Monthly Archives: July 2012

Featured, Fixes, SBS 2011

Fixing the Black Screen of Death (KSOD) on SBS 2011

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This weekend, an IT reseller contacted me with a problem they had. After the RAID controlled failed on a SBS2011 Standard, they receovered the server from the SBS Backup using the Bare Metal Recovery (BMR) process. After the server was restored, they booted the system and encountered the Black Screen of Death (KSOD). This is a condition where the system boots up and nothing comes up on the screen except a black screen with a mouse pointer. Nothing else can be done to the server, and no amount of waiting will get this server to carry forward in the boot process.

It turns out that there is a known condition that causes this severe problem. In the migration process from SBS2003, the reseller installed the NTBackup Restore Utility for WIndows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 utility. This utility allows a user to read and restore a backup set created by the NTBACKUP utility in Windows Server 2003 on a 2008 R2 server. The problem occurs when the user does not uninstall this utility after they have finished restoring the backups. In this condition, all server 2008 R2 backups (yes, including those done in SBS 2011, or any backup that uses the WBEM engine) will be corrupt, and will cause this condition when performing a BMR restore.

The reason for this is that a specific folder is ommitted from the backups – c:\Windows\Registration – if this condition exists.

This condition is now noted in Update Rollup 3 for SBS 2011 – http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2012/06/13/update-rollup-3-for-wssg-bpa-is-now-available-via-microsoft-updates-along-with-its-installation-tool.aspx

The simple fix for this is as follows:

  1. Copy the contents of C:\Windows\Registration from a working SBS2011 server
  2. Boot into the Windows Repair/Recovery mode using SBS2011 Disc 1
  3. Open up a command prompt and browse to C:\Windows\Registration
  4. Copy the files (from a USB drive or something) over to the server

The server should now boot up.

 

Features, Server Essentials, SBS

Windows Server 2012 Essentials – First Looks Part 2

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In the previous post, we had a look at the start up screens for Windows Server 2012 Essentials. In this post, we’ll have a cursory view of the new Dashboard. It is similar to SBS 2011 Essentials, with some new additions and features.

The main dashboard screen shows a much improved Home screen with clear steps and links to various functions. The wizards actually work and bring up various wizard applets to configure the various functions.
 Two email options are available. These wizards will enable an administrator configure connectivity to Office 365 in the cloud, or to a local Exchange Server. The release documentation also points to the possibility of integrating the server to a Hosted Exchange service, although this is not yet available in the beta.
 A new service is also being trialled. Microsoft Online Backup Service (http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831419) is a cloud based storage service to provide file and folder backups from the server to Windows Azure Online Backup.
 The Quick Status screen provides a quick overview of the server configuration.
 The Help screen provides an online search function as well as links to the relevant resources.
 The Users tab has not changed much and is very similar to SBS 2011 Essentials. Administrators are now grouped separately to standard users.
 Computers and Backup in SBS 2011 Essentials is now called the Devices tab. A link to the Microsoft Online Backup Service is available here, as well as a link to the Best Practice Analyzer. It is also worth noting that Group Policy implementation is now built in to the server dashboard.
 Server Folders and Hard Drives in SBS 2011 Essentials has now been shortened to become the Storage tab. The Server Folders section provides options for managing shares on the server. The major improvement on the Hard Drives section pertains to the new Management of Storage Spaces (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831739)
 The Applications tab lists the various Add-ins which may be installed. A section called Microsoft Pinpoint provides access to the market place for Windows Server 2012 Essentials and helps administrators find useful Add-ins for the server.
 In the server Settings section, general server configurations can be changed.
 The Media settings section allows administrators to configure the server as a Media server, which was a popular feature of Windows Home Server.
 The Anywhere Access section allows administrators to configure Remote Web Access functionality and set up a personalized Microsoft domain name for external access to the server.
 Finally, the Alert Viewer provides a list of informational messages, Warnings, and Critical notifications regarding the server and connected devices.

The beta is now available on MSDN, and is also be available as a public download here – http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30327

 

Featured, Features, Server Essentials, SBS

Windows Server 2012 Essentials – First Looks Part 1

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Here is a brief look at the new Windows Server 2012 Essentials Release Candidate. Note that while this is a Release Candidate version, some items may change before the final release. The server is running as a virtual machine in Windows Server 2012 RC on an ASUS laptop.

The boot up proess is similar to Windows Server 2012, as it is based on the same underlying operating system.

The login prompts are also similar to Windows Server 2012, and have the Metro interface.
After pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL
The initial Start experience is Metro with icons to common Server administrative tools. The Dashboad app is conspicously missing from this view, and hopefully it will be added in the final release.
Dropping down to the desktop reveals that missing Dashboard shortcut. Functionality is the same as with Windows Server 2012.
Opening the Dashboard reveals a new look Metro interface with similar functionality to Small Business Server 2011 Essentials.

We’ll have a look at the new Dashboard in the next post. Stay tuned.

 

Features, General, Server Essentials, SBS

Let’s learn a new word for Windows Server 2012 Essentials – Transmog

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There is a word that will crop up more, now that Windows Server 2012 Essentials has been announced. This word is Transmog. What does it mean?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Transmogrify (verb) as “to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect.” The Oxford dictionary defines this word as “transform in a surprising or magical manner.”

This word may also crop up in various incorrectly spelt forms like Transmorg or Transmorgify.

The gist of this word when applied to Windows Server 2012 Essentials is the process of transitioning Server 2012 Essentials into Server 2012 Standard, and move past the 25 user limit. In a sense, this is the old Transition Pack for SBS 2003 (http://bit.ly/Mhttle) revived. Using the Tranmog process, a customer will be able to perform an in place upgrade of their Server 2012 Essentials into Server 2012 Standard, thus bypassing the 25 user limitation. The majority of Server 2012 Essentials function like Remote Web Access and Client Backups will continue to operate and be fully supported up to 75 users and 75 devices. Mind you, the transmogrification process will allow more than 75 users and devices, but support for the Essentials components will not be available on larger numbers of clients and devices.

While this feature/process has been announced, there is no pricing announced. One would imagine that the cost would be roughly the same or more than the cost to move from Windows Server 2012 Essentials to Windows Server 2012 Standard with 25 CALs. For more information on how do perform this process, see this post – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj247582

 

 

 

General, Server Essentials, SBS

What’s next after SBS?

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The announcement of Microsoft’s new lineup of server products, omitting the Small Business Server name has created a lot of buzz in small business circles.

Microsoft’s stance is that they have consolidated the disparate existence of 4 product skus and have consolidated them into a single sku called Essentials. With this consolidation, they have also removed two major components that were “non standard” in terms of the way these products were installed in SBS when compared with their intended usage within larger organisations. The two products, Exchange and Sharepoint, were addressed by the provision of options to install on separate virtual servers, or to integrate with Cloud based hosted versions of these platforms. With the introduction of a process/feature called Transmorg, the 25 user limit within Windows Server 2012 Essentials can be unlocked while keeping the “SBS” bits like Remote Web Access and Client Backups (previously not available in SBS Standard). However, there are supported limits to how many clients can be backed up, which has been set at 75. Additionally, new features of Windows Server 2012 are readily available in Essentials, particularly Storage Spaces, File History and Application Compatibility.

This is the Microsoft line and message they want to convey to the community.

On the other hand, there are a LOT of partners who are unhappy with the decision to discontinue the SBS brand name. The main concern that many partners have is that Microsoft are pushing customers to the cloud and are cutting the middle man from the equation. Indeed, this has been a prominent theme in many discussions. Many others are disillusioned by the way in which Microsoft have made these decisions without much regard or consultation with the small business community at large. Indeed, other factors like the discontinuation of the Small Business Specialist Competency in favour of more expensive and technically challenging Small Business Silver and Gold Competencies plus the removal of Software Assurance on SBS products after August 2012 were seen as more “aggression” from Microsoft as the organisation does not care for the community.

However, in the end, all that matters is that Microsoft will continue to do business as they see fit in order to provide the optimum outcome for their shareholders. If they choose to do this without the support of their small business reseller community, then that is the strategic decision that they have made and will have to live (or die) by. The community, on the other hand, must recognise that the business environment is constantly changing and that one must adapt with the general business sentiment or risk being swept aside and be irrelevant if they are resistant to change.

One factor that appears to have been missed in the emotion of this frenzy is the need of the small business customer. What does the business owner want? What motivates them to reach into their pockets to shell out money for IT? Who do they trust to provide them with technology that will enhance their operations and profitability?

Will YOU be that trusted advisor?

 

General, SBS 2011, Server Essentials, SBS

Goodbye SBS, Hello WSE?

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What’s in a name? What are we going to call this new operating system that takes over from SBS? Microsoft have called this Windows Server 2012 Essentials. Basically, it is following on from the same line as SBS 2011 Essentials. So what is in this product? Have a look here for the Windows Server 2012 Essentials FAQ – http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=257790

Among the features are:

  • Operating system built on Windows Server 2012. The vast majority of features avaailable in Windows Server 2012 will be available here with some minor limitations, as has been previous implemented in SBS.
  • Users are limited to 25 as with SBS 2011 Essentials.
  • End-to-end Integrated Setup as with SBS Essentials to ensure a good out-of-the-box outcome.
  • The new Storage Spaces feature will allow flexibility in aggregating physical storage across a number of storage devices to create “RAID” like volumes. Think about the features of Drive Extender from Whindows Home Server v1.
  • Anywhere Access provides a refreshed Remote Web Access interface that will allow easier access to applications and data from almost any device.
  • With Direct Access, setting up a secure VPN becomes painless and almost transparent.
  • Health Monitoring continues on from SBS and provides the health status of the server and client computers.
  • Integration with cloud technologies becomes simpler with Add-ins and components designed to help set up a connection to on-premises Exchange server, or hosted solutions in the cloud like Office365.
  • Extensibility via Add-In modules continue on as with SBS Essentials and Windows Home Server to make the platform customisable and easier to manage.

What about the other flavours of Windows servers that were built on the same platform as SBS 2011 Essentials?

  • Windows Home Server 2011 will be the last version. This product will be integrated into the Windows Server 2011 Essentials line.
  • Windows Multipoint Server 2011. This product will be upgraded to a new version in line with Windows Server 2012. It will be similar to the relationship between the 2011 products.
  • Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials. At this time, there is no indication that the product will be continued in the same form. One can only hope that it is refreshed.

In the coming few posts, I will look at what this means for the small business community, and examine the various reactions from different industry groups. Stay tuned and subscribe to the RSS feed!

Featured, SBS 2003, SBS 2008, SBS 2011, Server 2003, Server 2008, Server 2008 R2, Server 2012, Server Essentials, SBS

Goodbye SBS!

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Microsoft announced today the next release of their Windows Server operating systems, and thus ended the branding and name Small Business Server. Read the announcement here – http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2012/07/05/windows-small-business-server-essentials-becomes-windows-server-2012-essentials.aspx. Also check out the new line up for Windows Server 2012 here – http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/2012-editions.aspx.

Here is a brief history of SBS. Google “Small Business Server” for more information on this.

  • 22 Oct 1997. BackOffice Small Business Server 4.0 is introduced, based on Windows NT Server 4.0 SP3. Allowed 25 client licenses.
  • 24 May 1999. BackOffice Small Business Server 4.5 is released, based on Windows NT Server 4.0 SP4. Allowed 50 client licenses.
  • 21 Feb 2001. Microsoft Small Business Server 2000 is released, based on Windows 2000 Server. Allowed 50 client licenses.
  • 9 Oct 2003. Windows Small Business Server 2003 is released, based on Windows Server 2003. Allowed 75 client licenses.
  • 29 July 2006. Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2 is released, based on Windows Server 2003. The main updates here included the introduction of Windows Server Update Services and expansion of the 18GB Exchange database limit to 75GB.
  • 21 Aug 2008. Windows Small Business Server 2008 is released, based on Windows Server 2008. Allowed 75 client licenses, and introduced a new Console for administration and management.
  • 13 Dec 2010. Windows Small Business Server 2011 is released, based on Windows Server 2008 R2. The product was split into a Standard and Essentials version, where the standard version carried forward the 75 client license limit as seen in past releases. The new Essentials version was introduced from the Windows Home Server codebase and included 25 client licenses built in.
  • late 2012/early 2013 (estimate). Windows Server 2012 Essentials will be released, based on Windows Server 2012. Includes 25 client licenses.

With the introduction of Windows Server 2012 Essentials, the Small Business Server brand name will be lost. Here are some screenshots of the administration console as it developed in SBS2000, SBS2003, SBS2008, SBS2011 Standard and Essentials.

For more information on Small Business Server features, go to www.microsoft.com/sbs. SBS2011 is available right now. This is your last chance to get a fully integrated server for small business which integrates on premise Email, collaboration, update services, remote web access gateway, and much more.