Restore SQL Database After Broken Mirror

Q: During a recent event a Database Mirror was broken using steps previously discussed.  Now we needed to re-establish the mirror.
A: The easiest way was to

1. Detach database on 2nd SQL Server
2. Archive mdf/ldf files
3. Obtain nightly BAK from 1st SQL Server
4. Obtain every hourly TRN from 1st SQL Server since BAK was generated
5. Transfer all files to 2nd SQL Server
6. Restore .bak to 2nd SQL Server - selecting the radio button "RESTORE WITH NORECOVERY"
7. Restore the .trn file(s) using this script: (updating DBNAME & DBPATH):
8. RESTORE LOG [DBNAME] FROM  DISK =
   
   N'D:\DBPATH\Backup_201108110600.trn'
   WITH  FILE = 1,  NORECOVERY,  NOUNLOAD,  STATS = 10
   GO
   
   
9. Connect to 1st SQL Server and establish the mirror as before.

Dell OpenManage IT Assistant - IT Assistant will not launch because a dependent component is not installed.

Q: Server recently received a number of updates and now IT Assistant will not load.

IT Assistant will not launch because a dependent component is not installed. This may happen if :

1. Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls setting is disabled.
   • Enable Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls under ActiveX controls and plug-ins in the security zone that IT Assistant is classified in. Close the browser and launch IT Assistant in a new browser window. You can disable this setting after the component is installed.
     Note: If you install the component from the information bar (yellow bar at the top) of the browser, IT Assistant may still fail to launch on certain operating systems.
2. You have canceled the installation of the component.

A: If you follow the steps above and the site still won't load but it used to work - try JAVA! Someone installed the very latest "Java(TM) 6 Update 26" version of JAVA.  Once Update 26 was uninstalled, leaving only "Java(TM) 6 Update 3" the version that is installed by IT Assistant the site loaded.

The remote service supports the use of weak SSL ciphers

Q: Windows Server 2003 is still configured to use weak or medium strength SSL ciphers.  This can show up as a vulnerability in some security scans like McAfee's Foundstone.
A: FOUNDEOOOOOO! Foundeo is the perfect solution to this problem. With the click of a button, you can disable all the weak ciphers on a server, reboot it and you're done.  Image1 is what you see after starting the app on a base server.  Image2 is what you see after you click Uncheck Weak Ciphers. Then click Apply & reboot.

 

Improve Wordpress Performance with wp-super-cache

1. Visit the wordpress admin part of the site (/wp-admin)
2. Click the Plugins on the left / Click "Add New" / Search "WP Super Cache"
3. Under "WP Super Cache" click "Install" /  OK / Click "Activate Plugin"
4. Red Warning bar at the top, click "plugin admin page"
5. Click "Permalinks Options Page" (/wp-admin/options-permalink.php)
6. Select one of the Permalink options (eg: Day and Name) / Save Changes
7. Edit wp-config.php - add - define('WP_CACHE', true);
8. Click Settings / WP Super Cache - 
9. Click the (X) Caching On - Radio button / Click Update Status
10. All done.