Report on all VMs with snapshots using Vsphere PowerCLI

The first step is to connect to your VC from vSphere PowerCLI with the following command:

Connect-ViServer VCServerName

The second command lists all of the VMs, finding the shapshots, looking up what host currently houses the VM and then creating the actual table:

Get-VM | Get-Snapshot | Select-Object VM, Name, Description, PowerState, Created, @{Name="Host"; Expression = {(Get-VM $_.VM).Host.Name}} | ft -auto

The Output Screen looks like following:

VM                               Name                                                 Description
----                                --------                                               --------------
Test1Server                 Before upgrade                                 Pre software version 2 upgrade
Test2Server                 Pre SP2 install                                  Pre Windows 2003 SP2 Install

Intel Processor Comparison

Use this tool to compare detailed specifications for up to five processor numbers. Click Here

Saving and restoring existing Windows shares

Refer to Microsoft KB

Back up a Group Policy object using GPMC

Answer Available Here

How to Fix Corrupt Group Policy Database File

In order to fix the corrupted GPO Database file, you can easily restore the database file to its original state using the following steps outlined below:

1. Open the %SystemRoot%\Security folder, create a new folder, and then name it "OldSecurity".
2. Move all of the files ending in .log from the %SystemRoot%\Security folder to the OldSecurity folder.
3. Find the Secedit.sdb file in the %SystemRoot%\Security\Database folder, and then rename this file to "Secedit.old".
4. lick Start, click Run, type mmc, and then click OK.
5. Click Console, click Add/Remove Snap-in, and then add the Security and Configuration snap-in.
6. Right-click Security and Configuration and Analysis, and then click Open Database.
7. Browse to the %SystemRoot%\Security\Database folder, type Secedit.sdb in the File name box, and then click Open.
8. When you are prompted to import a template, click Setup Security.inf, and then click Open.

Default Group Policy objects become corrupted

The default domain GPOs are corrupted (for example, because of misconfiguration) and you do not have backed up versions of the Default Domain Policy GPO or the Default Domain Controller Policy GPO.

Refer to Microsoft Technet Site for Solution

How to Decommission a Domain Controller

Decommissioning a dc requires all domain services that currently reside on a server need to be moved to other dc’s.

You need to move any fsmo roles from this dc to another dc (KB255960)

To learn where the roles reside run the command netdom query fsmo

If the PDCe fsmo role resided on this DC then you need to reconfigure the new holder of the PDCe to either use the internal hardware clock or an external source. I would recommend using an external source KB816042.

There needs to be at least one Global Catalog (GC) in each domain and it is recommended that there is one in each site (KB313994)

Move DNS services to other DC’s if this DC is a DNS provider. Also point all clients that use this server for DNS to the new DNS server

If AD integrated simply installing DNS on a member server prior to promotion will bring up a new DNS server

If not AD integrated and this is a primary server then a new primary server will need to be brought online. From DNS server manager the server needs to be promoted to primary

If a secondary server then make the new dc a new secondary server

If a dhcp server then the dhcp servers database needs to be backed up and copied to the new dhcp server. The old dhcp server deauthorized and the new dhcp server authorized (KB325473)

If you have Encryption File System (EFS) enabled you will need to move the private key if it resides on this dc (KB241201). You use the recovery agent's private key to recover data in situations when the copy of the EFS private key that is located on the local computer is lost

If this server manages Terminal Server Licensing (TSL) then it will have to be moved to a new DC. From Add/Remove programs you will need to add a new TSL. You can then restore the licenses by using the TS License Manager tool with the Telephone activation mechanism. You can switch to the Telephone mechanism by right clicking on the server in TS License Manager, and then selecting properties from the menu. (TS FAQ)

Finally once this is all accomplished go ahead and demote the dc to a member server (KB238369)

Memory Limits for Windows Releases

This topic describes memory limits for supported Windows releases:

Click Here for more details.

How to Reset DRAC Password

Logon the Sever and run the following Command based on the version of DRAC Card you have:

DRAC versio 4

racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminPassword -i 1 "new password"

DRAC version 5
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminPassword -i 2 "new password"

Resize Windows Partition with Open Source Applications

Find below a list of software that can be used to resize the windows Partition:

• Knoppix
• SysteRescueCD
• GParted
• BootIt Bare Matel

I have used most of these tools and there are specially usefull, when Windows OS is taking up the whole hard drive space. And also, when you don't want to pay for expensive partitioning software out in the market.

Norton Ghost 2003 on a USB thumbdrive How to make Tutorial

Answer Available Here

Create Windows XP Live USB

Answer available Here

Install XP from USB

Preparing a Bootable USB-Drive with USB_MultiBoot.cmd. The USB_MultiBoot.cmd is a batch Program and it can prepare a Bootable USB-Stick.


For more dtails refer to following link: http://reboot.pro/4900/

Boot any Linux ISO from USB in Windows

Answer Available Here

Please refer to same website http://www.pendrivelinux.com for further information and instructions on:

Flash drive installs using Live CD
Flash drive installs using Windows
USB Virtual Machine Emulation
Using and Configuring Linux

Managing mailboxes in Exchange Server 2007

All the credits to MSExchnage.org for the information:

• Managing mailboxes in Exchange Server 2007 (Part 1)
• Managing mailboxes in Exchange Server 2007 (Part 2)

Looking after different version of MS Exchange for years and then suddenly migrating to a new version, sometime simple system administration task can be time consuming, trying to figure out how things are performed under new environment.
Usually, any material which helps to simplify my day-to-day systems administration tasks and need to be referenced in future. I upload the information to my blog for my future references.