Unable to Contact, Connect to, or Manage, a DNS Server from DNS Management Console
KB ID 0000559 Problem If you open the DNS Management console on a server running an older OS than 2008 R2, then attempt to connect to a 2008 R2 DNS Server you will see this error. You will also see this error on a 2012 Server, whilst attempting to add another DNS Server Error: Dnsmgmt Cannot Contact the DNS Server The specified DNS server cannot be contacted. Some possible reasons include; the DNS server may not be running, there may...
Install and Configure Remote Desktop Services (Web Access)
KB ID 0000104 Problem Originally we had TS Web in 2003, and while I had a little play with it, it basically just gave you RDP over web, which would have been good if it ran over HTTP or HTTPS, but it didn’t. Also, as anyone who has ever done a complex Google search for “/tsweb” will testify, left a nice big security hole in to your servers. With the release of Server 2008 we got TSWeb 2008, this was a whole different...
WSUS Install Error – ‘ The update could not be found. There may be a network connection issue.’
KB ID 0000585 Problem Seen on a “Brand New” Install of Windows Server 2008 R2, while attempting to install the Windows Server Update Service. Windows Server Update Services Installation Failed The update could not be found. There may be a network connection issue. Solution 1. Internet access was fine, though as it was complaining about an update, I did a full Windows update, and left it running while I went for a coffee....
Windows Server Update Services – Install and Configure
KB ID 0000592 Problem Windows Server Update Service or WSUS, (previously called SUS Software Update Services) was an additional download that you could use to let one or more servers in your organisation handle the updates for your Windows clients and Microsoft applications. With Server 2008 R2, it is now included as a server ‘role’ rather than a download. It’s a great tool for centrally managing and reporting on...
Server 2008 R2 – Hangs “Preparing to configure Windows. Do not turn off your computer”
KB ID 0000657 Problem Saw this today on a Windows 2008 R2 Server, post reboot it just hung like this. Solution 1. At first I thought this was the problem, but a CTRL+AL+DELETE didn’t work. 2. A Google search prompted me to connect to the ‘services’ from another server to see if the Windows Modules Installer Service was stuck stopping or starting, but that was OK as well. 3. It was the client’s Virtual...
IIS – ‘This Web site cannot be started. Another Web site may be using the same port’.
KB ID 0000660 Problem After being unable to access my Exchange Management console, it turns out the default website had stopped. When I attempted to start it I was greeted with this error. Solution 1. Nothing was using the usual web ports (80 and 443) which I found out by running the following two commands; netstat -aon | find “:80″</p> <p>netstat -aon | find “:443” Note: If you do have a process...
Windows Server 2008 R2 – Configure RADIUS for Cisco ASA 5500 Authentication
KB ID 0000688 Problem Last week I was configuring some 2008 R2 RADIUS authentication, for authenticating remote VPN clients to a Cisco ASA Firewall. I will say that Kerberos Authentication is a LOT easier to configure, so you might want to check that first. Solution Step 1 Configure the ASA for AAA RADIUS Authentication 1. Connect to your ASDM, > Configuration > Remote Access VPN. > AAA Local Users > AAA Server Groups. 2....
Remote Desktop Web Services – No Icons?
KB ID 0000703 Problem Seen on Windows Server 2008 R2, running Remote Desktop Services with web access. After successfully connecting to the web portal, you see no icons for your RemoteApp Programs. Solution This is a known problem. 1. Go to one of your domain controllers > Windows Key+R > dsa.msc {enter} > Active Directory Users and Computers should launch. 2. Locate the “Windows Authorization Access Group” >...
Remote Desktop Services – License Server ‘Greyed Out’
KB ID 0000837 Problem I changed the IP addressing of a new client a few weeks ago. They have a remote site that uses Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services). By the time I got to the remote site to set everything back up again I was greeted with this. The remote session was disconnected because there are no Remote Desktop Licence Servers available to provide a license. Please contact the server administrator. I assumed this was...
Deploying Certificates via ‘Auto Enrollment’
KB ID 0000919 Problem SHA CERTIFICATE WARNING: Note This article was written some time ago, ensure your CA environment does NOT use SHA1 for your certificates, if it does, Please visit the following link for migration instructions; Upgrade Your Microsoft PKI Environment to SHA2 (SHA256) I need to setup wireless authentication based on computer certificates, I’ve done similar jobs before by manually issuing certificates for Cisco...