Learn to subnet
Written by Bas   
For those who want to refresh their skills how to subnet. This site gives excellent information about sub netting and ip networks.

http://www.learntosubnet.com/

http://www.learntosubnet.com/Subnet_Section_helper.htm

 
 
Exchange 2003 memory optimalization
Written by Bas   

Maximizing virtual address space

It is best to monitor the virtual address space for the Information Store on large mailbox servers to make sure that performance and stability does not decrease. The easiest way to do this is to monitor the VM Largest Block Size counter of the MSExchangeIS performance object in the Performance utility. This value is shown in bytes. After you start the computer, it is typical to see a sharp decrease in the largest virtual memory block size. However, after a day or two of operation, the value approaches a typical operating level. A value for the largest free virtual memory block that is more than 200,000,000 bytes (about 200 MB) indicates a healthy server. If you notice a lower value than this, monitor the server more closely. If you experience a low virtual address space:
  1. If you have 1 GB or more of physical memory installed, make sure that the /3GB switch is set in the Boot.ini file if the following conditions are true on the server:
    • The server is home to mailboxes or public folders.
    • The operating system is Windows 2000 Advanced Server or Windows Server 2003.
    If the server does not have any mailboxes or public folders on it, such as a mail gateway, we do not recommend that you use the /3GB switch.
  2. If Exchange Server 2003 is installed on a Windows Server 2003-based server, and if it has the /3GB switch set, make sure that the /USERVA=3030 switch is set in the Boot.ini file. If Exchange Server 2003 is installed on a Windows 2000-based server, make sure that the server is running Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 (SP3) or later.
  3. If you have 1 GB or more physical memory installed, configure the HeapDeCommitFreeBlockThreshold registry value in the following registry key, and then restart the server:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager
    Value name: HeapDeCommitFreeBlockThreshold
    Value type: REG_DWORD
    Value data: 0x00040000 (recommended)
    Value default: not present

To add the /3GB and /USERVA switches to your Boot.ini file, simply open Boot.ini in a text editor such as Notepad, add the /3GB and the /USERVA=3030 parameters to the startup line, and save your changes. The changes will not take effect until you reboot the system.

The boot.ini will look like this :

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /noexecute=optout /fastdetect /3GB /USERVA=3030

The memory optimilization error in the event viewer will only disapear when the registry key is edited with : 00040000

 
 
Enable VMware EVC IBM Blades
Written by Bas   

There are a lot of questions how to enable Vmware EVC on IBM blades. Here the configuration how to on a IBM HS21 blade :

1. Go to Bios : F1

2. Go to : Advanced Setup.

3. Go to CPU Options

4.Set Processor Execute Disable Bit = ENABLED

 Now the ESX blade can be added to the EVC enabled cluster.

 

 
 
Replication Partner Equallogic
Written by Bas   

Connect manual to a replication partner with a equallogic array.

partner create <Group> ipaddress <000.000.000.000> outbound-password * inbound-password  * space-delegated 100GB
 
Host in HA Cluster must have userworld swap enabled
Written by Bas   

De volgende error bij het enablen van HA op de ESX 3.5 i servers : Host in HA Cluster must have userworld swap enabled

Dit komt omdat er geen ruimte is gereserveerd voor HA settings weg te schrijven op de ESX 3.5i server. Dit kan handmatig gedaan worden volgens de onderstaande procedure welke terug te vinden is op de VMware Site

To enable swap on your ESXi 3 host system:
  1. On the VirtualCenter Server, select the ESXi 3 Server host.
  2. Click the Configuration tab.
  3. Click Advanced Settings.
  4. Choose ScratchConfig.

  5. Configure ScratchConfig.ConfiguredScratchLocation to a valid directory with sufficient space (1GB) to hold the userworld swap file. The userworld swap can be configured on local storage or shared storage.

    Note: Each swapfile needs a unique name across all ESX hosts.

    For example, /vmfs/volumes/.

  6. Select the ScratchConfig.ConfiguredSwapState option.
  7. Click OK.
  8. Reboot the ESX Server 3i system.
After you have enabled swap on the ESXi 3 host system, you can add the host to a VMware HA cluster.
 
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