Can it be Virtualized? (Jul 23 2009)

Microsoft has a Virtualization Support Wizard on the internet that can help them determine if a virtualization configuration is supported without calling Microsoft support

The URL of the Wizard is http://www.windowsservercatalog.com/svvp.aspx?svvppage=svvpwizard.htm

Upgrade Trial OCS to RTM (Mar 12 2009)

 No warranty is offered for this process - always test before trying in production. 

• Back up the evaluation User Database (optional).

1.  From the Backend server, run "Dbbackup /backupfile:[Name of backup file] [/dbname:<name of your user database>] [/sqlserver:<machine name>\<sql server instance>]"
2. Upgrade the Evaluation Edition pool or Server.
3. Log on to the Enterprise Edition Server using local administrator credentials.
4.  Upgrade the installation for the Enterprise Edition Server. Use Server.msi which can be run from the installation folder or the CD (Setup\i386\setupdirectory).

MsiExec.exe /i Server.msi EVALTOFULL=1 [/l*v <Drive:\Directory\FileName.log>] [/q[n|b|r][+]]

For example:

MsiExec.exe /i Server.msi EVALTOFULL=1 /l*v C:\Upgrade.log

Note

Specify /qn parameter to run a silent upgrade of installation files during which no wizard pages or dialog boxes appear. If you run a silient install, specify the logging option with /l*vx <file path> parameter. You can also use the, /qn+ parameter to run a silent installation that displays a dialog box at the end ofthe procedure indicating whether the procedure is successful.

1. Follow the steps in the wizard to complete the upgrade.
2. Click Finish to exit the wizard.

1. Repeat steps A through D for each Enterprise Edition Server in the Enterprise pool.

• The evaluation version of a Director must also be upgraded
• The evaluation version of Edge Servers and Proxy must be upgraded along with the internal servers and Directors

1. To upgrade the installation files for the Evaluation Edge Server (Access Edge, Web Conferencing Edge, Audio/Video Edge)
2.  Log on to the evaluation version of the Edge Server using local administrator credentials.
3.  Upgrade the installation files for the Edge Server. Use Server.msi, which can be run from the installation folder or installation CD (Setup\i386\setup directory).

MsiExec.exe /i Server.msi EVALTOFULL=1 [/l*v <Drive:\Directory\FileName.log>] [/q[n|b|r][+]]

For example:

MsiExec.exe /i Server.msi EVALTOFULL=1 /l*v C:\Upgrade.log

1. Follow the steps in the wizard.
2. Click Finish to exit the wizard.
3. Verify that the full released version of User Replicator is complete.

No warranty is offered for this process - always test before trying in production. 

Need to move our OCS databases from one database cluster to another (Mar 12 2009)

This topic popped up this week and here is what I was able to find.  Posting as an FYI for future questions re: this.

I tested in my lab and I offer no warrentee on these steps.  Please test before attempting in Production

1. Verify that the databases are backed up.

2. Log on as user in RTCUniversalServerAdmin group.

3. Stop all OCS 2007 Services in the pool (AV,Web, FrontEnd)

4. Log on as user in Administrators group to the SQL Backend server.

5. Open SQL Server MGMT Studio.

6. Find the Databases RTC, RTCconfig, and RTCDyn and detach them dropping connections.

7. Move the .mdf and .ldf DB files to the new location or server.

8. Attach the 3 databases. If on a different server, log on as user in Administrators group to the new SQL Backend server.

9. Open up the SQL Server Mgmt Studio and right click on Databases and then attach.

10. Verify all 3 databases RTC, RTCconfig, and RTCDyn show up under the databases in SQL Server Mgmt Studio.

11. Log on as user in RTCUniversalServerAdmins group on OCS.

Run >LcsCmd.exe /forest /action:UpdatePoolBackend /poolname:pool01 /poolbe:SQLServer1\INSTANCE1

12. Run Deploy Pool Wizard and choose consolidated or expanded topology according what is being used.

13. Deploy the pool with the same settings before the database move You will need the following:

• ·         Pool name.
• ·         Domain
• ·         Pool FQDN
• ·         SQL Server Instance (the new SQL server where the database is or if just moving database locations, the same SQL server name )
• ·         Internal and External Web farm FQDNs.
• ·         Meeting Content, Meeting Metadata, and ABS share locations.

14. MAKE SURE TO CLEAR the Replace existing database check box. (If you don't you will have to restore the databases as all info will be wiped out).

15. Finish the Deploy pool wizard.

16. Verify deployment was successful.

17. Start services in order for Front-End, IM Conferencing, Telephony, and Web Conferencing services.

Exchange Voice Mails (UM) on Blackberry (Mar 01 2009)

By default Ex UM saves Vmsg in WMA format which does not play on Blackberries.

set-UMMailbox alias -CallAnsweringAudioCodec GSM

will change the Vmsg to WAV format.

Windows Search Advanced Query Syntax (Jan 20 2009)

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/technicalresources/advquery.mspx

For those of us who have became reliant on our desktop search to find anything in our My Docs and Outlook.