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Category Archives: Public Cloud

Office 365 – Exchange Online mailbox Default MRM Policy might result in unwanted loss of mail

While I was studying for the 74-324 exam, I was reminded that by default the “Default MRM Policy” will be applied to a new mailbox (when you enable archiving)..

Very simply put, some items will be deleted or archived after a specific period of time. By example, files in your deleted folder will be removed after 30 days. This is unexpected for most people who are used to be able to browse their “deleted items” indefinitely.

Personally, I don’t want this to be automated because I want to be completely in control of my mail items. Especially considering the very large mailbox sizes with Office 365 (and even unlimited size for some subscription plans) I have disabled this “Default MRM Policy”.

You can set/disable the retention policy either using PowerShell or using the web interface by going to the mailbox, details, retention policy and selecting no policy.

Also if you want to know more about archiving, take a look at a couple of blog posts created on Techdom.nl by my colleague Dominique Hermans.

PS:Also take a look at this great post discussing backups, recovering deleted items and why you might want to enable litigation hold: http://www.spaceage.co.za/blog/technical/office-365-backup-data/. Also take a look at this article covering single instance recovery: http://help.outlook.com/en-us/140/hh125820.aspx.

 

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Event – Free Microsoft IT Camps

On a regular basis Microsoft and its partners host Free IT Camps. In the past I’ve blogged about them because I really think they’re a good way to quickly get up-to-date on products and technologies. Besides that it’s also a good way to get to know other people.

On the Microsoft Events website you can see which future events are available and not just IT Camps events.

Also should you not be able to attend an IT Camp, for Server 2012 you can also use IT Camps On-Demand.

 

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Free exam – 74-324 Administering Office 365 for Small Businesses

Microsoft is offering free exam vouchers for 74-324 Administering Office 365 for Small Businesses:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mssmallbiz/archive/2013/01/15/we-re-giving-away-2-000-free-administering-office-365-for-small-businesses-exam-74-324-vouchers-here-s-how-to-get-yours.aspx

The supply is limited, so don’t wait too long.

Also be sure to take a look at : Jump start videos for the new exam 74-324 Administering Office 365 for Small Businesses.

[edit 25-01]

Another code can be found here: http://www.digitalwpc.com/GetInvolved/MSPartnerPerspectives/TrainingSpotlight/Pages/Training-Spotlight-Small-Business-Competency-Announcements.aspx?mtag=mpntraining_tw_SBCompAnnouncements#fbid=gbfFqtdRaxn

[edit 25-01]

 
 

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SCOM2012 – Determine OpsMgr Components File Versions Using PowerShell in SCOM2012 Agent Task

In a previous blog post I explained how to use PowerShell remoting to determine OpsMgr Components File Versions.

As an alternative you can also use a local PowerShell script. And what is even easier in my opinion, is creating an agent task. This means you can run the the script against multiple targets and show its result all from within the SCOM 2012 console.

The local PowerShell script can be found here. A management pack containing the agent task and the PowerShell script can be found here.

Based on internet info,these are the version numbers:
SCOM 2012 Cumulative Update 1 / Update Rollup 1 version = 7.0.8560.1021
SCOM 2012 Cumulative Update 2 / Update Rollup 2 version = 7.0.8560.1027
SCOM 2012 Cumulative Update 3 / Update Rollup 3 version = 7.0.8560.1036
SCOM 2012 SP1 beta = 7.0.8925.0

Thanks go out to Derek Har for his blog post that helped me to embed the PowerShell script in the SCOM 2012 management pack.

To give you an idea what the output looks like in SCOM 2012, here are some screenshots:

Bjorn_Tasks_Powershell-Get-SCOMfileversions_01

Bjorn_Tasks_Powershell-Get-SCOMfileversions_01

Bjorn_Tasks_Powershell-Get-SCOMfileversions_02

Bjorn_Tasks_Powershell-Get-SCOMfileversions_02

 

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SCOM2012 – Determine OpsMgr Components File Versions Using PowerShell Remoting

We’re currently working hard on our SCOM 2012 environment. One of the things that need to be done, is upgrading the environment to the latest version, which is currently Update Rollup 3.

Two great blog posts are available to assist you in the upgrade process:

Unfortunately SCOM 2012 at this moment only shows the major version 7.0.8560.0 when using get-scommanagementserver or get-scomagent. For agents you can use this PowerShell command:
get-scomagent | ft computername, version, patchlist -auto
The patchlist is however not available for managementservers, which means another approach is necessary to get an overview of the upgrade status of your SCOM environment.

Since OpsMgr 2012 Update Rollup 3 is available through WSUS now for the first time, you could leverage existing WSUS reports. Depending on your environment, not all systems might be in WSUS or the systems might be using different WSUS servers.

The script I made, is based on Stefan Stranger’s blog post. The script basically works like this:

  1. It queries the SCOM 2012 environment for management servers and agents.
  2. It connects to each management server and agent using PowerShell remoting, locally checks file versions against the desired versions and returns the results.

The script can be found here:
http://bjornhouben-web.sharepoint.com/Lists/Scripts

Since I’m still pretty new to PowerShell scripting, any feedback is welcome so I can improve

[EDIT 22-04-2016]

Added the script as HTML in the blog itself

[EDIT 22-04-2016]

 

<########################################################################################

Name : Determine SCOM Components File Versions Using PowerShell Remoting.ps1

Date : December 10th 2012

Author : Bjorn Houben

Blog        :   http://blog.bjornhouben.com

Website : http://www.bjornhouben.com

Linkedin : http://nl.linkedin.com/in/bjornhouben

Purpose :   Unfortunately SCOM 2012 now only shows the major version 7.0.8560.0 when using get-scommanagementserver or get-scomagent.

                This script will show the file versions of the SCOM 2012 components: Management Server, Gateway Server, Console, Web Console, Agent and reporting tools.

                Using PowerShell remoting, this script will query your SCOM environment for management servers and agents and will then check their local file versions.

                

Assumptions : To query SCOM, you are running the script from a system that meets all of these requirements:

                 1. The “Operations Manager Shell” is installed.

                 2. You can connect to the management server for queries.

                 3. Your account has sufficient permissions to query the management server.

                To query the file versions on remote systems:

                 1. PowerShell remoting must be enabled and configured correctly.

                 2. Connectivity to the remote systems must be available.

                 3. The account used for PowerShell remoting must have sufficient permissions.

Known issues:

Limitations :

Notes   : This script was inspired by Stefan Stranger’s blog post about installing update rollup 3:

                http://blogs.technet.com/b/stefan_stranger/archive/2012/10/22/opsmgr-2012-update-rollup-3-ships-and-my-experience-installing-it.aspx

                To determine the changed files, I used the commands provided in this blog post:

                Get-ItemProperty -Path “$env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Server\*.dll” | select -ExpandProperty VersionInfo | where {$_.FileVersion -eq “7.0.8560.1036”} | Format-List FileName, FileVersion

                Get-ItemProperty -Path “c:\\Program Files\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Reporting\Tools\*.*” | select -ExpandProperty VersionInfo | where {$_.FileVersion -eq $SCOM2012_Update_version} | Format-List FileName, FileVersion

                Get-ItemProperty -Path “$env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Console\*.dll” | select -ExpandProperty VersionInfo | where {$_.FileVersion -eq $SCOM2012_Update_version} | Format-List FileName, FileVersion

                Get-ItemProperty -Path “$env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\WebConsole\WebHost\bin\*.dll” | select -ExpandProperty VersionInfo | where {$_.FileVersion -eq $SCOM2012_Update_version} | Format-List FileName, FileVersion

                Get-ItemProperty -Path “$env:ProgramFiles\System Center Operations Manager\Gateway\*.dll” | select -ExpandProperty VersionInfo | where {$_.FileVersion -eq $SCOM2012_Update_version} | Format-List FileName, FileVersion

                Get-ItemProperty -Path “$env:ProgramFiles\System Center Operations Manager\Agent\*.dll” | select -ExpandProperty VersionInfo | where {$_.FileVersion -eq $SCOM2012_Update_version} | Format-List FileName, FileVersion

Disclaimer : This script is provided AS IS without warranty of any kind. I disclaim all implied warranties including, without limitation,

    any implied warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose. The entire risk arising out of the use or

    performance of the sample scripts and documentation remains with you. In no event shall I be liable for any damages whatsoever

    (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information,

    or other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of or inability to use the script or documentation.

To improve  :

Copyright   :   I believe in sharing knowledge, so this script and its use is subject to : http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

History     : December 10 2012 : Created script

########################################################################################>

#Load the OperationsManager PowerShell module

Import-Module OperationsManager

#Get managementservers and agents

$ManagementServers = Get-SCOMManagementServer

$Agents = Get-SCOMagent

#Declare function for PowerShell remoting

Function get-remotefileversions($computername)

{

    #Invoke-command is used to perform commands on remote machines using PowerShell remoting. The ScriptBlock defines what will be executed on each local machine.

    invoke-command -computername $computername -ScriptBlock{

        

        #Get the local hostname

        $hostname = $env:COMPUTERNAME

        #Declare the function to get fileversions

        Function get-fileversion($description,$file)

        {

            #Declare the desiredversion.            

            #SCOM 2012 Update Rollup 3 version = “7.0.8560.1036”

            #SCOM 2012 SP1 beta version = “7.0.8925.0”            

            $desiredversion = “7.0.8560.1036”

    

            IF((test-path $file) -ne $true) #If file is not present, no file version check will be performed

            {

                #write-host “Not present;$file”

            }

            ELSE #If file is present, file version check will be performend

            {

                #write-host “Present;$file”

                #Get the fileversion

                $fileversion = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $file | select -ExpandProperty VersionInfo).FileVersion

                

                #Define the outputformat

                $output = $hostname;$fileversion;$description;$file

                IF($fileversion -eq $desiredversion) #If fileversion matches desired version, do not show in output

                {

                    #write-host $output

                }

                ELSE #If fileversion does not match desired version, show in output

                {

                    #Show only non compliant versions

                    $output | write-host

                }

            }

        }

        #Define the files to check

        

        #Files for SCOM 2012 Management Server

        get-fileversion “Management Server” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Server\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.DataAccessService.OperationsManager.dll”

        get-fileversion “Management Server” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Server\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Modules.PowerShell.dll”

        get-fileversion “Management Server” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Server\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.RuntimeService.dll”

        get-fileversion “Management Server” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Server\MomIISModules.dll”

        #Files for SCOM 2012 Console

        get-fileversion “Console” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Console\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Presentation.Controls.dll”

        get-fileversion “Console” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Console\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Presentation.Core.dll”

        get-fileversion “Console” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Console\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Presentation.DataProviders.Library.dll”

        get-fileversion “Console” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.UI.ConsoleFramework.dll”

        get-fileversion “Console” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Microsoft.Mom.UI.Components.dll”

        #Files for SCOM 2012 Web Console

        get-fileversion “Web Console” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\WebConsole\WebHost\bin\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Presentation.Core.DLL”

        get-fileversion “Web Console” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\WebConsole\WebHost\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Presentation.DataProviders.Library.dll”

        get-fileversion “Web Console” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\WebConsole\WebHost\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Presentation.Security.Cryptography.dll”

        #Files for SCOM 2012 Gateway

        get-fileversion “Gateway” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center Operations Manager\Gateway\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Modules.PowerShell.dll”

        get-fileversion “Gateway” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center Operations Manager\Gateway\MomIISModules.dll”

        get-fileversion “Gateway” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center Operations Manager\Gateway\MOMScriptAPI.dll”

        #Files for SCOM 2012 Reporting

        get-fileversion “Reporting” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Reporting\Tools\OpsMgrTraceTMFVer.Dll”

        get-fileversion “Reporting” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Reporting\Tools\TraceFmtSM.exe”

        get-fileversion “Reporting” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center 2012\Operations Manager\Reporting\Tools\TraceLogSM.exe”

        #Files for SCOM 2012 Agent

        get-fileversion “Agent” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center Operations Manager\Agent\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Modules.PowerShell.dll”

        get-fileversion “Agent” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center Operations Manager\Agent\MomIISModules.dll”

        get-fileversion “Agent” $env:ProgramFiles\System Center Operations Manager\Agent\MOMScriptAPI.dll”

        get-fileversion “Agent” ${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\System Center Operations Manager\Agent\Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.Modules.PowerShell.dll”

        get-fileversion “Agent” ${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}\System Center Operations Manager\Agent\MomIISModules.dll”

        get-fileversion “Agent” ${env:ProgramFiles(x86)}System Center Operations Manager\Agent\MOMScriptAPI.dll”

        }

}

#Run the get-remotefileversions function for all Management Servers

Foreach($ManagementServer in $ManagementServers)

{

    get-remotefileversions $managementserver.NetworkName

}

#Run the get-remotefileversions function for all agents

Foreach($Agent in $Agents)

{

    get-remotefileversions $agent.NetworkName

}

 

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SCOM2012 – Quick test lab setup OpsMgr 2012 SP1 Beta using prepared VHD

Since I’m currently working with System Center Operations Manager 2012 (also often referred to as SCOM 2012 or OpsMgr 2012), I needed a testing environment.

Because time is precious, I want to minimize the time and effort needed to set it up. This is what I did:

  1. Install and configure Hyper-V on my Windows 8 laptop.
  2. Deploy a VM with Server 2012 Datacenter edition.
    Configure a static IP address.
    Configure AD DS / domain controller role.
    Configure DHCP server role.
    Configure DNS server role (if desirable, include DNS forwarder for internet DNS queries).
  3. Download and extract the pre-configured SCOM 2012 SP1 beta VHD (running Server 2012 Datacenter edition). System Center 2012 SP1 adds Windows Server 2012  SQL Server 2012 Support.
  4. Create a new VM for SCOM and configure it to use the downloaded pre-configured VHD.
    Configure it with sufficient virtual CPUs and memory  for the DB and the SCOM components.
  5. Start the SCOM VM, and follow the onscreen instructions. NOTE: First time configuration took about 1-2 hours, but this might be related to my hardware. Still it might be smart to plan the installation.
  6. Convert the Server 2012 Datacenter edition from ServerDatacenterEval to ServerDatacenter by running an elevated CMD as administrator and issuing the following command:
    DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerDatacenter> ProductKey:<productkey> /AcceptEula
    Reboot.
  7. Replace the SCOM 2012 evaluation license with your own license using Operations Manager Shell:
    Set-SCOMLicense -ProductId “yourlicensekey“
    Reboot
    Check the license using the Operations Manager Shell:
    Get-SCOMManagementGroup | ft skuforlicense, version, timeofexpiration –a
  8. Shut down your SCOM 2012 VM.
  9. Shut down your AD DS / domain controller VM.
  10. Create a snapshot and/or export of both VM’s so you can more easily revert to a good starting point.

Also be sure to read Stefan Stranger’s blog post that goes into more detail with regards to the domain controller and automating the task for setting it up. It also includes screenshots to give you a better idea of the process.

PS: I love how Microsoft provides these pre-configured VHD’s. This has been great in the past, but now with client Hyper-V 3.0 in Windows 8 it saves me even more time because I don’t have to boot to Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012 for Hyper-V.

 

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VMware – Free e-learning courses and free tool (vCenter Operations Manager Foundation) available

In the last week, a couple of cool VMware related things have been made available for free:

  1. vCenter Operations Manager Foundation is the entry-level edition of the vCenter Operations
    Management Suite that will help you manage the health and performance of your vSphere environment. It is now included for free with all vSphere editions. For more information about the complete suite, read the VMware vCenter Operations Management Suite Edition Comparison. Eric Sloof from NTPRO.NL also created a video showing of this tool.
  2. E-learning vSphere Data Protection and Recovery Fundamentals
  3. E-learning VMware vCloud Director Fundamentals

I didn’t have time yet to check these out myself. If you’re already using this tool or have already completed a course, please let me know if you liked it.

To keep track of free e-learning courses, bookmark mylearn.vmware.com.

 

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Great overview of Microsoft certification paths

There are many Microsoft certification paths and in my opinion a good overview was missing to determine what exams you need to pass. That is until now, because the overview shown below is great:

For more information, read the original blog post at borntolearn : http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/microsoft_it_academy/b/weblog/archive/2012/11/20/infographic-microsoft-it-academy-certification-roadmap.aspx

Also if you’re planning to pursue a certification, please leave a comment what your plans are and why.

 

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EMC Elect program nominate those who you think deserve it most

About a week ago EMC announced its EMC Elect program. It is a community-driven, peer-nominated recognition program for enthusiastic EMC storage professionals like my colleagues from Open Line:

Read further details in the FAQ and charter and/or nominate a peer. Also keep track of what’s happening using twitter #EMCElect.

Don’t forget to nominate the people you think deserve it most. You can nominate more than one person if you want to. Also please spread the word about the EMC Elect program.

 

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