Using Batch Files to Automate Networking Tasks - PART1

This article demonstrates a few ways to use Windows NT command extensions in conjunction with Windows NT Resource Kit utilities within batch files to automate common networking tasks. 

The following tasks will be illustrated: 

• How to automate the addition of Domain\Domain Users global group to each of the member servers Change the system time user right.
• How to add files to many users' home directories.
• How to restart services on all domain controllers within a domain.

How to Automate the Addition of Domain\Domain Users

How to automate the addition of "Domain\Domain Users" global group to each of the member servers "Change the system time" user right. 

1. Create the Addtime.bat and Addtime2.BAT files listed below.
2. Run Addtime.bat with administrator privileges from a computer running Windows NT. This batch file creates a list of member servers using the Windows NT Resource Kit utility Netdom.exe. The output of NETDOM gets redirected to a file, which in turn, gets parsed using the FOR command (part of Windows NT command extensions). The Addtime2.bat file gets called for each instance of \\ServerName within the Netdom.txt file. The Addtime2.bat file then issues the Windows NT Resource Kit utility Ntrights.exe to add Domain\Domain Users global group to each of the member servers Change the system time user right. The output of NTRIGHTS gets written to a file called Log.txt.

Filename: Addtime.bat 

echo off
cls
echo Creating a list of member servers.
echo.
netdom member > netdom.txt
echo Adding "Change System Time" right to Member Servers...
echo.
if exist log.txt del log.txt
for /F "skip=6 tokens=4" %%a in (netdom.txt) do 
   call ADDTIME2.bat %%a
echo.
echo ----------------------------------------------
echo - Done! Check LOG.TXT for status information.-
echo ----------------------------------------------
    

Filename: ADDTIME2.BAT 

echo Adding right to %1...
ntrights -u "domain users" -m %1 +r SeSystemTimePrivilege >> log.txt
    

Setup Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 Failover Cluster in VMware Workstation - PART1

Here you can see how to setup Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 failover cluster in VMware Workstation.This article contains step by step method on Microsoft windows 2008 R2 failover cluster with freenas iscsi disks in VMware workstation just on your computer.  if you search on internet about setting up Windows 2008 R2 cluster in any desktop virtualization software, you can’t find it in one place.

Installation and setup procedure for MS windows 2003 cluster and earlier versions are available on internet, but not Windows 2008 or R2 failover cluster. Everybody including me stuck in one place while setting up Windows 2008 or R2 cluster in Virtualization environment, which is Cluster disk validation.  This is the main issue on MS windows 2008 R2 cluster in VMware workstation or Sun virtual box desktop virtualization software.

Windows 2008 and R2 failover clusters require SCSI-3 persistent reservation target disks as their cluster disks. Now question is how to setup SCSI-3 persistent reservation cluster disks in VMware workstation? I already wrote an article on setting up SCSI-3 persistent reservation cluster  iSCSI disksin VMware workstation using FreeNAS. Before continue reading this post, please read my previous article and create cluster disks in your VMware workstation according to cluster need.

Let’s start the installation and setup of Windows 2008 or R2 Failover cluster in desktop virtualization software VMware workstation.

Required Software

a)      VMware workstation

b)      Windows 2008 or R2 Operating System

c)       FreeNAS

Read more about Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 Failover cluster in normal environment

Prerequisites setup

a)      Installation of Windows 2008 or R2 Operating System in VMware Workstation ( Three Windows 2008 R2 Server virtual machines required.  One as domain controller and other twos as cluster nodes)

b)      Setup domain on one server and join other two servers with domain. Use domain administrator login for servers. ( in this example, domain name is sysprobs.net and cluster server names are vm-clus1 and vm-clus2)

c)       Install failover cluster feature in two windows 2008 or R2 servers you are going to setup failover cluster in VMware workstation.

d)      Install second network card in both cluster servers. Give two separate IP addresses, so both servers can communicate through this network also. This network will be used as ‘heart beat’ network for both servers. Make sure, this network name is identical in both servers. (in this example, heart beat network named as ‘ internal’ on both servers)

e)      Create cluster disks in your FreeNAS virtual machine.   Read my previous post on creating SCSI-3 persistent reservation target iSCSI disks in FreeNAS.
( in this example,
Qurom disk – 512MB,
Storage disk1- 2GB,
Storage disk 2- 2GB,
Storage disk 3 – 2GB,
and Backup disk 4GB)

OPA-Backup is able to backup the product activation of Microsoft Office

OPA-Backup is able to backup the product activation of Microsoft Office XP, 2003, 2007 and 2010. After reinstalling Windows, it restores the backup so that there is no need for activating Office again

Links: Download OPA-Backup | Get Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0

To use OPA-Backup, please follow the rules listed below:

• You must have bought Microsoft Office.
• Microsoft Office has to be activated.
• You must fulfill the software license agreement of Microsoft Office.
• OPA-Backup is not directed against Microsoft.
• OPA-Backup is no illegal crack.

Requirements: Microsoft Windows, Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0

For More Details:

http://www.opa-backup.de/index_en.php

10 things to love about Windows 8

By Justin James

Link:

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog

Takeaway: After spending a couple of months kicking the tires on the Windows 8 Developer Preview, Justin James can cite a number of promising features and positive changes.

Now that the Windows 8 Developer Preview has been available for a while, it is easier to take a step back and evaluate it without the powerful emotions that strike most people the first time they deal with it. Looking at it from a long-distance perspective, there’s a lot to like about Windows 8, especially if you are ready to cut the cord from an installed desktop application base and transition to Web applications and Windows 8 native applications. Here are 10 things I think are great about Windows 8.

1: It’s designed for tablets and touch

Microsoft is working hard to make Windows 8 work well with tablets and the touch UI paradigm, to the point of alienating traditional desktop users. It remains to be seen how Microsoft will respond to criticism over the Metro UI. But I can tell you that after using a phone with the Metro UI for well over half a year now, I think it is extremely effective for touch, and I would love to have a tablet running Windows 8.

2: Apps “share” data

One of the big changes in the application development model is that native Windows 8 apps (those using the new Metro UI and WinRT API) really do not directly communicate with each other, even through the file system, except via carefully defined interfaces. While this handcuffs developers a bit, it means that when applications do share data, Windows is aware of how they do it and makes it easy. For example, you could have an application that handles images and use it to share the pictures with, say, an application to upload them to Facebook. That unleashes a lot more power for developers because it means that applications from different vendors will work together seamlessly, and the developers do not even have to write anything specific for the application theirs works with.

3: The apps can be integrated into the OS

Just as the applications can “share” with each other, they can do the same thing with Windows itself. Again, this allows some really neat integrations to be done without much work by application makers. You can see things like a new social networking application come out and within weeks, Windows will be able to use your friends who are on it in its contact list, or the pictures can go into your picture gallery. The possibilities are endless.

4: It offers ARM support

While the ARM CPUs may not be for everyone or every purpose, lots of mobile vendors have a deep commitment to that platform and understand it well. The ARM devices will not be able to run legacy Windows applications, but they will run the Windows 8 native apps without a hitch. That’s great news for hardware makers, software developers, and users.

5: It beefs up security

The new programming model for Windows 8 native applications is extraordinarily secure. While I am sure that exploits will be found, it will be difficult for the native applications to break free of their chains. Microsoft has really flipped it around. Instead of allowing everything and slowly adding restrictions over the years (and breaking applications in the process, like XP SP2 and Vista did), it’s starting from an “allow nothing” stance.

6: App markets will benefit developers and users

Application markets are nothing new. Even Vista had one (although no one seems to remember it). With Windows 8 native applications, Microsoft is making the application market the primary way of getting apps onto the computer, much like Windows Phone 7. That’s great news for developers who need to get some more visibility for their applications and who do not want to deal with payments processing and such, especially for low-priced apps. And the application market is great for users, too. As we’ve seen, app markets encourage lower prices, and Microsoft will surely apply the same strict quality control that it has to the Windows Phone 7 app market.

7: System restore is easier

Microsoft has built new utilities into Windows 8 that makes it much easier than ever to send the system back to “out of the box,” while preserving your data. Providing a more appliance-like experience is critical for the typical user, and the help desk will appreciate it too.

8: Cloud sync is everywhere

While not everyone is in love with the cloud as an idea, Windows 8 has great facilities for allowing applications and users to automatically sync data between devices using the cloud. That’s great for users who can seamlessly transition between their tablet and desktop PC (and perhaps their phone), as well as for tech support, who can just replace a broken device instead of worrying about data loss.

9: It offers simplified administration and configuration

The Control Panel has been stripped down to the bare essentials, and you can’t even think about tasks like registry editing, defragging, etc., from the Metro UI. (You can do these tasks through the legacy desktop, if needed, but that won’t work for ARM devices.) Throughout Windows 8, a primary theme has been giving the user a more appliance-like “It just works” experience. Power users might howl about it, but the truth is, the Windows experience is still far more complex than the average user wants to deal with. Windows 8 is a great move in the right direction for those users.

10: System stability is improved

Windows 7 has really set the standard for system reliability. Short of hardware or driver problems, the old blue screen of death is almost never seen anymore. Windows 8 takes this to the next level. The same changes to the application development model also improve system stability. Applications can’t run over each other’s data easily, and the new WinRT API just does not allow the kinds of shenanigans that have caused unstable systems over the years. If you stick with native Windows 8 applications, reboots (other than for patching) and crashes should be extraordinarily rare.

Fixes for Outlook General Failure Error, Unwanted Windows Reboots

I promised to help track down a solution to the "General failure" error that appears in Microsoft Outlook when you click a link embedded in an e-mail. Judging from the number of pleas for help I continue to get from readers, this problem hasn't gone away. And it appears to affect users of all browsers, not just Firefox or Internet Explorer.

I've been trying to locate the right person at Microsoft who can address this issue, and hopefully provide a fix, but no luck so far. (Don't worry--I'm not giving up!) In the meantime, a helpful reader steered me to a solution he said worked for him. And based on what I've discovered in some user forums, it has helped at least a few others as well.

One caveat: I haven't tried this myself (because I'm not experiencing the error), so I can't say for sure it'll do the trick. But it seems like a totally safe thing to try, so I have no qualms about recommending it. Here's what to do:

1. Close Outlook.
2. aunch Internet Explorer.
3. Click Tools (which in later versions of IE is the little gear icon in the upper-right corner), then select Internet Options.
4. Choose the Security tab, and then select Reset all zones to default level.
5. Close Internet Explorer.
6. Restart Outlook, then open any e-mail that has an embedded hyperlink and click it.

If all goes well, your browser should pop open. (Obviously this solution is intended for IE users, but it may help even if you use another browser as your default.)

Five Microsoft apps that will change IT

Let me preface this article by saying that I don’t believe that these are the only five upcoming Microsoft releases that will have a major impact on IT in the coming years. I specifically chose these products because I have some strong opinions on how they will help shape Microsoft’s enterprise future.

1: System Center Configuration Manager 2012

In a former life, SCCM was known as Systems Management Server (SMS). With the upcoming release of SCCM 2012, Microsoft is introducing major changes to the product designed to enhance the end-user experience and streamline IT operations.

For example, in SCCM 2012, Microsoft is making the user the focus rather than computers. This really makes sense, particularly as users begin to rely on more and more devices. With SCCM 2012, as users roam between different computers, their applications can follow them.

To this end, Microsoft is also adding a better software portal to SCCM 2012. While SCCM has always had a concept of a portal, it wasn’t very intuitive. With SCCM 2012, the software portal is a Web-based service from which users can proactively choose to install new software.

The big deal: These features are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what’s new and good in SCCM 2012, but they demonstrate Microsoft’s focus on the end user, which, along with initiatives such as BYOD and even VDI, are the continuation of a trend in this direction.

2: System Center Operations Manager 2012

For quite a while, SCOM has had availability monitoring for network devices, and there have been third-party tools that could get more detailed information from network devices. However, SCOM 2012 provides support for much more in the way of native device monitoring. SCOM 2012 offers the ability to discover and monitor network devices, including the various interfaces and ports on those devices. With SCOM 2012, you can go far beyond simple up/down monitoring in SCOM.

The big deal: Microsoft offers various System Center bundles that make the products available in affordable ways. Now, SCOM can be used for much more than it could before. SCOM has always been an outstanding monitoring tool for Microsoft environments. SCOM 2007 added support for some third-party platforms, and SCOM 2012 extends the infrastructure monitoring capabilities of the product.

3: Windows 8 client

Much has been written about Windows 8, and Microsoft is certainly making the product an emphasis in the coming form factor war. If Windows 8 works the way that Microsoft seems to want it to work — and the market accepts it as a viable option outside the confines of the traditional computing space — the product could revolutionize computing by allowing the same operating system and applications to run seamlessly across a wide variety of devices, including PCs, laptops, tablets, phones, and even gaming consoles. Obviously, Microsoft has Windows Phone 7 as another mobile option for mobile devices, but the interface similarities may help when it comes to widespread adoption.

The big deal: It’s clear that Microsoft has an uphill battle ahead of it when it comes to the mobile space. If the company can get Windows 8 right, it could create massive opportunities for developers to get their applications in front of audiences on any device form factor they use.

4: Lync

I like Lync. The product has the potential to seriously disrupt the telephony space, and it adds serious unified communications capabilities to organizations that deploy it. Lync 2010 added a number of user-centric features, including the “me” area, which allows users to set their own status and track their own visibility. Lync also enables users to share individual desktops and to collaborate with other users. In addition, Lync includes audio and video conferencing capabilities and much more.

The big deal: Between Lync and Microsoft’s Skype acquisition, the company is well positioned to own the voice and video space if it can execute well. Lync can be a full-fledged replacement for an existing PBX and makes person-to-person communication very easy via a number of different channels.

5: Hyper-V 3.0

Microsoft has gone on record to say that Hyper-V 3.0 will catapult the company’s virtualization efforts and move it, in some ways, beyond what even VMware is offering. Hyper-V 3.0 will add the ability to perform multiple concurrent live migrations and introduces the new VHDX virtual disk format, a virtual fibre channel adapter and boot from SAN capabilities.

From a scalability perspective, Hyper-V 3.0 supports up to 160 logical processors on a host, as well as up to 2 TB of RAM. Guests will be able to support 32 vCPUs and up to 512 GB of RAM.

The big deal: Again, this is not intended to be a complete Hyper-V 3.0 primer. However, this is another instance where a combination of circumstance and feature gap closing may help Microsoft. VMware has, in the opinion of many, made some serious errors in its new licensing schemes. This may provide an outstanding opportunity for Hyper-V 3.0 to begin to supplant VMware in some environments. Hyper-V 3.0 will begin to erase some of VMware’s feature lead, which may help this process along.

What do you think? Will Microsoft supplant VMware in any significant way?

What Is the Security Intelligence Report?

With a collection of data from Internet services and over 600 million computers worldwide, the Security Intelligence Report (SIR) exposes the threat landscape of exploits, vulnerabilities, and malware. Awareness of threats is a preventive step to help you protect your organization, software, and people.

Worldwide Threat Assessment is an analysis of the global impact while Regional Threat
Assessment provides detailed telemetry by location. Protection methods appear in Managing Risk. SIR volume 11 provides data from January to June 2011 and features the ZeroDay article.

Link: 

http://www.microsoft.com/security/sir/default.aspx

Connect To VPN Before Logging In To Windows

In this post, we’ll look at two scenarios that involve establishing a VPN connection before logging in to Windows. In the first case, we need to authenticate to a domain to login. In the second case, the connection needs to be established automatically without a user.

NOTE: This article pertains to the built-in VPN client in Windows. There is however some discussion of Cisco clients in the comments below.

Scenario 1: Authenticating to A Domain At Login

Windows XP

At the Log On to Windows dialogue box, fill in the User name and Password fields.  Select your domain from the Log on to drop down. Then check the Log on using dial-up connection checkbox. (Click Options >> to reveal the Log on to drop down and dial-up checkbox if they are hidden.) Click OK.

The Network Connections dialog box will appear. Select your VPN connection from the drop down. Click Connect. The standard VPN Connect box will appear. Connect as normal. Once the VPN connection is established, the original Log On to Windows user name and password will be applied and you’ll be logged in.

Note: In the process above, you may receive a dialogue box asking for area code and other dialing options. Just humor Windows and fill it out. It won’t matter.

IMPORTANT: The “Anyone who uses this computer” radio button must have been checked when the VPN connection was created. Otherwise the VPN will not be present in the  Network Connectionsdrop down. If this is the case, just log on as a local administrator and recreate the connection.

Windows 7

At the login screen, click the Switch User button. A Network logon button will appear in the lower right corner next to the power button. Click this button and you will be presented with buttons for available network connections. Click on the button for your VPN. Enter your Username and Password, and click the arrow button (or press Enter).

IMPORTANT: The “Allow other people to use this connection” checkbox must have been checked when the VPN connection was created. Otherwise the VPN will not be present among the available network connections. If this is the case, just log on as a local administrator and recreate the connection.

Scenario 2: VPN Connection Without User Interaction

Credit where credit is due: The process in this scenario 2 section is drawn from this blog entry, which I stumbled upon early in my research of this topic.

Windows XP

What we’re going to do is install a system service that is started at boot and calls a batch file. The batch file will invoke a command that will start the VPN.

You will need three files available from Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools. At the time of this writing, the download is available from Microsoft here. Run the executable to unpack and install the tools. Note the directory where the installer puts the tools.

1. Put the commandrasdial connection-name username password into a batch file and name itautoexnt.bat.

• Connection-name is the name you gave the VPN connection when you created it.
• The “Anyone who uses this computer” radio button must have been checked when the VPN connection was created.
• Documentation on the rasdial command can be found here.

2. In the directory created by the Resource Kit Tools installer, locate autoexnt.exe, instexnt.exe, andservmess.dll. Move those files and autoexnt.bat to %SystemRoot%\System32\.

3. From a command prompt, run instexnt.exe install to install the service.

• Documentation on the AutoExNT service can be found here.

You’re done. Next time the machine boots, it will automatically establish the given VPN connection.

Windows 7 (64-bit)

Follow the process outlined above, but in step 2, transfer the files to %SystemRoot%\SysWOW64\.

• The files must be transferred to this directory because they are 32-bit. 32-bit executables go in the SysWOW64 directory, and 64-bit executables go in the System32 directory. A discussion of why it works like that can be found here.

Windows 7 (32-bit) and Vista (32 & 64-bit)

I have not tested this on Windows 7 32-bit or on any version of Vista, though I imagine it would work just the same.

Drag and Drop Not Working in Windows 7

Applies To: Windows | Windows 7 | Performance and Maintenance

Scenario:-

I have a new problem that has cropped up just in the last week or two. I can no longer drag and drop my files and folders in Windows Explorer. I have Windows 7 on a HP Notebook. It came installed on the computer last December when I bought it (09). I've never had an issue with it since then, and I'm not sure how to find the settings to enable drag and drop or re-enable it. I know I've done it before on this machine, many times- and just noticed it first in  Thunderbird, (my email desktop application) then in explorer. I did recently install the SP1 (spelling??) a few weeks ago, and have installed a few other odds and ends programs, but I'm pretty sure drag and drop was working okay until a few days ago. 

Any help would be appreciated. As a genealogy writer, that's a must have feature. 

Most Helpful Reply in this webpage: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/drag-and-drop-not-working-in-windows-7/f6dcfa11-8c51-e011-8dfc-68b599b31bf5

In Windows Explorer, click a file with the left mouse button and keep the button held down. Then press the Escape key. Drag and drop is miraculously re-enabled.


I got this from http://it.thelibrarie.com/weblog/2010/06/drag-and-drop-stops-working/