Run dsa.msc in 2008 windows server

Run dsa.msc in 2008 windows server

A simple but effective command used by hundreds of thousands domain administrators and other tech support and server management personal was to run the command dsa.msc from the command line or from the start run menu. This tool was taken out of the default installation for windows 20087 server. This is an interesting change and one that must have a logical cause behind it. The first of which is security.

That topic is not in the scope of this post. What is in the scope is how to get it back . To get the dsa.msc command back into member 2008 server is quite easy. The image in this post shows the options that should be selected to re-enable dsa.msc to run from a member server. The installation takes only minutes and doesn't require a reboot of the server.

How Some Companies Do Support.: VMWare - Virtualization Support

How Some Companies Do Support.: VMWare - Virtualization Support

The few instances where I needed to conatct VMWare support for assistance on a project, they did a decet job. Although they, and all other vendors, tout having the best support and are commited to making their users happy, it always depends and varies dependng on who you get when you call in and what is the current support queue length they are working off of.

A tired and understaffed support group no matter whose it is will always be less effective than a support department that is fresh and not over-worked (over baked), ready to break dowa or are disgruntled about their work conditions.

Then, there is the other factor of who you get. Although I'm not apposed to getting a new support person when I call in to a company for support, I do mind if they are not into the techonogy or interested in solving the issue at hand. I like and don;t mind if put on hold so they can consult with another person except times where time is more critical for the project and that added wait time can come back to hurt the project goals.

On the other side of the spectrum is the support staff members who have been at the company many years or doing the same job or technology fo a long time and not only know a great deal but are grumpy about it. The experienced grumpy that thinks you should have already known much of the information they are providing and aslto they dispence a subtle talk down. This is the worste. Worse that the new support agent or support engineer. Although they know a lot of the product and technology, the more sadists ones will use that as a torcher device. Not providing all the information, especially and particularly in the form of gotchas in design or implementation.

Remote Support

A simple process that could take an experineced person several minutes to maybe ten can turn into an hour with a person on the remote side that has no idea of how to perform the functions that you are requesting or have never even seen a command line or rarely use the right-click feature of their mouse.

Live Chat Support

Backup Exec 12 - Exchange 2007 Email Notification

Backup Exec 12 Not Sending Email Notification through Exchange 2007
#550 5.7.1 RESOLVER.RST.AuthRequired; authentication required

Diagnostic information for administrators:
Generating server: exchange.yourdomain.local
#550 5.7.1 RESOLVER.RST.AuthRequired; authentication required ##
Original message headers:

When you're encountering a problem sending Backup Exec 12 email notification alerts through an Exchange 2007 server, check the following

Test that you can access port 25 (SMTP port number) on the Exchange server by using telnet.

telnet ip-address-of-exchange-server 25
ehlo domainname.gr
mail from:backup@domainname.gr
rcpt to:administrator@domainname.gr
data
backup exec
.

Your will then get a confirmation the mail has been queued for delivery

If the mail gets delivered you know port 25 in not blocked or restricted in any way you have permission to send e-mail.

If you do not connect, check to see if there is any software blocking the connection like software or hardware firewalls. Antivirus programs now come with firewall features to stop worms from sending out email from the computer they are infecting. Stop the services and try again. Once you have successfully telneted and sent the test email but backup exec still does not send email notifications then check the following.

The Backup Exec software might not be authenticating properly so be sure you have used an actual real email address with an active domain account as the sender address. The name is a description and can be anything but the email address has to an account in the domain - Exchange wants it that way. If you already have an active domain account as the sender address in backup exec, like administrator@domainname.gr, check the account's inbox and look for NDR (non-delivery reports as they may provide an important clue to why your email not being delivered.

Other tools that are handy to utilize when troubleshooting this problem is the the transport receive logs in exchange, they will determine if the email has even been received by the exchange server. When email is accepted into the Exchange email organization by the transport server (it could be the same server as the mailbox server), it will be logged. A simple log generated by exchange is very useful for problems such as this one.

Another tool I often used for determining if a program is trying to communicate information to another system over the network is a simple little program call Active Ports. This is a free program hat show you the running processes and what they are doing in terms of sending or receiving data. It has a very small foot print and installs in seconds so it is worth a look at. You can accomplish the same thing with a command line command but this GUI based tool gives you nearly realtime information which is important for something like SMTP send that could take only less than a second to occur.

The NDR information shown at the top of this email is an example of what someone was getting when they called for assistance. After going through the regular trouble shooting options as discussed above for determining the problem. If you are reading this you most likely have Symantec Backup Exec 12 and Exchange 2007. The way Backup Exec sends their email notifications has not changed in years and version 12 or 12.5 has also not changed. the new culprit is Exchange 2007. There are some additional security options included in the groups and users that are implemented through the domain schema update that has to be run in order to install Exchange 2007. One of those new options is in the domain group properties especially if you are using a distribution list to send the notification to. Uncheck the option to authenticate all users in group. That was the cure for the problem described in the NDR report shown at the beginning of this blog.

Server Error in '/owa/auth' Application - Outlook Web Access

Server Error in '/owa/auth' Application.
Runtime Error

Among other error messages received while trying to get Outlok Web Access working on IIS6/Exchange 2007 , this one was the worste:

Server Error in '/owa/auth' Application. Runtime Error

The reason it was one of the worst ones was because I knew I was close. Close to getting the thing working and after already trying so many things to make Outlook Web Access work from the Internet or an external computer and on the internal LAN network, this was the final hurrah to the trouble.

I checked the web for answers and hit so many forums with guru after guru after wan-be guru. Even the forums that charge to allow you to see the answers. You know the ones. They want you to pay a yearly subscription to see answers to questions. Yes they have answers to a lot of things but so many times you can tell the guys answering are giving the quickest cheesiest answers they can and hope they score the points for the answer.

They didn't have the answer. The usual spay of links to Microsoft technet and other places were there but no one had the answer. I found it myself. Trial and error and yes this server was hot - there were people waiting to use it.

Outlook web access for Exchange 2007. IIS6 running the front end OWA. This is a recipe for trouble don't you think? Things don't change and people who've been around know that the more complex the OS and services get, the more complex the problem. There are times you can throw some old fashioned techniques into the problem and score a win.

Trouble shooting this OWA Exchange 2003 problem was a brute force attack. I knew that at some point the right combination of security and permissions settings would hit and they did. Struggling to get outlook web access to work from external or the Internet but see it working on the LAN or internal network then try this. Don't be scared. Exchange has some new features that will put things right as Exchange 2007 actually manages Outlook web Access directory security from the web browser. Also, it isn't working anyway that's why your reading this. IIS manages the web site but exchange is looking out on the Outlook web access folder and everything else structure underneath.

All the folders under OWA need to not have the cog look. They should look like folders. If your have the cogs, get rid of them. How? Right click them one at a time and then at the bottom of the default property page it should read OWA but greyed out. the next field should read script and executables not greyed out and the last field, application pool, should be greyed out too. Now each of the fields should have in them Application Name: OWA , Execute Permissions : Scripts and Executables and the last, Execute Permissions: MSExchageDefualtAppPool.

All the folders underneath OWA should say the same thing in these three fields. You may be asking, what about directory security? What do I put there? Put anything you like. Exchange is managing that portion of it and will change whatever you do there anyway.

This solution also fixed these errors too:

• Outlook Web Access encountered an unexpected error and was unable to handle your request.
• Page canot be displayed Internal server error .
• Url: http://exchange.yourdomain.com/owa/auth/error.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/owa/auth/logon.aspx
  

For one of the best spyware removers that I've used, check out this post - SupperAntiSpyware - Desktop support at work . I used to use Adaware SE but after several disappointements with it, I searched and found another product. This one also has a free version, installs faster, works faster, has a smaller foot print, and most importantly - works much better. The few times this program had trouble removing any malware I used combofix.exe in conjuntion but that is rare. Superantipyware alone has done the job many times.

For online remote desktop support software try this site - http://www.4remotesupport.com. They have a very inexpensive solution for remote control access of client computers, desktops and servers. Contol host keyboard and mouse online, work as if you're there and provide remote support through the web. Tehir solution even works on the LAN or the web, same account, same low cost.

Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG): NetGear PS121 USB to Ethernet Network

Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG): NetGear PS121 USB to Ethernet Network

Make any standard USB printer a network printer with this inexpensive USB to network converter. Share your desktop printer with all computers on your home or small office network without having to buy more printers. With this PS, you can stop having to leave computers on just so other desktop computers on the network can acces the USB attached shared printers. Share them and keep your computer off and save power without even needing a dedicated server to do it.

Source blog home - Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG)

Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG): Computer Desktop and Server Management

Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG): Computer Desktop and Server Management

The list is short for companies and software that could offer the managed service software that kaseya can offer. At an affordable price, you could offer support services beyond that of the break/fix business model.

Offer them more at a steady contract price without having to even be onsite to implement and also reduce onsite visits and panic calls. With Kaseya computer desktop, server, and all network device management software, you could know about problems even before your customers do. In addition, you could offer backup solutions through imaging software built right into Kaseya and also get a robust ticketing system and remote control appication to remotely access your clients computers and provide real time support.

Kaseya is capable of automating and remotely manage the following key IT services:

• PC Remote Control/Remote Support


• Patch Management


• Kaseya Computer Audit and Discovery


• Remote Desktop Management


• LAN and Windows Monitoring


• Help Desk and Trouble Ticketing


• Software Deployment & Systems Management


• Network Policy Management


• Backup and Disaster Recovery


• Anti-Virus/Anti-Spyware Detection


• Cross Platform Support (PC and MAC)


• User State Management


• Power Management
  

Kaseya - Minimum system requirements

Backup and disaster recovery has components and is driven by Acronis. Other posts related to Acronis at http://pctechnow.blogspot.com/ and http://pctechgo.blogspot.com/ .

Online Remote Support Software

Online Remote Support Software

Microsoft LiveMeeting has a new version and some great new features to go with it.

Sign-up for a demo:

LiveMeeting Demo

Read White Paper:

Conferencing and Collaboration White Paper

LiveMeeting Conferencing also for Tech Support.

Demo: Microsoft Office Live Meeting

The best I've found to get to the numerous support calls that can inundate the day is to access computers remotely through the web. The number of clients that you or your organization may have will increase not decrease. So the number of small and large computer problems increases along with the customer base. Computer remote support software gives technicians and support specialists the opportunity to get to more problems quicker and easier. Computer remote support software has enabled my company to grow their customer base without having to add additional technicians to support them.

Since we access their computers remotely, we are able to get to more of the computer desktop and server support tickets within the same amount of time or less. Software for desktop remote support has enabled our company to grow faster than before. We can access clients computers to get to their problems without them waiting for a technician to arrive on-site to address the location.

Microsoft LiveMeeting is one of the best tools available for both conferencing and for remote computer access to allow meeting online and for supporting our computer products with having to accrue the charges associated with actually going to a customer or prospective clients office to demonstrate a new product or solution.


Demo: Microsoft Office Live Meeting

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/livemeeting/HA102403231033.aspx

SupperAntiSpyware - Desktop support at work.

SUPERAntiSpyware - AntiAdware, AntiSpyware,AntiMalware


My Review And Opinion:
Highly recommend it for removing malware and viruses from desktop systems.


The name of this product and their icons for the box image and the application once installed look and feel like the badware programs they are trying to remove from desktops. When I first encoutnered this products, I was in desperate need of a tool that would remove some programs (trojans, browser hi-jackers, root-kits like QoolAid) from a desktop that was so badly poluted that the normal programs that I used as part of a set of tools for removing such said programs were not doing the job.

After searching our to find other solutions, I came a cross a forum that recomended this program to remove really engrained and harmfull stuff. Thjose of you who have chased viruses and bad ware in the past have come to realize that one tool is not enough, and the baguys are always improving their means and effecientcy at which they can inject their garbagee onto another computer.

I was a big fan of AdAware SE before I met this little program called SUPERAntiSpyware. Ad- Aware just didn't remove everything and after each and every reboot, the pop-ups wopuld occur again. If the reboot didn't re-infect it again, the starting of IE would (I had no choice but to use IE on this and other desktops in this clients office - NO FireFox option).

There are hundreds of thousands of viruses and Trojans just waiting to infect an unsuspecting visitor to a website. Many times these are just people who are looking to find music or other harmful things online. A simple search for kids cloths could land an unsuspecting visitors to a web site that within an instant, has infected their computer desktop and in no time at all, the computer becomes unusable. I've seen it over and over again.

When I first tried this program I actually thought from the name and look, it was going to be malware itself and I'd be looking to remove it too. After trying several programs (suggested by the wizards on various computer support forums), I found that there are indeed too many bogus programs that say they're going to clean up your computer and then turn out to actually infect it further.

See more and larger program screen shots here

This program works great and it works fast. Their are options to the type of scan to perform but even an average user can install and have it running in minutes. Their free version doesn't due real-time scanning but for a quick clean and fix, it works great. I do recommend purchasing the real time scanner to provide constant protection. I carry it on my USB drive so I'm ready to use this little gem of a program to clean computer when needed.

For a previous related post on software for PC and desktop remote access for support: http://pcremotesupport.blogspot.com/2006/04/access-pcs-on-web-for-support.html

For computer remote support software see this post: http://desktopremotesupport.blogspot.com/2005/11/desktop-remote-support.html , Provide PC remote support affordably with web based pc remote support software.

Add extra logon tracking to Windows 2003 server without third party utilities. Sometimes your intruder threats come frm inside your network - http://www.bloglines.com/blog/Puppet?id=120 . Technology Support Blog : http://www.bloglines.com/blog/Puppet?id=120

Netgear GA311 Works On Vista

Netgear has always been one of my most favorite computer network hardware companies. To me, they are a quiet and steady company that produces good quality products at a fair price. They're not full of fluff or hype. They don't over extend themselves too far like other companies do when trying to be all things to everyone, reaching into every market corner they can get into.

They have, over the years manufactured and produced reliable hardware and they continue to do so. In a prior post I mentioned that they had a retail network card the GA311, a gigabit card, that had printed on its retail box "Vista capable". I purchased this card from the retail store because it was the only one that even had VISTA written on it. The card didn't come with desktop software drivers but did have on it a link to their web site from which you can download the drivers for Vista but this was not true. The page on their site stated that Vista comes with the drivers needed already on the Vista media. It probably does but my Vista wasn't doing the right thing and the card did not work. I found in their support knowledge base forum that others were also having an issue with this card and lack of drivers.

Netgear did the right thing for their customers. After a about a week, they posted their drivers for download from their web site and they worked perfectly. Way to go Netgear!

So for anyone who may have come across this post either by researching whether the Netgear GA311 works on Vista or not before buying, I want to tell you to go ahead and BUY BUY BUY! The GA311 works on Vista. There aren't enough network cards compatible with Microsoft Vista yet and many old cards may not even get a new driver thus forcing users to get another card if they want to upgrade to the lates operating system. The Netgear GA311 definitely works on Vista - I'm using it right now!

-----------------------------

Don't drive to your customers computers, just connect to them over the web and provide remote PC support using online remote PC support software over the Internet. Software for computer support doesn't have to cost an exorbitant amount of money. You can get PC remote control software that works on the web without spending thousands of dollars per license or seat.

GA311 Doesn't work on Vista.

OK, 35 dollars isn't exactly a lot of money but it's sorely missed when just thrown away or lost. Take for example the purchase of a brand new shiny network card from a reputable retailer and a reputable manufacturer. Both the retailer adding this in their inventory and stock with it stating on the box Vista capable and the manufacturer printing it there when it DOES NOT WORK.

The Netgear GA311 does not work with Microsoft Vista and Netgear has a special web page setup so people can go and check on products offered to see if they are Vista capable and also download drivers. The GA311 is listed and next to it not a convenient download link but a statement saying the drivers are included in Vista. Yeah Right! All copies except mine I guess. Mabey Netgear had a special magic Vista copy that had their drivers on the DVD...not mine.

Dell was very disappointing regarding this same Vista upgrade. The Dell system is a fairly new Optiplex GX280. A nice system with very good speed. Vista installed but without a network card the desktop is a big nothing. A useless black box with fancy LED lights on it. the integrated NIC of course doesn't work and after hours of trying every driver available from the manufacture because of course Dell had absolutely nothing on their web site for this desktop in regards to network card drivers - how lame. This is one of the reasons I prefer HP desktops over Dell's. Everyone in tech support knows that HP is great at providing support for their products especially in the form of drivers.

Supporting Technology with Technology

PC remote support software is even more in demand now with the release of Vista and with DST updates required in nearly every office across the country (except Arizona of course). Provide online remote support to your customers or users anywhere around the world. All they need for remote support is a working computer and an Internet connection. PC remote support software doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Don't bust your budget by getting one of those over-bloated boutique brands of computer support software. Get the affordable flavor and keep you money in your own pocket.

Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG)

Information Technology Support - Adventure (Rated PG)

Good recommendation for pc support software