I just found this (somewhat inappropriate) video around cloud computing consultants:
http://www.mckeay.net/2009/10/06/nsfw-the-cloud-computing-consultant/
Had to share 🙂
I recently had two older model Compaq servers blue screen after a P2V conversion. In each case the physical machines had a diagnostic partition (without an assigned drive letter) on disk before the boot/C: partition. While using the VMware Converter this volume was de-selected and not migrated to the virtual machine. In each case the server blue screened with an error “INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE” after the conversion.
At first I believed this error to be caused by that diagnostic partition. I tried to re-run the P2V several times and even tried including the diagnostic partition in my VM. The problem was persistent; no matter how I used the P2V the host (cold clone/block level agent/file level agent/with and without diagnostic partition) this error would occur.
After a couple of attempts I thought I was fighting a lost cause. Finally I stumbled across an article that suggested I had a bad version of scsiport.sys and suggested several methods to replace this file. Since I’m using virtual machines and already had a Windows 2000 VM template, I deployed a copy of my Windows 2000 template and attached my P2Ved C: drive as a second drive in the server. I copied the known working copy of SCSIPORT.SYS from C:\WINNT\System32\Drivers to my second drive (E:\WINNT\System32\Drivers\SCSIPORT.SYS). I then shutdown and removed the second drive from my temporary server and powered on the recently P2Ved guest. Problem solved.
I had a need the other day to restore a deleted OU from a Windows 2003 Active Directory. This used to be such a big deal; requiring the AD, Server and Backup guys all working together. Authoritative restores are such a pain in the rear, but Active Administrator by Scriptlogic has made this a non-issue. We can pick an OU from one of the scheduled backups and re-animate the object with ease. It almost makes you want to delete stuff just so you can restore it.
The product is a little pricey, but it only takes one or two restores for it to pay for itself. I would highly recommend this product to anyone responsible for managing active directory.
Here is a link to a case study I was interviewed for several months ago:
http://www.scriptlogic.com/CaseStudies/Download/state-of-indiana-case-study.pdf
Sometimes it is really easy to figure out a user’s password. Just check out that picture to the right. Other times the password is less obvious but could come from a list of passwords you already know. For example, if your helpdesk always resets passwords to the same few values, many users could be using one of those default passwords. Here is a simple process for those who would like to audit your directory for such accounts.
Document: Homegrown Dictionary/Rainbow Table Password Discovery
Scripts: Homegrown Dictionary/Rainbow Table Password Discovery
I thought I would share the script I made to create 10,000 test users in an NT 4.0 domain for my test lab. I should note a couple of things:
If you have any questions please let me know.
