Are our Windows 2003 servers actually used?

We have several thousand Windows 2003 servers. Experience tells me many will no longer be used. What tool will help us to identify if a server is actually used?
SQL,IIS and core infrastructure such as AD,DNS,WINS,File Servers are probably easy but still leaves us with loads of servers not running any of these types of services.
The usual answer seems to be "switch the server off for a couple of weeks" but hat's not really an acceptable solution ...
Thanks.
There is a few things you can do, yes one is AD where you can use LDFDE,ADUC and Powershell to export objects for reference.
There is other options as well:
Check what roles the server has installed and view the usage of those services.
View the open ports which will give an idea of the roles it has.
You can use a network analyzer like WireShark or AIrmon-ng to view what types of traffic are coming from the servers, easier if you have servers on their own subnets like SANs etc.
Use Syslogging software like Splunk, requires installing agents on the servers.
View the SRV records on the DNS servers.
The first two are ideal, although it would be useful to map-out your network for future reference.
Also don’t just switch off the server to see if it’s in-use or not, that’s rogue and bad advice.

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Can Time Machine backup Windows 2003 servers?

Hi,
Before anybody casts any stones, I'm Pro mac. I'm currently working at a company that only has Windows 2003 servers. We need a new DR & Backup system for our Windows servers. Can time machine backup and restore to Microsoft Windows 2003 servers?
Anybody have an experience on this topic?
Thanks,
Chris.

Time Machine can not back up remote drives of any kind. also, in can only back up directly attached drives if they are formatted mac os extended. that excludes any windows drives in any shape or form.
you should consider a different backup solution. You can try CCCloner. It might be able to backup a windows server.

MLR.EXE on Windows 2003 64 BIT using WOW64

Hi
I have installed a SAP SCM 5.0 system on Windows 2003 64 BIT/MS SQL 2000.
The SCM consultant needs the MLR.EXE exe installed on the OS for the RFC connection 'CALL_MLR', I have followed OSS Note 301569, copied the exe to the OS in the /usr/sap/<SID> directory, but when I run the exe i get the error :
<b>'The application has failed to start because LIBRFC32.DLL was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this'</b>
The note mentions you have to run WOW64 environment for 32 bit applications on 64 BIT OS, we are on Windows 2003 64 BIT SP1, so we should have WOW64 environment, the documentation I have read on WOW64 says it should run seamlessly as WOW64 hands the program as the address space in the program shows its a 32 BIT application.
LIBRFC32.DLL is in the C:\WINDOWS\system32 folder, this is in the path on the server, so it should be found.
I've ran the MLR.EXE on my 32 BIT Windows XP desktop to check its not a corrupted version, and it works ok, so its definitely a compatibility problem with Windows 2003 64 BIT.
Has anyone setup MLR.EXE in a scenario like this, or has run 32 BIT Applications on Windows 2003 64 BIT using WOW64?
Thanks.

I believe the mlr.exe needs the correct version of 32bit librfc32.dll. 32bit program cannot call a 64bit dll file. So you'll probably need to find that particular librfc32 file. It's probably a non-unicode 32bit file too. I believe you can find one at SWDC in service marketplace. Just do a search in all categories for librfc32.dll. Heres a note about librfc32.
Note 336693 - Replacing the librfc32.dll on a Win 32 Platform
Wondering why the librfc32.dll from your ECC didn't work in the other system. Maybe there's another copy of librfc32.dll in your directory path that mlr.exe found and not the one in your \windows\system32 directory.
I guess I would try and find out how many librfc32.dll and if not, try downloading those from SWDC and test those out.
Good luck.
regards,
Laurence...
disclaimer:
The content of this message is my personal opinion only and, the statements I make here in no way represent my employer's position on the issue, nor am I authorized to speak on behalf of my employer on this matter.
Not sure if your

Can't install KB3036437 on two Windows 2003 servers

I am trying to install System Center Endpoind Protection 2012 Client 4.7.205.0 (KB3036437) and it will not install on two Windows 2003 Servers. It is giving me the following error:
Installation Failure: Windows failed to install the following update with error 0x80070643: Update for System Center Endpoint Protection 2012 Client - 4.7.205.0 (KB3036437).
I completely removed System Center Endpoint protection and reinstalled. When I first installed SCEP it was version 4.3.220.0. Soon after version 4.5.216.0 showed up through WSUS. I installed it and it installed fine with no problems. Even though it
did not prompt for a restart I did it anyway. After reboot version 4.7.205.0 showed up through WSUS. When I told it to install I got the error above.
Because of error 0x80070643 I have completely removed and reinstalled .Net framework version 2.0, 3.0, 3.5 and 4. I have also performed ran a FIXIT to fix software update registration corruption issues. Neither one of these worked either.
I have turned on MSI logging and the only error I see comes from the MPCMdRun.log and it says: ERROR: MpWscUnregister() Failed 8004100E
Anybody have any idea what to try next? Since the update won't install would this qualify for free support through Microsoft?

Hi,
To apply this update, you must have one of the following installed:
Cumulative Update 1 or later for System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2938441/ )
Cumulative Update 5 or later for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager Service Pack 1
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2978017/ )
Service Pack 2 for System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Update Rollup 1 for
Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010,and update
2952678 for Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010.
For more information, please review the link below:
February 2015 anti-malware platform update for Endpoint Protection clients
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3036437/en-us
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected]

2950 load balancing two Windows 2003 servers

We just purchased two Windows 2003 servers that connect directly to a 2950. They have setup network load balancing on the servers. With this setup both of the servers have the same MAC address cloned to their NICS. This is obviously causing a problem with the ARP table on the 2950. I opened a TAC case, and they said it was a Microsoft problem. The vendor that installed the servers says it the switch. Has anybody ever done this?
Thanks

Hello,
I think you would speak about "MAC address table" and not "ARP table" for your 2950 switch. It's typically a trouble known by Microsoft and describe here :
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;193602
Regards
Yves

HT4759 my contacts are in windows mail, can I use this program in icloud

I have just purchased an Ipad and would like to use Icloud to share my mail contacts with my Laptop, can I do this with Windows Mail?

Forget Icloud - use windows live which will sync with both your PC and with your Ipad/ Iphone (use Hotmail account). Also forget photostream because it does not work... use skydrive which works seamlessly across all units

Why are java windows showing transparency when using the Aero Peak Themes in windows 7 home premium

I'm using Windows 7 home premium version. When I choose an "Aero Theme" selected from Control Panel/All Control Panel Items/Personalization, Java windows become transparent. I.E. the java content showing with the widows desktop image showing also. When choosing a regular theme, the java window is normal. The problem does not occur when running Firefox in "safe mode".

I'm using Windows 7 home premium version. When I choose an "Aero Theme" selected from Control Panel/All Control Panel Items/Personalization, Java windows become transparent. I.E. the java content showing with the widows desktop image showing also. When choosing a regular theme, the java window is normal. The problem does not occur when running Firefox in "safe mode".

Windows 2003: Schtasks /create ERROR in Kernel32.dll

In running the following command from a remote computer, a small percentage of our Windows 2003 servers will get this error:
schtasks /create /tn ANYNAME /tr \\servername\sharename\batchfile.bat /sc ONCE /sd 2011/06/04 /st 17:30:00 /s SERVERNAME /u domain\adminuser /p password
ERROR: C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll
Why is it getting this error on 7 out of 63 servers? There are times when it finally successfully creates it on one or two, after trying again and again. What's the deal?

Hi,
This
kernel32.dll file and some other system files are loaded into a protected part of the computer's memory for use by other programs. In rare cases, a program may attempt to overwrite the protected memory area, which can
trigger a system crash, causing the system to display an error message in white text on a blue background, or to restart itself. Errors such as these may be caused by incompatible software, but are infrequent.
Here, I would like to suggest you temporarily turn off DEP on the problematic servers for test purpose.
Refer to the link below:
Change Data Execution Prevention settings
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-Data-Execution-Prevention-settings
Besides, please go to Event Viewer to check whether there is any error. If so, collect the Event log for further research.
Collect Event log
============
1. Start Event Viewer.
2. Navigate to Windows Logs\System right click it and choose Import Custom View File.
3. On the Import Custom View File dialog box, in Name, enter a name for the imported custom view.
For your convenience, I have created a workspace for you. You can upload the information files to the following link. (Please choose "Send Files to Microsoft")
Workspace URL:
https://sftus.one.microsoft.com/choosetransfer.aspx?key=9f6719ba-41e7-4043-8831-74d75d350fe7
Password: k]Jn$AMwR1Y
Note: Due to differences in text formatting with various email clients, the workspace link above may appear to be broken. Please be sure to include all
text between '(' and ')' when typing or copying the workspace link into your browser. Meanwhile, please note that files uploaded for more than 72 hours will be deleted automatically. Please ensure to notify me timely after you have uploaded the files. Thank
you for your understanding.
Regards,
Cecilia Zhou
Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not
actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Warning on /PAE with Windows 2003 Server

Recently I added the /3GB switch to our boot.ini files for our portal servers. While we were in there we were recommended (by our Ops group) to add the /PAE switch as well.
Shortly after we noticed new errors appearing within the PTSPY logs at a high frequency. Most of the errors were DDTEK and dealt with database connectivity and overflow. After much investigation we concluded that the /PAE was the culprit.
We are running ALUI 6.1MP1 across 5 Windows 2003 Servers and using SQL 2000 standard edition.
This might have been a fluke in just our environment, but I figured I'd document the issue in case anybody can benefit in the future.

Geoff, thank you for info.
by our Ops groupThat was funny :-)

Itunes on a Windows 2003 server using Terminal server

I am a Danish school teacher. On my school we are running Windows 2003 terminal server and have thin clients.
I try to install itunes on the server. That is no problem. I share the Audio books I want ti share that is also working fine.
My problem is that, when the users log on and opens itunes it comes up with an error that it is not possible because it is already open on the server.
Is it possible to solve that problem and how?

My problem is that, when the users log on and opens itunes it comes up with an error that it is not possible because it is already open on the server.
that sounds like a variation on a Fast User Switching problem. see:
iPod for Windows: Fast user switching in Windows XP is not supported
iTunes for Windows: about Fast User Switching with Windows XP

Windows 2003 process, started from a service, is aborted when closing sessi

Hello,
Short description of the problem :
a Java process (control-process) running as a service, starts other processes. When we log into the computer by
NetMeeting or an other tool like 'Terminalserver', that works with session 0, and log out, the started processes
are terminated. The service-process, that started the other processes is still running.
The problem seems to be , that the started process is handled in a different way, than the service process.
The child-process is started by the Java Method Runtime.exec(..)
Why is a child-process , started from a service (mother-process), not also running in the same mode as the service ?
Is it a problem of Windows or of the the JVM ?
Is it impossible (by WINDOWS) to manage, that the client-process runs in the same mode (service etc.)
as the mother process ?
If it is possible, how must the child process be configurated?
When the child process has aborted, the following message is seen by the mother process :
Exit code: 143 The system cannot join or substitute a drive to or for a directory on the same drive. ERROR_SAME_DRIVE
Here is the description of the surroundings:
- The server is Primergy RX600 of Siemens with Windows 2003 servers - operating system
- The processes are written to 100% in Java. With the Tool Native-J is generated from the jar-File to exe-File.
- The control Process
- We use the JDK 1.4 .2_06 of Sun
- The processes, that break off, enforces transformations between an Oracle-Database and ASCII file.
At the moment we manage with this problem that we won't use the session zero with TerminalDienstClient (without Console)
on the server i.e., administrators
But permanently we can guarantee this procedures badly, because our IT-Support-Team with
DameWare and NetMeeting tools takes care of the other servers.
Thank you for your help

Hi there
The child process receive a "SIGTERM" equivalent on windows. The exit code is actually 128 + 15.
Can you add in -Xrs when starting the child process, see if it helps you?
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/tooldocs/windows/java.html
Hope this helps... a little.

Oracle 10g on Windows 2003: instance not autostarting

I'm installing Oracle 10g (10.2.0.1) on two new Windows 2003 servers, and I'm facing the same problem, even after some full re-installations, on both of them; so this issue seems to be some kind of bug related to Oracle 10g on Windows 2003 and not just some random error.
When I run the installation it completes fine, and the database instance gets created and started without any trouble; I can connect to it using the console, the Java stand-alone Enterprise Manager, SQL Plus or anything else; it works when connecting from clients, too.
As soon as the server is rebooted, Oracle services start but it just seems the instance isn't actually started: any connection is refused by the listener which complains about not knowing the supplied instance name, and the oracle.exe process only uses about 11 MB of memory, which is a sure sign it isn't doing anything useful. The instance is configured to start, the registry keys are properly set, and everything works correclty after the installation... but stops working after the first server reboot.
I tried manually stopping and starting the services, in various orders; I tried re-installing Oracle various times; I tried deleting and re-creating the database instance, both at setup time or manually after the setup was done without creating an instance, I tried anything I could think of.
The only thing I didn't try was applying patch set 10.2.0.3 to the installation, but I just can't seem to find them, even though my company has an Oracle partnership; I find Metalink just a bit too confusing.
Can someone please help?
P.S.
The servers are actually VMWare ESX virtual servers, but I just can't imagine this to be the cause of the problem. The operating system on both servers is Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition (not R2), italian language, with service pack 2 and all the latest updates from Windows Update. The servers are not domain members and I'm running the installation using the local Administrator account.

I don't have a physical server available now, but I really can't even imagine how the underlying hardware, be it physical or virtual, could affect this behaviour. I'm talking about the Oracle service starting while the instance isn't, this is very unlikely to have any relationship with device drivers.

How do I rename an XE database on a Windows 2003 Server?

Ok. I'm attempting to rename a freshly installed XE database on a Windows 2003 Server. It looks like there is no getting around the fact that the database gets named "XE" during installation. Because there could potentially be multiple installations of XE in my organization, I thought it'd be a good idea to disambiguate the installations by renaming them to match their function. In this particular case, I'd like to rename the database to "CTXMGMT". It will be a data repository for our Citrix farm administration programs.
Here is what I've performed thus far:
1. Installed Oracle 10g XE on one of our Windows 2003 Server, Standard Edition machines.
2. Verified that the installation was performed correctly by making sure the 'Database Home Page' loads correctly through Internet Explorer, and by performing a few Select statements on the database (i.e. select name from v$database;)
* * I then began following instructions from this document (http://www.utexas.edu/its/unix/reference/oracledocs/v92/B10501_01/server.920/a96652/ch14.htm#1004735) to rename the database. Note: I'm only trying to change the name of the database, not the ID.
3. Shutdown the database
4. Opened the database in MOUNT mode
5. Ran the NID utility. Here's the actual input/output to/from the NID utility:
C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server\BIN>nid target=sys/manager@xe DBNAME=CTXMGMT SETNAME=YES
DBNEWID: Release 10.2.0.1.0 - Production on Mon Jul 10 15:55:10 2006
Copyright (c) 1982, 2005, Oracle. All rights reserved.
Connected to database XE (DBID=2476560070)
Connected to server version 10.2.0
Control Files in database:
C:\ORACLEXE\ORADATA\XE\CONTROL.DBF
Change database name of database XE to CTXMGMT? (Y/[N]) => Y
Proceeding with operation
Changing database name from XE to CTXMGMT
Control File C:\ORACLEXE\ORADATA\XE\CONTROL.DBF - modified
Datafile C:\ORACLEXE\ORADATA\XE\SYSTEM.DBF - wrote new name
Datafile C:\ORACLEXE\ORADATA\XE\UNDO.DBF - wrote new name
Datafile C:\ORACLEXE\ORADATA\XE\SYSAUX.DBF - wrote new name
Datafile C:\ORACLEXE\ORADATA\XE\USERS.DBF - wrote new name
Datafile C:\ORACLEXE\ORADATA\XE\TEMP.DBF - wrote new name
Control File C:\ORACLEXE\ORADATA\XE\CONTROL.DBF - wrote new name
Instance shut down
Database name changed to CTXMGMT.
Modify parameter file and generate a new password file before restarting.
Succesfully changed database name.
DBNEWID - Completed succesfully.
6. After running the NID utility from a separate DOS Window, I attempt to shutdown the newly renamed database from the first DOS Window I used in steps 3 & 4 from above (i.e. to shutdown the database and then start it in MOUNT mode) but I receive this error:
ORA-03113: end-of-file on communication channel
This is somewhat expected since the SQL*Plus connection in this window probably had "the bottom pulled out from under it" when the database was renamed.
However at this point I'm unsure about what state the database is in. Is it down? Is it up? Logic would sort of dictate that the database was left in the MOUNT state, which is the state it was in when the database name was changed. However, the only way I'm able to get back in to the database is by doing the following
a. Opened a new DOS window
b. entered "set ORACLE_HOME=C:\oraclexe\app\oracle\product\10.2.0\server"
c. entered "set ORACLE_SID=XE"
d. entered " sqlplus "/ as sysdba" "
e. at SQL> prompt, entered "startup"... which produces:
SQL> startup;
ORACLE instance started.
Total System Global Area 285212672 bytes
Fixed Size 1287016 bytes
Variable Size 92277912 bytes
Database Buffers 188743680 bytes
Redo Buffers 2904064 bytes
ORA-01103: database name 'CTXMGMT' in control file is not 'XE'
SQL>
From here I don't know what to do. According to the ORA-01103 error message, it looks like I need to change the database name in the control file to "CTXMGMT", but I'm not sure how I should go about that. The control file is a binary file, so I can't just open it up with Notepad and type in a new database name.
I suspect that even once that is done that the listener.ora (and maybe the tnsnames.ora file?) will have to be edited to include the new "CTXMGMT" name, but I'm not sure how exactly those files should look to incorporate the new database name.
Also, would the names of services have to be changed in Windows as well? (i.e. Would the Windows service named "OracleServiceXE" have to be renamed to "OracleServiceCTXMGMT" ?)
In short, I really just need to know how to rename an XE database on Windows appropriately. The steps described above represent as far as I've gotten. If I'm going about it incorrectly could someone shed some light on the correct steps to follow? The more detailed the better. Thanks.
- Gary

Okay, I've....
1) Reinstalled XE, to start from scratch
2) Went in to SQL*Plus, did a "create pfile from spfile;"
3) Shutdown the database
4) Started it up in MOUNT mode
5) Ran NID, to change the database name from 'XE' to 'CTXMGMT'
6) Shutdown the database again
7) Edited the pfile to change the database name (i.e. "db_name='CTXMGMT'")
8) Started up the database
And that worked! So that's good... but now my question is:
How do I change the SID for the database? Currently, the instance name for the database is still 'XE'....
SQL> select instance_name
2 from v$instance;
INSTANCE_NAME
xe
I'd like it so a connection could be made to the database with the tnsnames.ora file looking like this:
CTXMGMT =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(Host = rodin)(Port = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA = (SID = CTXMGMT))
Could someone explain how to get the database to this state? Thanks.
- Gary

BOE XI R2 SP3 - Does it work on Windows 2003 Server SP2?

We are using BOE XI R2 SP3 (v. 11.5.9.1076) on Windows 2003 Server (32bit) Service Pack 1. Our company needs to upgrade all Windows 2003 Servers to Service Pack 2.
According to the documentation on the web, BOE XI R2 SP3 is supported on Win 2003 Svr SP1
(http://resources.businessobjects.com/support/communitycs/TechnicalPapers/boe_xi_r2_supported_platforms_windows_sp3.pdf)
However, I can't find any information on the BOE XI R2 SP3 version running on Win 2003 Svr SP2.
Could someone please let me know if there is such information (link to web site, etc), or if from own experience, this version of BOE XI works with W2003 SP2?
If this doesn't work, what should we do next? Should we upgrade BOE XI R2 to Service Pack 4, and then upgrade Win 2003 Server to SP2, or upgrade Win 2003 Server to SP2 and then upgrade BOE XI R2 to SP4?
Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much.

Hi,
BOE XIR2 SP3 is supported on :
Supported Operating Systems
Desktop Products
u2022 Windows 2000 SP4 Professional
u2022 Windows XP SP2 Professional
u2022 Windows Vista (All 32-bit and 64-bit Editions)
u2022 Windows 2000 SP4 Advanced Server
u2022 Windows 2000 SP4 Datacenter Server
u2022 Windows 2000 SP4 Server
u2022 Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 SP1 Datacenter Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 SP1 Enterprise Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 SP1 Standard Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 SP1 Web Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 (x64 Edition) SP2
Server Products
u2022 Windows 2000 SP4 Advanced Server
u2022 Windows 2000 SP4 Datacenter Server
u2022 Windows 2000 SP4 Server
u2022 Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 SP1 Datacenter Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 SP1 Enterprise Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 SP1 Standard Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 SP1 Web Edition
u2022 Windows Server 2003 (x64 Edition) SP2
Hope this helps
Regards,
Shweta

Best practices for periodic reboot of MS Windows 2003 Server

Hi there,
We are a 4-month old v9.3.1 Essbase environment running on a 8-CPU MS Windows 2003 Enterprise Edition server and we run data loads twice daily as well as full outline restructures overnight. Data loads are executed both via SQL retrieves (ie, from a view set up on another server) and via data file loads after clearing the outline and rebuilding it.
Over time, I have noticed that the performance of the server was degrading markedly and that calculation scripts are taking longer. Funnily enough, the server's performance goes back to what I would expect it to be after a full reboot.
My questions are as follows:
1. Is it typically best practice to reboot MS Windows 2003 servers when dealing with a heavily accessed environment?
2. If yes, is it mentioned anywhere in the Essbase manuals that MS Windows servers ought to be rebooted on a periodic basis in order to perform at their optimal best?
3. Does Microsoft recommend such a practice of rebooting their servers on a periodic basis? I looked throughout their KnowledgeBase but couldn't find any mention of this fact in spite of the fact that it is obvious that a periodic reboot boosts the performance of MS Windows servers.
Thanks in advance for your responses/recommendations
J

A bit of non essential additional info:
We are small to midrange school district who, after close to 20 years on Novell networks, have decided to design and create a new Microsoft network and migrate all of our data and services over to the new infrastructure . We are planning on rolling out
2012 r2 servers with as much Hyper-v virtualization as possible.
During the last few weeks we have been able to find most of the information we need to undergo this project, and most of the information was pretty solid with little ambiguity, except for information regarding virtualizing the DCs, which as been a bit inconsistent.
Yes, we have read all the documents that most of these posts tend point to, but found some, if not most are still are referring to performing this under Srvr 2008 r2, and haven’t really seen all that much on Srvr2012 r2.
We have read these and others:
Introduction to Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Virtualization (Level 100),
Virtualized Domain Controller Technical Reference (Level 300),
Virtualized Domain Controller Cloning Test Guidance for Application Vendors,
Support for using Hyper-V Replica for virtualized domain controllers.
Again, thanks for any information, best practices, cookie cutter or otherwise that you can share.
Chas.

Are our Windows 2003 servers actually used?

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