I'm not alone...

Saturday June 6th at 00:30 AM, I've seen a meteor crushing in the sky from NE to SW...
It was very impressive and also short only a few seconds for traveling through the horizon. First of my life maybe that last...waiting for 2012...

PsExec StdOut

A few days ago I've to write a small VBScript in association with PsExec for executing an ms-dos on a remote computer. No issues but...
After few unsuccessful tries; no way to get the StdOut I've start finding other reason than my poor programmer knowledges. So after few search on Google, I've discover that there is a known bug on PsExec versions prior to 1.98.
As ever and as recommended by software and hardware providers always update to the latest available version of code...
So here's the link to PSTools lastest version on Microsoft website. These tools are certainly the most useful toolbox for a Windows administrator. That might explain why Microsoft has acquire Sysinternal some times ago...

If it helps, here's the script which should works with PsExec v1.98. Provided as is...

Option Explicit   
On Error Resume Next
Dim WshShell, oExec, Cmmd, CptName, UsrName, UsrPWd, PsxCmmd, PsxReturn, PSPath
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

CptName = "ComputerName"
UsrName = "UserName"
UsrPWd = "Paswword"
PsxCmmd = "ipconfig /all" ' MS-Dos command-line example
PSPath =  ""C:\WINDOWS\PSTools\"

Cmmd = PSPath  & "psexec.exe \\" & CptName & " -u " & UsrName & " -p " & UsrPWd & " " & PsxCmmd
Set oExec = WshShell.Exec(Cmmd)
Do While Not oExec.StdOut.AtEndOfStream
   PsxReturn= oExec.StdOut.readall()
Loop
wScript.Echo "PSXReturn :" &PsxReturn

Tips & Tricks...

One of my colleague ask me after being bored by the Windows "Sticky/Filter keys". How he can remove it...
So here a way to get ride of it...

Use regedit and delete the entire following folder :

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Accessibility

and after a reboot, you will not be bored again...(normally)

VMware vSphere 4

A few weeks ago I've been sent by my company to classroom for following the course VMWare vSphere 4, Install, Configure and Manage. We are using VMWare since V2.5 in my client site, so after few years of intensive use (almost 100 ESX V3.5 and at least about 600 VMs), it was very interesting to focus on VMWare "how to" and best practices...
Now I've to make some home & work implementation in order to go for VCP 410.
Major improvements for me from previous version are :
   - Virtual Distributed Switch which will radically improve and simplify the creation of "Standard switch" like but across a datacenter. Useful when you start having few ESX and you're providing new ones.
   -  Data Recovery is a fully integrated tool for VC 4. which allows to easily making backup and restoration in few clicks. Creating a VM is always an easy thing but having a strong solution for backup/restore management  is a different question without a third party tool. But now it's over...
I hope to have more time in the future to deal with some information about vSphere and its everyday use; mostly after passing the VCP.

Introducing to the new SAMY.COM website...

Hi,


Just a few words to explain the name of this web site "samy.com".
Samy is only a nickname given by my older sister regarding the "Mystery machine" cartoon. In France "Shaggy" is called "Samy" and Scooby-Doo is always saying "Uh-oh, Shaggy" "Ohooo Samy". As during my teenage hood I was saying this almost every two words...She calls me "Samy"
So here's the beginning of the explanation. In 1998, I've discovered that the domain name "samy.com" was not reserved anymore so since that time this little piece of Internet belongs to ME.

NTBackup + ASR + some Automation = Every Day Automatic DRP

Disaster Recovery Plan, is not a complicated thing to do when money is falling out of the windows but in this time of cost reduction. As me you may not have enough money to buy expansive hot imaging software.
I've started using this kind of software since the launch of Powerquest V2i Protector V1.0 few years ago then we have follow the evolution to go under Symantec solutions. Needs are still present but money has gone with the sub primes...
So what is the backup solution embedded with XP & 2003, NTBackup and what is exactly ASR (Automated System Recovery). Is the all in one free* solution I'm looking for ??

Here's the constraints...
1° -  NTBackup ASR command-line is not cleary documented. So as Google is my friend, I've finally succeded in finding the "/ASRBACKUP" switch.
2° - I don't have the 2000 Floppies requested to save all configuration files of all our servers and even if...
3° - Having more than 2 or 2000 servers leads you in trying to automate the all process(es)...
4° - I don't want to spend all my time in computer room as spring is coming...
5° - Some servers or workstations still have physical floppy drive but all machines...
6° - I need scripting or at least a batch file to make automated tasks.


Manual ASR & restoration have been very promising but floppy creation still remains my everest...

A few months ago, I've discovered VFD (Virtual Floppy Drive) that I use to make tests on floppies on my Dell SX270 which has only one docking bay.
A long time ago I've heard about devcon from Microsoft for managing devices.

But not cerebral  links between this two tools until...

I've been working on this problem for a long time and this afternoon the light shine on me !!! hallelujah !!!

How to proceed :

- select your needed version of devcon and copy it to "%systemroot%\system32" or else where in the %path%.

- look for your floppy drive if it exist and disable it !

    + devcon findall *floppy*

    + devcon disable *floppy*

- unzip the file "vfd21-080206.zip" somewhere, ie "%systemroot%\system32\vfd21-080206".

- for help on Virtual Floppy Drive :\>vfd help.

- mount the virtual floppy drive.

   + vfd start

- mount a blank floppy disk in the virtal drive.

   + vfd open /force

So now you can start your ASR command-line.

   + ntbackup asrbackup /n "ASR-%computername%" /d "ASR-%computername%" /v:no /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j "ASRBackup" /f e:\ASR-%computername%.bkf

Wait until ASR completion, no interaction is required, ASR will goes on and will be automatically closed after completion.

Save the vitual floppy which now contains all the files needed in case of restoration.

   + vfd save e:\ASR-floppy.flp /over

Use the switch /over to overwrite existing image.

The extension ".flp" allows usage of winimage to open the floppy file for browsing.

Unmount the virtual floppy drive.

  + vfd stop /force

Enable back your physical floppy drive.

   + devcon enable *floppy*

Thats's all your ASR procedure is now fully automated and can be call through the windows scheduler in a single bacth file by a simple command like this :

set path=%path%;C:\WINDOWS\system32\vfd21-080206&&devcon disable *floppy*&&vfd start&&vfd open /force&&ntbackup asrbackup /n "ASR-%computername%" /d "ASR-%computername%" /v:no /r:no /rs:no /hc:off /m normal /j "ASRBackup" /f e:\ASR-%computername%.bkf&&vfd save e:\ASR-floppy.flp /over&&vfd stop /force&&devcon enable *floppy*

-----------------------
*free : remember you have to own a genuine windows licence.