Sigh, I hater server upgrades

Wed 28, Thr 29 worked on replacing old SBS2003 server with SBS2008 on newer hardware. One forgets what a pain in the butt is to xfer the exchange mail stores and more work stations in the domains.

As Usual, it takes three times longer, do to backing up mail stores.
 

Time for a home Workstation / Server redo

Some details on latest project.   I've been Using AMD processors for 5 years or so, and have been pleased with the results, unlike most people, I have kissed off Micro$oft WinBloze for normal use. I have been using Fedora for last few years,
since I am very much a Redhat / Centos fanboy.

So on to details of latest Machine.

AMD FX-9590 oem 4.77Ghz  Processor.
Since the price on this chip is almost affordable, I used it.  Biggest Issue
220 Watt TDP.  This chip tends to fry eggs.

32GB of Ram

AMD OEM closed loop Water Cooling Kit.

NVIDIA Corporation GM107 [GeForce GTX 750 Ti] (rev a2)  

ASUS Sabertooth 990FX R2.0 Motherboard

600 Watt Power Supply

1 TB Seagate Drive
2 TB Seagate Drive

128 GB SSD 

Dual 27" Monitors

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

System is loaded with Fedora 20.
1TB Drive is  Root Drive
2TB Drive is  /Home

SSD Drive is used for BCache Drive Caching.

Performance is very "Nice".

KVM/Qemu is used for Virtualization of Linux / Windows Guests.
 
 

Virtualbox Saves a dying PC

Hello All,

Saved a dying PC that was critical to a CPA...   Had an XP system hosting older
Software that will not run on current Win7 machines.  CPA's motherboard died and I used a workstation Imaging product (EeaseUS) to back and bare metal restore to a Virtual Box VM to allow the CPA to continue to work on the critical software on the old XP image.

So I am looking around and am seeing the cost 4gb pc ram sticks are way low now, and the 8gb ram sticks are under $90..  Amazing...

Makes possible some really awesome servers and workstations.

Amd and Intel are going to be nuking each other around Xmas season with
CPU chips.  Should be interesting.

Its been a while since I published here,  Last part of August I have been installing more desktops into a charter school.  Switching from Symantec End Point protection to Panda Security End Point protection.   A few problems encountered.  Sigh

Remote Update Follies - Or I must be Crazy

Today was fun..  One the consultants that I know wanted help updating her home network.  WiFi had failed.  So talk her thru new router setup, and install of access point.  Use GoToPC  setup up vpn sessions and do updates on Laptops.   It is a pain, but saves driving or flying to Lodi, CA.

Have Fun!

Updating Trend Micro Worry Free Business Security on an SBS 2003 Server

Well yesterday was uh, fun.   I had to update a SBS 2003 servers' Trend Micro Worry Free Business Security from Ver 6.0 to 7.0 Build 3.

Called support @Trend Micro and was assured was a Simple Upgrade. ( Never is with Trend Micro).  Downloaded current version of Software.  Run Installer.  Everything was ok untill Access denied message on folder.  Call support.  Asked to kill installer.  Protested that this would create havoc.  Did abort.  Restart installer.  Run Custom install, Same error, support put me on hold and dropped call.

Repeat re-run same crap with second agent.   Also dropped call. 

Third agent actually stayed with me on call.  Suggested Restart.  Removed couple of folders.  Install finished after 1.5 hours, but local security agent install hung.  Reboot server.  Download agent un-installer.  No good.  Resorted to manual Regedit removal.  Sigh.   Fixed problem, and install finished.

Don't use Trend Micro on Servers,  I've had better luck with Panda, AVG, Norman, or others.   Sigh.

Your Mileage may Vary.