albertwt

cmiiw, SQL Server (whatever the edition) is always licensed per CPU sockets ? so if we assigned 4vCPU into this VM do we only pay for the physical CPU sockets ?

Hi All, My ESXi Specs: Dual QuadCore Xeon @ 2.33 GHz (2 x 4 Core) 32 GB DDR2 RAM Running about 22 VMs I’ve got a strange problem, How come my ESXi got so large swap file size ~ approx. 3.5 GB while the amount of total RAM is still not 100 % used. I've assigned the following specs as in the screenshot (4 vCPU for better performance). Can anyone explains why this VM still using swap file? FYI: The VMware tools is not installed in this VM. When I look at the Guest memory % usage it doesn't make sense to me that this host running slow due to the Swap file created (ESXi swap as well as the Internal VM swap file). The VM that i highlighted is the slowest with big swap file created. --> See the screenshot attached. Thanks, Albert

Hi All, My company where I'm working on is quite small (less than 60 users) Software house, ranging from Dell laptop and HP desktop some of them installed with Windows XP and Windows Vista OEM licenses, To simplify the hardware I'm thinking to get 60x Windows 7 Professional VM using Open License for just once off payment (not yearly subscription) on the VMWare ESXi and they can just remote desktop into those VM while the existing workstation is clean reinstall back to the factory settings. The VM Server host specs: two of Dell R710 Intel E5500 @ 2.66 GHz with 32 GB RAM (each holding 30 VMs) Dell MD3000i iSCSI SAN with 15k rpm 14x300 GB RAID-5 Benefits: 1. Centralized environment 2. Rather than worrying about broken workstation hardware and maintaining it, every person can just bring their own hardware into the office :-o) 3. Simplify backup The licensing scheme: 1. Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Edition --> for creating unlimited Windows Server VM approx. USD $ 2000 per CPU sockets 2. VMware Technology Alliance partner Not For Resale license --> approx. USD $5000 annually 3. Windows 7 Professional Open License greement (once off payment only). Would that be a good idea for a developer to remote desktop into the VM, while their laptop can be use for something else (eg. playing music or browsing the web) any thought and comments would be greatly appreciated here. Thanks AWT

ok, here's what I've found: all XP and Vista OS qualify to Windows 7 upgrade: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/default.aspx?applyTTTracking=true Licensing for small organizations: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/#tab=2 Open License Entry-level program that allows you to start using software immediately and pay as you go. Recommended for small organizations. Therefore I shall negotiate with the MS Regional office for getting OL as all of my current HP/Dell workstations got OEM Win XP and Vista licenses.

Hi All, Can anyone here clarify or share the knowledge in getting the Unlimited Virtualization right for All Windows Virtual machine by just getting "Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter Edition" according to the number of CPU socket ? I'm about to get the License for my current VMware ESXi host so that i can deploy any version of Windows (XP, 7, Server 2003-2008) as many as possible after getting the license once off only (not paying annually every 3 years - MS Open Value ?) Any suggestion and comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Haha.. Yes Man, I also think same like you do, we are just a small/medium company here, if we have to pay such a big amount of $ It just doesn't make sense. Since we've got various hardware around that is still using Windows XP: Software Engineer got PC/Desktop (HP) Business Analyst got laptop (Dell) Director got both PC and Laptop (Mixed of Dell and HP) it would be a headache to lock the BIOS for OEM :-| therefore once off payment is acceptable since in the next 3 years i doubt that there is any newer WIndows 8 :-) The reason I initiate this is that we are a Microsoft Partner and we've entitled for 10 licenses of Win 7, I've installed them all in my company and all of those 10 users were so lucky, now the rest also want to have Windows 7 too, now this is where the headache comes :-|

Hi All, May I know what is the best way to get Windows 7 Professional deployment license which is economical for SME (less than 60 PC). Does MS Software Assurance covers the license for a small comapny under 50 user ? Thanks, Albert

That is why it is more make sense to get the Windows Server Data Center Edition for Unlimited VM deployment just once off payment of per physical CPU socket and hassle free :-)

Hi All, I've just realized that Powershell 2.0 is already final and out URL: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=909bbcf1-bd78-4e03-8c83-69434717e551 because when I go to that website and performing download and install it works successfuly. I've got WSUS deployed but don't know why it is not installed by default to all of my Windows Server 2003 I wonder if this can be used in Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 x64 environment, Does anyone recommend it or not ? how to deploy it companywide without having to manually install it through remote desktop. Thanks.

I manage to disable the "Network Location Awareness" service. and so far the server is now ping-able and TCP traffic can go both ways (including email). but strangely this problem occured after I restarted the server as always, therefore if I'm stuck again I'll have to force reset and hope that this problem pass away (>_<)"

Hi All, I'm now struggling with my Exchange Server 2007 SP1 (RU 3) box which also serving as DC + GC (5 FSMO role all in one). This is not SBS 2003, it is on Standard Edition which comes with the Dell 2950 Server. At the moment I am able to login under safe mode but the Exchange Server 2007 cannot serve Outlook 2007 Client. It always stuck on the "Applying Computer Settings..." therefore i have to reset the server several times, any idea to help me login (apart from the safe mode) would be greatly appreciated. after looong time it finally able to get into the logon window, there is one problem though still remains, that is I can ping to outside world and check email from local OWA interactively, but this Server is not ping-able ? Thanks.

Hi SYNACK, I've managed to downloaded the MBSA but somehow it failed to run with the "The catalog file is damaged or an invalid catalog. " anyway, I tried to stop the WUAUSERV service and then delete the content of "C:\WINDOWS\SoftwareDistribution\Download" the download is now working fine. it seems that the download directory got corrupted ? [b]Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB930178) (update 1 of 69)... failed![/b] Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB932168) (update 2 of 69)... done! Downloading Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB927891) (update 3 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB924667) (update 4 of 69)... done! Downloading Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express for Windows Server 2003 (KB929123) (update 5 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB926122) (update 6 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Microsoft .NET Framework, Version 1.1 Service Pack 1 (KB933854) (update 7 of 69)... done! Downloading Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB936357) (update 8 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB943460) (update 9 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB944653) (update 10 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB941569) (update 11 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB946026) (update 12 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB943055) (update 13 of 69)... done! Downloading Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB948496) (update 14 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB945553) (update 15 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB950762) (update 16 of 69)... failed! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB951748) (update 17 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Outlook Express for Windows Server 2003 (KB951066) (update 18 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB952954) (update 19 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB950974) (update 20 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB958644) (update 21 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB955069) (update 22 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB957097) (update 23 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB952069) (update 24 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB956802) (update 25 of 69)... done! Downloading Security Update for Windows Server 2003 (KB925902) (update 26 of 69)...

Michael thanks for the reply, unfortunately there is no obvious error in the eventviewer apart from the following which i reckon not related: Event Type: Error Event Source: UserInit Event Category: None Event ID: 1000 Date: 25/01/2010 Time: 10:57:03 AM User: N/A Computer: VMWS05 Description: Could not execute the following script \\domain.com\SysVol\domain.com\Policies\{06A10425-F942-48B7-BA1C-BC4ECEC4977D}\Machine\Scripts\Startup\pushprinterconnections.exe. . For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp. Event Type: Error Event Source: UserInit Event Category: None Event ID: 1000 Date: 25/01/2010 Time: 10:56:43 AM User: N/A Computer: VMWS05 Description: Could not execute the following script pushprinterconnections.exe. . For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp. See the attached screenshot, there is no obvious error message related to WSUS ?

Hi All, I'm now experiencing a very hard to understand situation, this is happening on my newly reinstall Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 Standard on 32 bit platform. I've installed SP2 and IE 8 manually and then initiate the Windows Update from the website but it always failed, see the following attached log. I've activated this copy of Windows and also join this to the domain. any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi ittech, how do you perform the test after restore to different hardware ?

Hi All, I've just restore my Exchange Server 2007 image which also serving DC+GC and all 5x FSMO role into a server with different hardware using Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery 2010 With the "Restore Anyware" the server was boot up as if it were just clean installed (no drivers and such), so I'm worried about the integrity of this Windows Server 2003 after the restore. at the moment I haven't tried to connect the restored server into the network yet as the backup was taken using the last night full backup (I know the mail client would be conflicting if this server gets into network). the server was just restarted and now in the Exchange Server Console it complaints cannot find domain.com and also cannot find hub transport server ? how could this happens ? the server it self should know that it contains everything (HT-CAS-MBx role) and also DC + GC and 2nd DNS. my next step is to connect a laptop directly into it and see if it can authenticate and do direct cable connection (patch) may i know what sort of test that i should do to make sure that Exchange Server service and AD components working fine ?

Hi All, I’m having problem in migrating offline VM from my ESXi 4.0 which is run on my Dell Server with Xeon 54xx series into Pentium 4 and Core 2 Duo Desktop running ESXi 4.0 u1 the error message is like the attached screenshot. This is very strange as I was able to create new 64 bit VM from scratch in those “desktop” ESXi but when I migrate offline VM of the same OS it failed ? For 32 bit VM this is not the problem, can anyone explains what may cause this problem ? Note: I’ve enabled EM64T in the BIOS on certain Pentium D processor and Core 2 Duo E8400 CPU but it is still failed. Thanks

How about using Spiceworks v4.5 ?

Hi All, i usually issue a command line shutdown.exe -r -m \\targetNAME -f -t 1 or use DShutdown from http://dimio.altervista.org/eng/ HTH

Hi All, I've installed and deployed Windows Server 2003 x64 R2 SP2 AD domain controller with GC and Windows 2000 Domain Functionality level, In this server I run DNS and DHCP services, everything works out well but somehow when some of the client got new IP address the DNS entries is not cleaned / updated in the AD Integrated DNS service console, therefore this caused problem when i try to remote desktop into a certain PC, and also problem when the non windows VM (Linux) got assigned through DHCP, it will be associated with wrong name. Can anyone provide assistance in this matter please ? Thanks.

Hi Dean yes I know that it is not a recommended config. but that was a legacy install previously from the day we have one windows server only. To Mike, yes you're right I skipped one empty unused partition and reordering the partition layout the target server was installed with esxi before and it adds additional difficulty since symantec doesn't recognized the partitions.

Hi Mike, Thank you very much for your response, I'm doing server migration from ServerA into ServerB using Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery 2010, it can captures the whole set of the partitions as the backup image and i can restore it into different hardware, this is more like a direct cutover approach, but hten it failed for some unknown reason, when the Windows boot up, it keeps restarting after showing the progress bar.

Hi All, I'm about to downsize my Exchange Server 2007 SP1 which is also resides in my Domain Controller, it is now using less than 400 GB spread across 4 different partitions: 1. Dell utility partition 50 MB 2. C:\ OS 50 GB 3. D:\ Database 200 GB 4. F:\ Empty 0 MB 5. L:\ TransactionLOG 800 MB it is now installed on 5x400 GB SAS 10k rpm RAID 5, PERC 6/i SCSI controller The target server is the same specs but the Hard Disk is 2x 400 GB SAS 10k RPM RAID 1 - SAS 6/i which give me around 378 GB of usable space. But then after the restore process, my OS is infinitely restarting ? I didn't check restore anyware I've also restore each partitions using "Restore Disk signature" options already and only mark the C drive partitions as boot/active ? Does this because i skipped the Dell Utility partitions or SCSI controller issue :-|

Hi All, I Installed Acronis Disk Director Suite 10.1 yesterday on my Windows 7 Pro x86 and got this problem when it boots up I get the option to choose OS.: Windows failed to start. A Recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem: 1. Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer. 2. Choose your langugae settings, and then click next 3. Click "repair your computer." [b]Status: 0xc000000e Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.[/b] Then I tried to run the Windows 7 installation disk, I go to the cmd prompt and run the [i]diskpart list disk select Disk X[/i] (X=disk where I installed all the OS, should be Disk 0) [i]list partition select Partition X [/i] (X=partition containing OSX) [b]Virtual Disk Service error: The pack is not online[/b] and then i run the Bootrec /ScanOS, it came with bootrec /scanOs result total identified windows installations: 0, this is why I come into the cmd prompt as I could not select the installed OS :-| Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I don't have a test env. with me as we are a medium office of 50 users. Unfortunately this Exchange Server 2007 is installed in my DC + FSMO holder, the configuration is simple HT - CAS - MBx all in one server. I've read so many "horror" stories in failed services here and there about upgrading with rollup and SP. thanks for the reply.