Thecus New N5500 NAS Server

First and foremost, the N5500 is engineered to store your data and keep it safe. The N5500 is equipped with five hot-swappable SATA 3.5” hard disk bays for a whopping 10TB of total storage capacity. To protect this data, the N5500 lets you choose from a wide selection of RAID modes, including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and JBOD. The N5500 also supports multiple RAID volumes, enabling you to choose the right combination of RAID volumes for your network, and if you ever change your mind, the N5500 also features online RAID expansion, online RAID migration, and auto rebuild for maximum flexibility. In fact, the N5500 is the only storage solution on the market that can be configured as a NAS, a DAS, or an iSCSI device! A powerful Intel® CPU and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports with load balancing, failover, and link aggregation with 802.3ad, the N5500 lets you access your data quickly and reliably.

In a business environment, maintaining functional operation on storage device is critical. With the unique dual-DOM design, an extra DOM is installed to ensure continuous and flawless operation on N5500. Users do not need to worry about down-time due to unexpected system failure. The N5500 also shines in terms of flexibility with support for multiple file systems, including XFS, EXT3 and ZFS, and you can even select different file systems for each RAID volume. In addition to this, RAID volumes on the N5500 can also be encrypted for ultimate data protection and security. Those who require even greater performance will be happy to hear that the N5500 also supports iSCSI initiators, which means that you can enjoy blazing file transfer performance over Ethernet without the hassle and expense of fiber-channel.

With features like these, the N5500 represents the next level in NAS device flexibility and power.

“Powerful, flexible, and scalable, the N5500 is our most exciting five-bay NAS yet,” notes Thecus General Manager Florence Shih. “Offering best-in-class speed, a bevy of useful features, and complete ease-of-use, users will be hard-pressed to find a five-bay NAS that measures up to the N5500 in both home and business environments.”

For more: http://hothardware.com/News/Thecus-Introduces-N5500-NAS-Server/

Apple unveils Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server

Like Snow Leopard, the server version of the OS provides 64-bit support, and many of the Apple applications have been updated to take advantage of that. For example, SMB file server performance is 2.3x faster than Leopard Server, and AFP file server performance is now 1.3x faster.

New features include:

iCal Server 2 -- This upgrade to Leopard's iCal Server now provides push notification, wireless accessibility to your calendar from any iPhone, a new web-based calendaring interface, and updates to CalDAV that now allow you to invite colleagues to meetings via email.

Podcast Producer 2 -- Podcast Producer, which was added to the server mix in Leopard, is now improved with Podcast Composer. This new feature lets you create your own workflows for automating completion and publishing of podcasts. There's also a new Setup Assistant in Server Admin that can set up Podcast Producer 2 in a manner of minutes, even if you're setting up a cluster of servers.

Wiki Server 2 -- Workgroups wishing to collaborate now have a little bit more to love from Wiki Server. The only real new feature is iPhone support; users can securely log into confidential wikis and content, and even review content and comments from the iPhone.

Mobile Access Server -- The piece that I'm probably the most excited about as an Xserve admin is Mobile Access Server. This new feature is like a custom VPN for Mac and iPhone users. As long as they're set up in the server's directory service, users can get secure, encrypted access to the server and network with very little hassle.

Mail Server -- The engine running Mail Server has been totally redesigned for much faster service, and now provides push email, vacation messages and server-side rules, and improvements to mail server clustering.

Web Server -- The biggest change to Web Server is that it can now do HTTP live video streaming. Performance is about 1.3x faster than Leopard Server's web services as well.

Client Management -- Organizations that are deploying many iPhones will love the new client management piece of Snow Leopard Server. It has an iPhone configuration utility for creating profiles that can be emailed to corporate users, thus setting up secure services in a few seconds. Administrators can now also use NetRestore to rebuild Macs over networks, based on either a custom build disk image or a standard OS X install disk.

Best of all, Snow Leopard Server will cost $499 for unlimited users (a sharp reduction from Leopard Server's price of $999 unlimited, $499 for 10 users) and should be shipping at the same time OS X 10.6 is available to the rest of us. I'd just be happy if Apple has finally fixed a lot of the issues with backing up network users to Mac OS X Server using Time Machine

Source:tuaw.com

How to Implement Outlook Web Access for Exchange Server 2007

Implementing Outlook Web Access

Once the Client Access role is installed on your Exchange Server, the OWA is available to your remote users who want to access their mailboxes using their web browsers. Although none of the settings are mandatory for the implementation of OWA, it requires you to configure various features and settings in Exchange Server 2007 for customization and efficiency. You can use various tools to configure OWA. These tools are:

* Exchange Management Console: A GUI used to manage the most common settings of OWA including Organization Configuration.
* Exchange Management Shell: A command-line interface that allows you to manage futures that cannot be managed using Exchange Management Console. It also allows you to automate administrative tasks and manage the associated command-line plug-ins.
* IIS Manager: A MMC that allows you to manage virtual directories.
* Web.config: A configuration file that must be modified using notepad. It allows you to modify OWA settings that are specific to ASP.NET.
* Registry editor: A sensitive tool that can be used to directly configure OWA settings such as the PublicClientTimeout, SSLOffloaded, and TrustedClientTimeout

To configure OWA in your Exchange server you can perform the following configurations:

* Configure OWA Virtual Directories: When the Client Access role is installed on your exchange server the following default OWA virtual directories are created under the Default Web Site in IIS on the Exchange server to allow access to Exchange content, as shown in Figure 5:

/owa: Used to allow access to mailboxes on Exchange Server 2007
/Public: Used to allow access to public folders using OWA
/Exchweb: Used to allow access to mailboxes on Exchange Server 2003 or Exchange Server 2000
/Exchange: Used to allow access to mailboxes on Exchange Server 2007, Exchange Server 2003, or Exchange Server 2000
/Exadmin: Used to allow access to administrative settings and properties to administrators.

You can manage the default virtual directories or create new virtual directories by using IIS Manager, Exchange Management Console, or Exchange Management Shell.

Related: How To Disable The Shutdown Event Tracker On Microsoft Windows Server


More Details here

How do I install or remove Windows on Windows 64 (WoW64) on my Windows Server 2008 R2 server core installation?

The WoW64 component is named ServerCore-WOW64. To install it, use the standard ocsetup method: Start /w ocsetup ServerCore-WOW64

To uninstall, use Start /w ocsetup ServerCore-WOW64 /uninstall

Note that this installs/removes the core WoW64 environment, and you need to reboot after changing this. There are also additional WoW64 packages for the various Windows Server 2008 R2 roles to enable 32-bit application support in those roles: Failover Clustering—FailoverCluster-Core-WOW64 PowerShell—MicrosoftWindowsPowerShell-WOW64 .NET 2—NetFx2-ServerCore-WOW64 .NET 3—NetFx3-ServerCore-WOW64 Printing—Printing-ServerCore-Role-WOW64 Server Core IME—ServerCore-EA-IME-WOW64 SUA—SUACore-WOW64

Before installing these components, you must first install the native 64-bit role/feature that this augments with 32-bit compatibility. For example, before installing NetFX3-ServerCore-WOW64, you need to have installed NetFX3-ServerCore.

You won't be told by an application install or application execution that you are missing WoW64 if you need it. Instead, you'll see more generic errors such as "Error 1719: The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed" during a 32-bit application installation, or "The system cannot execute the specified program" id you're trying to run a 32-bit program. Related Reading: Q. Is Windows Server 2008 R2 built on Server 2008's kernel in the same way that Windows Server 2003 R2 was built on Server 2003's kernel?

From: WindowsITpro

Microsoft will support server virtualization for Office Communications Server 2007 R2

Microsoft Wednesday announced that it will support server virtualization for Office Communications Server 2007 R2, its first statement on what portions of its real-time platform will run in a virtual environment.

In a post on Microsoft's Office Communications Server (OCS) blog, Jerome Berniere, senior program manager in the Office Communications group, said the company would support both "fully distributed virtualized topology across several hypervisors and for a single server virtualized topology."

The topologies are supported on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and any Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP) certified partner solution.

The virtualization will support presence, group chat and instant messaging. The IM support includes remote access, federation and connection to public IM.

The company made the announcement in conjunction with its annual TechEd conference going on this week.

Berniere also said a number of server services would be supported, including: front-end, back-end SQL Server 2008 64-bit; group chat channel; group chat compliance; archiving; monitoring (CDR only); and edge access.

Microsoft said the virtual machines must be running on Windows Server 2008 64 bits. Berniere wrote on the blog, "archiving server and monitoring server can be connected to a virtualized enterprise pool, but they must run on a physical server."

Source: itworld

Functions of IT Support Services

Its responsibility of IT support companies to keep all data safe while maintaining network server security, server upgrades and migrations, email management services and disaster recovery solutions. Such server support technicians help you to run your business smoothly. Therefore, there is high need to have a contract with an IT support service company as well as recommended.

Role of IT Support Services

It is the responsibility of the IT support services provider to ensure the effortless running of all computer systems and entire network.

· Install and configure operating systems as per the agreed standards.
· Give assistance in maintenance and compilation of all significant software and hardware.
· In server failure condition, IT support services provides the facility for disaster recovery solutions for your data as well as server upgrade and if needed migrate to other improved systems.
· Provide secure backup services with complete email management, even remotely.
· Provide repair services and troubleshooting for small and large businesses and always help you get access to the newest technology.
· Find solutions to all those problems that can hinder the smooth working of an organization or business.
· Provide proactive network installation for your network support requirements and a complete range of support packages and systems.
· Most IT support firms offer phone and online support and no need to wait for an engineer to come out to your office.
· Network support services include data security that helps you to detect promptly any computer virus and hacker threats.
· Ensure that all the software and the help desk systems are being kept up-to-date.

How to Install Read-Only Domain Controller on Windows Server 2008

Installing a Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) isn’t much different than installing a regular domain controller.

However, there is one important factor to keep in mind. A RODC can only be installed into an existing Active Directory Domain with at least one full (non-read-only) Windows 2008 Server Domain Controller.

The reason is that the RODC is a new feature to Windows 2008 and it needs at least one DC to understand what it is doing in order to function properly.

Once the decision has been made to install a RODC the next decision is whether to install on a full-install or core-install of Windows 2008 Server.

The RODC is primarily aimed at providing additional security on an Active Directory Database for a server that is not physically secured. Installing a RODC on a Core Install of Windows 2008 provides no additional physical security.

Installing RODC on a Core Server Install

There is only one way to install RODC role on a Core Server installation. The dcpromo.exe command runs on the GUI-less version of Windows Server 2008.

Using an answer file for the command makes the process much easier than trying to get all the switches just right in the command line.

Although there are many settings available depending upon your particular infrastructure, just basic information is required to complete the command:

• an account with permissions to do what you are trying to do
• the name of the Site
• the database and log paths
• and whether or not to install DNS.

Many people will put a “yes” for RebootOnCompletion. If you are doing an actual unattended promotion then that would make sense.

Regular Installation

On a full install of Windows Servers 2008, there is of course a GUI tool to help with the process. The Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard handles the installation of RODC.

Type “dcpromo” at a command prompt to start the wizard. The first screen will ask you whether you want to use an existing forest, or create a new domain in a new forest. Since you must join an existing domain with a RODC, the choice is obvious.

Next you’ll be asked for a username and password. The account must be a member of Domain Admins in order to create a Read-Only Domain Controller.

Next, you’ll choose the site you wish to join.

So far, this is all the same as a regular Domain Controller install. Under “Additional Options” is where you actually choose to make this a Read-Only Domain Controller installation.

Using an answer file for the command makes the process much easier than trying to get all the switches just right in the command line.

Installing the Read-Only Domain Controller on Windows Server 2008 - 1

Although there are many settings available depending upon your particular infrastructure, just basic information is required to complete the command:

* an account with permissions to do what you are trying to do
* the name of the Site
* the database and log paths
* and whether or not to install DNS.

Installing the Read-Only Domain Controller on Windows Server 2008 - 2

Many people will put a “yes” for RebootOnCompletion. If you are doing an actual unattended promotion then that would make sense.

If you are sitting at the console, I prefer to manually reboot the server so that I can take as much time as I want to study what is on the screen if there is an issue.

Next, choose the paths for installing the components, or just click Next to use the defaults. Once the confirmation screen appears, you are all set.

Source: http://windowsserver.trainsignal.com/server-2008-install-rodc-read-only-domain-controlle