Dugie’s Pensieve

Here’s a something from my VM toolkit.  It’s a homebake tool I wrote in VB6, and I’ve been using for quite a few years now. 

Quite simply, the tool reads a list of configurational changes [registry changes/ scripts/ software/ installables], then you choose which ones to apply, and it goes ahead and does it.  It’s run locally on the target machine, and doesn’t require or care anything about domain membership [although you can use PSexec to invoke it remotely]. 

I’ve used this little baby to automate the build of SQL, Exchange, Web servers, Terminal Servers and more desktops than I care to remember.

These days I find I use it mostly when authoring new VMs, and rebuilding physical hosts.  It’s been a faithful way to reproduce, automate and reduce the time it takes to do all sorts of tasks — oh and it writes basic doco too!

Anyway, I’m not sure how much life is left in a tool like this, so I’ve been thinking of releasing into sourceforge/web/something.

Thoughts or comments?  Ping me directly.

I’m posting this as a result of a conversation I had earlier this week about “dude-where-is-my-stuff-in-process-explorer“- I had always assumed this was just something everyone knew.  (Like Ctrl+C in a msgbox)

Anyway, so now I thought I’d share this snippet of trivia with you.  when you use process explorer (and you should be), under Vista you will notice [by default] that “some of your stuff” is missing.  See the screen shots below.

So if this happens to you:  Hold Shift+right click, and select “Run as administrator“, and things will be as they should be.

ProcExp run as a ‘regular user’

ProcExp using ‘run as Administrator’:

Tada!

I’ve been experimenting with Virtual Machines and replication – and having a fair degree of fun (and success).

I’m replicating a VM between two locations.  Actually I’m only replicating a portion of a VM, because replicating an entire VM just isn’t possible with the bandwidth available to me here in Australia =)

So what I’ve done is created a linked clone of an OS+APPS, writing most of the temp files of to a Scratch disk.  …and it’s working pretty well.  The “replication” chunk is usually about 50 meg (I should be able to get it leaner), and the changes are about 7 meg.  Given that I’m replicating just the delta’s it’s quite manageable at the moment.

Here’s a quick sketch of how it’s working:

Now if there was I could access a copy “whilst it is in the cloud” that would be cool.  I’ll post more updates as I tinker a little more.

Powershell is here to stay.  And rightfully so, all the cool kids are using powershell these days =)

Anyway, If you’re cutting your teeth with Powershell scripts you should check out the PowerShell Scriptomatic.

I’ve taken it for a quick spin, and it’s pretty cool!

Go check out the PowerShell Scriptomatic now.

I was asked this at the Brisbane VMware usergroup tonight, and in hindsight, I should have blogged it earlier :)

Anyway, by default Windows 2008 gives you ~60 days grace if you install it without a key.  Using slmgr.vbs –rearm you can extend the evaluation up to 240 days.

Check out all the goodness in Microsoft KB 948472 "How to extend the Windows Server 2008 evaluation period", and a snippet is below:

When the initial 60-day evaluation period nears its end, you can run the Slmgr.vbs script to reset the evaluation period. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Command Prompt. 
2. Type slmgr.vbs -dli, and then press ENTER to check the current status of your evaluation period. 
3. To reset the evaluation period, type slmgr.vbs –rearm, and then press ENTER. 
4. Restart the computer.
   This resets the evaluation period to 60 days.

Yup, The beta of Hyper-V is out, and it works with Server Core!  Now just remember, Hyper-V is in now in beta, and Windows 2008 is in Release Candidate.  This means no more MSU’s — It’s a native role!!

Head on over to Microsoft Downloads and download the ISO.

What more can be said?!  Oh wait there is something:  start /w ocsetup "Microsoft -Hyper-V"

Wait, you still want more - well head on over to: Ben Armstrong for more "Hyper-V Tech Stuff!";  Jeff Woolsey for more "Viridian Video action".

A:  You bet it does, and it works very well — ideal for those servers that don’t or won’t have a DVD Drive.

You’ll need a 4Gb USB Key, a high speed USB key is preferred.  Plug it into your workstation and format it using diskpart:

When the format is finished, robocopy your Windows 2008 CD across (robocopy E:/s F:), and then TADA that’s it.  Plug in your USB key and boot from it - most server boards support it these days.

You can even get excited and use WAIK for the unattended installation  - read Waik.chm for more info.

PDC is one of the big premier events where all the cool stuff happens.  If you’ve been following Virtualization for the past couple of years, there is always a big ticket feature/item announced at this time.

…and PDC has lots of excellent content.

The next PDC will be in 2008 from October 27–30.  Check out the MSDN Events and Webcasts PDC08 page.

Windows Server 2008 RC1 is available for download.

The 64 bit Enterprise edition isn’t available just yet, once it’s up I’ll download it and confirm that Hyper-V is in the public release and give everyone an update.

Until then, grab a copy of the Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Windows Server Virtualization and check and see if your hardware is on the list.

UPDATE:  If you are using SUN hardware you will need to read the Sun Windows 2008 BluePrint.  Hyper-V does not run on the Sunfire as of yet.  I’m chatting with Sun about this at the moment.

Post back soon when I know more.

Phwaaar!, fellow MVP and all round really good guy, Ronald Beekelaar has created a lab walkthrough for Server and Domain Isolation in a VHD.  Nice work Ron!

The walktrough is a 22 page paper, supplied with VMs, scripts and a very sleek HTA interface.  You get to choose between two different demonstration scenarios, Basic and Advanced.

The Basic demo shows just Domain Isolation and Server Isolation — and the Advanced demo includes No Fallback Group Isolation, Boundary Group Isolation and Encryption Group Isolation.

Anyway download the Server and Domain Isolation Demo and check it out.