Noel Alvarez

Distributed File System – Remove Orphaned Namespace

March 8, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Distributed File System File Services Microsoft Active Directory

The following is a step by step guide on removing an orphaned Distributed File System (DFS) namespace in a Microsoft Active Directory environment.

Open Active Directory Service Interfaces Editor (adsiedit.msc)
Connect to the Default naming context
Navigate to DC=domain,DC=com,CN=System,CN=Dfs-Configuration
Delete the object for the orphaned DFS namespace
Run repadmin /syncall (if you have more than one Microsoft Active Directory domain controller)

VMware vCenter Server 6.0 – Critical Services

March 4, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Services VMware vCenter Server 6.0 VMware vSphere 6.0

You may consider monitoring the following services if you utilize VMware vCenter Server 6.0 in your virtualized infrastructure.

1. VMware VirtualCenter Server (vpxd)
2. VMware Inventory Service (invsvc)
3. VMware vSphere Web Client (vspherewebclientsvc)

Enjoy!

VMware vCenter Server 6.0 – Installation and Configuration

March 4, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Virtualization VMware vCenter Server 6.0 VMware vSphere 6.0

The following is a step by step guide for installation VMware vCenter Server 6.0. This application is used for centralized management of your VMware vSphere infrastructure.

Additionally, this is a lab environment. Therefore, the Platform Services Controller (PSC) will be installed on the same host as VMware vCenter Server and the installation will utilize an embedded vPostgres database.

On the VMware vCenter Installer dialog box select vCenter Server for Windows and click Install.
On the Welcome to the VMware vCenter Server 6.0.0 Installer dialog box click Next >.
On the End User License Agreement dialog box click the check box to select I accept the terms of the license agreement and click Next >.
On the Select deployment type dialog box click the check box to select vCenter Server and Embedded Platform Services Controller and click Next >.
On the Select Network Name dialog box verify the hostname of the VMware vCenter Server is in the System Name: field and click Next >.
On the VMware vCenter Server dialog box select OK if you do not intend to use IPv6.
On the vCenter Single Sign-On Configuration dialog box click to check box to select Create a new vCenter Single Sign-On domain and enter the password in the vCenter Single Sign-On password: and Confirm password: fields then click Next >.
On the vCenter Server Service Account select the check box to Use Windows Local System Account or Specify a user service account and enter an account username and password then click Next >. In this example a Microsoft Active Directory service account is being used. If a service account is being used it will need to be provided the Log on as a service privilege.
On the Database Settings dialog box click to check box to Use an embedded database (vPostgres) then click Next >.
On the Configure Ports dialog box accept the default settings and click Next >.
On the Destination Directory dialog box accept the defaults and click Next >.
On the Ready to install dialog box review the installation settings and click Install.
On the Setup Completed dialog box click Finish.
Verify the vpxd, invsvc and vspherewebclientsvc services are configured with a Startup type: of Automatic and the Service status: is Running.
Using a web browser, in this example Google Chrome, navigate to the vSphere Web Client (https://HOSTNAME/vsphere-client). On the web interface select Advanced.
Under Your connection is not private select Proceed to vcenter01.root.sysadmin.net (unsafe).
On the vSphere Web Client enter the authentication credentials for [email protected] and click Login.
Upon successfully logging in you will be directed the home page of the VMware vSphere Web Client.

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 – Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Export and Import

March 4, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Microsoft Windows PowerShell Network

You may use the following commands to export and import a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) configuration for a server utilizing Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2.

netsh dhcp server dump > dhcpconfig.dmp
netsh exec dhcpconfig.dmp

Enjoy!

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 – Map a Network Drive

March 4, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Microsoft Windows PowerShell

You may use the following command to map a network drive using the Microsoft Command Prompt or Microsoft Windows PowerShell. Additionally, replace the <HOSTNAME> and <SHARE> variables with the appropriate server and share name.

NET — USE Z: \\<HOSTNAME>\<SHARE>

Enjoy!

Microsoft Windows PowerShell – Get Service Status and Start Service

March 3, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Microsoft Windows PowerShell Scripting Services

The Microsoft Windows PowerShell script below will provide the status of a service on the specified server, start the service, then provide the status of the service, again.

<#
.SYNOPSIS
This script will a service on the specified server.
.DESCRIPTION
This script automates the process of starting a service.
.EXAMPLE
N/A.
.AUTHOR
Written by Noel Enrique Alvarez on Thursday, March 03, 2016.
#>

#Request the hostname of the server and the name of the service
$SERVER = Read-Host “What is the hostname of the server?”
$SERVICE = Read-Host “What is the name of the service?”

#Request the status of the service
get-service -computername $SERVER | where-object {$_.name -eq “$SERVICE”}

#Pause for (5) seconds
Start-Sleep 5

#Start the service
get-service -name $SERVICE -computername $SERVER | set-service -status running

#Pause for (5) seconds
Start-Sleep 5

#Request the status of the service
get-service -computername $SERVER | where-object {$_.name -eq “$SERVICE”}

Dell Lifecycle Controller – AC Power Recovery Configuration

March 2, 2016 Noel Alvarez

BIOS Dell Lifecycle Controller Dell PowerEdge R630

You may use the Dell Lifecycle Controller to configure the AC Power Recovery setting for a Dell PowerEdge R630 server. While the server is booting up press F2 then navigate to System BIOS > System Security > AC Power Recovery > Off.

Microsoft Windows PowerShell – Get Service Status

March 2, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Microsoft Windows PowerShell Scripting

The Microsoft Windows PowerShell script below will provide the status of a service on the specified server.

<#
.SYNOPSIS
This script will provide the status of a service on the specified server.
.DESCRIPTION
This script automates the process for verifying the status of a service.
.EXAMPLE
N/A.
.AUTHOR
Written by Noel Enrique Alvarez on Tuesday, November 24, 2015.
#>
$SERVER = Read-Host “What is the hostname of the server?”
$SERVICE = Read-Host “What is the name of the service?”
get-service -computername $SERVER | where-object {$_.name -eq “$SERVICE”}

VMware ESXi 6.0 – Configuring Network Time Protocol

February 27, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Virtualization VMware ESXi 6.0

The following is a step by step guide on configuring Network Time Protocol (NTP) for a VMware ESXi 6.0 host.

Using the VMware vSphere Client enter the authentication credentials for the root account and click Login.
On the graphical user interface (GUI) of the VMware vSphere Client select Configuration.
Under the Software Menu select Time Configuration then click Properties.
In the Time Configuration dialog box click to check box for the NTP Client Enabled option. Then click Options….
In the NTP Daemon (ntpd) Options dialog box select NTP Settings and click Add….
In the Add NTP Server dialog box add the hostname or Internet Protocol (IP) address of an NTP server. Then, click OK.
In the NTP Daemon (ntpd) Options dialog box select the check box to Restart NTP service to apply changes. Then click OK.
In the Time Configuration dialog box click OK.
On the GUI of the VMware vSphere Client verify the NTP Client is Running.

VMware ESXi 6.0 – Configuring Name Resolution

February 25, 2016 Noel Alvarez

Virtualization VMware ESXi 6.0

The following is a step by step guide on configuring Domain Name System (DNS) resolution for a VMware ESXi 6.0 host.

Using the VMware vSphere Client enter the IP address or hostname of the VMware ESXi 6.0 host and enter the authentication credentials for the root user account and click Login.
In the Security Warning dialog box select the check box to Install this certificate and do not display any secure warnings for “hostname“ then select Ignore.
On the graphical user interface (GUI) of the VMware vSphere Client select Configuration > DNS and Routing. Then, select Properties.
In the DNS and Routing Configuration dialog box enter the Name:, Domain:, Preferred DNS server: and domain name then click OK.
In the Gateway Not Specified dialog box click Yes.
On the GUI of the VMware vSphere Client verify that the DNS configuration is correct.