In my post two days ago on silently installing SQL Server 2017 Reporting Services (SSRS 2017), I just provided the most basic information on configuration. In fact, after installing SSRS 2017, it will be completely unconfigured. Configuration can be done using the Reporting Service Configuration Manager GUI. In my case, the configuration needs to be … Continue reading Complete automated configuration of SQL Server 2017 Reporting Services
Category: Higher Ed Lab Management
With the release of SQL Server 2017, Reporting Services is now a separate installation. The installer can be downloaded from the Microsoft Download Center and installed in either a free edition (Evaluation, Express, or Developer) or a paid edition with a product key. It can also be installed silently, and in this blog post, I … Continue reading Silent Installation and Configuration for SQL Server 2017 Reporting Services
The 15.5 release of SQL Server Data Tools for Visual Studio 2017 is the first release to support SSRS, SSAS, and SSIS in VS 2017. The command line below shows how to install all SSDT components in the only installation of VS 2017 on a machine: To work offline, you'll need to create a layout … Continue reading Silent, Offline Installation for SSDT 15.5 for Visual Studio 2017
It's time to start preparing a new thick image for the computer labs. There are some interesting changes that need to be made this go-around, including a solution for Installing Office 2016 (VL, MSI) together with Visio and/or Project 2016 (click-to-run, C2R): Deadlocked, but I will write about that later. This post is about Visual … Continue reading Silent, Offline Install for Visual Studio 2017 Enterprise with MDT
There are several best practices in Operating System Deployment (OSD). One of those is to use "thin" (or reference) images, which would only contain a patched OS and probably the (patched) Office suite of your choice. After the thin image is applied, you apply the software needed for the device, including such mainstays as Flash … Continue reading Why I Use Thick Images for Lab Deployment
While the particular scenario I am describing here is likely common only at educational institutions, for those affected, it is a major showstopper. This blog post details the common licensing and deployment practices for higher education labs and the particular conundrum it causes with Office 2016 and Visio/Project 2016. I am proposing two workarounds that could help and one I've included just for completeness. I am calling on Microsoft to address the issue with a real fix.
With the release of SQL Server 2016, SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is now a stand-alone tool. It requires no licensing and can be downloaded without as much as registering. Because it is a separate download, it requires a separate installation. The computer labs I manage have SQL Server installed, including Management Studio. Prior to … Continue reading Performing a Silent Install of SQL Server Management Studio (2016)
I spent a few hours today trying to understand why a number of computers in our (higher education computer lab) environment did not want to download updates for drivers using Lenovo's System Update tool. I tried disabling the usual suspects (particularly McAfee Anti-Virus 8.7i Enterprise and the Windows Firewall), but nothing made a difference. So then … Continue reading Software Interplay Issues: Netop Vision 7.2 and Lenovo System Update 4.01
Sven Aelterman 