Testing Project Honolulu Technical Preview 1803

Management of Windows and Windows Server is definitely about to change, proof of it is continuous improvements of Project Honolulu, which is called to unify management hub.

With Honolulu, you will be able to monitor and troubleshoot both Windows 10 PC and Windows Server Systems.

As a unique web-based console, you can get rid of MMC and Server Manager consoles and manage Windows System almost everywhere.

This what’s new in this 1803 episode, that I was able to test

Note: Don’t try to install this software as gateway in a Domain Controller, as this is currently unsupported. Warning on installing on a Domain Controller

Windows Updates

The foundation of Honolulu is also updatable via Windows Update, as you can see in example, so you can easily patch systems without even log into them Windows Updates

Failover and Hyper-Converged Cluster Manager

Now it’s possible to manage both of them; including some new features Failover and Hyper-Converged Cluster Manager1

Computer Management

One of the highest demanded features for this version; the ability to manage Windows 10 PCs like traditional Computer Management console.

Access Control

With no doubt, one of the major new functionality: Azure Active Directory (AAD) based access control has been added. Using AAD identities, you can configure conditional access policies that require Multi-Factor authentication, device compliance, etc.

Logging

Logging schema was updated to include more details. Events are logged on the target node in event channel Microsoft-ServerManagementExperience with event ID 4000. Here’s an example of a failed attempt to access a Windows System Logging