Best Practice Tips for Windows Server 2003 Cluster Service (MSCS)
We have a few windows 2003 clusters. Just found out this weekend that one of the nodes isn’t working. its complaining of bad disk signatures so right now the cluster can only run on the one node. I’d also like to know the best practice for add another drive (LUN) to the cluster. I need a larger disk for our exchange db, I could add another LUN or move the LUN to a larger one and use diskpart to extend it in windows. I just don’t know how well that works in a cluster 
1. Under no circumstance should any other resource be created in the Cluster Group other than the default ones which are Quorum, Cluster IP Address and Cluster Network Name. (ref: KB168948) If MS DTC is installed in the Cluster Group using the cluster’s resources and it’s not going to be used heavily by SQL, then this is the only exception that is supported as long as the MS DTC resource has the “Affect the group” box on the Advanced tab unchecked.
Ask the Core Team : TOP 10 Best Practice Tips for Windows Server 2003 Cluster Service (MSCS)
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Tags: AD, blog, cluster, exchange, IT, microsoft, network, sql, tags, windows, workRelated posts
April 13, 2008 No Comments
Potential Problem with ESX 3.0.x and VirtualCenter 2.5
We are still running ESX 3.0.x and VC 2.0.x. I thought about upgrading vcenter first and then just upgrading the servers has time permits. But if there’s going to be odd issues like this, even if its only when you install some patches. I think I’ll try to put together a much shorter timeline to move to 3.5
Heads up—I’ve been alerted to a potential problem when using ESX Server 3.0.x with VirtualCenter 2.5. Quoting from this VMware KB article:
ESX Server 3.0.x hosts managed by VirtualCenter 2.5 must have their Host Agent (hostd) specially configured to work with VirtualCenter 2.5. This configuration is done automatically during the initial installation of the VirtualCenter Agent (vpxa). If an ESX Server patch is subsequently applied that includes the esx-hostd RPM package, like ESX Server patch 1002435, the patch replaces the existing Host Agent (hostd) configuration file (/etc/vmware/hostd/config.xml) and undoes vpxa’s changes. This reverting of the Host Agent configuration file breaks connectivity with VirtualCenter 2.5.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tags: AD, blog, esx, IE, IM, IT, lan, search, servers, site, storage, tags, vcenter, vmware, workRelated posts
April 5, 2008 No Comments
SharePoint-Screencasts.com
Here’s some really nice screencast of sharepoint 2007. A lot of people have been talking about using sharepoint at work, but I haven’t even seen it since I worked with it on a SBS2000 box.
Free SharePoint Task Oriented (How-To) Video Tutorials
I found this link on http://www.it-etc.com/2007/10/03/video-tutorials-for-share-point-2007/
Popularity: 3% [?]
Tags: AD, free, IE, IT, microsoft, screencasts, sharepoint, tags, workRelated posts
March 28, 2008 No Comments
Run Windows Apps Seamlessly Inside Linux
You can have Windows apps running right on your Linux desktop and sharing the same desktop files. It’s relatively painless, it takes only a little bit longer than a Windows XP install, and it works just like virtualizing Windows on a Mac with Parallels Coherence -except it’s free. Here’s how to do it.
read more | digg story
Popularity: 3% [?]
Tags: AD, Digg, free, IT, linux, mac, windows, work, XPRelated posts
March 15, 2008 No Comments
Active Directory & Exchange Schema Versions
This is some incredibly usefully information. I’m posting this just for my own need.
If you are running into environments and working on aspects of them such as Exchange, OCS, PKI, or other Active Directory integrated applications, you will encounter situations where you may need to update the AD schema. Of course, the first question is, what version am I at today?
Here’s a handy way to find out:
Query for the objectVersion attribute of the CN=Schema,CN=Configuration,DC=yourdomainhere of your Active Directory domain and compare the value to the table below.
I’ve provided links to the schema update information (where available), if you are curious as to what is updated in each.
objectVersion
AD Schema Update13
Windows 2000 Server30
Windows Server 2003 **** The Windows Server 2003 upgrade from 2000 also adds the CN=Windows2003Update,CN=ForestUpdates,CN=Configuration,DC=yourdomainhere and sets its revision attribute to 9. This hasn’t been used again, yet.
Exchange Server saves the current version of its schema updates in an attribute of two locations.
For /forestprep operations, query the rangeUpper attribute of the CN=ms-Exch-Schema-Version-Pt,CN=Schema,CN=Configuration,DC=yourdomainhere object.
For /domainprep operations, query the Microsoft Exchange System Objects object in each domain for its objectVersion value.
The table below provides the number to version translation.
Value
Exchange Version4406
Exchange 2000 Server6936
Exchange Server 200310628
Exchange Server 2007
Active Directory & Exchange Schema Versions
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tags: active directory, AD, exchange, IM, IT, microsoft, tags, tv, updates, upgrade, windows, workRelated posts
March 9, 2008 5 Comments
16,000 Exchange Mailboxes, 1 Server - VMware VROOM!
Even with all that horse power, they didn’t talk about network traffic running all exchange 2007 roles on the same box. I wonder how long one of these boxes takes to vmotion. Also I’d like to know the details on how they setup the luns and if they used vmdk files
We recently finished a large Exchange 2007 capacity test on VMware ESX Server 3.5. How large? Well, larger than anything ever done before on a single server. And we did it from start to finish in about two weeks.
We did this test because we have felt for a while that advances in processor and server technology were about to leave another widely-used and important application unable to fully utilize the hardware that vendors were offering. Microsoft has guidelines on what environment works well with Exchange, and a system with more than eight CPUs and/or 32GB of RAM is beyond the recommended maximums.
16,000 Exchange Mailboxes, 1 Server - VMware VROOM!
Popularity: 5% [?]
Tags: AD, blog, esx, exchange, IM, IT, microsoft, network, tags, vmotion, vmware, workRelated posts
March 5, 2008 1 Comment
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 products comparison download - Windows SharePoint Services - Microsoft Office Online
At work we’ve discussed moving to sharepoint for our intranet and some of our internal applications. Here’s a nice document that help explains all the different versions of sharepoint.
Included in this document is a complete breakdown of the features of Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and a comparison between the different 2007 server editions and SharePoint Portal Server 2003.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tags: AD, help, intranet, IT, microsoft, office, sharepoint, tags, windows, work, XPRelated posts
February 28, 2008 No Comments
20 useful sites for Cisco networking professionals
If you’re studying for Cisco exams and about to tear your hair out, don’t fret; there are many others in the same position, and they are writing up their experiences in their blogs and passing along hints and tips. Even if you’re a CCIE pro, there’s always room for personal improvement and expansion. With that in mind, here are 20 useful sites.
read more | digg story
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tags: AD, blog, cisco, Digg, IE, IM, IT, network, site, work, XPRelated posts
February 23, 2008 1 Comment
Twitter Updates for 2008-01-17
- crazy busy morning, fun emails from china, busy helpdesk, and more. ick. can’t wait for the weekend. #
- Any working the in US supporting computers in China? I’d like to talk to you. #
- I hate cold calls when they act like they know your are have worked with you in the past. #
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Tags: china, email, help, IT, RDP, twitter, twitter tools, updates, word, WordPress, workRelated posts
January 17, 2008 No Comments
Twitter Updates for 2008-01-13
- 42-20 with 9 minutes left. #
- at work, listening to the pats online sport radio #
- 14-14 tight game, pats and jags #
- pats up 21-14 early in the 2nd half #
- The pats are going to win its 31-20 with 2:18 left and the Pats have the ball. #
- slept in and now a quiet morning. I do miss the pitter, patter of little feet in the morning
# - Man, this is a great game, but its too close for me. Go Colts! #
- wow, the colts lost…they couldn’t score from inside the 10 with 2 minutes left #
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Tags: AD, IE, IT, radio, RDP, twitter, twitter tools, updates, word, WordPress, workRelated posts
January 13, 2008 No Comments
