Communications, Computers

Installing and Configuring Exchange Server 2010

1. Choose Computer Name, like MAIL1. If the domain controller has already been established, then the name will already be something like MAIL1.yourdomain.lan. [NOTE: To establish and configure a domain controller on Server 2008 (64-bit) upon which Exchange 2010 can be installed (like a “One Box” setup), see this article at: http://www.sheldonsblog.com/index.php/configure-windows-server-2008-r2-sp1-for-exchange-server-2010/ ]
2. Make sure Administrative user is member of: Enterprise Admins and Schema Admins. Open Active Directory Users and Computers, under the windows domain, click Users folder, double click Administrator (or other logged in user account) and click properties, then click the tab Member Of, and make sure the user is a member of Enterprise Admins and Schema Admins..
3. Setting up Pre-requisite Roles. Open server management console, right click features and click add features, ADD FEATURES WIZARD opens, Select Features: add .NET Framework 3.5.1 (but this was already added when installing Active Directory services on server 2008 to convert to a domain controller), add RPC over HTTP Proxy and also click button to Add Required Role Services including Web Server (IIS) and Management Tools, Remote Server Admin Tools with Role Admin Tools; for Internet Framework expand the +WCF Activation and check HTTP Activation and Add Required Role Services (Web Server and Windows Process Activation Model), expand +Remote Server Administration Tools, expand Role Administration Tools (installed), make sure Web Server (IIS) Tools in checked, and Check AD LDS Snap-Ins And Command line tools. Next
4. Select Role Services link on Wizard left menu: Add ASP .NET +Add Required Role services, In security, make sure Basic Authentication checked, Make sure Windows Authentication checked, and check Digest Authentication, ALL IIS 6 Management Compatibility, including check IIS 6 Metabase compatibility, IIS 6 WMI Compatibility, IIS 6 Scripting Tools, and IIS 6 Management Console. Click NEXT (leads to confirmation), Click INSTALL button. When done installing, click Close button.
5. Set Net.tcp Port Sharing Service Startup Type to Automatic (with Delayed Start). Go to Start, Administrative Tools, Select Services, Select Net.tcp Port Sharing Service, Properties, It is set to Disabled by default. Change Startup type to “Automatic (Delayed Start)” and click Apply and click OK. Close Services
6. Install Microsoft Office 2010 Filter Pack (index content of attachments, docx, xlsx). Note Adobe has its own filter pack for exchange. Office Filter Pack download 64-bit version: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=17062
Microsoft filter pack 2.0 has completed successfully.
7. Install Exchange 2010
1. Insert Exchange 2010 DVD Install Disk in DVD drive. Run Setup.EXE
2. Step 3, Choose Exchange language option – Select install only languages from the DVD
3. Step 4, Click Install Microsoft Exchange, [echo: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Setup Initializing]
4. Exchange Server 2010 Setup screen, click Next.
5. Accept License Agreement (radio button), click Next.
6. Enable Error Reporting (this automatically sends error reports to Microsoft). It’s up to you to select Yes or No.
7. Installation Type: Select “Typical Exchange Server Installation” click Next (rather than custom which includes 2 extra items called Unified Messaging, and Edge Transport), and with Typical Installation these items are setup (along with path to Exchange Program Files):
1. Hub Transport
2. Client Access
3. Mailbox
4. Exchange Management Tools
8. Specify Name for Exchange Organization. Default is First Organization. Organization Name: Stored in Mail Database. First Organization – Use the name of your company.
9. Client Setting Do you have any client computers running Outlook 2003 or Entourage in your organization? Yes or No. Next. (Outlook 2003 clients will require setup of public folder database) Recommended: Select Yes. (Just in case), Click Next
10. Configure Client Access server external domain. For internet facing services, for example Exchange ActiveSync, Outlook Web App, Outlook Anywhere. This will allow clients to connect to your exchange deployment outside of your (internal windows) domain.
1. Check the box for The Client Access server role will be internet facing.
2. Enter the domain name you will use with your external Client Access Servers (for example, mail1.yourdomain.com. Click Next button.
11. Customer Experience Improvement Program –
1. The industry that best represents you organization. (Select drop down or not specified)
2. Join the Exchange Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP)
3. I don’t wish to join the program at this time.
4. Next button
12. Readiness Checks. Warnings.
1. Warning such as “Setup is going to prepare the organization for Exchange Server 2010 by using ‘Setup /PrepareAD’ and no Exchange Server 2007 roles have been detected in this topology. After this operation, it will be impossible to install any Exchange Server 2007 roles.” If you decide that you need to deploy an Exchange 2007 server prior to deploying Exchange 2010, the deployment of a single Exchange 2007 with all server roles is sufficient to enable the deployment of future Exchange 2007 servers in the organization. I doubt this warning is fatal. It applies mostly to 3rd party or custom apps built on Exchange 2007.
2. Setup cannot verify that the ‘Host’ (A) record for this computer exists within the DNS database on server 127.0.0.1. Check your internet connection. Also, verify on IP v4 connection the following DNS entries dns1 = 127.0.0.1 and dns 192.168.x.x of this servers NIC. Don’t use forwarders in DNS. Just show bind to all IP addresses of server.
13. Install. Click Install. Go find something to drink. It will take quite a while. 00:33:47
8. Finalize this Installation using the Exchange Management Console. (Configure Exchange.) Leave Checkbox Checked (to Finalize). And Click Finish Button which will close Exchange Server 2010 Setup, and will ADD Snap-in to Console.
1. Finalize Deployment Tasks (Checklist)
2. Enter Product Key. Exchange Management Console. Expand +Microsoft exchange On Premises; Click Organization Configuration, Exchange unlicensed, has 119 days remaining. Click Server configuration, and under the Exchange server node name on the right side menu, Click Enter Product Key, and enter it. The product key has been validated and the product ID has been successfully created. This change won’t take effect until the Information Store service has been restarted. Click Finish button, then go to Administrative Tools, Services, and restart the “Microsoft Exchange Information Store” service. Right click the name of the service and left click “Restart.”

THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARTICLE STILL WORK IN PROCESS:
3. Install Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server. (Optional.  MS download. Look into it.)
4. Another author reports that you may need to enable Exchange Search to index Microsoft Office 2007 file formats by registering the installed iFilters for Exchange 2010 by modifying the registry. It is suggested to perform this step after installing Exchange 2010. Ask yourself, did I not already install the 2010 filter pack? Note, the other author offered some script to save to file and run. Look into this.
5. Organization configuration, Mailbox. Client Access, Hub Transport most important to configure.
6. Send Connector, New Send Connector, name = internet, add type smtp, *, dns mx record. Next pick a server, this one. New, finish.
7. Server config, client access, owa, enable Outlook Anywhere.  External hostname, same as previously named.
8. Exchange active sync.
9. Imap and pop3, enable. But still need to enable the services under admin tools, services. Change from manual to automatic, delayed start.
10. Allow Anonymous Access on the Server’s Default Receive Connector. Exchange Management Console, expand Server Configuration. Select “Hub Transport” Under “Receive Connectors” right click the “Default” Receive Connector, select Properties, select Permission Groups tab, to configure receiving on TCP Port 25 by enabling anonymous users (Specify who is allowed to connect to this Receive connector). Check the Anonymous Users checkbox, and click Apply button and click OK. DONE. Caution: My first guess is that this anonymous connectivity may create an open relay, unless mail can only be delivered to local exchange mailboxes from this Receive connector. Note: Port 587 will have no anonymous access on the other Receive connector here.
11. Recipient configuration. Mailbox. Where you configure all email accounts.
1. New mailbox, next, existing users, add, select the usernames to create mailboxes.
9. Configure Port forwarding on router, for ports 25, 80, 443.
10. Configure some things in IIS.
1. Certificates. Exchange creates default certificates for itself.
2. Default website.  http redirect: ./owa checkbox only redirect requests to content in this directory (not subdirectory). This redirect works only with https not http, unless you put full url redirect in like this: https://etc/owa.

Communications, Computers, Networking

Configure Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 for Exchange Server 2010

  1. Install Windows Server 2008 R2 64 bit version

    1. Exchange Server 2010 is a 64 bit application and requires a 64 bit Server Operating System

    2. After Server 2008 installation, then set the clock and set the name of the Server

    3. The server is presently configured as standalone with default settings

  2. Configure a static IP address because the server will be configured as a domain controller

    1. Go to the server manager screen and click View Network Connections

    2. Double click the icon for the active network adapter (local area connection) to display the adapter status

    3. In the Status screen, click the Properties button

    4. Click to highlight the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/Ipv4) and Click the Properties button

    5. Click the radio button next to “Use the following IP address:” and then enter the IP address that you want to use for this server, for example, 192.168.1.2

    6. After entering the IP address, click the “tab” key and the subnet mask 255.255.255.0 should appear in the entry boxes of the next line (which is fine)

    7. Click the “tab” key and enter the default gateway IP address (which is the gateway address on the local network “LAN” side of you router which provides the network address translation “NAT” over to the public IP side “WAN side” of the router). This number is usually something like 192.168.1.1

    8. Click the radio button next to “Use the following DNS server addresses:” and, under preferred DNS server, enter the same server IP address (that you chose) for the IP address of the server. It is important to include this server’s IP in the DNS server list as the first entry in the list of DNS servers. You can add other alternated DNS servers that you maintain or as provided by your ISP. Note that later when installing Exchange Server, it may be necessary to correct the first DNS to 127.0.0.1 (your server’s localhost) and secondary DNS to the local IP assigned to the network interface of the server, such as 192.168.1.2.  Otherwise, Exchange installation wizard will give you a warning that an MX record or an Address (A) record cannot be verified on the IP address 127.0.0.1 (or on 192.168.1.1 as the case may be at the time).

    9. Note: Exchange 2010 requires that you leave IP v6 enabled. So, do NOT disable IP v6 or else the Exchange Hub Transport Service will not start when exchange is installed.

    10. Close the network connections screen

  3. Install Active Directory. When Active Directory is both installed and configured (a two step process), then Windows Server will be a Domain Controller

    1. Go to “Computer Management” screen and press the “Add Roles” link. Under “Server Roles” it says “Select one or more roles to install on this server.”

    2. Check the box next to “Active Directory Domain Services” at which time the add roles wizard says that “you cannot install Active Directory Services unless the required features are also installed. The “Features:” list will include .NET Framework 3.5.1 Features

    3. Click the Button for “Add Required Features” and acknowledge by clicking “Next”

    4. The installation will scan and inform of any other prerequisites. If there are other prerequisites or errors, please correct these and repeat the add roles installation

    5. When the Setup program says that all prerequisites are met, then click the install button to commence this installation process. The setup program will now install Active Directory on your Server

    6. When the installation is completed, there should be a message indicating that the “Installation Succeeded”

    7. Click “Close” to close the Add roles wizard’s “Installation Results” screen in order to return to the Server Management screen.

  4. Configure Active Directory. You should see that the role of Active Directory Domain Services is installed when you are viewing the Server Manager page. It will show a red “x” to indicate the Active Directory Domain Services have errors, namely, that these Services have not been configured.

    1. Click on the line under Roles that is labeled “Active Directory Domain Services” and the Server Manager will show you a page about the status of the Active Directory Role.

    2. Click on the link that says “Run the Active Directory Services Installation Wizard (dcpromo.exe)” and click “Next” when the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard appears.

    3. The Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard will display information about Server 2008 domain controllers having a new more secure default for the security setting named “Allow cryptography algorithms compatible with Windows NT 4.0” (which setting is disabled or not configured by default). It explains that this setting prevents Windows and non-Microsoft SMB clients from using weaker NT 4.0 style cryptography algorithms. As a result, applications that require a security channel serviced by Server 2008 domain controllers might fail, for example, certain NAS devices that do not support stronger cryptography algorithms, and certain operations on clients running versino of Windows earlier than Vista SP1 are also impacted. If this is going to be a problem, see KB Article 942564 http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=104751 The following hotfix package may be applied to computers that are running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 to resolve this issue: http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/944043 Description of the Windows Server 2008 read-only domain controller compatibility pack for Windows Server 2003 clients and for Windows XP clients and for pre-sp1 Windows Vista. CLICK NEXT.

    4. Choose a Deployment Configuration. At this point, you can create a domain controller for an existing forest or for a new forest.

      1. If this Exchange Server will be the first Domain Controller, then choose the radio button for “create a new domain in a new forest” and click the Next button.

      2. If there is an existing Domain Controller and you want to continue the same domain name, then you may wish to choose the radio button “Existing Forest” and the sub-radion button for either: “Add a domain controller to an existing domain” or “Create a new domain in an exiting forest” in which case this server will become the first domain controller in the newly created domain.” Click the Next button.

    5. Enter the name of your local Domain, which will be the domain name that Exchange will associate with all of your email. When creating a new domain name in a new forest, this domain name becomes the “Name of the Forest Root Domain” because the first domain in the forest is the forest root domain. It’s name is also the name of the forest. Note: If you are on a local network (LAN) behind a router’s NAT firewall, then you may want to distinguish your local network domain name from your public domain name by using either the suffix “.local” or “.lan” instead of a public network domain suffix like “.com” or “.net.” Once you have decided on the name of your internal domain, this name will be your Active Directory Domain and the domain that is serviced by Exchange.

      1. You will enter this internal domain name in the input box under the heading “FQDN of the forest root domain.” Click the Next button.

    6. Set Forest Functional Level. The Installation Wizard will now ask you about compatibility of domain controller active directory servers at the forest level. If you plan to have domain controllers running various versions of Active Directory, then you will want to chose a function level to include the lowest version of Windows Server that you are using for domain controllers. For example, if you have and plan to keep a Windows 2003 domain controller in service, then select “Windows Server 2003” from the drop down list and click Next.

    7. Set Domain Functional Level. The Installation Wizard will now ask you a similar question about domain controller active directory server compatibility at the domain level. Include the same function level namely the lowest version of Windows you plan to use for domain controllers. For example, if you have and plan to keep a Windows 2003 domain controller in service, then select “Windows Server 2003” from the drop down list and click Next.

    8. Additional Domain Controller Options. The installation wizard recommends to install the DNS Server service on the first domain controller. So, if this is the first domain controller, check the box to add DNS Server service and make this domain controller a DNS server running locally. Note: The first domain controller in a forest must be a global catalog server and cannot be an RODC. The Installation Wizard will also automatically make this computer a global catalog server if a new forest and first domain are being created. Press Next.

    9. Specify Location for Database, Log Files, and SYSVOL. You can specify where you want Active Directory to store its data. If you only have one drive in your Server, then it is recommended to use the prepopulated defaults. If you have multiple drives, you can select which drive to use. Click Next.

    10. Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password. The Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator account is different from the domain Administrator account. Assign a password for the Adminstrator account that will be used when this domain controller is started in Directory Services Restore Mode. Write down the password. It is different than the domain Adminstrator password, and will not change when the domain Adminstrator password is changed.

    11. Review Your Selections. The Installation Wizard will summarize the configuration that it is about to create. To start the process of configuring your new Domain Controller, click Next.

      1. The Installation Wizard will show its progress as it configures your Server. This will take a long time. The installation wizard dialog says “The wizard is configuring Active Directory Domain Services. This process can take from a few minutes to several hours, depending on your environmnet and the options that you selected. . . . Installing Group Policy Management Console . . . ” No need to check the box that says Reboot on completion.

      2. When the installation is complete, you will be shown a final screen. Click Finish.

      3. Then, restart your computer. Click “Restart Now” to restart your computer so that the changes made by the Active Directory Domain Services Installation wizard will take effect.

      4. After restarting, Windows should show the Server Manager. The Server Manager screen should show that Active Directory and DNS Server roles are installed. Also the process of installing Active Directory will add the features “Group Policy Management” and “Remote Server Administration Tools.”

Music

Time for Pop music

This is my first blog article.

I suggest listening to Ariana Grande’s album.My personal favorite song is “Problem with Iggy” and “Break Free”.Also if you ever download Iggy’s album make sure to downlaod the clean version.Because she sometimes says some cus words in her songs.

Computers, Networking

Windows 10 Technical Preview Accessing a Remotely Shared HP Printer On Windows XP USB Port

This article is for installing printer drivers and configuring a Windows 10 Technical Preview PC for printing to LAN-Shared HP LaserJet 2300 Series Printer that is connected and installed on a USB Port of a Windows XP PC and shared on a LAN from the XP PC. The Windows Technical Preview machine (that is, the Windows 10 PC) wants to use this remote printer shared from the XP PC, but the add printer wizard mechanisms on Win 10 refuses to install it as it searches but can’t find an appropriate driver on the Windows Update.  And, even if you visit the HP support site and download the 32 or 64 bit Universal drivers for Win 8.1,  this does not provide the necessary *.inf or printer drivers to connect to the remotely shared printer.

2014-10-23 22_48_15-

Here is the Fix or Work Around:

  1. Plug the printer directly into the Windows 10 PC.
  2. Allow Windows 10 to locate and install a driver from Windows Update. Once installed locally to the Windows 10 PC, then print something to test.
  3. Unplug the printer from the Windows 10 PC and then plug it back into the Windows XP machine. Important, you must use the same USB socket that the printer was originally connected to or you may get another 2300 Series printer detected and installed on the XP machine.
  4. Assuming the HP LaserJet 2300 is shared from within XP you now need to browse the network on the Windows 10 PC to find the remote XP machine and the shared HP Printer connected to it. When you see the shared printer, click the right mouse button on the remote printer and select ‘Make shortcut’ – a shortcut should appear on the Windows 10 desktop.
  5. Right click on the desktop shortcut and click properties. The Target box should be highlighted, so click on it and select copy.  You will be copying the network shortcut of the remote Printer, for example, \\XP-PC-Name\HP-LaserJ
  6. On the Windows 10 machine, search for and Open the “Devices and Printers” panel. The 2300 Series that you installed locally via USB socket will still exist even though the printer has been returned to the remote XP PC on the same LAN. Right click on the Printer icon and the left click “Printer Properties.”
  7.  Click the Ports tab. Then click “Add port” and then click ‘Local Port,”  When the ‘Enter Port Name’ text input box appears, paste in the Network Shortcut target information and click next.
  8. Click OK or Apply until all the boxes have gone.

You should now have a working printer!
Windows 10 treats the Printer Device on the newly installed Port like its a local printer, but you have redirected it to the LAN shared printer connected to the USB port of the XP machine.

Print a test page.  Set the 2300 as your default printer on Windows 10.

This fix is derived from the Microsoft Tech Net Forum answer proposed by Nic Bunting with regard to a Windows 7 install, posted on Monday, April 26, 2010, 11:52 AM.  See Forum Thread at:

social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/

Apparently, something similar now works for the Windows Technical Preview.

Programming

Setting File Permissions for MyBB on Linux with Apache

File Permissions

Certain file permissions are required for MyBB to function correctly. Once you’ve uploaded your files you will need to set the permissions on certain files and directories.

** On new installs (not necessarily for upgrades), before applying file permissions, rename config.default.php to config.php

*nix systems via CHMOD
If you have SSH access, you can apply the necessary permissions via the following command, executed from your root MyBB directory:

chmod 666 inc/config.php inc/settings.php
chmod 777 cache/ cache/themes/ uploads/ uploads/avatars/

Optionally, you can also apply the following permissions:

chmod 666 inc/languages/english/*.php inc/languages/english/admin/*.php
chmod 777 cache/ cache/themes/ uploads/ uploads/avatars/ admin/backups/

If you are using FileZilla you can right click on a file or directory and click File Attributes to modify the permissions of that file.

Programming

Upgrading MyBB To Version 1.8.0

Upgrade Instructions

These instructions apply to upgrades on Windows server running Apache web server as well as upgrades on linux server installations except that with linux you may need to set various folder permissions.

  • Download MyBB version 1.8.0
    http://www.mybb.com/download/
  • Extract the website files from the downloaded ZIP file into a temporary folder of your choice
  • Backup your MyBB database and all MyBB website files and folders (in case you need to revert to the previous version 1.6.15 or earlier)
  • Copy the /inc/settings.php and /inc/config.php files to a separate folder (as a backup) so that you can copy them back into the website later
  • Disable any plugins that you have installed
  • You may choose to disable the board, but I didn’t and the upgrade went fine
  • Overwrite the files and folders in the website by coping or FTP uploading all of the new extracted version 1.8.0 files and folders into your website (use the root or forum sub folder that you previously used with the existing installation of MyBB
  • Replace the newly uploaded files named settings.php and config.php with the files those same two files that you previously copied to a separate folder.
  • You may need to delete the “lock” file in the “/install” folder of your website so that you don’t receive an error message alerting you to delete the “lock” file when you access upgrade.php
  • Now for this installation — Open a web browser and enter the address to the page /install/upgrade.php
  • Select the version of MyBB that you were previously running and click Next

2014-10-11 23_15_24-MyBB Installation Wizard _ Welcome

  • Follow the upgrade process making sure each step is completed successfully before clicking next to continue with subsequent steps of the upgrade process
  • Once the upgrade process is completed, then remove the install directory from your web server (or rename it) and follow any remaining instructions in the upgrade wizard, or in the announcement for the upgrade. This can include reverting selected templates to default.

2014-10-11 23_22_37-MyBB Installation Wizard _ Upgrade Complete

  • Enable any plugins one at a time and determine whether they require updating.  Have updated plugins ready to be installed.