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.

I Need Internet Explorer 7!

Q: A developer requested a workstation or server with Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) running and we couldn't find one, as everyone had been updated to IE8 or IE9.
A: We used IE-TAB. 

1. Install Chrome
2. Install the Chrome IE-TAB plugin - http://www.chromeextensions.org/utilities/ie-tab/
3. Visit the site, then click the new "View in IE TAB" button on the top right
4. You can always hit the wrench to change which IE Standards to use, but it defaults to IE7.

Outlook 2003 - Can't Print HTML - Print Preview Grayed out

Q: Customer came to us with Outlook 2003 on Windows XP and could not print HTML formatted emails. But TXT emails printed just fine.  When they attempted to print an HTML email they would get Internet Explorer Script Error popup: "An error has occurred in the script on this page"
Used CCLEANER to remove temporary internet files. Re-opened Outlook. Still nothing.
A: Start -> Run -> Type "regsvr32 ole32.dll" (without quotes) -> Ok.  Printed just fine.

How to Mute a Dell Server from Beeping

Q: We have a Dell Server running Windows Server 2003.  One of the drives failed, so it started beeping.  While we troubleshoot the drive we'd like to silence the beeping.
A: Open the Dell Server Administrator website typically hosted at https://<servername>:1311 - From there expand system, storage and click on the raid controller.  Now Click on Information/Configuration at the top.  From there look for "Controller Tasks" and in the drop down you should see "Disable Alarm" and "Quiet Alarm" as available options. Select one and click Execute Task.