APP-V or Server APP-V ? That’s the question…

You needn’t  to be a virtualization Guru to understand the difference between APP-V and Server APP-V. In fact, you have only to be a good man which pay attention to his friends and family to understand that !

Ok, it’s quite easy, let see:

First scenario

You have a critical application in your company which is compatible with windows XP. The desktop team plan to upgrade to Windows 7. Unfortunately, the application is not compatible with Windows 7 and you haven’t any updates, patches or new release to make the application operational in Windows 7. So, what can be done?

Solution

The desktop team can use application virtualization. In fact, Microsoft have a product named “MDOP: Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack” which include APP-V. So, the desktop team will sequence that application and generate a package that can be deployed via SCCM “System Center Configuration Manager” or be streamed via an APP-V stream server. So, that Windows 7 client can use and manipulate that application in their environment.

Second scenario

You plan to create service template that include some applications. You want to integrate that applications but they need to be installed in the virtual machine. What’s the easy way to do that without changing the application configurations or without doing some hard coded scripts?

Solution

Server Application Virtualization is functionality that packages server applications into xcopyable images, which can then be easily and efficiently started and deployed without an installation process. This can all be accomplished without requiring changes to the application code. This virtualization process also separates the application and its associated state from the operating system thereby providing new approaches to deployment and management.

And “Voila”, it’s clear now, in the future I will publish some guides to helps technicians to use APP-V and Server APP-V.

Trick: Switch between Server Core and Full Installation in Windows 2012

 

You know that’s impossible in Windows 2008R2 to switch between Server Core and a Full installation. Besides, in Windows 2012 that’s possible. So, if you have a Server Core mode and you want to switch to Full installation you have only to use one of this methods:

• Use Sconfig.cmd
• Powershell:

Import-Module ServerManager

Install-WindowsFeature –IncludeAllSubFeature User-Interfaces-Infra –Source c:\mount

Now, if you have a Full installation of Windows 2012 and you want to switch to a Server Core Mode, you can do the following tasks:

• Remove the “Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure” feature
• Remove the “Graphical Shell” feature

“Missing drivers error” when you install Windows Server 2012

You may receive “Missing drivers” error when you try to install Windows 2012 in a physical machine using DVD.

Solution:

- The windows 2012 ISO file you downloaded may be corrupted

- Try to burn your Windows 2012 Media using at maximum 4x as a speed

 

Good luck

[ERROR] Database is mandatory on UserMailbox. Property Name: Database

When you try to apply SP1 or SP2 on Exchange 2010 Server, you may receive the error stating that “Database is mandatory on UserMailbox. Property Name: Database.” in the Exchange setup log.

This error is caused by some information that missed in “System Mailbox”. In our case, “System mailbox” aren’t affected to a specific database. There are two solutions:

First Workaround:

1- Delete system mailbox from Active Directory using ADSI tools

• Click Start, click Run, type adsiedit.msc, and then click OK.
• Locate the Default Naming Context node, and then locate to the CN=Users container.

Locate:

• "DiscoverySearchMailbox {D919BA05-46A6-415f-80AD-7E09334BB852}"
• “System mailbox”
• Delete them

2- Run Setup.com /prepareAD, then, System mailboxes will be created

3- SP2 installation will be finish succesfully

Second Workaround:

1- Locate system mailboxes in AD with ADSI

2- Change HomeDB parameter, and affect mailboxes to an existing database

3- Rerun SP2 setup, it will finish succesfully

Exchange 2013 Preview released

A nice surprise from MS, they revealed the Exchange edition called : Exchange 2013 Preview.

In order to download it refer to this link: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124558(v=exchg.150)

Good luck

Fine Grained Password Policy in Windows 2012 RC

 

No need to ADSI or LDIFDE Tools to configure the “Fine Grained Password Policy” in windows 2012 RC. All it’s done by GUI “Graphical User Interface”. It’s pretty simple and cool. As Microsoft Certified Trainer, my students found many difficulties when configuring PSO with the ADSI Tool.

1. The first step: “ Active Directory Administrative Center”

Remember, with windows 2008, we find the PSO object already created in a special container called “Password Setting Container”, under the “System” Container. So let’s go there…

2. Create the PSO object

Double click the container called “Password Setting Policy”, then, let’s do a right click…. Amazing, we can create the PSO object here. So simple…

3. A pretty cool GUI

This is the GUI to create a PSO object, I created “My first PSO Object” as you see in the following picture, the GUI is divided into two parts, the first one for the configuration purpose and the second to apply the created PSO to a user or group.

Best regards.

Active Directory Recycle Bin In Windows 2012 RC

 

With Active Directory in Windows 2008 R2, configuring AD Recycle Bin request doing some pretty tasks with Powershell to activate this new feature and some others tasks to restore object. With Windows 2012 RC, such tasks become so simple relying to the GUI. You will find here, step by step in order to activate the recycle bin and for restoring an object with graphical user interface.

1. Activate the “Active Directory Recycle Bin”

You have to open “Active Directory Administrative Center”, Don’t forget, you must have at least a forest functional level equal or greater than “Windows 2008 R2”. Then click the option in the red square. (See the following picture)

2. The famous container “Deleted Object”

After activating the “ADRB”, refresh the screen, you will see a new container called “Deleted Object”, double click it.

3. Restoring an Object

Now, restoring a deleted object is pretty cool, you have only to make a right click, then you have a list of choice. (See the following picture)

 

Thanks Microsoft