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Russell Smith

Editorial Director

Russell Smith, the Editorial Director at Petri IT Knowledgebase, has over two decades of hands-on experience in IT, in both small business settings and government IT infrastructure projects.

Russell started writing for Windows IT Pro Magazine in the early 2000s. Since then, he has contributed insights to various IT publications, including Petri and CDW. His authoritative voice has resonated across industry blogs, where he dissects complex topics into an ‘easy read’.

Russell has authored over a thousand articles, each a testament to his depth of knowledge. His expertise doesn’t stop there: he wrote a book on Privilege Management and co-authored another for Microsoft’s MOAC series. Moreover, Russell’s commitment to education shines through in the courses he crafted for Pluralsight.

He is also presenter on his own YouTube channel, This Week in IT, and the current presenter of Petri Dish.

LATEST

How Can I Block the Use of Passwords in Group Policy Preferences?

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Learn how to update the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to prevent IT administrators from setting passwords in this new Ask an Admin post.

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Why You Should Embrace Windows 8 Apps

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Windows store apps tend to be more resource-efficient than their traditional counterparts, and Russell Smith serves up even more reasons why you should embrace modern apps.

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Security

Protect Windows Server Using the Security Configuration Wizard Part 2: Applying and Rolling Back Policies and Advanced Features

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Our two-part series on the Windows Server Security Configuration Wizard concludes with a look at how to apply and roll back security policies.

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How to Set the Date and Time in Windows Server Core 2012 R2

Last Update: Jun 04, 2025

In this new Ask an Admin post, learn how to use the command line in Windows Server Core 2012 R2 to set the time and date.

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Using the Windows Server Security Configuration Wizard Part 1: Evaluating Risk and Creating a New Security Policy

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Learn how to create custom security policies for Windows Server using the Security Configuration Wizard and how to evaluate risks associated with new policies.

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How to Open or Close Windows Firewall Ports to Apps on Windows 8.1

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Need to Open or Close Windows Firewall Ports to Apps on Windows 8.1? Learn how to open and close Windows Firewall access to applications manually.

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PowerShell

How to Get the Serial Number of a Remote Computer Using PowerShell

Last Update: Jun 05, 2025

Retrieve the serial number from a local or remote computer using PowerShell and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

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How to Keep Windows 8.1 Secure Using Action Center

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Security issues? Learn how to access and use Windows Action Center in this quick Ask an Admin.

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PowerShell

How Can I Delete a File or Folder from the Command Line Using Windows PowerShell?

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Discover how to use PowerShell to delete files and folders in this Ask an Admin. Find out how to remove all MP3 files, filter, take out .txt files and more.

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How to Find Out Which Users Are Logged on Windows Server

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

In this Ask an Admin, discover which users are logged in locally and access resources on your servers. Download psloggedon and get started!

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Security

How to Enable Windows Firewall in Windows 8.1

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Is your firewall enabled? Discover how to check on the status of your Windows Firewall and enable it in this Ask an Admin.

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Recreate a Virtual Machine in Microsoft Azure

Last Update: Sep 04, 2024

Wondering how to recreate a VM in Azure without losing your OS? Learn to recreate a VM in Azure in this Ask an Admin!

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