A colleague got some trouble connecting with the VMware Data Recovery appliance, received this warning:

Error: Could not connect to the Data Recovery on the appliance

Please make sure the Data Recovery appliance is powered on. If the problem persists, please restart the Data Recovery appliance

Time for some troubleshooting:

- Ping test was successful;
- Could resolve DNS names;
- Rebooted the appliance;
- No weird error in the event log;

Resolution:

After checking the appliance version (VMware Data Recovery 2.0.1131) and the Plugin-Version (VMware Data Recovery Plugin 1.1.37) I thought.. maybe I need to update the plugin

After upgrading the plugin to version 1.2.1.3 I was able to connect the appliance again:

Result:

More information: Troubleshooting VMware Data Recovery plug-in connection issues

This release of VMware vCenter Server 4.1 Update 1 offers the following improvements:

• Additional Guest Operating System Customization Support: vCenter Server now supports customization of the following guest operating systems:
  • Windows 7 SP1 (x32 and x64)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (x32 and x64)
  • RHEL 6.0 (x32 and x64)
  • RHEL5.5 (x32 and x64)
• Additional vCenter Server Database Support: vCenter Server now supports the following databases:
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP3
  • Oracle 11g Standard/Enterprise Release 2, 11.2.0.1.0 or later,  (x32 and x64)
  • IBM DB2 9.7.2 Express C (x32 and x64)
  • IBM DB2 9.7.2 Enterprise (x32 and x64)
    For more information about using IBM DB2 – 9.7.2 database with vCenter Server 4.1 Update 1, see KB 1033201.
• Resolved Issues: In addition, this release delivers a number of bug fixes that have been documented in the Resolved Issues

Download: VMware

New Features in VMware Workstation and VMware Player

 
Highlights:

 

• VMware vSphere 4.1 is now supported as a guest operating system ;
• Resolves issue preventing USB service to fail to start causing USB devices to not work in a virtual machine;
• Corrects the error message displayed after a host crash occurs while working with the virtual machine;
• Enables mapping multiple partitions of a VMDK to your host machine with write access;

• OpenGL 2.1 support for Windows 7 and Windows Vista guests — Improves the ability to run graphics-based applications in virtual machines.
• Improved Graphics Performance — Enhanced performance with better benchmarks, frame rates, and improved rendering on Windows 7 and Windows Vista guests allows you to run various graphics-based applications. In addition, major improvements in video playback enable you to play high-resolution videos in virtual machines.
• Automatic Software Updates — Download and install VMware Tools, new, and maintenance release updates when available.

Read more…

Repair svchost.exe

- Boot your server/computer is Safe Mode

The Windows Taskbar disappeared so you can run CMD by pressing “Windows + R” or press “CTRL + ALT + DEL” and press CRL when you click on File > New Task (RUN).

Repair SVCHOST

- C:\ [ENTER]
- cd windows\$NTServicePackUninstall$ [ENTER]
- copy svchost.exe c:\windows\system32\ [ENTER]

svchost.exe will replaced, if not you can repair it by using the i386 folder:

- C:\
- cd i386 [ENTER]
- expand svchost.ex_ c:\windows\system32\svchost.exe [ENTER]

Mcafee Antivirus

Now you need to rollback to the latest DAT definition of the McAfee Framework:

Start -> Programs-> McAfee -> McAfee Console-> Tools-> DAT’s rollback–> Answer YES to confirm

More information about DAT 5958: NAI