Don Hite at myITforum.com : Server Technologies

Microsoft Risk and Health Assessment Program Tool Downloads

dhite — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:15:18 GMT

Below you will find a list of the currently available Microsoft risk and health assessment program tool downloads.

Note: All Download Packages Are Intended For Microsoft Premier Customers Only.

Risk and Health Assessment Program for Cluster Server (CSRAP) – Scoping Tool v1.5

This package includes all of the scoping tools necessary to prepare and qualify your environment to receive a Risk and Health Assessment Program for Cluster Server (CSRAP).

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=69665e3e-83ab-450c-9e08-3b523456f6c3

Risk and Health Assessment Program for Exchange Server – Scoping Tool v1.4

This package includes all of the scoping tools necessary to prepare and qualify your environment to receive a Risk and Health Assessment Program for Exchange Server (ExRAP).

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=23457155-7c8b-4355-8a57-d2c2a4d1da57

Risk and Health Assessment Program for Active Directory – Scoping Tool v1.5

This package includes all of the scoping tools necessary to prepare and qualify your environment to receive a Risk and Health Assessment Program for Active Directory (ADRAP).

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=22205827-c164-4b62-9f8d-c3cd6077bd82

Risk and Health Assessment Program for Configuration Manager - Scoping Tool v1.0

This package includes all of the scoping tools necessary to prepare and qualify your environment to receive a Risk and Health Assessment Program for Configuration Manager (CMRAP).

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=bb0ce933-68eb-44b4-a569-19e9e274489f

Risk and Health Assessment Program for Windows Desktop (WDRAP) – Scoping Tool

This package includes all of the scoping tools necessary to prepare and qualify your environment to receive a Risk and Health Assessment Program for Windows Desktop (WDRAP).

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=9e4e81e0-fae9-4578-898c-0ad2170b31ef

Risk and Health Assessment Program for Microsoft SQL Server – Scoping Tool v1.2

This package includes all of the scoping tools necessary to prepare and qualify your environment to receive a Risk and Health Assessment Program for Microsoft SQL Server.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=7edc8686-89f6-4076-bff4-dba53c7639e7

Risk and Health Assessment Program for Microsoft SharePoint Server (SPRAP) – Scoping Tool v2.5

This package includes all of the scoping tools necessary to prepare and qualify your environment to receive a Risk and Health Assessment Program for Microsoft SharePoint Server (SPRAP).

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=535266cc-88e8-4180-a4da-838f94d6a10d

Risk and Health Assessment for Microsoft SharePoint Server Datasheet

The Risk and Health Assessment Program for Microsoft SharePoint Server has been developed to provide in-depth analysis of your Office SharePoint Server and Windows SharePoint Services configurations, custom code, and operational procedures, uncovering areas that are potential risks to server stability or that do not align with Microsoft best practices.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=b72ef7b3-0291-4c15-b669-e94c685b00ba

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Released

dhite — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:35:03 GMT

On September 29th 2010 Microsoft Released Service Pack (SP) 2 for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 in support for the following versions:

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Developer

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Enterprise

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition for Small Business

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Web

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Workgroup

Among other things Microsoft touts the following new improvements listed on the download page:

15K partitioning Improvement

Reporting Services in SharePoint Integrated Mode

SQL Server 2008 Instance Management

Data-tier Application (DAC) Support

For a complete list of fixes see the KB article:

Microsoft KB2285068 Knowledge Base (KB) Article:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=2285068

The available downloads can be found below:

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP2 Readme

SQLServer2008SP2-KB2285068-IA64-ENU (343.4 MB)

SQLServer2008SP2-KB2285068-x64-ENU (349.8 MB)

SQLServer2008SP2-KB2285068-x86-ENU (284.8 MB)

Downloads And Readme:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=8fbfc1de-d25e-4790-88b5-7dda1f1d4e17&displaylang=en

Release Notes

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9742746

Deleting Windows 2008 Server Organizational Units

dhite — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:19:30 GMT

In Windows 2008 server you may find that you cannot delete an Organizational Unit (OU) even thought you are an administrator. This is particularly true if it is protected by the operating system policy and you will receive an error message stating that you do not have sufficient permission rights to remove it. This is true even if you just created it. This behavior is by default – unlike its 2003 predecessor – however the workaround is quite easy to accomplish.

When you create an OU on a Windows 2008 server by default the object has a box checked to “Protect container from accidental deletion”. When the Advanced Features are set in the Active Directory Users And Computers snapin you can right mouse click on the OU and from the context menu select “Properties” to remove the protection.

Select the “Object” tab and at the bottom remove the check box marked “Protect object from accidental deletion” and click “Apply” then “OK” and then you can delete the OU as usual.

Note: Protected OU can be moved or renamed.

The Home Folder Was Not Created Windows 2003 Server Error

dhite — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 01:44:54 GMT

If you receive an error similar to the one below when attempting to setup domain users home shares the issue is a permissions problem:

The home folder was not created because you do not have create access on the server. The user account has been updated with the new home folder value but you must create the directory manually after obtaining the required access rights.

To resolve the issue at the root share you must grant the Administrators or Domain Admins full control permissions to the root folder.

If you have the following directory folder: X:\Users you must grant the Domain Admins full control (NTFS) permissions to the folder (The folder is not shared). Then you can setup your user’s home shares without receiving the error above.

Windows Server 2008 Power Savings Downloadable Documents

dhite — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:20:26 GMT

Download the Windows Server 2008 power savings documents below.

Windows_Server_2008_Power_Savings.docx

Windows_Server_2008_Power_Savings.pdf

Appendix_A-Test_Results_Spreadsheet.xlsx

Appendix_B-System_Information_and_Test_Tools.docx

Appendix_C-Throughput.xlsx

Download:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=61d493fd-855d-4719-8662-3a40ba3a0a5c&displaylang=en

The Windows Server 2008 DHCP Backup And Restore Procedure

dhite — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:21:05 GMT

Here you will find the steps necessary to backup your domains DHCP server database and restore it if it becomes necessary.

Windows Server 2008 had made great strides in the backup and restore process for DHCP server. In 2003 server the process was long and time consuming with 2008 server it has been simplified greatly.

To backup your DHCP Server database following the steps here.

1. Open the DHCP Manager from the Administrative Tools menu.

2. Right mouse click on your DHCP server name and from the context menu select “Backup”

3. From the Browse For Folder dialog box select the directory folder to save the backup files to or accept the default and click “OK”.

To restore a DHCP Server database following the steps here.

1. Open the DHCP Manager from the Administrative Tools menu.

2. Right mouse click on your DHCP server name and from the context menu select “Restore”

3. From the Browse For Folder dialog box select the directory folder to restore the backup files from and click “OK”.

4. At the DHCP dialog box select “Yes” to “In order for changes to take effect, the service must be stopped and restarted. Would you like to do this now?”

CodePlex Windows 2008 Server Core Configurator Download

dhite — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:43:45 GMT

The Server Core Configurator enables you to quickly and easily accomplish tasks you need to do upon installation of Windows Server Core or Hyper-V Server. You can cover tasks such as activation, network and firewall settings, and Windows updates all via an easy-to-use GUI.

Windows 2008 Server Core Configurator

http://www.codeplex.com/CoreConfig

Windows 2008 Server DNS Name Does Not Exist Error 0x8007232B

dhite — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:49:15 GMT

This weekend I physically logged onto my Windows 2008 server machine and received the following error when I tried to activate the server:

Activation Error: Code 0x8007232b

DNS Name does not exist

To make a long story short my copy was an MSDN copy and when I downloaded it I cannot remember if I grabbed the product key or not, but I must have since it installed several weeks ago. Then for several weeks I remotely connected to it or managed it from my Vista machine using the admin tools until this weekend. I found the KB article Error message when you try to activate Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Business, or Windows Server 2008: "Code 0x8007232b" listed below and Method 2: Use a Multiple Activation Key worked for me and it also will work for Vista as well.

I might also mention that the KB article was not what I expect from the good folks at Microsoft because as far as Method 1: Set up a KMS server is concerned

The information was nearly useless unless you have a day or so to read through the docs from the Url link to try and find out how to set up the server. When you click on the supplied link it brings you to a page with the following documents none of which obviously tell you how to set up the server:

FINAL_Sean_Deuby_article.pdf

Volume Activation 2 0 Changes for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1.doc

Volume Activation 2.0 Deployment Guide.doc

Volume Activation 2.0 FAQ.doc

Volume Activation 2.0 Operations Guide.doc

Volume Activation 2.0 Overview Guide.doc

Volume Activation 2.0 Planning Guide.doc

Volume Activation 2.0 Resources.doc

Volume Activation 2.0 Technical Attributes.xls

Volume Product Key Groups.doc

My point here is that the Url should have pointed to an article like the one below and not a page with links to documents especially nasty Pdf files which I despise any way and wonder why Microsoft is even using an application from a rival

How To Install KMS Server To Activate Windows Vista Business Or Enterprise

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2007/04/21/how-to-install-kms-server-to-activate-windows-vista-business-or-enterprise

Error message when you try to activate Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Business, or Windows Server 2008: "Code 0x8007232b"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929826

Microsoft Windows 2008 Server Features That Have Been Removed

dhite — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 20:29:10 GMT

Here you will find a list of the three Windows server components that were removed from Microsoft Windows 2008 Server.

1. Backup to tape drives using NT Backup

2. NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol) is no longer part of Internet Information Services 7.0

3. Exchange backups. (NT Backup was replaced with VSS-based Windows Server Backup). Microsoft is pushing Data Protection Manager, but it requires dedicated backup drives.

Windows Server 2008 Learning Snacks

dhite — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:34:36 GMT

Want to learn more about Windows Server 2008, but are short on time? Learning Snacks are short, interactive presentations about popular Windows Server 2008 topics and have been created by Microsoft Learning experts. Each Snack is delivered by using innovative Microsoft Silverlight technology and includes various media, such as animations and recorded demos.

Introducing Branch Office Server in Windows Server 2008

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack01/Default.html

This free Snack describes the benefits that Windows Server 2008 provides for installing and maintaining a branch office network. It demonstrates the installation of a branch office network by using the new server core option. It also lists the benefits of Active Directory read-only domain controllers (RODCs) and BitLocker Drive Encryption.

Introducing Centralized Application Access in Windows Server 2008

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack02/Default.html

This free Snack explains the operational benefits of centralizing applications by using Windows Server 2008. It examines the benefits of Terminal Services. It lists ways to provide remote users with access to centralized applications by using Terminal Services Web Access. It also describes the requirements for providing a single sign-on for remote users.

Implementing Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2008

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack03/Default.html

This free Snack describes the new options available in Windows Server 2008 for installing and configuring Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) and auditing changes to it. It lists the features of read-only domain controllers (RODCs) and describes how to perform a nonauthoritative or an authoritative restore of AD DS data.

Implementing Network Access Protection in Windows Server 2008

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack04/Default.html

This free Snack describes the benefits of implementing Network Access Protection (NAP) in Windows Server 2008. It describes how to configure network and health policies for various types of clients. It identifies the options for configuring Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) enforcement for NAP and demonstrates the steps for testing a NAP implementation with DHCP enforcement.

Implementing Windows Server 2008 Security

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack05/Default.html

This free Snack examines and lists the features of Group Policy settings in Windows Server 2008. It demonstrates the steps for implementing Group Policy settings and the process of upgrading them. It also explains the purpose of security templates that can be imported into Group Policy settings.

Introducing Server Virtualization in Windows Server 2008

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack06/Default.html

This free Snack explains the new virtualization features in Windows Server 2008 and lists the system requirements. It also demonstrates the steps necessary to install Windows Server virtualization.

Green IT and Virtualization

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack07/Default.html

Organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental and business benefits of adopting a Green IT environment. This free Learning Snack highlights how virtualization facilitates a Green IT environment. It describes the Hyper-V server role and System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) tool, which help create and support a virtualized infrastructure in Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008 Learning Snacks Home Page:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/windowsserver2008/default.mspx#

Modifying The Domain Security Password Length Policy For Windows 2008 Server

dhite — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:14:19 GMT

Here you will find the steps necessary to modify the Domain Security password length policy for Windows 2008 Server.

Note: The following must be executed on the Windows 2008 Server.

To modify this behavior you must launch the Administrative Tools program group and follow the steps below:

1. Open the Group Policy Management console.

2. Expand Forest: DomainName.Com

3. Expand Domains and locate your DomainName.Com leaf.

4. Right mouse click on Default Domain Policy and from the context menu select “Edit”

5. Navigate to the following: Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Account Policies > Password Policy.

6. Double click on “Passwords must meet complexity requirements” and from the Security Policy Setting tab set the policy to “Disabled”

7. Select "OK" to initiate the change and close the dialog box.

Tip: To force the policy changes to take effect immediately from the command prompt run the following: GpUpdate /Force

You can also change the following as well if needed from the Domain Security Policy console:

Enforce password history

Maximum password age

Minimum password age

Minimum password length

Password must meet complexity requirements

Store passwords using reversible encryption

Modifying The Domain Security Password Length Policy

http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/dhite/archive/2008/01/20/modifying-the-domain-security-password-length-policy.aspx

Configuring Windows Server 2008 Remote Desktop Administration For Windows XP

dhite — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:01:05 GMT

When you install Windows server 2008 and attempt to connect to it via Remote Desktop from a Windows XP machine the connection may fail yet you can successfully connect to it from a Windows Vista machine.

This is because the configured option is set to use “Network Level Authentication” and since it is more secure you will not be able to connect to the server from a Windows XP machine.

Follow the steps below to initially set up your servers Remote Desktop to allow Windows XP machines to connect and manage it.

1. Open the Server Manager.

2. At the Server Summary task pane select “Configure Remote Desktop”.

3. From the Systems Properties dialog box in the “Remote Desktop” leaf select “Allow connections from computers running any version of one of Remote Desktop (Less secure)”

4. Select “OK” to set the changes and close the Server Manager.

Note: Windows XP uses Remote Desktop Connection 5.x and Vista uses 6.x with Network Level Authentication (NLA).

Windows Server 2008 Reviewers Guide

dhite — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:23:19 GMT

The short Windows Server 2008 Reviewers Guide is not too bad to read at 113 pages but the full version at 247 pages at times loads slow and is hard to navigate however there is a ton of great information in it.

To work around this issue I saved it as a Mht web page or a single web page (MHTML Document) and it loads faster and the hyperlinks are preserved which makes reading the document easier for me.

It also prevents the Microsoft Office Word dialog box from being displayed for the read only file which is a bonus.

Windows Server 2008 Reviewers Guide

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/2008/bb414776.aspx

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Present And Future Compatible Applications

dhite — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:19:53 GMT

Provided here you will find a list of the current and future applications that are or will be installable on Windows Server 2008 Standard, Enterprise and Web Server.

Compatible

Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5

Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 Beta

Microsoft Commerce Server 2007

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

Microsoft Dynamics GP 10 Service Pack 2

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2009

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 4.0 Service Pack 3

Microsoft Dynamics NAV 5.0 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Dynamics SL 7 FP1

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Forefront Client Security Service Pack 1

Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server with Service Pack 1

Microsoft Forefront Server Security for SharePoint with Service Pack 2

Microsoft Host Integration Server 2006 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Office Forms Server 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Office Groove Server 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Office Project Portfolio Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (32-bit operating systems)

Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 Service Pack 1 (Client and agent)

Microsoft PerformancePoint Server 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 2

Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007

Microsoft System Center Essentials 2007 Service Pack 1

Microsoft System Center Operations Manager Service Pack 1

Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager

Microsoft Virtual PC 2007

Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Windows Essential Business Server 2008

Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008

Microsoft Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Service Pack 1

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008

Microsoft Windows Storage Server 2008

Incompatible

Microsoft BizTalk 2004 and earlier

Microsoft Commerce Server 2002 and earlier

Microsoft Compute Cluster Server 2003

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 and earlier

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003

Microsoft Host Integration Server 2004 and earlier

Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 and earlier

Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007

Microsoft Speech Server 2004 R2

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and earlier

Microsoft System Center Reporting Manager 2006

Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003

How To Disable The Windows 2008 Server Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration

dhite — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 12:15:22 GMT

Here you will find information on how to disable Windows 2008 Server Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration.

1. Open the Server Manager.

2. At the Security Information task pane.

3. On the right hand side select “Configure IE ESC”.

4. At the Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration dialog box select either the “Administrators” or the “Users” option and select “Off” and then select “OK” to commit the changes and close the Server Manager applet.

Note: It is suggested that you set only the “Administrators” to “Off” and leave the “Users” set to “On (Recommended)”.