sktools (SkatterTools)

SkatterTools PowerShell Module

The sktools project is not under active development.

The repository remains available for reference and pull requests will be considered, but no active work is being done on this project.

Overview

SkatterTools is a PowerShell module which provides an extension to PoSHServer to view and manage Active Directory and System Center Configuration Manager sites from your web browser.

Install and Setup

1. Open a PowerShell console using "Run as Administrator"
2. Install module: Install-Module sktools
3. Run Install-SkatterTools function
4. Edit the "skconfig.txt" file under your Documents folder
5. In the PowerShell console, type Start-SkatterTools (minimize console)
6. Open your web browser, go to http://localhost:8080

Updating the Module

• To update the module, open a PowerShell console using "Run as Administrator"
• Type Update-Module sktools -Force
• If a session was already running, terminate and restart it (e.g. Start-SkatterTools)

Default Port Setting

By default, SkatterTools runs on TCP port 8080. If you prefer another port, use the -Port parameter when launching the service. For example, Start-SkatterTools -Port 8181

skconfig.txt options

If you will be using SkatterTools with a Configuration Manager site environment, you will need to configure the settings in the skconfig.txt file, which is created in your Documents folder after using the Install-SkatterTools function.

If you modify the skconfig.txt file while SkatterTools is running, you will need to terminate the PowerShell console which is running the PoSHServer service, and restart it. If you also have the SkatterTools web console open, you can either refresh or close and re-open the browser.

The example below is the default file configuration after using Install-SkatterTools In most cases, you will want to change the SkCmDbHost, SkCmSMSProvider and SkCmSiteCode values.

_Comment = SkatterTools configuration file. Lines with underscore prefix are comments.
_LastUpdated = 02/1/2019 10:56:54
_ModuleVersion = 1902.1.0
_UpdatedBy = sccmadmin
_LocalHost = W10-CM-001
_UserDomain = CONTOSO
SkAPPNAME = SkatterTools
SkTheme = stdark.css
SkADEnabled = TRUE
SkADGroupManage = TRUE
SkCMEnabled = TRUE
SkCmDBHost = cm01.contoso.local
SkCmSMSProvider = cm01.contoso.local
SkCmSiteCode = P01
SkCmCollectionManage = TRUE
SkDebug = TRUE
SkTabSelectAdUsers = All
SkTabSelectAdGroups = All
SkTabSelectAdComputers = All
SkTabSelectCmFiles = A
SkTabSelectCmUsers = All
SkTabSelectCmDevices = All
SkTabSelectCmDevColls = All
SkTabSelectCmUserColls = All
SkCmCollectionCheck = TRUE
SkUseDashboard = TRUE
SkToolsPath = C:\Users\sccmadmin\Documents

Testing Information

sktools was developed with PowerShell 5.1 (aka Windows PowerShell 5.1). It was also tested with the following operating systems and products:

• Windows 10 Enterprise x64 1803, 1809, Insider 18323
• Windows Server 2016 Enterprise, Datacenter Edition
• System Center Configuration Manager 1810, 1812, 1901
• SQL Server 2016, 2017
• Internet Explorer 11
• Microsoft Edge
• Google Chrome 72
• Firefox 64
• Brave 0.58

Known Issues and Limitations

• sktools interfaces to Configuration Manager use Windows Authentication, and will therefore allow the same level of access to ConfigMgr features as the same user would have when using the Configuration Manager administration console. The same is true with regards to permissions to the Active Directory forest and domain environment.
• Integrated authentication often behaves differently by web browser. For example, in some browsers you may still be prompted to enter credentials when connecting to Configuration Manager or to Active Directory.
• Antivirus and Antimalware products/services may interfere with SkatterTools.
• Firewall settings may interfere with remote connections to Active Directory, Configuration Manager SQL Server, the SMS Provider, and to other Windows machines across the network.

Warranties and Terms of Use

Terms of use are described in the license document included with the module. There are NO warranties of any kind whatsoever for this product/service/project. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Never operate in a production environment without thorough testing and validation.

Technical Support

There is no official support provided with this product/project, however, feedback is ALWAYS welcome. Please submit comments, suggestions, and bug reports, using the "Issues" feature for the sktools GitHub repository at https://github.com/Skatterbrainz/sktools/issues. Enhancement requests will be reviewed to determine feasibility and responded to accordingly. If your enhancement request is approved and implemented, your name will be associated with it in the application.