Sysinternals: the Swiss Army knife for Windows Server

2025-10-13

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

Practical scenarios

1. Slow system boot — use Autoruns to disable unnecessary autostart items.
2. “File in use” error — Handle or Process Explorer will show which process holds the file.
3. High CPU load — PsList or Process Explorer can help find the source.
4. Suspicious network activity — TCPView will show who is establishing connections.
5. Security auditing — configure Sysmon and analyze logs in the Event Viewer.

Automation with PsTools

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:

079 | Hyper-V: Virtualization from Microsoft – Seamless Integration with Windows Server

2025-08-11

What is Hyper-V?

Hyper-V is Microsoft’s native virtualization platform, an integral part of Windows Server operating systems and optionally available on Windows 10/11 Pro/Enterprise. Hyper-V functions as a Type 1 hypervisor, installing directly on bare-metal hardware and offering functionality comparable to major players like VMware. Its main advantage is deep integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, making it a natural choice for administrators and businesses running Windows-based infrastructure.

Key Features and Advantages of Hyper-V

Hyper-V provides all the essential tools for building and managing virtualized environments, with a focus on simplicity and Windows integration.

047 | Plesk: A Flexible Panel for Web Professionals and Developers

2025-07-09

Introduction to Plesk

Plesk is another global leader in web hosting control panels, often competing with cPanel for the top spot. What makes Plesk stand out is its modularity, flexibility, and focus not only on traditional hosting but also on web developers, agencies, and DevOps teams. Plesk supports a wide range of operating systems, including both Linux and Windows Server, making it an extremely versatile solution. Like cPanel, Plesk is a commercial product with various licenses depending on needs.

Deploying Windows Server in Yandex.Cloud

2025-06-13

Today, we’ll dive into the world of cloud technologies and learn how to deploy the Windows Server operating system on the Yandex.Cloud platform. This is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to have their own server for various tasks, whether it’s for application testing, website deployment, or even Active Directory creation.

Important Note: Your Own Windows Server Image

Currently, Yandex.Cloud does not provide pre-built Windows Server images. This means we’ll need to prepare a Windows Server image locally, import it into Yandex.Cloud, and then create a virtual machine based on that image. This process requires a bit more effort but gives you full control over your system.