD DS account relies on the group membership for permissions required for other features such as Password synchronization or Exchange hybrid writeback). Consider creating a DENY ACE on the adminSDHolder object which disallows the AD DS account with Reset Password permission using Windows DSACLS tool.

Expta

Very Important: Security update KB3159398 will break Group Policy

There is a known issue with the MS16-072/KB3163622 patch. This update will break GPO’s with faulty rights. Examples: Drives appear on domain systems that should be hidden, mapping drives don’t work, and other typical GPO settings aren’t getting applied.

To resolve this issue, use the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC.MSC) and follow one of the following steps:

1. Add the Authenticated Users group with Read Permissions on the Group Policy Object (GPO).

2. If you are using security filtering (WMI), add the Domain Computers group with read permission.

MDT 2013 Update 1 re-released (build 8298)

MDT Team have released a newer build (8298) to address many of these issues. The Download Center is updated with the new build and is still considered MDT 2013 Update 1. Build 8290 is no longer available, no longer supported, and superseded by build 8298.

NOTE: it can take time for the files to fully propagate through the live downloads cluster, and to be refreshed on the Akamai caches. Please ensure the build version under Details is 8298. I have seen the updated page on a non-internal system; it’s there, just be patient. Use the time to review the release notes below!

The following issues are fixed in build 8298
  • Multiple drive partitioning issues are addressed by significant revisions to the Format and Partition Disk step (see release note below), including:
    • Upgrading to MDT 2013 Update 1 does not work for UEFI systems
    • An extra unneeded partition is created on both UEFI and BIOS systems
    • You cannot specify a custom partition layout containing a “Recovery”-type partition needed for UEFI systems
    • LTIApply error, “There is not enough space on the disk”
    • WINRE_DRIVE_SIZE from ZTIDiskpart.wsf is Too Small
  • Multiple issues related to XML processing:
    • Application bundles returning error 87
    • Selecting a keyboard locale in the Deployment Wizard
    • Deployments failing due to Unattend.xml errors
    • ZTIPatches returning error “Object required (424)”
    • Cleanup after image capture doesn’t remove LTIBootstrap entry
  • Several issues with the Windows 10 in-place upgrade task sequence including:
    • The upgrade process ends with warnings “Unable to create WebService class”
    • The upgrade task sequence is available from Windows PE
    • After upgrade a System_License_Violation blue screen appears
  • Applications that use a command file start using System32 as the working directory
  • Spanned images cannot be applied

Below are the revised release notes and list of known issues. These inclusive lists supersede the previously published lists. New entries are marked with an asterisk (*).

Release Notes

TechNet documentation is not updated

The MDT product documentation published on TechNet is current as of MDT 2013; it has not yet been updated for MDT 2013 Update 1.

Do not upgrade from Preview to RTM

MDT 2013 Update 1 Preview should be uninstalled before installing the final MDT 2013 Update 1. Do not attempt to upgrade a preview installation or deployment share. Although the product documentation is not updated for MDT 2013 Update 1, the information on upgrading an installation still holds true.

Windows System Image Manager will fail to validate MDT Unattend.xml templates

The Windows System Image Manager (WSIM, a component of the Windows ADK used to create and modify unattended installation answer files) does not allow blank values which exist in the default MDT Unattend.xml templates. When using WSIM option, Validate Answer File, it will return validation errors, such as “The ‘HorizontalResolution’ element is invalid – The value ” is invalid according to its datatype ‘HorizontalResolutionType’ – The string ” is not a valid UInt32 value.”

MDT removes blank values before injecting the file during deployment, so Windows always receives a valid XML answer file.

Integrating with System Center Configuration Manager

When integrating MDT with Configuration Manager, follow the version of the Windows ADK. MDT 2013 Update 1 only works with the Windows 10 ADK, so make sure it is used with a version of Configuration Manager that supports and also uses the Windows 10 ADK.

Image files larger than 4 GB are not split by default

Split image (.SWM) support is now off by default. It must be enabled by modifying %DeployRoot%\Control\Settings.xml with the following:

<SkipWimSplit>False</SkipWimSplit>

Using HideShell with Windows 10

The behavior of the HideShell option changed with Windows 10. Michael Niehaus explains this in great detail on his blog.

Changes to the Format and Partition Disk step *

The Format and Partition Disk step in the task sequence is now more closely aligned with the similar step in Configuration Manager; it will explicitly show all of the partitions that are created when the task sequence runs.

  • Backwards compatibility remains when using a task sequence that was created in a prior version of MDT. You should expect the same behavior as previously.
  • The DoNotCreateExtraPartition variable is deprecated. It should not be used with new task sequences (as the partitions are explicitly created by the task sequence step).
Changes to permissions of new deployment shares *

New deployment shares will now be created with more restrictive permissions. You should review these permissions and adjust accordingly for your access requirements.

Upgraded deployment shares are not modified, but the former default permissions are overly permissive. You should review the permissions on the share and directory and adjust accordingly for your environment.

MDT Known Issues

Static IP not restored when using media deployment

When doing a media deployment and using a static IP the static IP does not get restored.

Workarounds:

  • Modify Litetouch.wsf to enable MEDIA deployments (Keith Garner explains in this forum post)
    or
  • Add an extra Apply Network Settings action (alternative suggested by Johan Arwidmark on his blog)
Static IP not set in Network Adapter Configuration Wizard

When initializing a deployment in Windows PE and clicking Configure Static IP Address, if you uncheck Enable DHCP and enter static IP information, the following Network Settings Error will display:

WMI Function: Adapter.EnableStatic(IPAddress,SubnetMask) FAILURE: -2147467259

This warning may also be seen in the results screen and log files during a deployment.

Workaround: a static IP can be manually set from Windows PE using netsh, but otherwise there are no workarounds at this time.

UDI wizard does not handle the domain join account user name *

When using the OSDJoinAccount variable in CustomSettings.ini for a UDI task sequence, the wizard cannot be completed because the domain join account user name is encoded. The New Computer Details page will display an error, “User name format is invalid. Example is domain\user.”

Workarounds:

  • Specify the OSDJoinAccount variable in the task sequence before the UDI wizard starts.
  • Alternatively, require the user to manually specify credentials in the UDI wizard.
Unable to browse for user data path *

In the LTI Deployment Wizard, on the User Data page, when selecting the Browse button, the Browse for Folder window does not display anything for selecting a path.

Workarounds:

  • Manually enter the path (do not browse).
  • Set the UserDataLocation variable in CustomSettings.ini.
The ZTIWinRE.wsf script and PrepareWinRE variable do not function properly *

If you specify PrepareWinRE=YES in CustomSettings.ini, Windows RE does not get enabled because the commandline is malformed.

The ZTIWinRE.wsf script is deprecated and should not be used.

Windows 10 language packs may not install *

We are still investigating an issue where Windows 10 language packs may not install during LTI.

Issues after successful Windows 10 in-place upgrade *

Following a successful upgrade to Windows 10:

  • Monitoring will continue to show the task sequence in progress until a user logs on.
  • A low rights user may receive an error at logon. This is a non-fatal error; the MDT script requires administrator elevation in order to display the final summary screen. Avoid this by using the variable, SkipFinalSummary.

Windows 10 Known Issues

The following are issues that are known to the MDT product team when doing Windows 10 deployments.

Issues with CopyProfile *

We are aware of reports of issues regarding the CopyProfile property in Unattend.xml. We have not been able to reproduce this issue, and are working with the Windows team to investigate further. If you have a reproducible issue with CopyProfile, please open a case with Microsoft Support to troubleshoot.

USMT LoadState fails on Windows 7 *

Using MDT 2013 Update 1 to deploy Windows 7 to an existing machine (refresh scenario), and using USMT 10 to capture and restore the user data will result in an error (“DismApi.DLL is missing”) while restoring the user state on Windows 7. This is a known issue with loadstate; see https://support.microsoft.com/kb/3084782 for more information.

MDAC component fails being added to Windows PE

This is a known bug with DISM; it is external to MDT. DISM can sometimes fail to add the MDAC component to WinPE boot images. This seems to be a timing issue which most commonly occur when you are using SSD disks.

Workarounds:

  • Remove MDAC. On the deployment share properties, Windows PE tab, Features subtab, uncheck Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC/ADO) support.
  • If you need MDAC for database connectivity, you can try updating your boot images from a system where the %TMP% directory is located on a non-SSD drive. This is not a guaranteed workaround, but has been seen to work

NOTE: we are also aware of reports of issues regarding the WMI component in Windows PE. We have not been able to reproduce this issue, and are working with the Windows team to investigate further. If you have a reproducible issue with Windows PE optional components, please open a case with Microsoft Support to troubleshoot.

Issues with Windows PowerShell in Windows PE

Windows PowerShell cmdlets in Windows PE may not function as expected. We are investigating this issue with the Windows team. If you have a reproducible issue with Windows PE optional components, please open a case with Microsoft Support to troubleshoot.

Outlook 2007 and Exchange 2013 not a real good combination

Exchange 2013 and Outlook 2007 is a interrested thing

Outlook 2007 SP3 is supported with with April 2014 Public Update KB 2863811
See https://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn803988(v=office.14).aspx

For you as a System or Exchange administrator or Consultant you might consider some things before migrating to Exchange 2013.

You can’t share your calendar in Outlook 2007
When you use Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 to share your calendar, you receive the following error message:

Error while preparing to send sharing message.

Also, if you try to check the permissions on the calendar, you may receive the following error message:

An error occurred when setting schedule permissions.

Solotion Microsoft: Using OWA

It works for share the calendar and you can set editor calendar permissies. All other permissions are not availible

image

  • Accessrights Missing
    None
    Owner
    PublishingEditor
    PublishingAuthor
    Author
    NonEditingAuthor
    Reviewer
    Contributor

    With Powershell you can set the permissions

Add-MailboxFolderPermission –identity (username+’:\calendar’) –user testuser –Accessrights PublishingEditor

Better solution

Upgrade your Outlook Client to 2010 or 2013

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