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30.11.09

Schedule expressmaint backup in 2008 Server

In order to succesfully schedule an sql backup batch witch expressmaint utility you must ensure that the following conditions are true.

- Choose an administrative account to run the batch
- make sure it has full control file system permissions on the folders containing the batch file and the destination folder
- choose a destination folder with no spaces, and avoid using " in the batch file.
- since expressmaint uses the launching user credentials to connect to the sql server, make sure that the windows user credentials under which you run the batch have full permissions on the sql dbs (use sql management studio to add/configure the windows account under the security section).
- Unless you specify the "Start in..." option when you select the script to run you must specify the full path to executable file in the batch file (e.g. c:\batch\expressmaint -S ecc..)

19.11.09

HP Proliant ML150 G6 Embedded RAID and 2008 x64

Symptom: When you enable RAID mode in embedded Sata controller on a Proliant ML150 G6 server you cannot install 2008 server x64 because of an "unsigned drivers" error.
Downloading latest x64 drivers from HP support & software site does not help.

Workaround that work(around)ed for me:

1) Install windows server 2003 (32 or 64 bit) from any media you have, and don't activate it (it is just a jumping platform).

2) Insert your 2008 server setup dvd and launch the setup from 2003 server console.

3) I needed to install MAPS Program Software, so upgrade choice was greyed out.

4) During setup you can see the raid logical drive, thanks to 2003 drivers loaded.

5) Anyway I loaded additional latest x64 drivers from hp, getting the annoying warning about unsigned drivers.

6) After setup completed I rebooted and got a stop stating that a fundamental system driver was missing or corrupt.

The path to the file was:

C:\SWINDOWS.~BT\Windows\system32\drivers\hpahcisr.sys

Rebooting using F8 options to ignore unsigned drivers warning leads to the same stop.

7) I Rebooted into 2003 server and got to the path specified.
The version was 8(something) for both 32 and 64 bit.

8) I Downloaded from HP Support site the latest drivers for embedded SAS RAID memory controller for the OS 2003 Server 32bit (english version):
Version: 6.6.0.32 Build 8 (x86)
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=it&cc=it&prodNameId=3884324&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3884323&swEnvOID=1005&taskId=135&swLang=13#113100

9)Copied it over x64 hpahcisr.sys in setup directory listed above.

10) Rebooted, et voilĂ . Setup continues and leads to a bootable 2008 x64 OS.

Open questions:
a) I don't know if loading directly those 32bit drivers in step 5 will avoid the manual copy in 2003 environment.

b) why hp has not resolved the issue, which in their support site forums dates back from the initial release of this ML150 G6 server?

Well enough, the goal is reached, and I can start using that proliant mate.

Bye,

Raf

2.11.09

Offline Folders Problem in windows XP

How to: re-initialize the offline files cache and database.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/230738/en-us

Raf