Category Archives: Features

Using Vyatta Router device in HyperV (Part 1)

I run Windows 2008 Server HyperV so that I can deploy my primary SBS 2008 Server, and also to host various test servers. In testing another SBS server, you can set up a Virtual Private Network. However, one of the challenges is to expose this server to the live network to simulate a real world environment using a router.
 
Vyatta (www.vyatta.com) produces an Open Source network appliance which can be configured as a router to bridge the Virtual Private Network to the Live Network, thus creating a real life scenario for the test environment.
 
The main download for the product is Vyatta Core 6.0 LiveCD which can be downloaded here as an ISO – http://www.vyatta.com/downloads/swdl.php
All the documentation for the product can be found here – http://www.vyatta.com/downloads/docdl.php
 
I will blog shortly about how to set up the Router in a hyperV.

Office 2010 released

Office 2010 has been released. Information on the product and access to resources can be found at office.microsoft.com. A quick summary comparison of the 3 suite lines is as follows:
 
 
 
Additionally, there is an OEM only version of Office 2010 called Office 2010 Starter. This edition comes with reduced functionality Word and Excel 2010, and presents advertisements on screen. For more information on this – http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/starter/ 
 

Adding network locations to Windows7 Libraries on a SBS Domain

With the plethora of Windows 7 laptops and PCs connecting to the SBS networks, one of the new features – Libraries – is causing some problems. The issue is the inability to add a network location to the libraries unless the network location is cached using offline files. This caused some problems for me and for some of my clients. Perfectly normal 80GB-160GB hard drives were running out of space, due to the large amount of network information being cached. This also caused some slow network connection issues as the offline files were cached and maintained.
 
For SBS2003, the solution is solved by installing Windows Search 4.0 on the server. It is an automatic update, or can be manually downloaded here – http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/5/0/250db18d-30b9-4129-b2ce-282bc2f65c1f/WindowsSearch-KB940157-Srv2K3-x86-enu.exe
 
The Microsoft Search 4.0 product page can be found here – http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/default.mspx
 
For SBS2008, there was no option to install this, as it was not supported. There is another similar product from Microsoft called Microsoft Search Server Express, which works for Windows 2008 servers. DO NOT USE THIS on SBS2008, as it will cause issues, particularly with Sharepoint.
 
The solution for SBS2008 was provided in a recent blog by the SBS team – http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2010/04/05/find-items-faster-with-windows-search-and-libraries.aspx
Turns out that it was right under our noses all the time, but not switched on.

20 Windows 7 Shortcut Keys

From Desktop

  1. Windows Key + Tab = Aero [press Tab to cycle between Windows]
  2. Windows Key + E = Windows Explorer is launched.
  3. Windows Key + R = Run Command is launched.
  4. Windows Key + F = Search (which is there in previous Windows versions too)
  5. Windows Key + X = Mobility Center
  6. Windows Key + L = Lock Computer (It is there from the earlier versions as well)
  7. Windows Key + U = Ease of Access
  8. Windows Key + P = Projector
  9. Windows Key + T = Cycle Super Taskbar Items
  10. Windows Key + S = OneNote Screen Clipping Tool [requires OneNote]
  11. Windows Key + M = Minimize All Windows
  12. Windows Key + D = Show/Hide Desktop
  13. Windows Key + Up = Maximize Current Window
  14. Windows Key + Down = Restore Down / Minimize Current Windows
  15. Windows Key + Left = Tile Current Window to the Left
  16. Windows Key + Right = Tile Current Windows to the Right
    [Continue pressing the Left and Right keys to rotate the window as well]
  17. Windows Key + # = Quicklaunch
  18. Windows Key + = = Magnifier

From Windows Explorer

19. Alt + Up = Go up one level
20. Alt + Left/ Right = Back/ Forward

Tethering the iPhone for Telstra users

One of the features I missed when I switched over to the iPhone from Windows Mobile is the ability to use the phone as a modem. This is called tethering in the Apple circles. Apparently, the 3 and Vodafone networks have enabled this on their ipHones, but Telstra has yet to come to the party.
 
There is a way to enable this on your iPhone without a Jailbreak.
 
First, determine whether you are using the telstra.internet or telstra.iph APN (access point for the Carrier).
To do this, browse to Settings, General, Network, Cellular Data Network and view the APN setting.
   
 
 
 
Then, on the iPhone Safari Browser, got to one of the following links.
 
You will be asked to install a Profile called Enable Tethering.
 
After it is installed, browse back to Settings, General, Network and there will be a new item called Internet Tethering, This can now be turned on or off as required.

Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 7

UPDATE [8 APR 2011]: The RSAT Tools for Windows 7 SP1 has been released and can be downloaded here – http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=7d2f6ad7-656b-4313-a005-4e344e43997d
 
One of the most useful tools for administering a server from your desktop is the RSAT toolset, which are available via the MMC console. With these components, you can administer the AD, and various other components of the Server Manager Console via the workstation.
 
In Windows7, you have to install the RSAT tools to accomplish this task. KB974877 describes the tools, and provides a download link:
 
Once the tool has been installed, you need to enable them via the control panel, Programs and Features, Turn Windows features on or off.
 
Then, pick and choose the features you need.

 

Using Dual Monitors in Terminal Services with Remote Desktop

How to obtain dual monitor mode within Terminal Services when connecting with Remote Desktop.
 
The prerequisites are Remote Desktop Connection client version 6.0 or higher. Windows XP and 2003 users can obtain the client here – http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=6E1EC93D-BDBD-4983-92F7-479E088570AD&displaylang=en
Windows Vista and 2008 user already have this version.
 
Obviously, you would already have two or more monitors. Some rules are:
  • The monitors must be the same resolution
  • The total resolution must not exceed 4096 x 2048
  • The top left monitor must be primary
  • The monitors must be horizontally oriented

From the start menu, open a Run dialog. Type in mstsc /span /v:servername

Optionally, you can also use the /w:HorizontalResInPixels /h:VerticalResInPixels switches.

 

Accessing Folder Shares in OWA

Here’s a cool little gem I just found in Exchange 2007 in SBS2008.
 
You can access the server (or other servers) shared folders from OWA by enabling Remote File Servers in Exchange 2007.
 
1. Open up Exchange Management Console, Client Access, and Properties for Outlook Web Access.
 
2. In the Remote File Servers tab, Click on Allow, and add the file server name.
 
That’s it!
 
In Outlook Web Access, click on the Documents tab. Click on Open Location, then type in the file share location in the form of \\servername\sharename.
*** UPDATE August 2010. Unfortunately, Microsoft disables this feature in Exchange 2007 SP3, and also in Exchange 2010.
 

SBS 2008 Content Filter Updates

For the past month, I have received less than 10 emails in total. How did this happen? I used a combination of IMF Tune v4.1 for Exchange 2007 and TrendMicro Worry Free Business Security Advanced v5.1 beta with Anti Spam setting to medium.

This worked great until yesterday…. Then I started getting few spam messages continuing until today. I had a look to see if the Content Filtering Updates were happening and discovered a whole new world of working with what used to be called IMF in SBS 2003.

This is an excellent article which highlights the differences and how to make the necessary changes to update. http://www.exchangeinbox.com/article.aspx?i=123&t=5
However, I found that some of the steps had already been performed, probably by the tweaked version of Exchange 2007 that ships with SBS 2008.

The general steps are as follows:
1. Enable updates (should already be enabled in SBS2008). Go to Exchange Management Console – Server Configuration – Hub Transport. The action pane on the left shows either Enable Anti-spam updates or Disable Anti-spam updates. You can click and re click to toggle this. When enabling, set everything to Automatic.
2. Check to see that you have the latest update using the Exchange Management Shell. Use the command get-AntiSpamUpdates to check the installed version.
3. Go to Microsoft Updates to see if there is a newer version. You can also subscribe to the Exchange Server 2007 anti-spam RSS feed here – http://catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Search.aspx?q=exchange%20server%202007%20anti-spam

Windows 2008 Easy Print

Turns out that Windows 2008 Terminal Server Easy Print technology is not as easy after all. It is a great technology, but there are some things to watch out for.

Pre-requisites.
Requires Windows 2008 with TS Role (Duh!)
Also requires RDP v6.1 (which comes with Vista and XP Service Pack 3).
Also Requires .NET Framework v3.0 SP1 or later.

The technology states that it will automatically redirect print jobs via RDP to the local printers. Most of the time, it works great. However, I found out that it definitely does not work across Remote Web Workplace on SBS2003. It requires a direct connection via RDP. Normally, this is done through port 3389.

For more information – http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753853.aspx

*** UPDATE ***
Just found out that RDC v6.1 is available for Windows XP SP2.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6E1EC93D-BDBD-4983-92F7-479E088570AD&displaylang=en