Microsoft Premier Field Engineering Platform Reporting Tool

Microsoft has released an updated MPS Reports Tool.

Microsoft Premier Field Engineering Platform Reporting Tool

If you open a call with Microsoft you will often be told to upload the MPS reports. The reports can take a while to run to I always recommend running them before hand or as you are calling.

Password Hotfix from Microsoft site not working

Just wanted to post this for those that are not on the AD/TechNet Forums daily

This is just a repost from the moderators; I'll update the blog posting when the issue is fixed

Password for hotfix downloaded from Microsoft website is not working

When you try to download a hotfix from Microsoft web site, the hotfix may not be able to be extracted properly with the password included in the email from hotfix@microsoft.com.

We apologize for the inconvenience that this issue may have brought to you. Microsoft is aware of this problem and is trying our best to fix it as soon as possible. You may wait for a while and then try to download hotfix again. If it’s urgent, please contact us by calling:

ITPro 800-936-4900
Consumer 800-936-5700

Or visit http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone numbers. Hotfix request is free of charge.

When this issue is resolved, we will also update it in the forum.

THANK YOU AGAIN - MVP Award

I found out yesterday that I was awarded the MVP for Active Directory/Directory Services again.

I thanked the world last year so I won't do that again but just read that post and I'll say "ditto".

The first year of being and MVP was really great with the highlight definitely being the MVP summit and I'm looking forward to that again in early 2011.

Thanks to everyone on the TechNet Forums and the Experts Exchange forums that helps and contributes to this great community. I try my best to help but I also learn a ton which is great for me.

Also again thanks to all the smart people within Microsoft and the MVP community that inspire me. People like joe, Laura, Brian D., Jorge, Sander, Mark P, Paul, Marcin, Chris D, Meinolf, Brandon, Dean, Florian, Darren, Eric J, Crandall brothers, Mark H, Rick S, etc....the list goes on and on and on.

Thanks to everyone again and see you all here on the blog or on one of the forums.

ADMT 3.2 Released!!

Those that are on the various message boards or are thinking about an upcoming migration then this post is for you.

ADMT 3.2 has been released

Active Directory Migration Tool version 3.2

The key thing from that page is this:

Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2008 R2

So you can now run ADMT on a 2008 R2 box. Now time to migrate :)

If you live near Atlanta, GA and like AD

Gary Olsen's Atlanta Active Directory User Group is teaming up with three other Atlanta user groups to present


TechStravaganza 2010

The Free event is on Friday June 4th, 2010 and has some really great speakers including Active Directory MVP Sean Deuby and Group Policy MVP Jeremy Moskowitz

I wish I wasn't ten hours from Atlanta but I highly recommend anyone in the vicinity go to this great event. Free food, great topics, and a training day...can't beat that :)

You can find the entire agenda here

New DNS PowerShell Module

My friend Chris Dent has realeased a new DNS module for powershell.

DnsShell - Alpha Release

Chris is one of my favorite people on the boards and he knows a lot about Power Shell, Active Directory, and DNS and he is once again proving why he is such an asset to the community.

If you have some time test it out, I know Chris would like the feedback.

Thanks

Mike

Repadmin Whitepaper - another great updated document

Yesterday I mentioned the updated Forest recovery whitepaper.

Today Microsoft has released another update to what I consider one of the most important AD related whitepapers.

Troubleshooting replication with repadmin

This document describes how to use the Repadmin.exe tool to monitor, diagnose, and troubleshoot common replication problems in your Active Directory environment.

Updated with new commands for managing read-only domain controllers in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

While the forest recovery paper is important many of us thankfully won't have to deal with a scenario where every domain controller in the forest goes down.

Repadmin and troubleshooting replication is key in any active directory domain. That is why I think this is one of the must have white papers on any AD admin/engineers desk.

...and to my employer...yes this is one white paper that I had to print out :)

Thanks

Mike