Recently working on a Debian server, which was not responding to SSH connection. I have checked and found that the SSH service was down and while restarting it it gives following error

sh-3.1# /etc/init.d/ssh restart
PRNG is not seeded
sh-3.1#

I have searched on Google and found that the problem occurs when /dev/random and /dev/urandom are missing from the server.

sh-3.1# ls -al /dev/random
/bin/ls: /dev/random: No such file or directory
sh-3.1# ls -al /dev/urandom
/bin/ls: /dev/urandom: No such file or directory

As it was a VPS I directly logged into it from the host server but in case of Dedicated/Physical Server you will have to use console. Once you logged into the server execute following commands to create /dev/random and /dev/urandom

sh-3.1# mknod /dev/random c 1 9
sh-3.1# mknod /dev/urandom c 1 9

Sometime while connecting MSSQL 2005 Remotely OR locally using MSSQL Management Studio (using user as SA) it throw following Error

Login failed for user 'sa'. The user is not associated with a trusted SQL Server connection. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 18452)

For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=18452&LinkId=20476

This Error occurs when SQL Server doesn’t support SQL Server Authentication Mode (Mixed Mode for MSSQL 2000). This issue can be fixed using following Steps:

1) Connect the MSSQL server using Windows Authentication of the server.

2) Right Click on the server name in the tree on the left and go to properties.

3) Click the Security Option. Now under Server authentication Select “SQL Server and Windows Authentication Mode” and press OK.

Now try to connect MSSQL using SA user. Please refer Microsoft KB Article 840219 for more information

I have found a very nice Tutorial for installation of phpBB3 for any domain.

phpBB is a free flat-forum bulletin board software solution that can be used to stay in touch with a group of people or can power your entire website.

phpBB3 installation include two parts
A) Database configuration.
B) phpBB3 installation.

A) Database configuration.
Login to control panel like Cpanel, Plesk etc. (or any other mysql client) and perform following actions:

1) Create Database
2) Create Database username
3) Database Password
4) Grant Proper Permissions to the users

Read more

Parallels Virtuozzo Technology which is used to create Virtual Environments or Containers for both Windows and Linux Based Servers. Each Virtual Environments has it’s own CPU, RAM and Disk Space in which OS is installed. Virtuozzo for Windows allows user to use VE Disks of Two types; they are

1) Plain :
This is a default Disk type for VE’s in Virtuozzo. In this type at the time of VE creation all nominal disk size is being allocated or assigned to the VE’s at once. For Example, if you have assigned Disk Space of 100 GB; 100 GB out of available Disk Space will be assigned to the VE. The biggest disadvantage Plain Disk Type is it consumes heavy disk space of Host server even if the VE is not using that much of Disk.

2) Compact:
This Disk Type was introduced with Virtuozzo Update VZU35159 for Virtuozzo 3.5.1 and VZU40006 for Virtuozzo 4.0. Here, disk file of the VE starts small at the time of creation and it becomes larger as soon as user add’s more data. Every newly created VE (without OS) comes with default Disk quota of 17 MBs and goes increasing as more data get added. Compact disks experience slight performance degradation compared to plain disks, but allow to save considerable amount of disk space.

Creating VE with Disk Type.
User can assign Disk Type at the time of VE creation. Following are the commands for the same:

For plain disks:
vzctl create 101 –pkgset w2k3 –disktype plain

For compact disks:
vzctl create 101 –pkgset w2k3 –disktype compact

Setting the VE Disk Type

Disk Type of a VE can be set or changes at any moment during the VE life-cycle by entering following commands from command prompt:

For plain disks:
vzctl set 101 –disktype plain

For compact disks:
vzctl set 101 –disktype compact

Converting Disk Type will include downtime for a VE as it takes sometime for conversion which depends upon total Disk Usage of the VE

Querying Disk Type of the VE

Following is the command to see the Current Disk Type of the VE

After login into a VPS using RDP it stuck on Blue screen (Not BSOD) and doesn’t load next screen or Desktop of the VPS like below given image

OR if you get following Error after login to VE by RDP

“You are connected to the remote computer. However, an error occurred while an initial user program was starting, so you are being logged off. Contact the system administrator for assistance.“

Such problems occurs due to corrupted or missed C:/Windows/explorer.exe of the VPS or VE.

This problem can be fixed by copying C:/Windows/explorer.exe file of the host server to the VPS. Following are the steps to copy

1) Stop the VPS
#       vzctl stop VEID

2) Mount the VPS
#      vzctl mount VEID

Now we will able to access VPS files from host server in C:/vz/private/VEID/ Directory.

3) Copy “C:/Windows/explorer.exe” from Host server to “C:/vz/private/VEID/Windows/explorer.exe“

4) Unmount and start the VPS
#      vzctl umount VEID
#      vzctl start VEID

Please try to login to the VPS now.

Note: Here, VEID will be the VPS ID of the VE which is facing problem.

Google Chromium OS has been a topic of discussion ever since its launch on July 7 2009. It is a Linux based operating system specially designed for web applications. I tried to search on the internet to get more information about it and came across a beautiful article. I want to share the same article with eITWebguru’s valuable readers, please check following URL:

http://blog.teamgrowth.net/index.php/open-source/build-your-private-chromium-os-chromebook

In Windows 2008 Components like IIS, DNS etc. are called as Roles and you can add these Roles from Server Manager >> Roles >> Add Roles and then you have to follow the steps to install the desire components. This process is a bit lengthly as you will have to go through the steps. You can automate and eliminate these steps by using Command Line utility called “ServerManagerCmd.exe”.

ServerManagerCmd.exe is a tool or command which Installs and removes roles, role services and features. Also displays the list of all roles, role services, and features available, and shows which are installed on this computer.

Query ROLES

“-query” parameter is used to see all the available and installed ROLES of components on the server. The installed modules are are shown in Green Color (which can bee seen in below image)

Install ROLES

To add additional roles to the server, “-install” or “-i” parameter is used. You can install a ROLE by using “-i” which will install all the components which are required by the component.

Also you can mentioned all the Components separating them with SPACE which will install all the modules you have listed (it will save time)

You can find more information about the ROLES and “Command value” (Component name) on Microsoft Technet Website

Remove ROLES

Roles which are already installed on the server can be removed with the help of “-remove” parameter. Using this, complete ROLE and it’s dependencies will be un-installed from the server.

Additional Options

-version
This parameter is used to check the ServerManager version

-help or -?
Display Help for ServerManagerCmd.exe in the command window.

NOTE: There are some roles which requires Reboot after installation or removal, in such cases you can add “-restart” at the end of install or remove option. This will reboot the server after completion of task if required.

Proxy server is a computer system or application which is installed on computer system that works as a  acts as an agent or channel for requests from clients looking for resources from other servers. You can check see this post for more information about installation and configuration of Squid Proxy.

Now after installation when you try to check your IP in any site like whatismyip.com it will show that you are using proxy along with the hostname and version of Squid proxy server which is a security concern.

1) Hide Proxy version & server hostname

a) Hide Squid Version

open “/etc/squid/squid.conf” in a editor like vim and search for “httpd_suppress_version_string” and enable it.

Change FROM:

TO:

b) Hide Hostname

Search for “visible_hostname” and change FROM:

TO:

<your desired hostname> will be the name you want to show to world

2) Configure Multiple IP for Squid

Sometime it happens that the Proxy server which you have setup have multiple IP address and you want to configure squid server to use multiple IP addresses (i.e. Systems will show the secondary IP of the server instead of primary). Open squid configuration file; search for “tcp_outgoing_address” and add following

Replace <IP Address> with the IP assigned to your Proxy Server.

Restart Squid Server with command “service squid restart“

Recently we have found that many of Plesk users are complaining about receiving Blank Email to the Plesk Admin address like below

As per Parallels this is the latest bug in Plesk which will be fixed in future releases. They have also provided a work around for the problem; as per them this issue can be temporary fixed by adjusting the permissions of mail handlers hooks. Execute following command from the Shell of your Server.

Scenario

Your Company/Organization/Institute maintains certain data in MSSQL 2000 but now on suggestion of System Analyst or database administrator you want to move the data to MySQL 5.x.

Questions?
1) How to migrate the data?
2) Do we need to recreate the complete database schema?
3) Can we use any third Party Application to convert it and how feasible it will be?
etc.

Solution

Using following steps you can easily move/convert the data from MSSQL to MySql (Only data will be moved).

Downloads Required Tools

1) MySql ODBC connector: MySQL ODBC Connector will help Windows OS to configure MySQL as Database Source Name (DSN). It can be downloaded from http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/odbc/5.1.htm

Install MySql ODBC connector on the Server.

Installation of MySql ODBC connector is pretty easy. You will just have to run setup file and follow the instructions.

Configure MySQL Database Source Name (DSN)

Database Source Name or DSN specifies a data structure that contains the information about a specific data source or database that an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver needs in order to connect to that data source or database. To add new DSN follow the instructions given below

1) Go to “Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Data Source” which will open following windows.

Click on “Add…” to add new DSN

2) Select “MySQL ODBC 5.1 Driver” from the list and press “Finish”

3) Once you press Finish “MySQL Connector/ODBC Data Source Configuration” window will open.

Here, provide the information about DSN, database, password etc. I have used Localhost as TCP/IP Server as I have the MySQL server installed locally and migrating it locally. Once the data is filled you can test the DSN connectivity with database. Then Press Ok to configure the DSN.

4) Now ODBC Data Source Administrator will show the Datasource which you have created.

Export/Migrate Data from MSSQL to MySQL using DSN

1) Go to “MSSQL Enterprise Manager >> Databases >> Right Click the database you want to migrate or export >> All Tasks >> Export Data …“

2) You will get “Data Transformation Services Import/Export Wizard” Window. Press next.

3) Choose Source: You have to select the Data Source from where the data will be migrated. As we are going to migrated data from MSSQL to MySQL select “Microsoft OLE DB Provider for SQL Server” and the name of database which you want to migrate.

4) Select Destination: Select “MySQL ODBC 5.1 Driver” from dropdown list which will show the list of DSN in drop-down under “User/System DSN“. Select the DSN you have created and enter the login details.

Press Next to Continue.

5) On “Specify Table Copy or Query” select “Copy table(s) and view(s) from the source database” and press next.

6) Select Source tables(s) and view(s): Select the tables which you want to migrate. I have pressed “Select All” for complete database migration.

Press “Next“

7) Select “Run immediately“; press Next and on next screen press Finish to start Migration.

Now its time to have a cup of coffee and depending upon size of database it will take 20-30 minutes to complete.