Powershell released

Microsoft released there new scripting tool called "Powershell". This could be benificial to Administrators looking for a good scripting tool that can compete with the different types scripts that run on Unix and Linux.

I have just downloaded the program and documentation, so I hope to have some feed back on it as soon as I have some time.

Here is the link to the Powershell page

Using Group Policy to Configure Windows Firewall

I just recently decided to configure Windows Firewall through group policy. Why just now? well that was because I rolled out most of the XP operating systems with the Firewall configured during installation. Only recently did I discover people, programs whatever had made some changes.

So I decided to create a group policy for the firewall settings so I wouldn't have to walk around to everyones computers and set it up. You can change these policies to the local machine by opening up gepedit.msc or by using Active Directory Users and Computers then right click on your OU and then properties. Then you will be able to access the Group Policy Management Console by the Group policy tab and by clicking Open.

You can find the configuration under the Administrative Templates -> Network -> Network Connections -> Windows Firewall -> Domain Profile.

The different Settings include.
Protect all network connections
Do not allow exceptions
Define program exceptions
Allow local program exceptions
Allow remote administration exception
Allow file and printer sharing exception
Allow ICMP exceptions
Allow Remote Desktop exception
Allow UPnP framework exception
Prohibit notifications
Allow Logging
Prohibit unicast response to multicast or broadcast
Define port exceptions
Allow local port exceptions

These settings helped me keep consistent settings across the Domain.

The Best Free Windows Software

I've seen a ton of top 10 lists, but after reading comments people leave and looking at my own computer, I realized there are a lot more than 10 free windows applications that I use or consider the best. I decided to compile a "short" list of my own. So if I ever wipe my drive, I will have quick list to retrieve the applications I use. Guess I should call it a top 50+. They are in no particular order.

Firefox
Opera
Thunderbird
Open Office
Gaim
ClamWin
VLC Media Player
Keepass
Cygwin
Eraser
TrueCrypt
FileZilla
7zip
Autoit
PDFcreater
AVG
Avast
Audacity
Tuxpaint
SamSpade
Winscp
Putty
Comodo Anti-virus
Comodo Firewall
R-Firewall
Gimp
Democracy
Trillian
Notepad++
Azureus
uTorrent
VMWare Player
Cdex
Foxit
Juice
Blender
Songbird
K-lite Codec Pack
K-lite Mega Codec Pack
XP Codec Pack
Spybot Search & Destroy
Black light rootkit detector
Rootkit Revealer
Google Web Accelerator
Google Earth
Picasa
DVDFab
Gspot
Ripit4me
Tor
CCleaner
Wireshark
Nmap