Networking

PowerShell Remoting is a cornerstone of Windows administration and automation. For years, it was synonymous with one protocol: WinRM. But with modern PowerShell and the ubiquity of SSH, we now have a powerful, cross-platform alternative. So, which protocol should you use? WinRM or SSH? This guide provides the definitive answer. We’ll explore the fundamental differences between the protocols, provide practical, step-by-step instructions for using both, and give clear recommendations for when to choose each one. ...

When it comes to transferring large files (10–100 GB) between Windows systems, the tool I choose can have a massive impact on speed, reliability, and security. In this ultimate showdown, I compare three titans of file transfer: the secure and universal SCP (OpenSSH), the multi-threaded powerhouse Robocopy (SMB), and the PowerShell-native Copy-Item (WinRM). I tested them across different network conditions, from a high-speed 10 GbE LAN to a real-world 5G wireless connection, to help me decide which tool reigns supreme for my specific needs. ...

When I tried to activate Microsoft Office in a corporate or restricted network environment, I encountered frustrating activation failures. Even with a valid license, Office activation can fail if it cannot communicate with Microsoft’s activation servers. This is almost always due to a firewall blocking the necessary outbound traffic. Note: This guide assumes you have already installed Microsoft Office. If you need a guide on how to automate the installation of Office 2021, see our companion article: Automate Office 2021 Install & Remove Old Versions ...

When diagnosing network connectivity issues, one of the most fundamental steps is to determine if a specific TCP port is open and listening on a remote host. A closed, blocked, or unresponsive port is often the root cause of application failures, and knowing how to test it is a critical skill for me. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the most common and reliable methods to test port connectivity on Windows, from modern PowerShell cmdlets to classic command-line tools. ...