MS: Windows 2008 Hyper-V RTM!

Today, Microsoft released Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, the hypervisor-based virtualization feature included in select versions of Windows Server 2008. Those who have already deployed the x64 versions of Windows Server 2008 can receive Hyper-V from Windows Update beginning July 8, while new customers and partners can Download Hyper-V from Microsoft Hyper-V Web Site.

Be sure to visit the Windows Virtualization Team blog to see daily spotlights on specific features and benefits of Hyper-V technology, as well as to read about customer stories and see postings from guests.

Guest operating systems that are supported on a Hyper-V virtual machine host
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/954958

CtxAdmTools: CTX Server Status v1.2 Released!

CTX Server Status

This FREE report tool show status information about your Citrix farm
Provides you or your boss a list of online/offline servers, amount of sessions, load evaluator, server load, zone.
The registered version provide the ability of filter servers per Zone and generate a Excel report.
Learn more...

Download CTX Server Status

CtxAdmTools: List HotFix v1.0 Released!

List HotFix

This FREE tool list all Citrix Hot Fixes installed in your Citrix farm
List all Citrix Hot Fixes / Patches / Upgrades installed on your farm and export the results to Excel or Text files.
Learn more...

Download List HotFix v1.0

CtxAdmTools: Launch of CtxAdmTools!

In April 2006 I started working as a Senior Citrix Systems Engineer for Sunrise Senior Living (http://www.sunriseseniorliving.com), one of the premier (and largest) providers of senior living services. Sunrise currently operates more than 440 senior living communities (and more than 50 under construction) throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany with more 38,000 employees and a very large Citrix farm.

As soon I started I discovered is really challenging administering and resolve issues with a very large amount of Citrix servers and thousands of users and printers.

You will found in this site a very useful set of utilities for specific tasks. Sometimes you will spend hours and hours of manual tasks or use limited scripts.

I developed this set of tools to help me in daily tasks. I spend several weeks developing and testing these tools. You will save time (and money!) using these tools.

The web site of CtxAdmTools is http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar

MS: Install Print Drivers on Windows Server

To install Print Drivers on Windows Server, Terminal Server or Citrix Servers (just the print driver, not the printer):

1) To install a Driver included in the Windows distribution:

start /wait rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /m "HP LaserJet 5" /h "Intel" /v "Windows 2000" /f "%systemroot%\inf\ntprint.inf"

2) To install a OEM Driver NOT included in the Windows distribution:

Extract the driver. Open the oemsetup.inf included with the driver.

Search the Manufacturer section. The manufacturer is Ricoh.

---- oeminfo.inf ----
; The Manufacturer section lists all of the manufacturers that we will
; display in the Dialog box;
[Manufacturer]
%OEM%=Ricoh
---- oeminfo.inf ----

Now search for Ricoh

---- oeminfo.inf ----
; Model sections. Each section here corresponds with an entry listed in the
; [Manufacturer] section, above. The models will be displayed in the order
; that they appear in the INF file.;
[RICOH]
"RICOH Aficio 3035 PCL 5e" = RIC542,USBPRINT\RICOHAficio_3035B463,LPTENUM\RICOHAficio_3035B463,RICOHAficio_3035B463
"RICOH Aficio 3045 PCL 5e" = RIC542,USBPRINT\RICOHAficio_30458661,LPTENUM\RICOHAficio_30458661,RICOHAficio_30458661
---- oeminfo.inf ----

We can see 2 models here, 3035 and 3045.

To install RICOH Aficio 3035 PCL 5e, we can use this script:

start /wait rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "Ricoh 3035" /f "C:\PrnDrivers\RICOH 3035\oemsetup.inf" /r "lpt1:" /m "RICOH Aficio 3035 PCL 5e" /z

CTX: Install Symantec Antivirus on Citrix Servers

To install Symantec Antivirus (SAV) o Symantec Endpoint on Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 or Citrix XenApp v4.5, you need to install in Terminal Server installation mode.

I created this script:

change user /install

start /wait MSIEXEC /I "c:\update\sav\Symantec AntiVirus.msi" ADDLOCAL=SAVMain,SAVUI,SAVHelp,EMailTools,OutlookSnapin,QClient NETWORKTYPE=1 INSTALLSERVER=0 SERVERNAME=SAVSRV ENABLEAUTOPROTECT=1 REBOOT=ReallySuppress ALLUSERS=TRUE SYMPROTECTDISABLED=1 /Qn

change user /execute

Enable/Disable Tamper Protection: SYMPROTECTDISABLED

0=Enable / 1=Disable

Optional:

If you want to assign the server to a Client Group, run this extra step:

regedit -s Q:\update\sav\ClientGroup.reg
net stop "Symantec AntiVirus"
net start "Symantec AntiVirus"

---- ClientGroup.reg ----
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\INTEL\LANDesk\VirusProtect6\CurrentVersion]"ClientGroup"="CTX Servers"
---- ClientGroup.reg ----

Reference
Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition and Terminal Server support

MS: Capturing and Analyzing Application Crash Dumps

Basic Debugging of an Application Crash

http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/archive/2007/05/29/basic-debugging-of-an-application-crash.aspx

Capturing Application Crash Dumps

http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/archive/2007/06/15/capturing-application-crash-dumps.aspx

MS: Use NETSH to import or export the Network Configuration

To backup (or dump) the configuration of the network connection:

netsh -c interface dump > c:\network.txt

To restore the configuration:

netsh -f c:\network.txt

CTX: Citrix Optimizations

Turn on Slow-Start Load Balancing
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\IMA\LMS UseILB = REG_DWORD: 1 Reference Citrix Article CTX108645

Using custom, Office and system ADM templates, implement the following user optimizations via GPO:
* Disable Active Desktop
* Reduce cursor blink rate to 1.5 seconds (1500)
* Reduce MenuShowDelay to 100 ms
* Set sound scheme to “No Sounds”
* Disable Word background grammar and spell checking
* Disable Office Assistant and Office Assistant Animation/Sounds
*Always Show Full Menu Items and Disable the Show menu delay

Network performance and system usage HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer NoRemoteRecursiveEvents = REG_DWORD: 1
Reference Microsoft Article 885189

Memory Optimization HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management LargeSystemCache = REG_DWORD: 1

This setting allocates additional memory to the File System Cache. Starting with Windows Server 2003, Microsoft moved the registry from Paged Pool RAM and into the File System Cache. Running out of File System Cache will prevent users’ ntuser.dat files (profiles) from loading. Setting this registry key to 1 is the same clicking the System Cache button shown in the following screen shot:

Additionally, Citrix recommends settings the Visual Effects tab to adjust for best performance as shown below: The following registry settings are optimizations that Citrix recommends be applied to Terminal Servers in order to optimize performance and allow a maximum number of users to be supported.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Configuration Manager]
"RegistryLazyFlushInterval"=dword:0000003c

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Lanmanserver\Parameters]
"MaxWorkItems"=dword:00002EE0
"MaxMpxCt"=dword:00000800
"MaxRawWorkItems"=dword:00000200
"MaxFreeConnections"=dword:00000064
"MinFreeConnections"=dword:00000020

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Lanmanworkstation\Parameters]
"MaxCmds"=dword:00000800

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MRxSmb\Parameters]
"MultiUserEnabled"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]
"DisablePagingExecutive"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Windows]
"ErrorMode"=dword:00000002

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\FileSystem]
"NtfsDisableLastAccessUpdate"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers]
"NetPopup"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers]
"Eventlog"=dword:00000001

CTX: Memory Dump Analysis

SystemDump 3.1 for 32-bit and 64-bit platforms
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX111072

The SystemDump utility can force a server to generate a memory dump from the session or when a keyboard is not available or non-standard. Command line options allow you to generate a dump from command files and/or remotely when a console session is not available (for example, IBM blade servers). Whether a complete memory or kernel memory dump is saved depends on the Control Panel settings in place.

Troubleshooting Stop Errors, Server Hangs, and Server Restarts http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX101595

This article is meant to help you investigate stop errors and system restarts.

Complete memory dumps are not available on computers that have 2 or more gigabytes of RAM
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;274598

Gathering Blue Screen Information After Memory Dump in Windows 2000 or Windows NT http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q192463/

This article describes how to gather more information about a blue-screen error message. Note that these steps may not always provide conclusive answers and may only be a symptom of another problem.

Case Study: Intermittent Client Printer Creation and Deletion Failures
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX112580

Memory dump analysis for printer drivers problems

MS: Microsoft Videos

Life At Microsoft - The Truth Revealed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N24TWrtlJEU

Bill Gates' Last Day At Microsoft
http://blogs.msdn.com/jobsblog/archive/2008/01/08/bill-gates-last-day-at-microsoft.aspx

CTX: HP printers supported in Citrix Presentation Server environments

HP printers supported in Citrix Presentation Server environments

CTX: Citrix XenApp v5.0 for Windows 2008 BETA

Today Citrix released Citrix XenApp v5.0 for Windows 2008 Early Edition (Beta).

Getting Started Guide – Understand What’s new in Citrix Project Delaware. Learn about new features and functions, architectural changes and more.

Quick Start Guide – Want to get up and running quickly with as little hardware as possible? This guide provides step by step instructions for implementing a quick and compact evaluation environment.

Installation Checklist – Want to design a custom environment for evaluating Project Delaware? Use this document to understand the system pre-requisites for Project Delaware and its components.

Installation Guide – Get detailed guidance to plan your custom deployment and install Project Delaware and its components.

CTX: Antivirus Software Configuration Guidelines for Presentation Server

Antivirus Software Configuration Guidelines for Presentation Server
http://support.citrix.com/article/ctx114522

• Scan on write events only
• Scan local drives only
• Exclude the pagefile from being scanned
• Exclude the Print Spooler directory to improve print performance
• Exclude the \Program Files\Citrix folder from being scanned (the heavily accessed local host cache and Resource Manager local database are contained inside this folder)

MS: Windows XP SP3 was released!

Today MS released the RTM version of Windows XP SP3. The RTM build is 5512.

Download Windows XP from Microsoft

MS: Exchange 2007 Certifications

I worked a lot with Exchange 2007 in the last year. I designed, implemented and trained users.

Exchange 2007 SP1 starts a new wave of migrations. Time to certificate and improve knowledge!

When Exchange 2007 was release last year and I worked for InfoGroup Sistemas in Spain, I studied Exchange 2007 in detail. Below you will found my favorite books.

I teach these Exchange 2007 MOCs:

MOC 5047: Introduction to Installing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
MOC 5049: Managing Messaging Security using Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
MOC 5050: Recovering Messaging Servers and Databases using Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
MOC 5051: Monitoring and Troubleshooting Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007: Tony Redmond's Guide to Successful Implementation

Probably the best book about Exchange 2007 around. Amazon

How to Cheat at Configuring Exchange Server 2007: Including Outlook Web, Mobile, and Voice Access

Henrik Walther is Microsoft Exchange MVP (Most Valuable Professional) and writes Exchange-related articles for http://www.msexchange.org/, one of the best sites of Exchange Server. Great book, very easy to read and full of examples. Amazon

MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-236): Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

This MS Press book is not good like others Training Kit I read before. But will help you to understand the exam. Amazon

MS: Microsoft releases Windows Vista SP1 to the Web

Microsoft releases today Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) to all customers.
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone version can be installed on systems with any of the following language versions: English (US), French, German, Japanese, or Spanish (Traditional).
Read the overview of Windows Vista SP1, including what's new, technical details, guidelines and notable changes.
Read the Deployment Guide for Windows Vista SP1. This guide includes technical information, procedures, and recommendations for installing Windows Vista SP1 in a business or corporate environment.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for x64-based Systems (KB936330)
Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Five Language Standalone for x86-based Systems (KB936330)

Script: Automating TCP/IP Networking on Clients

The great Automating TCP/IP Networking on Clients paper help to write great scripts using VBscript (so... easy to move the code to VB or VB.NET).

This paper discusses scripting techniques and shows scripting examples for:
• Retrieving TCP/IP client settings.
• Working with remote hosts.
• Configuring DHCP and static IP addresses.
• Managing DNS client settings.
• Working with NetBIOS and WINS.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/networking/default.mspx

MS: Determine The Last Time a User Logged into a Active Directory Domain.

1) Using a graphical user interface

Install the AcctInfo.dll extension to Active Directory Users and Computers, you can view the last logon timestamp.
TIP: AcctInfo.dll can be downloaded from the Microsoft download site:
http://microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=7AF2E69C-91F3-4E63-8629-B999ADDE0B9E&displaylang=en
Open the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.
In the left pane, right-click on the domain and select Find.
Select the appropriate domain beside In.
Beside Name, type the name of the user you want to modify and click Find Now.
In the Search Results, double-click on the user.
Click the Additional Account Info tab.
View the value for Last-Logon-Timestamp.

2) Using VBScript

This code prints the last logon timestamp for a user.

' ------ SCRIPT CONFIGURATION ------
strUserDN = "" ' e.g. cn=gmusumeci,ou=Users,dc=musumeci,dc=local
' ------ END CONFIGURATION ---------

set objUser = GetObject("LDAP://" & strUserDN)
set objLogon = objUser.Get("lastLogonTimestamp")
intLogonTime = objLogon.HighPart * (2^32) + objLogon.LowPart
intLogonTime = intLogonTime / (60 * 10000000)
intLogonTime = intLogonTime / 1440
WScript.Echo "Approx last logon timestamp: " & intLogonTime + #1/1/1601#

MS: Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 available!

Today MS released to the web the first beta (Beta 1) of Internet Explorer 8 for Windows XP, Vista, Windows 2003 and Windows 2008 (x86 and x64)

Internet Explorer Team Blog

Internet Explorer 8 Download Page