Archive for December, 2007
December 29, 2007 at 8:06 pm · Filed under Other things
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896526
Every now and again, I help out a friend or a member of the family with their Windows XP pc, the issues people are having always vary, but as an example, one was that Windows was blue screening, and they couldn’t get it to work, I thought I’d post a few basic steps I always try and where everything is typically kept to back up your pc.
When you boot your pc, press f8 just before or as the windows xp screen appears - now try two things, there is ’safe mode’ and last known good. Think of safe mode as Windows light, everything is disabled and set to basic so no drivers or anything fancy will load, from there you can usually see what’s going on in the event logs. Last known good is basically starting up Windows with the last set settings/configuration before you started the problem as Windows should take a back up of the last known good configuration.
Everything that is you is typically stored in c:\documents and settings\your username -this folder contains - (note some applications store data in their program files folder(s)):
- Your pictures
- Your music
- Your documents
- Application data - this is typically where outlook puts your outlook folders
- Temp - this contains any temporary files
- Favourites - your internet explorer favourites
If none of this works, there are a number of things you can try, but often it’s easier to install Windows XP again. As a rule this is what I do, first of all disconnect it from the internet, you don’t want to finish installing windows and then find as soon as it connects to the internet it’s messed up again.
- Install Windows XP - put in the cdrom, reboot and press any key to boot from cd - if you’ve backed everything up, re-format the drive and do a clean install
- Install Windows XP service pack 2 (or whatever the latest one is - 2 is currently) - reboot after set up - it’s fine
- Enable the Windows firewall and automated update features
- Now download and install Windows Installer 3.1 it will probably ask you to reboot - that’s fine
- Now install your anti virus software or download AVG if you need free anti virus software - the free version is actually very good
- Now you may connect the pc to the internet - you’ve got anti virus and firewall enabled so your pc is relatively secure (as much as it can be for free)
- Now do a Windows update or if you need to install your network/wireless drivers so you can get the pc on the internet to do a Windows update
- Ensure the AVG software is updated as well, open the application and click update when you’re connected to the internet.
- Then to restore your settings, copy in your favourites, then copy in your pictures/music/documents
The reason I install Windows, then SP2, then anti virus software, then connect to the internet is that this secures your pc first. Windows Installer 3.1 is simply because it’s a component required for Windows update, and by downloading and installing it, you make the windows update process that bit quicker. The other thing to consider is the googlepack, it really is great and includes typically everything you’ll need to be online, but only download the bits you want/need.
Now as with anything my comments could be debated dependent on your preferences, the way you do things, but hopefully this helps.
December 29, 2007 at 7:49 pm · Filed under virtualization, vmware
http://www.virtual-strategy.com/article/articleview/2438/1/2/
Virtualization has taken the enterprise by storm. Recent surveys indicate that a majority of CIOs are contemplating virtualization deployments, even looking beyond server virtualization to areas such as VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure). By removing the dependency an operating system has on a physical server or PC, Virtualization presents a huge opportunity for IT groups to more effectively manage their environments, optimize resource loads for the physical machines at their disposal and even get by with less hardware. Virtualization represents a seismic shift to application rollout, OS deployment and capacity expansion methodologies implemented in the x86 world over the last 25 years. It would be a mistake, however, to get too focused on the Virtualization technology itself.
The Hypervisor or VM Monitor technologies, such as those built by VMware, Microsoft and the Open Source Xen project, are becoming increasingly commoditized. In the long term, they deserve as much focus as any other piece of hardware enablement technology, for example the BIOS. In reality, the excitement is not necessarily about the Virtualization enablement software, but the opportunities it brings about. As is always the case in the software industry, it’s the application that delivers the most value, not the plumbing.
I’m genuinely excited about pc virtualization, it can be a great way of reducing you hardware/software support costs, and a great way of reducing the energy consumption of your business, switching to thin clients with a virtual desktop can be more energy efficient if deployed in the right way. It’s something that is certainly going to be more popular in the near future, I wonder what benefits users will see? What group of users do we virtualize first? IT/HR? We’ll see, exciting times ahead.
December 29, 2007 at 7:46 pm · Filed under Other things, datacenter
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2205969/trouble-ahead-firms-aging
Data centres are ageing and companies are not planning ahead or demonstrating timely investment in new facilities, according to a recent survey.
The Aperture Research Institute study of more than 600 data centre facilities worldwide found that more than a third were built over four years ago.
Most organisations have problems coping with the intense power and cooling demands of modern hardware, such as high-density blade servers and virtualisation technologies, in these facilities.
Data centers continue to be in the news, in terms of businesses reaching their capacity be it living on the edge, or at operational safety levels in terms of power and cooling. This is set to continue, what matters is how your business is coping, what steps you’re taking in the data center operations, considering actions like server decommissioning, consolidation and virtualization will certainly help in the short term. Going forward matching the business needs with your data center objectives is the way forward, though it’s not always as easy to do as it is to say. Evaluating your data center, where it is and where you need to be is the way forward, as is getting all the stakeholders involved.
December 29, 2007 at 7:25 pm · Filed under blades
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,244214.shtml
WEST KINGSTON, RI — 12/18/07 — APC, a global leader in integrated critical power and cooling services, today announced it has been elected as a governing member of Blade.org and will join the organization’s Board of Directors. Blade.org is an open community created to develop and advance next-generation solutions for blade servers. As a board member, APC will work with the association to influence and promote the direction of the blade server market and encourage creation of new blade solution offerings.
Very good news for APC, joining blade.org should help with the blade message, in showing how blade servers can be an energy efficient solution when deployed in the right way. The more we can accentuate the positive about blade technologies whether in terms of grid or virtualization solutions, the more we can focus on how the technology can be an enabler to your business which is ultimately what the consumer, the business needs.
December 29, 2007 at 7:21 pm · Filed under Other things
http://www.techspot.com/news/28335-samsung-intros-320gb-25-hdd.html
Samsung is joining the ranks of those manufacturers who are offering behemoth-sized 320GB hard drives for laptops. The M6 HM320JI is now the highest capacity 2.5†drive that Samsung offers, and at 5400RPM will probably fit in well with other offerings. The drive uses a SATA interface and boasts low output noise. Drives of this form factor and capacity have become increasingly popular not only for putting more storage into laptops, but for putting mass amounts of storage into slim servers such as 1U rack chassis or blade servers, where space is limited.
This is great news for those that need space when they’re on the move, digital photography/movie making, or rich media content. The drives sound very cool, and I wonder if they’ll be announced in popular laptops of today?
December 29, 2007 at 7:19 pm · Filed under Other things, virtualization
http://education.zdnet.com/?p=1437
I have yet to receive any guest blogs specifically about educational technology since we opened up several of our columns to guest submissions. I thought it might bring some folks out of the woodwork, though, if I suggested a specific topic. Server virtualization is something with which I have very little experience and, until recently, has been too expensive for much of the ed tech market. However, as technologies mature and costs come down, virtualization seems to be a viable means for server consolidation and cost savings, both in terms of hardware and energy consumption.
I remember school with fond memories, back then we were using Windows 3.11 with 486s running Windows remotely over the network, it wasn’t very fast, but it worked. I wonder as thin client technologies improve, as we evolve what we can do with less, whether virtual desktops, or running the pc from a shared image will be the way forward. It will be interesting to see in what directions the technology will be used to serve the student, to enhance the learning process - will we have published applications without the desktop? Will everything be online based? Can we abstract the desktop from the student?
December 29, 2007 at 7:16 pm · Filed under Other things, virtualization
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_pressreleases&view=detail&pr_id=10372&Itemid=77&ln=en
Oracle today announced Oracle® VM, a server virtualization software which supports both Oracle and non-Oracle applications. Oracle VM offers scalable, low-cost server virtualization that is up to three times more efficient than existing products from other vendors. Key Oracle products including Oracle Database, Oracle Fusion Middleware and Oracle Applications are certified with Oracle VM.
Backed by Oracle’s world-class support organization, customers have a single point of support for their entire virtualization environments, including Linux operating system and Oracle products.
Consisting of open source server software and an integrated Web browser-based management console, Oracle VM provides an easy-to-use, rich, graphical interface for creating and managing virtual server pools, running on x86 and x86-64-based systems, across an enterprise.
I posted this article mainly to highlight that demand for virtualization continues particularly in the newer developing markets like the middle eastern and asia pacific regions. Let’s not forget the more users, businesses going online, the more IT infrastructure physical or virtual needed to accommodate these users storage, web and new media needs.
December 29, 2007 at 7:12 pm · Filed under Other things, rackmounts
I got an email from Mike the other day. He’s inherited a Compaq Prosignia 300. Mike attends one of the universities in London and wondered what he could do with the server “what are the specs?” “Can I run windows 2003 on it?” “Is there anything I should know about it?” “How do you get drivers?” My reply is below.
“Hi Mike
Great welcome to the server club, great news that you’ve got your first server. The Compaq Prosignia 300 is a bit of an old box, but if you’re wanting to get familiar with servers in general, or it’s probably still fine as a file server, though memory fails me in terms of the exact specs. Anyway, the following information should help:
Drivers - http://www.hp.com/support - http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?prodNameId=257774?=en&cc=us&taskId=135&prodClassId=-1&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=254924 is the exact url to download them
Specifications - http://h18003.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/North_America_10-1997/50025_na.PDF -I’ve played with one before, it was a Pentium 90 I believe.
Operating systems - looking at the HP site it can run up to NT4, you might get away with Windows 2000 dependent on the memory and disk space, NT will probably run quite well, or you could check out linux, it should have the drivers you need.
Notes - the firmware can be downloaded from the driver page, check that’s up to date before you start installing the operating system, that should prevent any issues, there is an erase utility to reset everything to default, but you might not find that necessary. Looking at the site it states the drivers are up to 4.8, you can download and install for example 6.1Â which are the latest Compaq/HP drivers for Windows NT, however they will probably use more memory and load features which aren’t supported by your hardware.
To install Windows NT4, you’ll need the driver disk for the array controller and network card, but otherwise the install should go through fine without any issues.
If you have any problems, drop me a mail and good luck with your new server.
regards
Martin
December 29, 2007 at 7:01 pm · Filed under Other things, rackmounts
Got a call from Chris, he sounded rather frustrated, he was having problems with smartstart 5.5 failing when he was trying to rebuild and reconfigure a Compaq Proliant 2500r. The conversation is below for reference, just in case you’re having the same kind of thing.
Hi there, smartstart keeps failing on a Compaq 2500, you had this before, it’s done this a few times gets half way through and then goes black screen. Any ideas? Asked a rather frustrated Chris.
“Em, well I’ve had smartstart 5.5 fail a few times, normally it’s when the server has kind of erased but not erased or reset properly so when it tries to run it doesn’t work (or that’s why I assume it fails), unless you’ve got a hardware fault?” I replied
“No, rebuilding it, it’s got a virus and blew up, blue screen with windows type errors winlogon type stuff.” Said Chris
“Ok, try the system erase one more time using the smartstart cd, do it very slowly, don’t rush it. If that doesn’t work I’d do the following:
- Upgrade/refresh the system and array controller firmware
- Download the system erase utility - hp support site
- That’s the dos hard core version which will certainly wipe everything
- Then try smartstart again. If that fails, try shutting the box down, remove and reseat the hard drives, check the middle bit which holds the processors and memory try reseating it, remove the power cables, plug it back in and see how you go.” I replied
Very cool, it turned out that Chris used the downloadable floppy disk whcih wipes the system configuration to standard.
December 29, 2007 at 6:49 pm · Filed under Other things, blades
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=55349
Oracle today announced that Oracle® Application Server 10g Release 3, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware, together with Oracle Database and Oracle Real Application Clusters, running on HP Integrity server blades and HP StorageWorks Enterprise Virtual Arrays, delivered world record clustered performance results with the SPECjAppServer2004 Benchmark.(1) Reaching the highest performance ever achieved running a clustered database, this result surpassed the best SPECjAppServer2004 benchmark results from BEA WebLogic(2) by 15 percent and IBM WebSphere with IBM DB2 UDB 9.1(3) by more than 116 percent.
Oracle Application Server 10g Release 3 together with Oracle Database and Oracle Real Application Clusters achieved 9,459.19 SPECJAppServer2004 JOPS@Standard (jAppServer Operations Per Second). The Java Application Servers were running on 11 HP Integrity BL860c server blades, with the latest two dual-core Intel� Itanium� 1.66 GHz processors running in the HP BladeSystem c-Class c7000 enclosure. The database server was running on two HP Integrity Superdome servers each with 40 dual-core Intel® Itanium® 1.6 GHz processors and an HP StorageWorks EVA8100. Both the application server and database tiers were running HP-UX 11i v3. This result adds to Oracle and HP�s existing world record performance results with the SPECjAppServer2004 benchmark in the Single Node(4) and Multi Node(5) categories.
This article is talking about HP and Oracle showing how by optimizing the application code (in this case a database) with the platform they can achieve significant performance, very cool. It’s always interesting to see what technologies and combinations of technologies they’ve used to come up with the results, interestingly they’re using dual-core Itanium’s processors.
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