Avinash C. Pillai

Useful commands for Windows Administrators Notes: (1) Commands that use external, or third party, or non-native utilities contain hyperlinks to these utilities' download sites. (2) Replace command arguments displayed in italics with your own values. (3) Commands or utilities that require Windows Server 2003 are marked bright blue. How many users are logged on/connected to a server? Sometimes we may need to know how many users are logged on to a (file) server, like maybe when there is a performance degradation.At the server's console itself, with native commands only: NET SESSION FIND /C "\\" Remotely, with the help of SysInternals ' PSTools : PSEXEC \\servername NET SESSION FIND /C "\\" By replacing FIND /C "\\" by FIND "\\" (removing the /C switch) you'll get a list of logged on users instead of just the number of users. Who is logged on to a computer? We often need to know who is currently logged on to a remote computer.With n

Dear All, Microsoft has released SQL 2008 and it supports a direct upgrade from SQL 2000/2005. Attaching the details FYI... SQL 2008 Features: http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/whats-new.aspx SQL 2000 can be upgraded to SQL 2008 http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677622.aspx Reference URL: http://www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/2008/en/us/overview.aspx http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb418491.aspx SQL 2008 Versions: SQL Server Enterprise Edition 2008 SQL Server Standard Edition 2008 SQL Server Developer Edition 2008 SQL Server Workgroup Edition 2008 SQL Server Web Edition 2008 SQL Server for Small Business 2008 Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com/ Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com

Top 10 New Features in Windows Server 2008 #1: Server Core. Here is where the world could really change for Microsoft going forward: Imagine a cluster of low-overhead, virtualized, GUI-free server OSes running core roles like DHCP and DNS in protected environments, all to themselves, managed by way of a single terminal. If you're a Unix or Linux admin, you might say we wouldn't have to waste time with imagining. But one of Windows' simple but real problems as a server OS over the past decade has been that it's Windows. Why, admins ask, would a server need to deploy 32-bit color drivers and DirectX and ADO and OLE, when they won't be used to run user applications? Why must Windows always bring its windows baggage with it wherever it goes? What's more, with the proper setup, admins can manage remote Server Core installations using a local GUI that presents the data from the GUI-less remote servers. "We have scripts that you can install that enable [TCP] port

SLIP-STREAMING using NLITE !! Map Windows Installation file location. This will show you your existing version of Windows Installer with build number, version and Language. We can integrate Latest Service Packs, Hot fixes, Drivers, Patches then we can have those downloaded and can map those to get that integrated & Select the media as bootable. If we need additional drivers like PERC 6i Controller driver for Dell Power 2950 Servers then we can have this downloaded and integrated with the Installer media here. Here either we can make an ISO Image and keep that updated ISO file in the local drive or can directly cut a bootable CD/DVD. Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.comEmail: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com

Trunking is a way to carry traffic from several VLANs over a point-to-point link between the two devices. Two ways in which Ethernet trunking can be implemented are: 1) ISL - InterSwitch Link (Cisco proprietary protocol, and not supported by the 2940 or 2950 series switches) 2) 802.1Q (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard) For Catalyst 2900XL/3500XL/2940/2950/2970 Switches: Catalyst 2940 and 2950 series switches only support 802.1q trunking, and do not support ISL trunking. On a 4 MB DRAM Catalyst 2900XL switch, trunking is only supported with the following trunking-capable modules: WS-X2914-XL-V: 4-port 10/100 ISL/802.1Q switch module WS-X2922-XL-V: 2-port 100BaseFX ISL/802.1Q switch module WS-X2924-XL-V: 4-port 100BaseFX ISL/802.1Q switch module WS-X2931-XL: 1000BaseX uplink for Catalyst 2900 XL WS-X2932-XL: 1000BaseT uplink for Catalyst 2900 XL To get the compactability chart please refer; http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk389/tk815/technologies_configu

Configuring Network for a Linux System Edit configuration files stored in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ You can configure network card by editing text files stored in / etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ directory . First change directory to /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/: # cd /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ Edit / create files as follows: • /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 : First Ethernet card configuration file • /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth1 : Second Ethernet card configuration file For edit/create first NIC file, type command: # vi ifcfg-eth0 Modify as follows: # Intel Corporation 82573E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (Copper) DEVICE=eth0 BOOTPROTO=static DHCPCLASS= HWADDR=00:30:48:56:A6:2E IPADDR=10.10.29.66 NETMASK=255.255.255.192 ONBOOT=yes Save and close the file. Define default gateway (router IP) and hostname in /etc/sysconfig//network file: # vi /etc/sysconfig/network Append/modify configuration as follows: NETWORKING=yes HOSTNAME=www1.nixcraft.in GATEWAY=

Giving Ownership from 'root' to 'lsadm' for ldirectory [root@seplinuxuatapp1 /]# chown lsadm ldirectory [root@seplinuxuatapp1 /]#ls -l total 197 drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Apr 9 14:26 bin drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 1024 Apr 9 14:31 boot drwxr-xr-x 22 root root 118784 Apr 10 11:01 dev drwxr-xr-x 55 root root 8192 Apr 11 16:43 etc lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Apr 9 14:33 home -> /usr/home drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 24 2003 initrd drwxr-xr-x 11 root root 4096 Apr 9 14:29 lib drwx------ 2 root root 16384 Apr 9 07:23 lost+found drwxr-xr-x 5 lsadm root 4096 Apr 11 16:40 ldirectory drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jun 21 2006 misc drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Apr 9 14:31 mnt drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Jan 24 2003 opt dr-xr-xr-x 84 root root 0 Apr 10 04:00 proc drwxr-x--- 5

Command to Find Version of Linux OS # cat /etc/redhat-release Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com

Creating (DRAC) Dell Remote Access Card user on a remote system /Resetting root password using DRAC commands Note: A) The source system should have Dell Server Assistant Installed. [ From Windows to Linux and Viceversa] User Creation and Password setup Step 1: Creating a new user called "duser" and set the index value as "2" C:\Documents and Settings\apillai>racadm -r 192.168.140.59 -u root -p calvin config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminUserName -i 2 duser Object value successfully modified Step 2: Setting the password for the user index “2” to “Avinash123” C:\Documents and Settings\apillai>racadm -r 192.168.140.59 -u root -p calvin con fig -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminPassword -i 2 Avinash123 Object value successfully modified Resetting "ROOT" account Password C:\Documents and Settings\apillai>racadm -r 192.168.140.59 -u root -p calvin config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminPassword -i 1 Avinash123

Changed a users default SMTP email address and now he is no longer in GAL Reply from PillaiAvinash on 2/22/2008 5:30:00 PM Guys, You know you can call this as a Bug but funny to know the fact... Mostly the person who is trying to view the new DL's Outlook is configured for cached mode. Go to options and take out the Outlook cache mode and restart your outlook you will be able to see the new DL in your address book. I BET !!!!! Let me know the outcome ... :) Thanks & Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com Copyright © 2008 ITtoolbox and message author.No redistribution

Mailboxes path Reply from PillaiAvinash on 3/17/2008 7:01:00 PM You need to check for .edb and .stm files. Most of the time it will be available in Drive Letter:\Program Files\Exchsrv and look in for .edb and .stm files. .edb file are the emails stored on servers. Thanks & Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com Copyright © 2008 ITtoolbox and message author.No redistribution.

Mailbox path Reply from PillaiAvinash on 3/18/2008 3:49:00 PM Why are you getting confused?? .EDB is a database where exchange server stores the information store data ( or in simple words Emails). Option 1: Download emails of each user who belongs to the mailbox STORE which is heavy for you, by configuring outlook and downloading their emails to PST files. Running ESEUTIL tool on exchange DB and do a defragmentation once every employees download thier emails from the server to local .PST files. This will reduce the DB size to the actual size. Disadvantage with ESEUTIL: During defragmentation Exchange Information store has to be OFFLINE.Some times due to inconsistancy in the DB defragmenatation can even fail.Time for Defragmenatation will be high ( if its 100 Gb then it may go till 10 hours and so )] Option 2: Download employees emails to .PST files. Create one more Mailbox Store and start moving the mailboxes to the new mailbox store. Point the Edb and Stm file of the new new mailbo

Full Backup for exchange Reply from Avinash Pillai on 3/26/2008 2:09:00 PM Hallo Samir, You dont have to stop the exchange services when you want to take a NATIVE backup if you are taking backup directly on the Exchange server or have an exchange management console installed on the system from where you are taking the backup. While staring the backup, you can select the exchange organisation-> Server-> Mailbox Store to be backed up. Thats all. I used to take daily NTBACKUP on the exchange servers for all my servers and even restore those to my offilne setup on daily basis. Thanks & Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com Copyright © 2008 ITtoolbox and message author.No redistribution. Vendors mentioned: Microsoft Mail Server

Exchange Server 2003 - Changing external email address Reply from avinashp on 1/29/2008 5:49:00 PM Ricky, I am not very clear on the problem that yopu have mentioned. 1) Have you created new email address on your exchange server for the employees who works from home ? If so is that same as the earlier address that they were using before ?? Regards Avinash C Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com Copyright © 2008 ITtoolbox and message author.No redistribution. Vendors mentioned: Microsoft Mail Server

Exchange 2000 server Reply from avinashp on 10/23/2007 4:42:00 PM Hi Niel, Best option is you can install one more Exchange Server 2000/2003 in the same Exchange organization and start moving the mailboxes one by one. This would be the easiest method to proceed. For this there are few steps that need to be done and also to have your exchange 200/2003 talk to existing 5.5 you need to install Active Directory Connector. If you plan to move the new backend server in you place instead of at Michigan then that would be a bad design. Regards Avinash C Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com Copyright © 2008 ITtoolbox and message author.No redistribution. Vendors mentioned: Microsoft Mail Server

How to delete the mails in exchange server Reply from avinashp on 10/19/2007 12:54:00 AM You need to see two things. 1) Exchnage logs files. Usually called as track logs which can be removed which are 7 days or more. 2) Even if you request employees to download emails exchange DB will now come down immideietly. If you need more assistance you can send me an email to avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com Thanks & Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com Copyright © 2008 ITtoolbox and message author.No redistribution.

Making an Exchange Distribution Group Issues Reply from avinashp on 2/7/2008 11:37:00 AM Guys, You know you can call this as a Bug but funny to know the fact... Mostly the person who is trying to view the new DL's Outlook is configured for cached mode. Go to options and take out the Outlook cache mode and restart your outlook you will be able to see the new DL in your address book. I BET !!!!! Let me know the outcome ... :) Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com

Implementation of Active Directory & MS-Exchange Reply from avinashp on 2/11/2008 10:52:00 AM In brief the steps are shown below. I did the migration from exchange 5.5 to exchange 2003 same time Windows NT PDC to Active Directory 2003 for 3000 mailboxes. 1) Upgrade the same OS on the NT PDC Server to an Windows 2000/2003 Server 2) Configure the same Server as the Active Directory Server ( This will pick up all the PDC DB by default) 3) By Default the AD Site will be in mixed mode. ( Dont change from domain from mixed modeuntil you completely migrate exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2000/2003/2007) ) 4) Install Active Directory Connector (ADC) on the AD server so that the Active Directory can talk to Exchange 5.5 and vise versa. 5) Install Exchange 2003 on another system in the same forest and same exchange organisation where the Exchange 5.5 excists. 6) Move mailboxes from Exchange 5.5 to new Exchange 2003 one by one ( this help us to analyse errors, if any while moving mailboxes) 7) Once

Disk space of Exchange server 2003 Reply from avinashp on 2/22/2008 5:18:00 PM Basler, I do faced the same problem earler. There are two ways of addressing this issue.. 1) Running ESEUTIL tool on exchange DB and do a defragmentation once every employees download thier emails from the server to local .PST files. This will reduce the DB size to the actual size. Disadvantage with ESEUTIL is that a) during defragmentation Exchange Information store has to be OFFLINE. b) Some times due to inconsistancy in the DB defragmenatation can even fail. c) Time for Defragmenatation will be high ( if its 100 Gb then it may go till 10 hours and so )] Download employees emails to .PST files . Create one more Mailbox Store and start moving the mailboxes to the new mailbox store . Point the Edb and Stm file of the new new mailbox store to a different location (not to the same folder where the EDB & STM files of the excisting mailbox store is locating) Advantages : No down time required, No risk of DB

Posted by Avinash Pillai on 03/17/2008 07:00:00 PM You need to check for .edb and .stm files. Most of the time it will be available in Drive Letter:\Program Files\Exchsrv and look in for .edb and .stm files. .edb file are the emails stored on servers. Thanks Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com -----Original Message----- Hi, Can any one tell where is the users mailboxes will be store? i could see the Mailboxes in system manager. I need the physicall path of the users mails, some users mails are huge in size. i want to delete unwanted mails. I am using POP3 server. Thanks Geetha __.____._ Copyright © 2008 ITtoolbox and message author.No redistribution.

Motivation is an internal drive that makes a person move toward whatever goal they are trying to accomplish. To be motivated a person must have a motive, which is to say that they have to have a reason to take an action. Motivation is a conscious or subconscious choice that we make inside ourselves to decide to do something that we wish to accomplish. Everyone finds motivation in their own ways. What is important to one person may not be as important to another. For example, what motivates you to get up in the morning and go to work? Are you motivated because you love your job and can't wait to get there, or are you motivated because you know you need the money? Knowing what your motivation is will help with your attitude and how your day will turn out. Regards Avinash Pillai URL : http://avinashpillai.blogspot.com Email: avinashp[AT]aztecsoft[DOT]com, avinashp25[AT]gmail[DOT]com