Cisco – Automatic Re-enrollment Fails to MSCEP/NDES
Nov17

Cisco – Automatic Re-enrollment Fails to MSCEP/NDES

KB ID 0000970 Problem I’ve covered setting up NDES at length in the past, but what happens when your issued certificates expire? If you are using them for all your VPNs what then? Well thankfully you can get your devices to automatically re-enroll and before they expire, for example to renew the cert at 80% of its lifetime you would use the following; crypto pki trustpoint PNL-TRUSTPOINT enrollment url...

Read More
Windows Server – Enable Multiple RDP sessions
Nov17

Windows Server – Enable Multiple RDP sessions

KB ID 0000471 Problem Server 2012/2008 R2 unlike their predecessors, comes with the multiple remote desktop session restriction enabled. If you are only connecting to a server for remote administration purposes that can get a bit annoying, especially if you have a generic administrative account that multiple techs are using, and you keep kicking each other off the server. Just as with earlier versions of Windows server you CAN have...

Read More
Unable to  Contact, Connect to, or Manage, a  DNS Server from  DNS Management Console
Nov17

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...

Read More
Windows – How to Disable ‘User Account Control’
Nov17

Windows – How to Disable ‘User Account Control’

KB ID 0000687 Problem We have had UAC since Windows Vista, and it is less annoying now than it was then, but still one of the first things I do is turn it off. Yes I know it’s there for a reason – but as far as I’m concerned if the annoyance outweighs the benefit, then its getting turned off.   Solution Option 1 (Disable UAC via MSCONFIG) 1. Press Windows Key+R > type msconfig > OK. 2. Tools tab >...

Read More
Windows and Cisco (IPSEC) VPN Client
Nov17

Windows and Cisco (IPSEC) VPN Client

KB ID 0000693  Problem I’d been running Windows 8 for a while now. But was the first time I needed to use my Cisco VPN Client software. So I was not happy when this happened. Note: Using VPN Client version 5.0.07.0440 Secure VPN Connection terminated locally by the Client. Reason 442: Failed to enable Virtual Adapter. Solution As it turns out this is a known problem with Windows 8, and there is a work-around. 1. Press Windows...

Read More