On How to Cluster DFS Replicated Resources on Windows Server 2008 R2 (Part I) we installed the file server role, the failover clustering feature and we brought online our quorum disk. On that post we will see how to create our cluster, assign resources and cluster the file server role; to prepare everything to properly cluster DFS-R shares. Create the Cluster Now that we have all needed features in place we need to build our cluster.

One of the most challenging tasks for a Systems Administrator is discovering where and when a user account is locking. The complexity increases exponentially with the type of environment faced by the S_ysadmin_, being much more complex if the environment is highly distributed not only geographically but in terms of services. As an account lock completely stops user activity disconnecting him from the rest of the company, determining as soon as possible where and how the account is locking is undoubtedly an important added value.

Windows Server 2008 R2 provides support for two additional clustered services; DFS-Replication and Remote Desktop/Terminal Services. DFS-Replication is an efficient, multiple-master replication engine that is used to keep folders synchronized between servers across limited bandwidth network connections. In Windows Server 2008 R2, you can configure member servers in a replication group to be highly available for uninterrupted and failure-resilient replication services. We are considering the following scenario built on two HP X3800 Network Storage Gateways fiber connected to a 7.

An important part of the time spent by IT technicians on Internet is used to research solutions to problems they face. That is why companies like Microsoft have huge knowledge databases where they can find solutions on a timely fashion manner when somebody calls its Customer Service. Microsoft through its engineering staff creates all this information based on multiple sources; and an important part of that knowledge comes directly from online communities, so non-Microsoft employees.

Microsoft Active Directory Topology Diagrammer is an excellent tool from Microsoft that lets you read your Active-Directory topology (Domains, OUs, Sites, Exchange servers, DFS-R, etc.) by simply querying all the information through LDAP and drawing a Microsoft Visio diagram for you. Although some people can consider this a handicap, it is not; simply download the 60-days trial of Microsoft Visio Premium 2010 and that’s it, you will be able to get you AD drawn in few clicks.

Bluestack is a free application that generates a virtualization environment on your Windows where to run Android applications. BlueStacks employs a lightweight, optimized, soft hypervisor with deep enhancements to support “embedded virtualization”. You can enjoy the full Android environment through BlueStacks, or just install Android app icons directly on the Windows desktop. Download it here.

First of all, let me say that this post only applies to HP servers compatible with HP Network Configuration Utility. That said, let’s setup a network team using the HP Network Configuration Utility on a Windows Server 2008 R2 core installation. Move to C:\Program Files\HP\NCU and execute the control panel applet hpteam.cpl (I’m assuming that you have used HP Smart Start media to install your server). The HP Network Configuration Utility will open to let you setup your team as done in a non-core installation.

As regards to security permissions, seems like Microsoft Office 2010 installation is so sensitive. I have confirmed in several forums that is so common to receive an installation rollback for that reason; and I’m not an exception. This morning while I was upgrading my Office installation from 2007 to 2010 it horribly failed with error 1402. If you face this situation, a very straight forward troubleshooting is to reset your computer’s security setting to a known good working state.

With a renewed style, different platform and its own domain name, The Blown Light Bulb (now theblownlightbulb.com) celebrates its first birthday. During this period it has received more than 15.000 visits from around the world, mainly from Spain, United States, United Kingdom and Canada. This probably is not very impressive, but for me it’s a big success. This is more than what I was expecting when I started it, so I hope you will continue enjoying like the first day.

A few months ago I got a server with enough storage to house a virtualization server and have finally decided to give it a try using Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V. Initially I will setup the test environment to perform the 70-647 exam practices. Once achieved, I will make an active directory migration from Windows Server 2003 R2 to Windows Server 2008 R2, this will help me to detect and correct problems to prepare my production environment migration.