COMPUTER SERVERS

Dell PowerEdge 1850 with Vmware ESXI 4.1 - 2gigs

2011-10-09T17:07:00.000+13:00

Procurve Network Switch 2910 (Layer 2 Switch)

2011-10-05T19:01:00.000+13:00

2011-09-18T12:52:00.000+12:00

When attempting to run a GRT backup of the Information Store to tape for Exchange 2007 running on a Windows 2008 server the job fails with the above error.

The same job when targeted to backup to disk completes successfully but when trying to run a GRT restore from the successful backup set the job fails with the following error:

Unable to attach to a resource. Make sure that all selected resources exist and are online, and then try again

To resolve the issue, perform one of the following procedures on the Client Access server. The procedure to implement the workaround depends on whether the Exchange topology is running the Client Access server role and Mailbox server role on the same Exchange server or on different Exchange servers.

For a single-server topology where the Client Access server role is running on the same Exchange server as the Mailbox server role.

1. Open the hosts file located at %SystemRoot%\system32\drivers\etc\ by using an editor such as Notepad.

%SystemRoot% refers to the drive where the Windows system files are located.

2. Comment out the line that references the IPv6 address.

# :::1 localhost

3. Add the following lines into the file:

127.0.0.1 hostname of the computer

127.0.0.1 FQDN of the computer

actual IPv4 address hostname of the computer

actual IPv4 address FQDN of the computer

3. Save the changes made to the file and restart the Backup Exec services on the Exchange server.

4. Run an Information Store backup/restore and verify the results.

NOTE: If backup fails even after following above steps,disable IPv6 completely if there is no other application using it.

For a multiple-server topology where the Client Access server role is not running on the same Exchange server as the Mailbox server role

The following changes need to be made on the Client Access server in the multiple server topology:

1. Under Network Connections, select the network adapter, and then click Properties.

2. In the properties window, uncheck the check box for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6).

Note:

Clearing this check box causes the RPCProxy component on the Client Access server to use TCP/IPv4 to talk to the DSProxy component on the Mailbox server.

3. Click on the Start menu, and then click Run. Type regedit in the Open box.

4. Using Registry Editor, locate the following registry key:

HKEY_Local_Machine\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip6\Parameters

Warning: Incorrect use of the Windows registry editor may prevent the operating system from functioning properly. Great care should be taken when making changes to a Windows registry. Registry modifications should only be carried-out by persons experienced in the use of the registry editor application. It is recommended that a complete backup of the registry and workstation be made prior to making any registry changes.

5. Right-click the Parameters key, click New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value. For the key, add the following values:

Name: DisabledComponents

Data: 0xffffffff

6. Restart the Client Access server.

7. Run an Information Store backup/restore and verify the results.

The above error message may continue to occur even after having made the changes mentioned above if :

A.) Exchange 2007 is installed on a Windows 2008 machine

AND

B) In the resource order for the backup selection list Information Store is not the first resource to be backed up

AND

C) Backup job is targeted to tape device

Resolution:

To resolve the issue edit the backup selection list such that the Microsoft Information Store is the first resource to be backed up followed by the other local resources on the server.

Network Switches vs Routers

2011-06-07T23:02:00.001+12:00

Switches are used to segment Collision domains
- A collision domain is physical segment where data packets collide with one another, when being shared on the medium.

Routers are used to segment Broadcast domains
- A Broadcast domain is a physical segment of a Network which is divided by devices, and data packets can be transmitted over the network, from one LAN segment to another.

What is a STP Spanning Tree Protocol?

2011-06-07T00:07:00.002+12:00

What is a STP?
A Spanning Tree Protocol is a Layer 2 Protocol, which is enabled on a switch device and allows data packet to be transmitted via different paths, without looping back when a device fails.

No traffic pings or data packets can be sent from one vlan to another, without the intervention of a Router,

TCP vs UDP

2011-06-06T00:40:00.006+12:00

TCP- Transmission control protocol
Provide guaranteed delivery data packets
Error Detection
Windowing
Connection Oriented

Common TCP Ports
FTP 20,21
SSH (Secure shell) 22
Telnet 23
SMTP 25
HTTP 80
POP3 110
SSL 443

UDP- User datagram protocol
Best Effort, not guaranteed of data packets
No Error Correction
No Windowing
Connectionless

Common UDP Ports
DHCP 67, 68
TFTP (Trivial File Transfer protocol) 69
SNMP 161

USED BY BOTH PROTOCOLS
DNS 53
Port 24 is reserved for both TCP or UDP for private mail system.SNMP 161

Vmware VSP & VTSP Certified

2011-06-05T22:30:00.016+12:00

I am now a VSP Vmware Sales Professional & VTSP Vmware Technical Sales Professional, after completing all the modules for both the accredited certificate, it has taken me under 13 hours to complete both strands, I have found the VSP a bit boring to my knowledge as it was just all sales stuff, which was not relevant for me, but to understand the sales side of things as a consultant was very intense.

I recommend the VTSP (Vmware Technical Sales Professional) cause that's the next stepping towards earning the VCP, it covers a lot of the basic requirements for the VCP Vmware Certified Professional exam, it also includes some questions from the VCP exam in the module tests, I am happy to get this out of the way, and now looking forward to sitting my CCENT (CCNA).

VMware ESX4 Host Servers

2010-12-30T20:21:00.007+13:00

2010-12-12T22:17:00.007+13:00

What is Blade Server?

A blade server is a stripped down server computer with a modular design optimized to minimize the use of physical space and energy. Whereas a standard rack-mount server can function with (at least) a power cord and network cable, blade servers have many components removed to save space, minimize power consumption and other considerations, while still having all the functional components to be considered a computer.

Mailbox does not show up in Exchange System Manager why?

2010-12-07T19:52:00.006+13:00

Generally, when you create a mailbox for a user. The user's

e-mail address will be updated in the GAL.

During the regular update interval. But in order for you to be able to 
view the mail box. The user has to access the Exchange 
server (either through MS outlook or OWA). Then you will be 
able to view the user's mail box.

The user can also login for the mailbox to appear in the ESM.

What is a DAE? Disk Array Enclosure?

2010-12-02T21:57:00.005+13:00

DAE - Stands for Disk Array Enclosure it is a collection of harddrives placed one above the other, it provides scalability to a new and existing SAN or storage area network.

How to add a (A) host Record into your DNS Server

2010-11-24T20:52:00.005+13:00

- Login into your Domain controller.

- Go to DNS under Administrative Tools.

- On the DNS Console tree click on the Forward look-up zone and
right click New Zone.

- In the Name text box, type the DNS computer name for the new host.

- Click Add host, to add the new host record to the zone.

- Now go to the command prompt and enter ipconfig /flushdns to flush the
dns resolver cache
on the client, then enter ipconfig /registerdns to register the new dns client.

Citrix Screen Flickers

2010-11-21T22:11:00.008+13:00

It may still affect users connecting remotely from Aventail VPN, but this seems to be partially related to the image compression settings. (which I don’t want to turn off as it improves the speed over a WAN connection)

Solution:

this requires a re-login, as it was happening for me

Error Logging into Vsphere Client 4

2010-11-17T21:41:00.004+13:00

Error Message:

"The Required client file cannot be retrieved from the server x.x.x.x this login process will now exit"

"Details the server could not interpret the client's request."

Solution:

Uninstall and reinstall Vsphere Client this usually fixes the problem.

Routing Protocols

2010-11-04T22:44:00.004+13:00

Static Routing

It is a very useful method of configuring IP routing, Static routing is the path that a packet will take in which it is hard coded on to the router.

Somehow these routes may be entered by someone, they work great for small networks but to difficult for large networks.

Dynamic Routing

is the opposite and these routes are automatically assigned by other routers, Routers communicate and send routes to other neighboring routers, which depends on the routing protocol, Compared to Static routes, dynamic routes are more useful on larger networks.

There are 2 Dynamic Routing protocols that windows 2003 support

- RIP (VERSION 2)

- OSPF

What is Exinda? and what does it do?

2010-10-31T13:19:00.003+13:00

Here is a short video on exinda, as this device reduces WAN traffic and speeds up applications process over a WAN link, similar to speeds of a LAN in the office, but can only be used in a WAN network.

How to Restore a File - Backup Exec 11D

2010-10-14T20:56:00.006+13:00

1) Go to Device & select stand alone drives

2) Select Inventory, and then scan tapes to see what is in it

3) Find the correct Media (You may need to view by media)

4) Expand so you can get a fair idea of the date of the backup is that is in the drive.

5) Select the folder you want to restore.

6) IMPORTANT – Select file redirection; this is where the file is going to be restored to, usually the C:\ or another drive of your choice

7) Tick the box where it says “redirect file sets”

8) Again browse to drive and select the drive of your choice to restore to

9) Then click run and OK – Let it run for approx 10-30min depending on how big the restore is.

Citrix OLK Folder defaults when opened and saved

2010-10-13T22:37:00.002+13:00

Problem:

When a user opens up an attachment in Outlook then tries to save it automatically, it saves to the default path in the OLK folder.

Resolution:

Start run then type Regedit

Go to HKEY_Current_Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security and where it says OutlookSecuretempfolder on the right hand pane, change the data to redirect to the folder the user would want to save it to, save it, log off, and then log back on again, tt should now be directed to the path you had set.

Routers vs Switches

2009-04-20T22:43:00.005+12:00

Routers:

Operate on a Network layers (layer 3 on a OSI Model).

Connects LANS together
Can be software or hardware device
Windows RAS acts as a router, once it is configured

Switches:
While a switch operates on a data-link layer (layer 2 on a OSI Model).

acts a hub but faster
faster than routers
used as a switching hub
reads data link layer in each address and forwards them to the appropriate ports.

Power-edge Dell M710 server specs

2009-04-16T20:56:00.010+12:00

Processors
Intel Xeon 5500 series Dual and Quad Core 60W, 80W, and 95W TDP options
Intel 5520 Chip-set

Memory
18 DIMM slots
1GB/2GB/4GB/8GB ECC DDR3

Support up to 144GB using 18 x 8GB DIMMs
Embedded Hypervisor via SD card (optional)
Microsoft Hyper-V via Microsoft Windows Server 2008
VMware Infrastructure 3, standard or enterprise; with VMware ESXi 3.5
Citrix XenServer Dell Express & Enterprise Editions

Operating Systems Factory Installed O/S:
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Standard and Enterprise Edition x32
Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Standard and Enterprise Edition x64,
including Hyper-V
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64 Datacenter, including Hyper-V
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 x64, Web Edition x32 and x64
Red Hat Linux Enterprise v5, x32 and 64
Red Hat Linux Enterprise v4.5, AS, ES
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10, x86-64
RHLE 5AP

Supported O/S:
Microsoft Windows Server 2003
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9
Solaris
VMware Infrastructure 3, Standard or Enterprise
VMware 3.0
VMware 3.5

What is a MTU?

2009-04-13T12:15:00.004+12:00

MTU stands for Maximum Transmission unit - it is the largest packet that can be send over a network, if the packets are than an MTU then it must be fragmented into smaller bits to be sent through.

below are some defaults MTU settings of a Network.

Network	Default MTU
PPP	296
X.25	576
IEEE 802.3	1,492
Ethernet	1,500
FDDI	4,352
4Mb Token Ring	4,464
16Mb Token Ring	17,914
Hyperchannel	65,535

Layer 2 vs Layer 3 Switches?

2009-04-13T00:34:00.003+12:00

What is a layer 2 Switch - it is essentially a multiport switch that operates using MAC addresses through it's caching table to quickly pass information from one port to port.

A layer 3 switch is hybrid, meaning that it can act as router and a switch, it utilizes IP addresses to do the same as that of a layer 3 switch but through it's caching table.

Repair Connectivity Features

2009-03-30T21:48:00.005+13:00

Using the repair button to perform a multitude of configuration resets
clicking on the repair button initiates many actions as if they were each typed on the command line. The commands are performed in order listed below

Repair Actions:

ipconfig /renew - attempt to renew dhcp
Arp -d* - Flushes the Address Resolution Protocol(arp)cache
Nbtstat -R - reloads the netbios cache
Nbtstat -RR - Sends the netbios names to windows internet name service for an update
ipconfig /flushdns - flushes the dns cache
ipcondif /register - Registers the name with the DNS server

How to Migrate a Mailbox from Exchange 2003 to 2007

2009-03-25T12:42:00.004+13:00

1. Login into the server that is going to be Migrated to

2. Click on start program, double click exchange management console

3. Advised user to go out off Outlook, before you migrate there mailbox

4. Click on – configuration Recipient node then mailbox -select user

5. Right click on the users mailbox and then click move mailbox

6. Select the server you want to migrate it to

7. then click twice if you want to ignore the other stuff, best to have a read

8. depending on the size of the mailbox, it may take up to 5-10min

9. Get user to open up there mailbox and check the server name if it was successfully.

Use for the Network Monitoring tool?

2009-03-19T08:09:00.002+13:00

1) Rogue Server Detection

2) Dos Attack Detection
3) Port Usage Planning
4) Performance and Troubleshooting

Note that the size of the Capture buffer is 1MB, change this by going into the capture menu buffer settings

A subnet mask of 0.0.0.0 is a duplicate ip address of another

To Install the Netdiag utility, you need your win2k3 Installation CD.

\\Supporttools\suptools.msi