Enabling NTP service on Windows Server 2008 / 2008R2

Published on in Management, Windows SBS Server, Windows Server by Elvis

Setting time server on Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 appears to be still difficult for some administrators. For this reason I have decided to write on my blog how to set it from command prompt. It exists also a version to modify the same settings from registry, but I prefer other ways.
If you want to set time services, the command prompt must be opened as administrator. There you must write some commands:

  • w32tm /config /manualpeerlist:ntp1.arnes.si /syncfromflags:MANUAL /reliable:yes – this command will configure the NTP server to ntp1.arnes.si (of course you can use other servers) and set the synchronization. Switch syncfromflags has two options MANUAL if you synchronize from the manual peer list (in our case), or DOMHIER if you want to synchronize from the DC (this of course exclude manualpeerlist switch). Switch Reliable sets this computer as a reliable time service.
  • w32tm /config /update – of course you must update the configuration and this is done in this step.
  • net stop w32time and net start w32time – you must restart the time service for applying the use of the desired configuration.
  • w32tm /resync /rediscover – this step is an optional, but is very good for testing. The only thing we do here is forcing the synchronization. This is very nice to test if everything is OK.

This are commands to set NTP time server, but don’t forget that the NTP server must be reachable from your computer. There are a lot of errors in this step,so put a look to firewalls if the port UDP 123 is open. The list of NTP servers is here. You will found one that is OK for you.

One of the SMB150 winners!

Published on in Management, Virtualization, Windows, Windows SBS Server by Elvis
Thanks to everyone who helped me to be one of the SMB 150 Influencers for 2012, the event organized by SMB Nation and SMB Technology Network. I am very excited about this. On SMB 150 site you can read “The SMB 150 honors individuals who have made a significant impact on the worldwide small and medium business (SMB) channel” and I am very happy to be part of this story and to know, that I am doing a good job. Thanks again to my supporters!

 

SMB_150_Winners_Press_Release.pdf (266.62 kb).

Disable screen saver, enabled with group policy (Windows 7)

Published on in Windows, Windows Server by Elvis

Of course, at the beginning, you must exclude the computer from the region where the policy is applied. If the policy is still active at the computer, you cannot change any setting applied with GP.
After GP is disabled, you must change few values in the registry:

  • 1. The registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesSystem
    • ScreenSaverActive for Enable (1) or Disable (0) screen saver
    • ScreenSaverIsSecure for Enable (1) or Disable (0) password protected screen saver
    • ScreenSaveTimeOut for number of seconds that the screen saver will be going on
  • 2. The registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USERControl PanelDesktop – I suggest to view and set up the same values also here (keys are very similar), but this is not a group policy setting; it is a normal windows setting.

Remark 1: I found in some cases also an another registry key to be modified: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePolicesMicrosoftWindowsControl PanelDesktop. Please look also at this point..

Error 503 when browsing companyweb on SBS 2011

Published on in Windows SBS Server by Elvis

This is just another case, when you will receive “HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable”.
In my case I have started form this warning:

Log Name: Application
Source: Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles General
Event ID: 1509
Level: Warning
User: DOMAINspwebabb
Description: Windows cannot copy file ?C:UsersDefaultAppDataLocalMicrosoftExchange Serverv14Configuration5464_100.sqm to location ?C:UsersTEMP.DOMAIN.001AppDataLocalMicrosoftExchange Serverv14Configuration5464_100.sqm. This error may be caused by network problems or insufficient security rights.
DETAIL – Access is denied.

At first sight I ignored this issue (it seems to be an Exchange problem),but when I look into the username,I saw it was a SharePoint related problem. To repair it, you must give to the reported file sufficient rights. You can do this by going to the specified folder, right click on the file and select the properties. On the Security tab click Advanced and Continue on the warning. When the dialog box is open, the only thing you have to do is to check the “Include inheritable permissions from this object’s parent” checkbox. Close all the windows with OK and from the Administrative command prompt type IISReset /noforce.
That’s all..

Solving the Error 10016 on SBS 2008 and SBS 2011

Published on in Windows SBS Server, Windows Server by Elvis

A very common problem in the SBS server is the Error 10016. This error occurs as a result of incorrect rights on the service IIS WAMREG admin. This issue is not difficult to solve, but you must correct the registry key and the DCOM object:

  • Run regedit.exe and locate HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTAppID{61738644-F196-11D0-9953-00C04FD919C1} key
  • Right click on the key and select Permissions and then Advanced
  • The first thing to do is to give the ownership to the Administrators group in the Owner tab
  • After this, you have to switch to the Permissions tab and add to the Administrators group full control rights. DO NOT CHANGE OTHER PERMISSIONS!
  • Now you have to open the Component service (dcomcnfg.exe) and navigate to the Console Root > Component services > My Computer > DCOM Config. On this location you will find the IIS WAMREG admin component. Right click on it and select Properties.
  • On the Security tab, under Launch and Activation Permissions,select Edit
  • Here you must enable the Local Activation right to the SharePoint Farm Account
  • Close all windows with OK.

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