Windows Server 2008 Backup and RD1000

Scenario: I have a Brand New Dell Poweredge Server with SBS2011. The server has a RD1000 SATA Cartridge Unit.

The total disk capacity of server is nearly 1TB (divided in two partititions), but actual data occupies about 222 GB.

The SATA Disk Cartridges are 300GB.

Problems, problems, everywhere (and not any hint to solve):

SBS Backup does not recognize the RD1000 both as a Disk Unit and as a network share (bah...), but I found that if you launch the Windows Server Backup outside from the SBS Console you can reach the RD1000 Network Share.

Wow! But... when I try to Schedule the backup through the wizard it analyzes the destination drive and aborts with message "Not enough space". It seems that the backup will need 400(!)GB.

That does not match with the data size! And I think that even if Bare Metal support needs some extra files that can not be so big.

Solution: Scheduling a batch ignores that destination size check. I'm saving the data on the RD1000 using the following batch:

WBADMIN START BACKUP -backupTarget:\\server\rd1000  -include:c:,d:  -allCritical -vssFull -quiet >> C:\Batch\Backuplog.txt 

I've tried a restore through the console and it seems to be able to restore individual files and exchange and sharepoint applications.

HTH

Firefox and nternet Explorer extremely slow on HP USB docking station

Symptom: You are using a notebook with Windows 7 x64 and a HP USB 2.0 Docking Station. Your IE9 and/or Firefox experience is dramatic.

Cause: The problem is not in the browser software but in the Display Link Driver.

With the USB docking station comes the driver 5.4, which has a very poor performance.

Resolution: Upgrade to latest Display Link Drivers directly from Display Link Inc. (as for 07/09/2011 is ver. 5.6) .

http://www.displaylink.com/support/downloads.php

Error re(installing) certificate services

Symptom: When you try to install certificate services over a Windows 2003 Server you get the following error

An error was detected while configuring Certificate Services. The Certificate Services Setup Wizard will need to be rerun to complete the configuration. Certificate Services Setup failed with the following error: A stop control has been sent to a service that other running services are dependent on. 0x8007041b (WIN32: 1051)

Solution: Windows setup tries to Stop the IIS Admin Service, but it fails. Manually Stop this service prior to the installation.

Note: This happened to me because of Symantec Endpoint Protection Manager.

Outlook 2010 missing features

Cause: You install Outlook 2010 "standalone" in a computer with a previous version of Office installed / you upgrade only the Outlook program of your Office suite.

Symptom: Some features of Outlook 2010 are missing, and the corresponding configuration options and/or buttons are disabled or greyed out.

Workarounds: I found this interesting article over the web suggesting some workarounds.

http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/ol2010/standalone.asp

Many thanks to the authors (but I'd preferred them not to be sarcastic over searching the web before purchasing).

Non è possibile creare una regola di trasporto disclaimet in Exchange Server 2010

Sintomi:

Quando si cerca di aggiungere una regola di trasporto di tipo disclaimer ad Exchange Server 2010 sp1 la MMC va in crash con il seguente errore:

FX:{A5406CA3-6393-48a0-8827-CF06F0C94C55}

in Microsoft.ManagementConsole.Internal.SnapInMessagePumpProxy.OnThreadException(Object sender, ThreadExceptionEventArgs e)

in System.Windows.Forms.Application.ThreadContext.OnThreadException(Exception t)

in System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProcException(Exception e)

in System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

in System.Windows.Forms.UnsafeNativeMethods.CallWindowProc(IntPtr wndProc, IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam)

in System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.DefWndProc(Message& m)

in System.Windows.Forms.ListView.WndProc(Message& m)

in Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemManager.WinForms.DataListView.WndProc(Message& m)

in System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)

in System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

Workaround:

Seguendo le istruzioni nelle seguenti pagine web è possibile creare la regola tramite Exchange Management Shell e poi modificarla tramite MMC.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd876914.aspx

L'unico accorgimento da prendere in aggiunta a tale articolo è che ho messo a false la proprietà abilitato.

New-TransportRule -Name ExternalDisclaimer -Enabled $false -SentToScope 'NotInOrganization' -ApplyHtmlDisclaimerLocation 'Append' -ApplyHtmlDisclaimerText "

Disclaimer Title

This is the disclaimer text.

" -ApplyHtmlDisclaimerFallbackAction Wrap

Ulteriori informazioni utili qui:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124352.aspx

Windows 2003 Server Stop 0x000000ba

When terminal user logs off from terminal server session the server crashes with the following error codes:
0x805000f
0x000000ba(hex codes).

Known bug in 2003 server rdp dlls.
Working hotfix available.

SQLDMO.DLL

A customer application needs to administer a SQL2000 server. If you want to run that administration utility from a pc on wich you don't have SQL Server installed you get an error stating you don't have SQLDMO.DLL registered.

To have it registered you can follow these instrucions:

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B248241&x=17&y=8

Remember you can find the dll in the folloqing folder:

%Program Files%\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn

Perhaps you may want to recreate this path in the local machine.

SBS 2008 Fax Server Disabled

Hi, this one was a rather annoying problem, as it seemed to be a client issue but it was not. I struggled to find clues on the internet, and none helped me. Since i solved it on my own I'd like to share... you can never know.

Symptoms:

• Clients cannot send faxes with Archive media error. You change the archiviation folder in client settings, but nothing happens.
  
• The fax server doesn't send or receive anything. Looking at the properties you find that all activities are disabled (general tab). If you try to remove the disable flags you receive an "Unexpected error".
  
• In the event viewer you find an "Access Denied" error related to the archiviation folder.
  You try to change the archiviation folder on the server, but the Browse button is greyed out. If you run the Fax Management Console with elevated privileges you can browse the folders, but whatever folder you choose you receive an Access Denied error.
  

Solution:

As a matter of fact the Fax service cannot get access ti the archive folder or to the configuration data, so it becomes disabled. I don't know why it worked before but in order to make it work again I had to change the Connection properties of the Fax service from Network Account to Local System Account. After restarting the service i got access to the archive folder and could reactivate services.

hope this helps

Programmatically replace Symantec Endpoint Protection Default Server in Clients Configuration

Hi,

in order to change the SEP Clients server without reinstalling all the clients you can browse for

SYLINKREPLACER.ZIP

Thanks to Symantec Staff...

Error installing .Net 3.5 Sp1

SYMPTOMS: Installation of .Net Framework 3.5 SP1 in 2008 server R2 fails with 8004e00f Com+ error.

To resolve this issue just Start RPC and RPC LOCATOR services.

Error 404.17 opening *.asmx page

Symptoms:

You have an application working with IIS 7 and .Net Framework 1.1.
When you browse a .asmx page you get error 404.17 :

HTTP Error 404.17 - Not FoundThe requested content appears to be script and will not be served by thestatic file handler.

Problem:
The site is not propely configured to handle Asp.Net extensions.

Solution:
In IIS Manager click on the problematic site.
Under "Handler Mappings" find the association for the asmx extesion.
If it is missing you can force inheritance from the father site or server by clicking "Restore Inheritance". Now, if you can see the mapping with the correct .net dll (verify the path to the right framework folder) th page should be correctly opened.
If not, invesigate the parent's Mappings.


(Mago.Net Fails to register with 1090.0 error)

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..)

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 voilà. 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

Microsoft RDP ActiveX Control

Symptom:

• you are accessing a 2008 terminal server remote "web application" page, or the "Remote Web Operators" page in SBS2003 and receive the message to activate the MS RDP ActiveX control.
• You Click on Tools -> Manage Add-Ons -> Enable or Disable Add-Ons in IE to enable the Terminal Services ActiveX control, but you are unable to see/enable the Terminal Services ActiveX control
• you have IE7 on XPSP3o 2003 Server

Cause:
bug in security model which comes with xp sp3 or web security of 2003 Server.
Terminal Services ActiveX control is disabled by default in XPSP3 as a security measure. You need to explicitly enable the Terminal Services ActiveX control in IE in order to use the ActiveX control.

Solution:
try deleting the following registry keys:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{7390f3d8-0439-4c05-91e3-cf5cb290c3d0} HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\{4eb89ff4-7f78-4a0f-8b8d-2bf02e94e4b2)

ActiveX control should now be enabled.

Vista ping "general error"

If your Windows Vista get isolated from network and any ping command (even loopback) boinks an ungraceful "general error", think about this: have you tried to uninstall Norton Internet Security or tampered with any Symantec program while NIS was installed?

Then try to find and run "norton removal tool", a cute program from Symantec that uninstalls programs by programmatically deleting files, folders and registty keys from Symantec (hope this could be on distribution cd as a tool, or even substitute their terrible uninstaller...).

ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe

NOTE: If you still need symantec's program, you will have to reinstall it.

Extending RAID on DELL PowerEdge 2600

Hey,
In these days I'm working on old stuff...

This post is just to le you all know that the operation in the subject is possible.

Server Model: Dell Power Edge 2600
RAID Controller: Perc 4/DI (firmware v. 251X)

Added a new Dell 72 GB HDD and expanded existing array (yes, I've lost half the sotrage capacity of the new disk: noblesse oblige...)

Only a couple of warnings:

a) The rebuilding and resync operations took several hours (about 8) with nearly no resources left for user activities (even if rebuild rate was at 20% of resources)

b) It is not possible to change rebuild rate once the operation is in progress, so remember to set it before adding the new disk to the array.

Now running smooth and in plenty of space!

Windows XP blank screen during setup in "inspection of hardware" phase.

There are several possible causes. In my case the partition table of the primary HD was corrupted.
I chose to create a new one using GpartEd (and doing so lose all the content of existent partitions on the disk).

SBS 2000 Shared Fax Printer

After deleting the Shared Fax printer in SBS 2000, you are unable to reinstall it.

This can be done only by reinstalling the Shared Fax Service through the "add/remove program" in control panel, and choosing the "Small Business Server 2000" and "Change/remove" button.

Easy, or not?

The procedure of reinstallation of the shared fax component shows a generic error and does not complete.

Here is a workaround:

WARNING: some reboots can be expected or necessary (one of these came unexpectedly as automatic reboot after executing the insmsiw.exe package).


This is due to the incorrect version of the Microsoft installer present on the server.

This can be checked by examining the date of the c:\winnt\system32\msi.dll

If it's dated 2007 you have installed (or received through windows update) Windows Installer 3.1.
Uninstall it from control panel (you can install it back later).

After that you should check again te date of msi.dll

If it's dated 2003 then this is the version included in Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.

You have to restore the version included on CD 2 of SBS2000 (dated 1999(!)) as an executable installer named instmsiw.exe located under the folder of the Shared Fax Installation.

Unfortunately (?) Windows 2000 has a System file protection mechanism, so you can't symply launch the instmsiw.exe to obtain the downgrade. Whenever you rename and install a different version of any system dll, it is replaced with an archived copy of the current/correct version.

To achieve the downgrade follow these steps.

Launch instmsiw.exe /? to obtain the switches necessary to extract the files to a temp folder on your hd, and do it...
There you will find the following dlls:
msi.dll
msihnd.dll
msiexec.exe
dated 1999.

Now open a command prompt reach the folder c:\winnt\system32\dllcache
and rename the .dll and .exe files named as above with .new extension (or wathever you like).

through windows explorer locate the folder c:\winnt\system32\servicepackfiles and rename it temporarily as you like.

Open a command prompt, reach the system32 folder and rename the current .dll and .exe dated 2007 or 2003 with .new extension (or wathever you like).

now copy the three above mentioned files dated 1999 from the temporary folder to the system32 folder.
the system may warn you about the alteration of a system file with an older version: this is a good thing, just tell him to ignore it.

Reboot.

You can now launch the change/remove procedure of sbs2000 in control panel\add/remove programs applet and succesfully reinstall you shared fax service along the mithic "Shared Fax" printer.

After that you can rename back the servicepackfiles folder and reinstall the windows installer 3.1

What a mess, for a fax printer!