User migration with in the Domain but between servers

One of the main issue propped up during server migration was Users data. Going through many documentations and articles I finally found and an easier and simple way to migrate the users data(Here I am not talking about My Documents, we are looking at home directories). Do a backup or the data and restore it with permissions using a external HDD if you can. For me one more issue came up with it was in the new server I wanted to segregate the users data ie. Students and Staff separate. So the path is going to be different than what it was in the old server. But the xcopy /o command came in very handy when you deal with moving data with in server with all permissions. Hurray I have all users data in the new server with appropriate shares and permissions enabled
Kewl doesnt it?
Anyway I am very happy with way migration took place
Have a great day ahead

A Real Thriller

You wanna read a real story thriller then I think U must read

Trials of Hans Reiser, a Linux Geek Accused of Murder

Awsome story of a geek turned murder accused

Changing Tomb Stone Object Removal Delay

If you see lots of objects in ur Lost And Found container in ADS, then thats an indication of little worry ahead for u with ADS. Anytime if you wanted to change teh garbage collection interval to be changed you got 2 choice.
One use cryptic ldp.exe
or use ADSI mmc from the support tools
The settings of TombStoneObjects are located at
CN=Directory Service,CN=Windows NT,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=urdomain,DC=com
To access this
Choose Configuration Container -> CN=Configuration,DC=urdomain,DC=com -> CN=Services -> CN=Windows NT ->CN=Directory Service
Right Click on the object and Choose Properties -> Select a Property to View -> tombStoneLifetime -> set the value to 2

What is inside a Data Center

Ever wondered what goes inside a Data center?
Ok Here is some great guys instead of shielding the datacenter in mystery, opened up everything to the world. Including photos . Great way to go guys. Engineers at PIPE network Australia did something unheard of.
Here is the link to it

Migrating User files between 2 servers but with in same domain

Ok this tool from Microsoft really saved hell lot of time which otherwise I would have taken to migrate the user files to new Server.
This tool is called Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit! Download it from microsoft website by clicking here
I am just smiling all the way of migrating the users to new Server.

Btw New Server details as follows
IBM X3400 series
Processor : Dual Processors with Dual Core Xeon 64 Bit Platform
RAM : 4 GB
HDD 146 GB SAS Drive(Yeah No more SCSI) in RAID 1 Mode
Built in RAID Controller
Dual Gigabit Ethernet
Redundant Power Supply

Proposed Applications to Run
Platform : Windows 2003 64 Bit
Exchange 2007
File Server for all users

There goes Yahoo! Mail

Yeah! Today morning was little surprise from Yahoo! mail as they removed the storage meter and I was wondering how will I know how much storage are utilized by my mails. The there a small little flash which says now Yahoo! Mail is unlimited!
Yahoooooooooo! Wow! I just love yahoo!
I was waiting for this day anyway. No no tension about attachments coming to my mailbox. Hey guys keep forwarding all that junk forwards. I am ready :)

A Very Goodmorning from me to you!
Have a wonderful day!

Stage III of Migration to Exchange 2007

Apply Service pack to the existing Exchange 2000

Back up the existing Exchange Store.

Ok the back up refused to continue show crap errors and entries in Event Viewer , Looking at those entries in Event Viewer suggested I have a royal pain in my Exchange server as the existing public folder is corrupted, and I have messed it royally in Active Directory.  2 Steps saved the day

1. Resetting the permissions in the exchange store with setup /domainprep from the existing exchnage CD did solved persmission issues, but still the ntbackup wouldnt move forward

2.Created a Public Folder in the same store which was showing missing object error for Public Folder.

Ok Now after that we are ready for the backup with ntbackup

Once backup is over

Applied Service Pack 3 to Exchange 2000 & main step dont forget to reboot :D

Ok thats the end of stage III, wait for the fourth stage , its on the way

Hey Safari for Windows Rocks

Did you try the new browser on the block? The new kid from Apple?
Yeah Safari is available for Windows now.
Downloaded and tried and believe me it rocks!. Damn fast and I am very happy with initial impression and as said First impression is the best impression. I think if its working this way I am gona ckuck mt firefox out soon. (hehehe)
Ok want to have a try then download it from apple site here

All the best , Happy and safe browsing

Stage II of Migration to Exchange 2007

Ok Looks like everything is stable and fine after few reboots. Time to install Service Pack 3 for Exchange 2000 in case if U didn't do it till now . Make sure you reboot the server and test everything to make sure nothing is broken.
I am going to wait for another day just to make sure I didn't broke anything before the actual migration.

Fingers crossed

Stage One of Migration to Exchange 2007

As per plan I started with upgrading all Domain Controllers to Windows 2003.
Stage I
Bfore we start anything with Active Directory Backup.. Backup... Backup.... Especially the System State Data

Make existing Win2K ADS scheme to be modifiable using Schema Management Console from using mmc. If you are not able to see the snap in then pls register the Schema Management Console with MMC using the following command in system32 folder

C:\WINNT\system32>regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll

in Active Directory Schema console right click on Active Directory Schema and Choose Operations Master. In the Choose Operations Master windows select the option "The Schema may be modified in on this Domain Controller"

Ok thats it!
Now the schema is ready to be modified but running forestprep and adprep using Win2K3 CDROM now is dangerous as it can lead to some of the LDAP entries to be mangled as the result of it. So be careful not to run forestprep or adprep now

This issue is briefly discussed by Microsoft here
So this issue need to be tackled first running a small ready made script from Microsoft. Pls copy and paste it on notepad. Take the script from the microsoft site

But bfore we start we need to make small schema change to able to handle the existing Win2K domain to smoothly handle moving to Windows 2003 ADS. This is achieved by running a script file on the mail domain Controller(FSMO)

Run the script by
ldifde -i -f inetorgpersonprevent.ldf -v -c DC=X "dc=yourdomain,dc=com"
Pls replace yourdomain and com with appropriate entries for your scenario

Once you do this give enough time for the Replication to take place. Reboot the domain controllers to make sure the changes propagates though the entire domain
Give one or two days rest time to make sure everything is working fine and nothing broken

Sick Idea Cellular Support

These years I have been using many mobile service of Providers like Airtel (Sucks big time), Hutch ( good one especially customer service side), and Idea (Best plans , saves money). But never had a sicko service support like Idea Cellular. Crap support guys dont even bother to ask me whats my no and name is!!!!! Can U believe it??? Forget about getting the proper solution when the guys doesnt bother about listening to you properly.

Idea's Support sucks big time.
Beware of support if you plan to move to Idea

Just a Samba Note

Remember after able to get the samba(SMB, not the Brazilian) up and running, if you come across an issue of authentication failure from Windows PCs , just make sure you have smbd and nmbd daemons running.

Note: Why I am talking about samba now? Hey struggling to get this unattended windows installation running. visit Unattended site Great site for unattended windows installation with open source tools. So anyone looking for a open source alternative for RIS.