Imagineer's questions

Recently I've encountered 2 instances which are in a VPC that have time drifted issue. What I've noticed is that the time servers does not have * and + prefix compared to another instance with accurate time in the same autoscaling group.

“+” – Good and a preferred remote peer or server (included by the combine algorithm)

“*” – The remote peer or server presently used as the primary reference

EC2 instance where time has drifted

$ ntpq -p
    remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
y.ns.gin.ntt.ne .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
ns1.unico.com.a .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
saul.foodworks. .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
b.pool.ntp.uq.e .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
internalntpserver1. 10.68.10.1       8 u  815 1024  377    0.862  -477696 2391.53
internalntpserver2. 10.68.2.226      7 u  213 1024  377    1.755  -477012 1861.00

EC2 instance where time is correct

# ntpq -p
    remote           refid      st t when poll reach   delay   offset  jitter
==============================================================================
0.time.itoc.com .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
a.pool.ntp.uq.e .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
node01.au.verbn .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
node02.au.verbn .STEP.          16 u    - 1024    0    0.000    0.000   0.000
+internalntpserver1. 10.68.10.1       8 u  680 1024  377    1.551  -260.56  77.778
*internalntpserver2. 10.68.2.226      7 u  719 1024  377    0.631  -114.34 334.611

Restarting ntpd daemon fixed that but I can't find anything online as to what could have caused this behaviour.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

The closest I have get is using the following commands.

This command manage to lists all name of instances.

aws ec2 describe-instances --filters Name=vpc-id,Values=vpc-e2f17e8b --query 'Reservations[].Instances[].Tags[?Key==`Name`].Value[]'

This command manage to list all private ip address, instance id and ALL tags which I don't need. I just need the name.

aws ec2 describe-instances --filters Name=vpc-id,Values=vpc-e2f17e8b | jq '.Reservations[].Instances[] | {PrivateIpAddress, InstanceId, Tags}'

I'm not sure why I can't execute command like this way:

aws ec2 describe-instances | jq '.["Reservations"]|.[]|.Instances|.[]|.PrivateIpAddress + " " + .InstanceId + " " + .Tags[?Key==`Name`].Value[]'

This command works but its showing all the Tags Key names.

aws ec2 describe-instances | jq '.["Reservations"]|.[]|.Instances|.[]|.PrivateIpAddress + " " + .InstanceId + " " + .Tags'

Would there be any issues for cross migration of database from SQL Server 2005 Express to SQL Server 2008 R2 for blackberry configuration database and database in general?

If the database is backup on SQL Server 2005, and then restored to SQL Server 2008, would there be any changes in the database structure/schema etc. that will cause application to break? Would the migrated database 'upgrade' itself when restored to new SQL Server 2008?

From my understanding, a possible worst case scenario is that all blackberry phone will have to be re-activated.

The following is a reply from expert-exchange.

BlackBerry Express 5.0.3 supports Microsoft SQL 2008 Express SP1 and is indeed the recommended version.

Microsoft SQL 2008 Express R2 is supported.

Please see the article below:

http://us.blackberry.com/support/software/server_express_exchange_aug_10_11.pdf

Please see the article below for details on how to migrate:

http://btsc.webapps.blackberry.com/btsc/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=KB03112

I have allocated 4GB of RAM to a VM running 32bit Linux Centos 5.5.

For unknown reason, total memory is only about 3GB.

Mem: 3107536k total, 366308k used, 2741228k free, 54900k buffers

Where has the missing 1GB gone? Any help is greatly appreciated!

I was attempting to migrate 2 virtual machines that are domain controllers between 2 datacentres running ESX 3.5 and ESX 4.1. I was advised to shut down both domain controller at the same time during the migration process. This is to avoid USN Rollback and other replication issues.

The following are the steps that I was planning to perform: 1. Shutdown both DC. 2. Copy both VMs files across to new datacentre using Veeam FastSCP (connection to both vCentre through IP address instead of hostname) 3. Power them up at new datacentre. 4. Configure Network interface/DNS/DHCP for both DCs in new datacentre

I have tried to use Veeam FastSCP rather than VMware Standalone Converter is because its copying rather than converting. Someone also suggested that I use backup and restore app like Veeam backup and replication software.

Sounds like a simple job, but after shutting down both DCs, the transfer rate using FastSCP is so slow registering only 1KB/s as oppose to the normal 1MB/s (or more).

When that attempt to transfer failed, I tried to cold clone both DCs resulted in the both ESX hosts get disconnected. I have tried troubleshooting by referring to this - VMware KB - Diagnosing an ESX Server that is Disconnected or Not Responding in VirtualCenter

It seems that the DNS being down is the caused of all unusual occurrence. The moment I powered up the DCs via VMware console command, the ESX host were able to connect to the vCentre again.

How can I avoid such a pitfall again? Am I doing it correctly? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.

I am trying to migrate VMs between ESX3.5 host and ESX 4.1host.

After exporting by Virtual Appliance->Export in ESX 3.5, an .ovf file and a vmdk file is created. I couldn't find any way to add to inventory on a ESX 4.1 host with vCentre.

There is no .vmx file for me to right-click add to inventory as found in some instructions.

Do I have to use VMware vCenter Converter Standalone or use ovftool instead?

I have tried the following steps: 1. Virtual Appliance->Export to create .ovf file. 2. Try to convert .ovf to .vmx file using ovftool so that it can be added by right clicking .vmx file on ESX 4.1 host.

It might not even be necessary to do step 1 and convert .vmx to ovf directly using ovftool. I'm not sure after converting to ovf using ovftool, would I be ending up with the same scenario that I wouldn't be able to add to ESX 4.1 host inventory?

Any help is greatly appreciated, thank you.

I was advise by my webhosting company providing managed colocation dedicated server service that adding 128Gb RAM to a Sunfire X2200M2 Server (Dual Quad Core 1.9Ghz) to run ESX 4.0 Host would not be advisable.

The Sunfire server support a maximum 128GB RAM, but they say its no point adding that much RAM as the Dual Quad Core CPU 1.9Ghz won’t be able to cope with so much RAM in a virtualise environment and they recommend 24GB as the maximum. Anything higher, will experience performance degration. Does it make any sense to you?

The maximum supported RAM for ESX4.0 is 1TB as stated in the configuration maximum doc: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_config_max.pdf

The following shows that 128GB host has been deployed on HP hardware, so why not Sunfire?? http://www.eliaskhnaser.com/Article.aspx?blog=2&id=33

Any ESX guru out there like to share their thoughts? Thank you.

I have been advise by Commvault partner support to turn off the backup of the master database as the backup failed due to the log file being lock.

The following is the advise given:

"The message is caused by Commvault’s inability to backup the master database’s transaction log. If this is happening intermittently its possible that something is locking the transaction log, preventing SQL iData agent from accessing the log. Typically the master database is just a template and is not used by any applications (applications that do require the use of an SQL database create their own) so there should be no harm in preventing it from being backed up You can do this by nominating NOT to back it up in the primary copy for the SQL data agent"

The following is the error that I get.

sqlxx SQL Server/

SQLxx N/A/

System DBs 19856*

(CWE) Transaction Log N/A 01/08/2010 19:00:16

(01/08/2010 19:00:18 ) 01/08/2010 19:03:15

(01/08/2010 19:03:14 ) 1.44 MB 0:01:11 0.071 2 0 1

ITD014L2

Failure Reason:

• ERROR CODE [30:325]: Error encountered during backup. Error: [ERROR: [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]Cannot back up the log of the master database. Use BACKUP DATABASE instead. [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]BACKUP LOG is terminating abnormally.]

Job Options:Create new index, Start new media, Backup all subclients, Truncation Log, Follow mount points , Backup files protected by system file protection , Stop DHCP service when backing up system state data, Stop WINS service when backing up system state data Associated Events:

• 79714 [backupxx/JobManager] [01/08/2010 19:03:15 ]: Backup job [19856] completed. Client [sqlxx], Agent Type [SQL Server], Subclient [System DBs], Backup Level [Transaction Log], Objects [2], Failed [1], Duration [00:02:59], Total Size [1.44 MB], Media or Mount Path Used [ITD014L2].

• 79712 [sqlxx/SQLiDA] [01/08/2010 19:01:53 ]: Error encountered during backup. Error: [ERROR: [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]Cannot back up the log of the master database. Use BACKUP DATABASE instead. [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]BACKUP LOG is terminating abnormally.]

• 79711 [sqlxx/SQLiDA] [01/08/2010 19:01:51 ]: Query Result [[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]Cannot back up the log of the master database. Use BACKUP DATABASE instead. [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server]BACKUP LOG is terminating abnormally.].

• 79707 [backupxx/JobManager] [01/08/2010 19:00:15 ]: New backup request received for Client [sqlxx], iDataAgent [SQL Server], Instance [SQLxx], Subclient [System DBs], Backup Level [Transaction Log].

Files failed to back up:

• Backup Database[master] Failed

Please advise, thank you.

I'm getting the above mentioned error when backing up with ZRM, which is using mysqldump for backup.

mysqldump --opt --extended-insert --single-transaction --create-options --default-character-set=utf8 --user=" " -p --all-databases > "/nfs/backup/mysql01/dailyrun/20091216043001/backup.sql"

mysqldump: Error 2020: Got packet bigger than 'max_allowed_packet' bytes when dumping table TICKET_ATTACHMENT at row: 2286

I have increased the size for 'max_allowed_packet' to be 1G in /etc/my.cnf which is the server setting and for the client side setting I've set it by running this command:

mysql -u -p --max_allowed_packet=1G

And I have verified that on the client and server side they are of the same value.

This is to check the client side value according to this forum posting http://forums.mysql.com/read.php?35,75794,261640

mysql> SELECT @@MAX_ALLOWED_PACKET -> ; +----------------------+ | @@MAX_ALLOWED_PACKET | +----------------------+ | 1073741824 | +----------------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec)

And this is the check the server value setting.

mysql> SHOW VARIABLES

| max_allowed_packet | >

1073741824 |

I have ran out of ideas, and tried searching within expert exchange and googling for solutions but so far none has worked.

Reference http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.1/en/packet-too-large.html

Anyone please advise, thank you.

I have followed the following steps to create a GAL which 1 condition:

---start---

Create a new gal named Test.
R click and select properties.
Under General, click Modify.
Uncheck all except "users with exchange mailboxes."
Click the advanced tab.
Drop down field and click User-> Email Address, then select "ends with" and type in your test domainand click Add.
Hit Find Now to make sure you get the expected results.

That should give you a list of the users with that domain as an email address.

----end----

In regards to adding more conditions to the GAL filter.

It seems that if I add another similar condition that ends with a different domain name, it seems to be filtering CONDITION 1 AND CONDITION 2 which will not show any results when I test it with Find Now, how can I specify CONDITION 1 OR CONDITION 2 so that all email address that ends with either A.com OR B.com will turn up in the filter.

Thanks in advance.

I have tried running puttycm on 2 separate Windows RDP sessions on the same Windows server and it wouldn't allow me to run more than one.

I don't understand why I am not able to do that.

I was unable to determine partition for / and /boot using 'mount | column -t' on one of the server. Shouldn't all servers should have / and /boot?

Output

proc        on  /proc                 type  proc        (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
/sys        on  /sys                  type  sysfs       (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev)
varrun      on  /var/run              type  tmpfs       (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=0755)
varlock     on  /var/lock             type  tmpfs       (rw,noexec,nosuid,nodev,mode=1777)
udev        on  /dev                  type  tmpfs       (rw,mode=0755)
devshm      on  /dev/shm              type  tmpfs       (rw)
devpts      on  /dev/pts              type  devpts      (rw,gid=5,mode=620)
securityfs  on  /sys/kernel/security  type  securityfs  (rw)
/home       on  /var/www              type  none        (rw,bind)

# cat /proc/mounts
rootfs / rootfs rw 0 0
none /sys sysfs rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec 0 0
none /proc proc rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec 0 0
udev /dev tmpfs rw,relatime 0 0
fusectl /sys/fs/fuse/connections fusectl rw,relatime 0 0
/dev/disk/by-uuid/91033a67-4da0-41a7-a594-ebb80cd4eb98 / ext3 rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered 0 0
/dev/disk/by-uuid/91033a67-4da0-41a7-a594-ebb80cd4eb98 /dev/.static/dev ext3 rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered 0 0
tmpfs /var/run tmpfs rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec 0 0
tmpfs /var/lock tmpfs rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec 0 0
tmpfs /dev/shm tmpfs rw,relatime 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts rw,relatime 0 0
tmpfs /var/run tmpfs rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec 0 0
tmpfs /var/lock tmpfs rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec 0 0
securityfs /sys/kernel/security securityfs rw,relatime 0 0
/dev/disk/by-uuid/91033a67-4da0-41a7-a594-ebb80cd4eb98 /var/www ext3 rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered 0 0

#df -h /
Filesystem            Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
/home                 4.7G  3.0G  1.6G  67% /var/www

Any insight is greatly appreciated, thank you.