Author: Peter Whyte

  • “.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system” PowerShell Error

    When attempting to run a PowerShell script you may receive the following error: cdk.ps1 cannot be loaded because running scripts is disabled on this system. For more information, see about_Execution_Policies at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170 This post is here to help you resolve this issue. The reason this is happening is…

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  • Creating a Linked Server with a MySQL Database

    This is my 3rd Linked Server demo post, and this time it’s to a MySQL database. Noteworthy weblinks: > My Linked Server Blog Posts > Microsoft Docs – Linked Servers Here is a simple diagram of the setup in this post. The above was setup similar to what’s…

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  • Check & Restart SQL Server Services on Linux

    As of the 2017 Edition of SQL Server we have been able to install SQL Server on Linux. Linux will likely be more of an unfamiliar environment for traditional Microsoft SQL DBAs. This guide will walk you through how to check the status of SQL Server services and…

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  • “Changing the Primary Domain DNS Name of this Computer Failed” – Server 2008 R2

    Within an AWS account I have a Windows Server 2016 Domain Controller, and I’m trying to join a Windows Server 2008 R2 to my Whyte.net Domain. I get this error: Changing the Primary Domain DNS name of this computer to “” failed. The name will remain “whyte.net”.The error…

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  • Testing Connectivity to Remote Server Ports with PowerShell

    All admins need a tool to test connectivity to remote servers on TCP ports. In Windows, this is commonly done using PuTTy or PowerShell. This post is a note on my favourite way of testing remote TCP connections in Windows, which is using PowerShell:> Check a Port is…

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  • Forcing Encryption in SQL Server

    If you’re ever planning to allow external connections to a SQL Server, one of the first things to ensure is that the data is encrypted at rest and in transit. SQL Server has an option where we can force all connections on a SQL Server to be encrypted,…

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  • Include Execution Trace Messages in SQL Server Error Logs

    Execution trace messages in SQL Server Agent error logs can be helpful for diagnosing issues. This guide explains how to enable this option. Logs are always important if you’re supporting systems. The SQL Server Agent is used very often by DBA’s and Software Devs, so writing execution trace…

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  • Backing up a SQL Server Database with Encryption

    Backing up a SQL Server database with encryption is an essential practice when dealing with sensitive data, particularly if backups are stored off-site or include private customer information. SQL Server provides a secure method to back up databases using encryption by specifying an encryption certificate with the BACKUP…

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  • How to Backup a SQL Server Certificate

    Backing up SQL Server certificates is essential if you use them, especially for encrypted database backups that may need restoration on another server. This guide explains how to securely back up a SQL Server certificate and its private key. Backing up a SQL Server Certificate 1. Check Existing…

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  • Running PowerShell Scripts as Scheduled Tasks in Windows

    When you need to schedule tasks in Windows, Task Scheduler is the tool for the job. Running PowerShell (.ps1) scripts as Scheduled Tasks differs from running standard batch (.bat) scripts. I often find myself needing a refresher on the process, so I decided to document it in this…

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