DNS Lookup Tool - DIG

A windows version of dig can be downloaded at http://www.isc.org/downloads.

Example commands:

• dig abc.com
• dig abc.com any
• dig abc.com ns
• dig abc.com mx
• dig abc.com any @dns-server

Remove IT Policy from a BlackBerry Smartphone

There are many methods to remove an IT policy from a BlackBerry smartphone.  See this KB for more details.  Here is the easiest method (I think) – using loader.exe.

1. Connect the smartphone to the computer.
   From the Start menu, click Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
   Note: When a computer running Windows Vista™ or Windows 7 is used, the user might need to right-click the Command Prompt application and choose Run as administrator.
2. Find the Apploader folder by typing cd C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\Apploader and then pressing ENTER.
   Note: For computers using a 64-bit version of Windows, navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Research In Motion\Apploader.
3. Type loader.exe /resettofactory.
4. Type the BlackBerry smartphone password if prompted.

Exchange Server Licensing

• One Exchange server license per Exchange server
• Exchange Standard v.s Enterprise edition:
• 5 databases per Standard edition
• 100 databases per Enterprise edition
• For database availability group (DAG), do not need Exchange Enterprise edition; however, must have Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise edition.
• One client access license (CAL) per user
• Standard v.s. Enterprise CAL:
• Enterprise CALs are add-ons to Standard CALs.  To buy Enterprise CALs must buy the amount of Standard CALs.
• Enterprise CAL features:
• Unified messaging
• Custom retention policies
• Advanced Exchange ActiveSync policies
• Per-user or per-distribution-list journaling
• Personal Archive feature
• Multi-mailbox search
• Information protection and control feature set

Comparison of Exchange ActiveSync Clients

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Exchange_ActiveSync_Clients

Windows 7 or Windows Vista Wake Timer

Windows Vista and later support wake timers that scheduled tasks can use, allowing a system to automatically wake from sleep or hibernate at a certain time.

• Schedule a task:
• Launch Task Scheduler, Conditions tab, select Wake the computer to run this task.
• List all active wake timers
• Cmd, powercfg –waketimers
• List all devices that are capable of waking a machine from sleep
• Cmd, powercfg –devicequery wake_armed

Setup Windows Server 2008 and R2 DHCP Scope

Q. How do I create a DHCP scope in Windows Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2?

A. DHCP is a key service to enable the dynamic allocation of IP addresses to your network. Without DHCP, each machine has to be manually configured with an IP address, gateway, and DNS information. This might work for a small number of servers, but in any sizable environment, the ability for clients to dynamically get IP addresses is vital.

Windows has long had a DHCP service, and it has improved with each new version. In Server 2008 and later, DHCP is a server role that's added through Server Manager. Once you've added the DHCP Server role, you need to configure a scope—a set of IP addresses the DHCP service can allocate from to give to requesting clients. It's important that the DHCP scope you define consists of IP addresses that aren't used on any machine in the network (such as statically defined on a server) nor part of a scope on another DHCP server. Duplicate IP addresses in an environment will cause major problems, and it's always good practice to have an IP allocation scheme and tracking. Some organizations use IP addresses 10-50 of each subnet for servers and printers, 60-240 for DHCP clients, and so on.

Once the DHCP Server role is installed, you need to authorize the DHCP server by navigating to the DHCP Server role in server manager, selecting the server, and selecting Authorize. You can now create a scope.

1. Navigate to DHCP Server, the server's name, IPv4.
2. Select New Scope from the actions.
3. Click Next to the introduction wizard screen.
4. You'll be prompted for a name for the scope and a description. Make it meaningful, such as the IP addresses in the scope, and click Next.
5. Enter the starting IP address, the ending IP address, and the subnet mask detail and click Next.

   

6. You can now add specific IP address ranges that should be excluded from the scope. Maybe you have some servers that have IP addresses within the range you're allocating to DHCP, which therefore shouldn't be given to clients. You can also set a delay time, which is the amount of time the DHCP server will wait before responding to DHCP requests. Click Next.
7. Set the length of time for the IP address lease. The longer the lease time, the less frequent machines have to renew the address—but that means clients keep the address longer. If you have a lot of through traffic of machines on the network, you don't want those machines keeping the lease for long, because your scope will run out of addresses. Set a small lease, maybe a day. Click Next.
8. You can configure DHCP options, such as default gateway, DNS servers, WINS servers, etc. Or select No and set them later, or at a server level (for things like DNS server etc). Default gateway will likely be different for each scope. Click Next.
9. Click to activate the scope, and you're done.
10. If you wanted to select items like DNS and WINS at the server level, the settings apply to all scopes on the server. Select Server Options and you can set global options, as shown here.

Once you have DHCP configured, you can run

ipconfig /renew

on your clients and they should get an IP address from your DHCP server. You can see the address with the command ipconfig.

Configure USB Devices in Windows Virtual PC

Windows Virtual PC has integration features that allow certain types of devices to be shared between the host computer and the virtual machine (VM), including audio devices, clipboard, printers, drivers, and smart cards.

However, the VM may use the generic driver for the USB device, and the device may not work correctly.  To install the driver for the USB device,

1. Disable Integration Features.
2. Log on again.  Under the USB menu, attach the USB device and click Continue to remove the device from the host computer.
3. Install the USB driver, and test it.
4. Release the USB device from the VM using the USB menu.
5. Enable the integration features again, and the USB device should work because the right driver is loaded in the VM.