tmcd35

Should be fine to delete them. They are accounts for old user who have been deleted from AD. Most likely old technicians or network manager accounts. Also, no harm in just leaving them...

Found this guide here: https://mizitechinfo.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/simple-guide-how-to-rename-domain-name-in-windows-server-2012/ Doesn't look overly difficult but there seems to be a fair number of steps. Step 28 is going round each client and rejoining the domain - ouch Shame, our domain name is lovingly called 'chaos.local'. I hate it. Last network manager had a thing for greek gods and named the servers after them - grrr. I've since renamed all servers to something sensible but I stuck with that domain name - arrggghhhh!!!!!

Best practice, when you build the each new 2012 DC, would be to give it a computer name and IP that hasn't been used before by any DC. As for changing the domain name. Never tried. It's supposed to be pretty easy in 2012 onwards. My fear (and why I've never tried) is that clients will need rejoining under the new domain name - don't know if that's true or not, but would make sense so never tried - don't want to visit 400 computers and rejoin them to the domain.

At least one DC must contain a copy of the Global Catalog. My only interaction with it thus far has been a tick box when doing DCPROMO to make the DC contain a copy. Detail on the GC can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/cc728188(v=WS.10).aspx There are 5 FSMO roles. They equate to what would have been known as the Primary Domain Controller (PDC) in NT4 (and 2000?). Before you demote any server make sure the 5 roles are moved to the remaining server - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/223346/ And for ADPrepping prior to adding the first 2012 DC: Adprep in Windows Server 2012 - Active Directory Documentation Team - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

Totally not aware of what Ranger is or what effect it does/doesn't have on AD so not in a position to advise on that front. But in general - and for all the DC's have upgraded over the years, yes it's that simple. Not that it doesn't make me paranoid and nervous each time I do it. I should add - take a Windows Backup of the System Settings for bare metal recovery as a fail safe you hope you never need - before doing any demotions/promotions. Can't be too careful. The single most important step is the "Allow to replicate". Should happen automatically within about 4 hours, give or take. Definitely should be complete in 24 hours. I tend to leave servers at that stage for about 3 days because I'm paranoid something is going to go wrong. I tend to make all DC's have DNS and Global Catalog whether they need it or not. That way FSMO roles can sit on one server and I don't need to work out how to split them up between servers. So yep, should be that easy...

Just looked at our DNS and we don't have a _msdcs entry in that position at all!?! The _msdcs folder above the domain folder does have all our name servers listed. AFAIK, it's key to how DC servers communicate with one another and replicate. So yes, very much, they are needed. I'd do more research, and take under further advisement, but my gut instinct would be to demote any DC that is not listed, re-join it to the domain, and re-promote it. There are a ton of entries in those subfolders, I don't think putting them in manually is an option. There's probably a clever command line option that will avoid demoting and DC's but I don't know what it is...

What are the issues? Will they be replicated to a new domain controller when you add it to the domain? Might be worth sorting out the issues before upgrading the DC. In terms of process, it's typically... Move all FSMO roles to one DC (this DC must also have a copy of the Global Catalog) demote the other DC and remove from domain Prep the domain for a 2012 controller build new DC and join domain, make sure it has global catalog and dns Let it replicate move FSMO roles to new DC demote and remove other DC raise domain function level build other DC with 2012. I tend to run DHCP on it's own server, just because...virtualisation (why not?) IMHO, it's best practice that all DCs should be running DNS locally.

The rail industry wouldn't take so much cash. Not sure of the economics of the energy industry. The rail networks are all on limited franchises, just don't renew them when they are next up. No need for any government buyouts. I don't know the logistics but in principle I'm in favour of renationalising nation infrastructure industries and running them as independent not for profit organisations for the benefit of the people rather than shareholders wallets.

I think there is a fine line between a state Academy and an Independent school. With many MATs and Free Schools I think the Tory's are purposefully blurring, if not crossing, that line. I personally think Academies in general are good for schools, I agree we have benefited here from more local control and less LA interference. But on the other hand I'm not comfortable with the idea of private companies running state schools.

So the Tory's haven't yet worked out what caused the housing bubble in the first place? Talk about stoking the fire!

Bit of a strange one. Noticed unusually high bandwidth use on our Smoothwall. Looked at the live web log and noticed on machine constantly polling https://classflow.com. It appears Classflow is a new(?) service offered by Promethean and the latest (?) Active Inspire is trying to connect to it, ad infinitum. I've tried deleting the server address from the active inspire setting but the machine still constantly insists on making a connection to this address. The teacher doesn't really know what it is and doesn't really want to create an account. Anyone come across this before and know of a solution, bar uninstalling Active Inspire (which would please me, not the teacher)? Thanks

What is the path my documents is redirected to?

I saw this a few months back. Definately eye opening and great to watch as someone who works in IT and has the benefit of, as @Dos_Box says, 37 years hindsight. Just did a quick google search and current production yelds are estimated to hover around 60% so only a 40% failure rate now - progress! Still no paperless office though...

would md "%homepath%\SavedGames\Boku\Player 1" work?

Spoilers? At last Michael Caine reveals ending to the Italian Job - Telegraph

Whats your major malfunction numb... This is my rifle, this is my gun, this is for fighting, this is for fun Man, I need to see this again, it's been awhile.

Same, 6.32 build 6 - copyright till 2015, so suggests it's up to date...

if you try... mstsc /admin and use a domain administrators account to login, what happens?

That's interesting, I've just done the Spring update but ours seems to be an older version of Nova-T, v.1.625.2.0?

for what its worth, ours is dated 5/12/14.

On your SIMS server you should have an AdminData shared folder. In that folder under SIMS/Setups should be an install for NovaSatelliteSetup. You will also need a Licence file. I used the MLICENCE.DAT file found in SIMS/SNOVA/NT6 in the same AdminData share.

Hate to ask a silly question - but what was wrong with just re-running the originals (or better still Captain Scarlet, that was my favourite!)

From what I remember from when we converted a lot depends on whether or not you actually get a new DFE number or not. We retained our old DFE number on conversion so we're technically still the same school so our existing database just rolled over. I vaguely remember some suggestions that had our DFE number changed we would have had to repurchase SIMS from Capita (ouch!). If your DFE number changes then, AFAIK, the data belongs to the LEA (assuming your currently an LA maintained school). The rights to the data should be included in transfer documents (along with things like the actual buildings, staff, etc) when you convert from maintained to academy.

To follow on from @Norphy's excellent answer - if you are licensed for Datacenter then you can install any edition of any version of Windows server from 2003 up to the version equal to you Datacenter. So... Server 2008R2 Datacenter can install 2003 Standard/Enterprise, 2008 Standard/Enterprise/Datacenter, 2008R2 Standard/Enterprise/Datacenter - but nothing newer without additional licencing. Server 2012R2 Datacenter can install any 2003/2008/2008R2/2012/2012R2 in Standard/Enterprice/Datacenter on the VM's. It's extremely flexible, all you need is enough Datacenter licenses to cover your physical CPU's for the latest version of Windows you want to use in a VM.