Work

DFS On Windows 2000

by

I am wondering if anyone out on the internet has had issues with Microsoft’s Distributed File System (DFS) and Windows 2000 Servers as the client for DFS? We have several developers who use Windows 2000 Server as their desktop so they can develop our website. We moved to a new file server last week and when we moved the DFS to Windows 2003, we notice very slow response time browsing the DFS from a Windows 2000 Server. Our Windows XP Pro clients are fine. Only 2000 Servers. The DFS is now hosted on a Windows 2003 box. The old DFS we had was on a 2000 box. I wonder if that is the problem? I have to google the issue. Right now I am away from the internet so I figured I would think about the issue for a while. It is a minor problem, but when I am on the train away from everyone I try to figure out the stupid little issues that I can’t think about at work.

I will leave comments open in case someone has a thought.

In The Pool Monday, And Some Work

by

Monday Jayson came over and we moved lots of data around at work. We finished moving all user data off of a file server. To do this we had to replicate it to another server. I did that earlier in the week. Then we had to disable all network accounts so we could, refresh any files that have been changed since. To do this we needed no one logged into the system so we didn’t get any files locked. Once that was done we manually went in and changed each users home and roaming profile directories. Once that was changed we tested the changes and enabled all the accounts.

We will keep the old data and the old file server around for a week or so in order to make sure we have no issues with the change over. We have been using the new server for a few weeks with other data on it, so I am not that worried. You can’t be too careful with other people’s data.

Once the work was done, John and Dave came over and we all went to the pool in my building. We hung out there for a while and then went out to eat at the outback. Mmm, Outback. I haven’t gone there two days in a row in ages. Can’t do that too often, but once in a while is nice. I didn’t even order a meal. I got stuffed on appetizers. It was great.

Dave, John, & Jayson went back to John’s to play halo. I had to do my laundry and my cold was making me feel like crap so I stayed away from a late night of blowing stuff up.

Monday was productive and fun at the same time. Well not at the same time, but it was productive for some of the day and fun the other part:)

Migration’s And Other Work

by

Sunday I spent most of the day working. I focused my time on two things that would never get done if I was in the office. I finished updating and compiling a database of every employee, their email addres, and what email groups they are on. I also decided to join that db with one I was making with every employee’s phone numbers. It went from an email and seperate phone db, to a Employee contact db of sorts. I still have a separate db for the Defined phone systems ports and their corresponding floor ports in NYC. That took most of the day Friday to get information on.

Next on my list of to do’s was to migrate more data to our new file server. We were quickly running out of space on our old one so we got a new disk array on another server. I am moving all the data off the old one, so I can rebuild it and clean it up. Then I can put some data back on the original box, and distribute our files between the two file servers.

Since our DFS(MIcrosoft Distributed File System) share was on the original box that I want to get rid of, I had to create a new DFS share on another box. Then I pointed all our alias’ back to the original server. I then updated the login scripts for everyone to map to the new DFS share.

Once that was done I replicated all package (where we keep our install files to applications we use), and group (team shares that people use to colaberate with) directories to the new server. Once the group shares were mirrored, I went one by one and changed the alias’ in the DFS to point to the new server. I still have one or two shares going to the old box because I had some questions I still needed answered.

Now I have two of the 4 major shares moved off the old server. The next two are the most time intensive to move. Users home directories and the roaming profile shares. Each of those have to be modified in active directory so it takes time to move users. It is easy to copy the data, but hard to move 60 users or so. That project will be next week, maybe.

jayson also moved most applicatons off of another app server. We want to rebuild it so we can put Project 2003 server on it. We have to upgrade that box to Windows 2003 server first. Jay got Norton AV, and Ghost off of it. I moved most of Whatsup, but I need to verify I got everything before we blow the old box away. I hope to get that started early this week. Gus has been asking about project server.

Remote Agents And Terminal Server

by

While I was awake and not sleeping last night, I thought about my remote agent design issues. Currently we have schematics of different electronic and home appliance parts on CD’s we use to look up stuff. The problem is they take up a huge amount of drive space. We get updates every month that need to be added to the existing data. This is fine when a computer is on our network, we just run the update from our file server. What do you do when you have remote computers over a VPN WAN link trying to get the same update? Pushing out 500 megs to 2 users is possible, but what about 20, or 200? It becomes unfeasible due to bandwidth limitations.

One option is to not give the remote agents this software, but they rely on it. My thoughts then turned to Terminal Services. What if all the updates are on the central server, and users just connected to the server via terminal services. That way I don’t have to worry about anything on the local machine except for an IP address and terminal client working.

This is contingent on our phone control software working with Terminal Services. I believe it does, but an answer to that question is easy enough to get.

The next problem is cisco soft phone. I doubt it would work through terminal services. We may need to go with a physical cisco IP phone at a person’s house. It adds cost per user, but it may be necessary. Also going with a hardware VPN solution is looking better than a software solution. If anything goes wrong with the remote computer we would be responsible to manage it. We cannot troubleshoot software issues like vpn over the phone, and we are not equipped to send someone onsite to fix problems like that.

A hardware VPN device that we can remote into and verify it is working, along with terminal services is looking like a good solution. it is not the cheapest but maybe the most feasible. We would require someone to have their own computer, and all they would need to put on it is terminal client. That takes 5 minutes to setup. Wire up a VPN router from cisco or linksys plug in a phone and they are up and running.

Now all I have to do is sell everyone on the solution and make sure it works from a technical standpoint.

, , , ,

Gus Back From India

by

My boss is back from his trip to india. My vacation is over:) Just kidding. The work doesn’t really change, but stress level does when he returns. At least he looks rested and relaxed from his trip.

We hit the ground running with a bunch of new projects he wants me to look into. One involves a new beefy Linux Server. We will probably use Suse 9.0 for this deployment. Also on the plate is Project 2003 server. Jayson and I have kicked around the idea since he got here, but now we see a real business use for it, so we will push ahead with it.

We are also pondering remote agents again. We think we can use the remote agent’s to get french reps in NYC to connect to Kingston. This may or may not allow us to free up space in NYC. The office is getting crowded again.

All this on top of the 4 new sites we are building out, and the new server deployments in our data center, and the major office move of users thursday and friday. It will be a fun week.

Virus’s At Work

by

If you read the news you must hear about all the worms and other “bad things” spreading through the internet. My company has been diligent in attempting to prevent these things from infecting our computers. We have not been 100% protected, but from what I have seen we are way ahead of the curve in protecting ourselves.

I have seen lots of virus alerts from our virus scanning system. Thankfully, it is able to deal with whatever comes up. Also important is the Windows Update server. That thing is a life saver. I don’t know if we would have been able to install all these updates on all of our desktops without it. We need to goto the next level and get an SMS or ZEN type system next.

I have never been a huge fan of Novel, but they have caught my curiosity. What they are doing with Suse keeps me interested. Also that their directory services work on Windows is also cool. All that and ZEN Works is much better than SMS, or that has been my practical experience. I don’t know how SMS 2004 holds up. I keep telling myself that my company is a windows shop, we don’t want Novell. The other side of my brain is saying “you know Novell is better, give it a try”. For now I am ignoring that side of the brain. I would like to get a demo of Novell and give it a test drive. When (if) things ever settle down enough that I can try that, I will. Novell NDS, running on Suse linux. Now that would be really nice, if it worked as easy as the old novell used to!!!

Projects

by

I am now short handed in NYC. Ironically I fill a slot in one location a slot opens up in another locoation. The hunt is on for a new support guy. Until that happens allot of projects are being put on hold. Or at least their completion date is on hold. Yesterday’s workload was not bad, but it was the calm before the storm.

I finally got my server to build the new FTP system. That is on hold until I can find the time to work on it.

Our upgrade to the notification system is on hold since I won’t have time to do the documentation or the work on it for the short term. The list goes on and on.

This blog entry was written while listening to Bed of roses from the album “Keep The Faith” by Bon Jovi

Friday Softball

by

Friday was my companies first softball game. We got cool new jersey’s this season. I am again my lucky #3. It was an interesting game. I of course didn’t play, but I went to watch. If last year is any indication, in the beginning everyone wants to play softball. After a few games you get less and less people showing up. I think the sign up sheet had almost 40 people wanting to play. With that kind of turn out I don’t want to play. Not that into it, and I figure I would let others play that wanted to. I got a jersey in case they need players later when everyone doesn’t want to go to games. Either way it is fun to watch. We won 16 to 15. It was an interesting game.

Before the game Cari, Dari, & I went to dan’s to give him a gift basket. He has been out due to back surgery so he welcomed the company, even if it was for 5 minutes. We surprised him at his apartment. It wasn’t a good idea. He couldn’t get up to buzz us in, and his dad (who is staying with him after surgery) was out walking the dog. We had to wait till his dad got back before we could get into the apartment.

After the game we went to a bar near the field. We had a few drinks and pizza on Glenn our CEO. He played first base. It was cool of him to treat us.

Weekend Update

by

I have mostly kicked my cold. I have a slight cough and runny noise but otherwise I feel much better. Of course Alison is sick now. Also Keith called yesterday and he is not coming in today because of a fever. I have (or someone else has) successfully passed on the bug.

Last night my family went to Peter Lugar’s. As usual it was a fantastic steak. I think morgan liked the bread and water more though! What does she know, she is 1. I had the steak for 2 with my brother in law. It was dam good. I even made room for desert. Cheese cake. It was good too.

Unfortunately I had to take migraine medication both Saturday & Sunday. Saturday a mild head ache was dogging me all day. By the evening I took the drugs because I felt it might deteriorate quick. That is the big fear, so I took some Furiset.

Sunday I took the meds because I wasn’t sure if I was getting one but I wanted to be ok for dinner. I didn’t want to have to cancel twice for my birthday dinner. Normally I wait too long and the drugs are less effective, today I probably took them too soon. Sometimes I feel like I am always medicating. Then I think about a really bad migraine that I have had, and I realize I don’t care if it will prevent even one of those from happening.

Sunday I got some, but not allot of work done. Instead I cleaned up my apartment. I also cleaned out my closet. I got rid of some old clothes or stuff I don’t ever wear. Then of course I went on line and got some new stuff. I spent more than I would have liked at LL Bean. I am finding I like that store allot.

OK, maybe being over the cold was a premature statement. As I sit on the train writing this I am coughing like crazy. I wont speak about being better again. That way I won’t jinx myself.

I cleaned off allot of shows on my Tivo. I got through a big backlog of stuff that I haven’t watched. I still have loads of crap on it but the recent stuff that I wanted to see is taken care of. I love getting a weekend to just sit and veg out.

Travel Time

by

As of right now I am planning a trip to our Kingston office for tomorrow and possibly friday. I say as of right now, because I say that allot and things sometimes change on their own.

I have to go and interview candidates for a helpdesk position we are trying to fill up there. Also have other work that needs to get done up there. We are in the middle of planning a new software build for all our desktops. We are also going to revise our security policy for users also. you have to be exact when doing this stuff or you get 80 users who cannot do anything because their security profile is messed up.

More news tomorrow if I do end up going…