Ivan Versluis June 8th, 2008
SQL Server 2008 delivers on Microsoft’s Data Platform vision by helping your organization manage any data, any place, any time. It enables you to store data from structured, semi-structured, and unstructured documents, such as images and music, directly within the database. SQL Server 2008 delivers a rich set of integrated services that enable you to do more with your data such as query, search, synchronize, report, and analyze. Your data can be stored and accessed in your largest servers within the data center all the way down to desktops and mobile devices, enabling you to have control over your data no matter where it is stored. SQL Server 2008 enables you to consume your data within custom applications developed using Microsoft .NET and Visual Studio and within your service-oriented architecture (SOA) and business process through Microsoft BizTalk Server while information workers can access data directly in the tools they use every day, such as the 2007 Microsoft Office system. SQL Server 2008 delivers a trusted, productive, and intelligent data platform for all your data needs.
Before you evaluate and install Microsoft SQL Server 2008 on a Windows Server 2003 server please make sure the following requirements are available:
If you are ok with those than go and install the SQL server 2008. My installation took me 15 minutes and the performance was awesome within a Virtual Server 2005 R2 virtual machine. Check out my screencast with installation screenshots.
Tags: 2008, installation, machine, Screencast, server, sql, virtual
Ivan Versluis April 23rd, 2008
If you manage multiple computer systems than BgInfo tool from Microsoft (formal SysInternals) is the right tool to display relevant computer information (CPU,Hostname, IP/DNS/DHCP/Default Gateway, Memory,Disk,etc.) of the system. I am using this tool on all my virtual and physical host machines to identify what kind of system I am logged on. You can implement different background colors and identify type of machine your are working on. For example use RED for physical host machines; BLUE for virtual machines and YELLOW for lab machines. Couple years ago I also implemented this tool and used the corporate wallpaper on 500+ desktop clients; we also included the numbers of helpdesk and other important information.
Picture 1. BgInfo Netowknet Wallpaper
Below I will summarize 10 steps how to download, configure and prepare your system with Networknet BgInfo template.
- Download the tool from Microsoft website here; open the the zip file
- Copy BgInfo.exe to C:\Windows
- Run BgInfo.exe to register the .bgi extentions
- Download my Bgi file from http://www.networknet.nl/apps/content/Networknet.bgi
- Open Networknet.bgi file and modify if needed; save the file to C:\Windows like bginfo.bgi
- Right click BgInfo.exe and select “Create Shortcut”
- Right click the BgInfo.exe - Shortcut and change the target to C:\Windows\Bginfo.exe c:\windows\bginfo.bgi /timer:0; click OK
- Copy the shortcut
- Goto C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
- Paste the shortcut
Tags: BgInfo, computer, desktop, howto, information, installation, visual, wallpaper
Ivan Versluis April 9th, 2008
Today I scheduled to move some components of one of the file servers I was using to another one and remove this 4U server from the rack. Another Dell PowerEdge 2600 was waiting to get those components installed. I added the memory, harddisks and the second Intel Xeon 2.4 GHZ CPU and I than turn on the server. The server started but no input on the tft monitor . Hhm I than started to remove one by one of the new components I installed into the system. First memory than harddisks and in the end I removed the second installed CPU and the system boot. I than add memory and harddisks and server come up again.
So I ended with this second CPU and the server did not boot if it was installed. I started to google and basically did not find anything in the right direction. My last option was Dell support website and I logged on with my registered account, located the system with System tag and went to the servers documentation. After reading for couple of minutes in the Microprocessor Upgrade Kit Contents section I realized I had forgot to add the VRM .
What is VRM??
VRM is the voltage regulator module that senses the microprocessor’s voltage requirements and ensures that the correct voltage is maintained.
I installed the VRM module in the second VRM connector and booted the system. It detected my second installed cpu ;).
Two 2.4 GHZ Processors, Processor Bus: 400 MHz, L2 cache 512 KB Advanced
Tags: 2600, cpu, Dell, installation, poweredge, vrm
Ivan Versluis March 25th, 2008
Before you start downloading the SP1 package check your Windows Vista version. To find out which edition you are running, click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties. In the System section, you can view the operating system under System type. If you are installing SP1 from an installation disc, the correct version will install automatically.
Currently I am running 64-bit Operating System of Windows Vista. Download the Windows Vista SP1 Standalone update: x64 | x86
Select the language and download installation package.
After the download has completed locate the Windows6.0-KB936330-X86-wave0.exe file and exceute the SP1 update. Make sure there is enough free space on your computer’s hard disk to install the service pack. The 32-bit SP1 requires a minimum of 7 gigabytes (GB) of free space; the 64-bit SP1 requires a minimum of 13 GB of free space. Click Run if you get a security warning and click continue if UAC is enabled.
Click Next
I unchecked “Automatically restart the computer” and click Install
Click Restart. Vista will reboot and it will some more minutes to finish the update.
Installation of Service Pack 1 was successful. I tried to install the beta versions before and as posted the installation failed each time.
Tags: installation, kb939330, screenshot, sp1, update, vista, Windows
Ivan Versluis March 4th, 2008
The following example will help you to quickly provision an Active Directory domain in vm or other lab environments. The provision of domain controller can be controlled and reproduced same way as before. Copy the text below and create new text file named ad.txt.
[DCInstall]
AdministratorPassword =P@SSWORD1
CreateOrJoin = Create
DomainNetBiosName = 70-296
NewDomainDNSName = 70-296.net
RebootOnSuccess = Yes
ReplicaOrNewDomain = Domain
SiteName = “Default-First-Site”
InstallDNS=yes
ConfirmGc=Yes
TreeOrChild = Tree
UserName=Administrator
Password=P@SSWORD1
Review the local administrator password and open a cmd shell on your Windows Server. Run dcpromo /answer:ad.txt. In the example answer file I automatically install the DNS server; make sure the Windows Server source cd-rom is available locally or in a cd drive.
For more options go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/223757/en-us or http://www.petri.co.il/unattended_installation_of_active_directory.htm.
After the reboot and logon with Domain Administrator account I verify the installation with ADUC (dsa.msc) console.
The Active Directory domain was successfully installed. Using the answer file I am able to redo my lab environments and prepare myself for production deployments.
Tags: answer, automate, dcromo, domain controller, howto, installation, Script
Ivan Versluis February 6th, 2008
Today I installed my first Windows Server 2008 RTM release in ESX3i. My MSDN subscription helped me to active the server ;-). The performance of the guest is pretty good.
For more details check out my screencast.
Tags: ESX, installation, screenshots, Windows Server 2008
