April 2008 Archives

Pretty smooth and simple really...

Reference:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288716.aspx

All I had to do was...

Backup:
cd %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft shared\Web server extensions\12\Bin

stsadm -o backup -url http://sourceserver:port -filename backupfilename

Restore:
cd %COMMONPROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft shared\Web server extensions\12\Bin

stsadm -o restore -url http://destinationserver:port -filename c:\temp\backupfilename

Notes:

• In my case, I moved the site collection from one farm in one domain, to another farm in another domain. So, the Site Collection Administrators defined were bogus and I had to change them, in order to gain access to the site, but that was easily done in Central Administration (Site Collection Administrators)


• As well, I needed to install a feature that was in one MOSS install to the other and had a really clearly defined error about the feature 'missing' but that was easily fixed by deploying that solution to the new MOSS installed too

Powered by www.itgroove.net

Sponsored by Major Change (.com) - The Online Change Register

Ran into this today, with a few variances on the fixes, so thought I'd bookmark them.

Basically, we've been getting this error (or variations) when trying to do a full crawl (or incrementals):

this crawl has been paused by the search system

Appears as though, SQL Database Maintenance Plans are to blame, as is outlined below:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930887/en-us

and...

http://www.21apps.com/2007/07/sql-maintenance-plans-and-moss-give-100.html

and here...

http://blogs.vertigo.com/personal/michael/Blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=4

The last one is the most informative...

Also, this popup occurred around the same time "This crawl has been paused by the search system while a new query server is added. After the new query service is online, the crawl will be resumed" when trying to start a full crawl, but this seems to be related to the Search/Indexing Share being turned off (someone configured Office Search incorrectly).

Powered by www.itgroove.net

Sponsored by Major Change (.com) - The Online Change Register

I needed to restore a site collection, so I found this resource and felt the need to book mark it.

Restore Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 by using the Stsadm command-line tool

Migrate Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 by using the Stsadm command-line tool

Powered by www.itgroove.net

Sponsored by Major Change (.com) - The Online Change Register

On my to do list to check this out and install it, but for now, here's a bookmark for you (and me) for a free IP Scanner:

Angry IP Scanner

Ya, We Know. Gross.

Actually, 'eating your own dog food' is an industry term (the geek industry, of course) for testing a (technology) product on yourself, before releasing it to your customers.
itgroove "chewed the Alpo" on our new website - www.itgroove.net - and we are pleased to announce that in no time whatsoever, we moved all of our cumbersome, techy content that we have accumulated over the years right into our new Content Management Solution (CMS) - and we think it looks great!

As you may recall from last week, a CMS allows you to update your website, without the need of complex coding knowledge, from wherever you might be sitting (you simply login to your CMS website and update your content as and when you wish). In addition, this new website, as it is database and standards driven, will work on your cell phone and Google likes it (and index it, so people can find your business).

In addition to showing off our new look, we hope you take the time to explore our new focus on 'Business Technology Solutions'. It was time for a change, and while we used to label ourselves 'Your Trusted IT Advisor' (and we still are), that slogan just simply did not do our abilities and service offering justice. With solutions like CMS, itGuardian (we watch your technology for you) and our laser beam focus on the coolest platform ever, Microsoft SharePoint, it was time to revamp our corporate message and website.

Please check out our new website at your convenience @ www.itgroove.net.

And, if you have any questions about SharePoint or want to see our CMS solution in action, just give us a ring at 250.220.4575.

Powered by www.itgroove.net

Sponsored by Major Change (.com) - The Online Change Register

Got this?

CGI Error
The specified CGI application misbehaved by not returning a complete set of HTTP headers.

You probably turned on 'Search Engine Friendly URL's in your Global Configuration. My webhost (Crystaltech) uses IIS for the webhost, and this setting doesn't work on IIS (only Apache from what I've read).

So turn that off... :)

Use this:

XMAP Module

Submit this (using google webmaster tools):

Xmap is a Joomla! extension based on the popular Joomap component. Xmap allows you to create a map of your site using the structure of your menus.

Detail Information

You can add your sitemap to your Google account in Google Sitemap to provide it with additional information about your site. The objective is clearly, to make your website Google-friendly so it will improve search engine optimization of your website.

How To Add Sitemap in Google Webmaster Tools with Xmap

1. Install Joomla! Extension, Xmap


2. In Administrator page, go to menu Components > Xmap. This will open the Xmap Configuration window.


3. You can add additional menu with click add menu.


4. Click the blue arrow, choose Preferences menu.


5. In XML Sitemap, copy and paste the url code to notepad. Just use the url started with index.php. This code will use in Google sitemap.


6. Go to Google Webmaster Tools. This will open the Dashboard.


7. Add your site url in Sites field. Click Add Site button. Verify your website first.


8. Go to Sitemaps menu.


9. Click Add a Sitemap.


10. Choose Add General Web Sitemap in drop-down menu.


11. Paste the XML Sitemap code (remember just add the url started with index.php, don't add your site url).


12. Click Add General Sitemap button.

SharePoint vs. the File Server

SharePoint offers...

1. Web based access to your files from anywhere (work, home, the airport and from anything (PC, MAC, mobile devices) - in a Web browser or familiar Explorer view
2. SharePoint offers a "Two Stage" recycle bin - if you delete a file in SharePoint, you can restore it from the sites recycle bin, if you delete it from the site, the administrator can still restore it for you, with the click of a button
3. SharePoint provides Check-In/Check-Out abilities - when a file is checked out, others that try to edit the file will be informed that you have it, and it will prevent them from overwriting your work
4. SharePoint provides Revision History (and backups). If you edit a document and don't like the changes since the last time you saved, simply revert to a previously saved version
5. SharePoint saves money (and storage) by storing only one copy of your document. If you want others to edit or review a document, you simply send them a link to the document, instead of the document itself. This means you always know where the original document is, and this prevents the common scenario of the document being spread around and stored on PC's and in users inboxes (and ultimately, backed up repeatedly as well)
6. SharePoint allows you to view and find your documents in whatever manner you wish - RSS feeds, customized views, Metadata/sorting filtering, whatever. And users can define their own individual preferences for finding their data
7. SharePoint provides Workflow capabilities - your documents are the Payload, and SharePoint provides the following workflows *out of the box* (with more that can be programmed) to manage them; Three State, Approval, Collect Feedback, Collect Signatures and Records Management Disposition Approval
8. You can email directly to a SharePoint document library (just imagine, being able to 'CC' your file server to store copies of documents (or better yet scanned receipts that are searchable!)
9. SharePoint document libraries can be moderated. Designate someone to manage the documents in each library, to ensure only the documents that have been approved, are available for viewing
10. SharePoint libraries can be RSS enabled - Cool. Not sure what RSS is? Click here to find out... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rss)
11. SharePoint can notify you (by email) when a document has been added, modified or deleted. You can be alerted whenever you prefer; Immediately, or via a daily or weekly summary (digest)
12. When using Outlook, you can take a SharePoint document to work with *offline* (such as at 10,000 feet in Business Class) and it will synchronize it for you once you reconnect
13. SharePoint Search - find your data whether it be the name of the document or the text inside the document, in less than a second - 'Nuff Said!

Take that you lame-o file server! Go back to 1986! Tell Mr. T I said 'I pity you fool!'

...special thanks to Jess who pointed out I'm an idiot and I hadn't linked the wikipedia article. It's fixed Mr. Ribs.


Powered by www.itgroove.net

Sponsored by Major Change (.com) - The Online Change Register

How to Enable Outlook Anywhere

Before You begin, to enable Outlook Anywhere, you must follow these steps in the following order:
Install a

1. valid Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate from a trusted certification authority (CA) that the client trusts.


2. Install the Windows RPC over HTTP Proxy component.


3. Enable Outlook

When you install Exchange 2007, you can install a default SSL certificate that is created by Exchange Setup. However, this certificate is not a valid SSL certificate that is trusted by the client. To use Outlook Anywhere, you must install an SSL certificate that is trusted by the client.

To perform this procedure, the account you use must be delegated the Exchange Organization Administrator role.

1. To install the RPC over HTTP Windows Networking component Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add or Remove Programs.
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
3. On the Windows Components page, in the Components window, select Networking Services, and then click the Details button.
4. On the Networking Services page, in the Subcomponents of Networking Services window, select the check box next to RPC over HTTP Proxy, and then click OK.
5. On the Windows Components page, click Next.
6. Click Finish

Plus, this great reference/installation guide is quite useful.

Found one I like, easy to use so I'm bookmarking it.

http://www.brianpautsch.com/Products/Sitemap-Generator/

Powered by www.itgroove.net

Sponsored by Major Change (.com) - The Online Change Register

Looking for values to stick in there and what they should be, for the Exchange Connection Filtering rule? Here's a quick overview and samples.

Entries you could use:

1. Spamhaus: sbl.spamhaus.org
2. SpamCop: bl.spamcop.net

Where to put 'em

If Spam is not being filtered before email is sent to Blackberry devices, this is for you...

This detail applies to installations where a Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) is installed. If users are receiving spam and phishing on their Blackberry devices, configure the Blackberry server to wait for 45 seconds before forwarding messages to Blackberry devices. This provides time for CSE (or your antispam application) to complete its filtering.

NOTE: If you are running BES Server 4.1 SP2, the procedure below will not work. If you are running BES version 4.1 then you should upgrade to Service Pack 3, which is available from the RIM website.

Instructions for versions prior to 4.0:

1. On the BES Server, run REGEDIT.


2. Expand the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Research In Motion > BlackBerry Enterprise Server > Servers > ServerName


3. Find the DWORD value "ProcessMailDelay".


4. If this value is not found, create it.

Then...

1. Set the value of "ProcessMailDelay" to your preferred value for the delay (for example, 45 seconds).
2. Save the new value.
3. Restart the BES service

Instructions for version 4.0:

1. On the BES Server, run REGEDIT.


2. Expand the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Research In Motion > BlackBerry Enterprise Server > Agents


3. Find the DWORD value "ProcessMailDelay".


4. If this value is not found, create it.

Then...

1. Set the value of "ProcessMailDelay" to your preferred value for the delay (for example, 45 seconds).
2. Save the new value.
3. Restart the BES service

Reference from Cloudmark (our Antispam Solution of Choice):

As a little bit of value add for you, from your friends here at itgroove. We wanted to share 2 ways you can help your business be found on the Internet, by search engines and in particular, the most used one - Google (there are MANY techniques so we kept this first set of suggestions 'bite sized').

Cross Links
The more websites that link to your site and the more you link back to, helps a great deal in raising awareness about your website. Google values these relationships greatly. To see who Google believes you have a relationship with, go to Google and type this in for your search:

link:www.yoursite.com (e.g. link:www.itgroove.net)

So, sit down and make an effort to reach out to similar businesses, partners and vendors and request that you create some reciprocal links. It is worth sending that email.

Lengthen the ownership of your DNS Domain

Considering that $15 or so you are paying a year needs to be paid every year, why not just reserve it for the 10 and be done with it? Not only does this remove that annual headache but also, there is some belief that Google also weights just how long you plan to 'stick around' with your business and thus if your WHOIS (DNS information) is good for many years to come, they will value your site just a little bit more than the next one, in a similar space. While nobody really knows what Google does to value sites and rankings, it is believed this little one has an impact as well. You can spend the money now or later but you'll need to pay for that domain every year, so we suggest you lock it up for the next 5-10 years, just so that little Google bit helps as well.

Brainlitter bottom post
Powered by www.itgroove.net

Sponsored by Major Change (.com), the Online Change Register

My resume was horribly out of date. It still is less than I would like, but nonetheless, it was time to update it to at least a reasonable accuracy, so here it is... :)

In PDF: Sean_Wallbridge_Resume.pdf

This is a great little add-in (FREE!) that you should consider installing on every Domain Controller, to show you the itty bitty bits of details you need to know about user accounts such as when their password expires, etc. (you do set your passwords to expire, right?)

Free download, do it now, install it now, there when you need it.

Account Lockout and Management Tools

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=7AF2E69C-91F3-4E63-8629-B999ADDE0B9E&displaylang=en

ALTools.exe contains tools that assist you in managing accounts and in troubleshooting account lockouts.

Here's some reference info and setup overview.

Brainlitter bottom post
Powered by www.itgroove.net

Sponsored by Major Change (.com), the Online Change Register