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Extra IT - Just a bit of Humour

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Microsoft - END Support Microsoft O.S. Product

Each Microsoft O.S. Product has his Lifecycle period.

Inside the IT Department it's very important to know the relative ending support date 

The following link help everybody to have an immediate answer to this particolar problem.


http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/default.aspx?alpha=Windows+Server+2003+R2&wa=wsignin1.0

2012 Server - SMB 3.0 SAN alternative for small customer in Virtualized Environment

I would like to submit a part of the following article (written in italian language) and translated in English about the useful protocol SMB 3.0 introduced with 2012 Server and Windows 8 that will help small companies that haven't internal SAN budget.

 http://blogs.sysadmin.it/ermannog/archive/2013/08/30/smb-3-0-smb-multichannel-e-smb-3-02.aspx
"Using Windows Server 2012 you can use the network share as storage for application servers (SQL Server, Hyper-V). To be precise, the possibility of using network share to store user database was already present in SQL Server 2008 R2, and SQL Server 2012 has added the ability to store even share of the system databases. Now with even WS2012 Hyper-V VM which allows you to run vhd / vhdx are stored on a network share.


In version 3.0 of SMB (Server Message Block) present in WS2012 was introduced SMB Multichannel, a technology similar to the Multipath I / O, but designed for shared access via the network share (SMB 3.0 is the relata the rename of SMB 2.2). The SMB Multichannel allows you to take advantage of multiple network cards for more performance through bandwidth aggregation and fault tolerance through the use of multiple network paths to a SMB share.

There are three strengths of SMB Multichannel:

     Increased throughput through the simultaneous transmission of data using multiple connections.
     Fault Tolerance through multiple simultaneous network connections.
     Automatic configuration as the SMB Multichannel run the auto discover the existence of multiple network paths available and dynamically creates connections. In other words there is no need to install any role, function or component as the SMB Multichannel is enabled by default."

At the following link you can find the related Technet Microsoft Article:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2709568/en-us

Exchange 200X - Error Inbound authentication failed with error UnexpectedExchangeAuthBlob for Receive connector Default The authentication mechanism is ExchangeAuth. The source IP address of the client who tried to authenticate to Microsoft Exchange is 192.168.X.X



In a corporation with different Exchange server 200X/2010 had a problem to send email through relative connector.

In the destination Exchange Server I found the following Error:

Inbound authentication failed with error UnexpectedExchangeAuthBlob for Receive connector Default The authentication mechanism is ExchangeAuth. The source IP address of the client who tried to authenticate to Microsoft Exchange is 192.168.X.X

I found which is the problem.

The exchange Server and AD controller from the original site was 6 minutes late than PDC of the destination Exchange Site.

Changing the time and waiting some minutes the problem has been solved.

Here is the Microsoft Article that I have used.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/979174/en-us


 

SCCM 2012 - p.13 - How to installl SP1 on SCCM Environment

 
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I had the opportunity to install SP1 on various SCCM 2012 Server.

I take some note about website that I have used for this difficult work:

Official Microsoft Prerequisite Checklist:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj822981.aspx#BKMK_UpgradeSP1Checklist

Step by step Windows Noobs Tutorial (I have followed this one)

http://www.windows-noob.com/forums/index.php?/topic/7437-using-system-center-2012-configuration-manager-part-11-upgrading-the-hierarchy-to-service-pack-1/

At this website you can find a different procedure.

http://www.sccm.biz/2013/01/sccm-2012-upgrade-to-sp1.html

If you want to do a preliminar backup you can follow the following Microsoft Article:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg712697.aspx

Consider that with SCCM SP1 now you can recover a secondary site without to reinstall it.


Backup - Vbackup

I suggest the following utility for Backup.

Here are some feature well explained, for better details pleas follow the link above

http://www.fileviewer.com/vbackup/

Main Features

Screen Shot

  • V is fast.
  • Handles large files with ease - and large really does mean LARGE!
  • A Dual Pane interface lets you view directories side-by-side.
  • Folder Tabs allow you to view favorite directories with a single click.
  • Makes full use of keyboard shortcuts and right-click menus.
  • Views CSV files as tables (much like a spreadsheet)
  • Files can be viewed in Greenbar mode.
  • The contents of the clipboard can be viewed as if they were a file.
  • V can be extended through use of User Commands.
  • File Renaming - allows you to easily rename a group of files.
  • File Tailing will automatically refresh a file if it is modified while you are viewing it.
  • Files may be fixed at a column position so anything to the left of the column will not scroll.
  • Wrap long lines to the screen or to a fixed length.
  • Columns of text may be copied to the clipboard. Numerical columns can be summed.
  • A formatted directory listing can be copied to the clipboard.
  • Selections may be appended to the clipboard.
  • Regular Expression searching and GREP.
  • Support for 4DOS descriptions.
  • Extensive command line support.
  • Available in a portable/USB version.
  • and much more ...

    • Multimedia - Easily Convert CD to MP3 automatic track name internet finder

    During this days I was trying to rip different Audio CD to .mp3 format.

    It has been easy to find free software that give me the ability to:

    •     CD to  MP3, MP4/M4A, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, AAC, WAV and Bonk formats
    •     Integrated CD ripper with CDDB/freedb title database support
    •     Easily find automatically Album/name from internet repository

    For this purpose I have found the following free software:

    1. FreeRip

    http://www.freerip.com/


    USB - Create USB encrypted with TrueCrypt FREE Software

    It's very useful to use our USB device (USB key and external Hard Drive) in crypted mode so nobody can steal our personal information.

    At first we must download TrueCrypt (freeware)

    http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads

    Then we must formate in NTFS mode our USB Drive if greater than 4 GB and we want to full encript. (take a look to the following screenshot)






    Now we must create our encripted volume/file on the USB drive.

    Launch Truecrypt and go to Tools --> Traveler Disk Setup....



     
    Now we have the USB drive with TruCrypt Format.exe (to launch now to format the encrypted file) and TrueCrypt.exe Portable to use the USB on a different PC.











    Now we can mount our usb, you must launch Trucrypt.exe as follow:





    Note, It's important to Unmount the USB before keep away it from our computer.

     [update 2016.12.31]

     You should be aware that TrueCrypt development was no longer maintained/updated  since 2014.

    http://www.alessandromazzanti.com/2013/08/usb-create-usb-encrypted-with-truecrypt.html

     Hacker - Truecrypt alternatives

     Several security bugs have been not resolved.

    You fan review this article about some alternatives that I summarize them in this article too.

    https://www.comparitech.com/blog/information-security/truecrypt-is-discoutinued-try-these-free-alternatives/,.

    Here they are Truecrypt alternatives (from my side I use, normally, 2. and 7. options):
    1. VeraCrypt You can find a full list of improvements and corrections that VeraCrypt made on TrueCrypt here. It is open source and free.
    2. Bitlocker no encrypted containers ability and not open source.
    3. DiskCryptor supports encryption of external devices including hard drives, USB drives, CDs, and DVDs
    4. CipherShed
    5. FileVault 2 Apple’s answer to Bitlocker, no encrypted containers ability and not open source.
    6. LUKS
    7. SafeHouse Explorer – 3.01 Portable

    SCCM 2012 - p.18 - Open port Client/Server

     
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    If we want determine which port/Services are used from ours SCCM 2012 servers and the relative lan client I suggest to read the following Articles/link.

     They are very usefule to solve this problem.

    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682180.aspx


    http://technet.microsoft.com/it-it/library/hh427328.aspx#BKMK_ConfigurablePorts


    http://myitforum.com/myitforumwp/wp-content/uploads/group-documents/17/1358461681-SCCM2012Ports.pdf

    SCCM 2012 SP1 - CU2 released

    During these days it has been realized CU2 of SCCM 2012 SP1.

    Here's the link:

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2854009/en-us

    This update replaces Cumulative Update 1 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1. 

    Here are some fix resolved:

    Issues that are fixed

    Administrator Console

    • The Add Site Server Roles Wizard incorrectly blocks adding a site server when the first word of the server's fully qualified domain name is longer than 15 characters.
    • Multiple nodes and property sheets in the Administrator Console can now be announced correctly by screen reader software.

    Application Virtualization

    • Virtual Application packages that are saved on a Distributed File System (DFS) share may not migrate from Configuration Manager 2007 to Configuration Manager 2012. Errors that resemble the following are logged in the MIGMCTRL.log file:

      Failed to connect to share \\production\dfs\Virtual Applications\App Source : Error 0x80070520
      Impersonation is reverted.
      Set the status of the entity Virtual Application 1 to Failed.
      Set the status of the job entity Virtual Application 1 to Failed.
      Microsoft.ConfigurationManagement.Migration.MigrationException: Failed to connect to share \\production\dfs\Virtual Applications\App Source : Error 0x80070520
    • Nonalphanumeric characters in the CertificateIssuers string cause site assignments not to work in a System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Site environment.

    Operating system deployment

    • Task Sequences may ignore the Multicast Only flag when downloads are performed within the full operating system instead of Windows PE.
    • A task sequence that has multiple "Install Application" steps may fail. Additionally, the following error message is logged in the SMSTS.log file:

      Error Task Sequence Manager failed to execute task sequence. Code 0x80004005
    • Clients may not download a new operating system image when custom ports are defined for the site server. The SMSTS.log file will contain error messages that resemble the following:

      WinHttpQueryHeaders() returns status code 404 (Not Found)
      SendWinHttpRequest failed. 80190194.
      DownloadFile failed. 80190194.
      Error downloading file from http://siteserver.contonso.com:80/SMS_DP_SMSPKG$/CAS0000A/sccm?/install_ipremote.cmd to C:\_SMSTaskSequence\Packages\CAS0000A\install_ipremote.cmd
      DownloadFiles failed. 80190194.
    • Cumulative Update 2 offers limited support for deployment of Windows PE 3.1-based images. These images must be completed before they are added to the site server. If later changes are needed, they can be made by using the Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool. Any Distribution Points that have the old image must be updated.

      The following optional components have to be installed beforehand:
      • WinPE-Scripting.cab
      • WinPE-WMI.cab
      • WinPE-WDS-TOOLS.cab


      The following operations are not supported:
      • Installing additional optional component through Configuration Manager
      • Adding drivers
      • Setting scratch space
      • Configuring prestart command
      • Configuring background image file
      • Enabling and disabling command prompt support (debug mode)

    Asset Intelligence

    • "Software 09B - Computers with infrequently used software installed" reports do not contain accurate data for Windows Installer-based applications that are updated.

    Mobile device management

    • Windows Mobile 6.5 devices no longer receive application policies after the site server is upgraded from the release version of Configuration Manager 2012 to Configuration Manager 2012 Service Pack 1.

    Software distribution

    • The content status of a package is stuck in the "In progress - Waiting for Content" status in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1.
    • Content status may show a state of "Unknown" when a distribution point on a Configuration Manager 2007 Secondary Site is upgraded to Configuration Manager 2012.
    • Status messages from pull-distribution points are now routed through management points instead of directly to site servers. This decreases the site server performance effect of having multiple pull-distribution points.

    Updated list of supported Linux and UNIX clients

    • The list of supported UNIX and Linux platforms is updated to include x86 and x64 versions of the following:
      • Ubuntu 12.04
      • Ubuntu 10.04
      • Oracle Linux 5
      • Oracle Linux 6
      • CentOS 5
      • CentOS 6
      • Debian 5
      • Debian 6

    Site systems

    • Status Manager may not process changes to built-in Status Filter Rules on localized Configuration Manager installations. Entries similar to the following may be logged in the STATMGR.log file:

      ERROR: The component item for SMS_STATUS_MANAGER in the master site control file does not contain property list items for a status filter named "SMS_STATUS_MANAGER", or those property lists are corrupt or badly formatted.
    • Installation of the Client Notification component (bgbisapi.msi) will fail on sites that have custom websites (SMSWEB) or custom ports that are defined. The BGBSetup.log will contain the following errors messages:

      bgbisapi.msi exited with return code: 1603
      Backing up X:\Program Files\Microsoft Configuration Manager\logs\bgbisapiMSI.log to X:\Program Files\Microsoft Configuration Manager\logs\bgbisapiMSI.log.LastError
      Fatal MSI Error - bgbisapi.msi could not be installed

      The bgbisapiMSI.log will also contain errors that resemble the following:

      ERROR: Failed to configure sms ports '0x80020009'.
      ERROR: Failed to process port information.
      @@ERR:25011
      Product: BGB http proxy -- Internal Error 25011. 80020009
      Internal Error 25011. 80020009
      CustomAction CcmCreateIISVirtualDirectories returned actual error code 1603
    • Active Directory User and Group Discovery methods may not update group relationship data when the "Enable delta discovery" option is selected.

    Configuration Manager SDK

    • The CPApplet.CPAppletMgr Automation object returns error 0x80040154 when you use the object on a 64-bit operating system that has Configuration Manager Compatibility Shims (32BitCompat.msi) installed.

    Client

    Cumulative Update Setup Wrapper (Installer)

    • The installer can now be run again on the same site server to create or to re-create deployment assistance items (packages and programs).
    • The installer can update the Administrator Console directly when the installer is run on a site server or on a workstation where the console is installed. Earlier versions of the installer only copied the Administrator Console update (.msp) to the file system, and the console update had to be installed separately. The previous installation method of installing the update manually is still supported.
    • The logging format is improved to increase detail for tracking progress or for troubleshooting installation failures.