SMS_SITE_BACKUP failed. Please see previous errors.

I ran into this issue, where after sometime the SMS Build-in backup function would fail.When running the SMS_SITE_BACKUP from Window Services (services.msc) it would fail with some of the following errors: SMS_SITE_BACKUP failed. Please see previous errors. Error: SMS Writer service either does not exist or is not running . Error: GatherWriterMetadata failed. SMS_SITE_BACKUP failed. Please see previous errors. STATMSG: ID=5060 SEV=E LEV=M SOURCE=”SMS Server” COMP=”SMS_SITE_BACKUP” SYS=Server001.domain.com SITE=PS1 PID=67372 TID=61212 GMTDATE=Thu Dec 10 01:20:41.530 2020 ISTR0=”Error: GatherWriterMetadata failed.” ISTR1=”” ISTR2=”” ISTR3=”” ISTR4=”” ISTR5=”” ISTR6=”” ISTR7=”” ISTR8=”” ISTR9=”” NUMATTRS Resolution:List the VSS writers available with the following command: VSSADMIN list writersIf … Continue reading

Setting up the lab environment – DNS resolution puzzle

I would prefer to have access from my local vlan and wireless vlan to the servers. But didn’t want to all dns traffic into the VM’s (and depend on a testing environment) Basically I want host resolution, and being able to utilizing the domain services in the testing environment, without interruption of my other services. This is the solution in went for was using Conditional Forwarders First the Hyper-V host: I Installed the DNS Server role within Windows Server 2016. Setup forwarders to google dns:               After that i will add the Conditional Forwards … Continue reading

Setting up the lab environment – Hyper-V: Virtual Machines

Now to the good stuff Usually when working with Hyper-V I use reference disks, mainly to save space on rather expensive disks. But is there much to gain when using deduplication? I was on sure, so asked in Tech Konnect The response from Tech Konnect confirmed, when using deduplication, it out wages the other issues with reference disks, rather than saving disk space. Since it’s not possible to create folders or groups within the Hyper-V Management Console, I will be using a naming standard: <Group> – <Generation> – <OS> – <hostname> The first Virtual Machine will be a Domain Controller, … Continue reading

Setting up the lab environment – Deduplication

The next step for the lab or so-called home data center: Installing and Configuring Deduplication I was going to use a USB stick for the Windows Server 2016 OS. The main reason for this: DEDUPLICATION. I did start out with a USB stick, but due to performance issues this was changed – read the follow-up post (https://blog.thomasmarcussen.com/follow-up-on-the-home-datacenter-hardware/) The reason for having the OS on a separate volume: Deduplication is not supported on system or boot volumes. Read more about Deduplication here: About Data Deduplication Let’s get started Installing and Configuring Deduplication Open an elevated PowerShell prompt Execute: Import-Module ServerManager Execute: Add-WindowsFeature … Continue reading

Follow up on the home datacenter hardware

It’s time for a small update – the previous post is available here: https://blog.thomasmarcussen.com/new-lab-home-datacenter/ The datacenter has been running for about a week now – quite good…. but….. I’ve been using the Samsung USB as OS drive – Samsung USB 3.0 Flash Drive FIT 32GB It does have fast read, and a not that slow write, according to Samsung: Up to 130 MB/s The week passed with setting up and installing VMs – using the actual VMs etc. But when installing Windows Updates on the Hyper-V host, installing Features/Roles or anykind of configuration, it seems to slow down to useless/freeze. … Continue reading

Multiple subdomains with LetsEncrypt? YES!

Need to add multiple subdomains with LetsEncrypt? maybe Certificate for WWW and non-WWW? do a dry run, to test it ./certbot-auto certonly -d originaldomain.com -d www.originaldomain.com -d new.originaldomain.com -d new2.originaldomain.com -d new3.originaldomain.com –dry-run I tested it with apache2 works great!

ConfigMgr 2012 Application Catalog Web Service Point broken after OS upgrade

Upgrading your ConfigMgr from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2012 R2 ? I have had a couple of cases, within the past moth. .NET seems to break after the OS upgrade. During some troubleshooting on a not working Application Catalog Web Service Point Clients with new software center, did show some applications (but only a few/old from a synchronisation before the upgrade) Trying to access Application Catalog Web Site gave an error: Cannot Connect to the application server No errors in the Application catalog website or service point installation files So if we dig in to <CMInstallDrive>:\Program FIles\SMS_CCM\CMapplicationCatalogSVC\Logs\ServicePortalWebService.log … Continue reading

HTTP Error 500.0 – The FastCGI process exited unexpectedly

Link

Came across this error today:

HTTP Error 500.0 – Internal Server Error C:\PHP\php-cgi.exe – The FastCGI process exited unexpectedly

I was working on a Windows Server 2012 R2 with IIS installed.

After installing PHP 5.6 the error occured when trying to access any php files.
So apparently you need VC++ 11 runtime for PHP 5.5 or newer.
the solution was quick, download, install and iisreset (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679)

Make sure you download and install the x86 version (vcredist_x86.exe), PHP on Windows isn’t 64 bit yet.

If you’re running PHP 5.4.x then you need to install the VC++9 runtime (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5582)

 

 

 

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI)

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface For many years BIOS has been the industry standard for booting a PC. BIOS has served us well, but it is time to replace it with something better. UEFI is the replacement for BIOS, so it is important to understand the differences between BIOS and UEFI. In this section, you learn the major differences between the two and how they affect operating system deployment. Introduction to UEFI BIOS has been in use for approximately 30 years. Even though it clearly has proven to work, it has some limitations, including: 16-bit code 1 MB address space Poor … Continue reading

WSUS clients may fail during synchronization and log the following errors: 0x8024400D

Issue: WSUS clients may fail during synchronization and log the following errors: 0x8024400D Cause: Too much rubbish in WSUS database eg. Lots and lots of expired and superseeded updates. No cleanup or maintenance has been done for a loong time. Resolution: Execute a maintenance CleanUp on the WSUS Server. Most of the 0x8024400D are due to a high quantity of updates on the server, even declined, expired, or superseded. This causes that the client WU Engine cannot finish processing all the information, and cannot pass to the Evalutation phase of the update process.   -Run Decline-SupersededUpdates.ps1 (Can also be found … Continue reading