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SCOM TrainingIf you are looking for more great information and the best technical training available on Operations Manager 2007, check out http://www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm.
July 08 Because of an error in data encryption, this session will end. Please try connecting to the remote computer again.This one is stumping me. I've just built a new Windows Server 2008 system with Hyper-V and everytime I attempt to connect to the server be it from an XP or Vista box, I get the following error.
This is now also happening with I RDP into one of the guest running on the server. I am still looking for the setting to disable to allow me to connect remotely. If you know, I'd love to hear from you! Ops Mgr 2007 Installation WoesCould not get SQL Server instance names. Prerequisite check failed: SQL Server SP1 is not installed. Well, yesterday marked another day of new and interesting, undocumented features in software. This was a new error for me that in all of the installs I have done, I have not encountered. My install of Ops Mgr 2007 SP1 slipstream failed the prerequisite check stating that SQL 2005 SP1 wasn’t installed. My install was pretty straight forward, one server OPSSQL as the database, data warehouse and Ops Reporting server with SQL 2005 SP1 and SQL RS SP1 installed and one server OPSRMS as the Management Server, Console (Web, Ops, & Command Shell). So as installs go, I start the installation on OPSSQL and get the following error at the prerequisite checker...
So the next logical step was to confirm that SQL was installed and that I have applied SP1 which I new I had as I just finished the installation. This can be done by opening SQL Management Studio and running a couple of SQL queries such as USE MASTER SELECT @@VERSION, the output of which you can see below.
Alternatively, you can run select serverproperty('productversion'), serverproperty('productlevel'), serverproperty('edition') and get the following result...
As you can see, SQL 2005 SP1 was clearly installed. The next place to look for information on troubleshooting this was the log file MOMn.log where n is the number of install attempts you have made. You can see from this that I was at lucky number 7. This file can be found in C:\Documents and Settings\<logged on user>\Local Settings\Temp\. The string to search for in the log file is value=3 but this was to no avail.
So this is where it gets even more interesting but also where the solution lies. The beautiful thing about software is that there is always more than one way to arrive at a final destination!! So, the next step was to try to install the database without running SetupOM.exe by using the CreateDB.exe found in the SuppportTools folder on the OpsMgr2007 installation media and this worked like a charm! I had to run this once to install the OperationsManager DB and again to install the OperationsManagerDW but it ran like a champ on the OPSSQL server and then I was able to run SetupOM.exe on the OPSRMS server and complete the installation of the RMS and consoles. For this and more great real world insight into Operations Manager, Configuration Manager, Powershell and Softgrid, check out www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. June 24 OLE DB Monitors on Non-Default PortsOLE DB Monitors on Non-Default Ports Have you ever wanted to monitor SQL availability using an OLE DB monitor in SCOM 2007 and run into the following error? “Unspecified error”
The resolution to this is to add the port number to the connection string. This isn’t possible however when you use the Simple Configuration option in the Add Monitoring Wizard but there is a very quick work around to this. Create the connection string using the Simple Configuration option and then change to Advaned Configuration and enter a comma and the port number after the SQL Server name or SQL Server\instance name.
So typically, your connection string will look something like this before adding the TCP Port: Provider=SQLOLEDB;Server=DWWPRPOLYSQL1P;Database=SCOMProdOpsDB;Integrated Security=SSPI
Modify this to include the TCP port as shown below: Provider=SQLOLEDB;Server=DWWPRPOLYSQL1P,1832;Database=SCOMProdOpsDB;Integrated Security=SSPI Voila, problem solved! You can now monitor databases in instances of SQL that use non-standard (TCP 1433) ports.
For this and more great information on Operations Manager 2007, check out our training at http://www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. June 16 Activating Windows Server 2008So today was the day to try replacing Vista on my notebook with Windows Server 2008 x64 and hyper-v in an effort to get better performance out of the notebook and the virtual machines that run on the notebook.
Two issues came up, the first is activation. Everytime I attempted to activate, I got the message: "Activation Error: Code 0x8007232b, DNS Name does not exist". The resolution to this is to run the following command where xxxxx-xxxxx is the VLK.
slmgr -ipk xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
The second issue is connectivity to a projector. This was easily resolved when I downloaded and installed the latest Vista x64 video driver. Now my notebook running Windows Server 2008 x64 connects fabulously to my infocus in10 projector.
A great post on running Windows Server 2008 as your desktop can be found at http://weblogs.asp.net/israelio/archive/2008/02/21/windows-server-2008-as-workstation.aspx June 03 Ops Mgr MP GuidesOps Mgr MP Guides Are you looking for MP Guides? If so, check out http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc540358(TechNet.10).aspx.
Looking for great Ops Mgr training, check out http://www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. SNMP and OpsMgr SP1 + Event ID 4000SNMP and OpsMgr SP1 + Event ID 4000 Are you working with Operations Manager 2007 SP1 and SNMP? Are you seeing Event ID 4000 from source Health Services? If so, take a look at KB951526.
Looking for great Ops Mgr training, check out http://www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. June 02 MOC 50028: System Center Operations Manager 2007 UpdateOpsMgr Courseware Library Update
Thinking about taking the Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) instructor led training for Operations Manager 2007, well first let’s be clear that this isn’t MOC, it’s a courseware library course (CWL) and it’s currently under review do to the feedback that it’s been receiving.
If you are looking for some excellent training on System Center Operations Manager 2007, check out www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. We run classes around the world, taught by consultants that have experience implementing the software and who have answers to your real world questions.
Rory May 23 Monitoring Windows Server 2008Monitoring Windows Server 2008 If your plans involve monitoring Windows Server 2008 and you are running Windows Server 2008 DCs, check to see that the Active Directory Object Helper file (oomADs.msi) is installed on those systems. My initial testing shows that the helper file doesn’t install automatically on a DC running Server 2008 when the Ops Mgr 2007 agent installs through a push install from the console.
You can install the oomADs.msi manually by navigating to Program Files\System Center Operations Manager 2007\Helper Objects on each DC and running it from there.
For great Ops Mgr 2007 training, with tips and tricks learned from our numerous worldwide deployments, check out www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. May 18 MCT Program Good, MOC Content BadMCT Program Good, MOC Content Bad I renewed my MCT again this year. I am certainly not ‘active’ when it comes to deliver Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) content but I do find that participation in the MCT community (be it infrequent) has been valuable. However, this year particularly I held off to the very last minute to renew as I have not been impressed, in fact I have been downright disappointed with the overall quality of the MOC content and especially the Courseware library content available over the past couple of years.
I think that Microsoft learning is really missing the mark when it comes to the development of technical training content that customers, again particularly large enterprise customers are looking for. In my opinion, MOC is now level 200 at best. It seems as though MSL is so focused on ensuring specific styles are adhered to that they forget about the technical appropriateness. I also think that having MCTs technically edit and review the content is a mistake. No disrespect to MCTs because a) I am one and b) I know a lot of great and technically knowledgeable MCTs but I also know a LOT of MCTs that know what’s in the book and no more. It’s these folks that I think should be barred from reviewing content as they have NO real world experience and can’t provide the ‘real world’ feedback needed to actually improve the courses. The feedback channel is crucial and it needs to start at the course outline development stage because that’s where the course is really shaped. From some of the courses I have looked at lately, I question whether the courseware authors have actually used the applications that they are writing about. There is such a disconnect from reality, it’s scary.
The biggest gap is in the courses for the ‘fringe technologies’ like Office Communications Server (OCS) or the System Center family of products. Any of the technologies that don’t have the same level of demand as the Windows O/S course fall way short on quality if they exist at all. One of the biggest surprises actually is the SharePoint courses as this is one of Microsoft’s biggest money makers these days but these course leave a lot to be desired and are driving people to ‘grey market’ offerings created by technology experts at www.mindsharp.com and www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm.
In the end this is good for independent organizations that have identified and capitalized on the opportunity but this is really an area that I would think Microsoft would step up to address or direct customers to the more technical offerings available and stop developing their own as it’s really a wasted investment in my opinion that leads to customer dissatisfaction. And anyone that has worked closely with Microsoft knows how important customer satisfaction is to Microsoft. MP Guides – Where Do I Find Them?MP Guides – Where Do I Find Them? All the MP guides used to be located at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/opsmgr/bb498235.aspx and this will still take you to the Ops Mgr product documentation but you will not find the MP Guides any longer. The guides have been removed from that page. The guides are typically available in the .msi for the MP, and are supposed to be available (soon!) online in the TechCenter at (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb310604.aspx).
As you have likely noticed, only some of the guides were listed previously on http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/opsmgr/bb498235.aspx. You may have also noticed that the MPs released with SP1 did not have updated guides. This is something that Microsoft is aware and is working to fix. Microsoft's Virtualization Support PolicyWhat’s Microsoft’s Virtualization Support Statement This is a question we get all of the time... According to TechNet, MS supports virtualization but only on virtual server. http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=897615 Here’s an excerpt pulled directly from the article listed above... “Hardware virtualization software lets you run multiple operating system instances at the same time on a single computer. Microsoft has two software offerings, Microsoft Virtual PC and Microsoft Virtual Server, that provide this functionality. Third parties also have software in the market that provides this functionality. This article describes support provided by Microsoft for its software running together with non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software. 944987 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944987/) Support partners for non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software” May 07 Override Properties dialog boxOverride Properties dialog box When you attempt to create an override in Operations Manager 2007 SP1, and the change the override setting, you are often presented with a red exclamation mark.
This red exclamation mark prevents you from saving your changes by clicking OK. Two different things appear to resolve this. First, you can toggle the override setting value from False back to True and then back to False and click OK. Annoying yes, but a quick fix. Second, you can change from the Default Management Pack to one of your own unsealed MPs and this too will allow you to save your changes. New MP Studio LiteFree MP Studio Lite Now Available!
Silect Software releases a FREE edition of its industry leading MP Studio product
MP Studio 2007 Lite helps you quickly develop a clear understanding of Management Packs, a key component of System Center Operations Manager 2007. MP Studio Lite combines rich Management Pack content analysis capabilities with predefined out-of-the-box Management Pack reports giving System Center Operations Manager 2007 users a comprehensive view of all Management Pack components.
Feature Summary: · View Management Pack relationships and references · Create customized views of Management Pack contents · View overrides that are applied to a Management Pack or overrides applied to an entire Management Group · View by Management Pack or by Target · Create customizable Management Pack reports in HTML format · Works with installed Management Packs or file-based Management Packs
Click here to download your free copy of MP Studio Lite Resultant Set of RulesResultant Set of Rules Are you interested in seeing the workflows (rules and monitors) that are running on an Ops Mgr 2007 agent in your environment? If you are, you will want to take a look at the tasks targeted at the Health Service. In particular, the Show Running Rules and Monitors for this Health Service task.
In the Monitoring node, expand the Operations Manager folder and the Agent sub folder. Within the agent folder you will find the Agent Health State dashboard view which is a combination of both the Agent State view and the Agent State from Health Service Watcher state view. In this dashboard view, select one of the computers in the Agent state view and select the Rules and Monitors for this Health Service task. Run this task to return a list of the workflows that are running on the agent. Working in the Monitoring ConsoleWorking in the Monitoring Console Any member of the Operators user role is able to create their own views within the Operations Console. One view that is quite popular is an alerts view to see all resolved alerts.
If you are looking for more great information and the best technical training available on Operations Manager 2007, check out www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. May 02 Operations Manager 2007 Consultants - We're HiringAre you involved in Operations Manager 2007? Have you considered consulting?
Infront Consulting Group is hiring and has positions for SCCM and SCOM consultants and trainers. If you are interested send an e-mail to careers@infrontconsulting.com.
April 29 Ops Mgr Cross Platform - LOOK OUT!!For those of you that didn't have the opportunity to make it to MMS this year or those of you that did but slept through the key note after a late night of fun in Vegas, you may not have heard the fabulous announcement about cross platform support announced by Microsoft for Operations Manager. In order to be the true monitor of monitors, Microsoft has been working diligently on the creation of a non-windows agent to make their operations management offering truly cross-platform and allow it to be the monitor of monitors within any organization.
To stay up to date on the latest on the xplat changes, check out http://blogs.msdn.com/scxplat.
For great training on Ops Mgr 2007, check out www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm. April 26 Hyper-V in the TrenchesHyper-V in the Trenches Well, I can now say that I have done it. I have installed and configured my first virtual server in our Hyper-V lab and I know that Hyper-V is still in beta so I really hope that a LOT of the issues that I had to endure are things that are fixed in the final RTM. The Hyper-V interface really isn’t that much different from what I am used to in Virtual PC or Virtual Server. The creation and configuration of a virtual server is quite straight forward and easy however that’s where I found the simplicity at this point stops. The first thing that I tried was simply adding a VPC image to Hyper-V and booting. During the boot, the whole lab server crashed (never a good sign) and this was the only thing running on it. As a persistent IT guy, I tried again only to find the crash mid-boot corrupted me AD database file and that resulted in having to wait 30 minutes for the indexes to rebuild. Once I was finally able to get in, I found that the virtual machine additions that had been added in VPC could not be uninstalled in Hyper-V. (Note to PG: This really needs to change. BIG PAIN POINT) So I thought I would just build a new virtual server. That’s easy enough. In less than two minutes, I have a new virtual server booting and running through an installation of Windows Server 2003 and 30 minutes later, I am ready to go. The only limitation at this point is that I have no mouse or network in the virtual server and at the time I wasn’t sure why but through the keyboard I launched the installation of the ‘Integration Services’. This is the new name for the virtual machine additions. This led me to learn my second frustrating lesson. The Integration Services require that SP2 is installed on Windows Server 2003. Note to PG: This REALLY needs to change. BIG PAIN POINT) So now the dilemma, with no NIC and no ‘Shared Folder’ functionality, how do I get the .exe for W2k3 SP2 into the virtual server? So the solution to this is fairly obvious, just download w2k3 SP2 to the host, download and install Nero, burn an iso image of the SP2 file and attach that to the virtual server. But all the while I am thinking to myself (and this is 4 hours into this process) ‘this is not the time saver that I had originally hoped for’. In the back of my mind I was really thinking that had I used VMWare I likely would have already been installed, configured and had my virtual systems built and functioning without dependency issues. So, I must say that there is still definitely room for improvement and as this is still in beta I am really looking for to seeing some of that simplicity built into the RTM version. It seems to be more and more common these days with Microsoft technology to see dependencies built into Microsoft applications that really just end up driving the people that work with the technology crazy and asking the question WHY? Event ID 1006 on Windows Server 2008Gpupdate Failing on Windows Server 2008 with Event ID 1006 On a clean install of Windows Server 2008, the group policy kept failing generating error events with Event ID 1006 from Source Group Policy in the event system log and returning the following message when running gpupdate /force at the Command Prompt.
This one definitely had me stumped for a few minutes.
I can ping my DC, resolve its FQDN, and RDP to it from the Windows Server 2008 system. That got me thinking about security and led me to Server Manager and the Configuration section where you will find Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. It appears that the default configuration for the Domain, Public and Private Profiles is to block inbound connections that do not match a rule. This got me to looking at the default rules (under Connection Security Rules) for which there were none, so I created a simple rule that requested authentication using Kerberos and voila, it started working! J
Problem solved! April 10 Planning to Write the 70-400 – System Center Operations Manager 2007 Exam?Planning to Write the 70-400 – System Center Operations Manager 2007 Exam? Having developed a couple courses and worked with Operations Manager 2007 extensively since it was in Release Candidate, I am often asked what someone can do to prepare for the exam. There is no one right answer to this question but I can provide you with some guidance. The first thing that I would encourage you to do is to work with the product. Get it installed in a lab, build your own virtual machine lab, download the TechNet VHDs or work through some of the TechNet Virtual labs which can be found at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/opsmgr/bb539977.aspx. Download and read the Microsoft documentation and/or buy the newly released Unleashed book. If you are interested in technical classroom training, take a look at our Operations Manager courses at http://www.infrontconsulting.com/events.htm.
Now when it comes to the exam, remember that Microsoft will be testing your knowledge on the following five topics. More on these can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-400.mspx. This page breaks down the areas of focus in the exam into five main areas including: 1. Configuring System Center Operations Manager 2007 2. Deploying and Configuration Management Packs 3. Building and Deploying Custom Management Packs 4. Maintaining System Center Operations Manager 5. Configuring Client Monitoring
Good luck. With preparation and hands on knowledge you will be fine! | ||
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