But if you attempt to run ‘dcpromo’ from command line, you will see this error, and a link to a Technet article. (Perhaps a clickable link to a picture showing where dcpromo now lives would be better!)
Solution
Note: I’m assuming you have already added the Active Directory Domain Services Role? If not do that first.
1. From Server Manager (ServerManager.exe) > ADDS > There should be a warning triangle at the top of the window > Select it > ‘Promote this server to a domain controller’
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When attempting to install the Microsoft Communications Managed API 4.0 on a Windows Server 2012 machine. You get the following error;
Setup has detected that this computer does not meet the requirements to install this software. The following blocking issue must be resolved before you can install Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Runtime software package.
Microsoft Unified Communications Managed API 4.0, Runtime required the following missing Windows Features.
-Media Foundation
1. Launch Server Manager (ServerManager.exe) > Manage > Add Roles and Features > Next > Next > Next > Scroll Down > Select Media Foundation > Next > Install.
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One great new feature of Server is bult in network ‘Teaming’. To do this normally takes some third party software, either form the server vendor (HP Teaming) or from the NIC manufacturer.
It utilises a new Windows feature called LBFO, this lets you both aggregate links, and have links available in the event of failover.
Note: NIC Teaming only supports up to 32 network cards.
Solution
1. Launch Server manager > All Servers > Select the server you ant to create a team on > Right Click > Configure NIC Teaming.
2. Select the NICs you want to add to the team > Right Click > Add to New Team.
3. Give the Team a name > OK.
Note: By default ‘Switch independent’ will be selected, this is probably what you want (see below) > OK.
Windows Server 2012 NIC Teaming Modes
Static Teaming: Requires configuration on the switch, which must be configured for IEEE 803.3ad (draft v1).
Switch Independent: Generally requires no switch configuration and can be connected to multiple switches.
LACP: Requires configuration on the switch, which must be configured for IEEE 802.1ax, and support LACP. Note: On a Cisco Catalyst this would be a port-channel, on an HP Networking switch this would be called an LACP trunk.
4. Now if you look under ‘Network Connections’ you will see a new one with the name you created.
5. Configure this new Teamed NIC, and simply treat it as a single network card.
Configure Teaming via PowerShell
To do the same as we did above use the following command;
[box]
New-NetLbfoTeam -Name TEAM -TeamMembers NIC1,NIC2,NIC3,NIC4 -TeamingMode SwitchIndependent
[/box]
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Server Manager on Windows Server 2008 and Server 2012, launches every time you log on, (with administrative access). After a while this can get very annoying, if you log into a lot of servers for example. So I tend to stop it auto-launching (it’s still on the taskbar if you need it!)
Solution
Disable Server Manager Opening on Startup
1. With Server Manager Open > Manage > Server Manager Properties > Tick ‘Do not start Server Manager automatically at Logon’ > OK.
Disable Server Manager Starting on Server 2008
1. With Server Manager Open > Server Summary Section > Tick “Do Not Show this console at Logon”.
OR Via the Registry (2008 NOT 2012 For one user i.e. the domain admin).
1. Start > Start Search Box > Regedit {enter}.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSOFTWAREMICROSOFTSERVERMANAGER
3. Locate the DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon value.
Set 1=Enabled (The console WILL NOT load at logon). Set 0=Disabled (The console WILL load at logon).
For All users HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftServer Manager set as above.
Disable Server Manager Auto Start via Group Policy
1. Open your group policy editor (either gpedit.msc for local policy or gpms.msc for domain policy).
2. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Server Manager.
3. Locate “Do not display Server Manager automatically at logon”.
Set Enabled=Server Manager is NOT Displayed.
Set Disable= Server Manager is displayed (only when an administrator logs on).
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When you setup SBS2008 (and Exchange 2007) it creates and uses a self signed certificate, which is fine. But by default it only lasts two years. The best option is to buy a proper certificate, but if you simply want to generate a new one here’s how to do it.
Solution
1. Here you can see your certificate has expired.
2. Normally you need to access your certificate services web enrolment console to carry this procedure out. But when you navigate to https://localhost/certsrv you will probably see this:
Server Error in Application “SBS WEB APPLICATIONS”
Note: If web enrolment is installed, and you still cant access certificate services (CertSrv) then click here
3. You are seeing this error because certificate services might be installed, but the “Certificate Authority Web Enrolment” role service is not, you can add it from server manager.
4. Select it and follow the on screen prompts > Go and have a coffee.
5. Now you should be able to access the web front end.
6. To get a certificate we need a certificate request, you can write the powershell yourself like so:
[box] New-ExchangeCertificate -GenerateRequest -Path c:mail_yourpublicdomianname_co.csr -KeySize 2048 -SubjectName “c=gb, s=Your State COunty, l=Your City, o=Your Org, ou=Your Department, cn=mail.yourpublicdomianname.com” -PrivateKeyExportable $True [/box]
OR simply go here and let the good folk at Digicert do the heavy lifting for you.
7. Now you have the code, generate the request, on the Exchange server > Start > All Programs > Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 > Exchange Management Shell > Execute the command you copied above.
8. This will dump the request on the C: drive (because in your command above you set the path to C:mail_yourpublicdomianname_co.csr) Locate it and open it with Notepad. Then select and copy ALL the text (copy as shown no extra spaces etc.)
9. If you have closed it down log into certificate services web access. Select “Request Certificate” > We will be submitting an advanced certificate request.
10. “Submit a certificate request by using………..”.
11. Paste in the text you copied at step 8, change the certificate template to “Web Server” > Submit.
12. Download the certificate.
13. Save it somewhere you can find it (the root of the C: drive is easiest, as you are going to be referencing it in a command shortly).
14. Job done, close the browser window.
15. Back at the Exchange Management Shell issue the following command:
It will ask you for the thumbprint > paste it in > when prompted enter “A” to confirm all.
17. That’s the job finished.
SBS2008 Unable to access Certificate Services
I’ve seen this on a few SBS2008 Servers, when you install the web enrolment service it installs into the servers “Default Web Site”, For any other Windows/Exchange combo that’s fine but SBS likes to do things its own way. It creates another web site called “SBS Web Applications” and uses that. That’s fine, but only one can be up and running at a time.
CertSrv The Webpage cannot be found
1. Warning: You are about to stop things like OWA briefly. From Administrative tools launch the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager > Locate the SBS Web Applications site and click stop (right hand column) > then select the Default Web site and start it.
2. Select the CertSrv virtual directory.
3. You can now browse via http/https and this will open the site in your default browser. Don’t forget to stop the Default website, and restart the SBS Web Applications site when you are finished.
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