November 2008 - Posts

• Virtualizing SQL Server

  Yesterday while presenting at TechDays08 in Ottawa I was a panel expert for the Virtualization Chalk Talk.  An interesting question which came out of that session as prevalent was, what is the stance on virtualizing SQL Server? In the case of SQL 2005, I will speak about my experience in consulting.  I do a lot of consulting with Operations Manager and use SQL Server 2005 as the back end database. I do not recommend that customers virtualize SQL if it can be prevented.  The bottleneck is typically memory when virtualization is used.  Other than specifying how much memory a VM uses at creation, there is no way to reserve RAM only for a specific VM currently and that seems to be a problem. New with Hyper-V there is the ability to use pass-through disks with your virtual servers to make use of the actual physical hardware resources... Have a look at this webcast from TechNet Edge on virtualizing SQL Server 2008, it is insightful: http://edge.technet.com/Media/SQL-Server-Virtualization/ For great, in-depth, technical training on System Center, check out www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. Posted Nov 28 2008, 04:52 PM by Rantings of an IT Pirate

• Weird Server 2008 Activation Issue

  I have been using a test system for awhile with server 2008 installed.  I just recently realized it needed to be activated unless I wanted to lose access to my virtual lab... So I went to activate the server using "show me other ways to activate"...  The hyperlink was unavailable. By unavailable, I mean I would hover with the mouse over it and it would not behave as a link... I performed my usual troubleshooting steps: logoff/logon, reboot to no avail. I next proceeded to change the product key but fed it the same product key I used to install.  Once done, I went to activate windows again.  The links were available as expected.  Windows hoodoo... The activation worked using the activate by phone feature if you are wondering.  Business as usual. Posted Nov 20 2008, 04:57 PM by Rantings of an IT Pirate

• Operations Manager R2 Beta is now available

  For those who do not know, System Center Operations Manager 2007 is at Service Pack 1.  The decision was made to forgo a Service Pack 2 and re-release OpsMgr 2007 as R2. The Beta release of R2 was available on the Connect website yesterday. Here is a link to some information on the latest release: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/opsmgr/dd239186.aspx Enhancements include better console performance, the ability to import Management Packs directly from the System Center catalog on the web and the inclusion of Linux and Unix Computers in the discovery Wizard which was until now only possible from a separate area in the Monitoring node leveraging the Cross-platform extensions. Posted Nov 20 2008, 03:40 PM by Rantings of an IT Pirate

• TechDays08 in Montreal - Techie Crunch Now with Bigger Bits!

  Last week I presented at TechDays08 in Montreal.  What an experience! My presentations were on Failover Clustering in Windows Server 2008 and Security in a Virtual World as well as being an expert for the Virtualization chalk talk. One of the challenges Microsoft faces when conducting events in Montreal is that everything must be translated in French. The SWAG vehicle for TechDays08 is the Techie Crunch which is a cereal box.  The idea is fantastic! So the gimmick is that the Techie Crunch looks just like a cereal box and inside you can even find a spoon.  On the label is advertised. "Now with bigger bits!" So in French, this is labeled "Contient Maintenant de Plus Gros Bits!" ... I have grown up in Montreal and although French is my second language, I was with the other participants reading this. The literal translation is absolutely correct.  However, somehow something in the intent was lost in translation!  I leave the rest to the imagination... All this to say, we all had a great laugh.  Looking forward to take Ottawa in a few weeks! Posted Nov 09 2008, 10:13 PM by Rantings of an IT Pirate

• Installing Virtual Server 2005 R2 on Windows Server 2008

  Earlier this year, I published a blog post detailing how to make this work on Windows Vista. Installing Vserver on IIS is not that different.  Firstly, IIS must be configured and in server 2008 the Web Server role needs to be installed.  Then, the following needs to be added: Under Web Management Tools enable: IIS Management Console Under IIS 6 Management Compatibility enable: IIS Metabase and IIS6 configuration compatibility Under Application Development Features enable: CGI Under Common Http Features enable: Default Document Directory Browsing HTTP Errors Static Content Under Health and Diagnostics enable: HTTP Logging Request Monitor Under Performance Features enable: Static Content Compression Under Security enable: Windows Authentication In IIS, you should also configure VSWebApp.exe under default documents.  You can also change the default port if you choose.  Since I am using my setup in a lab environment, I used port 80. From here, as long as you run IE as Administrator and authenticate to the website as administrator, everything should work fine. Posted Nov 09 2008, 10:02 PM by Rantings of an IT Pirate

• Clustering Active Directory

  While I was presenting at TechDays in Montreal last week, the question arose about clustering Active Directory.  While I have yet to find anyone who clustered AD as a service using straight MSCS or WFC, I have seen customers who virtualized Domain Controllers. By using virtualization, you have the capability to accomplish the same goals and make AD highly available.  This can be done with VMWare, VSERVER, or Hyper-V. Posted Nov 09 2008, 03:58 PM by Rantings of an IT Pirate

• Microsoft Learning Base VHD images

  I recently needed this info and have been asked as well in the past and could not find a list anywhere with what is on the Base images so here is the information. Disc 1: Base04A.exe: Microsoft Windows Server™ 2003 Enterprise Edition Base04B.exe: Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, Microsoft Visual Studio® .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect, Microsoft SQL Server™ 2003 Enterprise Edition Service Pack 3 Base04D.exe: Windows Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 Premium Edition Disc 2: Base05B.exe: Microsoft Windows® XP Professional Service Pack 2, Visual Studio® .NET 2003 Enterprise Edition, SQL Server™ 2000 Developer Edition Service Pack 3 Base05C.exe: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2, Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003 Disc 3: Base04C.exe: Windows® XP Professional Service Pack 1a, Office Professional Edition 2003 Base05A.exe: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 Base05D.exe: Windows Server® 2003 Enterprise Edition Service Pack 1 Base06A.exe: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2, Visual Studio® 2005 Professional Edition, SQL Server™ 2005 Developer Edition Disc 4: Base07A.exe: Windows Vista™ Enterprise Disc 5: Base08A.exe: Windows Server® 2008 Enterprise Edition Base08B.exe: Windows Server® 2008 Enterprise Edition Server Core installation Base08C.exe: Windows Vista™ Enterprise Service Pack 1 Disc 6: Base08D.exe: Windows Vista™ Enterprise Service Pack 1 + Microsoft® Office 2007 Professional with SP1 Posted Nov 09 2008, 02:20 PM by Rantings of an IT Pirate