What's in your toolbox?

Hi Everyone,

We are building a dedicated Toolbox server and I was just wondering if you can share some ideas what might go onto this box. Things like PuTTY client for example and other handy tools for a savvy SolarWinds administrator

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Please note, I am aware that SolarWinds has an Engineering Toolset product, but I would like to build an independent list of tools and have them running on our own dedicated box, accessible by our monitoring engineers.

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mrxinu

I was just talking to someone about must-have tools the other day. I don't know that this will apply to everyone, but given that there's an awful lot of cool stuff you can do with the SolarWinds API, a proper development environment wouldn't hurt.

So, onward...

Visual Studio Code
- I like this over ISE because it does a lot more for linting (showing you where you made a mistake) and the extensions I use with it make mistakes easier to see
Visual Studio Code Extensions
- Bracket Pair Colorizer 2
  - Same as Bracket Pair Colorizer but with some version-breaking enhancements
- PowerShell (of course)
- markdownlint
- GitLens
- ReWrap
  - Tame lengthy comments with Alt+Q
- SQLTools
  - You don't actually have to run SQL from here, though you could
  - Dumping SQL or SWQL in here and Ctrl+P > Format Document can take a query on a single line and turn it back into a readable query again
Postman
- If you're working with the REST API because you're using a language other than PowerShell it helps to understand what the raw interaction looks like.
SQL Studio
- The Database Manager is fine for most things, but for some things you'll want the actual SQL Studio.
SolarWinds SDK & SWQL Studio
- A must-have for anyone doing dashboard customization
Git
- Version control is good, right?

sturdyerde

Visual Studio Code Extensions that @mrxinu listed, plus:
- Diff (or similar file diff tool)
- REST Client (optional)
- EditorConfig - helps keep your team's editor settings consistent within each project
SysInternals Suite
RSAT (Remote Server Admin Tools)
Windows Terminal
7-Zip
PowerShell Modules:
- PSPKI
- SWISPowerShell
- Your infrastructure vendors's modules
LAPS UI
Windows Administration Center

For the crowd in general, I'll add:

Harden this box!!!! Use MFA if possible. Turn on PowerShell logging. Do not log on as a Domain Admin, but instead delegate privileges where possible, and create a separate management server for Domain Admin tasks. Do not turn off UAC. Do not turn off virus/malware protection. Do not log onto this server with a standard user account (create separate accounts for management tasks). Disable internet access from this server. If possible, work towards using the tiered administration model of secure management. Have fun.

foonly

WireShark

WinSCP

Notepad++

PortQryV2

Some sort of SNMP walk tool. SolarWinds has several, and they vary in capability.

mrxinu

Outstanding advice all around! I added the ones I was missing!

mesverrum

@mrxinu hit most of my build list as well, all of those are indispensable for me. Tacking on for good measure,

mRemoteNG or a similar session client - My tools server also functions as a jump host into a few other segregated networks that I can't hit from my workstation.
SSMS - You can also get by with the vs code plugin for a good chunk of DB work, but there are some things that don't carry over if you get into those features.
Greenshot - For making documentation as I'm working on things