Cannot enable anywhere access in Server 2012 Essentials R2

Hi all,
I have recently installed & setup Windows Server 2012 Essentials R2 on Lenovo S20. Everything is going great except for Anywhere Access! I previously had Server Essentials 2012 running on a HP Microserver but the hardware desperately needed upgrading
& when R2 came out I grabbed my opportunity. I did not do a migration as I only needed to copy my data. I have everything else set up, i.e. AD DNS, DHCP etc etc & all required roles installed but when I access the dashboard Anywhere Access wizard the
server says it is switched off, so, I go to set up & skip domain name setup as I already have one setup through MS & skip router setup as my ports are already forwarded & the server handles all DNS & DHCP anyway. Click on next & tick anywhere
access ( have tried with VPN too) & next then click allow current users & groups etc & next again, then the setting up remote desktop box has the green bar scrolling across & that is as far as I get. I have tried multiple times & it never
goes any further, I have even left it for over 48 hours!! The only option left is to cancel which it does OK.
I have trawled the internet for answers but cannot find anything similar to my problem. As I say, everything else is OK, local computers connect & see the file structure OK. It is just this anywhere access problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated
as I do sometimes need to access certain files while away from my premises. I think I have mentioned everything but if you need any more info please ask. I am pretty new to servers & still have a lot to learn but am getting there slowly!!
Anthony

OK my friend has so far had no luck in finding a problem :(
I have looked at the logs suggested but I have to be honest they mean very little to me. I have a Dashboard.log & a SharedServiceHost-ManagementServiceConfig.log which it says was last updated on 7th Dec but I also have another of those logs which ends
in .2.log so it's full name is SharedServiceHost-ManagementServiceConfig.2.log is this right? That one has been updated today.
I have uploaded a logs.zip file to my Skydrive space if anybody would be good enough to have a look & tell me what I should be looking for? The link is: Logs.zip
Thanks for you advice so far

Similar Messages

Anywhere Access (Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials)

I am need some help. I have a Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials server at my house. Currently I am trying to setup Anywhere Access, but I have issues. First, the router that I got from my ISP doesn't have UPnP, so I have to do port forwarding.
1. Which ports need to be opened? Ive tried opening ports 80, 443, 1723, and I still get any error when setting up UPnP (done this several times).
Is there anything that I have missed that I don't know about? Needing a fresh pair of eyes. Are there any other ports that I need to open and forward them to my server? Would i have to doing anything on the advanced firewall settings on the server?
Thank you,
David Marks

You can just open 80 and 443, no need for 1723.
When running the Anywhere Access wizard, tell it to skip the router setup.
Robert Pearman SBS MVP
itauthority.co.uk |
Title(Required)
Facebook |
Twitter |
Linked in |
Google+

Can't download files on Android from Server 2012 Essentials Remote Web Access

I have two servers, one with Windows Server 2012 Essentials, and the other SBS 2011. Employees like using Remote Web Access to log in from anywhere and have access to shared folders. It works perfect on a Desktop computer, but when they try to
use their Android tablets or phones, and want to download a file (e.g. a PDF) from one of the shared folders on the server, the download fails. When Microsoft was pushing 2012 they said RWA worked great on mobile devices, do I have to set up something
separately to make this happen?
I've completely disabled the firewall, and have ports 80,443,987, and 1723(just to be safe) all forwarded to the server.
I can log into the RWA site on the android, browse files and folders, but when I select a PDF to download, the download shows as if it's starting, shows in my android notification as if its going to start downloading (Shows MobileDownload www.mydomain.com)
but eventually after a few minutes, will time out and show "Download Unsuccessful".
Network connectivity is fine as I can do this on a Windows Desktop PC using any browser (Chrome, Firefox, IE) and successfully download anything I want.
UPDATE: I found this in the event handler when I tried to download something from a mobile device...
- System
- Provider
[ Name] ASP.NET 4.0.30319.0
- EventID 1309
[ Qualifiers] 32768
Level 3
Task 3
Keywords 0x80000000000000
- TimeCreated
[ SystemTime] 2014-01-12T16:49:12.000000000Z
EventRecordID 72818
Channel Application
Computer MYSERVER.MYDOMAIN.local
Security
- EventData
3005
An unhandled exception has occurred.
1/12/2014 11:49:12 AM
1/12/2014 4:49:12 PM
953eedf1ad414391a193e5f98a281da5
263
3
0
/LM/W3SVC/1/ROOT/Remote-1-130340167702975633
Full
/Remote
C:\Program Files\Windows Server\Bin\WebApps\RemoteAccess\
MYSERVER
2592
w3wp.exe
NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
HttpException
Server cannot set content type after HTTP headers have been sent. at System.Web.HttpResponse.set_ContentType(String value) at System.Web.UI.Page.SetIntrinsics(HttpContext context, Boolean allowAsync) at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestWithNoAssert(HttpContext context) at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Web.RemoteAccessSite.RealPageHandler.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) at System.Web.HttpApplication.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() at System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously)
https://remote.MYDOMAIN.com:443/Remote/fs/MobileDownload.aspx?path=\\MYSERVER\PICTURES\2013603.jpg
/Remote/fs/MobileDownload.aspx
MY.IP.ADDRESS.141
MYDOMAIN\user
True
Forms
NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
31
NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE
False
at System.Web.HttpResponse.set_ContentType(String value) at System.Web.UI.Page.SetIntrinsics(HttpContext context, Boolean allowAsync) at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequestWithNoAssert(HttpContext context) at System.Web.UI.Page.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Web.RemoteAccessSite.RealPageHandler.ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) at System.Web.HttpApplication.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() at System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously)

Hi,
Before going further, would you please let me confirm something firstly?
Would you please let me know if all Android devices
encounter this same issue? If you download different type files, will still this issue persists? You can upload a small file (such as a text file) to the share folder, then check if Android device can’t download it.
Based on your description, when logon a desktop computer, you will download files via RWA successfully. Please use the user account which logon computer to logon
the Android device, will still fail to download?
Please check if there has enough free space in Android devices that be used to save download.
When this issue occurred, please check the state of Android device in Dashboard. Besides, I suggest you should run the Best Practices Analyzer (BPA) and fix all
it can find. Then monitor the result.
Run the Windows Server 2012 Essentials Best Practices Analyzer
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200181.aspx
In addition, regarding to the Event ID 1309, please refer to the following articles.
Event ID: 1309 Source: ASP.NET 4.0.30319.0
http://www.eventid.net/display-eventid-1309-source-ASP.NET%204.0.30319.0-eventno-11022-phase-1.htm
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

Cannot upgrade server 2012 essentials to Server 2012 standard

using dism :
PS C:\Windows\system32> dism.exe /online /Set-Edition:ServerStandard /ProductKey:XXXXX-HF7PX-XXXXX-2XDPX-XXXXX /AcceptEula
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384
Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384
Error: 0x8a010001
The specified product key could not be validated.
Check that the specified product key is valid and that it matches the target edition.
The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log
PS C:\Windows\system32> DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.2.9200.16384
Image Version: 6.2.9200.16384
Current edition is:
Current Edition : ServerSolution
The operation completed successfully.
Bought new key from Ebuyer.com

Hi,
Glad the issue was solved by yourself.
I think it should be an in-place license transition, transitioning from Windows Server 2012 Essentials to Windows Server 2012 Standard.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj247582.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396
dism /online /set-edition:ServerStandard /accepteula /productkey:Product Key
Product Key is the product key for your copy of Windows Server 2012 Standard.
Regards.
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 Support, contact [email protected]

Boot up of Windows Server 2012 Essentials seems slow (extended Please Wait screen) and there are errors in Health Report

Dear Sir or Madam,
I have been experimenting with the evaluation version of WS2012e trying to get the installation and subsequent build into an optimal set up, and once I have everything I want it to do mapped out, I'll set it up with the full version with using the key that
I bought.
However, I've noticed that the server seems to experience a delay during cold boot - it sits with a Please Wait screen for about 60-90 seconds before it presents the screen with an option to Log on. I have also discovered from running Health
Report, that there are some entries in the event logs which appear to coincide with start up times, and which seem to be interconnected to each other in the issues they are describing, and I have copied an example of one of those health reports below.
I assume that everything sorts itself out in due course, because the events say the process will be re-attempted and these errors don't repeat again after the system has booted up. I also have the server set to suspend when not in use with the Lights
Out add in, so it shouldn't need to cold boot often - but I wondered if there's a way to correct these errors so that they don't hold up the boot up process? I'm also concerned that these errors will cause me later problems with storage pools and
the like at a later date - the disk replication one seems particularly worrying. Alternatively, are these errors just a normal part of the start up process - the timing of when different processes start relative to each other - and can be safely ignored?
In trying to understand what the events describe, I thought that WE2012e acted as its own Domain Controller, and yet it seems from the event log entries that it is waiting for another server to respond to AD / DC requests (but there isn't another server
on my home network). The other thing I remember from when I first tried out WS2012e, is that it took control of DHCP or DNS from the router, and I found that frustrating when waking up my laptop and it wouldn't connect to the internet until the server
had fully booted up and re-asserted its network settings. Is this another symptom of the same problem? I remember seeing a posting at the SBS Diva's site about how to update the server so that it gave connected PCs a backup option for connecting
to the internet when the server wasn't available, and was going to try to find that again to see if that helped.
By way of background - there isn't another server in my home network. This is an attempt to do a clean install onto the same hardware that I ran the initial trial of WS2012e, now that the trial has expired, so I'm not trying to migrate from an existing
server. I moved all the data on the trial server off onto an external disk, with the intention of importing it back once I had the Storage Pools set up the way I wanted on the new build, and since I didn't want to keep anything else about the server
trial. Am I correct in thinking that I don't need to go down the Migration route during installation, and can go through a Clean install in this circumstance?
I'm running on an Asus P8-H77-i motherboard, with an i5-3470s CPU and 16MB RAM, and I have WS2012e installed on 256Mb SSD formatted under GPT with uEFI boot - the latter being the main reason for the reinstall, instead of just giving the Evaluation
version the new key on the original MBR set up. I've also enabled Intel Rapid Storage and Rapid Start - and successfully set aside the hibernate partition on the SSD - but discovered that this is about forcing a hibernate after suspend, allowing
the system to power down until its needed again, and then resuming from hibernate on the SSD rather than cold boot each time. That seems to work, but doesn't improve the cold boot times at all, which was what I was hoping for - ideally the way my
laptop will boot from cold in a few seconds into Windows 8.
Yours faithfully,
Avon
======
Health Report extract.
Critical Errors in Event Logs in Last 24 Hours
DFSR
Event ID: 3221226674
The DFS Replication service failed to contact domain controller to access
configuration information. Replication is stopped. The service will try again
during the next configuration polling cycle, which will occur in 60 minutes.
This event can be caused by TCP/IP connectivity, firewall, Active Directory
Domain Services, or DNS issues.
Additional Information:
Error: 160 (One or more arguments are not correct.)
Last occurrence: 26 May 2014 18:51:28
Total occurrence(s): 2
DNS
Event ID: 2147487661
The DNS server is waiting for Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) to signal that the initial synchronization of the directory has been completed. The DNS server service cannot start until the initial synchronization is complete because critical DNS
data might not yet be replicated onto this domain controller. If events in the AD DS event log indicate that there is a problem with DNS name resolution, consider adding the IP address of another DNS server for this domain to the DNS server list in the Internet
Protocol properties of this computer. This event will be logged every two minutes until AD DS has signaled that the initial synchronization has successfully completed.
Last occurrence: 26 May 2014 18:51:15
Total occurrence(s): 2
ADWS
Event ID: 3221226674
This computer is now hosting the specified directory instance, but Active Directory Web Services could not service it. Active Directory Web Services will retry this operation periodically.
Last occurrence: 26 May 2014 18:51:08
Total occurrence(s): 2
NTDS General
Event ID: 2147486534
The security of this directory server can be significantly enhanced by configuring the server to reject SASL (Negotiate,
Kerberos, NTLM, or Digest) LDAP binds that do not request signing (integrity verification) and LDAP simple binds that
are performed on a cleartext (non-SSL/TLS-encrypted) connection. Even if no clients are using such binds,
configuring the server to reject them will improve the security of this server.
Some clients may currently be relying on unsigned SASL binds or LDAP simple binds over a non-SSL/TLS connection,
and will stop working if this configuration change is made. To assist in identifying these clients, if such binds occur this
directory server will log a summary event once every 24 hours indicating how many such binds
occurred. You are encouraged to configure those clients to not use such binds. Once no such events are observed
for an extended period, it is recommended that you configure the server to reject such binds.
For more details and information on how to make this configuration change to the server, please see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=87923.
You can enable additional logging to log an event each time a client makes such a bind, including
information on which client made the bind. To do so, please raise the setting for the "LDAP Interface Events" event logging category
to level 2 or higher.
Last occurrence: 26 May 2014 18:51:00
Total occurrence(s): 2
=======

Hi KerguelanAvon,
Based on your description, it seems to be hard to narrow down the cause of this issue. Please refer to following operations and monitor the result. It may help us to go further, and then solve this issue.
1. Please refer to the following article and troubleshoot slow boot.
New Slow Logon, Slow Boot Troubleshooting Content
2. On your server 2012 essentials, please start a BPA scan and fix all that it can find, then monitor the result.
Regarding to those critical Errors in Health Report, please perform
Dcdiag on the server. Meanwhile, please refer to the following article and troubleshoot network connectivity, firewall setting and AD DS issue.
DFSR Event 1202 (DFS Replication)
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
Hi Justin,
I'm reading through the links you referred me to but it's taking a while. In the meantime I tried running BPA as you suggested. I'm sure when I ran it before, it didn't say much beyond 81 checks completed, and I couldn't find a way to get any
more detail.
Now it says
Problem:
The DNS client is not configured to point only to the internal IP address of the server.
Impact:
If the DNS client is not configured to point only to the internal IP address of the server, DNS name resolution can fail.
Resolution:
To resolve this problem:
1. From the client computer, open the Properties page for the network connection.
2. Make sure that DNS is configured to point only to the internal IP address of the server.
Except that it is.
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
Physical Address: ‎00-1B-B1-28-AE-63
DHCP Enabled: Yes
IPv4 Address: 192.168.1.133
IPv4 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained: 03 June 2014 21:56:49
Lease Expires: 05 June 2014 20:24:20
IPv4 Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
IPv4 DHCP Server: 192.168.1.1
IPv4 DNS Server: 192.168.1.49
IPv4 WINS Server:
NetBIOS over Tcpip Enabled: Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address: fe80::80ef:48d5:9fde:f10e%14
IPv6 Default Gateway:
IPv6 DNS Server:
I'll try rebooting from the current windows 7 build over to windows 8 on my dual boot laptop, to see if that makes any difference, since it is the only other client PC connected to the server at the moment.
Thanks, Avon.

Server 2012 Essentials Active Directory users

I am in the process of setting up a small business with 40 users and 12 workstations, most of the users will be working in a client site on they workstation and some will have access to anywhere access. I'm aware of essentials limited to 25 users, my question
is can I only create 25 AD accounts or can I create 40, as all 40 users will not require concurrent access at sny given time?

Hi,
à
when you say Essentials role experience is included, does this include Remote Anywhere feature in Essentials?
The Windows Server Essentials Experience role is available in Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard and Windows Server
2012 R2 Datacenter. When you install the Windows Server Essentials Experience role, you can take advantage of all the features that are available to you in Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials without the locks and limits enforced in it. Windows Server Essentials
Experience role enables you to
use the Anywhere Access functionalities on the server (such as Remote Web Access and virtual private networks) to access your server, network computers, and data from remote locations in a highly secure manner. For more details, please refer to following article.
Windows Server Essentials Experience Overview
For configuring Anywhere Access functionalities in Windows Server Essentials, please refer to following article
and check if can help you.
Manage Anywhere Access in Windows Server
Essentials
By the way, if only have Windows Server 2012 Essentials, there are two scenarios in which Windows Server 2012
Essentials can be used in environments with more than 25 users. For more details, please refer to following article.
Using
Windows Server 2012 Essentials with more than 25 users
However, as Cliff and diramoh suggested,
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard with the Windows Server Essentials Experience role installed will be a better option.
If anything I misunderstand or any update, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

Windows server 2012 essentials errors

I get 2 errors in an email since I turned on my windows 2012 essentials server that I can not resolve. One is related to my router setup and the other is about the media server. Have not found any solutions to either of these problems and the router setup
show to be good on the dash board. Anywhere access is also working fine but it show the error below. Cannot get the media services to say anything except to try restarting the server and run the setup again.
CCS-SERVER: The router is not configured correctly
   The router is not configured correctly for Anywhere Access. You must configure the router to remotely access the network.
   12/7/2014 12:49:39 AM
Existing alerts:
CCS-SERVER: One or more services are not running
   The following important Windows services are not running: Windows Server Media Streaming Service (wssmss) Note: Services can be stopped when software updates are applied.
   11/13/2014 7:18:27 PM
Any help with this would be appreciated.

Hi,
à
The router is not configured correctly
Please open Dashboard, click
Settings. In Settings panel, navigate to Anywhere Access tab, did you find anything as “Issues detected. Click Repair to attempt resolving the issues.”? If it exists, please click “Repair…” button and check if can help you.
For Router Setup, please refer to following article.
Windows
Server 2012 Essentials: Router Setup
à
Anywhere access is also working fine but it show the error below.
Did you remember that encounter similar router issues when previously Set up Anywhere Access? If Remote Web
Access and other features really run as normal, you may be able to ignore it.
anywhere
access wizard issues
à
One or more services are not running. The following important Windows services are not running: Windows Server Media Streaming Service (wssmss)
Please logon the Windows Server 2012 Essentials, type
services.msc on RUN to open Service panel, navigate to Windows Server Media Streaming Service, open its Properties and start it. Did it start successfully or get error message?
If issue still exist, please open Event Viewer and check if find more clues. Meanwhile, please also check other
relevant log files.
Windows
Server Essentials 2012/2012 R2 Log Files
If any update, please feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
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 Support, contact [email protected]

Where do I find Offer Remote Assistance on Server 2012 Essentials

Where the heck do I find the Offer Remote Assistance capability in Server 2012 R2 Essentials? (I'm guessing this a just plain Server 2012 thing, but in my case I'm specifically using Server 2012 R2 Essentials.)
From the server console, I want to be able to offer remote assistance to workstations joined to the Essentials domain.
I have the Remote Assistance Feature installed on the server, and I have the group policy configured and active for workstations to allow Remote Assistance. I just cannot find in the Server 2012 user interface (which is of course based on the Windows
8 interface which I have not used yet), where the Remote Assistance option is.
In Windows 7, and Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, which is of course built on top of Windows 2008, I could click Start, then All Programs, then Maintenance, and "Windows Remote Assistance" was a shortcut there.
In Server 2012 R2 Essentials I can't find it anywhere. Even when I display the full Start "Menu" list on the new Start screen I can't find it. "Remote Assistance" does not show up as an option when I try to search for it in
the Start screen search box.
Thank you.

Thanks everyone. I finally found it, but it's far less than obvious in any way. But first to address some of the other comments...
That's funny. The only way I've been able to find the tool on Win7 or Win8 has been to type "remote assistance" at the start menu, and then select the appropriate program.
I just rechecked 3 different Windows 7 PCs and both of my older Small Business Server 2011 Essentials servers (which of course are based on Server 2008). On all of them in the Start Menu, I can click Start, then All Programs, then I have a folder called
"Maintenance", then inside of that I have a "Windows Remote Assistance" shortcut along with several other shortcuts. Of course I know the interface changed in Windows 8 and Server 2012, but it seems odd they'd remove access to the tool
entirely without any way to get to it.
I just did this on my Windows Server 2012 Essentials, and it offered me the right selection, but then when I clicked that I got the message "Windows cannot find 'C:\Windows\system32\msra.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."
Funny that it obviously had the shortcut installed, but not the underlying program.
Wim.
I believe it may have been removed from the Server OS in 2012 in favour of using a Desktop to Offer Remote Assistance.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/hyperyash/archive/2013/01/18/remote-assistance-in-windows-8.aspx
It was 'put back' in R2 so it seems.
Anyway, i went to Server Manager, installed Remote Assistance. Rebooted.
Went to search and found remote assistance.
Yes, mine is specifically 2012 R2 Essentials. After some additional Google searching, it does appear that there is no direct "shortcut" to Remote Assistance in Windows 8, and thus I'm guessing in Server 2012 R2. Everything I find on Windows 8 indeed
says to "search" for "remote assistance" as you guys have suggested and select it from the search results. The problem is that on my 2012 R2 Essentials server, when I search for "remote assistance" I only get one result, as shown
in the first screen shot here, which if I click it takes me to the 2nd screen shot, which is of course not what I want. (That's the settings for the server itself to allow remote connection into the server from outside. I'm trying to go from the server
out to workstations.)
Then i had to go to 'get help' which may be a change from before.
Chose to help from an invite.
Go to advanced options.
Not sure if this is what you want, or need?
Yeah, I knew how to get to the Advanced settings within the basic Remote Assistance tool. The "Invite someone..." option is not showing up in my search results when I search for "remote assistance" as you can see in the above screen
shot.
If I remember correctly, the feature had already to be installed manually in Windows Server 2008 R2, so this is not a new behavior...
Correct, yes, on my SBS 2011 Essentials servers I did have to manually install the Remote Assistance "Feature". But as mentioned above, once I did install the feature, then the "Windows Remote Assistance" shortcut still showed up
under Start/All Programs/Maintenance. At the very least I would have expected it to show up in the search results, which you can see by the above screen shot, it doesn't.
SO HOW DID I SOLVE IT?
I found that if I actually search for "invite someone" then that option shows up in my search results and I can click on it and it launches the remote assistance tool as in Robert's message and screen shots above. I don't know why this
option doesn't show up when I search for just "remote assistance" as in Robert's screen shot above, but it doesn't.
In the end, creating the desktop shortcut for msra.exe /offerra seems to be the most efficient.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials (not R2) - all client computers offline

The server is Windows Server 2012 Essentials (not R2). I have had this problem ever since I first installed the Windows Server 2012 Essentials server in the summer of 2013 (before R2 was released). The Windows Server 2012 Essentials server shows offline
for all Devices under Dashboard. (Allow me to add that I just installed another site with Windows Server 2012 Essentials R2, and it was a breeze - all of the computers at the second install site are online.) I have one Windows 8.1 Pro client and the rest
are Windows 7 Pro clients. The problem occurs on ALL client computers.
I have removed computers from Devices in Dashboard on the server, rebooted the server, changed the client computer to a workgroup, rebooted the client computer, and reinstalled the connector software on the client computer. Same result. I
have tried this on a Windows 7 Pro client and a Windows 8.1 Pro client with the same results.
After running the connector on a client computer and waiting for the server to update its Devices status, if I look under Devices on the server Dashboard, the Windows 8.1 client computer will say online but within 24 hours it goes offline again. The
Windows 7 client computers never show online. Both computers stay offline - they NEVER show an online status (referring to the status under Devices in Dashboard).
I should make it clear that the clients can access the server shares with no problem. File synchronization works great. The clients can ping the server and the server can ping the clients. But client backups on the server fail.
One of the most troublesome things about this problem is that it prevents the client computers from being accessed remotely using the website setup by Anywhere Access. I can login to get remote access to the shared files on the server, but
the only computer that says "online" is the server. All of the other computers are "offline".
The server and clients are only using Windows firewall. The clients all use Microsoft Security Essentials for their anti-virus.
I used a troubleshooting tool that tells me that there are problems with port 6602 on the server, but the clients are all fine with port 6602. I know port 6602 is important for using Anywhere Access but I am still trying to find out more details on that.
I have checked all of the firewall settings related to port 6602 on the server, and the firewall settings look like the standard Windows settings for this port. I used netstat to find the PID associated with the port, and I looked up the PID to find the service.
That all looked standard, too.
I have been working on this problem since the summer of 2013!! Does anyone have ANY suggestions?!!
HELP!

Hi,
Just addition, please check if all necessary Windows updates are installed on those
“Offline” client computer.
When connect client computers to the Windows Server 2012 Essentials server by using the Connector software, there
will be LAUNCHPAD on the client computer. Was this LAUNCHPAD grayed out? Please check if can access Shared Folders via this LAUNCHPAD. Meanwhile, please ping the Windows Server 2012 Essentials via IP address and server name when client computers show as
Offline. Any find?
Get Connected in Windows Server Essentials
In addition, please follow the path on Server and client computer:
%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows Server\Logs. Did you check any relevant Server-side logs and
Client-side Logs if find more clues?
Windows
Server Essentials 2012/2012 R2 Log Files
If any update, please feel free to let us know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
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 Support, contact [email protected]

Issues With Backing up Server to USB HDD in Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Hi,
I have a few installs of Windows Server 2012 Essentials on clients sites and I have an issue where by the server will back up to the connected USB HDD for while but then will fail and the only way to make it backup again is to wipe the HDDs then setup server
backup again.
I get the following error in the Application Event viewer:
The backup operation that started at '‎2014‎-‎01‎-‎16T05:00:12.595237100Z' has failed with following error code '0x80070020' (The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.). Please review the event details for a
solution, and then rerun the backup operation once the issue is resolved.
- <Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-Backup" Guid="{1DB28F2E-8F80-4027-8C5A-A11F7F10F62D}" />
<EventID>517</EventID>
<Version>1</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2014-01-16T05:05:12.199871300Z" />
<EventRecordID>141805</EventRecordID>
<Correlation />
<Execution ProcessID="7204" ThreadID="12092" />
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>ServerName.Domain.local</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
</System>
- <EventData>
<Data Name="BackupTime">2014-01-16T05:00:12.595237100Z</Data>
<Data Name="ErrorCode">0x80070020</Data>
<Data Name="ErrorMessage">%%2147942432</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>
Are there any best practices that I am missing while setting this up or this a known issue and what is the resolution?
Best Regards,
Abby_Doc

Hi Abby_Doc,
Regarding to this issue, generally some application is causing sharing violation on files. Then backup fails to access those files. Such as some
Antivirus program and so on. Please temporarily disable antivirus program and monitor if this issue still persists.
Meanwhile, you can perform a clean boot in Windows to eliminate software conflicts that occur when you backup.
How to perform a clean boot in Windows
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135/en-us
In addition, the Process Monitor will help us to find out which file was actually locked. You can download from following link.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

Windows Server 2012 Essentials r2 installed in a hyper-v

I have a virtual host running Server 2012 r2 with Hyper-V enabled and I would like to install Windows Server 2012 Essentials r2 in a virtual environment. The installation starts from a cd and when doing so I receive an error message that says "A media
driver that your computer needs is missing....."
I have successfully install Server 2012 Essentials (not r2) in the same virtual host. Why am I getting this message?

Hi,
I’m glad to hear that you have resolved the issue and thanks for sharing your solution in the forum. This will help others who face the same scenario resolve the issue quickly. If there is
anything else I can do for you, please do not hesitate to let me know. I will be very happy to help.
Best Regards,
Andy Qi
Andy Qi
TechNet Community Support

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Connector version is more current than server

In trying to connect a new laptop to domain/server, it kept failing with a message indicating that other software was in the process of installing or that a reboot was pending. Since neither was the case, I downloaded the current version of the Connector
software from the Microsoft website to try. That didn't work either. It turns out that a pre-installed software component called Intel Smart Connect Tech was keeping the laptop from connecting. I uninstalled this software and installed the
connector software and it appeared to connect to the server. However, it is displayed in the Essentials Dashboard as Offline. The client (Laptop) displays a message saying "The Windows Server 2012 Essentials Connector version that is installed
on this computer is more recent that the sever. Contact the administrator to ensure the server is up to date". I tried uninstalling the Connector software from Control Panel, but I get a message "Could not delete key \software\microsoft\windows
server. Verify that you have sufficient access to that key, or contact your support personnel". I've tried both with domain admin and local admin credentials. So, I ignored the message and continued the connector install. It finished
and appeared to connect successfully. The connector version displayed in Control Panel\Programs and Features is correct. However, the registry entry is not updated and the version error pops up with each login and the Dashboard shows the client
as offline.

Hi C.R.Lowe,
Based on your description, I’m a little confused with this issue. Before going further, would you please let
me confirm something more? Thanks for your understanding.
When connect the client to Windows Server 2012 Essentials, did you mean that use
http://<servername>/Connect
and then select Download software for Windows option? More descriptions, please refer to the following article.
To connect a client computer to the
server
If I misunderstand, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
On current situation, please navigate to the registry path as the error message shows. And check
Version value and let me know. Meanwhile, please right click
Windows Server folder in Registry Editor and select “Permissions…”, then check if the account was assigned the correct permission to delete key.
In addition, please check if you have installed the
Update Rollup 1 for Windows Server 2012 Essentials
By the way, please check Event Viewer and some related logs if can find some more clues. If any update, please
feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

SQL on Server 2012 Essentials

What are the options and/or limits for running SQL server (Standard or Express, 2012 or 2008 or 2005) on Server 2012 Essentials? Thank you.

Most best practice is that it is not a good idea to run SQL on a DC. However, I am not aware of any negatives, other than the disclaimers about it being a DC and possible RAM or I/O issues. Were possible, I would use Express as it is
a LOT less expensive and requires fewer resources. It was only a generation or two ago that SQL and Exchange and ISA server all ran on "the" DC and could not be relocated by EULA, for up to 75 users.
From this document:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server-essentials/default.aspx
Follow the Learn More at the bottom, for a pdf that reads, in part:
Q: What applications can I run on Windows Server 2012 Essentials?
A: Almost all Windows Server 2012 applications should run on Windows Server 2012 Essentials. Windows Server
2012 Essentials differs from Windows Server 2012 primarily in that several of the roles and features of Windows
Server are automatically installed and configured according to best practices for a small business environment. In
some cases, an application that is designed to run on Windows Server 2012 may require that specific roles and/or
features are not enabled. See the manufacturer’s product information for specific details.
Do NOT take what I am about to say as gospel... I am NOT a SQL expert. But imo, the reason to not run SQL server on the DC is that it is busy enough and in an AD enviornment where there are potentially thousands of users the server would be too busy
servicing those requests to be a good candidate for SQL. But in network of 25 users or less..... ??
Larry Struckmeyer[SBS-MVP]

How can I upgrade Windows Server 2012 Essentials to Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials?

I have just installed Windows Server 2012 Essentials on my Home Network (from the installation DVD). I have done absolutely no configuration Installing Server 2012 was an oversight; I meant to install Server 2012 R2 Essentials.
I tried to correct by installing R2 from its DVD, hoping it would do an upgrade. That didn't work.
Is there a simple way to make it possible to install the correct OS?   For example, can I just demote the existing server and remove any roles that were installed, so that the R2 disk will install over top of the existing installation?
Alternatively, is it safe to just reformat the partition and install R2?
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn408635.aspx seems to imply that this is OK.
David Pike, P.Eng, MCITP

Hi Larry.   Thanks for the reply. It didn't work, but I don't believe you are wrong. Rather I think there is something weird in my system. I'm marking your reply as answer.
Some background: I'm repurposing an older PC (Compaq SR1614X) as a home server, to manage my home network, use as a gateway to my Azure server, and to help my Server 2012 training (on MVA). I've been messing with it for nearly two months,
on and off. From the start, I've had trouble installing the server 2012 software (see previous threads August-27 and August-16
), but when I got to the point that I could install Server 2012 Essentials, I thought I could upgrade to Server 2012 R2 Essentials exactly as you suggest. That was where you helped me a lot, i.e. you confirmed that my expectations were reasonable.
So when it didn't work, I spent most of yesterday trying various different procedures. I got tantalizingly close, but still no cigar.
I can install any Windows Client and Server 2012 Essentials, but the R2 Essentials installation never finishes; it goes into an "error 0x000000C4" boot loop. At first I wondered if it was because I was installing a server over a
server, but you confirmed that's not the issue. I later verified that I cannot install R2 over Windows 7 either, whereas R1 over Win7 is fine. I can only surmise one of two problems:
I have a bad installation disk
There is a hardware issue
I plan to eliminate (1) by creating a new disk from a new download. I have verified that the latest ISO file and the one I have been using have identical byte counts,
For (2), I had suspected that the problem was that the older system has no UEFI, but since R1 installs OK, I am discounting that. Today's effort: to eliminate the DVD drive, I will try booting from a Flash Drive. To eliminate
the hard drive, I will try installing to a different drive.
I am hoping you can help with one more thing. When I run setup.exe with the /noreboot option, I have a better chance of success. The option suppresses the first reboot only, but that one (after "Expanding the setup files") always
fails, so suppressing it gets me almost to the end of the install. Is there a way to modify setup.exe so the it always runs with the /noreboot option?

Server 2012 Essentials - very slow to add new user

Eight month old Dell PowerEdge R320 rackmount server, running Windows Server 2012 Essentials. XEON E5-2400 processor, 16 GB RAM, 6 TB of SATA disks( RAID-1). "Shared resources' on this server are not all that extensive since there are only six
'shared folders' on this server ... And for certain I am NOT any sort of 'guru' as it would pertain to Windows Server 2012 Essentials, but it seems to me that the fact it takes over 35 minutes to add a single
new user to this server is a bit "unusual", to say the least... As I mentioned, there are only six "shared resource" folders on this server being served from the "DATA" disk that users can access with R/W rights, and all other
resources on this server are marked as 'no access' for our twelve (now thirteen) users. Does this not seem to be an inordinately long time to add a single new user..? I have just checked and found a few updates (maybe five) that were 'pending'
a reboot (which it is doing now, as I write this), and I will try adding a new user as a 'test' after this reboot, but - am I wrong? Doesn't this seem to be an extremely long time just to add a single new user..?

Hi,
Thanks for your post.
Please wait for the update installed and reboot, then try to add user to check the result.
Adding a new user did not need much time generally.
Regards.
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 Support, contact [email protected]

Cannot enable anywhere access in Server 2012 Essentials R2

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for