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• Changing a select input to a checkbox acting as an on/off toggle switch in Rails

  - by Ribena

  I have a set of 7 dropdown inputs allowing admins to say whether they are open or closed for business on a given day. I'd like that changed to 7 open/closed switches (presumably styled checkboxes?) but can't figure out how to do this! Here are the relevant bits of code I currently have (prior to any change): app/view/backend/inventory_pool/edit.html.haml - content_for :title, @inventory_pool = form_for [:backend, @inventory_pool], html: {name: "form"} do |f| .content - if is_admin? %a.button{:href => root_path}= _("Cancel") %button.button{:type => :submit}= _("Save %s") % _("Inventory Pool") %section %h2= _("Basic Information") .inner .field.text .key %h3= "#{_("Print Contracts")}" %p.description .value .input %input{type: "checkbox", name: "inventory_pool[print_contracts]", checked: @inventory_pool.print_contracts} %section#workdays %h2= _("Workdays") .inner - [1,2,3,4,5,6,0].each do |i| .field.text .key %h3= "#{I18n.t('date.day_names')[i]}" .value .input %select{:name => "store[workday_attributes][workdays][]"} %option{:label => _("Open"), :value => Workday::WORKDAYS[i]}= _("Open") %option{:label => _("Closed"), :value => "", :selected => @store.workday.closed_days.include?(i) ? true : nil}= _("Closed") app/models/workday.rb class Workday < ActiveRecord::Base belongs_to :inventory_pool WORKDAYS = ["sunday", "monday", "tuesday", "wednesday", "thursday", "friday", "saturday"] def is_open_on?(date) return false if date.nil? case date.wday when 1 return monday when 2 return tuesday when 3 return wednesday when 4 return thursday when 5 return friday when 6 return saturday when 0 return sunday else return false #Should not be reached end end def closed_days days = [] days << 0 unless sunday days << 1 unless monday days << 2 unless tuesday days << 3 unless wednesday days << 4 unless thursday days << 5 unless friday days << 6 unless saturday days end def workdays=(wdays) WORKDAYS.each {|workday| write_attribute(workday, wdays.include?(workday) ? true : false)} end end And in app/controllers/backend/inventory_pools_controller I have this (abridged): def update @inventory_pool ||= InventoryPool.find(params[:id]) process_params params[:inventory_pool] end def process_params ip ip[:print_contracts] ||= "false" # unchecked checkboxes are *not* being sent ip[:workday_attributes][:workdays].delete "" if ip[:workday_attributes] end

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• SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise won't install on Windows 2008 R2 Enterprise

  - by Carlos Paulino

  I've been trying to install SQL Server on a new Windows Server 2008. I have tried everything but I haven't been able to narrow down the problem. When the installation fails I get " Exit code (Decimal): -2068643839". The problem with this is that according to Microsoft this is a generic error code. I follow their guide to look into the detail.txt inside C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\ But I can't find something that specifies the exact error. Any suggestions ? Thanks in advanced. I uploaded to detail.txt to http://www.megaupload.com/?d=0MV46SZH because it is to big to paste here. Below is the summary.txt ---------- Overall summary: Final result: SQL Server installation failed. To continue, investigate the reason for the failure, correct the problem, uninstall SQL Server, and then rerun SQL Server Setup. Exit code (Decimal): -2068643839 Exit facility code: 1203 Exit error code: 1 Exit message: SQL Server installation failed. To continue, investigate the reason for the failure, correct the problem, uninstall SQL Server, and then rerun SQL Server Setup. Start time: 2011-02-28 11:29:56 End time: 2011-02-28 11:34:45 Requested action: Install Machine Properties: Machine name: SA-SERVER Machine processor count: 8 OS version: Windows Server 2008 R2 OS service pack: Service Pack 1 OS region: United States OS language: English (United States) OS architecture: x64 Process architecture: 64 Bit OS clustered: No Product features discovered: Product Instance Instance ID Feature Language Edition Version Clustered Package properties: Description: SQL Server Database Services 2008 R2 ProductName: SQL Server 2008 R2 Type: RTM Version: 10 SPLevel: 0 Installation location: F:\x64\setup\ Installation edition: ENTERPRISE User Input Settings: ACTION: Install ADDCURRENTUSERASSQLADMIN: True AGTSVCACCOUNT: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM AGTSVCPASSWORD: ***** AGTSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Manual ASBACKUPDIR: Backup ASCOLLATION: Latin1_General_CI_AS ASCONFIGDIR: Config ASDATADIR: Data ASDOMAINGROUP: <empty> ASLOGDIR: Log ASPROVIDERMSOLAP: 1 ASSVCACCOUNT: <empty> ASSVCPASSWORD: ***** ASSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic ASSYSADMINACCOUNTS: <empty> ASTEMPDIR: Temp BROWSERSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Disabled CONFIGURATIONFILE: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20110228_112601\ConfigurationFile.ini CUSOURCE: ENABLERANU: False ENU: True ERRORREPORTING: False FARMACCOUNT: <empty> FARMADMINPORT: 0 FARMPASSWORD: ***** FEATURES: SQLENGINE,BIDS,CONN,IS,BC,SDK,SSMS,ADV_SSMS,SNAC_SDK,OCS FILESTREAMLEVEL: 0 FILESTREAMSHARENAME: <empty> FTSVCACCOUNT: <empty> FTSVCPASSWORD: ***** HELP: False IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS: False INDICATEPROGRESS: False INSTALLSHAREDDIR: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\ INSTALLSHAREDWOWDIR: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\ INSTALLSQLDATADIR: <empty> INSTANCEDIR: D:\SQLServer INSTANCEID: MSSQLSERVER INSTANCENAME: MSSQLSERVER ISSVCACCOUNT: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM ISSVCPASSWORD: ***** ISSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic NPENABLED: 0 PASSPHRASE: ***** PCUSOURCE: PID: ***** QUIET: False QUIETSIMPLE: False ROLE: AllFeatures_WithDefaults RSINSTALLMODE: FilesOnlyMode RSSVCACCOUNT: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE RSSVCPASSWORD: ***** RSSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic SAPWD: ***** SECURITYMODE: SQL SQLBACKUPDIR: <empty> SQLCOLLATION: SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS SQLSVCACCOUNT: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM SQLSVCPASSWORD: ***** SQLSVCSTARTUPTYPE: Automatic SQLSYSADMINACCOUNTS: SA-SERVER\Administrator SQLTEMPDBDIR: <empty> SQLTEMPDBLOGDIR: <empty> SQLUSERDBDIR: <empty> SQLUSERDBLOGDIR: <empty> SQMREPORTING: False TCPENABLED: 1 UIMODE: Normal X86: False Configuration file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20110228_112601\ConfigurationFile.ini Detailed results: Feature: Database Engine Services Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: SQL Client Connectivity SDK Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: Integration Services Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: Client Tools Connectivity Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: Management Tools - Complete Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: Management Tools - Basic Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: Client Tools SDK Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: Client Tools Backwards Compatibility Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: Business Intelligence Development Studio Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Feature: Microsoft Sync Framework Status: Failed: see logs for details MSI status: Passed Configuration status: Passed Rules with failures: Global rules: Scenario specific rules: Rules report file: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20110228_112601\SystemConfigurationCheck_Report.htm

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• SBS 2008 SP2 Backup - Volume Shadow Copy Operation Failed

  - by Robert Ortisi

  Server Setup Exchange 2007 Version: 08.03.0192.001 (Rollup 4) Windows Small Business Server 2008 SP2 (Rollup 5) Exchange set up on D: drive (449 GB / 698 GB Free) 80 GB / 148 GB Free on OS drive. Issue Backup Failure (VSS related) Backup Software Windows Server Backup (ver 1.0) Simplified Error Creation of the shared protection point timed out. Unknown error (0x81000101) The flush and hold writes operation on volume C: timed out while waiting for a release writes command. Volume Shadow Copy Warning: VSS spent 43 seconds trying to flush and hold the volume \?\Volume{b562a5dd-8246-11de-a75b-806e6f6e6963}. This might cause problems when other volumes in the shadow-copy set timeout waiting for the release-writes phase, and it can cause the shadow-copy creation to fail. Trying again when disk activity is lower may solve this problem. What I've tried Server Reboot. Updated Server and Exchange. ReConfigured Sharepoint (Helped resolve last vss error I encountered). registered VSS Dll's (Backups will sometimes work afterwards but VSS writers fail soon after). Tried Implementing Hotfix: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956136 Tried Implementing Hotfix: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/972135 I left it for a few days and a few backups came through but then began to fail again. Detailed Information Log Name: Application Source: VSS Date: 16/11/2011 8:02:11 PM Event ID: 12341 Task Category: None Level: Warning Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: SERVER.DOMAIN.local Description: Volume Shadow Copy Warning: VSS spent 43 seconds trying to flush and hold the volume \?\Volume{b562a5dd-8246-11de-a75b-806e6f6e6963}. This might cause problems when other volumes in the shadow-copy set timeout waiting for the release-writes phase, and it can cause the shadow-copy creation to fail. Trying again when disk activity is lower may solve this problem. Operation: Executing Asynchronous Operation Context: Current State: flush-and-hold writes Volume Name: \?\Volume{b562a5dd-8246-11de-a75b-806e6f6e6963}\ Event Xml: 12341 3 0 0x80000000000000 1651049 Application SERVER.DOMAIN.local 43 \?\Volume{b562a5dd-8246-11de-a75b-806e6f6e6963}\ Operation: Executing Asynchronous Operation Context: Current State: flush-and-hold writes Volume Name: \?\Volume{b562a5dd-8246-11de-a75b-806e6f6e6963}\ ================================================================================= Log Name: System Source: volsnap Date: 16/11/2011 8:02:11 PM Event ID: 8 Task Category: None Level: Error Keywords: Classic User: N/A Computer: SERVER.DOMAIN.local Description: The flush and hold writes operation on volume C: timed out while waiting for a release writes command. Event Xml: 8 2 0 0x80000000000000 987135 System SERVER.DOMAIN.local ================================================================================== Log Name: Application Source: Microsoft-Windows-Backup Date: 16/11/2011 8:11:18 PM Event ID: 521 Task Category: None Level: Error Keywords: User: SYSTEM Computer: SERVER.DOMAIN.local Description: Backup started at '16/11/2011 9:00:35 AM' failed as Volume Shadow copy operation failed for backup volumes with following error code '2155348001'. Please rerun backup once issue is resolved. Event Xml: 521 0 2 0 0 0x8000000000000000 1651065 Application SERVER.DOMAIN.local 2011-11-16T09:00:35.446Z 2155348001 %%2155348001 ================================================================================== Writer name: 'FRS Writer' Writer Id: {d76f5a28-3092-4589-ba48-2958fb88ce29} Writer Instance Id: {ba047fc6-9ce8-44ba-b59f-f2f8c07708aa} State: [5] Waiting for completion Last error: No error Writer name: 'ASR Writer' Writer Id: {be000cbe-11fe-4426-9c58-531aa6355fc4} Writer Instance Id: {0aace3e2-c840-4572-bf49-7fcc3fbcf56d} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'Shadow Copy Optimization Writer' Writer Id: {4dc3bdd4-ab48-4d07-adb0-3bee2926fd7f} Writer Instance Id: {054593e2-2086-4480-92e5-30386509ed1b} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'Registry Writer' Writer Id: {afbab4a2-367d-4d15-a586-71dbb18f8485} Writer Instance Id: {840e6f5f-f35a-4b65-bb20-060cf2ee892a} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'COM+ REGDB Writer' Writer Id: {542da469-d3e1-473c-9f4f-7847f01fc64f} Writer Instance Id: {9486bedc-f6e8-424b-b563-8b849d51b1e1} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'BITS Writer' Writer Id: {4969d978-be47-48b0-b100-f328f07ac1e0} Writer Instance Id: {29368bb3-e04b-4404-8fc9-e62dae18da91} State: [1] Stable Last error: No error Writer name: 'Dhcp Jet Writer' Writer Id: {be9ac81e-3619-421f-920f-4c6fea9e93ad} Writer Instance Id: {cfb58c78-9609-4133-8fc8-f66b0d25e12d} State: [5] Waiting for completion Last error: No error ==================================================================================

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• Debian, 6rd tunnel, and connection troubles

  - by Chris B

  Long story short I am having issues with IPv6 using a 6rd tunnel with my ISP, charter business. They offer a 6rd tunnel that I think I have properly set up, but the server doesn’t reply to every ipv6 request. When the server has the network interfaces idle with no traffic for about 10 minutes, then IPv6 stops accepting inbound connections. to re-allow it, I must go into the server, and make it do a outbound ipv6 connection (normally a ping) to start it back up. Whats weird though i that if I run iptraf when its not working, it still shows a inbound ipv6 packet… the server is just not replying, and I can’t figure out why. Also, if I try to access my server over IPv6 from a house about 1 mile away on the same ISP, it is never able to connect. it always times out, but again the iptraf shows a ipv6 inbound packet. Again, it just does not reply. To test if my server is accessible through IPv6 I always have to use my vzw 4g phone (they use IPv6) or ipv6proxy dot net. Here is all of the configuration information my ISP gives on there tunnel server: 6rd Prefix = 2602:100::/32 Border Relay Address = 68.114.165.1 6rd prefix length = 32 IPv4 mask length = 0 Here is my /etc/network/interfaces for ipv6 (used x's to block real addresses) auto charterv6 iface charterv6 inet6 v4tunnel address 2602:100:189f:xxxx::1 netmask 32 ttl 64 gateway ::68.114.165.1 endpoint 68.114.165.1 local 24.159.218.xxx up ip link set mtu 1280 dev charterv6 here is my iptables config filter :INPUT DROP [0:0] :fail2ban-ssh – [0:0] :OUTPUT ACCEPT [0:0] :FORWARD DROP [0:0] :hold – [0:0] -A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp —dport 22 -j fail2ban-ssh -A INPUT -m state —state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p tcp -m multiport -j ACCEPT —dports 80,443,25,465,110,995,143,993,587,465,22 -A INPUT -i lo -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp —dport 10000 -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp —dport 5900:5910 -j ACCEPT -A fail2ban-ssh -j RETURN -A INPUT -p icmp -j ACCEPT COMMIT and last here is my ip6tables firewall config filter :INPUT DROP [1653:339023] :FORWARD DROP [0:0] :OUTPUT ACCEPT [60141:13757903] :hold – [0:0] -A INPUT -m state —state RELATED,ESTABLISHED -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p tcp -m multiport —dports 80,443,25,465,110,995,143,993,587,465,22 -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -i lo -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp —dport 10000 -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp —dport 5900:5910 -j ACCEPT -A INPUT -p ipv6-icmp -j ACCEPT COMMIT So Summary: 1.iptraf always shows IPv6 traffic, so its always making it to the server 2.server stops replying on ipv6 after no traffic for awhile (10 minutesish) until a outbound connection is made, then the process repeats. 3.server is NEVER accessable vi same ISP (yet iptraf still shows ipv6 request) Notes: When I try to access it from the same ISP from across town, even with iptables and ip6tables allowing ALL inbound traffic, this is what iptraf shows. IPv6 (92 bytes) from 97.92.18.xxx to 24.159.218.xxx on eth0 ICMP dest unrch (port) (120 bytes) from 24.159.218.xxx to 97.92.18.xxx on eth1 its strange, like its trying to forward to LAN? (eth1 is LAN, eth0 is WAN) even with the IPv6 address being set in the hosts file to the servers domain name. With iptables set up normally with the above configurations it only says this: IPv6 (100 bytes) from 97.92.18.xxx to 24.159.218.xxx on eth0 Im REALLY stuck on this, and any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

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• Server 2003 R2 doesn't allow logon after a few days of uptime

  - by Bryan

  We have a server 2003 R2 standard (which I'll refer to as SRV01) that's knocking on a bit now, but it still acts as a file, print and SQL server on our company's network. SRV01 hosts user profiles, home directories and pretty much all our business data. Note our AD is currently at 2008 R2 level. This server is due to be upgraded in the next 12 months, but I've no budget to spend on it just yet. A bit of history of this server follows: When SRV01 was first commissioned, it acted as a domain controller (with the same 2003 R2 install it has today), paired with another server that ran Server 2003 R2 SBS. A few years ago, we purchased a pair of dedicated DCs (2008 R2) and at this point we decommissioned the 2003 SBS server, and SRV01 was DCPROMOed out of the AD. Up until very recently, SRV01 used to run Exchange 2003, however we've recently purchased a dedicated server for Exchange 2010 and upgraded (following Microsoft recommended upgrade path). Exchange 2003 was recently uninstalled. - Cleanly to the best of my knowledge. Ever since Exchange was removed from SRV01, I'm finding that after a few days of uptime, when I attempt to logon, pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL just hides the Welcome to Windows Server 2003 banner, and never presents the logon dialog. All I see is a moveable mouse pointer and a blank background. It's a similar story with an admin TS session, the RDP client connects and gives me a blank background, but no logon dialog is presented. The RDP session indefinitely hangs until I give up and close it. The only way I've been able to gain access to the server is to pull the plug on it. Whilst the server does have a battery backed up RAID 5 controller, I'm unhappy about having to do this, so as a temporary measure, I've created a scheduled job to reboot SRV01 each night. Not only do I not like the idea of scheduling a reboot of a server like this, but it is also causing problems for users that leave desktop PCs left logged on overnight. Users complain of 'Delayed Write Failures', and there has also been a number of users that have started to complain about account lockout problems, as well as users not able to connect to shares on SRV01 until they reboot their desktop PCs. I've examined event logs on SRV01 and on the DCs looking for clues as to what the problem is, but there really is nothing untoward being logged. How could I being to investigate this problem when nothing of any relevance is being logged? Is there some additional logging that can be enabled that might give some clues as to what could be causing this problem? Could performance monitor help me out here, and if so, what counters would you consider monitoring? It's worth mentioning that whilst the server is unresponsive via the console and TS, it does still respond to clients connecting to shares without problems for several days, but after about a week I then start to hear users reporting problems accessing shares, but this seems quite sporadic. I've also tried leaving the console logged on (and locked), when I notice I can no longer logon via TS, I can unlock the server console without problem, but it refuses to reboot/shutdown, and subsequent attempts to reboot report that a system shutdown is already in progress and the system then completely hangs. I've tried playing the waiting game for several hours thinking that a timeout might allow the shutdown to continue, but to no avail.

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• Diagnosing Solaris 8 server memory and swap space usage

  - by datSilencer

  Hello everyone. Essentially, my question is related to memory allocation for Solaris virtual machines. I am running a couple of old Sun ONE 6 Java web servers on two Solaris 8 virtual machines. I see that there's a reasonable amount of swap space being used, but I'm not exactly sure if this could indicate a need to add more RAM to these machines. At service peak hours (mornings usually), the response time of the web application these servers host jumps up to at most 11 seconds (somewhat detrimental for a relatively simple web page loading action). Average response time at non peak times is about 5 seconds. What would you be able to infer about the RAM usage for these machines from the ouput below? Is this information reasonably sufficient? Or would I need to run some other commands to rule out server memory starvation? Finally, since there is a Java application at the core of the setup, I've also thought about: 1) Trace the heap's Object allocation to detect potential memory leaks. 2) Do some performance profiling to see if this instead related to networking delays. I mention this since the application talks with a single Oracle Database, but I would doubt this to be the case since they're pretty close from a network segmentation perspective. I appreciate any kind of insight and feedback you could provide. Thanks for your time and help. Server 1: 40 processes: 38 sleeping, 1 zombie, 1 on cpu CPU states: 99.1% idle, 0.4% user, 0.4% kernel, 0.0% iowait, 0.0% swap Memory: 2048M real, 295M free, 865M swap in use, 3788M swap free PID USERNAME THR PRI NICE SIZE RES STATE TIME CPU COMMAND 12676 webservd 112 29 10 616M 242M sleep 103:37 0.48% webservd 18317 root 1 59 0 23M 19M sleep 67:24 0.08% perl 9479 support 1 59 0 6696K 2448K cpu/1 0:11 0.05% top 8012 root 10 59 0 34M 704K sleep 80:54 0.04% java 1881 root 33 29 10 110M 13M sleep 33:03 0.02% webservd 7808 root 1 59 0 83M 67M sleep 7:59 0.00% perl 1461 root 20 59 0 5328K 1392K sleep 6:49 0.00% syslogd 1691 root 2 59 0 27M 680K sleep 4:22 0.00% webservd 24386 root 1 59 0 15M 11M sleep 2:50 0.00% perl 23259 root 1 59 0 11M 4240K sleep 2:42 0.00% perl 24718 root 1 59 0 11M 5464K sleep 2:29 0.00% perl 22810 root 1 59 0 19M 11M sleep 2:21 0.00% perl 24451 root 1 53 2 11M 3800K sleep 2:18 0.00% perl 18501 root 1 56 1 11M 3960K sleep 2:18 0.00% perl 14450 root 1 56 1 15M 6920K sleep 1:49 0.00% perl Server 2 42 processes: 40 sleeping, 1 zombie, 1 on cpu CPU states: 98.8% idle, 0.4% user, 0.8% kernel, 0.0% iowait, 0.0% swap Memory: 1024M real, 31M free, 554M swap in use, 3696M swap free PID USERNAME THR PRI NICE SIZE RES STATE TIME CPU COMMAND 5607 webservd 74 29 10 284M 173M sleep 20:14 0.21% webservd 15919 support 1 59 0 4056K 2520K cpu/1 0:08 0.09% top 13138 root 10 59 0 34M 1952K sleep 210:51 0.08% java 13753 root 1 59 0 22M 12M sleep 170:15 0.07% perl 22979 root 33 29 10 112M 7864K sleep 85:07 0.04% webservd 22930 root 1 59 0 3424K 1552K sleep 17:47 0.01% xntpd 22978 root 2 59 0 27M 2296K sleep 10:49 0.00% webservd 13571 root 1 59 0 9400K 5112K sleep 5:52 0.00% perl 5606 root 2 29 10 29M 9056K sleep 0:36 0.00% webservd 15910 support 1 59 0 9128K 2616K sleep 0:00 0.00% sshd 13106 root 1 59 0 82M 3520K sleep 7:47 0.00% perl 13547 root 1 59 0 12M 5528K sleep 6:38 0.00% perl 13518 root 1 59 0 9336K 3792K sleep 6:24 0.00% perl 13399 root 1 56 1 8072K 3616K sleep 5:18 0.00% perl 13557 root 1 53 2 8248K 3624K sleep 5:12 0.00% perl

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• Exchange 2003-Exchange 2010 post migration GAL/OAB problem

  - by user68726

  I am very new to Exchange so forgive my newbie-ness. I've exhausted Google trying to find a way to solve my problem so I'm hoping some of you gurus can shed some light on my next steps. Please forgive my bungling around through this. The problem I cannot download/update the Global Address List (GAL) and Offline Address Book (OAB) on my Outlook 2010 clients. I get: Task 'emailaddress' reported error (0x8004010F) : 'The operation failed. An object cannot be found.' ---- error. I'm using cached exchange mode, which if I turn off Outlook hangs completely from the moment I start it up. (Note I've replaced my actual email address with 'emailaddress') Background information I migrated mailboxes, public store, etc. from a Small Business Server 2003 with Exchange 2003 box to a Server 2008 R2 with Exchange 2010 based primarily on an experts exchange how to article. The exchange server is up and running as an internet facing exchange server with all of the roles necessary to send and receive mail and in that capacity is working fine. I "thought" I had successfully migrated everything from the SBS03 box, and due to huge amounts of errors in everything from AD to the Exchange install itself I removed the reference to the SBS03 server in adsiedit. I've still got access to the old SBS03 box, but as I said the number of errors in everything is preventing even the uninstall of Exchange (or the starting of the Exchange Information Store service), so I'm quite content to leave that box completely out of the picture while trying to solve my problem. After research I discovered this is most likely because I failed to run the “update-globaladdresslist” (or get / update) command from the Exchange shell before I removed the Exchange 2003 server from adsiedit (and the network). If I run the command now it gives me: WARNING: The recipient "domainname.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/Offline Address Book - first administrative group" is invalid and couldn't be updated. WARNING: The recipient "domainname.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/Schedule+ Free Busy Information – first administrative group" is invalid and couldn't be updated. WARNING: The recipient "domainname.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/ContainernameArchive" is invalid and couldn't be updated. WARNING: The recipient "domainname.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/ContainernameContacts" is invalid and couldn't be updated. (Note that I’ve replaced my domain with “domainname.com” and my organization name with “containername”) What I’ve tried I don’t want to use the old OAB, or GAL, I don’t care about either, our GAL and distribution lists needed to be organized anyway, so at this point I really just want to get rid of the old reference to the “first administrative group” and move on. I’ve tried to create a new GAL and tell Exchange 2010 to use that GAL instead of the old GAL, but I'm obviously missing some of the commands or something dumb I need to do to start over with a blank slate/GAL/OAB. I'm very tempted to completely delete the entire "first administrative group" tree from adsiedit and see if that gets rid of the ridiculous reference that no longer exists but I dont want to break something else. Commands run to try to create a new GAL and tell exch10 to use that GAL: New-globaladdresslist –name NAMEOFNEWGAL Set-globaladdresslist GUID –name NAMEOFNEWGAL This did nothing for me except now when I run get-globaladdresslist or with the | FL pipe I see two GALs listed, the “default global address list” and the “NAMEOFNEWGAL” that I created. After a little more research this morning it looks like you can't change/delete/remove the default address list, and the only way to do what I'm trying to do would be to maybe remove the default address list via adsiedit and recreate with a command something like new-GlobalAddressList -Name "Default Global Address List" -IncludedRecipients AllRecipients. This would be acceptable but I've searched and searched and can't find instructions or a breakdown of where exactly the default GAL lives in AD, and if I'd have to remove multiple child references/records. ** Of interest** I'm getting an event ID 9337 in my application log OALGen did not find any recipients in address list ‘\Global Address List. This offline address list will not be generated. -\NAMEOFMYOAB --------- on my Exchange 2010 box, which pretty much to me seems to confirm my suspicion that the empty GAL/OAB is what's causing the Outlook client 0x8004010F error. Help please!

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• Recommendations for distributed processing/distributed storage systems

  - by Eddie

  At my organization we have a processing and storage system spread across two dozen linux machines that handles over a petabyte of data. The system right now is very ad-hoc; processing automation and data management is handled by a collection of large perl programs on independent machines. I am looking at distributed processing and storage systems to make it easier to maintain, evenly distribute load and data with replication, and grow in disk space and compute power. The system needs to be able to handle millions of files, varying in size between 50 megabytes to 50 gigabytes. Once created, the files will not be appended to, only replaced completely if need be. The files need to be accessible via HTTP for customer download. Right now, processing is automated by perl scripts (that I have complete control over) which call a series of other programs (that I don't have control over because they are closed source) that essentially transforms one data set into another. No data mining happening here. Here is a quick list of things I am looking for: Reliability: These data must be accessible over HTTP about 99% of the time so I need something that does data replication across the cluster. Scalability: I want to be able to add more processing power and storage easily and rebalance the data on across the cluster. Distributed processing: Easy and automatic job scheduling and load balancing that fits with processing workflow I briefly described above. Data location awareness: Not strictly required but desirable. Since data and processing will be on the same set of nodes I would like the job scheduler to schedule jobs on or close to the node that the data is actually on to cut down on network traffic. Here is what I've looked at so far: Storage Management: GlusterFS: Looks really nice and easy to use but doesn't seem to have a way to figure out what node(s) a file actually resides on to supply as a hint to the job scheduler. GPFS: Seems like the gold standard of clustered filesystems. Meets most of my requirements except, like glusterfs, data location awareness. Ceph: Seems way to immature right now. Distributed processing: Sun Grid Engine: I have a lot of experience with this and it's relatively easy to use (once it is configured properly that is). But Oracle got its icy grip around it and it no longer seems very desirable. Both: Hadoop/HDFS: At first glance it looked like hadoop was perfect for my situation. Distributed storage and job scheduling and it was the only thing I found that would give me the data location awareness that I wanted. But I don't like the namename being a single point of failure. Also, I'm not really sure if the MapReduce paradigm fits the type of processing workflow that I have. It seems like you need to write all your software specifically for MapReduce instead of just using Hadoop as a generic job scheduler. OpenStack: I've done some reading on this but I'm having trouble deciding if it fits well with my problem or not. Does anyone have opinions or recommendations for technologies that would fit my problem well? Any suggestions or advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

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• Where should I go with hosting my site: VPS, GAE, another option?

  - by Jonathan Hayward

  My website, http://JonathansCorner.com/, began life before 1994 as www.imsa.edu/~jhayward/ and has been through various iterations and improvements to content, HTML, and the like, but remains a literature site that is from a web administrator's perspective fairly simple and primitive: a fair amount of static HTML and supporting files, a little bit of CGI and URI rewriting, .htaccess files providing Expires: headers and the like. An associated site demoes various CGI scripts that fall under the category of "and other creations"; the site as a whole has the purpose of sharing my creative works, and so far a fairly rudimentary use of Apache functionality, supported by Unix tools to, for instance, update RSS feed and the "starting point" link on the home page, has served that purpose fairly well. I looked around here on web hosting, and found the note on web host reccommendations as a good note for "What are some of people's favorite web hosts overall," but I wanted to ask a more focused question of "What are the best web hosts for criteria XYZ:" I am looking at a VPS so I will have root, be able to install stuff and edit Apache's config files etc., running Gentoo or other Linux, BSD, or the like. I would like a system that is secure enough that the host's vulnerabilities are mostly the ones that come along with what I am trying to do: that is, I won't be trying to administer and secure an ancient Linux like some have complained about at 1and1. I would like good uptime/reliability and competent support staff: if the level 1 help desk is going to tell me to go to "My Computer" on a Linux box, I'd like to be able to get past them. Ideally I would like a site hosted within some place that will have low latency for U.S. visitors in particular. I would like a hosting solution that will be with a stable business, one that will probably be around, and one unlikely to vanish without warning. With those things specified, I would be interested in knowing what are the less expensive options. (I expect that some of the things I've specified will knock out all of the cheapest options, but I'm still interested in price.) With all that stated, I'd like to back up a bit and look at whether I am asking the right question. I am concerned that the above is a very good way of asking, "How can I keep my site in line with the wave of the past?" I am wondering if it might be specifically wiser to look to adapt my site to newer technologies instead of trying to keep it on older technologies. For instance, while I would hardly portray my site as a way to show off the full power of Google App Engine, the main site at least should be a straightforward port if I were to do that. And beyond Google App Engine, my knowledge of cloud solutions is basic. If it is a better and more future-proof solution to port my site to another kind of solution, I would be interested in knowing where those future-proof solutions lie. So I would be interested in wisdom. If the question I asked in detail is still a good question to be asking, what would people suggest? Or if I should seriously consider porting my site to a newer basic option, what should I try there? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

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• Exchange 2003-Exchange 2010 post migration GAL/OAB problem

  - by user68726

  I am very new to Exchange so forgive my newbie-ness. I've exhausted Google trying to find a way to solve my problem so I'm hoping some of you gurus can shed some light on my next steps. Please forgive my bungling around through this. The problem I cannot download/update the Global Address List (GAL) and Offline Address Book (OAB) on my Outlook 2010 clients. I get: Task 'emailaddress' reported error (0x8004010F) : 'The operation failed. An object cannot be found.' ---- error. I'm using cached exchange mode, which if I turn off Outlook hangs completely from the moment I start it up. (Note I've replaced my actual email address with 'emailaddress') Background information I migrated mailboxes, public store, etc. from a Small Business Server 2003 with Exchange 2003 box to a Server 2008 R2 with Exchange 2010 based primarily on an experts exchange how to article. The exchange server is up and running as an internet facing exchange server with all of the roles necessary to send and receive mail and in that capacity is working fine. I "thought" I had successfully migrated everything from the SBS03 box, and due to huge amounts of errors in everything from AD to the Exchange install itself I removed the reference to the SBS03 server in adsiedit. I've still got access to the old SBS03 box, but as I said the number of errors in everything is preventing even the uninstall of Exchange (or the starting of the Exchange Information Store service), so I'm quite content to leave that box completely out of the picture while trying to solve my problem. After research I discovered this is most likely because I failed to run the “update-globaladdresslist” (or get / update) command from the Exchange shell before I removed the Exchange 2003 server from adsiedit (and the network). If I run the command now it gives me: WARNING: The recipient "domainname.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/Offline Address Book - first administrative group" is invalid and couldn't be updated. WARNING: The recipient "domainname.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/Schedule+ Free Busy Information – first administrative group" is invalid and couldn't be updated. WARNING: The recipient "domainname.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/ContainernameArchive" is invalid and couldn't be updated. WARNING: The recipient "domainname.com/Microsoft Exchange System Objects/ContainernameContacts" is invalid and couldn't be updated. (Note that I’ve replaced my domain with “domainname.com” and my organization name with “containername”) What I’ve tried I don’t want to use the old OAB, or GAL, I don’t care about either, our GAL and distribution lists needed to be organized anyway, so at this point I really just want to get rid of the old reference to the “first administrative group” and move on. I’ve tried to create a new GAL and tell Exchange 2010 to use that GAL instead of the old GAL, but I'm obviously missing some of the commands or something dumb I need to do to start over with a blank slate/GAL/OAB. I'm very tempted to completely delete the entire "first administrative group" tree from adsiedit and see if that gets rid of the ridiculous reference that no longer exists but I dont want to break something else. Commands run to try to create a new GAL and tell exch10 to use that GAL: New-globaladdresslist –name NAMEOFNEWGAL Set-globaladdresslist GUID –name NAMEOFNEWGAL This did nothing for me except now when I run get-globaladdresslist or with the | FL pipe I see two GALs listed, the “default global address list” and the “NAMEOFNEWGAL” that I created. After a little more research this morning it looks like you can't change/delete/remove the default address list, and the only way to do what I'm trying to do would be to maybe remove the default address list via adsiedit and recreate with a command something like new-GlobalAddressList -Name "Default Global Address List" -IncludedRecipients AllRecipients. This would be acceptable but I've searched and searched and can't find instructions or a breakdown of where exactly the default GAL lives in AD, and if I'd have to remove multiple child references/records. Of interest I'm getting an event ID 9337 in my application log OALGen did not find any recipients in address list \Global Address List. This offline address list will not be generated. -\NAMEOFMYOAB --------- on my Exchange 2010 box, which pretty much to me seems to confirm my suspicion that the empty GAL/OAB is what's causing the Outlook client 0x8004010F error. Help please!

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• Set up lnux box for hosting a-z

  - by microchasm

  I am in the process of reinstalling the OS on a machine that will be used to host a couple of apps for our business. The apps will be local only; access from external clients will be via vpn only. The prior setup used a hosting control panel (Plesk) for most of the admin, and I was looking at using another similar piece of software for the reinstall - but I figured I should finally learn how it all works. I can do most of the things the software would do for me, but am unclear on the symbiosis of it all. This is all an attempt to further distance myself from the land of Configuration Programmer/Programmer, if at all possible. I can't find a full walkthrough anywhere for what I'm looking for, so I thought I'd put up this question, and if people can help me on the way I will edit this with the answers, and document my progress/pitfalls. Hopefully someday this will help someone down the line. The details: CentOS 5.5 x86_64 httpd: Apache/2.2.3 mysql: 5.0.77 (to be upgraded) php: 5.1 (to be upgraded) The requirements: SECURITY!! Secure file transfer Secure client access (SSL Certs and CA) Secure data storage Virtualhosts/multiple subdomains Local email would be nice, but not critical The Steps: Download latest CentOS DVD-iso (torrent worked great for me). Install CentOS: While going through the install, I checked the Server Components option thinking I was going to be using another Plesk-like admin. In hindsight, considering I've decided to try to go my own way, this probably wasn't the best idea. Basic config: Setup users, networking/ip address etc. Yum update/upgrade. Upgrade PHP: To upgrade PHP to the latest version, I had to look to another repo outside CentOS. IUS looks great and I'm happy I found it! cd /tmp #wget http://dl.iuscommunity.org/pub/ius/stable/Redhat/5/x86_64/epel-release-1-1.ius.el5.noarch.rpm #rpm -Uvh epel-release-1-1.ius.el5.noarch.rpm #wget http://dl.iuscommunity.org/pub/ius/stable/Redhat/5/x86_64/ius-release-1-4.ius.el5.noarch.rpm #rpm -Uvh ius-release-1-4.ius.el5.noarch.rpm yum list | grep -w \.ius\. [will list all packages available in the IUS repo] rpm -qa | grep php [will list installed packages needed to be removed. the installed packages need to be removed before you can install the IUS packages otherwise there will be conflicts] #yum shell >remove php-gd php-cli php-odbc php-mbstring php-pdo php php-xml php-common php-ldap php-mysql php-imap Setting up Remove Process >install php53 php53-mcrypt php53-mysql php53-cli php53-common php53-ldap php53-imap php53-devel >transaction solve >transaction run Leaving Shell #php -v PHP 5.3.2 (cli) (built: Apr 6 2010 18:13:45) This process removes the old version of PHP and installs the latest. To upgrade mysql: Pretty much the same process as above with PHP #/etc/init.d/mysqld stop [OK] rpm -qa | grep mysql [installed mysql packages] #yum shell >remove mysql mysql-server Setting up Remove Process >install mysql51 mysql51-server mysql51-devel >transaction solve >transaction run Leaving Shell #service mysqld start [OK] #mysql -v Server version: 5.1.42-ius Distributed by The IUS Community Project The above upgrade instructions courtesy of IUS wiki: http://wiki.iuscommunity.org/Doc/ClientUsageGuide Create a chroot jail to hold sftp user via rssh. This will force SCP/SFTP and will circumvent traditional FTP server setup. #cd /tmp #wget http://dag.wieers.com/rpm/packages/rssh/rssh-2.3.2-1.2.el5.rf.x86_64.rpm #rpm -ivh rssh-2.3.2-1.2.el5.rf.x86_64.rpm #useradd -m -d /home/dev -s /usr/bin/rssh dev #passwd dev Edit /etc/rssh.conf to grant access to SFTP to rssh users. #vi /etc/rssh.conf Uncomment line allowscp This allows me to connect to the machine via SFTP protocol in Transmit (my FTP program of choice; I'm sure it's similar with other FTP apps). Above instructions for SFTP appropriated (with appreciation!) from http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-unix-restrict-shell-access-with-rssh.html And this is where I'm at. I will keep editing this as I make progress. Any tips on how to Configure virtual interfaces/ip based virtual hosts for SSL, setting up a CA, or anything else would be appreciated.

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• Bugzilla : No SASL mechanism found

  - by niteshsinha

  I am using Bugzilla on windows 7. I am using the unofficial Bugzilla installer. I followed the steps accordingly and gave valid credentials wherever required. I open Bugzilla and try to create a new account , but i get the following error. Software error: No SASL mechanism found at C:/Program Files/Bugzilla/perl/perl/site/lib/Authen/SASL.pm line 77 at C:/Program Files/Bugzilla/perl/perl/lib/Net/SMTP.pm line 143 i ran checksetup.pl and found that Authen::SASL and SMTP both are available on my machine. The output of checksetup.pl is as follows. * This is Bugzilla 3.6.3 on perl 5.10.1 * Running on Win7 Build 7600 Checking perl modules... Checking for CGI.pm (v3.33) ok: found v3.49 Checking for Digest-SHA (any) ok: found v5.48 Checking for TimeDate (v2.21) ok: found v2.24 Checking for DateTime (v0.28) ok: found v0.53 Checking for DateTime-TimeZone (v0.79) ok: found v1.10 Checking for DBI (v1.41) ok: found v1.609 Checking for Template-Toolkit (v2.22) ok: found v2.22 Checking for Email-Send (v2.16) ok: found v2.198 Checking for Email-MIME (v1.861) ok: found v1.903 Checking for Email-MIME-Encodings (v1.313) ok: found v1.313 Checking for Email-MIME-Modifier (v1.442) ok: found v1.903 Checking for URI (any) ok: found v1.52 Checking available perl DBD modules... Checking for DBD-Pg (v1.45) ok: found v2.16.1 Checking for DBD-mysql (v4.00) ok: found v4.012 Checking for DBD-Oracle (v1.19) not found The following Perl modules are optional: Checking for GD (v1.20) ok: found v2.44 Checking for Chart (v2.1) ok: found v2.4.1 Checking for Template-GD (any) ok: found v1.56 Checking for GDTextUtil (any) ok: found v0.86 Checking for GDGraph (any) ok: found v1.44 Checking for XML-Twig (any) ok: found v3.34 Checking for MIME-tools (v5.406) ok: found v5.427 Checking for libwww-perl (any) ok: found v5.834 Checking for PatchReader (v0.9.4) ok: found v0.9.5 Checking for perl-ldap (any) ok: found v0.39 Checking for Authen-SASL (any) ok: found v2.15 Checking for RadiusPerl (any) ok: found v0.17 Checking for SOAP-Lite (v0.710.06) ok: found v0.710.10 Checking for JSON-RPC (any) ok: found v0.95 Checking for Test-Taint (any) ok: found v1.04 Checking for HTML-Parser (v3.40) ok: found v3.64 Checking for HTML-Scrubber (any) ok: found v0.08 Checking for Email-MIME-Attachment-Stripper (any) ok: found v1.316 Checking for Email-Reply (any) ok: found v1.202 Checking for TheSchwartz (any) not found Checking for Daemon-Generic (any) not found Checking for mod_perl (v1.999022) not found *********************************************************************** * OPTIONAL MODULES * *********************************************************************** * Certain Perl modules are not required by Bugzilla, but by * * installing the latest version you gain access to additional * * features. * * * * The optional modules you do not have installed are listed below, * * with the name of the feature they enable. Below that table are the * * commands to install each module. * *********************************************************************** * MODULE NAME * ENABLES FEATURE(S) * *********************************************************************** * TheSchwartz * Mail Queueing * * Daemon-Generic * Mail Queueing * * mod_perl * mod_perl * *********************************************************************** * Note For Windows Users * *********************************************************************** * In order to install the modules listed below, you first have to run * * the following command as an Administrator: * * * * ppm repo add theory58S http://cpan.uwinnipeg.ca/PPMPackages/10xx/ * * * Then you have to do (also as an Administrator): * * * * ppm repo up theory58S * * * * Do that last command over and over until you see "theory58S" at the * * top of the displayed list. * *********************************************************************** COMMANDS TO INSTALL OPTIONAL MODULES: TheSchwartz: ppm install TheSchwartz Daemon-Generic: ppm install Daemon-Generic mod_perl: ppm install mod_perl Reading ./localconfig... Checking for DBD-mysql (v4.00) ok: found v4.012 Checking for MySQL (v4.1.2) ok: found v5.1.44-community-log Removing existing compiled templates... Precompiling templates...done. Now that you have installed Bugzilla, you should visit the 'Parameters' page (linked in the footer of the Administrator account) to ensure it is set up as you wish - this includes setting the 'urlbase' option to the correct URL. Press any key to continue . . . Please tell me what should i do. Please note: i am running behind a corporate proxy , SSL/TLS is not used internally but i am giving the smtpUser and smtpPass also.

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• All my sites are 403 but the server is running. Errors on startup

  - by Craig

  We gave access to a contractor to install a firewall and somehow while he was doing it he fracked something up. Everything went off-line about 24 hours ago and we are effectively out of business until I solve this and the person who messed up the thing is not returning calls. I found a few errors. First, I'm not a server guy - I can look at log files and normally everything runs fine. All 'services' are running according to 1and1 server monitoring and mail is being delivered just fine. The whole thing was off-line until I (probably stupidly) updated the kernel from 6.2 to 6.3 this morning and I got everything back except the http access. All the domains (~200 of them) are returning a 403 error and nothing is recorded in the access log. On every restart I see this error in the messages log file: init: Failed to spawn ttyS0 main process: unable to execute: No such file or directory and a little later these: kernel: WARNING: at kernel/sched.c:5914 thread_return+0x232/0x79d() (Not tainted) kernel: Hardware name: X9SCL/X9SCM kernel: Modules linked in: xt_iprange iptable_filter ip_tables ip6t_REJECT nf_conntrack_ipv6 nf_defrag_ipv6 xt_state nf_conntrack ip6table_filter ip6_tables ipv6 ext4 jbd2 serio_raw i2c_i801 i2c_core sg iTCO_wdt iTCO_vendor_support e1000e ext3 jbd mbcache raid1 sd_mod crc_t10dif ahci dm_mirror dm_region_hash dm_log dm_mod [last unloaded: scsi_wait_scan] kernel: Pid: 367, comm: md3_raid1 Not tainted 2.6.32-220.2.1.el6.x86_64 #1 kernel: Call Trace: kernel: [<ffffffff81069997>] ? warn_slowpath_common+0x87/0xc0 kernel: [<ffffffff810699ea>] ? warn_slowpath_null+0x1a/0x20 kernel: [<ffffffff814eccc5>] ? thread_return+0x232/0x79d kernel: [<ffffffff8126a4d9>] ? cpumask_next_and+0x29/0x50 kernel: [<ffffffff813e9c05>] ? md_super_wait+0x55/0x90 kernel: [<ffffffff81090a10>] ? autoremove_wake_function+0x0/0x40 kernel: [<ffffffff813ebf46>] ? md_update_sb+0x206/0x3f0 kernel: [<ffffffff813ee922>] ? md_check_recovery+0x3f2/0x6d0 kernel: [<ffffffffa005b129>] ? raid1d+0x49/0x1050 [raid1] kernel: [<ffffffff814ed985>] ? schedule_timeout+0x215/0x2e0 kernel: [<ffffffff814ef447>] ? _spin_unlock_irqrestore+0x17/0x20 kernel: [<ffffffff813eb336>] ? md_thread+0x116/0x150 kernel: [<ffffffff81090a10>] ? autoremove_wake_function+0x0/0x40 kernel: [<ffffffff813eb220>] ? md_thread+0x0/0x150 kernel: [<ffffffff810906a6>] ? kthread+0x96/0xa0 kernel: [<ffffffff8100c14a>] ? child_rip+0xa/0x20 kernel: [<ffffffff81090610>] ? kthread+0x0/0xa0 kernel: [<ffffffff8100c140>] ? child_rip+0x0/0x20 And something is wrong with the Named/BIND resulting in the same error for all domains: zone DOMAINEXAMPLE.com/IN: loading from master file DOMAINEXAMPLE.com failed: file not found zone DOMAINEXAMPLE.com/IN: not loaded due to errors. _default/DOMAINEXAMPLE.com/IN: file not found I'm pretty sure this is not enough information to solve the problem, but I'm willing to engage someone who can work this out for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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• Has this server been compromised?

  - by Griffo

  A friend is running a VPS (CentOS) His business partner was the sysadmin but has left him high and dry to look after the system. So, I've been asked to help out in fixing an apparent spam problem. His IP address got blacklisted for unsolicited mail. I'm not sure where to look for a problem, but I started with netstat to see what open connections were running. It looks to me like he has remote hosts connected to his SMTP server. Here's the output: Active Internet connections (w/o servers) Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address Foreign Address State tcp 0 0 78.153.208.195:imap 86-40-60-183-dynamic.:10029 ESTABLISHED tcp 0 0 78.153.208.195:imap 86-40-60-183-dynamic.:10010 ESTABLISHED tcp 0 1 78.153.208.195:35563 news.avanport.pt:smtp SYN_SENT tcp 0 0 78.153.208.195:35559 vip-us-br-mx.terra.com:smtp TIME_WAIT tcp 0 0 78.153.208.195:35560 vip-us-br-mx.terra.com:smtp TIME_WAIT tcp 1 1 78.153.208.195:imaps 86-40-60-183-dynamic.:11647 CLOSING tcp 1 1 78.153.208.195:imaps 86-40-60-183-dynamic.:11645 CLOSING tcp 0 0 78.153.208.195:35562 mx.a.locaweb.com.br:smtp TIME_WAIT tcp 0 0 78.153.208.195:35561 mx.a.locaweb.com.br:smtp TIME_WAIT tcp 0 0 78.153.208.195:imap 86-41-8-64-dynamic.b-:49446 ESTABLISHED Does this indicate that his server may be acting as an open relay? Mail should only be outgoing from localhost. Apologies for my lack of knowledge but I don't work on linux in my day job. EDIT: Here's some output from /var/log/maillog which looks like it may be the result of spam. If it appears to be the case to others, where should I look next to investigate a root cause? I put the server IP through www.checkor.com and it came back clean. Jun 29 00:02:13 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302133.721674 status: local 0/10 remote 9/20 Jun 29 00:02:13 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302133.886182 delivery 74116: deferral: 200.147.36.15_does_not_like_recipient./Remote_host_said:_450_4.7.1_Client_host_rejected:_cannot_find_your_hostname,_[78.153.208.195]/Giving_up_on_200.147.36.15./ Jun 29 00:02:13 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302133.886255 status: local 0/10 remote 8/20 Jun 29 00:02:13 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302133.898266 delivery 74115: deferral: 187.31.0.11_does_not_like_recipient./Remote_host_said:_450_4.7.1_Client_host_rejected:_cannot_find_your_hostname,_[78.153.208.195]/Giving_up_on_187.31.0.11./ Jun 29 00:02:13 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302133.898327 status: local 0/10 remote 7/20 Jun 29 00:02:14 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302134.137833 delivery 74111: deferral: Sorry,_I_wasn't_able_to_establish_an_SMTP_connection._(#4.4.1)/ Jun 29 00:02:14 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302134.137914 status: local 0/10 remote 6/20 Jun 29 00:02:19 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302139.903536 delivery 74000: failure: 209.85.143.27_failed_after_I_sent_the_message./Remote_host_said:_550-5.7.1_[78.153.208.195_______1]_Our_system_has_detected_an_unusual_rate_of/550-5.7.1_unsolicited_mail_originating_from_your_IP_address._To_protect_our/550-5.7.1_users_from_spam,_mail_sent_from_your_IP_address_has_been_blocked./550-5.7.1_Please_visit_http://www.google.com/mail/help/bulk_mail.html_to_review/550_5.7.1_our_Bulk_Email_Senders_Guidelines._e25si1385223wes.137/ Jun 29 00:02:19 vps-1001108-595 qmail: 1309302139.903606 status: local 0/10 remote 5/20 Jun 29 00:02:19 vps-1001108-595 qmail-queue-handlers[15501]: Handlers Filter before-queue for qmail started ... EDIT #2 Here's the output of netstat -p with the imap and imaps lines removed. I also removed my own ssh session Active Internet connections (w/o servers) Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address Foreign Address State PID/Program name tcp 0 1 78.153.208.195:40076 any-in-2015.1e100.net:smtp SYN_SENT 24096/qmail-remote. tcp 0 1 78.153.208.195:40077 any-in-2015.1e100.net:smtp SYN_SENT 24097/qmail-remote. udp 0 0 78.153.208.195:48515 125.64.11.158:4225 ESTABLISHED 20435/httpd

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• Publishing an Excel spreadsheet using Microsoft SBS 2008 to a web page that is viewable by mobile ph

  - by Dave Heath

  I am getting well out of my “superuser” depth here and would love some support. At work we have an Excel workbook (*.xls format circa Office 2003) which maintains our “engineers” timesheet. This handles what events we are doing across the year and how many “work units” it is. As far as a workbook goes, it is fairly simple with just a few =SUM(range) cells and some linked across sheets (12 sheets, one for each month) It is stored on a server, in a folder that provides “management” with full access and “engineers” with read-only access. The workbook itself is read-only for “engineers” and full access for “management”. I think these permissions are controlled through Active Directory. The workbook is protected with a password, assumingly to allow “management” to edit it even if they are working at a terminal logged in as an “engineer”. This protection prevents “engineers” from going to certain cells to see formulae and therefore editing them. The workbook has a macro which saves and closes it ten minutes after opening. This is to stop other “management” from being locked out by any one person who has logged in with editing privileges. I hope this is making sense to someone... :S Now then, we have Microsoft Small Business Server 2008. We have a shiny new web-based login for when we are offsite so we can get to Exchange webmail and our internal site (which uses Sharepoint 3.0). “Management” would like to be able to publish this timesheet automatically after changes (they don’t want to have to do anything different to what they are currently doing) so that using an iPhone “engineers” can check on it while out of the office. I am currently having a look at “Excel Services” for Office 2007 on TechNet but I am not sure if I am running down the right garden path at the moment. < EDIT This seems to suggest that I have to have Sharepoint Server 2007, with no mention of Sharepoint 3.0... ... "MOSS builds on WSS by adding both core features as well as end user web parts" - Wikipedia entry for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) this is not good news... "...and using the ASP.NET APIs, web parts can be written to extend the functionality of WSS." Wikipedia entry for Windows Sharepoint Services. Could this bring back what I need? Is this good news? Do I need to start learning ASP.NET? This link here implies that we need MOSS to do what I want and the bosses say we aint' getting it. http://serverfault.com/questions/20198/what-is-some-cool-things-you-can-do-with-sharepoint-2007/22128#22128 Back to the drawing board. < /EDIT Please could someone suggest some “further reading” for me to help point me in the right direction or to put me back on the right track. Many thanks. I will try to keep this up to date with how I get on.

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• Set up lnux box for hosting a-z [apache mysql php ssl]

  - by microchasm

  I am in the process of reinstalling the OS on a machine that will be used to host a couple of apps for our business. The apps will be local only; access from external clients will be via vpn only. The prior setup used a hosting control panel (Plesk) for most of the admin, and I was looking at using another similar piece of software for the reinstall - but I figured I should finally learn how it all works. I can do most of the things the software would do for me, but am unclear on the symbiosis of it all. This is all an attempt to further distance myself from the land of Configuration Programmer/Programmer, if at all possible. I can't find a full walkthrough anywhere for what I'm looking for, so I thought I'd put up this question, and if people can help me on the way I will edit this with the answers, and document my progress/pitfalls. Hopefully someday this will help someone down the line. The details: CentOS 5.5 x86_64 httpd: Apache/2.2.3 mysql: 5.0.77 (to be upgraded) php: 5.1 (to be upgraded) The requirements: SECURITY!! Secure file transfer Secure client access (SSL Certs and CA) Secure data storage Virtualhosts/multiple subdomains Local email would be nice, but not critical The Steps: Download latest CentOS DVD-iso (torrent worked great for me). Install CentOS: While going through the install, I checked the Server Components option thinking I was going to be using another Plesk-like admin. In hindsight, considering I've decided to try to go my own way, this probably wasn't the best idea. Basic config: Setup users, networking/ip address etc. Yum update/upgrade. Upgrade PHP: To upgrade PHP to the latest version, I had to look to another repo outside CentOS. IUS looks great and I'm happy I found it! cd /tmp #wget http://dl.iuscommunity.org/pub/ius/stable/Redhat/5/x86_64/epel-release-1-1.ius.el5.noarch.rpm #rpm -Uvh epel-release-1-1.ius.el5.noarch.rpm #wget http://dl.iuscommunity.org/pub/ius/stable/Redhat/5/x86_64/ius-release-1-4.ius.el5.noarch.rpm #rpm -Uvh ius-release-1-4.ius.el5.noarch.rpm yum list | grep -w \.ius\. [will list all packages available in the IUS repo] rpm -qa | grep php [will list installed packages needed to be removed. the installed packages need to be removed before you can install the IUS packages otherwise there will be conflicts] #yum shell >remove php-gd php-cli php-odbc php-mbstring php-pdo php php-xml php-common php-ldap php-mysql php-imap Setting up Remove Process >install php53 php53-mcrypt php53-mysql php53-cli php53-common php53-ldap php53-imap php53-devel >transaction solve >transaction run Leaving Shell #php -v PHP 5.3.2 (cli) (built: Apr 6 2010 18:13:45) This process removes the old version of PHP and installs the latest. To upgrade mysql: Pretty much the same process as above with PHP #/etc/init.d/mysqld stop [OK] rpm -qa | grep mysql [installed mysql packages] #yum shell >remove mysql mysql-server Setting up Remove Process >install mysql51 mysql51-server mysql51-devel >transaction solve >transaction run Leaving Shell #service mysqld start [OK] #mysql -v Server version: 5.1.42-ius Distributed by The IUS Community Project And this is where I'm at. I will keep editing this as I make progress. Any tips on how to Configure Virtualhosts for SSL, setting up a CA, setting up SFTP with openSSH, or anything else would be appreciated.

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• Distributed and/or Parallel SSIS processing

  - by Jeff

  Background: Our company hosts SaaS DSS applications, where clients provide us data Daily and/or Weekly, which we process & merge into their existing database. During business hours, load in the servers are pretty minimal as it's mostly users running simple pre-defined queries via the website, or running drill-through reports that mostly hit the SSAS OLAP cube. I manage the IT Operations Team, and so far this has presented an interesting "scaling" issue for us. For our daily-refreshed clients, the server is only "busy" for about 4-6 hrs at night. For our weekly-refresh clients, the server is only "busy" for maybe 8-10 hrs per week! We've done our best to use some simple methods of distributing the load by spreading the daily clients evenly among the servers such that we're not trying to process daily clients back-to-back over night. But long-term this scaling strategy creates two notable issues. First, it's going to consume a pretty immense amount of hardware that sits idle for large periods of time. Second, it takes significant Production Support over-head to basically "schedule" the ETL such that they don't over-lap, and move clients/schedules around if they out-grow the resources on a particular server or allocated time-slot. As the title would imply, one option we've tried is running multiple SSIS packages in parallel, but in most cases this has yielded VERY inconsistent results. The most common failures are DTExec, SQL, and SSAS fighting for physical memory and throwing out-of-memory errors, and ETLs running 3,4,5x longer than expected. So from my practical experience thus far, it seems like running multiple ETL packages on the same hardware isn't a good idea, but I can't be the first person that doesn't want to scale multiple ETLs around manual scheduling, and sequential processing. One option we've considered is virtualizing the servers, which obviously doesn't give you any additional resources, but moves the resource contention onto the hypervisor, which (from my experience) seems to manage simultaneous CPU/RAM/Disk I/O a little more gracefully than letting DTExec, SQL, and SSAS battle it out within Windows. Question to the forum: So my question to the forum is, are we missing something obvious here? Are there tools out there that can help manage running multiple SSIS packages on the same hardware? Would it be more "efficient" in terms of parallel execution if instead of running DTExec, SQL, and SSAS same machine (with every machine running that configuration), we run in pairs of three machines with SSIS running on one machine, SQL on another, and SSAS on a third? Obviously that would only make sense if we could process more than the three ETL we were able to process on the machine independently. Another option we've considered is completely re-architecting our SSIS package to have one "master" package for all clients that attempts to intelligently chose a server based off how "busy" it already is in terms of CPU/Memory/Disk utilization, but that would be a herculean effort, and seems like we're trying to reinvent something that you would think someone would sell (although I haven't had any luck finding it). So in summary, are we missing an obvious solution for this, and does anyone know if any tools (for free or for purchase, doesn't matter) that facilitate running multiple SSIS ETL packages in parallel and on multiple servers? (What I would call a "queue & node based" system, but that's not an official term). Ultimately VMWare's Distributed Resource Scheduler addresses this as you simply run a consistent number of clients per VM that you know will never conflict scheduleing-wise, then leave it up to VMWare to move the VMs around to balance out hardware usage. I'm definitely not against using VMWare to do this, but since we're a 100% Microsoft app stack, it seems like -someone- out there would have solved this problem at the application layer instead of the hypervisor layer by checking on resource utilization at the OS, SQL, SSAS levels. I'm open to ANY discussion on this, and remember no suggestion is too crazy or radical! :-) Right now, VMWare is the only option we've found to get away from "manually" balancing our resources, so any suggestions that leave us on a pure Microsoft stack would be great. Thanks guys, Jeff

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• SQL Server Log File Won't Shrink due cause "log are pending replication" on non replicated DB?

  - by user796466

  I have a non Mission Critial DB 9am-5pm SQL Server database that I have set up to do nightly full backups and log backups every 30 minutes during business hours. The database is in full recovery and normally I have no reason to truncate/shrink logs unless I do some heavy maintenance. Log backups manage the size with no issue. However I have not been at this client for several weeks and upon inspection I noticed that the log had grown to about 10 times the size of the .mdf file. I poked around backups had been running and I had not gotten any severity error alerts (SQL mail). I attempted to put DB in simple recovery and shrink the log, this was no good. I precede to try a log backup and I got: The log was not truncated because records at the beginning of the log are pending replication or Change Data Capture. Ensure the Log Reader Agent or capture job is running or use sp_repldone to mark transactions as distributed or captured. Restart SQL Server rinse repeat same thing ... I said ??? Replication is not nor ever has been set up on this DB or database /server ??? So the log backups have not been flushing the .ldf. So I did a couple hours of research and I found: http://www.sqlmonster.com/Uwe/Forum.aspx/sql-server/5445/Log-file-is-not-truncated-inspite-of-regular-log-backup http://www.eggheadcafe.com/software/aspnet/30708322/the-log-was-not-truncated-because-records-at-the-beginning-of-the-log-are-pending-replication.aspx seems to be some kind of poorly documented bug ?? The solution seems to have been to run exec sp_repldone, more precisley EXEC sp_repldone @xactid = NULL, @xact_segno = NULL, @numtrans = 0, @time= 0, @reset = 1 This procedure can be used in emergency situations to allow truncation of the transaction log when transactions pending replication are present. Using this procedure prevents Microsoft SQL Server 2000 from replicating the database until the database is unpublished and republished. ~ MSDN When I do that I get the following Msg 18757, Level 16, State 1, Procedure sp_repldone, Line 1 Unable to execute procedure. The database is not published. Execute the procedure in a database that is published for replication. Which makes sense Because the DB has never been published for replication. I have several questions: A) First and foremost is, WTF is going on ? What is causeing this, I am interested in knowing the why here ? Is this genuinley a bug or is there some aspect of the backup that is not functioning properly that cause's the DB to mimick a replicated state ? Someone please edify me on this. B) Second ... Do I really have to publish / replicate this DB to exec this SP to fix this ??? Sounds crazy or is there some T-SQL that I can put it in a published state exec the proc and be on my way ... C) Third, if I do indeed have to publish this database to exec the SP to release this unneeded mis replicated/intended log , to get my .ldf file and backup back on track. How do I publish the database without an online host that it is asking for ??? I don't generally do this kind of database administration and need some guidance. Sorry if this is too verbose but just voicing the question helps me clarify it ... Thank you in advance for your help

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• Exchange 2003 mail non-delivery (NDR), spam activity? events 7002 & 7004

  - by HighTechGeek

  Windows Server 2003 Small Business Server SP2 Exchange Version 6.5 (Build 7638.2: Service Pack 2) This network has been neglected and has been having email problems for years and was on many blacklists. I was called in after the server eventually crashed... I got the server back up and running, but email problems persist. Outgoing mail delivery is sporadic. Sometimes the mail goes through, sometimes a delayed delivery report is generated after a day or more, and sometimes it seems to go through, but the recipient never receives it. Not sure if spammers are successfully using the server as a relay (see event entries below after turning on maximum SMTP logging)... User PCs infected with viruses and server was blacklisted on many sites (I used mxtoolbox.com) I have cleaned all the PCs and changed all passwords (including administrator) I have requested removal from all of the blacklists - most have removed the listing, some take more time. I have setup rDNS pointer records with the ISP (Comcast) - that was one reason for some of the blacklistings. I have tested that it's not an open relay using telnet as described here: www.amset.info/exchange/smtp-openrelay.asp I followed the advise of a Spamhaus & Microsoft article to enable maximum SMTP logging. http://www.spamhaus.org/faq/answers.lasso?section=isp%20spam%20issues#320 which directed me to Microsoft KB article 895853, specifically, the part 2/3 down titled: "If mail relay occurs from an account on an Exchange computer that is not configured as an open relay" . The Application Event Log is filling with this type of activity (Event ID 7002, 7002 & 3018 errors): Event Type: Error Event Source: MSExchangeTransport Event Category: SMTP Protocol Event ID: 7004 Date: 1/18/2011 Time: 7:33:29 AM User: N/A Computer: SERVER Description: This is an SMTP protocol error log for virtual server ID 1, connection #621. The remote host "212.52.84.180", responded to the SMTP command "rcpt" with "550 #5.1.0 Address rejected [email protected] ". The full command sent was "RCPT TO: ". This will probably cause the connection to fail. and this: Event Type: Warning Event Source: MSExchangeTransport Event Category: SMTP Protocol Event ID: 7002 Date: 1/18/2011 Time: 7:33:29 AM User: N/A Computer: SERVER Description: This is an SMTP protocol warning log for virtual server ID 1, connection #620. The remote host "212.52.84.170", responded to the SMTP command "rcpt" with "452 Too many recipients received this hour ". The full command sent was "RCPT TO: ". This may cause the connection to fail. or a variant of: Event Type: Warning Event Source: MSExchangeTransport Event Category: SMTP Protocol Event ID: 7002 Date: 1/18/2011 Time: 8:39:21 AM User: N/A Computer: SERVER Description: This is an SMTP protocol warning log for virtual server ID 1, connection #661. The remote host "82.57.200.133", responded to the SMTP command "rcpt" with "421 Service not available - too busy ". The full command sent was "RCPT TO: ". This may cause the connection to fail. also Event Type: Error Event Source: MSExchangeTransport Event Category: NDR Event ID: 3018 Date: 1/18/2011 Time: 9:49:37 AM User: N/A Computer: SERVER Description: A non-delivery report with a status code of 5.4.0 was generated for recipient rfc822;[email protected] (Message-ID ). Causes: This message indicates a DNS problem or an IP address configuration problem Solution: Check the DNS using nslookup or dnsq. Verify the IP address is in IPv4 literal format. Data: 0000: ef 02 04 c0 ï..À Any guidance and/or suggestions and/or tests to perform would be greatly appreciated.

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• Week in Geek: USDA Chooses Microsoft for Cloud Services Edition

  - by Asian Angel

  This week we learned how to create geeky LED holiday lights with old bottles, dig deeper in Windows Defrag via the command prompt, use Google Chrome’s drag/drop feature to upload files easier, find great gift recommendations by looking through the How-To Geek holiday gift guide, and have fun adding Merry Christmas fonts to our computers. Photo by ntr23. Random Geek Links It has been a busy week, so we have extra news link goodness with information that is good for you to know. USDA making the move to Microsoft The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it has chosen Microsoft to host things like e-mail, instant messaging, and collaboration through the software giant’s Business Productivity Online Suite. Google says it was cut off from USDA project bid Google is claiming that it was not given a chance to bid on a cloud-computing project for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for which the contract was awarded to rival Microsoft. Apache is being forced into a Java Fork When Oracle rolled over Apache and Google’s objections to its Java plans in December, the scene was set for Apache to leave and, eventually, force a Java code fork. Tumblr explains daylong outage After experiencing an outage that started on Sunday afternoon and stretched through most of the day yesterday, Tumblr has explained what happened. Google demos Chrome OS, launches pilot program During a press briefing this week in San Francisco, Google launched the Chrome application store and demonstrated Chrome OS, its browser-centric netbook operating system. Don’t expect Spotify in U.S. this holiday season As of last week, Spotify had yet to sign a single licensing deal with a major label, after spending more than a year negotiating, multiple music sources told CNET. December 2010 Patch Tuesday will come with most bulletins ever According to the Microsoft Security Response Center, Microsoft will issue 17 Security Bulletins addressing 40 vulnerabilities on Tuesday, December 14. It will also host a webcast to address customer questions the following day. Hacker plants back door in Symbian firmware Indian hacker Atul Alex has had a look at the firmware for Symbian S60 smartphones and come up with a back door for it. PC quarantines raise tough complexities The concept of quarantining PCs to prevent widespread infection is “interesting, but difficult to implement, with far too many problems”, said security experts. Symantec: DDoS attacks hard to defend It has surfaced that the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on Visa and MasterCard Web sites on Wednesday were carried out by a toolkit known as low orbit ion cannon (LOIC). Web Sockets and the risks of unfinished standards Enthusiasm for a promising new standard called Web Sockets has quickly cooled in some quarters as a potential security problem led some browser makers to hastily postpone support. Internet Explorer 9 to get tracking protection Microsoft is making changes to Internet Explorer 9’s security features that will better enable users to keep sites from tracking their activity across browsing sessions. NASA sold PCs with sensitive data NASA failed to remove sensitive data from computers that it sold, according to an audit report released this week. Cybercrooks create fake Amazon receipts The bad guys have created yet another online scam, this one involving fake Amazon receipts. World of Warcraft character move fees waived Until December 22, Blizzard will allow free realm transfers from 25 highly populated servers to alleviate log-in queues or performance issues. (The free transfers are one-way and one-time only.) SpaceX Dragon reaches orbit atop a Falcon with a fiery tail The Space Exploration Technologies corporation has become the first nongovernmental entity to put a vehicle into low Earth orbit. Geek Video of the Week If birds have wings, then why are the Angry Birds using slingshots? Photo by Dorkly Bits. Wait… Birds have Wings, Why are the Angry Ones Using Slingshots? Sysadmin Geek Tips How To Setup Email Alerts on Linux Using Gmail or SMTP Linux machines may require administrative intervention in countless ways, but without manually logging into them how would you know about it? Here’s how to setup emails to get notified when your machines want some tender love and attention. Random TinyHacker Links Red Panda Webcam Support Firefox and the Knoxville Zoo’s Red Panda program. Christmas Icons (Icons we like) Superb set of holiday icons by lgp85 at deviantArt. Download the .zip and use as .png or convert to .ico at Convertico.com or with tiny app Imagicon. Super User Questions Enjoy reading the great answers to this week’s popular questions from Super User Useful USB boot disks? DVD/CD burning .zip: is it more reliable, faster, longer lasting to burn a zip of files rather than the files as a folder? What are other ways to backup my files if I do not have an external drive? Anti virus what is the difference between these all? How can I block all Facebook elements/content? How-To Geek Weekly Article Recap Have you had a busy week between work and preparing for the holidays? Get caught up on your HTG reading with our hottest articles of the week. 20 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts You Might Not Know The 50 Best Registry Hacks that Make Windows Better LCD? LED? Plasma? The How-To Geek Guide to HDTV Technology HTG Explains: Which Linux File System Should You Choose? How to Use and Customize Google Chrome Web Apps One Year Ago on How-To Geek This week’s batch of retro geeky goodness is all about customizing Windows 7. ClassicShell Adds Classic Start Menu and Explorer Features to Windows 7 Get an Aero-Styled Classic Start Menu in Windows 7 Customize the Windows 7 Logon Screen Get the Classic Style Network Activity Indicator Back in Windows 7 How To Enable Check Boxes for Items In Windows 7 The Geek Note We would like you to join us in welcoming Jason Fitzpatrick to the writing staff here at How-To Geek. He started with us this past week, so take some time to read through his articles about the Wii, Kindle, & PlayStation 2 Peripherals and leave a friendly comment to say “Hi”! Got a great tip to share? Make sure to send it in to us at [email protected]. Photo by real00. Latest Features How-To Geek ETC The 50 Best Registry Hacks that Make Windows Better The How-To Geek Holiday Gift Guide (Geeky Stuff We Like) LCD? LED? Plasma? The How-To Geek Guide to HDTV Technology The How-To Geek Guide to Learning Photoshop, Part 8: Filters Improve Digital Photography by Calibrating Your Monitor Our Favorite Tech: What We’re Thankful For at How-To Geek Settle into Orbit with the Voyage Theme for Chrome and Iron Awesome Safari Compass Icons Set Escape from the Exploding Planet Wallpaper Move Your Tumblr Blog to WordPress Pytask is an Easy to Use To-Do List Manager for Your Ubuntu System Snowy Christmas House Personas Theme for Firefox

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• LINQ to SQL and missing Many to Many EntityRefs

  - by Rick Strahl

  Ran into an odd behavior today with a many to many mapping of one of my tables in LINQ to SQL. Many to many mappings aren’t transparent in LINQ to SQL and it maps the link table the same way the SQL schema has it when creating one. In other words LINQ to SQL isn’t smart about many to many mappings and just treats it like the 3 underlying tables that make up the many to many relationship. Iain Galloway has a nice blog entry about Many to Many relationships in LINQ to SQL. I can live with that – it’s not really difficult to deal with this arrangement once mapped, especially when reading data back. Writing is a little more difficult as you do have to insert into two entities for new records, but nothing that can’t be handled in a small business object method with a few lines of code. When I created a database I’ve been using to experiment around with various different OR/Ms recently I found that for some reason LINQ to SQL was completely failing to map even to the linking table. As it turns out there’s a good reason why it fails, can you spot it below? (read on :-}) Here is the original database layout: There’s an items table, a category table and a link table that holds only the foreign keys to the Items and Category tables for a typical M->M relationship. When these three tables are imported into the model the *look* correct – I do get the relationships added (after modifying the entity names to strip the prefix): The relationship looks perfectly fine, both in the designer as well as in the XML document: <Table Name="dbo.wws_Item_Categories" Member="ItemCategories"> <Type Name="ItemCategory"> <Column Name="ItemId" Type="System.Guid" DbType="uniqueidentifier NOT NULL" CanBeNull="false" /> <Column Name="CategoryId" Type="System.Guid" DbType="uniqueidentifier NOT NULL" CanBeNull="false" /> <Association Name="ItemCategory_Category" Member="Categories" ThisKey="CategoryId" OtherKey="Id" Type="Category" /> <Association Name="Item_ItemCategory" Member="Item" ThisKey="ItemId" OtherKey="Id" Type="Item" IsForeignKey="true" /> </Type> </Table> <Table Name="dbo.wws_Categories" Member="Categories"> <Type Name="Category"> <Column Name="Id" Type="System.Guid" DbType="UniqueIdentifier NOT NULL" IsPrimaryKey="true" IsDbGenerated="true" CanBeNull="false" /> <Column Name="ParentId" Type="System.Guid" DbType="UniqueIdentifier" CanBeNull="true" /> <Column Name="CategoryName" Type="System.String" DbType="NVarChar(150)" CanBeNull="true" /> <Column Name="CategoryDescription" Type="System.String" DbType="NVarChar(MAX)" CanBeNull="true" /> <Column Name="tstamp" AccessModifier="Internal" Type="System.Data.Linq.Binary" DbType="rowversion" CanBeNull="true" IsVersion="true" /> <Association Name="ItemCategory_Category" Member="ItemCategory" ThisKey="Id" OtherKey="CategoryId" Type="ItemCategory" IsForeignKey="true" /> </Type> </Table> However when looking at the code generated these navigation properties (also on Item) are completely missing: [global::System.Data.Linq.Mapping.TableAttribute(Name="dbo.wws_Item_Categories")] [global::System.Runtime.Serialization.DataContractAttribute()] public partial class ItemCategory : Westwind.BusinessFramework.EntityBase { private System.Guid _ItemId; private System.Guid _CategoryId; public ItemCategory() { } [global::System.Data.Linq.Mapping.ColumnAttribute(Storage="_ItemId", DbType="uniqueidentifier NOT NULL")] [global::System.Runtime.Serialization.DataMemberAttribute(Order=1)] public System.Guid ItemId { get { return this._ItemId; } set { if ((this._ItemId != value)) { this._ItemId = value; } } } [global::System.Data.Linq.Mapping.ColumnAttribute(Storage="_CategoryId", DbType="uniqueidentifier NOT NULL")] [global::System.Runtime.Serialization.DataMemberAttribute(Order=2)] public System.Guid CategoryId { get { return this._CategoryId; } set { if ((this._CategoryId != value)) { this._CategoryId = value; } } } } Notice that the Item and Category association properties which should be EntityRef properties are completely missing. They’re there in the model, but the generated code – not so much. So what’s the problem here? The problem – it appears – is that LINQ to SQL requires primary keys on all entities it tracks. In order to support tracking – even of the link table entity – the link table requires a primary key. Real obvious ain’t it, especially since the designer happily lets you import the table and even shows the relationship and implicitly the related properties. Adding an Id field as a Pk to the database and then importing results in this model layout: which properly generates the Item and Category properties into the link entity. It’s ironic that LINQ to SQL *requires* the PK in the middle – the Entity Framework requires that a link table have *only* the two foreign key fields in a table in order to recognize a many to many relation. EF actually handles the M->M relation directly without the intermediate link entity unlike LINQ to SQL. [updated from comments – 12/24/2009] Another approach is to set up both ItemId and CategoryId in the database which shows up in LINQ to SQL like this: This also work in creating the Category and Item fields in the ItemCategory entity. Ultimately this is probably the best approach as it also guarantees uniqueness of the keys and so helps in database integrity. It took me a while to figure out WTF was going on here – lulled by the designer to think that the properties should be when they were not. It’s actually a well documented feature of L2S that each entity in the model requires a Pk but of course that’s easy to miss when the model viewer shows it to you and even the underlying XML model shows the Associations properly. This is one of the issue with L2S of course – you have to play by its rules and once you hit one of those rules there’s no way around them – you’re stuck with what it requires which in this case meant changing the database.© Rick Strahl, West Wind Technologies, 2005-2010Posted in ADO.NET  LINQ  

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• Problems with Update Manager

  - by user65965

  Whenever I try to update with update manager I get the following errors: W:Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/precise/Release Unable to find expected entry 'commercial/source/Sources' in Release file (Wrong sources.list entry or malformed file) W:Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/precise-updates/Release Unable to find expected entry 'commercial/source/Sources' in Release file (Wrong sources.list entry or malformed file) W:Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/precise-backports/Release Unable to find expected entry 'commercial/source/Sources' in Release file (Wrong sources.list entry or malformed file) W:Failed to fetch http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/precise-security/Release Unable to find expected entry 'commercial/source/Sources' in Release file (Wrong sources.list entry or malformed file) W:Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/iefremov/ppa/ubuntu/dists/precise/main/source/Sources 404 Not Found W:Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/iefremov/ppa/ubuntu/dists/precise/main/binary-amd64/Packages 404 Not Found W:Failed to fetch http://ppa.launchpad.net/iefremov/ppa/ubuntu/dists/precise/main/binary-i386/Packages 404 Not Found E:Some index files failed to download. They have been ignored, or old ones used instead. Any help would be much appreciated, thank you. Thank you very much Eliah. I'm still pretty new to Ubuntu. Here's the output I got from the terminal: No LSB modules are available. Distributor ID: Ubuntu Description: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Release: 12.04 Codename: precise # See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to # newer versions of the distribution. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main restricted commercial deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise restricted main commercial multiverse universe #Added by software-properties ## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the ## distribution. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-updates main restricted commercial deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-updates restricted main commercial multiverse universe #Added by software-properties ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu ## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any ## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise universe deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-updates universe ## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu ## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to ## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in ## multiverse WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu ## security team. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise multiverse deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-updates multiverse ## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as ## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes ## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features. ## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review ## or updates from the Ubuntu security team. deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse commercial deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-backports main restricted universe multiverse commercial #Added by software-properties deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security main restricted commercial deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security restricted main commercial multiverse universe #Added by software-properties deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security universe deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise-security multiverse ## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from Canonical's ## 'partner' repository. ## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by Canonical and the ## respective vendors as a service to Ubuntu users. deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu oneiric partner deb-src http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner ## This software is not part of Ubuntu, but is offered by third-party ## developers who want to ship their latest software. deb http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://extras.ubuntu.com/ubuntu precise main ## This is a 3rd party script to install and update Oracle Java deb http://www.duinsoft.nl/pkg debs all ## Sun-Java6-JRE deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hardy-security main multiverse ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/askubuntu-tools-ppa-precise.list: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/askubuntu-tools/ppa/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/askubuntu-tools/ppa/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/askubuntu-tools-ppa-precise.list.save: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/askubuntu-tools/ppa/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/askubuntu-tools/ppa/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/effie-jayx-turpial-oneiric.list: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/effie-jayx/turpial/ubuntu precise main # disabled on upgrade to precise deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/effie-jayx/turpial/ubuntu precise main # disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/effie-jayx-turpial-oneiric.list.distUpgrade: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/effie-jayx/turpial/ubuntu oneiric main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/effie-jayx/turpial/ubuntu oneiric main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/effie-jayx-turpial-oneiric.list.save: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/effie-jayx/turpial/ubuntu precise main # disabled on upgrade to precise deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/effie-jayx/turpial/ubuntu precise main # disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list: # deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu oneiric-getdeb apps # disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list.distUpgrade: deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu oneiric-getdeb apps ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/getdeb.list.save: # deb http://archive.getdeb.net/ubuntu oneiric-getdeb apps # disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/hotot-team-ppa-oneiric.list: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/hotot-team/ppa/ubuntu precise main # disabled on upgrade to precise deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/hotot-team/ppa/ubuntu precise main # disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/hotot-team-ppa-oneiric.list.distUpgrade: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/hotot-team/ppa/ubuntu oneiric main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/hotot-team/ppa/ubuntu oneiric main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/hotot-team-ppa-oneiric.list.save: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/hotot-team/ppa/ubuntu precise main # disabled on upgrade to precise deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/hotot-team/ppa/ubuntu precise main # disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/iefremov-ppa-precise.list: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/iefremov/ppa/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/iefremov/ppa/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/iefremov-ppa-precise.list.save: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/iefremov/ppa/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/iefremov/ppa/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jockey.list: deb http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/ lsb3.2 main-nonfree # disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jockey.list.distUpgrade: deb http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/ lsb3.2 main-nonfree ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jockey.list.save: deb http://www.openprinting.org/download/printdriver/debian/ lsb3.2 main-nonfree # disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexydesk-plexydesk-dailybuild-precise.list: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/plexydesk/plexydesk-dailybuild/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/plexydesk/plexydesk-dailybuild/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/plexydesk-plexydesk-dailybuild-precise.list.save: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/plexydesk/plexydesk-dailybuild/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/plexydesk/plexydesk-dailybuild/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/precise-partner.list: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner #Added by software-center ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/precise-partner.list.save: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu precise partner #Added by software-center ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/private-ppa.launchpad.net_commercial-ppa-uploaders_crossover-pro_ubuntu.list: # deb https://justin-dormandy:[email protected]/commercial-ppa-uploaders/crossover-pro/ubuntu precise main #Added by software-center disabled on upgrade to precise ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/private-ppa.launchpad.net_commercial-ppa-uploaders_crossover-pro_ubuntu.list.distUpgrade: cat: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/private-ppa.launchpad.net_commercial-ppa-uploaders_crossover-pro_ubuntu.list.distUpgrade: Permission denied ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/private-ppa.launchpad.net_commercial-ppa-uploaders_crossover-pro_ubuntu.list.save: cat: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/private-ppa.launchpad.net_commercial-ppa-uploaders_crossover-pro_ubuntu.list.save: Permission denied ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/screenlets-ppa-precise.list: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/screenlets/ppa/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/screenlets/ppa/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/screenlets-ppa-precise.list.save: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/screenlets/ppa/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/screenlets/ppa/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/webupd8team-java-precise.list: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/java/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/java/ubuntu precise main ** /etc/apt/sources.list.d/webupd8team-java-precise.list.save: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/java/ubuntu precise main deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/java/ubuntu precise main

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• SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services - The Word is But a Stage (T-SQL Tuesday #006)

  - by smisner

  Host Michael Coles (blog|twitter) has selected LOB data as the topic for this month's T-SQL Tuesday, so I'll take this opportunity to post an overview of reporting with spatial data types. As part of my work with SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services, I've been exploring the use of spatial data types in the new map data region. You can create a map using any of the following data sources: Map Gallery - a set of Shapefiles for the United States only that ships with Reporting Services ESRI Shapefile - a .shp file conforming to the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) shapefile spatial data format SQL Server spatial data - a query that includes SQLGeography or SQLGeometry data types Rob Farley (blog|twitter) points out today in his T-SQL Tuesday post that using the SQL geography field is a preferable alternative to ESRI shapefiles for storing spatial data in SQL Server. So how do you get spatial data? If you don't already have a GIS application in-house, you can find a variety of sources. Here are a few to get you started: US Census Bureau Website, http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ Global Administrative Areas Spatial Database, http://biogeo.berkeley.edu/gadm/ Digital Chart of the World Data Server, http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/ In a recent post by Pinal Dave (blog|twitter), you can find a link to free shapefiles for download and a tutorial for using Shape2SQL, a free tool to convert shapefiles into SQL Server data. In my post today, I'll show you how to use combine spatial data that describes boundaries with spatial data in AdventureWorks2008R2 that identifies stores locations to embed a map in a report. Preparing the spatial data First, I downloaded Shapefile data for the administrative boundaries in France and unzipped the data to a local folder. Then I used Shape2SQL to upload the data into a SQL Server database called Spatial. I'm not sure of the reason why, but I had to uncheck the option to create a spatial index to upload the data. Otherwise, the upload appeared to run successfully, but no table appeared in my database. The zip file that I downloaded contained three files, but I didn't know what was in them until I used Shape2SQL to upload the data into tables. Then I found that FRA_adm0 contains spatial data for the country of France, FRA_adm1 contains spatial data for each region, and FRA_adm2 contains spatial data for each department (a subdivision of region). Next I prepared my SQL query containing sales data for fictional stores selling Adventure Works products in France. The Person.Address table in the AdventureWorks2008R2 database (which you can download from Codeplex) contains a SpatialLocation column which I joined - along with several other tables - to the Sales.Customer and Sales.Store tables. I'll be able to superimpose this data on a map to see where these stores are located. I included the SQL script for this query (as well as the spatial data for France) in the downloadable project that I created for this post. Step 1: Using the Map Wizard to Create a Map of France You can build a map without using the wizard, but I find it's rather useful in this case. Whether you use Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS) or Report Builder 3.0, the map wizard is the same. I used BIDS so that I could create a project that includes all the files related to this post. To get started, I added an empty report template to the project and named it France Stores. Then I opened the Toolbox window and dragged the Map item to the report body which starts the wizard. Here are the steps to perform to create a map of France: On the Choose a source of spatial data page of the wizard, select SQL Server spatial query, and click Next. On the Choose a dataset with SQL Server spatial data page, select Add a new dataset with SQL Server spatial data. On the Choose a connection to a SQL Server spatial data source page, select New. In the Data Source Properties dialog box, on the General page, add a connecton string like this (changing your server name if necessary): Data Source=(local);Initial Catalog=Spatial Click OK and then click Next. On the Design a query page, add a query for the country shape, like this: select * from fra_adm1 Click Next. The map wizard reads the spatial data and renders it for you on the Choose spatial data and map view options page, as shown below. You have the option to add a Bing Maps layer which shows surrounding countries. Depending on the type of Bing Maps layer that you choose to add (from Road, Aerial, or Hybrid) and the zoom percentage you select, you can view city names and roads and various boundaries. To keep from cluttering my map, I'm going to omit the Bing Maps layer in this example, but I do recommend that you experiment with this feature. It's a nice integration feature. Use the + or - button to rexize the map as needed. (I used the + button to increase the size of the map until its edges were just inside the boundaries of the visible map area (which is called the viewport). You can eliminate the color scale and distance scale boxes that appear in the map area later. Select the Embed map data in this report for faster rendering. The spatial data won't be changing, so there's no need to leave it in the database. However, it does increase the size of the RDL. Click Next. On the Choose map visualization page, select Basic Map. We'll add data for visualization later. For now, we have just the outline of France to serve as the foundation layer for our map. Click Next, and then click Finish. Now click the color scale box in the lower left corner of the map, and press the Delete key to remove it. Then repeat to remove the distance scale box in the lower right corner of the map. Step 2: Add a Map Layer to an Existing Map The map data region allows you to add multiple layers. Each layer is associated with a different data set. Thus far, we have the spatial data that defines the regional boundaries in the first map layer. Now I'll add in another layer for the store locations by following these steps: If the Map Layers windows is not visible, click the report body, and then click twice anywhere on the map data region to display it. Click on the New Layer Wizard button in the Map layers window. And then we start over again with the process by choosing a spatial data source. Select SQL Server spatial query, and click Next. Select Add a new dataset with SQL Server spatial data, and click Next. Click New, add a connection string to the AdventureWorks2008R2 database, and click Next. Add a query with spatial data (like the one I included in the downloadable project), and click Next. The location data now appears as another layer on top of the regional map created earlier. Use the + button to resize the map again to fill as much of the viewport as possible without cutting off edges of the map. You might need to drag the map within the viewport to center it properly. Select Embed map data in this report, and click Next. On the Choose map visualization page, select Basic Marker Map, and click Next. On the Choose color theme and data visualization page, in the Marker drop-down list, change the marker to diamond. There's no particular reason for a diamond; I think it stands out a little better than a circle on this map. Clear the Single color map checkbox as another way to distinguish the markers from the map. You can of course create an analytical map instead, which would change the size and/or color of the markers according to criteria that you specify, such as sales volume of each store, but I'll save that exploration for another post on another day. Click Finish and then click Preview to see the rendered report. Et voilà...c'est fini. Yes, it's a very simple map at this point, but there are many other things you can do to enhance the map. I'll create a series of posts to explore the possibilities. Share this post: email it! | bookmark it! | digg it! | reddit! | kick it! | live it!

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• SQL SERVER – Interview Questions and Answers – Frequently Asked Questions – Introduction – Day 1 of 31

  - by pinaldave

  List of all the Interview Questions and Answers Series blogs Posts covering interview questions and answers always make for interesting reading.  Some people like the subject for their helpful hints and thought provoking subject, and others dislike these posts because they feel it is nothing more than cheating.  I’d like to discuss the pros and cons of a Question and Answer format here. Interview Questions and Answers are Helpful Just like blog posts, books, and articles, interview Question and Answer discussions are learning material.  The popular Dummy’s books or Idiots Guides are not only for “dummies,” but can help everyone relearn the fundamentals.  Question and Answer discussions can serve the same purpose.  You could call this SQL Server Fundamentals or SQL Server 101. I have administrated hundreds of interviews during my career and I have noticed that sometimes an interviewee with several years of experience lacks an understanding of the fundamentals.  These individuals have been in the industry for so long, usually working on a very specific project, that the ABCs of the business have slipped their mind. Or, when a college graduate is looking to get into the industry, he is not expected to have experience since he is just graduated. However, the new grad is expected to have an understanding of fundamentals and theory.  Sometimes after the stress of final exams and graduation, it can be difficult to remember the correct answers to interview questions, though. An interview Question and Answer discussion can be very helpful to both these individuals.  It is simply a way to go back over the building blocks of a topic.  Many times a simple review like this will help “jog” your memory, and all those previously-memorized facts will come flooding back to you.  It is not a way to re-learn a topic, but a way to remind yourself of what you already know. A Question and Answer discussion can also be a way to go over old topics in a more interesting manner.  Especially if you have been working in the industry, or taking lots of classes on the topic, everything you read can sound like a repeat of what you already know.  Going over a topic in a new format can make the material seem fresh and interesting.  And an interested mind will be more engaged and remember more in the end. Interview Questions and Answers are Harmful A common argument against a Question and Answer discussion is that it will give someone a “cheat sheet.” A new guy with relatively little experience can read the interview questions and answers, and then memorize them. When an interviewer asks him the same questions, he will repeat the answers and get the job. Honestly, is he good hire because he memorized the interview questions? Wouldn’t it be better for the interviewer to hire someone with actual experience?  The answer is not as easy as it seems – there are many different factors to be considered. If the interviewer is asking fundamentals-related questions only, he gets the answers he wants to hear, and then hires this first candidate – there is a good chance that he is hiring based on personality rather than experience.  If the interviewer is smart he will ask deeper questions, have more than one person on the interview team, and interview a variety of candidates.  If one interviewee happens to memorize some answers, it usually doesn’t mean he will automatically get the job at the expense of more qualified candidates. Another argument against interview Question and Answers is that it will give candidates a false sense of confidence, and that they will appear more qualified than they are. Well, if that is true, it will not last after the first interview when the candidate is asked difficult questions and he cannot find the answers in the list of interview Questions and Answers.  Besides, confidence is one of the best things to walk into an interview with! In today’s competitive job market, there are often hundreds of candidates applying for the same position.  With so many applicants to choose from, interviewers must make decisions about who to call back and who to hire based on their gut feeling.  One drawback to reading an interview Question and Answer article is that you might sound very boring in your interview – saying the same thing as every single candidate, and parroting answers that sound like someone else wrote them for you – because they did.  However, it is definitely better to go to an interview prepared, just make sure that you give a lot of thought to your answers to make them sound like your own voice.  Remember that you will be hired based on your skills as well as your personality, so don’t think that having all the right answers will make get you hired.  A good interviewee will be prepared, confident, and know how to stand out. My Opinion A list of interview Questions and Answers is really helpful as a refresher or for beginners. To really ace an interview, one needs to have real-world, hands-on experience with SQL Server as well. Interview questions just serve as a starter or easy read for experienced professionals. When I have to learn new technology, I often search online for interview questions and get an idea about the breadth and depth of the technology. Next Action I am going to write about interview Questions and Answers for next 30 days. I have previously written a series of interview questions and answers; now I have re-written them keeping the latest version of SQL Server and current industry progress in mind. If you have faced interesting interview questions or situations, please write to me and I will publish them as a guest post. If you want me to add few more details, leave a comment and I will make sure that I do my best to accommodate. Tomorrow we will start the interview Questions and Answers series, with a few interesting stories, best practices and guest posts. We will have a prize give-away and other awards when the series ends. List of all the Interview Questions and Answers Series blogs Reference: Pinal Dave (http://blog.SQLAuthority.com) Filed under: Pinal Dave, PostADay, SQL, SQL Authority, SQL Interview Questions and Answers, SQL Query, SQL Server, SQL Tips and Tricks, T SQL, Technology

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• SQL Azure Reporting Limited CTP Arrived

  - by Shaun

  It’s about 3 months later when I registered the SQL Azure Reporting CTP on the Microsoft Connect after TechED 2010 China. Today when I checked my mailbox I found that the SQL Azure team had just accepted my request and sent the activation code over to me. So let’s have a look on the new SQL Azure Reporting.   Concept The SQL Azure Reporting provides cloud-based reporting as a service, built on SQL Server Reporting Services and SQL Azure technologies. Cloud-based reporting solutions such as SQL Azure Reporting provide many benefits, including rapid provisioning, cost-effective scalability, high availability, and reduced management overhead for report servers; and secure access, viewing, and management of reports. By using the SQL Azure Reporting service, we can do: Embed the Visual Studio Report Viewer ADO.NET Ajax control or Windows Form control to view the reports deployed on SQL Azure Reporting Service in our web or desktop application. Leverage the SQL Azure Reporting SOAP API to manage and retrieve the report content from any kinds of application. Use the SQL Azure Reporting Service Portal to navigate and view the reports deployed on the cloud. Since the SQL Azure Reporting was built based on the SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Service, we can use any tools we are familiar with, such as the SQL Server Integration Studio, Visual Studio Report Viewer. The SQL Azure Reporting Service runs as a remote SQL Server Reporting Service just on the cloud rather than on a server besides us.   Establish a New SQL Azure Reporting Let’s move to the windows azure deveploer portal and click the Reporting item from the left side navigation bar. If you don’t have the activation code you can click the Sign Up button to send a requirement to the Microsoft Connect. Since I already recieved the received code mail I clicked the Provision button. Then after agree the terms of the service I will select the subscription for where my SQL Azure Reporting CTP should be provisioned. In this case I selected my free Windows Azure Pass subscription. Then the final step, paste the activation code and enter the password of our SQL Azure Reporting Service. The user name of the SQL Azure Reporting will be generated by SQL Azure automatically. After a while the new SQL Azure Reporting Server will be shown on our developer portal. The Reporting Service URL and the user name will be shown as well. We can reset the password from the toolbar button.   Deploy Report to SQL Azure Reporting If you are familiar with SQL Server Reporting Service you will find this part will be very similar with what you know and what you did before. Firstly we open the SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio and create a new Report Server Project. Then we will create a shared data source where the report data will be retrieved from. This data source can be SQL Azure but we can use local SQL Server or other database if it opens the port up. In this case we use a SQL Azure database located in the same data center of our reporting service. In the Credentials tab page we entered the user name and password to this SQL Azure database. The SQL Azure Reporting CTP only available at the North US Data Center now so that the related SQL Server and hosted service might be better to select the same data center to avoid the external data transfer fee. Then we create a very simple report, just retrieve all records from a table named Members and have a table in the report to list them. In the data source selection step we choose the shared data source we created before, then enter the T-SQL to select all records from the Member table, then put all fields into the table columns. The report will be like this as following In order to deploy the report onto the SQL Azure Reporting Service we need to update the project property. Right click the project node from the solution explorer and select the property item. In the Target Server URL item we will specify the reporting server URL of our SQL Azure Reporting. We can go back to the developer portal and select the reporting node from the left side, then copy the Web Service URL and paste here. But notice that we need to append “/reportserver” after pasted. Then just click the Deploy menu item in the context menu of the project, the Visual Studio will compile the report and then upload to the reporting service accordingly. In this step we will be prompted to input the user name and password of our SQL Azure Reporting Service. We can get the user name from the developer portal, just next to the Web Service URL in the SQL Azure Reporting page. And the password is the one we specified when created the reporting service. After about one minute the report will be deployed succeed.   View the Report in Browser SQL Azure Reporting allows us to view the reports which deployed on the cloud from a standard browser. We copied the Web Service URL from the reporting service main page and appended “/reportserver” in HTTPS protocol then we will have the SQL Azure Reporting Service login page. After entered the user name and password of the SQL Azure Reporting Service we can see the directories and reports listed. Click the report will launch the Report Viewer to render the report.   View Report in a Web Role with the Report Viewer The ASP.NET and Windows Form Report Viewer works well with the SQL Azure Reporting Service as well. We can create a ASP.NET Web Role and added the Report Viewer control in the default page. What we need to change to the report viewer are Change the Processing Mode to Remote. Specify the Report Server URL under the Server Remote category to the URL of the SQL Azure Reporting Web Service URL with “/reportserver” appended. Specify the Report Path to the report which we want to display. The report name should NOT include the extension name. For example my report was in the SqlAzureReportingTest project and named MemberList.rdl then the report path should be /SqlAzureReportingTest/MemberList. And the next one is to specify the SQL Azure Reporting Credentials. We can use the following class to wrap the report server credential. 1: private class ReportServerCredentials : IReportServerCredentials 2: { 3: private string _userName; 4: private string _password; 5: private string _domain; 6:  7: public ReportServerCredentials(string userName, string password, string domain) 8: { 9: _userName = userName; 10: _password = password; 11: _domain = domain; 12: } 13:  14: public WindowsIdentity ImpersonationUser 15: { 16: get 17: { 18: return null; 19: } 20: } 21:  22: public ICredentials NetworkCredentials 23: { 24: get 25: { 26: return null; 27: } 28: } 29:  30: public bool GetFormsCredentials(out Cookie authCookie, out string user, out string password, out string authority) 31: { 32: authCookie = null; 33: user = _userName; 34: password = _password; 35: authority = _domain; 36: return true; 37: } 38: } And then in the Page_Load method, pass it to the report viewer. 1: protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) 2: { 3: ReportViewer1.ServerReport.ReportServerCredentials = new ReportServerCredentials( 4: "<user name>", 5: "<password>", 6: "<sql azure reporting web service url>"); 7: } Finally deploy it to Windows Azure and enjoy the report.   Summary In this post I introduced the SQL Azure Reporting CTP which had just available. Likes other features in Windows Azure, the SQL Azure Reporting is very similar with the SQL Server Reporting. As you can see in this post we can use the existing and familiar tools to build and deploy the reports and display them on a website. But the SQL Azure Reporting is just in the CTP stage which means It is free. There’s no support for it. Only available at the North US Data Center. You can get more information about the SQL Azure Reporting CTP from the links following SQL Azure Reporting Limited CTP at MSDN SQL Azure Reporting Samples at TechNet Wiki You can download the solutions and the projects used in this post here.   Hope this helps, Shaun All documents and related graphics, codes are provided "AS IS" without warranty of any kind. Copyright © Shaun Ziyan Xu. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons License.

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