2025-10-13
Sysinternals: the Swiss Army Knife for Windows Server
Introduction
Sysinternals is a collection of free utilities from Microsoft, created by Mark Russinovich and Bryce Cogswell.
It helps system administrators access low-level information about Windows Server: processes, the file system, network connections, and autostart.
The suite includes more than 60 tools and is the de-facto standard for troubleshooting and diagnostics.
Key features
- CPU, disk and memory performance diagnostics.
- Troubleshooting application crashes and errors.
- Security monitoring and analysis of suspicious processes.
- Remote administration via PsTools.
- Work with Active Directory and services.
Key utilities
| Utility | Purpose | Interface |
|---|
| Process Explorer | Advanced Task Manager; shows process relationships, loaded DLLs and handles. | GUI |
| Process Monitor (ProcMon) | Monitors file, registry and network operations. | GUI |
| PsTools | Remote management suite (PsExec, PsList, PsKill). | CLI |
| Autoruns | View and manage program and service autostart entries. | GUI |
| TCPView | Monitor all TCP/UDP connections and associated processes. | GUI |
| Sysmon | Logs security events and system changes. | CLI |
Practical scenarios
- Slow system boot — use
Autoruns to disable unnecessary autostart items. - “File in use” error —
Handle or Process Explorer will show which process holds the file. - High CPU load —
PsList or Process Explorer can help find the source. - Suspicious network activity —
TCPView will show who is establishing connections. - Security auditing — configure
Sysmon and analyze logs in the Event Viewer.
Sysinternals is great for automation. With PsExec you can run PowerShell scripts or CMD commands on dozens of servers at once.
For example, to restart the Windows Update service:
2025-10-10
🌐 Beyond Let’s Encrypt: an overview of the best alternatives for SSL/TLS
Thanks to Let’s Encrypt HTTPS has become the standard for the entire internet. This project made it possible for any site administrator to get a free SSL certificate in just a few commands.
But other players have appeared on the market, offering more convenience, integrations, and flexibility.
If you want to try something besides Let’s Encrypt — below is an overview of the most reliable and popular alternatives.
2025-10-09
BIMI: Put Your Logo in Mail and Stand Out! 📧✨
Noticed how in Gmail or other mail services the logos of big companies — and even a blue checkmark — appear next to their messages?
It’s not just pretty — it’s the result of BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification).
With BIMI your message looks professional, inspires trust, and stands out in a crowded inbox. 😎
In this article we’ll cover what BIMI is, why it matters, and how to set it up step by step so your logo appears next to your emails. Let’s go! 🚀
2025-10-08
phpMyAdmin or Adminer? What if you have PostgreSQL? 🐘 A simple guide to choosing a database tool
Congratulations! You just set up your web server (LAMP, LEMP, or something else) and are ready to build awesome websites. You have an operating system, a web server, a programming language, but one important puzzle piece remains — the database. Managing it without a convenient tool is like fixing a car without a wrench. 😅
2025-10-07
LAMP or LEMP? Understanding web stacks and getting to know a cool hybrid approach! 😄
Hello, aspiring web developer! 👋
If you’re just diving into the world of building websites, you’ve probably already heard of LAMP and LEMP. These acronyms sound like something out of a spy movie, but in reality they are the foundation of most dynamic websites you use every day.
In this article we’ll break down what LAMP and LEMP are, how they differ, where they’re used, and introduce a cool hybrid stack — the Nginx and Apache combo that brings together the best of both worlds.
Ready? Let’s go! 🚀
2025-10-05
Own mail server vs paid mail: comparison, risks and recommendations
Introduction
Email remains one of the key tools for communication and business. Many use paid services like Gmail, Outlook or ProtonMail, but there are those who prefer to set up their own mail server. This gives full control over data but requires time and technical skills.
This article examines the pros and cons of both approaches, risks and practical recommendations. The material will be useful for both beginners interested in privacy and specialists seeking an in-depth analysis. Prices are indicated as of September 2025 and may vary; check current information on providers’ websites.
2025-10-02
Cloud or Own Server? How to Choose the Best Option for Business Data Storage
Introduction
Data is the foundation of any business. Where and how you store it affects security, performance, and company growth. Today, entrepreneurs face a strategic choice: use their own equipment (local storage) or rent resources from major providers (cloud storage).
Think of it as choosing between buying a house and renting an apartment. Each option has its pros and cons. Let’s break it down.
2025-09-30
BitTorrent — Decentralized File Sharing
Introduction
In this series on file transfer protocols, we’ve already looked at centralized solutions — S3, WebDAV, Rsync.
But there’s a fundamentally different approach — BitTorrent, a decentralized P2P protocol that enables efficient distribution of large files among many users.
BitTorrent became popular thanks to its speed and resilience, especially when working with large volumes of data.
What is BitTorrent?
BitTorrent is a P2P protocol created by Bram Cohen in 2001.
2025-09-29
Rsync — Efficient File Synchronization
Introduction
In previous articles, we explored different file transfer protocols — from classic FTP and SFTP to modern solutions like S3 and WebDAV.
Now let’s take a closer look at Rsync — a powerful tool and protocol that stands out for its efficiency in synchronizing files and directories.
Rsync is perfect for backups, data synchronization, and automation tasks, thanks to its ability to transfer only the modified parts of files.
2025-09-28
WebDAV — a Hybrid Approach to File Access over HTTP
Introduction
In previous articles, we covered both classic protocols (FTP, SFTP, SMB) and the modern object storage standard S3.
However, there’s another protocol that combines features of traditional file access with HTTP — WebDAV.
This protocol became popular thanks to its simplicity, universality, and ability to work with files as if they were on a local disk, but over the internet.
