Last weekend I downloaded the OpenFiler v.2.3 iso to configure the Central Storage solution in my homelab. After installing the software in a new VM I figured out how to configure iSCSI targets and present them to my ESX servers…
I’m running both VMware ESX 4.0 and ESXi 4.0 in my lab and both provide iSCSI functionality by default to connect through to an iSCSI target.
After I installed OpenFiler in a VM I connected to https://ip:446, you can manage your service account with the created root account and you can manage the OpenFiler with the following credentials Username: Openfiler Password: password
My configuration staps…
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Configure OpenFiler:
Create a new volume group:
1. Physical Volume – Assigning space on a physical disk for use in a Volume Group.
2. Volume Group – Contains Physical Volumes from which a Logical Volume will be created.
3. Logical Volume (LUN) – This is what is presented through to a server

- Select volume and give a volume group name (in my case VMpros)
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RV Tools version 2.9 is released by Rob de Veij, whats new:
- On vHost tab new fields: Vendor and model.
- On vHost tab new fields: Bios version and Bios release date.
- On vInfo tab new field: VM overall size in bytes (visible when using VI API 4.0)
- On vSnapshot tab new fields: Snapshot filename and size in bytes (visible when using VI API 4.0)
- New vNic tab. The vNic tab displays for each physival nic on the host the following fields: Host, datacenter, cluster name, network device, driver, speed, duplex setting, mac address, PCI and wakeon switch.
- Layout change on vHost, vSwitch and vPort tabpages. They now all start with host name, datacenter and cluster name.
- The commandline function ExportAll extended with an extra optional parameter. It’s now possible to specify the directory where the export files are written.
Latest Version: 2.9 | April, 2010
Download | Documentation
The NoDrives tool creates a ADM files to remove the icons representing selected drives from My Computer and from Windows Explorer. Also, the drive letters representing the selected drives do not appear in the standard Open dialog box.
This tool creates a easy to use Group Policy Template. You do not need to calculate the drive value you only have to check the drives you want to hide and create the ADM.
APPLIES TO
- Windows Server 2008 R2
- Windows Server 2008
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003,
- Microsoft Windows 2000
Some “blogging” colleagues posted their home lab configuration on the internet, see the list below:
I also give it a try and post my test lab on my blog.
I own 3 physical machines that I moved a few months ago to the datacenter at my work in Soest (the Netherlands). With a VPN tunnel from my Cisco ASA 5505 (at home) to the datacenter, my 50/50 mbit ISP, it feels like the systems are near me 
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Guillermo Musumeci has written a good tool for removing HP Proliant Support Pack, also a good tip @ Twitter: “Nice tool before p2v action” indeed, you must remove all driver software before you start p2v .

Download: Here
Xtravirt published vLogView 1.0.4.0, with this tool you can view/search easy in VMware ESX events, by connecting vCenter server you can add multiple hosts and download the logfiles for some troubleshooting.

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Scenario A: Applies to Backup Exec 12
Backup Exec 12 requires Symantec Endpoint Protection 11.0 or later or the Management Console for the same to be installed on the Media Server to use ThreatCon level to trigger backup jobs. The above alert is encountered if the ThreatCon Level is not updated.
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Today I got many problems with my Citrix 4.5 farm, by opening Presentation Server Console i got this error:
Error code 0 (0) occurred while attempting to execute ‘C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_11\bin\javaw.exe’ with working directory ‘C:\PROGRA~1\Citrix\ADMINI~1\ctxload.exe

In de Application Eventlog I receive MSI install errors by opening Presentation Server Console:
Detection of product ‘{44412985-02EE-4824-9EA5-B2AF6D98924E}’, feature ‘CTX_MF_MetaFrame_Core’ failed during request for component ‘{79ED246A-69C7-4CEF-B5A2-57EC3B86BC31}’
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This week our backup server had to be replaced. So we installed the new server. Installed Backup EXEC 12.5 on the new server. But I want on the new server al my jobs, policies, selection lists and catalogs. After some google search I had found all the info I need to do this.
In the following article I’ll show you how you can do this.
SERVER01 the old backup server
SERVER02 the new backup server
To download the latest version check your “Your Symantec License Certificate” email you received from Symantec. Find the Backup EXEC serial number and Enter the Serial Number from the Certificate to logon to the fileconnect site. Follow the link to the FileConnect User Guide for more info.
1. Install a fresh copy of Backup EXEC on the new server SERVER02. Run LiveUpdate to download the latest hotfix and service packs
2. Upgrade your old backup EXEC version to the latest version. If you are upgrading from 9.X first upgrade to 10.X and then upgrade to the latest version. On SERVER01 and SERVER02 should run the same BACKUP EXEC version. Also run LiveUpdate to download the latest hotfix and service packs.

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