Network Audit and Documentation, CENTREL Solutions Blog

With XIA Configuration Server v6.1 we've updated the software package items to include software lifecycle information. This allows users to configure matching information and manufacturer end of life support dates to software packages. This information can then be used to detect systems that have software packages deployed that are out of support or nearing their end of life or entering an extended support period. For more information see the software package page of our web site http://www.centrel-solutions.com/XIAConfiguration/Capabilities.aspx?capability=SoftwarePackage

Starting with Windows Server 2008 Microsoft made it so that you could not communicate with IIS servers using WMI by default, instead you must install the IIS Management Scripts and Tools role feature ( Web-Scripting-Tools ). This can be done using the one of the following methods Using PowerShell locally with the command Import-Module ServerManager Add-WindowsFeature Web-Scripting-Tools Using PowerShell remoting (assuming that PowerShell 2 is installed and that remoting is enabled) Using servermanagercmd on Windows 2008 and Windows 2008 R2 servermanagercmd.exe -install Web-Scripting-Tools Using the Server Manager user interface As this role feature is a requirement for XIA Configuration to be able to document and audit your IIS servers we've added a new tool to XIA Configuration Server v6.1 The tool allows you to enter the names of the local or remote servers on which to install the role service. This does not  require PowerShell 2 or remoting as it uses a remote...

When creating an Active Directory account you see the error "The name provided is not a properly formed account name." or " A device attached to the system is not functioning." This can be caused by the SAM account name value that is being entered for the user which must only contain valid characters but must also be 20 characters long or less. For more information see the following Microsoft article. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms679635(v=vs.85).aspx We've updated XIA Automation Server in version 2.2 to provide a more informative error message than the one provided by Windows Creation of the account failed. The SAM account name (user logon name pre-Windows 2000) value ' accountname ' exceeds the maximum 20 characters enforced by Windows. Automate Active Directory user account creation  with XIA Automation Server

We've been asked recently about whether XIA Configuration Server should be used alongside or instead of System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012 R2. XIA Configuration provides a much greater depth of information and inventory capabilities than SCCM, however SCCM is designed to provide other functionality such as software deployment, operating system deployment and endpoint security as well as hardware and software inventory. XIA Configuration Server can be used alongside SCCM and can be used without the need to install additional agents on the target machines. For more information see the following page http://www.centrel-solutions.com/XIAConfiguration/features.aspx?feature=SystemCenter

I've recently had a problem when using the "Send to compressed (zipped) folder" context menu item nothing happens on Windows 8.1. Looking further into this I found that it worked most folders just not the one I wanted to ZIP. After a while I realised that I had a Visual Studio project source code in this folder that had that annoy deep obj folder problem and it seems that when you click "Send to compressed (zipped) folder" if there is an exceptionally deep directory structure in the folder you are zipping the compression may fail but show now error. I use the following tried and tested RoboCopy method for removing these broken directories with exceptionally deep paths that you can't delete with Windows Explorer. @echo off cls mkdir emptyfolder robocopy emptyfolder "path\to\obj" /MIR rmdir emptyfolder rmdir "path\to\obj" pause  While you're here - Why not check out our Windows Server Documentation and Audit Tool?

When trying to install System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2 you may see the following error reported by the setup wizard "Setup is unable to connect to SQL Server with the connection information provided. Verify the following:  -  The SQL Server and instance names are entered correctly ..." Why not check out our IT Documentation Tool ...? You can connect the SQL instance using SQL Management Studio correctly using the server or instance name. However... if you try and connect to the SQL instance using the SQL Management Studio using the fully qualified domain name - for example "DEMO-SC2012R2.demonstration.int" this fails with "Access Denied". Check the SQL Server Configuration Manager and make sure that TCP/IP is enabled (this may be disabled by default for a SQL Express installation). When you connect using the NetBIOS name of the SQL instance then shared memory can be used however when using the FQDN a TCP/IP connection is used. ...

With XIA Configuration Server v6.1 our IT Documentation Tool  you'll be able to document the Local Audit Policy on your Windows workstations and servers. The settings include the policy setting - i.e. whether success, failure or no events of that type are audited as well as the configuration source - for example local or Group Policy and even includes the name of the Group Policy Object which configured the setting. Audit account logon events Audit account management Audit directory service access Audit logon events Audit object access Audit policy change Audit privilege use Audit process tracking Audit system events For more information see our XIA Configuration Server page