I am installing a new bench server for the IT Department. We will have several applications running on this server so it is a prime candidate for VMWare. I’ll be installing it today for the first time on a brand new Dell PowerEdge 2950. Check the project page for the full story!
TLC
Received our new SonicWALL appliance. Haven’t had to do much to the current device since learining the SonicOS Enhanced. Quite a steep learning curve! No I’ll have to refamiliarize myself with it to transfer the settings over to the new device. BTW, the old SonicWall is a Pro 3060.
If you like you can track my progress on my projects page for the SonicWALL.
TLC
Brand new Optiplex 755. Gotta love brand new! EXCEPT when there’s a problem. Two of the PCs were having network issues, going on and off the network, generating errors in the event log:
======================
Event Type: Warning
Event Source: DnsApi
Event Category: None
Event ID: 11197
Description:
The system failed to update and remove host (A) resource records (RRs) for network adapter
with settings:
=====================
After extensive troubleshooting (cables, switches, drivers, configuration of flow control and auto detect speed) the issue seems to be a BIOS driver update.
As of March 27 there’s an updated BIOS driver. So far (10 minutes!) it seems to have fixed the issue.
TC
If you know Linux, you know much of the configuration is done by editing text files. When performing an initial install, it was easier to use DHCP for the network, but then I wanted to assign a static IP. Editing the /etc/network/interfaces file and then attempting to restart the network gave me the error as follows:
/etc/network/interfaces:1: misplaced option
ifdown: couldn’t read interfaces file “/etc/network/interfaces”
ifup: couldn’t read interfaces file “/etc/network/interfaces”
failed.
I found the issue! Evidently pico (my editor of choice) removed the “#” from the first line! Simply replace it and off you go!
TC
UPDATE: Didn’t work. She’s going to try a system restore from the manufacturer (Dell) CD. My guess is the start menu is not classic. If I have time I’ll write up another key sequence.
A co-worker is having issue with her PC. She gets video during boot up, but the screen goes black after the XP logo screen. She still hears the music, indicating Windows is loaded, but no video. Same issue when trying to boot into Safe Mode, which means something is corrupted. I L-O-V-E System Restore, but how can you try it if you can’t see how to get there? Went to another XP machine and documented the key sequence (assuming a similar menu.) Only took a few minutes and it may save a ton of work! Here it is for your edification:
Ctrl + Esc
P
Right Arrow
S
Right Arrow
Up Arrow
Enter
Enter
Left Arrow x 10 (goes back 10 days)
Alt + N (Next)
Enter Enter
PC should now restart!
I’ll update you on whether it worked or not.
TC
I’ve toyed with Linux before, but now it’s time to get serious and get my feet soaking wet. I am going to jump in and install Debian Linux, Apache web server, MySQL database, and PHP scripting language. a LAMP server is a powerful combination that is used widely to host database driven applications. Follow my project here.
TC
Right now I share space with the following:
5 Workstations
5 Servers (Dell PowerEdge 2800 & 2900 series)
4 Fiber patch panels
1 fully populated Fiber Power Supply & module enclosure
12 24-port Switches
5 fiber/ethernet switches we house for our tenants
1 - SonicWall firewall appliance
1 - 24-port KVM Switch
All of these devices have fans. Translation: NOISE. I must admit this was a driving force for my brilliant idea to utilize our Network Operations Center to house our servers. Actually I don’t think it was all THAT brilliant, it is pretty obvious that we should use that space, I think you will agree.
When I initially broached the issue (six months ago) to my manager he was reticent to consider it. I suggested the idea again now that our backup system is due for replacement. I based my argument on the following:
He designed the NOC as a safe, secure, and power redundant server room for tenants, would it not work for US?
Since the NOC was completed seven years ago, our WAN has evolved into a completely fiber-connected, 1-Gbps network of five sites, (six including the NOC) no routers involved! We should leverage this speed and move our servers to the aforementioned site.
He finally agreed, and has since started extolling the virtues of the plan! Excellent.
For pics and more details see the project page here.
TC
I love clean log files. Not only does it indicate a smooth running Exchange Server, but it makes it easy to spot errors. There has been a warning that appears every so often in the Exchange Server Application Event Log;
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Userenv
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1524 Description:
Windows cannot unload your classes registry file - it is still in use by other applications or services. The file will be unloaded when it is no longer in use.
Found the MSKB post that is supposed to take care of the issue.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/837115
Installed the UPHClean utility. Back to clean logs!
TC
All of the sudden, Flash has stopped working on my Vista machine. After numerous uninstalls/reinstalls, still no love; I get the ActiveX Setup dialog that says: “Failed to install. For troubleshooting tips, please see http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_19166.”
The steps outlined are: Uninstall, Reinstall, Troubleshoot. Did that, still no love. When I figure it out I’ll update this post.
TC