Category: Tools

File Replication Service Diagnostics Tool

FRSDiag provides a graphical interface to help troubleshoot and diagnose problems with the File Replication Service (FRS). FRS is used to replicate files and folders in the SYSVOL file share on domain controllers and files in Distributed File System (DFS) targets. FRSDiag helps to gather snap-shot information about the service, perform automated tests against that data, and compile an overview of possible problems that may exist in the environment.

You can download the tool from the Microsoft download page here.

 

Virtual Machine Topology Generator

VMT can build a series of Virtual Machines, including inner VM automation, based on a defined XML file. This XML file is easy to customize to your own particular configuration. This is very useful in education lab, test lab, or demonstration environments.

You can download this tool here at the Microsoft script repository.

Windows Server Solutions Best Practices Analyzer 1.0

Windows Server Solutions Best Practices Analyzer 1.0 (Windows Server Solutions BPA) is a diagnostic tool that is built on the Microsoft Baseline Configuration Analyzer (MBCA) technology. Windows Server Solutions BPA scans a computer that is running the Windows server solutions software, and compares the existing server settings to a predefined set of recommended best practices.
Windows Server Solutions BPA performs the following tasks:

  • Gathers information about a server that is running Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials, or Windows Multipoint Server 2011
  • Determines if the server settings comply with a set of best practices that are recommended by Microsoft
  • Provides a report of the scan results, which identifies variances from the recommended best practices
  • Identifies conditions that may lead to problems with the server
  • Recommends solutions to potential problems

You can download the BPA here at the Microsoft download center.

Download the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter RC

Microsoft has released version 1.0 RC for their Virtual Machine Converter v1.0 tool. You can download it and provide feedback here.

New in the Release Candidate

In addition to the capabilities delivered as part of the Beta release, the Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter release candidate:

  • Converts and deploys virtual machines from VMware hosts to Hyper-V hosts running:
    • Windows Server® 2012 Release Candidate
    • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 Release Candidate
  • Adds virtual network interface cards (NICs) to the converted virtual machine on Hyper-V.
  • Configures dynamic memory on the converted virtual machine.
  • Supports migration of virtual machines that are hosted on a vSphere cluster.
  • Supports migration of virtual machines to a Hyper-V host that is part of a failover cluster.
  • Enables Microsoft partners to cobrand the tool so that it incorporates their logos.

About This Solution Accelerator

The Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter (MVMC) provides a Microsoft-supported, freely available, standalone solution for converting VMware virtual machines (VMs) and VMware virtual disks (VMDKs) to Hyper-V virtual machines and Hyper-V virtual hard disks (VHDs). MVMC supports converting virtual machines using the following guest operating systems:

  • Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2
  • Windows Server 2003 R2 with Service Pack 2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Vista

System Requirements

The Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter converts VMware virtual machines created with:

  • VMware vSphere 4.1
  • VMware vSphere 5.0

To virtual machines for:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Hyper-V
  • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 SP1
  • Windows Server® 2012 Release Candidate
  • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 Release Candidate

Details

The Microsoft Virtual Machine Converter:

  • Provides a quick, low-risk option for VMware customers to evaluate Hyper-V
  • Converts the virtual disks and the VMware VMs configuration, such as memory, virtual processor, and other machine settings from the source
  • Uninstalls the VMware tools on the source VM and installs the Hyper-V Integration Services as appropriate
  • Includes an easy-to-use wizard-driven GUI simplifying VM conversion
  • Supports offline conversions of VMware virtual hard disks (VMDK) to a Hyper-V based virtual hard disk file format (VHD)
  • Includes a scriptable Command Line Interfaces (CLI) for performing machine conversion and offline disk conversion which integrates with datacenter automation workflows, such as those authored and executed within System Center Orchestrator. The command line can also be invoked through PowerShell.

5 favorite Sysinternal tools

Hi guys,

Here’s a top 5 of Sysinternal tools which you can’t live without in admin land.

1: PsList and PsKill

I listed these together because I typically use them in this order. The goal here is to see processes on a machine — with PsList, I find the process ID, and then I use PsKill to terminate the process.

There are quite a few ways to return information with PsList, and the best part is that it works on local and remote machines. PsKill works similarly to PsList except it is used to terminate processes by process ID.

2: Process Explorer Continue reading “5 favorite Sysinternal tools”

File Server Capacity Tool v1.2- (64 bit)

Hi guys,

While surfing the net I found a nice tool that I didn’t want to keep from you. It is called File Server Capacity Tool v1.2- (64 bit). You can download it here and a description is found below.

Description:
File server capacity planning and performance troubleshooting are critical aspects of high-level network administration. File server capacity planning tools can be valuable in choosing new hardware for purchase, identifying the capacity of existing hardware, locating existing bottlenecks, Continue reading “File Server Capacity Tool v1.2- (64 bit)”

reset Dell RAC card

Hi guys,

I’m at my customer and they needed the Dell Remote Access Card reset and a user added. Because of the need to do it straight away the server could not be rebooted. So I used the racadm tool to configure the DRAC NIC and add a user. Here’s how i did it.

Open the command line and go to the RAC directory. Usually it is something like this:

“C:Program FilesDellSysMgtRACx>”

Then give the following command (with a little time between the commands, otherwise the DRAC will give back errors): Continue reading “reset Dell RAC card”

SMS Trace program (also used with SCCM 2007)

Hi Guys,

I’m installing and playing with all the features of SCCM now and at work we are also busy with implementing SCCM 2007 for OS Deployment and thanks to a Microsoft engineer I’m now using the SMS Trace program for viewing the logs.

Here’s a quick how to download and install this great tool. Continue reading “SMS Trace program (also used with SCCM 2007)”

MAP 6.0 beta

Microsoft has released the beta for the Microsoft Assessment and Planning toolkit version 6. You have to register with the Microsoft Connect site to be able to download this program and documentation but it is worth it. Here are some of the new features in this version:  Continue reading “MAP 6.0 beta”