PC Stuffs
From B4rkWiki
If it's here, read about it. If it isn't here, make a heading and we'll chip in with our 2c
ESX Things
Snapshots
Snaps don't delete when merged back
Sometimes, the snap takes too long to merge back, and the process appears to hang at 95%. Some thigns I've read say to just leave it alone, but I've found this doesn't work; even though the snap is merged, the semaphore to sue a snap file is not removed, so it keeps recreating a snap file when started up again. Two fixes I've found are:
- Create another snap, then delete/merge all the snaps. This appears to extend the timeout on merging, which causes the snaps to remove cleanly
- Delete and recreate the disk
- Clone the VM
Networky Stuffs
Telnet to check accounts
For checking POP3, all I really check is 1)does the server exist, 2) Does the user exist, 3)are the credentials ok. To do that, telnet mailserver.whatever.com.au 110 After the Hello response from the server, user bob(or bob@domain.com.au or bob+domain.com.au if multi-domain server) should get an +OK and possibly Pass Required. Type pass yourpassword. This gets you logged into the mailserver. Wanna verify? list checks the number of messages.quit is a graceful exit. -jelf For SMTP, the I really usually dont get past "Can I connect" as if I can connect, it means Im in an allowed relay, and the mail client normally gets everything else right. Still, it's sometimes handy to send a message by hand, so here goes: the telnet is about the same telnet mailserver.whatever.com.au 25, followed by a 220 response from the server. helo domain.com.au announces who you are to it. mail from: username@domain.com.au then rcpt to: whoever@targetdomain.com.auTo write the payload, dataand end with a line with only a . on it. If it responds with a 250, you're home and hosed. If not, you have issues. quit again ends the session gracefully. -jelf
Cisco
I hope for BigJon to chime in here with wisdom and knowledge as he knows stuffs... Until then, we'll use the SDM :D -jelf
Windows Bits
Server 2k3 bits
Uptime
Uptime on a server (or a workstation) can be determined using the command "net statistics server"
Exchange Stuff
A bit of pre-install warning: You cant install Exchange 2k7RTM on Server2k8. You need to download Exchange 2k7 SP1 and run that instead. If you're installing on 2k3, you need to have 64bit to get it going (unless you have the training version, which is kinda cheating). jelf 15:33, 29 August 2008 (EST)
Size Limits
No credit to me for this: When your database gets too big (over 18GB), it autodismounts, and an error is thrown in the log. To resolve this, you need to have SP2 installed, and then follow the instructions here [[1]]
Naming
This also applies to AD. When creating an email profile, instead of just the "@xyz.com" kind of alias, the AD name can also be broken up for this role, eg "%g@xyz.com" creates a rule using the firstname@... (%g is given name). Also, %s is surname. jelf 06:58, 2 July 2008 (EST)
SMTP Connectors
If you're in a bigpond network, you may have issues with yr outbound being blocked. Simply create an smtp connector, make it valid for everything (*), and point the smarthost address at mail.bigpond.com jelf 06:58, 2 July 2008 (EST)
Outlook Web Access
Outlook web access, or OWA, requires 64bit net 2.0. This means that if you're running/installing apps that make calls on 32bit .NET (1.1, or 2.0), you will get a "Service Unavailable" message instead of the usual page. To rectify:
- Open a command prompt. I prefer this to a run dialogue as it shows a fail if one happens.
- cscript C:\inetpub\adminscripts\adsutil.vbs SET W3SVC/AppPools/Enable32bitAppOnWin64 0
- go to C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727 (or whatever version you have)
- type in aspnet_regiis.exe -i
- Restart IIS (I do this from the GUI, but a Net Stop/Start sequence should work too.
- uninstall .NET1.1 if you feel like it, cos it's useless to you now.
jelf 15:33, 29 August 2008 (EST)
XP bits
Browsing not working but other network (ping etc) all okay
Turns out that on some PCs (like mine, for example), XP occasionally likes to play "find the random stopped service". In this case, I was unable to browse the network, with an error about network being unavailable, and the next line in the error message being the important one: "The network is not present or not started". Start->Run->type "services.msc". Ensure "Workstation" service is running.
Unable to connect to shares on a PC
Basic network troubleshooting is assumed to have been done, (ips, subnets, firewalls, hardware faults, user auth issues) If you have been able to in the past, and your username/pass are valid on the domain/machine in question, it could be due to the netlogon service on the relevant server being stopped. Restart it and try again.
Cant find Product key or the version of Windows of a dead install
The product key is stored in the DigitalProductID key, which you can access by loading the Software Hive and haveing a stickybeak through. Be sure you grab the Windows one, as Office etc have similar keys. Grab bytes 52 to 67 (inclusive) and then run them through an app like one from [|DagonDesign]. To check which version they were running, simply search for "Windows XP" in the loaded hive, and the installation media title will be a search result. That'll tell you which version they had. jelf 13:50, 19 March 2008 (EST)
Command Line Control of hardware
The thing you need is DevCon[[2]] (aka Q311272). -jelf
CD Drive vanished
Under HKLM\System\CCS\Control\Classes\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}. Delete Upper and Lower Filters. Reboot. -jelf
Outlook cant open attachments
Chances are it's on the hidden OLK directory, and it's either out of space, or has more than 100 instances of the same filename. %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK***. Delete the directory(s) and all's good. If you cant see them, try the DOS shell. -jelf
Want Media Centre app in XP Pro
I don't condone piracy, yada yada yada, but if you find yourself in possession of a LastXP DVD, you can use it to install the Media Centre functionality on your XP machine (be sure file protection is off). Plenty of other things on there too :)
Multiple Terminal Server sessions on XP Pro
I take no credit. [[3]]
WMS IDLE error preventing logoff
Nero Scout causes this as well as excessive CPU use. Nero tries to be smart by indexing ALL your multimedia files so that when you go to access them with Nero (cos that happens so often :p), it'll know where they are... seems a tad daft, doesnt it? Kill nero scout (and in fact all nero things, for my preference... it's a burning thing. When you want to burn, you can load it) as a startup item, and the problem should vanish :)
Vista Bits
A word of warning for PC users - Vista is supposed to be the next big thing, but it currently leaves me cold. They broke too much, while incurring a stupid performance hit on day-to-day activities. Yes, I resisted XP when it came out for the first year or so, as it didn't value-add enough to 2k, and I can see that some might say Im against it for the reason of being against it, but honestly, I think it could be a good home OS after a service pack or two... currently, however, it is not worth getting unless you know how to debug and work through driver issues.
CPU Blowout
Only seen this once... CPU sits at or near 100%...Turns out it's Adobe Reader 8 going nuts cos it's trying to update and the firewall wont let it. Disable the updater in the app, or remove the updater process (rename c:\program files\common files\adobe\updater5\adobeupdater.exe) -jelf
Driver failure
- Telstra Turbo Modems can be installed normally (plug in, find driver etc) but the app that runs it doesnt work under vista. To make it function, create a dialup account, and dial *99#. The Turbo modem will authenticate and work normally. Disconnect as normal with a dial up account. -jelf
- If USB devices stop detecting, trash the Vista Driver Database. Use the Vista CD to boot to recovery mode, jump to a command prompt, and move (dont delete in case you f*ck it) the following from "c:\windows\inf" (create a dir called c:\backup_inf or something to dump them into)INFPUB.DAT INFSTOR.DAT INFSTRNG.DAT INFCACHE.* SETUPAPI.*
Thanks go here[[4]], as well as more tidbits... -jelf
Network speedup
Here's the line: Enter it using an elevated command prompt:netsh interface tcp set global autotuninglevel=disabled and then you may need to also type in netsh interface tcp set global rss=disabled -jelf
Sharing docs
Ha. Good Luck... There are those who will claim that it's just a matter of setting your permissions and your firewall, and that with them right, Vista will 'just work', but this is crap. I've seen 3 different instances where vista PCs will not play nicely with other PCs on the network. With a Guest account enabled, firewall set to allow file and print sharing, permissions set for everyone to have full access and be share co-owners, the share should be working nicely. If it doesn't there's an issue with the OS. Fanboys be damned, its a glitch, and it needs fixing. -To clarify: This is only a nuisance for vista-vista sharing. For some reason vitsa<->xp sharing is annoying to set up, but it does work jelf 18:53, 20 January 2008 (EST)
- Ok, I had this problem with Mouse's flatmate's computer yesterday. In the image to the left you can see the problem:
- File sharing must be on (It is)
- Public Folder sharing must be on (It is)
- Password Protected Sharing must be off. In the screenshot to the left, it is not.
- To resolve this, drop down the "Password Protected Sharing" section of the "Network and Sharing Centre" and change the value to be off.
- Windows XP does not seem to understand Vista's file sharing handshake when password protected sharing is on. Fosnez 06:26, 19 January 2008 (EST)
See also
Linuxy Bits
Asterisk Things
Bloody asterisk! As much as I love the thing, it's still not exactly intuitive to get running. Currently Im using an asterisk derivitave called Trixbox, which is good... it's a CentOS isntall with pretty much everything in it, which means it's easy to get things like the FXO card working :) If only my mainboard hadn't died... Update: Trixbox has kernel panic after a month of running with my generic 1 port FXO card, so I've moved to 3CX, a windows alternative. Honestly, whats the point of open source projects if everyone leaves the code in that forces it to fail without proprietary hardware? -jelf
Debian Things
apt-get install stuff. Nuff said for the moment. Note: Learn to edit your apt sources list, as this can affect what is available, and how long it takes to get it.-jelf
There's also the basics of reconfiguring on this system... learn to love dpkg-reconfigure... eg dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg can reconfig your video to allow you to use a new card, etc... very handy, but you do need to know the name of the module you're reconfiguring
Note for Jelf to follow up later:: http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/63 -jelf
Coding Stuffs
php
Mysql
One thing I've learnt about mysql is the need for mysqldump to be used regularly so stuffups can be reversed :)-jelf
Python
I've used some IDE's in Windows for developing Python apps, but havent liked any of them really. Anyone got preferences? -jelf
- C++ Fosnez 06:32, 19 January 2008 (EST)
