Version Infinity ∞

Windows Server 2008: Server Manager Broken

2008-11-25T12:40:00.001-08:00

You have opened Server Manger only to find that when you click on the 'Roles' or 'Features' option you see 'Error' or 'Collecting Data' with a message at the bottom of the window stating that the 'Latest Refresh: Failed."

After clicking around for a bit and cursing, you find out that the [Error details] say, "Could not discover the state of the system. An unexpected exception was found:
System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80070543): Cannot open an anonymous level security token. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x80070543)."

Great, you can now search the web and try to solve the problem. Unfortunately, you keep hitting a dead end.

Here is what worked for my machine, and what could have caused the problem.

Problem:

The server-wide COM security settings have been changed to have a "Default Authentication Level" of 'None.'

Solution:

1. Using elevated permissions, run Dcomcnfg.exe

2. In the "Component Services" window, navigate to ComponentServices->Computers->My Computer.

3. Right-click on "My Computer" and select [Properties] from the context menu.

4. In the "My Computer Properties" dialog, select the [Default Properties] tab.

5. Change the "Default Authentication Level" drop to 'Connect'; if it is set to None.

7. Change the "Default Impersonation Level" to Identify; if it is set to something else.

8. Press the OK button in the "My Computer Properties" dialog.

Now, Close Server Explorer and then reopen it and see if your server's Roles and Features will enumerate. [Note: That it may take a while for the data collection to finish.]

Causes:

Some applications like Avaya or Daemon Tools can change the COM security settings for the machine. It would be a good idea to test these and other applications after following the steps above.

Best of luck.

PS I find it great that the bottom of the 'Roles' section says ['Enable' and 'Error details'] while the bottom of the 'Features' section says ['Error details' then 'Enable'].

ServiceU - A Microsoft Case Study

2008-02-15T10:50:00.000-08:00

ServiceU continues to make the most of Microsoft technologies as outlined in our latest case study. The primary focus of this study is our utilization of the newest features in SQL Server 2008. This study also includes bits concerning architecture and other products such as Windows Server 2008, IIS7, and Visual Studio 2008 to name a few.

Check it out: http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000001258
(I also recommend downloading the Microsoft Word version.)

Countdown to Launch:
The joint launch for SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008 starts in Los Angeles, CA on February 27th (http://www.microsoft.com/heroeshappenhere/register/default.mspx).

ServiceU will be there and represented by our CTO/CSO David Smith.

ServiceU Revisited:
Other ServiceU case studies and articles.

Microsoft
http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=49683

Dell
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/casestudies/FY2008_Q2_id539
http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/casestudies/2007_ServiceU_v7.pdf

COMPUTERWORLD
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyId=9&articleId=9037060&intsrc=hm_topic

TechRepublic
http://whitepapers.techrepublic.com.com/casestudy.aspx?docid=276374

ZDNet (Same study on TechRepulic)
http://whitepapers.zdnet.com/casestudy.aspx?docid=276374

Other (blogs, posts, and so on)
http://brettlive.com/2006/08/03/serviceu-part-of-microsoft-case-study/
http://www.nacba.net/Article/serviceU_Profiled.htm

The MNUG Memphis Day of .Net

2007-11-21T01:13:00.000-08:00

Colin Neller and the Memphis .Net User Group board members did a stellar job planning the “Memphis Day of .Net” that occurred Nov. 10. As if having Charles Petzold give the key-note wasn’t enough, I know that I gained more from this local event, in a practical development sense, than my week at VSLive! Las Vegas.

Both conferences were a positive experience and provided different benefits.

VSLive! provided a forum for meeting well known names in the Microsoft development community along with technology previews from Microsoft.

The “Memphis Day of .Net” hosted a spectrum of speakers that ranged from locally known names to an internationally known icon, and provided a forum for conversing with developers and architects that actual implement the presented technologies and methodologies in their existing applications.

This opportunity to converse with developers and architects that have implemented the “newer” technologies and methodologies in their existing applications reaches out to a broader range of developers than a marketing-based demo or a hypothetical application built from scratch that leverages the latest and greatest technologies. Each of the aforementioned types of presentations (marketing, ground-up demo apps, and existing app integration) are vital to properly educating the development community about a technology or methodology, and the “Memphis Day of .Net” did its part in rounding out the educational experience.

If nothing else, I really enjoyed the conversations Colin and I had with Mr. Petzold, and our dinner at The Flying Fish with Tim Rayburn and his wife Kate.

My camera decided that it was done with this world, but thanks to Brian Sullivan I was able to get a picture with Charles Petzold. Brain, U Da Man!

76% Optimus Prime

2007-08-20T01:16:00.000-07:00

Keith Elder recently posted What Transformer Would You Be with his results after taking a Transformers personality quiz. Being a long time Transformers fan, I was curious (for entertainment purposes only ;) ).

My Results...

I AM 76% OPTIMUS PRIME Take the Transformers Quiz
Optimus Prime is the heroic leader of the Autobots. He is the personification of courage, strength, and integrity. His personal motto is that “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.”
Like Optimus Prime, you are good by nature. But beware because mischievous thoughts sometimes tempt you. You are inspiring, confident, and a natural leader. The Autobots have chosen well. In addition, you use technology when you need to, but you do not embrace the latest trends.

Of course I don't see this as a scientifically based personality battery, but my results were oddly accurate and a bit humorous...

The last sentence "you use technology when you need to, but you do not embrace the latest trends" has a biting truth to it...

Ok, I am a software developer that hasn't fully utilized the newest methods of information sharing: IM, Blogs, Wiki's, and PDA's. I have to admit that I probably wouldn't be blogging if Colin Neller hadn't exported his list of feed subscriptions for me. Free time is something I have little of, so receiving Colin's personal kick start course in surfing blogs with Google Reader was extremely helpful.

To be honest, I do take some pride in not trying to "Keep up with the Jones's" and the latest and greatest gadgets. Don't get me wrong, I love technology and I learn about the newest trends as much as I can. Though, I don't feel a compelling need have gadgets just to have them. Nor do I feel the need to implement all the greatest technologies and techniques in the software I design just to say I did. I love concepts such as aspect oreinted programming, enteprise application integration desging patterns, and application architecure desgin patterns, and I use them as much as possible, but I don't force them into my projects.

So I admit, I am a little proud to be 76% Optimus Prime. Though, I do wonder what happened to my other 26% ?

Why the name ...

2007-04-24T23:05:00.000-07:00

... Version ∞?

I chose this name because of my futile but ever hopeful attempts to keep up with the rapid explosion of technology and information. I can't keep straight what my family is up to, so how am I suppose to keep track of Google's latest billion dollar purchase?

How do you have a family and also Blog... MySpace... YouTube... News Group... Google Everything... and so on? Sometimes I feel lucky when I actually get the chance to check a couple of the 2000+ e-mails in my personal inbox.

The technology space is just as cloudy as the information space:
- ∞ AJAX and JavaScript frameworks
- ∞ ESB implementations
- ∞ BMP suites
- ∞ Portals and presentation frameworks
- ∞ Factories and technologies coming from Microsoft Research
.
.
.
- ∞

No more renaissance man!?!