Show remote computer status - outlook

Im working in big organization as SW developer and my team is using 2 remote machines with development hardware connected to it.
We need to get status of who is logged in into machine or if machine is free to make some tests on hardware. We are using Microsoft Stack (MS Teams, Skype, 365 Pro plus etc).
I was thinking about Microsoft Teams BOT which would be checking remote PC status but I dont know if that's possible.
I know that Get-WMIObject can be used to check who is currently logged in but i dont think that it would be possible from Azure where this BOT would be running. I think that it would require to create some kind of telemetry service on remote PCs also to send status to MS Azure so BOT can display proper status.
Does anyone know about such solution or had similar problem ( status of remote machine visible to team members). I would like to use MS stack so everyone could just see on Skype, MS Teams, Outlook who is using remote PC or is PC is free.
PS: we are working from home and connecting to enterprise network using VPN. Remote PCs are running Windows 10.

This is not currently possible. A Bot running on teams cannot get the information of a system or the system hardware.

Related

is it possible to use AWS to run a regular windows 10 machine?

I want a Windows 10 x64 Professional hosted on AWS, is that possible? And if so, how might one go about it?
To expound.
I just want a real windows 10 environment hosted remotely with static IP address so i can use it like a personal computer + server for some dev stuffs.
This is likely what you are looking for:
https://aws.amazon.com/workspaces/
Amazon WorkSpaces is a managed, secure cloud desktop service. You can
use Amazon WorkSpaces to provision either Windows or Linux desktops in
just a few minutes and quickly scale to provide thousands of desktops
to workers across the globe. You can pay either monthly or hourly,
just for the WorkSpaces you launch, which helps you save money when
compared to traditional desktops and on-premises VDI solutions. Amazon
WorkSpaces helps you eliminate the complexity in managing hardware
inventory, OS versions and patches, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
(VDI), which helps simplify your desktop delivery strategy. With
Amazon WorkSpaces, your users get a fast, responsive desktop of their
choice that they can access anywhere, anytime, from any supported
device.
and this is how you can give it a static ip:
https://aws.amazon.com/premiumsupport/knowledge-center/associate-elastic-ip-workspace/
Edit:
Amazon WorkSpaces now offers bundles that come with a Windows 10
desktop experience, powered by Windows Server 2016. Amazon WorkSpaces
Windows 10 bundles provides you an easy way to move users to a modern
operating system, while also simplifying licensing. Amazon WorkSpaces
continues to offer bundles that come with a Windows 7 desktop
experience, provided by Windows Server 2008 R2. You can also run
Windows 7 and Windows 10 Enterprise operating systems with Amazon
WorkSpaces if your organization meets the licensing requirements set
by Microsoft.
#BrownChiLD
You can create your own AMI on AWS. Steps are below:
1. create the machine on your system by using vmware wokrstation or hyper-v
2. Export the VM
3. Upload it to S3 bucket
once your vm is uploaded to S3, follow the steps on the below link
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vm-import/latest/userguide/vmimport-image-import.html#import-vm-image
At present time the only way to achieve what you want is by spinning your own Win10 instance assigning the static internal IP while creating it or by adding an Elastic IP if it's in an Internet Gateway enabled subnet.
It's not that convenient, you'll need to set up the environment yourself, including Security Groups, ACLs, etc to allow a bit of security and connecting using RDP will be a bit of a pain (beside doing so over internet isn't exactly advisable). You might start thinking about Chrome Remote Desktop or even Teamviewer.. and will be very pricey running it. First things first, apparently there's no Win10 available as AMI, so you'll need to deploy it yourself. Once running you'll need to license it. A type suitable for this could cost around 80$ per month.. unreserved.
Using AWS Workspaces isn't really an option: besides it is not "Windows 10" but Windows server 2016 (I needed WSL, which has been introduced with Server 2019 so, no joy), the only way to have a proper Win10 is using BYOL but... (cit from FAQ) :
You need to commit to running 200 Amazon WorkSpaces in a region per month on hardware that is dedicated to you. If you want to bring your own Windows desktop licenses for graphics use cases, you need to commit to at least 4 monthly or 20 hourly GPU-enabled WorkSpaces.
:-/
Amazon WorkSpaces is a virtual desktop that runs on AWS but you connect through an Amazon client software that acts a lot like virtualbox, except the OS that you're using is not on your local machine. So it's more like a Thin Client environment over the internet. I believe the OS through Workspaces is managed by AWS as far as patching and updates through a software called A.C.M.E. (Amazon Client Management Engine).
https://youtu.be/jsqI7KU3S8I
Amazon EC2 instances also provide Windows instances that you would connect through an RDP connection. You'll have to manage the patching and updates yourself though.
Here's a link for your reading pleasure
https://aws.amazon.com/windows/resources/licensing/

Can I give local webcam access to a Azure Win Server VM through Microsoft Remote Desktop?

I'm developing a website in VS on a Windows Server Azure VM, and remoting in to do my work through Microsoft Remote Desktop for Mac.
The website needs to access a webcam, but I don't have any webcam on the remote windows server!
Is there any way to allow the remote windows server where I'm developing to see my local webcam through Microsoft Remote Desktop, as my local machine is a Macbook Air?
Maybe there's another remote tool for Mac that will allow this? One I have to pay for?
Looking at the settings for Microsoft remote destop for Mac version 10.2.4 how can I set the local resources for USB connections? I don't even see a option for Usb device, just printers, clipboard and Smart cards.
All I see is this below with no options for USB connections
as of Dec 2018:
no, it is simply not possible with the latest Mac beta RDP Client
and a still open demand from user voice
The feature of USB redirection is part of so called RemoteFX and a feature of RDS.
From server side it is possible since Windows Server 2012, newer Versions improved it.
Windows Client (mstsc.exe or remote desktop client) support the USB and Video mapping for since ages, but of course negotiating with the server which features are possible and allowed.
this link gives a nice overview mosty without covering non-Windows:
https://workspot.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/214248563-Configuring-USB-Redirection-with-RemoteFX-in-Workspot
to be afraid, the MS Mac client only supports the usual redirections like audio, printer, clipboard and drive mappings.
there are obviously other RDP clients out there, with experimental USB and webcam redirecting:
at least there is freeRDP which may also run on a Mac

WSUS Approvals being ignored by Client PC when it's not connected to the domain network

This is an odd one,
We have a WSUS server configured to tell clients through a GPO to check in for windows updates and download them from Microsoft Update (so we don't have to have a WSUS repository taking up space). Previously we did have a WSUS repository and the same issue occured.
While on the domain the client laptop behaves perfectly well, only ever updates if WSUS updates are approved for it's Computer Group in WSUS.
However... if I have that laptop on the domain for say 7 days, has several reboots and NO WSUS updates are applied, when it is taken home by the user, it is put in "sleep" and when it starts back up is logged in as the domain user, if the user connects to the internet to login to our network via the VPN, it starts downloading windows updates it doesn't have, that have NOT been approved by WSUS.
Why would this be, and how can I stop it from updating when it's "off" the domain network but connected to the internet?
Has anyone experienced anything similar? So to re-cap, Windows Updates behave as expected on the domain network, when on any non-domain network connection the laptop installs updates it shouldn't
Thanks
Dougie
(Server is Windows Server 2003 SP2, with WSUS 3.0 SP2 installed, laptop is x64 Windows 7)

Windows Phone 8 device management

I am asked to come up with a solution for remotely locking and blocking the camera of Windows Phone 8 devices. Also, I have to remotely wipe the data. I am new to Windows Phone development.
In addition, I have to get some device information and send this to a server periodically for tracking purposes.
Could you please provide some inputs?
Sorry, but there's no way lock or block the camera on a Windows Phone.
Also, an application can only access its own data, so there's no way to wipe all data on the phone. But you don't need an app for this specific need, as you can already do that using the integrated Find my phone service: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/How-to/wp8/basics/find-a-lost-phone
Windows Phone 8 also has management functions that can be controlled from a server, one of those functions is to wipe / block the phone. Watch the BUILD videos on Channel 9, its somewhere in there, may have been this video: http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2012/2-014
I would look into a Mobile Device Management provider such as Silverback (http://silverbackmdm.com/), or Zenprise (http://www.zenprise.com). Microsoft is also releasing an extension to Intune services in 2013 for MDM too.
The MDM providers allow the enforcement of device security policies, including thins such as remote wipe, password enforcement, etc. It's a great way to manage BYOD policies.

desktop app (windows app) connect windows phone

is there a assembly or API to get isolated storage in windows phone using WPF or win form while connecting the windows phone device via USB?
please note the devise will be running offline so cannot use web service or WCF
thanks
Check out this article on emulator automation. It includes details of adding and removing files from isolated storage and should also work on an actual device as well as the emulator.
This isn't really a supported activity. I too have been thinking about what to do when you want a desktop version with extended features and you want the two to share data.
I think the key here is to think about how Microsoft achieves this with email and calendaring. There's no shared filesystem, rather Outlook on the desktop and Outlook on the phone both function as clients for the same Exchange server.
At one point I considered running a webservice in a desktop app so that the phone app could push data to the desktop app, but that would be a very manual process. The common-server model will provide a much better UX.
It's not an exact match to your situation, but a good tool is the Windows Phone 7 IsolatedStorage Explorer.
The reason I say it may not be the best match is this note from the documentation:
The WP7 Isolated Storage Explorer
supports connections from the emulator
or actual devices. For applications
running on devices a data connection
must be enabled (WiFi or the mobile
data connection).
It's at least a great start and keeps you from having to do the heavy lifting. Is there any reason you have to be offline and check the contents of IsolatedStorage? If you elaborate on why you have that requirement, we might be able to offer some work arounds.

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