Essential Business Server Replacement Mode Install November 7, 2009
Posted by Steve in EBS, EBS 2008.Tags: EBS 2008
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I recently had an issue with the System Centre Essentials on the Management Server of an Essential Business Server (EBS08). One of the catches with EBS08 is that you can’t easily reinstall the SCE component, you actually need to reinstall the server it is on. This is of course worst case scenario.
I found this article on Technet which explains how to do a “Replacement Mode Install” of EBS08.
Essential Business Server Replacement mode article on Technet.
Replacement Mode allows reinstallation of any one of the EBS08 servers in event of hardware failure or a particularly nasty software issue that is best resolved by a reinstall.
Note that it is extremely important to ensure you have a complete backup before attempting this.
Expert Advice:
The following tweets are a response from Mark Stan at Microsoft Support in response to a question posted on Twitter about doing a replacement mode install. Thanks very much Mark, this is really useful stuff.
Tweets from: @Markstan (Senior Support Engineer at Microsoft)
Marks blog is: blogs.technet.com/essentialbusinessserver
@nztechtweet: found this when investigating how to reinstall a broken SCE on #EBS08, anyone tried this? http://tinyurl.com/yexnnh6
@nztechtweet @energizedtech done dozens of #EBS08 Replacement Modes ( http://tinyurl.com/yexnnh6) Ready for a brain dump? New series…
#EBS08 New Series – Mark’s Rules for Successful Replacement Mode – MR4SRM. RM = replacment mode.
#EBS08 MR4SRM Rule #1 – Make a complete server backup first. No exceptions.
#EBS08 MR4SRM Export config to XML using http://bit.ly/2jlxkE. Pay special attention to all IP addresses . Make sure they’re corrrect.
technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd430092(WS.10).aspx
#EBS08 MR4SRM You need 2 functional EBS servers for Replacement Mode. If not, restore one server from backup.
#EBS08 MR4SRM Always back up CALs on Mgmt server before RM.
#EBS08 MR4SRM Mgmt server needs CALs reinstalled or restore post RM.
#EBS08 MR4SRM Mgmt Server RM will pull down all WSUS data again – many GB. Export & import – http://bit.ly/4DUxtN. Backup data drive
technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb680473.aspx
#EBS08 MR4SRM All servers are going to need patching. Expect many reboots, considerable time.
#EBS08 MR4SRM Security & Msg can pull updates from WSUS rather than MU. Deselect optional updates during RM. Critical updates come from MU
#EBS08 MR4SRM Make sure AD is healthy before RM. Always run IT Health Scanner first – http://bit.ly/Od1uH
blogs.technet.com/essentialbusinessserver/archive/2009/10/28/how-to-run-the-it-environment-health-scanner-in-an-ebs-environment.aspx
#EBS08 MR4SRM Never, ever delete computer accounts or run metadata cleanup before RM. http://bit.ly/Cwsrr
blogs.technet.com/essentialbusinessserver/archive/2009/02/24/properly-handling-an-ebs-2008-setup-failure.aspx
#EBS08 MR4SRM All DCs need to be online and contactable before RM.
#EBS08 MR4SRM Make sure IIS is healthy, started, listening on port 808 for /remoting directory on all servers before RM.
#EBS08 MR4SRM Run “dnscmd /config /enableglobalqueryblocklist 0″ for wpad autodiscovery – http://bit.ly/3NceQm
technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc995158.aspx
#EBS08 MR4SRM Management Server restore – repair all SCE clients underAdministration node.
#EBS08 MR4SRM RM on Messaging obviously does not restore mailboxes & PFs. Make backups first – online, offline, PSTs. Belt and suspenders.
#EBS08 MR4SRM To get Security Server to report back to SCE after RM – “net stop fweng /y”, repair SCE client, restart services
#EBS08 MR4SRM Remove UM (if present) from Exchange before RM of Messaging Server to avoid setup failure.
Seventh Heaven? October 22, 2009
Posted by Steve in Windows 7.Tags: Windows 7
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Today is Thursday 22nd October 2009, the offical launch date of Windows 7 and probably the biggest day on the technology calendar this year.
I was lucky enough to get my hands on Windows 7 back in July and I am sure that Microsoft are going to be having a very happy board meeting next Monday. Record pre-orders on Amazon, millions of people blogging about it, hardware available that runs nicely (unlike the launch of poor old Vista) and a generally heightened level of excitement.
Well done Microsoft, I hope you are all having a wonderful day.
Windows 2008 R2 is almost here October 20, 2009
Posted by Steve in Virtualization, Windows 7, windows 2008.Tags: Windows 2008 R2, Windows 7
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It is just 2 days until the release of Windows 2008 R2. While a lot of people are hanging out for the Windows 7 (released on the same day), it is the new server operating system that is going to make waves in server rooms everywhere.
Significant improvements have been made to Hyper-V in the form of Live Migration (think VMotion but without the price) and support for more memory and more virtual CPU’s. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that Microsoft have already changed the game by making Virtualisation affordable to the masses and that now they are beginning to add Enterprise Features. Hands up who thinks VMware ESXi would exist if Hyper-V didn’t?
Windows 2008 R2 is also the enabler for many of the enterprise features of Windows 7. The server component of the DirectAccess “VPN-less VPN” feature requires Windows 2008 R2. DirectAccess does have some fairly specific requirements that make it more suited to medium to larger sites. Businesses with highly mobile work forces should also consider it as a way to simplify end-user remote access experience and as a way to better manage laptops that spend a lot of time out of the office.
The server can also be used in conjunction with BranchCache to reduce pressure on WAN links and accelerate access to services that use SMB, HTTP or BITS for remote users. Think of this as WAN acceleration but without dedicated hardware. Nice one Microsoft!
One of my personal favourites is the Active Directory undo feature. I would never admit to doing this myself, but I am sure a few accidents have happened over the years where this feature would have saved a lot of pain and agony!
The ability to park CPU cores is an interesting feature which allows the server to actually turn-off cores within a CPU when they are not required. This has the potential to save significant amounts of power and lower the operating costs of servers. Power consumption as the focus of governments globally and it my opinion is going to be an area where technology innovation is focused.
Don’t forget that this release builds on the many features of previous Windows versions. Remote Desktop Services, Network Access Protection, Distributed File System, Active Directory, Read-only Domain Controllers, IPv6, Windows Deployment Services etcetera. It builds on the same reliable, understandable and efficient foundation we already have with Windows 2008.
One more small note, this is a 64bit only operating system, time to consign those old 32bit only items to the giant recycling bin in the sky (some may of course not meet the criteria to get into software heaven and spend the rest of eternity being prodded with a blunt fork somewhere very hot). Software vendors should be supporting modern technologies by now. If they aren’t it is definitely time to put the pressure on. Isn’t that why we pay annual maintenance fees?
Microsoft will release Windows 2008 R2 on October 22nd 2009. No news on when or if we are likely to see R2 releases of Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008 has been announced yet.
Microsoft Revolution Calling? September 28, 2009
Posted by Steve in Exchange 2010, Windows 7, windows 2008.3 comments
Will 22nd of October 2009 be remembered in history as the most significant technology product launch since Apples famous 1984 launch of the MacIntosh? Microsoft will certainly be hoping so, as the Redmond based software giant prepares to release not only the long anticipated replacement for Windows XP (lets face it, many businesses didn’t take the plunge with Vista), but also Windows 2008R2 and Exchange 2010.
It is hard to find an IT Professional anywhere who doesn’t have a copy of Windows 7 RC or RTM. This is a good sign for Microsoft, because these are the guys and girls that need to make this stuff work in a corporate environment. It is now ‘cool’ for an IT geek to tell girls at parties, they are running Windows 7, without committing social suicide. In fact, speaking from personal experience sexier that shown them your iPhone….
If you want a serious conversation say something like, “Windows 7 is cool but it’s Windows 2008R2 that rocks my world”. The latest release to Microsoft’s server platform is sleek and powerful. The biggest single improvement is to Hyper-V which introduces more features. If the first release of Hyper-V was like landing on the beaches of Normandy trying to get a foot hold on territory controlled by VMware, then Hyper-V R2 is the first big push inland.
Don’t forget about the other big news, Exchange 2010. Way back in the mid 1990’s we were told that the single most important product Microsoft would launch was Microsoft Exchange. It is fair to say that Microsoft now owns the largest chunk of the corporate mailbox market and that this market is incredibly important to Microsoft because it links the desktop Operating System and Office suite to the back end servers helping ensure they have the best end to end solution. Exchange 2010 promises new levels of performance and reliability in a world where end users demand email everywhere, anytime and fast!
Finally, I’ve heard rumours of Windows 7 installation parties. I am yet to attended one myself, but I wonder if the 22nd October will not only be a revolution for desktop and server computing, but also some sort of social revolution for the guys (lets face it, it will be mostly guys who install this stuff) who live in server rooms around the planet? Imagine if Windows 7 helped address the gender gap in the IT industry and the guys who turn up to these Windows 7 parties had someone to dance with between upgrades.
Windows 7 and Office 2010 – my experiences
Reasons to get excited about Windows 2008R2
What’s new in Exchange 2010
New Zealand TechED 2009 September 14, 2009
Posted by Steve in Uncategorized.add a comment
Short post because I am not attending this year….
If I am not mistaken this years big stores will be Sharepoint 2010, Exchange 2010, Windows 7, Windows 2008R2 and Hyper-V. Plenty of goodies this year too included a great deal of HP Mininote’s for those lucky enough to have a TechED ticket.
This bloke from Wellington has a great blog with plenty of details (Aben’s blog)
If you like to tweet, check out this hashtag #tenz9
