Posts made by CCWTech

@Oksana You couldn't pay me enough to use VMware. KVM is the industry standard and has been for years. And VMware with the recent announcement to kill their free offerings is now just a sinking ship.

I'm running Ubuntu Ubuntu 23.10 and looking for a player for IPTV. Everything I have tried (VLC, Jellyfin, etc.) can't handle 20K channels of IPTV...

@syko24 said in Move FSMO Roles Using PowerShell | Active Directory Domain Controller AD DC:

I'm a fan of the one liner assuming you are transferring all roles to the same DC.

Move-ADDirectoryServerOperationMasterRole -Identity "DC-Server" -OperationMasterRole 0,1,2,3,4


0: PDCEmulator
1: RIDMaster
2: InfrastructureMaster
3: SchemaMaster
4: DomainNamingMaster

Me too. This is what I normally use. SOOOO helpful.

Not sure why powershell made it so complicated to find who has the roles.
netdom query fsmo was so easy.

Looks like Microsoft is finally taking a hint from Linux -

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-is-bringing-the-linux-sudo-command-to-windows-server/?fbclid=IwAR1C5ptPtv1dWPXHWeojAZNT5peIBTgQ4DJmlbGv5GAs0pOFiZZJXbT51n4

@gjacobse said in MeshCentral Future:

@scottalanmiller said in MeshCentral Future:

1.1.13 is out today!

Nice!

I am trying to lean those who would make the decision to go to Mesh over the ‘solution’ we use now.

What is that 'solution'?

@Florida_man said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

The story of morals vs morals and Risk vs Reward

Guy A - It must be run Sever OS

Well, Guy A then just offer that service. Quote the Microsoft licensing as you know it, and let the customer decide. No need to be a crusader and convince everyone to have the same moral standard of black and white. It's admirable that you have a strict moral standard and won't perform the work. In reality, though alot of the world functions in gray.

Guy B - Save the customer money

Microsoft is a bully and my customer is small and working on thin margins. You know the risk is super low for an audit and probably even lower if they buy windows OS elsewhere. You probably end up doing what's best for customer, but also potentially risk your own neck. Nothing will happen to a customer with 6 employees. They will get a warning at best

The world functions in gray. When is that a justification for acting immorally?

So the justification is, Microsoft is a big corporation with evil people so it's okay to steal from them or you won't get caught and if you do the trouble you will be in is small.

Please remind me to never let you in my house... Honestly, working with clients who justify stealing based on the fact that they either have a crappy business plan or who they are stealing from is a big faceless corporation will bite you in the ass when they pull the same dishonestly with you.

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@scottalanmiller said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

It just boggles my mind that the plain English, or the Queen's English if you're a Canucklehead like me, is right freaking there.

Seriously.

Exactly. You just listed why in zero possible way can you be confused. It's plain as day that there is nothing that applies to Avimark.

Why are you arguing that it can be used and showing that it can't?

I'm done with this.

I've verified my interpretation as well as AVIMark's mini-setup as being valid.

Cognitive Dissonance. I suggest looking it up.

"My interpretation". It reminds me of people saying this is 'my truth'. Instead of 'the truth'.

Right now... knock on wood, Fedora 38 is running like a champ. I am pretty happy.

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@CCWTech said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@Obsolesce said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@Obsolesce We're going to have to agree to disagree.

The peer-to-peer setup has been around since Token Ring that I can think of off the top and abides by Microsoft's licensing.

We've been through audits in peer-to-peer settings, as mentioned SMB was our bread and butter, with nary an issue with setups like the p2p mentioned in AVIMark for their tiny setup. We're usually the ones schooling the auditors anyway.

TTFN

So you're saying Microsoft licensing terms do not apply if installed on devices on peer to peer networks?

You've got a lot of theft under your belt, then. Willful ignorance of terms. MVP of SBS means shit... as does (wrongfully) convincing auditors of theft.

As mentioned, let's agree to disagree. TTFN

EDIT: If you really think you have a case then report it to the BSA.

Accusing someone of theft based on an subjective interpretation of terms and conditions is a pretty serious accusation.

Suffice it to say, put up or shut up.

It is theft. There is no other way to look at it. The fact that you have to interpret it subjectively and not objectively speaks volumes.

And it's not the BSA that investigates. Microsoft works with a different company. One of the vet clinics that I am personally aware of that believes you can do this is being audited because they got caught.

BSA is in Canada.

As I've mentioned, peer to peer has been around for a very long time.

What I'm being told here is that every peer to peer setup was illegal and thus theft. Yet, in the audits we've participated in when a peer to peer was involved none were knocked for it.

It's pretty easy to sling the mud and armchair quarterback like this.

Show me some Microsoft based resources that clearly interpret things they way that is being stated here. Since the semantics and legalese seem to be the catch let's see a clear statement from Microsoft that a peer to peer setup where folks are sharing files and a printer or two is indeed illegal and thus "theft" as it's being called here.

Show me the money.

A high school student could understand this. You can not use it to host a server with certain exceptions. Because AVImark is not using just file share services, it doesn't fit the exceptions. That's it. So easy to understand.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/UseTerms/Retail/Windows/11/UseTerms_Retail_Windows_11_English.htm

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@Obsolesce said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@Obsolesce We're going to have to agree to disagree.

The peer-to-peer setup has been around since Token Ring that I can think of off the top and abides by Microsoft's licensing.

We've been through audits in peer-to-peer settings, as mentioned SMB was our bread and butter, with nary an issue with setups like the p2p mentioned in AVIMark for their tiny setup. We're usually the ones schooling the auditors anyway.

TTFN

So you're saying Microsoft licensing terms do not apply if installed on devices on peer to peer networks?

You've got a lot of theft under your belt, then. Willful ignorance of terms. MVP of SBS means shit... as does (wrongfully) convincing auditors of theft.

As mentioned, let's agree to disagree. TTFN

EDIT: If you really think you have a case then report it to the BSA.

Accusing someone of theft based on an subjective interpretation of terms and conditions is a pretty serious accusation.

Suffice it to say, put up or shut up.

It is theft. There is no other way to look at it. The fact that you have to interpret it subjectively and not objectively speaks volumes.

And it's not the BSA that investigates. Microsoft works with a different company. One of the vet clinics that I am personally aware of that believes you can do this is being audited because they got caught.

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

We're usually the ones schooling the auditors anyway.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@JaredBusch said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

We've gone through plenty of audits where QuickBooks has a company file on one PC while there are two or more other PCs accessing that company file. No issues there.

Historically, QuickBooks has only used file sharing for this. The remote users are opening the QuickBooks data file over the network. This matches the restrictions last I knew.

AVImark is connecting to a database server running on the host computer to my understanding. This is not file services, print services, IIS, or ICS.

I added to my post above.

Their system specifications clarify exactly what their setup is and does. The small setup is peer to peer. No server OS required.

RTFM

No Manual is going to override MS Licensing.

What AVImark says doesn't matter so discussing it is silly. I could care less what their hardware specs say.

AVImark now requires Guardian to be running which takes it beyond file sharing. End of story.

I have talked to many Microsoft licensing specialists and they agree.

One clinic that believes that they can run Windows desktop with AVImark is the subject of a Microsoft Audit because of that. Yes, I have first-hand knowledge of this. AVImark is not going to pay for their legal defense. I promise you that.

@PhlipElder said in Can you run a Windows desktop OS as a server to run AVImark Veterinary Software?:

If the product says it can run on Windows 10 or 11 and falls under the 20 connection limit then go for it but with one caveat: Make sure the hardware has ECC memory to avoid a memory flipped bit error that can wreak havoc and at least a RAID 1 array between two SATA SSDs.

It doesn't matter what the product says. What is important is Microsoft's TOS. Can you do it? Sure. Is it legal? No.

@Obsolesce Veterinary, but yes, same concept.
It does say for internal purposes as well, so I would buy the argument that I can be use commercially. But the buck stops at the specifically enumerated services that are acceptable.

@Obsolesce I know right?

People want to believe what gives them the best outcome regardless of the logic. It's literally one of the easiest contracts to understand, yet people WANT to interpret it in a way that benefits them because it saves them money.

The minute you go beyond the very basic services offered in device connections, you MUST use a server OS.

@scottalanmiller said in Not much luck with Linux Distro's:

@CCWTech said in Not much luck with Linux Distro's:

@Obsolesce said in Not much luck with Linux Distro's:

@CCWTech gotcha.

Yeah I've been on Mac the last few months. Still trying to learn to like it, there are a lot of minor annoyances or quirks and quality-of-life differences that make it harder to get used to. I still prefer Ubuntu over MacOS for work, and Win11 strictly for personal use.

Not sure what changed, and maybe I am speaking too soon, but after trying Nobara I reinstalled Fedora, and no crashes in 2 days...

Could just be that tehre is a new driver since then.

Very well possible.

Background: AVImark (Owned by Covetrus) is a software company that provides PIMS for vet clinics. Their software requires a Windows Server and Windows server licensing because it goes beyond just working as file sharing.

I got a message on FB Messenger (Unsolicited):

John: "Hi there! I run a small MSP in mid-Michigan that handles a few vet offices. I was wondering if I could pick your brain for a bit about some things? Heck, I'm willing to pay you for your time even.

The main thing right now is that two vets that we've taken over at are running old servers (one 2008R2 and one 2012R2). The 2008R2 one is a fairly small practice. One vet. 6 PCs. They use their server only for Avimark. And they are pretty "cost conscious" about things. Because of that, I'm thinking of just moving to a new box running Windows 10 (or 11) to act as the new Avimark server. Just curious your thoughts on running on Windows desktop instead of a full Windows Server install for such a small office running only Avimark?

Thanks!"

ME: "Hi John, I am happy to help.

It's illegal to use a desktop os for a server.

You can use a desktop pc, but you must use a server os"

JOHN: Hmmm... We may need to agree to disagree on this (as many experts do), but for the sake of argument....

First, even if it was a Terms of Service violation, that would not make it illegal. TOSs are considered civil matters. It is not "illegal" to violate one. So, no, it isn't illegal.

Second, I don't believe that it violates the Windows 10 TOS. And, again, this is very commonly discussed among experts. Windows 10/11 have a 20 device limit for connections. Clearly, MS had multiple PCs accessing it in mind. They even specifically address that Windows Desktop cannot be used as a WEB server because of the 20 connection limit and that each person connecting would be considered another connection. So, since they've made it clear that you can connect up to 20 devices to Desktop -- and said that you can't use IIS as a web server on it -- then that would pretty clearly imply that you CAN use it for server purposes under 20 users. It literally has file sharing built in.

Finally, the official Hardware Requirements for Avimark specifically mention using a Windows 10 PC (running Desktop Windows, not Server) as being acceptable for a smaller office. So are you suggesting that Avimark's own Hardware Requirements recommend an illegal act?

Again, I don't mean that harshly. But this sort of thing is commonly discussion among IT professionals -- and the general consensus is that for situations with under 20 concurrent connections from different devices, the Windows license actually DOES allow this.

Note that software like Quickbooks also runs exactly like this. It is normally installed to a Workstation and shared from there. Very normal in small businesses."

This comes up so often I thought I would do a video on it. It's not a SAM quality video but it was just so bizarre to me.

Youtube Video