Performance Logs and Alerts in Windows Server 2003’s Computer Management Console

The Computer Management Console’s Performance Logs and Alerts snap-in allows you to monitor the performance of specific Windows Server 2003 system resources.

The Performance Logs and Alerts snap-in contains two objects — System Monitor and Performance Logs — which I will cover in more detail in this tip.
System Monitor

The System Monitor object displays a real-time representation of the counters you select to monitor. The System Monitor does not record any of the monitored items. You can change the counters selected and add them in any combination.

When using the System Monitor, you can display the results as one of the following types:

* Line: Displays a line graph with each selected counter having its own line running from left to right horizontally.
* Histogram Bar: Displays each counter as its own bar with a value of 0 to 100.
* Report: Displays the values of the data dynamically in a dialog box. There are no graphics associated with the Report view.

What are counters?

A counter is an instance of a system property tracked by the System Monitor or logged by performance logging. Counters allow you to add physical representations of dynamic system data one component at a time. Many counters also allow different representations of the data they represent; for example, you can have disk I/O represented as a total or as a percentage.

Follow these steps to add counters to the System Monitor:

1. Select the System Monitor Object in the left pane of the Computer Management Console.
2. Right-click anywhere on the graph displayed in the right pane.
3. Select Add Counters. This will display the Counters dialog box for the local system.
4. Select the component you wish to view the counters for and then select the Individual Counter and click Add.

For example, you can add one of many counters related to Memory. When you click Memory, the list of available counters appears. Some of these counters have multiple instances. For example, Processor will have more than one instance for each core in a dual core processor; these instances appear in another window when you select a counter.

When you select a counter and the appropriate instance(s) of that counter, click the Add button to add the counter to the System Monitor. When you finish adding counters, click OK to close the dialog box and view the System Monitor with your counters in place.
Performance Logs

The biggest difference between System Monitor and Performance Logs is that you can trigger the Performance Logs events to sample counters at given intervals, whereas the System Monitor runs continuously.

You can store the Performance Logs reports in the following formats:

* Text file (comma delimited): Stores data in a comma separated values text file.
* Text file (tab delimited): Stores data in a tab delimited text file.
* SQL Server: Stores data in a SQL Server database.
* Binary File: Stores data in a binary file accessible by the Performance Monitor.

The other major difference is that Performance Logs can use counters and traces (instead of counters), but System Monitor can only use counters.

Trace logs log items triggered by events. If you create a trace log, you can configure your trace to monitor occurrences of events for selected properties. This way, any time an event occurs involving the property selected, the trace log records it.

For example, you can monitor events against the NT Kernel on the system. Select the properties to monitor for inclusion in the trace, and then whenever these properties are involved in an event, the trace will log the action.

If you learn to use the logging tools in the Performance Logs and Alerts snap-in, it will help you reduce the amount of time it takes you to find problems in your Windows Server 2003 systems.
Get more information on snap-ins

* Managing a Windows Server 2003 system with the Computer Management Console
* Using the Windows Server 2003 Computer Management Console Event Viewer snap-in
* Using the Computer Management Console’s Shared Folders snap-in
* Using the Computer Management Console’s Local Users and Groups snap-in in Windows Server 2003
* Using the Windows Server 2003 Computer Management Console’s Device Manager snap-in

Source: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/datacenter/?p=304

Windows Server 2008 Core Configurator

Deploying Windows Server Core 2008 is now easier thanks to this great chap from Israel. He created an outstanding tool with the main configurations to setup a Server Core.



Windows Server 2008 Core Configurator Features:

Product Activation
Configuration of display resolution
Clock and time zone configuration
Remote Desktop configuration
Management of local user accounts (creation, deletion, group membership, passwords)
Firewall configuration
WinRM configuration
IP configuration
Computer name and domain/workgroup membership
Installation of Server Core features/roles

Source: http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/microsoft-infrastructure/windows-server-2008-core-configurator-23489

Small Business Computer Support Services

Whether you own a home business or small scale business, you must have noticed the pace of change in technology. For a non-tech person, it is virtually impossible to stay abreast of increasing advancements in technology. Fortunately, there is a variety of computer support and online computer help resources to restore a sense of security when faced with technical complexities.

Emerging at the top of the chain of computer support options is online PC repair. The latter has become an effective service offering the best to companies’ especially small businesses and is best suited to assist customers with troubleshooting computer problems, virus and spyware infections, and other critical issues such as the blue screen of death error. As such, online personal computer repair has proved its mettle for most issues.

Every good small business technical support company first diagnoses your computer problems through an online session or over the phone. Online PC repair is most helpful for small businesses at the time of troubleshooting software problems. Starting out with simple issues such as those of installation of any software programs to critical like fixing blue screen of death error, you can contact these technicians for anything related to your PC.

Likewise, online PC repair is the simplest, cheapest yet the most self sufficient service for small business computer support to sort out any kind of software defaults. Also it eliminates a need for you to hire full time IT staff, thereby saving loads of money.

The ongoing fierce competition has led several computer support centers to launch service packages including a comprehensive array of support services for different purposes. For ex: You can ask for a Small Business Support pack to fulfill your individual computer needs. You may also ask your support technicians for customized solutions depending upon specific business needs.

Small businesses are finding support sessions useful as they offer support to meet the criteria of your business. Whether it's a sudden server crash or virus outbreak, you can be assured to get your computer problems solved onsite within no time.

By working with a company that offers a combination of computer technician services and online PC repair, small businesses can avail the IT support services they need without the heavy price tag associated with it.

Source: http://www.articlebiz.com/article/223021-1-small-business-computer-support-services/

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Beta Released

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Beta is the beta release of the next generation of Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008, which is a stand-alone hypervisor based product, first released in September 2008.

The new Beta contains the same virtualization feature-set as Hyper-V that is part of Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta. Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 now includes:

• Processor and memory support: Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Beta now supports up to 8-socket physical systems and provides support for up to 32-cores. In addition, Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Beta supports up to 1TB of RAM on a physical system.

• Updated Hyper-V Configuration Utility: The Hyper-V Configuration utility is designed to simplify the most common initial configuration tasks. It helps you configure the initial configuration settings without having to type long command-line strings. New configuration options have been added for R2 Beta including:

• Remote Management Configuration

• Failover Clustering Configuration

• Additional options for Updates
  

• Failover Clustering: The initial release of Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 did not include support for failover clustering. However, with Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Beta, host clustering technology is included to enable support for unplanned downtime.

• Live migration: Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 includes support for live migration. Live migration enables customers to move running applications between servers without service interruptions.

With live migration and failover clustering, customers receive high availability and dynamic migration capabilities for both planned and unplanned downtime.

download Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Beta.

Source: http://vmblog.com/archive/2009/01/12/microsoft-hyper-v-server-2008-r2-beta-available.aspx