File and Print Server Support Services

Conversion of Primary DNS Server to an Active Directory Integrated Primary Server

2010-02-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

Every website on Internet has a unique URL, which locates the website. The URL consist of the domain name, which is converted into the corresponding IP address with the help of DNS server.
You can also convert your Primary DNS server to an Active Directory Integrated Primary server, instead of adding secondary DNS servers. The concept behind adding secondary DNS server is to avoid any failure. With the following steps you can convert Primary DNS Server to Active Directory Integrated Primary server on Windows Server 2003:
STEP 1: On the current DNS server, start DNS Manager.
STEP 2: Right-click a DNS zone, click Properties, click the General tab, and then note the Type value. This will be Primary zone, Secondary zone or Stub zone.
STEP 3: Click Change.
STEP 4: In the Change Zone Type box, click to select the “Store the zone” in Active Directory check box. When you are prompted to answer whether want this zone to become Active Directory integrated, click Yes, and then click OK.
When you complete all the steps, then in the Domain properties, type will be shown as "Active Directory-Integrated". You can supplement other DNS servers in the domain controller after its replication becomes complete. So, in this way you can supplement other DNS servers, which lead to removal of any point of failure.

Remote Support Services

2010-02-08T12:32:00.000-08:00

Remote support services are an array of technical services offered through the Internet. Many technical service providers offer remote support for a range of services. Your system should have an Internet connection in order to utilize remote support services.

Services offered through remote support are enlisted below:

· Software installation

· Virus removal

· Windows upgrades

· System tune-up and routine maintenance to speed up the computer

· Configuring settings for e-mail, or Internet, or Microsoft Office

· Removal of spyware applications

· Troubleshooting

· Internet optimization

· Support for peripheral devices

Along with these services, remote support provides you many benefits. Most important benefit is the availability; you can access remote support from anywhere in the world. You do not have to take your system to any service provider, and no need to call someone at your premises.

You just have to contact any technical service provider, and your issue gets resolved. A technician from your service provider will access your system via remote connection. After that, he will diagnose the issue that is not letting your system perform better and fix it simultaneously.

So, it is viable to say that remote support services are much better than traditional services. You just have to pay once and get access to a wide variety of services through remote support.

Windows Server Support

2010-02-07T13:20:00.000-08:00

Microsoft had launched a series of server operating systems under the brand name Windows Server. Some of the server operating systems are, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 Server and others.
Microsoft offers support for all its products including server operating systems. You can visit Microsoft support website, in case you have any technical issues related to Windows Servers.
You can receive a lot of information related to Windows Servers from Microsoft support website. Some of the issues on which you can receive information are, how to configure an authoritative time server in Windows Server 2008 R2, how to troubleshoot shutdown problems in Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 service pack 1 support tools, how to lock down Windows Server 2003, how to configure Internet printing in Windows Server 2003, how to enable Telnet Server in Windows 2000 Server and many others.
Beside this, you can contact a technical service provider for Windows Server support. Technicians at technical service providers make use of remote connection in order to access your system online. After accessing your system, your issues will be analyzed and resolved. So, you do not have to take pain of inviting a technician at your own place because your issues will be resolved through the Internet.

How to enable DHCP on Windows 7?

2010-02-03T12:33:00.000-08:00

DHCP Server for Windows 7
DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server offers information about IP address, subnet mask and default gateway to the clients. DHCP server for Windows 7 has been enhanced in many areas like support for SSID caching, optimization for obtaining IP address and others.
Suppose, your Windows 7 computer is connected to an intranet having multiple subnets and the Internet, but having a default gateway for both adapters. In this situation, you can either communicate with all computers on the intranet or Internet, but not with both of them. In order to solve this problem, you have to configure a default gateway with the adapter connected to the Internet. This is where the role of DHCP server comes into play.
In case, you want to configure a default gateway on Windows 7 PC follow the procedure:
STEP 1: Open Network Connections by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type adapter, and then, under Network and Sharing Center, click View network connections.
STEP 2: Right-click the network adapter that you want to configure a default gateway for, and then click Properties. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
STEP 3: Click the Networking tab.
STEP 4: Under “This connection uses the following items”, click either Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) or Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6), and then click Properties.
STEP 5: In the dialog box that appears, select either “Obtain an IP address automatically” or “Use the following IP address”.
a) If you configure the network adapter to obtain an IP address automatically, the default gateway is assigned by the DHCP server.
b) If you manually specify an IP address configuration, the default gateway is the IP address in the Default gateway box on the General tab
After completing this procedure, you can configure a default gateway on your Windows 7 PC.

Benefits of Print Server

2010-01-31T09:08:00.000-08:00

Print server can be a computer or any device which is capable of connecting with one or more printers along with the client computers over a network.
Print server has many benefits because it lowers the administrative and management workload. A print server enables an administrator to manage and control access to each printer. Three level of printer permissions are available, print, manage documents and manage printer. Print permission is granted to everyone in the group. It allows a user to print documents, pause, resume, start and cancel his documents.
Manage documents permission is allocated by administrator to some selected users for controlling job settings for all documents. Manage printer permission enables the user to pause and restart the printer, share a printer, adjust printer permissions, modify printer properties and modify spooler settings.
Client computer jobs are quickly spooled to print server when compared to printer. The main point to be noted is that while printing large jobs from an own printer, resources of client computer are used and he may have to leave his computer running until printing task gets completed. But with the use of print server, if any job has been spooled to it, then user can shutdown his system without any harm.
Print server can also work according to priority of documents. The document with the highest priority will be printed first.

Windows Server 2008 - Top 5 Extraordinary Features

2010-01-23T01:58:00.000-08:00

Server 2008 is one of Microsoft Windows' server series of operating systems. It is the successor to Windows Server 2003. Like Windows Vista and Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 is built on Windows NT 6.x. In this blog we’ll discuss some of its extraordinary features.
NTFS - Windows’s server 2008 used an improved version of NTFS, a new system service works in the background that can identify a file system error, and perform an automatic healing process without anyone taking the server down.
Address Space Load Randomization (ASLR) -Probably one of the most divisive included features already, especially since it’s introduced with Vista, ASLR makes sure that no two subsequent instances of an operating system load the same system drivers in the same location in memory each time.
Powershell - It's a part of the shipping operating system: the completely new command line tool that can either supplement or completely replace GUI-based administration.
Server-Core - Windows Server 2008 introduces a variation of installation called Server Core. Server Core is a radically scaled-back installation where no Windows Explorer shell is installed. All configuration and maintenance is performed completely through command line interface windows, or by connecting to the machine remotely using Microsoft Management Console. However, Notepad and some control panel applets, such as Regional Settings, are available.
Windows System Resource Manager- It offers resource management and can be very handy to control the amount of resources a process or a user can use based on business priorities. Process Matching Criteria, which is defined by the name, type or owner of the process, imposes restrictions on the resource usage by a process that matches the criteria. CPU time, bandwidth that it can use, number of processors it can be run on, and allocated to a process can be restricted. Restrictions can be set to be imposed only on certain dates as well.

Windows 7 DHCP Server - Steps for better networking

2010-01-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

The concept of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is an important aspect for better network in regards with security, reliability, manageability and usability. It also avoids conflict between similar IP addresses, which are often caused due to human error. Moreover, it has simplified the job of administrator where they don’t need to assign IP address again and again.
When this technology is implemented with Windows 7 user can gain excellent internet experience over their mobile network.
Key advantage of DHCP server along with Windows 7
• Easy to locate the client with the distinct IP address
• Easy to manage the client computer
• Least resource consumption, which attributes for enhance network performance
Hence, DHCP server along with Windows 7 will be very useful for the businesses and enterprises to manage their business from remote places over the laptop and PDAs mobile. This will increase the pace of communication with utmost security.
Let’s see how we can configure DHCP server for Windows 7.
STEP 1. Click Start, Control Panel, and then click Add Or Remove Programs
STEP 2. Select “Add/Remove Windows Components”
STEP 3. It will initiate Windows Components Wizard
STEP 4. From the Components list box, select Networking Services, and then click the Details button
STEP 5. The Networking Services dialog box opens
STEP 6. In the Subcomponents Of Networking Services list box, check the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol checkbox
STEP 7. Click OK
STEP 8. Click Next
STEP 9. On the Windows Components Wizard page you will get the prompt of Complete process. Click “Finish”
Hope, you will find this blog extremely useful.

Role of IT Server in Business Growth

2010-01-13T08:35:00.000-08:00

IT server has changed the scope of business. Now the business has gained a global dispersal leading a healthy competition and better productivity.
Role of IT server
• Facilitates quick access of data over LAN and WAN
• Allows centralized data storage
• Centralized backup
• Implement efficient data security
• Permit resource sharing
• Secure data sharing
IT server should be dynamic in function, it must manage, store, send and process data on 24/7/365 basis. Hence, it should be reliable and secure. To get the job done, it must be equipped with:
• Duel processors; either equipped or capable
• Redundant hard drives or power supplies
• Hot swappable components
• Internet security package and firewall
Different IT servers are required to accomplish different tasks. Accordingly we can have the following categories of IT server.
Application IT Server: These are deployed for managing the multiple applications over a LAN or WAN from a centralized administrator computer. Different work stations are managed with respect to data flow. In order to manage huge application an IT server must have built-in redundancy, monitors for high-availability, high-performance distributed application services and support for complex database access.
Print IT Server: Installation of Print IT Server is a cost-effective approach and reduces the number of printer. You can share a single printer over your entire LAN network. Your print IT server will manage the print file request and sends the file to the requested printer.
Database IT Server
Design and architecture of Database IT server is resembles with client/server architecture model. Total number of applications running over the server is divided into two parts: a front-end running on a workstation (where users collect and display the database information) and the back-end running on a server where you need to perform data analysis and storage.
Mail IT Server: This is a life blood of corporate networks (LANs and WANs). It would facilitate easy, fast and cheap mode of communication. It will manage your e-mail clients.
Web IT Server: It is extremely useful for processing request of web browser through HTTP communication. Hence large enterprises who owns their websites needs to have an efficient Web IT server, so that the customer request can be processed without any delay.
FTP IT Server: Enterprises who have their offices in multiple locations should amend dynamic and reliable IT server, so that the file and data can be shared over the Internet without any issue. Hence, important for both downloading and uploading of a file.
Proxy IT Server: If your server is getting overloaded with client request you can establish a Proxy IT server which intermediates between web browser and real server. Real role is to maintain a time gap and perform filtration of request. Hence, it’s important for the security concern too.

Smart IT support for healthy competition

2010-01-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

IT industry has become the backbone of every infrastructure. Hence, vitality of IT support has increased by manifolds. IT support is available for every segment of users. Home user can take the IT support for their personal desktop or laptop. Businesses and enterprises need it to keep their Windows server running in smooth condition with maximum productivity.
Scope of IT support
• Installation and upgrade of operating/application software
• Cognizant solution on feature and product
• Develop user-interface program
• Troubleshoot and fix any bug
• Data backup and recovery
• Joint product analysis with manufacturer/developer
• Manage Internet security
Different enterprises are offering reliable and authentic IT support services on both remote and onsite visit basis. Remote support is getting too much popular because it is more reliable genuine and available round the time without any restriction of territorial boundary.
If you are equipped with reliable IT support service, you can concentrate on your core business in a better way. For every segment of user, they have consolidated and specific tariff plans.
Manufacturers of computer and software giants are working in collaboration with the certified Microsoft technical groups in order to build better customer relationship. They are outsourcing IT support to make it more authentic and cost efficient. But don’t worry for customer understanding services are available in plain English. Globally recognized organizations are offering IT server support in all languages to meet their objectives.

iYogi Secures $15 Million in Funding Led by Draper Fisher Jurvetson to Fuel Surging Market Share in Rapidly Growing Consumer Tech Support Market

2010-01-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

Significant New Round of Funding to Build on iYogi’s Global Delivery Platform and Enhanced Services with Channel Partners

New York, NY, January 6, 2010: iYogi, the fastest growing on-demand consumer tech services company, announced today it has raised $15 million in funding to accelerate the company’s continued global growth in consumer remote tech support services. Draper Fisher Jurvetson joined continuing investors Canaan Partners; SAP Ventures, a division of SAP AG; and SVB India Capital Partners in the new financing.

iYogi will use the investment capital to enhance services, expand its team of Global Tech Experts, and build on the significant growth it has experienced in the last year. Since 2008, iYogi has seen 300 percent growth in revenues and subscribers, and has doubled its employee base to 1,200. For the next year, iYogi is forecasting an additional 300 percent revenue growth and an increase to 3,000 Global Tech Experts worldwide.

“The surging demand for remote technical services stems from the critical need for computer owners to keep their systems up and running and retailers to differentiate their offerings, particularly as the PC market becomes increasingly commoditized and competitive,” said Mohanjit Jolly, Executive Director at Draper Fisher Jurvetson India. “With its global team of experts, advanced support services and intelligent knowledge platform, iYogi is well-positioned for significant expansion and differentiation in this category, and is partnering with top tier retailers, ISP’s, OEM’s and software vendors to broaden its footprint.”

iYogi’s Global Delivery Platform is powered by Microsoft Certified tech experts, an extensive knowledge base and advance tools for diagnostics, repair and maintenance. The company has witnessed exponential growth through online direct marketing across four primary geographies - US, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. In the coming year, iYogi will continue to build on its online brand presence and expand upon its channel partnerships to accelerate global expansion in the vast market for remote computer tech support.

“We are delighted to have support from successful, high-profile venture firms like Draper Fisher Jurvetson along with Canaan Partners, SAP Ventures and SVB India Capital Partners,” said Uday Challu, co-founder and CEO of iYogi. “iYogi’s progress over the last year is both a strong reflection of the tremendous market opportunity for remote technical services and an indication of iYogi’s momentum in seizing significant market share. We are able to effectively and consistently address and resolve consumer concerns through our unique Global Delivery Model across multiple geographies with the highest resolution rates and customer satisfaction in this growing industry.”

Today, iYogi has more than 100,000 annual subscribers and provides thousands of single incident sessions every day on a 24/7 basis. Its Global Delivery Platform delivers on the highest customer quality benchmarks in the industry and gets smarter with every customer interaction, building a powerful knowledge base that provides unique customer insights on predictive needs to tech support

ABOUT DFJ

Draper Fisher Jurvetson ("DFJ") backs extraordinary entrepreneurs everywhere who set out to change the world. DFJ achieves its mission through its DFJ Global Network of Partner Funds. Together, DFJ and the Network manage over $6B and have made more than 600 investments on four continents. With a 24-year history of success across diverse sectors and market conditions, DFJ has led the way investing in emerging technologies, from the Internet and life sciences to clean energy and nanotechnology. DFJ has been proud to back over 500 companies across many sectors including such industry changing successes such as Hotmail (acquired by MSFT), Baidu (BIDU), Skype (acquired by EBAY), United Online (UNTD), Overture (acquired by YHOO), Athenahealth (ATHN), EnerNOC (ENOC), TicketsNow (acquired by TicketMaster), Feedburner (acquired by Google), Interwoven (IWOV), Four11 (acquired by YHOO), Parametric (PMTC), and Digidesign (acquired by AVID). For more information, visit: www.dfj.com

About iYogi

iYogi is a global on-demand services company that provides personalized computer support for consumers and small businesses in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. iYogi’s unique model, including proprietary technology iMantra and highly qualified technicians, is designed to eliminate computer-related stress and keep millions of digitally dependent consumers and small businesses always protected and productive. Only iYogi -- with its proven global expertise delivery model, intelligent customer insight systems, easy-to-use self-help tools and automated PC optimization and computer support services – offers users a simple yet comprehensive path to digital serenity. iYogi has perfected the remote technical support model to overcome the current limitations of in-store, on-site, or call center services to become the fastest growing provider of support in the industry. Major resellers and technology companies are increasingly turning to iYogi to improve customer satisfaction, reduce return rates, and deliver a compelling new-value added offering to customers. For more information on iYogi and a detailed list of technologies supported, visit: www.iyogi.net

Media Contact

Derek Kober

Global Fluency

Tel. :650-433-4233

Email:dkober@globalfluency.com

Contact:

Vishal Dhar

President, Marketing

Tel. : +1-212-229-0901

Email : vishal@iyogi.net

System/Server optimization using IT support

2010-01-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

IT has become the backbone of every enterprise and small business. Even on the personal level too, we can’t ignore the importance of IT. Hence, IT support services have an important role to play in the coming year. Understanding the importance, software developer and manufacturer companies are outsourcing their IT support services to Microsoft Certified technical groups.
IT support services are available for versatile segment of users. These services are available on both remote and on site-visit basis. Customer oriented enterprises are offering, IT support services in a user-friendly and cost-effective manner.

Significant role of IT support services includes:
• Intellectual counseling on the primary stage
• Optimization of the system/Server performance
• Development of qualitative IT infrastructure
• Tighten the security aspect
• Effective data backup management
• Installation of compatible software
• Perform consistent monitoring of client’s server or system

Categories of IT support services

• Support for operating system
• Support for Internet networking
• Support for Migration of system/application software
• Support for Exchange server and email client
• Support for security patches
• Support for data backup

Selection of suitable IT support services is an essential part of your business if you want to gain absolute peace of mind. In turn, you will be able to focus deeply on your business and survive in the increasing competition. Brand specific IT support services are also available like Dell support, HP support and so on.

How to manage the Network Environment using Active Directory?

2010-01-06T14:13:00.000-08:00

Active directory –a property modifier
Active directory is the protocol which provides the platform to manage the network environment. Microsoft has done enough amendment to simplify the use of Active Directory in terms of management, migration and deployment.
Important feature of Active Directory include:
• Permission of X.500 close user group professional in the same company.
• Inception of secure data management
• Presence of hierarchical system allows the system administrator to have clean information of individual user accounts
• Object-targeted storage organization, allows easy access for information from anywhere in the network.

Benefits of Active Directory
• Organizations are able to perform their regular business operating while switching over from one network to other network platform.
• Users don’t have to do much amendment in the existing network.
• Existing user accounts and resource permission will be self migrated.
• Services and application running on the existing platform would also get migrated without any effort.

Deployment of Active Directory
User should follow the below suggestion to formulate Active directory over the new server platform.
• Test and verify the deployment process.
• Against the Forest Root create a DNS.
• Create the Forest Root.
• Map a new Regional Domain.
• Import your valuable data from other sources.

Installation of DNS Server in Windows Server 2003

2010-01-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

When you browse Internet, you always write alphanumeric address in the address bar. You write these type of addresses because these are easy to remember. The main point is that any server address is in the form of IP address. Then there arises the need of translating these alphanumeric addresses in the IP addresses. Here comes the role of DNS Server. DNS Server does the task of translating the alphanumeric address into the IP address. This server is required when you write any website address in the address bar or you click on any link. Before the installation of DNS Server, you should have the information about your domain name, the IP address and host name of each server for which you want to provide name resolution.

If you want to configure your computer as a DNS Server, then the following conditions should be fulfilled:

Your operating system should be configured in the correct way. DNS service is based on the correct configuration of the operating system and its services, in case you are using the Windows Server 2003 family. You have to allocate the available disk space. All the existing disk volumes should use the NTFS file system.

If you want to install DNS Server, then follow these steps:

Click on the Start, click on Control Panel and then click on the Add or Remove Programs. After this, click on Add/Remove Windows Components. Then open the Windows Components Wizard. In the Components, pick out the Networking Services check box and then click on the Details. In the Subcomponents of Networking Services, pick out the Domain Name System (DNS) check box, click on OK and then click on the Next. If you are prompted, then type the full path of the distribution files and then click on OK. In this way DNS Server will be installed on your system.

Alteration in Terminal Server's listening port

2009-12-16T21:29:00.000-08:00

It is a well-known fact that TCP port 3389 is used by Terminal Server and Windows 2000 Terminal Services for client connections. Alteration in this port is not recommended by Microsoft. But you can change this port. You have to perform this task carefully, otherwise you will face serious problems.
You have to give more concentration while modifying the registry. If you want to change the default port, then you have to follow these steps:
You start with the task of running Regedt32 and go to this key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp. Then you have to find the port number subkey and notice the value of 00000D3D, hex is for 3389. After this, you have to change the port number in Hex and save the new value.
If you want to change the port for a particular connection on the Terminal Server, then follow these steps:
You have to run Regedt32 and go to this key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\connection. After this, you have to find the port number subkey and notice the value of 00000D3D, here hex is for 3389. Then you have to change the port number in Hex and save this new value.
After performing this, you have to make alteration in the Port on the Client Side. Follow these steps to perform this:
You have to open Client Connection Manager. Then on the File menu, click on New Connection and then create the new connection. After executing the wizard, you will view a new connection listed there. Then you have to ensure that new connection is highlighted. After this, on the File menu, click Export. Then you have to edit the .cns file using Notepad. You have to make modifications in the server port, Server Port=3389 to Server Port= new port number, that you had specified on Terminal Server. Now import the file back into Client Connection Manager. Then you will be demanded to overwrite the current one. If it has the same name, then overwrite it. In this way, you will receive a client that has the correct port settings to match your Terminal Server settings.

Wireless Print Servers

2009-12-07T03:42:00.000-08:00

A print server is basically a computer that is connected with the printers or print devices. It is composed of an operating system like Windows XP, Vista and client computers. Client computers send requests to the print server and it fulfills those requests. It processes these requests on the first come first serve basis. Now let us discuss about the wireless print server. Due to the wireless print server, one or two printers can be easily shared across a WiFi network. These are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties for home networks. Advantages of wireless print servers are as follows:

It permits that printers can be positioned anywhere, but within the network range. For performing a print job, it is not required that the computer always be turned on. It has the facility to transfer the work of a printer to another one present in the network. This feature also increases the performance of the printers. Administrators can alter the computer names and other settings, without assembling the network printing settings.

USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 is normally used for connecting the wireless print server with the printers. The print server itself can be linked with a wireless router over WiFi. For completing the initial configuration of the device, you have to install the setup software on one computer. This software is present on the CD-ROM, which is included with the print server products. Like network adapters, wireless print servers should be configured with the correct network name and encryption settings. A client software should be installed on each computer demanding the use of a printer.

How to Set Up a Di450 Print Server to Vista

2009-10-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

This post provides print server support for Microsoft windows Vista operating system and provide steps by steps solution to fix multifunction print server

The Minolta Di450 all-in-one machine is meant for high-capacity printing applications such as printing multiple documents with many pages in rapid succession for a home or office computer network. If you want all of the computers on your network to be able to access the Minolta printer individually, you can set up a print server by using the built-in networking features of the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system.

Insert the software installation disc that came with the Minolta Di450 printer into the computer on your network that is closest to the router. Follow the instructions that will pop up on the computer screen to install the Minolta printer software.

Take an Ethernet cable and connect one end into the Ethernet port on the back of the Minolta Di450 printer. Connect the other end into an open Ethernet port on the back of your network's router.

Open the "Start" menu on the computer where you installed the Minolta software. Click on the icon labeled "Control Panel." Scroll through the options and locate the icon labeled as "Network and Sharing Center." Double click the icon to bring up a new window. Click on the "View Computers and Devices" link at the left side of the window.

Click on the blue button labeled "Add A Printer" at the top of the window. Click on the "Add a Network Printer" button, then click on the "Next" button at the bottom of the window. Wait for the list of available printers to appear on the menu screen. Click on the Minolta printer, then click on "Next." Click "OK" to finish the process.

Close the "Network and Sharing Center" window. Access the other computers on the network that will need to use the Minolta printer and repeat the process of adding the printer in the "Network and Sharing Center" menu.

How To Troubleshoot a Print Server

2009-10-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

This post provides print server support to fix print server problems, If you have problem with your print server listed below you can get troubleshooting via this post.

1) If the printer is printing "garbage" characters, go to step 7b).

2) If there is a Windows error message when printing then, consult Windows Server Support.

3) Try printing from another computer. If this is successful, then there is a problem with your computer configuration, not the print server. Consult the computer and operating system documentation.

4) Turn off the print server, then turn it on. Test whether print server works.

5) Run the print server Setup Wizard. (Start > Programs > NETGEAR Print Server > NETGEAR Print Server Setup Wizard.)

6) For PC users, In the "Network Protocols on this PC" one of the three protocols must read "installed".

7) Click Next in the Wizard. If the print server is on the list found then:

(Retest your printer if you make changes to any of the following.)

7a) Check the print server's IP address. If it is 0.0.0.0, then the printer is not recognized. Unless you have a router, the print server's IP must be on the same segment. To set the IP, click Next until you see the TCP/IP screen. If you have a DHCP server on your network, select Obtain IP Address Automatically. Otherwise, click Fixed IP Address, and Suggest New Values. Click Next and Finish to exit the Wizard.

7b) If the printer does not match the printer driver in the operating system then run the Add Printer Wizard. (As described in the product manuals.)

7c) If the printer driver is PSName_Px, then run the Add Printer Wizard, or change it to the print server port.

7d) Disable the printer's bidirectional feature, if it's turned on.

8) Else, if the print server is not found:

8a) Click Refresh.

8b) Make sure you can access other places from your computer. If you can't, then troubleshoot computer or Internet connectivity.

8c) If you are running a software firewall, disable it, and use the NETGEAR firewall, instead. (It's almost certain to be faster.) This includes the Windows XP firewall — which may have been turned on during Windows upgrade or installation without you being aware of it. See Firewalls that Conflict with NETGEAR Such as Windows XP — unless you know for certain this feature isn't on.

Configuring a Windows Server 2003 File Server

2009-07-02T02:09:00.000-07:00

One of the most common reasons for setting up a server and computer network is to set the server up as a file server.

Adding the File Server Role

Luckily, Microsoft Windows Server includes an easy to use Wizard to help you set up your server as a file server.

# Go to Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Manage Your Server.
# Click the “Add or Remove a Role” link.
# On the Preliminary Steps screen, click Next.
# Under the Server Role heading, Click File Server and then click Next (Figure 1).
# On the summary screen, review the information and then click Next.
# The Add File Server Role Wizard will start. Click Next.
# Click next when prompted to install additional options. The Wizard will start configuring your server.
# After the configuration is complete, you will be prompted to reboot. Proceed and reboot the server to continue.

Configuring the Server

After the server restarts, you’ll want to set up some file shares and set permissions.

1. Log back into Windows.
2. Go to Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, File Server Management (Figure 2).
3. Expand Share Folder Management, Shared Folders, Shares.
4. You should notice a few Shares already exist – these are on all default installations of Windows. Under the Action Menu, select New Share.
5. Once the Share a Folder Wizard starts, click Next.
6. Select a location for the folder share and click Next.
7. Enter the name for your share and a description if you’d like. Click Next.
8. On the Permissions page, select the option you’d like – by default, you may choose to leave all readers with Read access.
9. Click Finish and then Close.

You’ve now shared your first user folder. End users can access this share by going to \\\ where is the name of your computer and is the name you gave the share in step 7 above.

From:http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/39793.aspx

Kaspersky releases beta Anti-Virus for Linux File Server

2009-06-24T23:42:00.001-07:00

Kaspersky Lab has released a beta-version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Linux File Server 6.0.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Linux File Server 6.0 is a solution offering antivirus protection to the vast majority of Linux file servers.

It supersedes two earlier products – Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Linux File Server 5.7 and Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Samba Server 5.5 by combining their functionalities and adding a number of new functionalities.

The architecture of Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Linux File Server 6.0 provides multilayered protection for file systems in Linux/heterogeneous networks, functioning simultaneously on the entire file system level and on the Samba server level.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus for Linux File Server 6.0 supports all modern 32-bit and 64-bit distributions of Linux-family operating systems, including Red Hat, Fedora, SUSE, openSUSE, Debian GNU, and Ubuntu. Another improvement on the previous product versions is the added support of Novell Open Enterprise Server 2 and Novell NSS.

Source:companies.mybroadband.co.za

File Sharing Goes To The Opera

2009-06-17T22:53:00.000-07:00

The folks behind Opera recently announced it has added new technology to the Web browser enabling users to turn their computers into individual servers.

According to the company, users designate the directory they wish to share with their buddies and Opera Unite generates a direct URL to that directory for distribution to others. While sending that URL to a few close friends is unlikely to cause any infringement concerns, it’s easy to imagine mailing lists consisting of hundreds of thousands of potential down loaders waiting for that specific URL.

Along with file swapping, Opera Unite also provides a media player enabling users to listen to their private digital music stash wherever they may be. Other features include “The Lounge” – a self-contained chat service you can run on your computer, and “Fridge,” which gives users a virtual refrigerator for posting notes.

While Opera Unite may be full of whiz-bang whistles and bells, as soon as the company announced the new technology, tech bloggers cited possible security problems as well as local area network (LAN) issues. With internal corporate networks often experiencing congestion problems, it’s easy to speculate as to how those problems might grow if individual computers become Web servers.

But those security concerns are based on how writers think Opera Unite may work, and are not necessarily descriptive of how the technology actually performs in the real world. Plus, when you consider how Internet technology in general often focuses on providing individual users with more power, turning desktop computers into servers is a concept that would eventually have become reality – with or without Opera Unite.

“With sever capability in the browser, Web developers can create Web applications with profound ease,” said Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner. “Consumers have the flexibility to choose private and efficient ways of sharing information. We believe Opera Unite is one of our most significant innovations yet, because it changes forever the fundamental fabric of the Web.”

Source: pollstar.com/blogs/news/archive/2009/06/17/673678.aspx

Hold Your Data with Smart File Servers

2009-06-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

Many businesses host networked storage on file servers, but as data grows, so does the need for streamlined consolidation and organization. Failure to properly manage this data growth challenge can result in unused capacity, poor availability of files and data, and difficulty in finding shared files. The good news is that network attached storage (NAS) can be a quick, easy and powerful solution to manage file data.

Through proper choices in file server solutions, businesses can save money on infrastructure, keep networked data highly available, and keep infrastructure highly scalable. Let PCMagCast, a PC Magazine editor, an expert from Hewlett-Packard, and a product manager from Microsoft teach you what the best practices are in consolidating and managing data with file servers.

In this free, 60-minute webcast, you'll find:

A complete discussion of file server options, including scalability

Information on how networked attached storage (NAS) devices can optimize file serving

A roadmap for future-proofing your file server software and hardware

How to Build a File Server?

2009-06-04T22:05:00.000-07:00

Step1: Determine the number of users who will access the server simultaneously. If the answer is 10 or fewer, the file server can be built with very modest hardware. If more than 10 users will need to access the server on a consistent, concurrent basis, consider using a faster computer with more RAM for greater performance.

Step 2: Choose an operating system for the server. This is often a matter of preference or comfort level. Linux or other free Unix-based operating systems will run on modest hardware with high performance if a graphical user interface is not installed.

Step 3: Select a hard disk with the capacity to share your files. The types of files shared will determine the size hard disk you need. If most of the files that will be served are text, word processing files or spreadsheets, a hard disk of 60 or 80 gigabytes will suffice, since these types of files are relatively small. However, if you plan on sharing music, videos, or large database files, choose a disk that has several hundred gigabytes of capacity.

Step 4: Purchase a new or used PC or build your own. Low cost, budget PCs from any of the major retailers will meet the hardware requirements for most small Linux or Windows-based file sharing applications. If using Linux or an older version of Windows for a smaller server, an older spare PC can be used, or you can get one secondhand pretty cheap. The only absolutely necessary requirement for a file server machine must meet is an Ethernet card to connect to your home or office network.

Step 5: Install extra RAM if needed. Smaller file servers will get by with 256 megabytes of RAM, while higher performance computers will need 512 megabytes or more. The more users, the more RAM you'll need.

Step 6: Install the operating system and turn the file sharing capabilities on. If using Linux for a server that will be sharing files with Windows computers, install the Samba server package on the server. If using Windows on the server, turn on file and print sharing via the administrative tools or control panel.

Source: Ehow

How to Build a Print Server From an Old Computer?

2009-05-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

Following are the steps:

Step 1: Make sure your computer is up to snuff. It doesn't take a lot to build a print server. All you need is a machine with a 386 processor or faster, 8 megs of RAM, a parallel port and a floppy drive.

Step 2: Install an ethernet network adapter card. If the machine doesn't already have an ethernet port, you'll need to install one. It doesn't have to be up-to-date either, an old 10 Mbps PCI card ought to do the trick.

Step 3: Install winzip and winimage. You'll need these programs to unpack the printer server software. Visit the Winzip and Winimage websites and read how to download and install it (see Resources below for links).

Step 4: Download the print server software. We'll be using a free print server from Pigtail.net. See the link below in Resources to download.

Step 5: Download a network card driver. You'll need a file called modules.lrp. There are many different versions of it, however, so follow the link for a modules.lrp list in the Resources section.

Step 6: Open winimage. If you installed it to the default directory, you'll need to click "Run" and then type C:\winimage\winimage.exe.

Step 7: Create a disk image. Drag and drop the printsrv image into the winimage window. This is the file you downloaded in Step 3. Next, drag and drop the modules.lrp file in.

Step 8: Save the image onto a disk. Insert a blank disk into your A drive and click Disk | Write.

Step 9: Connect your printer and power up. Connect the print server to the network. Connect a printer to the print server with a parallel printer cable, insert the disk you just wrote and boot it up. It will beep 3 times to indicate that it is ready.

Step 10: Set up client printers. In XP, click Start | Control Panel | Printers and Faxes | Add a printer | Local Printer. Uncheck "Auto Detect PnP." Click "Create new port" and then "Standard TCP/IP port." Type in the IP address as 192.168.1.252, the port name as PrintSrv and under Custom | Settings | Raw | Port, type in 9100.

Tips & Warnings

* Some printers, such as the Brother 2070N and the Dell 1710N, are able to act as a print server.
* If your network is not on 192.168.1.x, simply replace etc.lrp from the list in the resources.
* This print server does not support USB printers.

Source: ehow.com/how_2034850_build-server-computer.html

AutoVirt to Demonstrate Windows File Server Virtualization

2009-05-25T00:54:00.000-07:00

AutoVirt, the emerging leader in fully automated online data migration solutions for mid-range Windows environments (www.autovirt.com). (PRNewsFoto/AutoVirt, Inc.)

Will Highlight AutoMove(TM) Automated Data Migration, AutoClone(TM) Lightening Fast Data Replication, and AutoMap(TM) Network Discovery and Mapping

NASHUA, N.H., May 18 /PRNewswire/ --

When: Wednesday, May 20, from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. EDT

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081014/NETU030LOGO )

Where: To learn more, register and attend this live virtual event, please visit: https://www.techwebonlineevents.com/ars/eventregistration.do?mode=eventreg&F=1001561&K=MAA2.

What: AutoVirt will feature its industry leading data migration and replication solutions for Windows environments, including:

* AutoMove(TM) -- Automated File Server Virtualization Software: By leveraging advanced file virtualization technology, AutoMove, the industry's first continuous data migration (CDM) solution, allows IT management to fully-automate the data migration and management function across their entire Windows environment. By automating this process, businesses benefit from consistently optimized storage resources and the resulting dramatic decrease in capital and operational expenditures (CapEx and OpEx).
* AutoClone(TM) -- Fast and Efficient Windows Data Replication: AutoClone helps IT Management to dramatically increase the speed (up to 20 times faster than competitors) and efficiency of their Windows data replications, in order to ensure resource optimization, data protection, consistency and availability, as well as disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity.
* AutoMap(TM) -- Network Discovery and Mapping Tool: AutoMap helps IT Management discover under and over utilized Windows file server and network attached storage (NAS) resources, in physical, virtualized and mixed environments. Once identified, they are able to fine-tune these assets and defer additional server and NAS purchases.

Source:http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/05-18-2009/0005028134&EDATE=

Automate data classification with new features in Windows Server 2008 R2

2009-05-18T00:39:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has added many features to Windows Server 2008 R2, and once you install the roles and features to add these modular goodies to your implementation, there are many impressive new things you can do. In this post, I am going to look at a new feature that works for Windows Server 2008 R2 File Servers called File Classification Infrastructure.

To use the classification features, you will need to install File Server Role and the File Server Resource Manager feature(s) associated with it. To install the File Server Role, complete the following steps:

1. Open the Server Manager.
2. Scroll down to section 3, Customize This Server.
3. Click Add Roles to add server roles.
4. Select the File Services Role and complete the roles wizard.

Once the needed roles are installed, the File Server Resource Manager (FSRM) console can be launched by selecting it from the Administrative Tools group or by entering fsrm.msc in the search box on the Start menu.

Why classify data?

Classifying data can help make data more accessible (or less accessible) to the users in your environment who need it. For example, suppose the Human Resources department created a folder on the file server within their department called Litigation. In this folder they place files that are needed for any litigation the company is associated with. The permissions on the folder are configured so that HR employees can edit the contents of the folder and add documents. Senior management can read the documents in the litigation folder, and the HR manager can remove documents that are no longer needed.

The question is, how is it determined that a document is no longer needed and how do we apply these criteria to existing files in such a way that minimizes user interaction with them? The new classification feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 makes it possible to automatically assign classification information to files on file servers and apply policy to them based on that information.

Classification in Windows Server 2008 R2 consists of several elements: properties, rules, and a policy segment including reporting and file management. Properties are the fields that you wish to assign a value for, and the rules are the criteria that set these values. There are other methods of classification available as well, including applications and scripts. More detailed examination of the methods of configuring the File Classification Infrastructure will follow in a future post.

To expire files, consider moving the files that meet a set of conditions, perhaps the last modified date greater than 30 days, to a different folder that an administrator can manually clean up at his or her leisure. Or you can create another rule, using a script, that can purge on a schedule, configured by the choice of the administrator or IT staff.

Source: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/networking/?p=1441

File Server Migration to Windows Server 2008

2009-05-12T03:01:00.000-07:00

Windows Server 2008 has been out for a while and has proven to be a stable operating system. Now that Microsoft has released the first "real" service pack (SP2), more companies are looking at the possibility of upgrading to Windows Server 2008. Although the coexistence of Windows Server 2008 and Windows 2003 shouldn't pose a problem, the actual server migration process can be a bit tricky. In this article, I want to talk about some of the issues that you may encounter when migrating file servers.

The file server migration process can be deceptively simple. In fact, Microsoft offers a free utility to assist you with the migration process. Even so, there is usually a lot more to performing a migration than just running a migration utility.

Hardware considerations

One of the first things to consider is whether or not you will be reusing your existing file server hardware. Keep in mind that if you deploy new server hardware, then the migration process will likely be easier -- especially if you are using the Windows Distributed File System (DFS) on your current file servers. One of the primary advantages to using new hardware is that you can leave your existing server in its current state. That way, if something goes wrong during the migration process, you can still fall back on your old server.

If you choose to reuse your existing hardware, it's important to carefully plan the operating system upgrade. This is especially true if you are using DFS or a clustering solution.

How long will the migration take?

Another major consideration is the amount of time it takes to complete the file server migration process. For instance, suppose you are not using DFS, and you want to use new hardware to host the new file server. In that situation, you can install and configure Windows Server 2008 on the new server without disrupting the users.

The File Server Migration Toolkit

Microsoft has created a free download called the File Server Migration Toolkit that you can use to get around the UNC path issue for migrations to Windows Server 2003 or 2008.

Full detail available here: http://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid68_gci1353653,00.html

Wireless Print Servers

2009-05-06T03:50:00.000-07:00

A wireless print server allows one or two printers to be conveniently shared across a WiFi network. Wireless print servers for home networks generally are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties.

Wireless print servers offer the following advantages:

* Allows printers to be conveniently located anywhere within wireless network range, not tied to the location of computers
* Does not require a computer be always turned on in order to print
* Does not require a computer to manage all print jobs, that can bog down its performance
* Allows administrators to change computer names and other settings without having to re-configure the network printing settings.

A wireless print server must be connected to printers by a network cable, normally USB 1.1 or USB 2.0. The print server itself can connect to a wireless router over WiFi, or it can be joined using an Ethernet cable.

Most print server products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete the initial configuration of the device. As with network adapters, wireless print servers must be configured with the correct network name (SSID) and encryption settings. Additionally, a wireless print server requires client software be installed on each computer needing to use a printer.

The Linksys WPS54G 802.11g USB wireless print server is shown. Print servers are very compact devices that include a built-in wireless antenna and LED lights to indicate status.

Source: compnetworking.about.com/

What you need to enable on Windows Server 2008 for SCCM 2007

2009-05-01T00:45:00.000-07:00

Below is a list of the what you need to enable on Windows Server 2008 for SCCM 2007 to pass the pre-requisites check and work. Role: Web Server (IIS). This will add Windows Process Activation Service automatically. Under Security, add Windows Authentication and URL Authorization Under Management Tools, enable IIS 6 Management Compatibility Application Development, add ASP Make sure Anonymous Authentication and Windows Authentication is enabled for the default web site Make sure the Allow for All Users authorization rule is set under the default web site.

You also need to enable the BITS Server Extensions features, which will enable other IIS role services. You need to download and install WebDAV. Once installed, you need to enable and configure it. You must set your configuration as shown here.

Specifically you need to set: Allow property queries with infinite depth to true Allow Custom Properties to false Allow anonymous property queries to true Create an authoring rule for All users to give read access to all content

You should now pass SCCM 2007 prerequisite check, as shown here.

Below is a dump of all the roles and features that are enabled on my SCCM box. Note I have some extras, as I'm running a SCCM Preboot Execution Environment Boot point, so I also need WDS installed. ----- Roles ----- [X] File Services [X] File Server [FS-FileServer] [X] Web Server (IIS) [Web-Server] [X] Web Server [Web-WebServer] [X] Common HTTP Features [Web-Common-Http] [X] Static Content [Web-Static-Content] [X] Default Document [Web-Default-Doc] [X] Directory Browsing [Web-Dir-Browsing] [X] HTTP Errors [Web-Http-Errors] [X] HTTP Redirection [Web-Http-Redirect] [X] Application Development [Web-App-Dev] [X] ASP.NET [Web-Asp-Net] [X] .NET Extensibility [Web-Net-Ext] [X] ASP [Web-ASP] [X] ISAPI Extensions [Web-ISAPI-Ext] [X] ISAPI Filters [Web-ISAPI-Filter] [X] Health and Diagnostics [Web-Health] [X] HTTP Logging [Web-Http-Logging] [X] Logging Tools [Web-Log-Libraries] [X] Request Monitor [Web-Request-Monitor] [X] Tracing [Web-Http-Tracing] [X] Security [Web-Security] [X] Basic Authentication [Web-Basic-Auth] [X] Windows Authentication [Web-Windows-Auth] [X] URL Authorization [Web-Url-Auth] [X] Request Filtering [Web-Filtering] [X] Performance [Web-Performance] [X] Static Content Compression [Web-Stat-Compression] [X] Management Tools [Web-Mgmt-Tools] [X] IIS Management Console [Web-Mgmt-Console] [X] IIS 6 Management Compatibility [Web-Mgmt-Compat] [X] IIS 6 Metabase Compatibility [Web-Metabase] [X] IIS 6 WMI Compatibility [Web-WMI] [X] IIS 6 Scripting Tools [Web-Lgcy-Scripting] [X] IIS 6 Management Console [Web-Lgcy-Mgmt-Console] [X] Windows Deployment Services [WDS] [X] Deployment Server [WDS-Deployment] [X] Transport Server [WDS-Transport] ----- Features ----- [X] .NET Framework 3.0 Features [NET-Framework] [X] .NET Framework 3.0 [NET-Framework-Core] [X] XPS Viewer [NET-XPS-Viewer] [X] BITS Server Extensions [BITS] [X] Remote Differential Compression [RDC] [X] Feature Administration Tools [RSAT-Feature-Tools] [X] BITS Server Extensions Tools [RSAT-Bits-Server] [X] Windows Internal Database [Windows-Internal-DB] [X] Windows PowerShell [PowerShell] [X] Windows Process Activation Service [WAS] [X] Process Model [WAS-Process-Model] [X] .NET Environment [WAS-NET-Environment] [X] Configuration APIs [WAS-Config-APIs]

Source: http://windowsitpro.com/mobile/pda/Article.cfm?ArticleID=101988&FAQ=1

How to Create the Printer Queues

2009-04-27T02:24:00.000-07:00

Now that you have properly configured the Spooler resource with the necessary resources, you can create all of the print queues for all of the physical printers. You can also use the Clustool utility from the Resource Kit to migrate previously existing printer queues on a server to a clustered server. After that, use the Print Migrate utility to migrate the printer drivers. For best results, avoid having multiple servers configured to communicate directly with the same printer.

1. From one of the nodes or a remote computer that has administrative permissions to the cluster click Start, click Run, type \\VirtualServer where VirtualServer is the name that is specified for the Network Name resource on which the Spooler resource is dependent.
2. Double-click the Printers folder.
3. Double-click Add Printers to open the Add Printer Wizard, and then click Next.
4. Select Create a new port, and then click Next.

Note: TCP/IP ports are the only supported port type on a Windows Clustering. Use the Standard TCP/IP Port option unless the printing clients need RFC-compliant LPR ports. If this is the case, follow these steps:

1. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs, and then click Add/Remove Windows Components to start the Windows Components Wizard.
2. Under Components, scroll down and click to select the Other Network File and Print Services check box.
3. Click Details to open the Other Network File and Print Services window, click to select the Print Services for UNIX check box, and then click OK to close the Other Network File and Print Services window.
4. Click Next to continue with the Windows Components Wizard.

When you complete the wizard, the LPR port will be available as a port type. By default, according to RFC 1179, LPR will use only eleven TCP ports.
5. Type the IP address of the network printer that you want to process the print jobs in the Printer Name or IP Address box.

You no longer have to create a locally-defined printer port configuration for each node. In Windows 2000 (and later) the port configuration is stored in the cluster registry and is therefore shared between all cluster nodes, under the following key:
HKEY_Local_Machine\Cluster\Resources\%Spooler GUID%\Parameters\Monitors\

6. Choose the appropriate driver for this printer, and then click Next.
7. Give the printer a unique name on the cluster server.
8. Choose a share name for the printer; this name must also be unique on this cluster. You do not want to have any other printers with the same share name on this cluster, even if they are in a different group and associated with a different Spooler resource.

9. Test the printing for this printer:

After you add all the desired print queues, use Cluster Administrator to move the group that contains the Print Spooler resource to all other nodes. This copies the printer drivers from the \PrinterDrivers folder on the shared disk to the %SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Drivers\%Spooler GUID%\Drivers folder on that node.

For Detail Info: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/278455

File sharing in Windows Vista

2009-04-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

with Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2003, a new feature called Access-Based Enumeration (ABE) has been added to how file sharing works on Windows platforms. By installing and enabling ABE on a Windows Server 2003 SP1 or R2 file server, users on Windows XP desktops will only be able to see files and folders if they actually have permission to access them. I recently wrote an article for Windows Networking.com that explains how to implement this feature and lists a few gotchas you need to be aware of.

Trouble is, ABE only works if your network shares are on an ABE-enabled Windows Server 2003 SP1 or R2 machine. What if you allow some of the "power users" in your company to share folders on their own Windows XP desktop computers? In that case, you're out of luck as ABE can't be enabled on XP. With Windows Vista however, this has now changed -- Vista has ABE built right into it, and this means that when a user shares a folder on her machine and other users browse that share over the network, they will only see files and folders that they have permissions to access.

Note however that ABE only works if Vista users share their files or folders from within their user profile. Yes that's right, I said files -- in Vista you can share individual files provided you do so from within your user profile. For example, if user Jane Doe shares the file EndOfQuarterPresentation.ppt from within her Documents folder on her computer desk22.mtit.com, then other users to whom she has granted permissions will be able to view and access this file over the network by using the path \\desk22.mtit.com\Users\JaneDoe\Documents\EndOfQuarterPresentation.ppt.

For Detail visit: http://www.itworld.com/nls_windows_tullochvista060925

D-Link DP-301U Printer Server

2009-04-14T00:50:00.000-07:00

Are you forever doomed to leaving a PC running 24-7 just to share the printer?

Not if you plug a print server into your router, then plug the printer into the server. Then all PCs on your network can tap that inkjet or laser.

This may not sound like a major deal, but trust me: Once you've sampled this kind of setup, you can't go back to old-school printer sharing.

Buy.com has the D-Link DP-301U Printer Server for $19.99 shipped. That's half the usual price and a bargain compared with buying a new, network-compatible printer.

These are new units, not refurbs, and you don't have to deal with any rebates. The DP-301U is compatible with Windows and Mac networks; all you need is a printer that has a USB interface.

Make that a compatible printer. The DP-301U works with most Canon, Epson, HP, and Lexmark models--check D-Link's compatibility list (which to me looks a little out of date--I suspect there are newer printers that will also work) to make sure your model is supported.

Source: CNET

Affordable Windows Based Home File Server

2009-04-08T03:14:00.000-07:00

A home file server is, in theory, a great convenience. In reality, setting up, configuring and running a home file server to link multiple personal computers has been a great pain in the neck. Now, manufacturers are putting out dedicated home file servers, but they can be confusing and complicated. You can build one - I promise you won't enjoy building a file server.

We wanted all our music, videos data, pictures, backups and other types of files on one computer so anyone in the house could access them without having to store duplicate and triplicate copies. Like this: I make a photograph and store it on my laptop. My daughter wants to send it to her friend. If we aren't sharing folders within a Windows home network, we have to figure out who has the file, then put the picture on a disk. Then port it over, name it, file it and then use it.

Even worse when we're talking home business - files have to be moved, shared, edited, and reedited. A home file server is a great home technology idea. If it's easy to set up. If users can configure it easily. If it's lean and quiet rather than bulky and buzzy.

A few weeks ago, CyberPower of California jumped into the home technology market with a dedicated home file server called Windows Home Server 100. They claim the product is a high-performance energy saver that makes storage easy and fast.

It's got Intel inside with 2 gig of DDR memory.
The server has a 500GB SATA-II 3.0Gb/s 16MB Cache 7200RPM hard drive - for those who just got bowled over by the string of numbers, that's a pretty nice hard drive. I'd say it's more storage than you'd ever need, but the way programs expand, who knows? Geeks will tell you you need a terabyte - you can add it for $50.
The operating system is MS Windows 2003 Home Server - so you needn't learn another system.
Home Server 100 can automatically backup your computers each evening, a nice plus.
It appears Home Server is remotely accessible so you can grab home files when you're at work or school. Also nice.

Source: examiner.com

Disaster Recovery for Small Business File Servers

2009-04-03T05:25:00.000-07:00

Even though small businesses don't have the budget or the sheer volume of files that some of the larger enterprises do, you still have to protect the data. Smaller shops have their own issues to overcome that are just as difficult and just as important as the big guys.

Most notably, many small businesses will have only one server for file storage. The major issue with this strategy is that all your eggs are in one basket, and you rely on that same basket to serve all of your other office needs. Therefore, it becomes even more important to properly protect this file server from a possible disaster. Since the bandwidth and hardware required for most off-site replication systems is out of the question here, your choices are limited, but there are options available for you.

RAID

Most servers now come with RAID systems already available with whatever disks you get when the server is built. In addition, you can set up very simple RAID systems via Windows and many other common operating systems. By using mirroring via RAID, you can create another copy of the data that can be used for the purposes of disaster recovery (DR) operations, and do so at a low price point. The main drawbacks are that you'll have to configure and manage the RAID systems, and RAID doesn't protect against virus attacks or other real-time damage.

Backup systems

To protect yourself from virus attacks and other threats, you'll want to develop an effective backup strategy. While you can use the NTBackup systems that come with Windows and the backup tools that come with other OSs, you may wish to invest in a third-party backup system. These offer a large number of additional features, especially for scheduling and dealing with open files that NTBackup simply doesn't offer.

You'll also need some form of removable media. For very small shops, this can be a DVD burner, but for most others, this will mean a tape drive of some type. Also remember that you should be removing the tapes from the physical location of the tape device on a regular basis, so that the loss of your office space doesn't destroy the backups too. It is wise to perform full backups on a weekly basis—on a day and time each week when there are the fewest users on the server—and incremental backups nightly. This gives you the ability to recover from data-loss outages.

For midsize offices, you may want to consider local replication. Many replication tools work great in a LAN environment, and also offer many-to-one capabilities. This means that you can keep a copy of all the data on the servers that you have replicated to a single server. That DR server may even be a small network-attached storage device (NAS), which can be economically more feasible for these purposes. Much like RAID, these systems tend to be real-time by default, so you'd either have to utilize backup tape to provide point-in-time copies, or use a third-party snapshot tool for that purpose. These tools often come standard with the NAS devices (yet another reason to investigate that avenue), but keep in mind that snapshots to the same physical location don't get your data off-site.

Source: http://articles.techrepublic.com.com/5100-10878_11-5750072.html

Beta of file-server backup

2009-03-31T02:02:00.000-07:00

In a continuing bid to capture some of the tape-backup market, Microsoft on Wednesday released a beta version of the upgrade to its file-and-application server recovery software, which includes support for a wider range of the company's server products.

The product, System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2006 version 2, builds upon a previous version of DPM released last year that marked the company's first move into the data-protection software market.

Version 2 employs a patent-pending technology that constantly monitors data changes and can recover the data with zero loss, Microsoft said. During recovery, the new version can also draw data from tape, a new capability, as well as from disks, Microsoft said.

DPM version 2 now supports Microsoft's Exchange Server, SQL Server and Office SharePoint Portal Server, plus the already-supported Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 servers.

DPM is a candidate to replace low-end tape products with centralized disk-to-disk backup, the research analyst company Gartner wrote in a November 2005 report.

Gartner wrote that Microsoft is expected to make gains in the field because of the wide use of Windows file servers and typically low use of file-protection software among small- to medium-size businesses.

Download from here

Source: http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/09/27/HNmsfileserverbackup_1.html?BACKUP%20AND%20RECOVERY

NETGEAR PS121 USB Mini Print Server Print server

2009-03-25T00:25:00.000-07:00

Multi-user access to your printer is now simpler than ever. NETGEAR's USB Mini Print Server does away with the hassles of sharing your printer among multiple PCs. Its easy external USB connection links one USB printer to as many as three PCs, so different network users can run multiple print jobs at the same time from anywhere on a home or office network.

The attractive case design looks great in any environment, and its compact size allows you to place it close at hand or out of the way to open up your work area. Easy setup with NETGEAR's Smart Wizard install assistant saves you time and effort so you're up and running in minutes. Since no parallel printer cable is needed, it saves you money too..

Technical Specification:

General
Device Type	Print server
Form Factor	External
Interface (Bus) Type	USB
Width	34.1 in
Depth	23.2 in
Height	9.6 in
Weight	2.7 oz
Networking
Connectivity Technology	Wired
Cabling Type	Ethernet 10Base-T, Ethernet 100Base-TX
Data Link Protocol	Ethernet, Fast Ethernet
Data Transfer Rate	100 Mbps
Network / Transport Protocol	TCP/IP
Status Indicators	Link activity, power, alert
Features	DHCP support
Processor / Memory
RAM	4 MB
Flash Memory	1 MB
Expansion / Connectivity
Interfaces	1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45
Connections	1 x USB
Miscellaneous
Cables Included	1 x USB cable ( external ) - 5 ft
Power
Power Device	Power adapter - external
Software / System Requirements
Software Included	Drivers & Utilities
OS Required	Microsoft Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support	1 year warranty
Service & Support Details	Limited warranty - 1 year
Environmental Parameters
Min Operating Temperature	32 °F
Max Operating Temperature	104 °F
Humidity Range Operating	5 - 95%
Universal Product Identifiers
Part Numbers	PS121, PS121NA
UPC	0606449034684

How to install a File Server on windows server 2003

2009-03-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

Following are the steps to install a File Server on windows server 2003:-

1) First step you Open the start menu and then click administrator and after that configure the server.
2) After that click next
3) Again next.
4) Then click file server in the server role box and then click next, on the file server disk quotas page configure any quotas you need to disk space usage on the server and then click Next. after that on the file server indexing service page you need to click indexing configuration that appropriate for you server and then click Next.
5) And choose the next and after it finish.
6) The share folder wizard starts and then clicks.
7) Click the Browse items and then OK.
8) And then Next.
9) You can type the share name for the folder that you want to share , and then click OK.
10) Click Next.
11) Click the one of the basic permission for the folder, after that finish.

How to Manually Install a File Server on windows server 2003:-

1) Click start and then click windows explorer.
2) That you want to share, Right click the folder and then click sharing and security.
3) Click the share this folder .and then accept default name for the share.
4) configure the number of users who can connect and you configure permission for this folder, after that Ok.
5) Windows explorer windows to indicate that the folder is beginning shared.

First Gigabit Fibre Optic Print Server for HP

2009-03-08T23:53:00.000-07:00

PS1126 for HP Output Devices Offers Protection of Investment With Integrated Future Technologies.

The German network specialist SEH has integrated future technologies into its new PS1126 interface card for HP printers with EIO port. PS1126 is the first print server worldwide to attach these HP output devices to gigabit fibre optic networks (1000BaseSX). Both gigabit and fibre optic technology are future technologies offering faster data transfer and more available bandwidth for large volume print jobs. In addition, fibre optic networks are eavesdropping-secure. PS1126 is IPv6-ready, equipped with ThinPrint technology for bandwidth optimization and control and ThinPrint SSL encryption, and comes with an unmatched security package. The new model is available as of now for 495 Euro.

New IT technologies are often bandwidth-hungry. Print jobs with intensive use of graphic elements and colour also quickly grow into large volume files. Gigabit and fibre optic technologies play an increasingly important role for network design as both provide for greater bandwidth. The new PS1126 print server enables users to connect printers directly to gigabit fibre optic cabling. In this way network printing benefits from fast and eavesdropping secure data transmission, eliminating the need for special media converters, which also often cause failures.

Future Technologies for Network Printing

The SEH PS1126 print server comes with even more features which offer protection of investment. While being fully functional with the currently still prevalent network protocol IPv4, the print server is IPv6-enabled, allowing for a planned migration to this protocol which is spreading out more and more so printers, too, can be attached to IPv6 networks. The latest ThinPrint .print client is integrated for utilising PS1126 in environments with innovative ThinPrint .print software, e.g. desktop virtualisation or server-based computing, providing efficient bandwidth control and optimisation for network printing.

As all SEH print servers, PS1126 comes with a powerful security package as well as regular soft- and firmware updates, free tech support, and a warranty of up to five years.

Source: http://pressemitteilung.ws/node/149523

How do I... Set up a printer using the Common UNIX Printing System?

2009-03-04T02:44:00.000-08:00

Users often have trouble setting up hardware in Linux they simply aren’t used to the way things are done in Linux. Setting up hardware is relatively simple (once you know where the tools are.) And setting up a printer is one of those jobs made very easy by modern Linux administration tools. One of those tools is the Common UNIX Printing System (CUPS). Once installed, CUPS is an amazingly simple tool to use and administer.

Getting and installing

The easiest way to install CUPS is to fire up your package manager (such as Adept, Synaptic, Yumex, etc), do a search for CUPS, click it, and install it. Or, if you’re more comfortable with the command line, you can run apt-get install cups or yum install cups.

Once installed, you will want to run the CUPS daemon with the command

/etc/rc.d/init.d/cupsys start

/etc/init.d/cupsys start

Once it is started, you are ready to go.

Configuring your printer

CUPS is managed through a Web browser. So open up Firefox and point it to http://localhost:631 and you will find yourself on the CUPS main page (Figure A) on your system. And no, you do not have to have Apache installed for this to work.

Figure A

It’s not exactly pretty, but from this page you can manage every aspect of your printer.

Now the first thing you want to do (after you have plugged in your printer and fired it up) is to click on the Add Printer button (from the front page of the CUPS Web tool). The first Add Printer dialogue (Figure B) is simple: Name, Location, and Description.

Figure B

You can not use a space, “/”, or “#” symbol in the Name field.

These fields are exactly as you would expect them to be. These are not taken from a driver or from the machines’ firm (or hard) ware. So fill out these fields and then click Continue.

The next step is to select a device to associate with the printer you are adding. This is where you actually select your printer (or printer type) from a list. As you can see, in Figure C my Samsung ML1710 was detected by the CUPS system.

Figure C

There are two instances of my Samsung ML1710. I will select the second because it was recognized as a USB printer.

The next step selects the PPD file for the device. A PPD file is the Postscript Printer Device file that describes the fonts, paper sizes, resolutions, etc that the printer can handle. As you can see, in Figure D, my ML1710 has a few entries (most of which are duplicates for some reason).

I will select the foomatic entry because foomatic entries tend to be the most reliable of the PPD files. Now, if your device does not have a listed PPD file, fear not. You most likely can find a PPD file from either the included drivers, from device’ manufacturer Web site, or from an online search. If you find one just upload it with the help of the browse button in the dialog shown in Figure C.

Once you have selected your PPD file click Add Printer at which point you will be prompted for a username and password. On an Ubuntu system I was able to get by with using my regular username and password. In some instances you may have to use the root user and password.

Once you have added the printer you will be redirected to the configuration page for that printer. The configuration page is broken up into five sections: General, Adjustment, Miscellaneous, Banners, and Policies. Each section has its own configuration options.

Adjustment

These options will depend upon the type of printer you have added. Since I have added a laser printer I get options that relate to saving toner. These are crucial if you do a lot of printing and don’t want to be replacing expensive toner every month.

Miscellaneous

This section holds all of the options that don’t belong in any other section. Here you can actually correct for high altitude and other options as they relate to your printer.

Figure F

Altitude correction only gives you options for high or low altitude. There should be an option for “No correction”.

Banners

The Banners section allows you to select from six different starting and ending banners. These banners are: Classified, Confidential, Secret, Standard, Topsecret, or Unclassified. Or you can select None. These banners will be automatically added to the top and bottom (respectively) of every page printed.

“None” is the default (and toner saving) option.

Policies

The policies section is a bit more complex. Policies refer to configuring a printer such that a user would have to provide a password in order to use the printer or allowing use from only specified printers. The only configuration option available is to select a policy from the drop down. Of course you would have to create a policy (which is beyond the scope of this article) first. But if you have created policies, you can choose them from the list and apply them to the configured printer.

Figure H

As you can see there are two default policies available for this printer: Error Policy and Operating Policy.

Checking your printer

Once you have the printer added, the first thing you will want to do is check to make sure it is printing properly. To do this click on the Printers tab and you will see the newly added printer listed.

Figure I

Here you can start, stop, reject and move jobs, set as default, and a number of other options.

If this is the only printer you have added it will be set as the default. If this is a second (or third) printer you will have the option as setting this printer up as the default. To do that, click Set As Default button.

Now, let’s print a test page for this printer. Click the Print Test Page button and a test page should be immediately sent to your printer. You will get a quick banner page claiming a test page has been sent and then you will be redirected to the printer page.

If your test page prints successfully, congratulations, you have added a printer to a Linux-based computer.

Source: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/opensource/?p=222

How to Configure a Windows 2000 Print Server?

2009-02-22T23:52:00.000-08:00

Data Requirements

The following table lists the data requirements for setting up a print server.

Parameter	Description	Your Value
Printer name	User-assigned name of the printer.
Printer share name	User-assigned name of the printer as it will appear to network clients. This can be the same as the printer name if you want. Due to client limitations, this name should be limited to 8 characters.
List of client operating systems	To facilitate automatic download of drivers from the server to the client, you must know in advance the operating systems of the clients which will use the shared printer.

Configuration Procedure

Authority Level Required

Some of the following configuration steps may require administrative authority.

1. The first step in setting up a print server is to set the machine up to print directly to the printer. If you have not already done so, do the procedure Configuring Windows 2000 to Print Directly to the Printer, and return here when done.
2. Select Start, then Settings, then Printers. You see the Printers folder.
3. Right-click on the printer and select Sharing....
4. Click the Shared radio button, then enter the printer's share name.
5. If there will be clients on other operating systems that are going to use this shared printer, click Additional Drivers, select all such operating systems in the resulting list, then click OK. At this point, you will be prompted to install the drivers by inserting the Setup CD-ROM. Follow the instructions to do this.
6. As an option, you can enter the location of the printer (such as "Building 3, Room 107") and a comment about the printer (such as "For use by marketing only"). To enter this information, select the General tab.
7. Click OK.
8. Inform the clients that will be using the printer of the share name of the printer.

Verifying the Configuration

You will test the shared printer by installing a client of the printer and printing a test page from that client. To install a print client, see Configuring Windows Print Clients on TCP/IP Networks.

File and Print Server Failures

2009-02-17T05:19:00.000-08:00

Networks are naturally susceptible to failures because they contain many components and are affected by the configuration of every component. Where, exactly, is your network? In the switch? The drop cables? Bounded by all of the network interface cards in your systems? Any of those physical components can break, resulting in network outages or, more maddeningly, intermittent network failures.

Networks are also affected by configuration problems. Incorrect routing information, duplicate hostnames or IP addresses, and machines that misinterpret broadcast addresses can lead to misdirected packets. You’ll also have to deal with redundancy in network connections, as you may have several routers connecting networks at multiple points. When that redundancy is broken, or its configuration is misrepresented, the network appears to be down.

When a network that you trust and love is connected to an untrusted or unmanaged network, you run the risk of being subject to a denial-of-service attack or a network penetration attempt from one of those networks. These types of attacks happen within well-run networks as well. Security mogul Bill Cheswick asks the attendees at his talks if they leave their wallets out in the open in their offices. Nary a hand goes up. Then he asks how many leave unprotected network access points like twisted-pair wall jacks in open offices, and you see the tentative hands raised. Access to the network is valuable and has to be protected while still allowing user activity to proceed without onerous overhead.

Finally, networks use a variety of core services or basic information services that we lump into the network fabric. Naming systems like NIS or DNS, security and authentication servers, or host configuration servers for hosts requiring DHCP to boot and join a network will bring down a network if they are not functioning or are giving out wrong answers.

File and Print Server Failures

When file and print server fail, clients will hang or experience timeouts. A timeout can mean that a print job or a file request fails. The timeout can also lead to wrong answers or data corruption. For example, using Network File Systems (NFS) soft mounts, a write operation that times out will not be repeated. This can lead to holes in data files that will only be detected when the file is read.

Source: http://www.web-articles.info/e/a/title/File-and-Print-Server-Failures/

What's New in File and Print Services

2009-02-09T23:35:00.001-08:00

File and print services are among the most critical in any organization. It is imperative that users have quick, guaranteed, and secure access to their data. Helping organizations to create highly available, well performing, and secure file and print services are amid the key improvements in Windows Server 2003.

Feature	Benefit	Key Scenarios	Notes
Windows SharePoint Service	Windows Server 2003 R2 provides a sophisticated collaboration system that takes your file and print level to the next level by empowering end users to share information and work together more effectively through collaboration on documents, meetings and projects. This enhances your operating efficiency, and provides the functionality that makes your end users more productive. This system also is designed to give the IT Pro, control over the environment, while providing end-user self-service to minimize calls to IT and/or the helpdesk.	Simplify end user collaboration by facilitating the sharing of documents amongst teams. Effectively manage your documents, lists, contacts, and tasks in a team and project centric Windows SharePoint Services environment. Leverage wide range of out-of-box custom scenarios with 30 new application templates for the Windows SharePoint Services platform, a starting point for effective collaborative experience. Easily extend it to support your business processes and customer interactions.	Now built-in with Windows Server 2003 R2
Print Management Console	New print management console based on a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in. This console enables the management of multiple printers and with integration with other Windows services, it is now easy to push drivers to the different resources and also enables the management of the print jobs from a remote location.	Facilitate the management of remote printing resources (in branch office for example) and enables management of multiple printers from the same console.	Integrated with Active Directory
Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS)	The ability to quickly create point-in-time copies of data, allowing easier and more reliable backups of important organizational data, even while files are open. VSS significantly reduces a server's backup window by providing on-disk, point-in-time recoverable data sets.	All major backup independent software vendors (ISVs) are developing solutions based on VSS to take advantage of this service. By moving a point-in-time copy to another server, a business analyst can query against the latest company data without affecting performance on the production system.	Introduced in Windows Server 2003
NTFS Journaling File System	Because NTFS offers reliable file system recovery, extremely large storage media, and strong granular security, organizations can be confident that their data is safer.	NTFS allows reliable, secure, and high performing access to data.	100-139 percent increase in performance over Windows 2000 Server
Encrypting File System (EFS)	EFS creates a layer of security that transparently encrypts data on the physical disk with no need for end user interaction, ensuring that data is safer.	Since data on the disk is encrypted, even a mobile user whose sensitive organizational data is lost or stolen will be safer from data theft.	Encryption of offline and Web folders now possible EFS files can be shared among multiple users
Enhanced Anti-Virus Support	Choose from a huge selection of enterprise anti-virus vendors to protect resources in your organization from malicious code delivered by viruses.	Create a comprehensive anti-virus strategy by using third-party tools to scan file servers.	New kernel level anti-virus APIs Windows Hardware Quality Lab test suite and driver certification test process for antivirus and file system drivers New tools are available for third-party anti-virus vendors to enhance the performance and reliability of their products
Improved Print Cluster Support	Improve administrator productivity by making it easier to install and configure print clusters.	Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of printers can be installed on a highly available print cluster therefore allowing end users to have continual access to their resources, even during a hardware failure.	8-Node clusters supported in Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition, and Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition Clustering is not available in Standard or Web editions. Printer drivers automatically propagate to each node in the cluster
64-bit processor support	Take advantage of the latest and best performing hardware in the industry.	File and print server consolidation can reduce administrative and hardware costs dramatically.	Introduced in Windows Server 2003 Supports GUID Partitioning Table (GPT) Approximately 3,800 in-box 64-bit print drivers
Improved Print Performance and Availability	Users will get their printed documents faster than ever.	Organizations see the need to consolidate print servers to lower total cost of operation (TCO) without losing performance or availability.	Optimized file spooling for higher print volume management Kernel mode driver blocking Enhanced printer redirection through Terminal Services
Enhanced Windows Defragmentation Tool	Optimizing files on a server can dramatically increase the performance and availability.	Administrators can use the scheduled tasks feature to schedule disk defragmentation seamlessly optimizing the file system. Administrators can also script disk defragmentation on servers using command line utilities.	Faster performance than in Windows 2000 Supports online defragmentation of the Master File Table (MFT) Defragmentation of any NTFS cluster size now possible Volume Shadow Copy support Command line scripting support
Increased CHKDSK Performance	CHKDSK is a program that verifies the logical integrity of a file system on Windows. When CHKDSK encounters logical inconsistencies it takes actions to repair file system data.	Because NTFS has always been a true journaling file system that supports file system recovery, it is very rare that a disk need to be checked (less than 1percent of unplanned outages require checking). However, in Windows Server 2003, CHKDSK performs faster, requiring even less downtime. Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/overview/technologies/fileandprint.mspx	Performs 20-38 percent faster than Windows 2000 Server

Print Server Features

2009-02-02T02:13:00.000-08:00

A print server helps reduce administrative and management workload by centralizing local and remote printer management at the print server. It also simplifies many of the labor intensive functions experienced by users when using direct IP printer connections. This section describes the key print server features and their benefits to both the administrator and the end user.

Point and Print

Point and Print allows a user to create a new connection to a shared printer without requiring the user to install any software for that printer. Point and Print downloads the printer files and configuration information automatically when a user installs the printer. Point and Print will update the user’s printer software as the printer software is updated on the server.

Point and Print also updates printer driver configurations when they change. For example, the administrator might install a new printer option such as a duplexer or a stapler. After the administrator reconfigures the driver to use the new feature, Point and Print will update the configuration for each user of that printer.

In contrast, those users with a direct IP connection to a shared printer must have that printer’s current version of the printer software available to them, as well as the permission to install and configure that software on their computer. This process may be manageable and actually quite reasonable in a small office, but as the number of users or printers grows, distributing and updating this software for each potential printer user can become a difficult task.

In addition, Point and Print can help you avoid security issues because users do not need Administrator access to their machines in order to install the software for a new printer. Point and Print installs the software on the user’s machine automatically in a limited system context, which protects against security issues that take advantage of a user running with Administrator access.

Users connecting to shared printers using direct IP connections must have Administrator or Power User access to their system in order to install the necessary printer software. These elevated levels of access may allow virus software running on the machine to cause severe damage to users’ systems and, in the worst case, to other computers on the network.

How to Install the File Server Resource Manager Services?

2009-01-27T03:47:00.000-08:00

As with all Windows Server 2003 R2 features, the File Server Resource Manager component must be installed via the Add/Remove Windows Components module. To install the component, follow these steps:

Start the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel applet (Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs).
Click Add/Remove Windows Components.
Select "Management and Monitoring Tools" and click Details.
Select the File Server Resource Manager check box, as the figure at http://www.windowsitpro.com/articles/images/2003r2filescrenfsrminstall.gif shows.
Click OK.
Click Next to the main Windows Components dialog box.
Click Finish. You'll need to reboot for the changes to take effect.

From: http://windowsitpro.com/article/articleid/49718/how-do-i-install-the-file-server-resource-manager-services.html

How to "Clone" a File Service to a New File Server

2009-01-20T06:03:00.000-08:00

As an admin, you might want to move all file services from a NetWare or OES 1 server to an OES 2 Linux server on new hardware with both the migration source and destination servers being in the same directory. You want to do that without disrupting your users.

Here is a step-by-step process for planning and carrying out the migration:

Step One: Install an OES 2 Linux file server with NSS

You'll want to have significantly more storage space on the migration destination server than the source server. As part of installing NSS, you should create a pool for the new storage. You can use NSSMU to set up a pool for all volumes. When you use NSSMU to do this, activate the drive that you're going to place NSS on, and set up the pool and name it. Set up the pool to consume all the drive space.

Step Two: Migrate all file data from the source server to the migration destination server

Assume that you have enough data that you think it will take a week to migrate. On Monday night after your end users go home, start the data migration process. Do is by logging in as root on the destination server and running the following command:

 migfiles -s  -n -P POOL [-m]

Do this every night through the week after your users go home. The first time that this command is ran, omit the -m option. The mig files command picks up where it left off the night before in migrating the source server data.

Step Three: Modify user working directory

Run the following command:

 mls -s  > mls.yaml

The mls command lists all files, trustees, attributes, and quotas from the source server.

 maptrustees -s  -d  maptrustees.yaml

Then run

 migtrustees -d  maptrustees.yaml

is the LDAP server address for both the source and destination servers.

Step Four: After the data is moved, migrate file rights, attributes, and quotas

If a large data set is involved you should give yourself sufficient time for this.

Rights, attributes, and quotas are migrated by running the following command:

After running this command, run the following command:

 maprights -n mls.yaml > maprights.yaml

The maprights command sets up mappings to the destination NSS file system.

Finally, run the following command:

 migrights maprights.yaml

The migrights command applies all mappings to the destination NSS file system.

Step Five: Notify users to log in again

The last step is to ask users to log in again. If you want to send a message to your users, you can create a message file with the command vi message. Type in something like this.

Dear #{first} #{last},

We have finished migrating your files onto the new file server. In order to transfer over to the new system, you will need to relogin to your computer.

Regards,

#{from} of your friendly IT staff.

After creating this file, named message, run the following command:

 mignotify -a login -e myusername@mycompany.com -s smtp.mycompany.com -m message -i maptrustees.yaml

This will email the message you created to all of your users who have had their file services migrated, if the mail attribute has been set in e Directory for your users.

Notes of Interest

This scenario was for cloning the file servers on the same directory server. To clone a file server into another directory, run maptrustees with the -r option. This generates random passwords for your users. Then, run migtrustees with the destination LDAP server in the new directory. After this, notify the users of a password change using mignotify by using the #{password} variable the message file.

The migfiles, migtrustees, and migrights commands all have -i flag for --verbose-information. If you want to see the status of these utilities as they are running, then use this flag.

You can also just pipe commands as follows:

 mls -s  | maprights -n | migrights -i

Source: http://wiki.novell.com/index.php/How_to_%22clone%22_a_file_service_to_a_new_file_server

key reasons to deploy Distributed File Services in Windows Server 2003 R2

2009-01-15T05:57:00.000-08:00

The following key reasons to deploy Distributed File Services (DFS) in Windows Server 2003 R2 highlight major new features and improvements.

1. Effective WAN network usage

Only changes made to a file need to be transmitted over the WAN, thanks to the remote differential compression (RDC) algorithm, which serves as the basis for DFS Replication.

2. Potential to eliminate backup processes at the branch office

With an efficient, wide area network (WAN)–friendly way to collect content for the corporate central office, DFS Replication makes it possible to eliminate the local backup at the branch and rely on daily backup from the corporate office.

3. High availability

A namespace offers a simple way to redirect users to other servers that contain required data when their primary server is down, helping to achieve a higher level of server availability. You can use DFS Replication to synchronize data on all servers that host a particular folder in the namespace. As a result, no matter which folder the user connects to, the user sees the same data.

4. Ease of data access with namespace virtualization

A namespace offers uniform access across multiple file servers, making it easier for users to “remember” their server names and easily access their data.

5. Ease of publishing content to branch locations from the central office

DFS Replication makes it is easy to distribute core content in the corporate central office to all remote offices.

6. Local access for users without going across the WAN

With content easily publishable to local servers that are part of a namespace, users in branch offices can access their data locally. If a server malfunctions, the namespace automatically refers clients to the next closest server.

7. Easier management of data and server locations

IT administrators benefit from a new, easy-to-use Microsoft Management Console snap-in called DFS Management. This snap-in greatly simplifies the management of DFS Replication and DFS Namespaces.

8. Large-scale deployments

DFS Replication is a scalable, reliable, multimaster replicator that can scale to several thousand nodes and arbitrary topologies because it stores its configuration in Active Directory. You can achieve large fan-out deployments by using hub-and-spoke topologies.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/storage/dfs/topdeploy.mspx

History of File Servers

2009-01-06T05:10:00.000-08:00

In the mid-1980s enterprises became increasingly interested in ways to connect a rapidly growing population of personal computers. Novell proposed an approach using software to connect each workstation to a network file server that would manage both the network and access to network resources. At the same time 3Com Corporation was creating Ethernet adapter cards, building hardware connectivity needed for such approach.

Novell grew upon the strength of its Netware operating system, used for file serving, and by the late 1980s had a 50% market share of local area networks. Seeing the potential growth in this arena IBM and Microsoft both introduced their own file server strategies.

Twenty years after its peak, Novell and 3Com have virtually disappeared from the Server market; today disk servers (a NAS or a SAN) supplied by one of the leading vendors such as EMC or NetApp are typically attached to a file server running the Microsoft Windows or Linux operating systems. Large data centers, that serve millions of customers (such as Google's), run server farms on specialized equipment with large, complex operating systems.

Types of file servers

A file server may be dedicated or non-dedicated. A dedicated server is generally designed specifically for use as a file server, with workstations attached for reading and writing files and databases. A workstation may share files with other workstations on the network directly however by turning on its "Server" service and then by creating a "Share" -- this process creates a non-dedicated file server that is primarily being used as a workstation.

File servers may also be categorized by the method of access: Internet file servers are frequently accessed by File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or by HTTP (but are different from web servers, that often provide dynamic web content in addition to static files). Servers on a LAN are usually accessed by SMB/CIFS protocol or NFS protocol. Database servers, that provide access to a shared database via a database device driver, are not regarded as file servers. Most file servers are simultaneously print servers too, as they provide access to printers via network. A single file serving computer may be accessible by multiple means: it may run an FTP server, an CIFS server, etc., serving the same files.

Design of file servers

In modern businesses the design of file servers is complicated by competing demands for storage space, access speed, recoverability, ease of administration, security, and budget. This is further complicated by a constantly changing environment, where new hardware and technology rapidly obsoletes old equipment, and yet must seamlessly come online in a fashion compatible with the older machinery. To manage throughput, peak loads, and response time, vendors may utilize queuing theory to model how the combination of hardware and software will respond over various levels of demand. Servers may also employ dynamic load balancing scheme to distribute requests across various pieces of hardware.

The primary piece of hardware equipment for servers over the last couple of decades has proven to be the hard disk drive. Although other forms of storage are viable (such as magnetic tape and RAM) disk drives have continued to offer the best fit for cost, performance, and capacity.

Storage

Since the crucial function of a file server is storage, hardware has been developed to operate multiple disk drives together as a team, forming a disk array. A disk array typically has cache (temporary memory storage that is faster than the magnetic disks), as well as advanced functions like RAID and storage virtualization. Typically disk arrays increase level of availability by using redundant components other than RAID, such as power supplies. Disk arrays may be consolidated or virtualized in a storage area network (SAN).

Filers

In 1990s, introduction of specialized file serving devices, the NetApp filers, popularized the concept of network-attached storage (NAS). To this time, file servers were still implemented with general-purpose servers and OSes. NetApp changed this with introducing specialized network appliances, with a proprietary software and scalable to multiple disk enclosures holding tens or hundreds of disks grouped in multiple disk arrays. Filers later extended to non-file protocols, such as iSCSI, but still NAS is popularly perceived as mainly a file serving technology.

Security

File servers generally offer some form of system security to limit access to files to specific users or groups. In large organizations, this is a task usually delegated to what is known as directory services such as openLDAP, Novell's eDirectory or Microsoft's Active Directory.

These servers work within the hierarchical computing environment which treat users, computers, applications and files as distinct but related entities on the network and grant access based on user or group credentials. In many cases, the directory service spans many file servers, potentially hundreds for large organizations. In the past, and in smaller organizations, authentication can take place directly to the server itself.

Source: http://www.answers.com/topic/file-server

File Server Solution for Netbooks

2008-12-30T03:31:00.000-08:00

Egnyte, a provider of on-demand file server solutions, announced today that it will now support "netbooks," the new breed of mini laptops that are taking the portable PC market by storm. Popular for their small size, portability and low cost, netbooks are currently restricted in their ability to function as a complete mobile office due to their basic feature set, limited performance and small hard drive. Egnyte's new file server for netbooks will provide unlimited online storage, as well as the ability to easily and securely access and share files, anytime and anywhere. For small businesses and mobile professionals, the solution provides a cost effective and efficient means to utilize a netbook as an office on the go.

The global economic slowdown is requiring businesses to cut back on expenditures, with many small businesses moving away from physical offices to complete mobile work environments. Netbooks are becoming attractive alternatives to traditional notebooks due to their attractive pricing model and convenience. With Egnyte, netbooks become notebooks by delivering business-class storage functionality. By mapping the File Server as a drive.

"Right now, netbooks are currently seen as underpowered notebooks used primarily for surfing the web and emailing, but they have much greater potential," said Rob Enderle, Principal Analyst for the Enderle Group. "As solution providers like Egnyte deliver added functionality such as on-demand and unlimited online storage, the netbook has the ability to evolve into a vital business tool for mobile workers across numerous industries."

The market for netbooks is growing fast, rising from a million units in 2007 to industry forecasts of over 50 million by 2010. The products are attractive for emerging markets where they help provide Internet access to the largest number of users, and to highly developed markets where they are seen as mobile tools or a second PC.

Egnyte is a software-as-a-service cloud storage application, providing the only single, integrated, on-demand solution to the three most common technology challenges facing every small business services: data storage, information sharing, and computer back-up. The Egnyte solution eliminates the need for file-server hardware, storing users' files on secure, always-available servers connected to the Internet.

"With mobile business on the rise, netbooks are only going to get more attractive due to their low price point and portability," said Vineet K. Jain, CEO of Egnyte. "However, to combat storage challenges, turning to an online or virtual storage provider like Egnyte makes sense. And, for only $15 per month per user, it is an attractive value proposition, particularly for small businesses or mobile users who want the benefits of a big company solution."
The Egnyte netbook server solution provides a number of specific features for file storage and document collaboration. These include:

Configurable Shared Folders. Create folders to store and share files within and outside your company. Control permissions on folders (e.g. read only, read/write).
Access as a Drive. Access Egnyte as folders on your computer. Drag and drop files easily.
-- No Download or Upload Limits. Download or upload as much data as required. No daily or monthly restrictions. There are no file size limits either.
Tight Privacy Controls. Share with multiple customers or suppliers. One party cannot see another's folders or files.
Highly Secure. Manage accounts and permissions. All access to Egnyte is fully encrypted. Servers hosted at a SAS-70 compliant, highly secure facility.

Source: marketwatch.com/news/story/Egnyte-Introduces-Online-File-Server/story.aspx?guid={4D9B83E8-8951-41B8-B057-4D0C948A551E}

Build a Print Server From an Old Computer

2008-12-22T07:06:00.000-08:00

How to Build a Print Server From an Old Computer?? Below are the tips, follow and save your money as well as time:

Make sure your computer is up to snuff. It doesn't take a lot to build a print server. All you need is a machine with a 386 processor or faster, 8 megs of RAM, a parallel port and a floppy drive.
Install an ethernet network adapter card. If the machine doesn't already have an ethernet port, you'll need to install one. It doesn't have to be up-to-date either, an old 10 Mbps PCI card ought to do the trick.
Install winzip and winimage. You'll need these programs to unpack the printer server software. Visit the Winzip and Winimage websites and read how to download and install it (
Download the print server software. We'll be using a free print server from Pigtail.net. See the link below in Resources to download.
Download a network card driver. You'll need a file called modules.lrp. There are many different versions of it, however, so follow the link for a modules.lrp list in the Resources section.
Open winimage. If you installed it to the default directory, you'll need to click "Run" and then type C:\winimage\winimage.exe.
Create a disk image. Drag and drop the printsrv image into the winimage window. This is the file you downloaded in Step 3. Next, drag and drop the modules.lrp file in.
Save the image onto a disk. Insert a blank disk into your A drive and click Disk | Write.
Connect your printer and power up. Connect the print server to the network. Connect a printer to the print server with a parallel printer cable, insert the disk you just wrote and boot it up. It will beep 3 times to indicate that it is ready.
Set up client printers. In XP, click Start | Control Panel | Printers and Faxes | Add a printer | Local Printer. Uncheck "Auto Detect PnP." Click "Create new port" and then "Standard TCP/IP port." Type in the IP address as 192.168.1.252, the port name as PrintSrv and under Custom | Settings | Raw | Port, type in 9100.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2034850_build-server-computer.html

Configuring Windows XP as a Network Print Server

2008-12-15T06:19:00.000-08:00

If your Windows XP system is part of a network, then you’re probably already familiar with the concept of using it as a network client or server. In simple terms, a server is any system to which other network systems connect for the purpose of sharing resources like files or printers, while a client is the system asking for access to those resources. So, referring to XP as a “server” in some situations is absolutely correct, even though the operating system is optimized for use as a desktop.

On large business networks, server functions are typically handled by operating systems like Windows NT, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows Server 2003. Unfortunately, each of these operating systems is prohibitively expensive, especially for home and small office users. Because of this, many companies choose to leverage their systems running Windows XP for file and print serving functions – the load from such activities will typically be low, so having the system act as both a desktop and server simultaneously is usually not a big deal. While using XP as a file server for 8-10 users can be taxing on an XP system without lots of RAM or a fast CPU, acting as a print server on the same network is well within XP’s capabilities.

We are going to take a closer look at how to configure Windows XP as a print server, and how to make it support not only Windows 2000 and XP printing clients, but also systems running older versions of Windows such as Windows 95/98/ME. The good news is that configuring XP as a robust print server is easier than you think, but there are a few potential issues that you’ll need to look out for.

Source: 2000trainers.com/printers-and-printing/configuring-windows-xp-as-a-network-print-server/

Edimax Launches Wireless 3G Broadband Router With Print Server

2008-12-05T06:58:00.001-08:00

Edimax Technology has launched the Wireless 802.11b/g 3G multifunctional broadband router with print server. The 3G-6200Wg is a cost-effective IP-based router that enables multiple users to share a single Internet connection via an ADSL or cable modem.

When connecting 3G/3.5G USB modem card to 3G-6200Wg, all network (wired/wireless) users can share 3G/3.5G Internet connection. The 3G-6200Wg can support 3G/3.5G speed up to 7.2Mbps. One can also connect with a printer as 3G-6200Wg is also a print server allowing users to share the printer through the network, explains the company.

The 3G-6200Wg supports automatic backup function. When connected with xDSL/Cable broadband, 3G-6200Wg enables the xDSL/Cable broadband connection automatically if 3G/3.5G Internet connection is not available. You can surf Internet anywhere and anytime via Edimax 3G-6200Wg. The 3G-6200Wg is built in with wireless 802.11b/g access point. It allows wireless 802.11b/g client devices access the Intranet and Internet.

The 3G-6200Wg provides LPR and IPP printing methods. The best printing method can also be selected according to the environment to share your printer, says the company. A multi-language setup wizard is included in the installation CD.

Source: efytimes

Microsoft delivers Small Business Server 2008

2008-11-26T02:31:00.000-08:00

Microsoft has launched Windows Small Business Server 2008, which is aimed at companies with up to 75 employees.

The software includes copies of Sharepoint and Exchange Server, which offer company-wide email, remote access to desktop machines, backup and restoration services, as well as file and printer sharing.

Small Business Server also allows employees with Windows Mobile-based smartphones to access their email, contacts and calendar remotely.

Unsurprisingly, security figures prominently in the feature list, with customers receiving a 120-day evaluation copy of Windows Live OneCare, and Forefront Security for Exchange Server, which scans messages for viruses, spam and spyware.

There's also a premium version of Business Server called Essential Business Server aimed at companies with 300 or more employees.

Essential Business Server customers receive a copy of the SQL Server 2008 database management software, and a one-year subscription to Forefront Security for Exchange Server and Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway.

Source:pcpro

Windows Server 2008 File and Print Server Features

2008-11-20T02:34:00.000-08:00

Several features are present in Windows Server 2008 to enable faster, more seamless access to file and print services on your network. Although the infrastructure of the file and print systems has not been completely redesigned, it certainly has been modified to provide for ease-of-use enhancements, increased data integrity, automatic and assisted backup, and other key features, including the following:

Distributed File System (DFS)

DFS is a feature in Windows Server 2008 that permits an administrator to create one logical filesystem layout despite the fact that shares can be scattered across the network on different servers. This makes it easier for clients to find and store files consistently, and it allows for better equipment utilization. One server can host multiple DFS roots, which are "starting" points for a hierarchy of shared folders. In addition, a Windows Server 2008 server can use Active Directory site topology to route DFS requests from clients to the closest available server, increasing response time.

Encrypting File System (EFS)

Native encryption abilities are built into the NTFS filesystem used in Windows Server 2008. By simply checking a checkbox in the Properties sheet for a file, you can easily encrypt and decrypt files and folders to protect their integrity. This feature is particularly useful for mobile computers, which have a greater risk of data loss and capture than traditional corporate desktop
machines.

Volume shadow copy

The volume shadow copy feature is perhaps one of the most useful features of Windows Server 2008. The server will take snapshots of files at specific periods during the day, thereby making available a library of previous versions of a file. If a user accidentally overwrites a file, saves an incorrect version, or somehow destroys the primary copy, he can simply click Previous Versions in the Explorer view of the folder and access a shadow copy version.

Windows Search Service

The Windows Search Service, new to Windows Server 2008, catalogs and indexes the contents of server hard disks, enabling users to search in files in different formats and languages for the data they need. The engine has been enhanced over several revisions of the product to accelerate the search process and to use less processor time when cataloging and indexing files.

Source:computingtech.blogspot.com/2008/05/windows-server-2008-file-and-print.html

Iomega NAS offers rack mount, print server

2008-11-12T22:25:00.000-08:00

Iomega Corp. today announced its StorCenter Pro NAS 450r series array -- a rack-mountable series of Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices that feature capacities up to 2TB and print server capabilities. Prices start at $3,999.

Mac, Windows and Linux-compatible, the StorCenter Pro NAS 450r employs Windows Storage server 2003 R2 for an operating system. Under the hood is a dual-core Xeon CPU, hardware-based RAID support, hot-swappable 7200RPM Serial ATA (SATA) hard disk drives, dual Gigabit Ethernet ports and other capabilities.

The StorCenter Pro NAS 450r features four disk drives and hardware-based RAID Level 0 (striping, no fault tolerance), Level 1 (mirroring) or Level 5 (striping with parity) support. An Ultra 320 SCSI port is also included, for high-speed direct backup.

The StorCenter Pro ships with a five-client license of EMC Retrospect Express backup software. Also included is Windows Print Server, which provides centralized support and management for up to five network printers.

The StorCenter Pro NAS 450r costs $3,999 for a 1TB system (incorporating four 250GB drives). A 2TB system (using four 500GB drives) costs $4,999. Iomega plans to ship a 4TB model once 1TB drives are available later this year.

Via:www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=nas&articleId=9016399&taxonomyId=148&intsrc=kc_top

Use the Print Management console for Windows Server 2008 print server

2008-11-07T00:09:00.000-08:00

Windows Server 2008’s print server role offers a new Print Management console. (An earlier form of the console was part of Windows Server 2003 R2.) The Windows Server 2008 version, which is provided to the server when the print server role is added, allows you to retrieve information and the state of printers and other print servers. For clean installations, you can also use the Print Management console to install printers to client systems via Group Policy.

After installing the print server role, the Print Management console appears and offers a central view for the printers and print servers. Figure A shows the main screen of the Print Management console.

The Print Management console is one of the stronger features for Windows Server 2008 simply because of the deployment options of printers through Group Policy. For a printer deployed through Group Policy, the corresponding Group Policy Management configuration is shown in Figure B.

As with other Group Policy configurations, it can be applied to User or Computer objects. This flexibility can avoid risky scripts or inconsistent driver situations that can result from haphazard printer deployment.

You can apply the Print Management console to a permission model for delegated control so a help desk technician could clear a queue or even deploy the printer to a client. Printer drivers can also be managed within the Print Management console, avoiding issues where unnecessary printing features complicate the support of the solution.

Source:blogs.techrepublic.com.com/datacenter/?p=455

File & Print Server Monitoring

2008-10-31T03:47:00.000-07:00

The Sentry-go Quick File & Print Monitor allows you to quickly & easily monitor your Windows File & Print server, including local printers & print queues, changes made to both local and remote files, the contents of those files, directory changes & structure modifications, entries written to local Event Logs.

If problems are detected, it can either take automatic action, or alert you before end-users are affected. Using it's in-built web-based reporting, you also have immediate access to monitored information direct from your web browser.

Monitoring Features

Monitor key services
You can monitor key Windows & Print Spooler services running on the local server out of the box. In addition, custom services can also be added, monitored & automatically restarted.
Check the status of local printers
Print monitoring allows you to check for & be alerted to errors on local printers such as paper jams, out of paper errors, attention required etc.
Check the status of local print queues
Printer queue monitoring & print monitoring allows you to check for & be alerted to problems associated with a local print queue - e.g. excessively high queue length, print job size (higher than expected no. pages or job size) etc.
Changes made to files & directories
By monitoring files & monitoring directories, you can be alerted to changes in files, directory structure or the underlying file system. For example, files added, deleted, when files have been updated or not updated, directory/file count, directory/file sizes etc.
Monitor Server & Print Spooler performance
Out of the box you can monitor the threshold of important Windows & Print Spooler performance counters such as CPU usage, queue lengths, print job errors etc.
Monitor errors written to the Windows Event Log
Sentry-go allows you to monitor messages written to the Windows Event Logs based on error type, event ID, source or keywords & phrases within the text.
Monitor messages written to custom log files
In addition to Event Logs, log file monitoring can easily be performed using Sentry-go. Using this, you can also monitor the entries written to text-based log files such as those used for custom applications, based on keywords or phrases within the text.
Ensure sufficient disk space is available
To print, the print spooler needs adequate free disk space. Sentry-go can check this for you, clearing down temporary files automatically if free space becomes limited.

Respond Automatically or Alert

Quick Monitors allow you to respond in a number of ways, in the event a fault is detected ...

Respond automatically by running a command, application, batch file or script
Automatically restart a failed Windows Service or reboot the server
Alert you via network messaging, standard or custom e-mails
Different alerting methods based on day of week and time of day
Alert you via the Quick Monitor Console
Alert you via your SMS pager gateway provider Interface with external systems via SMTP, HTTP, or scripting
Log details to a SysLog Server, database or text file

Web-based Reporting

The built-in web server provides access to the following information direct from your desktop browser ...

Standard reports - for recent alerts, current status & performance history
Real-time Printer & Print Queue Summary
Real-time Printer & Queue Status

Source:sentry-go.com/qm-file-print-server-monitoring.aspx

Install File Server for Macintosh

2008-10-16T01:07:00.000-07:00

To install File Server for Macintosh

Open the Windows Components wizard.
In Components, click Other Network File and Print Services (but do not select or clear its check box), and then click Details.
Select the File Services for Macintosh check box.
To install Print Server for Macintosh, you can also select the Print Services for Macintosh check box.
Click OK, and then click Next.

Notes

To open the Windows Components Wizard, click Start, click Control Panel, double-click Add or Remove programs, and then click Add/Remove Windows Components.
Certain Windows components require configuration before they can be used. If you installed one or more of these components but did not configure them, when you click Add/Remove Windows Components, a list of components that need to be configured is displayed. To start the Windows Components Wizard, click Components.
You must have an NTFS partition installed before you install File Server for Macintosh.
When File Server for Macintosh and TCP/IP are installed, the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP) over TCP/IP is enabled automatically.
If you have not already installed the AppleTalk protocol, the protocol is installed automatically when you install File Server for Macintosh.

Source: technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc780031.aspx

How To Install and Configure a File and Print Server in Windows Server 2003

2008-09-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Install File and Printer Sharing:-

By default, a Windows Server 2003-based computer is installed with Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and TCP/IP.

You can create a Windows Server 2003 file server and print server manually, or you can use the wizards that are provided in the Configure Your Server Wizard administrative tool.

How to Install a File Server on Windows Server 2003 by Using the Configure Your Server Wizard

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Configure Your Server Wizard.
2. Click Next.
3. Click Next.
4. Click File server in the Server role box, and then click Next.
5. On the "File Server Disk Quotas" page, configure any quotas you need to control disk-space usage on the server, and then click Next.
6. On the "File Server Indexing Service" page, click the indexing configuration that is appropriate for your server, and then click Next.
7. Click Next.
8. Click Finish.
9. The Share a Folder Wizard starts. Click Next.
10. Click Browse, locate the folder that you want to share, and then click OK.
11. Click Next.
12. Type a share name for the folder, and then click Next.
13. Click one of the basic permissions for the folder, or click Customize to set custom permissions on the folder. Click Finish.
14. Click Close.

How to Manually Install a File Server on Windows Server 2003:-

1. Click Start, and then click Windows Explorer.
2. Locate the folder that you want to share.
3. Right-click the folder, and then click Sharing and Security.
4. Click Share this folder, and then accept the default name or type a different name for the share.
5. Optionally, configure the number of users who can connect, configure permissions for this folder, and then configure the caching options.
6. Click OK.
7. A little hand is displayed in the Windows Explorer window to indicate that the folder is being shared.
8. Quit Windows Explorer.

Install a Windows Server 2003 Print Server:-

How to Install a Print Server on Windows Server 2003 by Using the Configure Your Server Wizard

1. Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Configure Your Server Wizard.
2. Click Next.
3. Click Next.
4. Click Print server in the Server role box, and then click Next.
5. On the "Printers and Printer Drivers" page, click the types of Windows clients that your print server will support, and then click Next.
6. Click Next.
7. On the "Add Printer Wizard Welcome" page, click Next.
8. Click Local printer attached to this computer, click to clear the Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer check box, and then click Next.
9. Click the port for your printer, and then click Next.
10. Click the printer make and model or provide the drivers from the printer manufacturer media, and then click Next.

NOTE: If you are prompted to keep or not keep your existing printer driver, either keep the existing driver or replace the existing driver. If you replace the driver, you must provide the manufacturer driver for this printer. Click Next to continue.

11. Accept the default name of the printer or provide a different name, and then click Next.
12. Click the Share as option, type the share name, and then click Next.

NOTE: This step is optional because you can share the printer later.

13. You may provide the location of the printer and a comment to make it easier to locate. Click Next to continue.
14. Click the Print a test page option, click Next, and then click Finish to quit the Add Printer Wizard. Your printer appears in the Printers and Faxes folder.

How to Share a Printer:-

1. Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
2. Right-click the printer that you just installed, and then click Sharing.
3. Click Share this printer, and then type a share name for the printer.
4. Optionally, click Additional Drivers, click the operating systems of the client computers that may attach to this printer, and then click OK. By adding drivers for these operating systems, users on client computers can connect to the print server and automatically download the appropriate drivers for this model of printer without having to configure anything.
5. When you are prompted to do so, insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM.
6. Click OK to close the printer properties.
7. Close the Printers and Faxes folder.

How to Manually Install a Print Server on Windows Server 2003:-

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
2. Double-click Add Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard.
3. To complete the Add Printer Wizard, repeat steps 7 through 14 in the "Install a Windows Server 2003 Print Server" section of this article.

NOTE: The only difference between the manual installation of the print server and the use of the Configure Your Server Wizard to create the print server is how you start the Add Printer Wizard.

Source:support.microsoft.com

Windows Server 2003

2008-07-11T01:47:00.000-07:00

You have your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 and you want to upgrade to Windows Server 2008. Or you are not certified at all and want to earn the MCTS on Windows Server 2008. The first thing to remember is that this is a series of new certifications and while there is an upgrade path, you are not earning an MCSE on Windows Server 2008 rather an MCTS or MCITP on windows Server 2008. Also remember that the era of the MCSA/MCSE certifications has ended – it is now MCTS and MCITP (and others beyond the scope intended here) and have an entirely different focus.

As I stated in an earlier blog – the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) has a different focus then the Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP) and the former is not a prerequisite for the latter either (and nor is it a “lesser” certification!). The MCTS certification is aimed at IT Professionals who work with a specific Microsoft product or platform. An IT Pro who has earned their MCTS is expected to possess depth and breadth of knowledge and skills on a particular product or platform. They are expected to manage and maintain the product or platform on a daily basis. They are also more concerned with the day-to-day operations and short term planning rather than long term planning and design and design.

There are three MCTS tracks available: MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration; MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration and MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration. You can take each of the tests individually, or you can take the upgrade path by taking only one test.

The easiest route to upgrade your certification, if you are already an MCSA on Windows Server 2003, is take (and pass, of course) the 70-648 TS: Upgrading your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist exam. Passing this exam will earn you the: MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration (equivalent to the 70-640 exam) and the MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration (equivalent to the 70-642 exam). The last of the three MCTS certifications - MCTS: Window Server 2008 Application Infrastructure Configuration is earned by passing the 70-643 exam. The other part to earning your MCTS on any one of the three paths is to pass the 70-646exam (Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator.

As you can see, the upgrade path from MCSA Windows Server 2003 to MCTS on Windows Server 2008 is straight forward – a far cry from the old 70-240 exam!
Source: networkworld.com

Microsoft Technologies

2008-07-07T06:30:00.001-07:00

Is This for You? This document set is written to meet the requirements of IT professionals who are responsible for the planning, design, deployment, and operations of file and print services in an enterprise environment. The readers of this document set are expected to have an understanding of its technical details; however, service-level expertise is not needed to follow the enterprise-level discussions and to understand the decisions that are made.

Organizations need to share, store, retrieve, and print information in an efficient, cost-effective, secure, and reliable manner. Information may exist in the form of static files, such as large format architectural drawings and external brochures, software code and executable, plans and presentations, pictures and spreadsheets. Information may also take the form of dynamic data such as databases, event logs, or captured video streams. In each case, information exists as collections of files and is managed accordingly.

As the amount of data increases, the cost of storage and maintenance also increases due to administrative and hardware overheads. A number of studies have shown how data growth continues to be exponential while the resources available for managing data remain flat or the area reduced. It is important to ensure that users can access data quickly and easily and that it can be managed efficiently.

Organizations also need to be able to publish and print information in hard copy format, whether for legal, business, or personal requirements. They need to print on multiple devices having multiple attributes at different times of the day. They must also provide users with the ability to find and use printers easily without requesting assistance from the IT support organization.

In addition, printing assets need to be managed securely and kept online and available at the same time. File and print services are critical for users and applications within information technology (IT) environments. However, these services are often ignored during the IT infrastructure design phase, which leads to environments where printer and file repositories appear in ad hoc fashion without clear strategies for their management. Planning for these services is vital; requirements of the users and applications need to be assessed and available technologies matched to the requirements in order to provide a supportable package of technologies and services.

Windows File & Print Server

2008-07-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I installed the released version of Windows Server 2008 (after having worked with the release candidate previously), and the experience reminded how impressed I am by Win2008's ease of installation. I have a Intel quad-CPU set up, along with some 7200rpm drives because I do a lot of testing, and the 64-bit version Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition installation just flew onto my hard drive. Following that, deciding what you want your Win2008 to be in life is a relatively straightforward, guided process.

If you are new to Win2008, it includes something called Server Roles. What do you want this server to be? An Active Directory domain controller (called Domain Services), a file or print server, an IIS Web server, a combination, or maybe something else? Win2008 comes with some 17 Server Roles, each comprising a number of appropriate options. Let's say you want to set up a multipurpose server as a domain controller, DHCP server, file server, print server and Web server -- a configuration you might use in a smaller organization. Each of those functions are Server Roles within Win2008. Active Director Domain Services will also require you set up the server using the DNS Server role.

Each Server Role starts with a wizard for basic configuration information (like setting up scopes for the DHCP Server role, for example) and concludes with an installation step. If some feature selections within a Server Role have other software dependencies, those are shown with an easy-to-understand "okay" box to add those to the installation. If you are a beginner or don't happen to know about a certain feature set within a Server Role, help is there right upfront about what it does and the installation options that may be relevant to you (like setting up a new domain vs. adding a controller to an existing domain services forest).

You'll likely have to reboot Win2008 after most installation steps, so you'll want to get everything installed and configured before a bunch of users sign on. While there's a big difference in pricing, I've found Win2008 Standard Edition about as easy to set up as the Win2008 Small Business Edition. SBE obviously consolidates some steps, but Win2008 isn't all that hard to set up -- the basic stuff anyway. If you are going to exceed the license restrictions, don't fear setting up Win2008, as it's not that much harder.