November 23, 2008
As every good admin knows, a healthy DNS infrastructure is the second most-important aspect of a reliable network. Based on my own experience in the field, DNS has to be the least understood, and most commonly misconfigured service, on any given network.
And if DNS is wrong, then that network will have problems. No argument about that.
Since the configuration of EBS is based on the best practices recommended by Microsoft, it stands to reason then that the way EBS configures DNS is a good model, right?
Here are the DNS settings for the internal network adapter of each of the core EBS servers…
- Management Server (DNS server, domain controller, PDC emulator)
- DNS1 = 127.0.0.1 (localhost)
- Messaging Server (DNS server, domain controller)
- DNS1 = IP address of Management Server
- DNS2 = IP address of Messaging Server
- DNS3 = 127.0.0.1 (localhost)
- Security Server (Edge security)
- DNS1 = IP address of Management Server
- DNS2 = IP address of Messaging Server
Yes, the Security Server also has an external adapter. But there shouldn’t be any DNS servers defined on that adapter, since that would kinda defeat the whole purpose of even having a Security Server.
The Management and Messaging servers should be the only ones handling DNS queries in an EBS network. If something isn’t located in their databases, then they should also be the only machines going out and getting the info from the big bad world, using either root hints or forwarders.
Speaking of forwarders, OpenDNS pretty much rocks.
In a semi-related story, anyone able to tell me the most important aspect of a reliable network?
|| posted by chris under essential business server, it pro, rx || comments (4) ||
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November 19, 2008
OK, this is something that people have been freaking out about, and with good reason.
Essential Business Server 2008 Premium Edition includes an extra server. As in, an extra license of Windows Server 2008 Standard and a license for SQL Server 2008 Standard. Although this extra server can be used to hold a variety of roles, the general idea is that most people would use it as an application server.
“But what about applications that don’t yet support the 2008 version of Windows Server or SQL Server?” was the hue and cry. And MS hadn’t offered a definitive word on how to address that conundrum.
Today, the Essential Server Solutions team announced that downgrade rights will be included with the Premium Edition of Essential Business Server.
So if compatibility is a concern for you, you’ll definitely want to get aboard the EBS train sooner than later.
Through December 31, 2009, Essential Business Server Premium Edition will ship with Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard and SQL Server 2005 Standard media in-box as part of the product, in addition to the regular 2008 versions mentioned above.
After that, this downgrade offer will only be available via Microsoft’s Solutions Pathway, which right now looks to be only slightly less complicated to navigate than the Minotaur’s infamous crib, the Labyrinth at Knossos.
And yes, all this same stuff goes for Small Business Server 2008 Premium Edition.
|| posted by chris under business, essential business server, media, migration, rx, thumbs up || comments (1) ||
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November 19, 2008
Thanks to the efforts of Mark “Mr. Roboto” Stanfill, the official Essential Business Server blog just posted arguably its best article to date.
http://blogs.technet.com/essentialbusinessserver/archive/2008/11/18/how-to-change-the-sce-run-as-and-data-warehouse-accounts-in-ebs.aspx
Changing the service account SCE uses from the default of Administrator is prolly one of the first steps that should be taken with every new EBS installation. Mainly because doing that totally avoids the whole “Holy crap my Administrator password was changed and now SCE doesn’t gather data anymore” issue, plus offers a couple of other handy benefits to boot.
I won’t rehash the whole article, but here’s a quick overview of the steps…
- Create new service account for SCE
- Assign new service account using SCE
- Create new SQL account for SCE instance
- Assign new SQL account using SQL Management Studio Express
- Restart SQL and SCE services
Trust me…it’s way more involved than that overview might make you think.You’lll want to get the full-on details before you start.
And just like any other major service or data storage change you make post-installation on EBS, completing a replacement mode install will revert the services back to using the Administrator account.
|| posted by chris under essential business server, it pro, migration, rx || comments (0) ||
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November 16, 2008
And yet another shoutout to yet another SEC team who got the job done today to become eligible for post-season play…Ole Miss.
I have to admit, the Ole Miss t-shirt above is now considered a limited edition collector’s item. Since the arrival of Houston Nutt, the Rebels have been playing with an intensity not seen since…well, ever.
Now, I’m in no way, shape or form suggesting that anyone on Mississippi’s campus would do anything to curtail any activity related to their burgeoning careers in professional drinking. Nutt may be a big step up in coaching for the Rebels, but he’s not a miracle worker. And getting anyone from Ole Miss to stop abusing their liver?
That’s the Mississippi equivalent of Mission Impossible.
|| posted by chris under game, rx || comments (0) ||
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August 30, 2008
Just when I thought today couldn’t get any more perfect…
Alabama goes out tonight and puts a Technicolor asskicking on the formerly ranked #9 Clemson Pussycats, the so-called “best” of the weakass ACC, live on ABC at the Georgia Dome.
I’m talking total domination folks, on both sides of the ball. Clemson’s supposedly fearsome pair of running backs “Windbag” and “Blowhard” were held to 0 rushing yards.
All of which means it’s way past time to “turn it up” here for all the Crimson in the house…
Put them A’s up!
Yea-uh.
|| posted by chris under game, rx, shoutout, thumbs up, travel || comments (0) ||
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