CERTIFICATION: VMware Certified Professional on VI3 (VCP)

Today I passed the VCP-310 exam and got the VMware Certified Professional (VCP) certification.

I readed the entire documentation (around 1800 pages) twice and a lot of experience (deployment for several companies in Spain including Dell Professional Services, Parmalat, etc) make this test easy.

Exam Statistics:

10 Citrix Exams
04 Citrix Certifications
23 Microsoft Exams
13 Microsoft Certifications
02 VMware Certifications
12 VMware Exams

More Info: http://www.musumeci.com.ar/Web_English/certificaciones_eng.htm

MS: Windows Update Error 80245003 in Windows Vista

To fix this problem:

1) Stop the "Windows update" service
2) Rename the directory "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution" to "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution.old".
3) Start the "Windows update" service
4) Try "Windows update" again.

Script: Create Directory With Current Date

@echo off
set y=%date:~-4%
set m=%date:~3,2%
set d=%date:~0,2%
set a=%y%%m%%d%
mkdir C:\\%a%

MS: Deploy unattended applications

http://www.appdeploy.com/

MS: Windows Home Server Blog

Check the official blog here http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/

1ST BLOG ANNIVERSARY

One year ago, I started this blog to keep my technical notes in one site.

Happy anniversary blog!

MS: Exchange 2007 Stress and Load Simulator

Download these tools:

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Load Generator (64bit version)
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Stress and Performance Tool (64bit version)

MS: Exchange 2007 and Active Directory

There are also several other significant changes involved with Exchange 2007 that will affect Active Directory more than ever before. Here are some currently known issues:

• The Schema Master and GCs need to be at Windows Server 2003 SP1. Of course, most DCs and GCs are probably at SP1 now anyway.
• All domains must be at domain functional level, Windows 2000 Server native level or higher.
• A GC must be in each site where there are Exchange servers holding the Hub Transport, Client Access Server and Mailbox roles. These roles could be held by one or more servers. A new utility is used to upgrade the schema: Setup /PrepareAD. This replaces the DomainPrep and ForestPrep utilizations previously used.
• Mailboxes will be configured from the Exchange Management Console or the new Exchange Management Shell, but not from the Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) snap-in. In fact, the mailbox attributes are not even visible in the ADUC snap-in. However, Exchange admins can create new AD users in the context of creating mailboxes from the Exchange Management Console or the Exchange Management Shell. This will probably cause some redesigning of administration delegation.

MS: Windows 2003 Server Service Pack 2 Released!

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsserver/sp2.mspx

Top 10 Reasons to Install Windows Server 2003 SP2

1) Security Updates/Hotfixes
Windows Server 2003 SP2 will get all of your Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional x64 Editions up to date with the latest Security Bulletin updates and Hotfixes, ensuring the highest level of security, reliability, stability, manageability, supportability and compatibility.
2) Deploy your operating systems more effectively
Building upon our previous deployment solutions, Windows Deployment Services (WDS) offers customers a complete ‘out of the box’ provisioning solution. WDS provides organizations with manageable image store, remote booting, PXE boot support, and more; all in a greatly improved management interface. WDS also uses the new file-based Windows Imaging Format (WIM) which facilitates deployments on Windows Vista and Windows Server “Longhorn”.
3) Improved networking performance
Windows Server SP2 offers solutions to network traffic challenges in an era of the multi-Gigabit Ethernet. Increases to CPU resources required to handle high network traffic can potentially inhibit scaling and effectively reduce the performance gains that are possible with increased link speeds. Windows Server 2003 SP2 Scalable Networking Pack (SNP), introduces technologies that helps organizations cost-effectively scale network-based applications to meet growing demands. The Scalable Networking pack Increases network and application performance by freeing up CPU cycles and more efficiently using processor resources. More information on the Scalable Networking Pack can be found at www.microsoft.com/snp
4) Improved manageability for IPsec
Server and Domain Isolation are key security benefits offered on Microsoft Networks. By using Active Directory, domain memberships and group policies, Server and Domain Isolation allows companies to logically segment their networks. This means that you can restrict non-domain computers which aren’t managed at a corporate level (lab computers, guests or other unsecure systems) from communicating with non- domain members. Service Pack 2 improves Server and Domain Isolation by reducing the IPsec filter set that needs to be managed from potentially hundreds of filters to as few as 2 filters. More information on Server and Domain Isolation can be found at www.microsoft.com/sdisolation.
5) Utility improvements
Making common tasks easier, SP2 introduces customer-driven improvements to the Domain Controller Diagnostics tool (DCDIAG) and MS Configuration (MSCONFIG) tool. SP2 also has an updated Access Control List (ICACLS) program to allow for greater flexibility when backing up Access Control Lists.
6) Management tools made easier
SP2 includes the Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (MMC 3.0). MMC provides a framework that unifies and simplifies day-to-day system management tasks on Windows by providing common navigation, menus, toolbars, and workflow across diverse tools. MMC tools (called snap-ins) can be used to administer networks, computers, services, applications and other system components. MMC does not perform administrative functions, but hosts a variety of Windows and non-Microsoft snap-ins that do.
7) Single install experience
It patches both the R2 and non-R2 versions of Windows Server 2003. This reduces the amount of patch management for an organization.
8) Support for additional languages
Service Pack 2 will be released in 9 additional localized languages for Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions including: German, French, Korean, Chinese Traditional, Chinese Simplified, Spanish, Italian, Russian and, Portuguese (Brazilian).
9) Performance improvements
Service Pack 2 offers performance improvements for Windows Server 2003 running as a Virtual Server guest under high Advanced Processor Interrupt Controller (APIC) rates. It also improves SQL Server performance under intensive workloads. Both of these improvements lead to more efficient data processing.
10) Manage new wireless settings without the hassle
SP2 provides the ability to manage the WPA2 protocol for wireless networks. This supports and simplifies the process of discovering and connecting to wireless networks in your home or on the road.

MS: How to disable Windows File Protection

You need to edit the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

and change the key SFCDisable to 0

MS: Installing Exchange 2007 Management Tools On a 32 Bit OS

The Exchange setup require a Windows 64 Bit Edition to initiated. Using Windows 32 Bit Edition isn't supported installation on the Management Tools from the Exchange 2007 Installation disk.
Download the 32 Bit evaluation edition of Exchange 2007 and install from this media

More Info:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555841
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2007/downloads

MS: Error message when you try to set an IP address on a network adapter

When you trying to set the IP address on a network adapter, you may receive the following error message:

The IP address XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX you have entered for this network adapter is already assigned to another adapter Name of adapter. Name of adapter is hidden from the network and Dial-up Connections folder because it is not physically in the computer or is a legacy adapter that is not working. If the same address is assigned to both adapters and they become active, only one of them will use this address. This may result in incorrect system configuration. Do you want to enter a different IP address for this adapter in the list of IP addresses in the advanced dialog box?

RESOLUTION

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd.exe, and then press ENTER.
2. Type set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1, and then press ENTER.
3. Type Start DEVMGMT.MSC, and then press ENTER.
4. Click View, and then click Show Hidden Devices.
5. Expand the Network Adapters tree.
6. Right-click the dimmed network adapter, and then click Uninstall.

More info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/269155

CERTIFICATION: Microsoft Test 70-285 passed!

Today I passed the Microsoft Test 70-285: Designing a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Organization and I got the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE: Messaging) in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE: Messaging) in Microsoft Windows 2000 certifications.
It was a easy exam for me (I have +10 years working with Exchange) and +3 years with Exchange 2003. The Exchange 2003 Training Kit and Exchange 2003 Resource Kit is a required reading. You will find a very useful list of Exchange 2003 papers and documents in http://exchange.musumeci.com.ar

Exam Statistics:

10 Citrix Exams
04 Citrix Certifications
24 Microsoft Exams
15 Microsoft Certifications
01 VMware Certifications

More Info:
http://www.musumeci.com.ar/Web_English/certificaciones_eng.htm

CERTIFICATION: VMware Sales Professional (VSP)

I got new VMware Sales Professional (VSP) certification, required for VMware Partners.

To become a VSP you must complete all of the required courses and one of the specialty courses listed below. I passed al VSP Requirements and VSP Specialties:

VSP Requirements:

• Virtualization Overview
• VMware Corporate Overview
• VMware Products Overview
• VMware Solutions Overview
• Delivering the VMware Message
• Effectively Working With VMware

VSP Specialties:

• Selling to Testing and Development Environments
• Selling Server Consolidation and Containment Solutions
• Selling Business Continuity Solutions
• Selling Desktop Manageability & Security Solutions

Exam Statistics:

10 Citrix Exams

04 Citrix Certifications

23 Microsoft Exams

13 Microsoft Certifications

01 VMware Certifications

More Info: http://www.musumeci.com.ar/Web_English/certificaciones_eng.htm

MS: Recover a Exchange 2000 Database

Yesterday, I enjoyed a very, very long day recovering successfully an Exchange 2000 corrupted database.

Some links:

What to Do When an Exchange Store Won't Mount
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/wontmount.mspx

Error c1041724 Occurs When You Try to Mount a Database on an Exchange 2003 Server
http://support.microsoft.com:80/kb/822449/en-us

Funny post about Exchange 2000 recovery:
http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/12009443/m/204009322631

VMware: How to Install Windows Home Server Beta 2

How to Install Windows Home Server Beta 2 in VMware Workstation or VMware Server:

Create a VM with 512 MB of RAM.
Remove the SCSI Hard Drive.
Create a new IDE Hard Drive with a least 40 GB.
Install the Windows Home Server Beta 2

VMware ESX Must Read Papers

Command Line Interface Tips and Tricks for VMware ESX Server 2 and 3
http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/tac9685.pdf

Troubleshooting VMware ESX Server 3 and VMware VirtualCenter 2
http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/mdc9694.pdf

The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread: Effective DRS and HA in production
http://download3.vmware.com/vmworld/2006/tac9413.pdf

VirtualCenter 2 - Templates Usage and Best Practices
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vc_2_templates_usage_best_practices_wp.pdf

VMware: Error in HA

VMware Infrastructure v3.0 (ESX Server)

Error: Insufficient resources to satisfy HA failover level on cluster in data center.
Error: Internal AAM error. Agent did not start.

Solution:

- Check the HOSTNAME entry in /etc/sysconfig/network to the short name.
- Check if your FQDN is greater than 30 characters, in which case HA will not configure properly. This is a known bug in VC20 (see KB article 2259).
- Check IP, routing, and DNS for each host.
- Make sure that storage and network are available across the cluster - Ensure that the hosts are not managed directly: perform all host management through VC.
- May want to add nodes to /etc/hosts on ESX Server AND hosts file on VC Server. A better plan would be to use primary and secondary DNS servers.
- Check if Service Console has default gateway defined.
- Verify logs: /opt/LGTOaam512/* and /opt/LGTOaam512/vmsupport/*.
- Check /etc/hosts and /etc/resolv.conf.
- In ESX 3.x the memory reservation is zero, and the limit is "unlimited." To see this, edit the settings of a virtual machine, click on the Resources tab, and select Memory on the left. To conform to the ESX 3.x defaults, change the settings to a reservation of 0, and check the Unlimited box under limit. After doing this for all virtual machines, edit the settings for the cluster. Disable HA, and then edit the cluser settings again to reenable HA. The current failover capacity should now match the configured capacity.

CERTIFICATION: Microsoft Test 70-284 passed!

Today I passed the Microsoft Test 70-284: Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 and I got the Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA: Messaging) in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA: Messaging) in Microsoft Windows 2000 certifications.It was a very easy exam for me (I have +10 years working with Exchange) and +3 years with Exchange 2003. The Exchange 2003 Training Kit and Exchange 2003 Resource Kit is a required reading.You will find a very useful list of Exchange 2003 papers and documents in http://exchange.musumeci.com.ar

Exam Statistics:

10 Citrix Exams
04 Citrix Certifications
23 Microsoft Exams
13 Microsoft Certifications

More Info: http://www.musumeci.com.ar/Web_English/certificaciones_eng.htm

VMware: Deploying Microsoft Exchange in VMware Infrastructure

Deploying Microsoft Exchange in VMware Infrastructure offers many advantages, including higher availability,simplified recovery, and more efficient use of resources. This paper discusses best practices for running Exchange 2003 in a VMware Infrastructure environment, in the areas of servers, virtual machines, storage, and implementation. In addition, a case study shows an example architecture, and the Appendix provides some sample metrics for Exchange performance.
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/exchange_best_practices.pdf