In Windows 2k8 servers you can install DFS by adding the role service from Server Manager by right-clicking Roles\File Services and then selecting Add Role Services. Also, you can add DFS while installing File Services using the Add Roles wizard. DFS Namespaces enables you to group shared folders that are located on different servers into one or more logically structured namespaces. DFS Replication is a multiple-master replication engine that can replicate data between multiple servers over limited bandwidth network connections. From the DFS Namespaces page, select Create a namespace now, using this wizard and enter your desired name in the text box. You can opt to create a namespace later on from the DFS management console by checking the Create a namespace later using the DFS Management snap-in in Server Manager option as shown below. Click Next In Active Directory environments, it is recommended to use Domain-based namespace and if all DFS servers participating are running Windows Servers 2008 then check the Enable Windows Server 2008 mode option. For workgroup environments then go for the Stand-alone namespace option and click Next. From the Namespace Configuration page, you can click the Add button to add folders to your new DFS Namespace. You can also do this later using the DFS Management snap-in. When adding folders you need to specify the corresponding folder name that will appear in your new namespace. When you click Next, the wizard displays the Confirmation page where you can review all parameters defined in the previous steps. In addition, if you enabled DFS replication then you are informed that further configuration is required. Click the Install and then Close buttons.
You cannot just rely on snapshots of your virtual machines even if these are taken on regular basis without having a proper data backup plan in action. Your data backup strategy should be based on a reliable and fast backup/restore solution which at least caters for the business most critical data. What do I mean with a reliable backup/restore solution? - A data backup solution which integrates seamlessly with the underlying hypervisor and one which is regarded trustworthy by fellow system administrators. What do I mean by a fast backup/restore solution? - A data backup solution that does not compromise hypervisor performance and runs autonomously as possible. Some products provide agent less solutions and can backup and restore multiple VMs simultaneously. The following checklist of features would give you a head start when looking for a backup solution for your virtualized environment: Hypervisor Management Integration – the integration with the hypervisor management console is a big plus as it helps you relate the various components better, for example, a simple right click option from within the same management console that you use for the daily tasks might include features such as, job status, history, scheduling or even start/stop a backup job. Ease of use – I have used some backup solutions for years and never got a full understanding of some of the features they had, and also, I came across some vendors that use strange terminology to refer to basic backup terms. It is imperative to feel confident that such important solutions are functioning as they should be hence, the design and ease of use helps in eliminating uncertainties. For example, a popular approach is to have a backup solution that runs as a virtual backup appliance. Although, this may impact on performance but it may give greater flexibility in most environments. Technology used – the trend nowadays is more and more based on de-duplication technology. Traditional compression is still valid an
Using the Quota Management Console to administer disk quotas is definitely your first choice but there are instances when you may need to automate some admin tasks and would therefore need a command that can be used in scripts or in small applications. The dirqouta command-line tool allows you to configure disk quotas from a command prompt or a script. However, before you start playing around with dirquota you need to make sure that the Quota Management role is installed and running. Go to Server Manager and check that Quota Management node exists under Roles\File Services\Share and Storage Management\File Server Resource Manager/ and if not follow these steps: Right click Roles\File Services and select Add Role Services as shown below: From the Add Role Services windows check the File Server Resource Manager checkbox and click Next Complete the wizard steps and note that you may need to exit and load back Server manager to see the new File Server Resource Manager service. Now, back to dirquota command: To add a new directory quota on the shared folder C:\Data that would not allow users to exceed 50MB type: dirquota quota add /Path:C:\Data /Limit:50MB /Type:Hard Where the option /Type:Hard defines that the threshold cannot be exceeded, otherwise set Type to Soft. Although you can create many different quotas with different options such as, notifications, it is far easier to create templates and use Dirquota to apply these templates. For example, the following command applies the standard inbuilt template – 200 MB Limit Reports to User, to the C:\data folder: dirquota quota add /Path:C:\Data /SourceTemplate:"200 MB Limit Reports to User" For complete usage information, type the command dirquota /?
With Windows Explorer you can manage disk quotas in Windows Servers 2008 without the need of invoking the Quota management console, although the console remains the recommended tool. To configure disk quotas on a computer using Windows Explorer follow these steps: Open Windows Explorer and right click the disk you want to configure quotas for and select Properties. From the disk properties window, select the Quota tab. Check the Enable quota management box as show below: Select the Limit disk space to option and specify the limit and warning thresholds. Users are not notified when they exceed the limit. Select the Log event when a user exceeds their quota limit and/or warning level check box/s to add an event in the System event log when this occurs. An event ID of 36 from source NTFS indicates that a user has reached the warning level and an ID of 37 indicates that a user has reached the quota limit. If you want to get notified when these events occur you need to use event triggers to send an email to your inbox or run a specific program. When you select the option Deny disk space to users exceeding quota limit, users will be unable to save or update files when they exceed their quota limit. This may harm users' productivity and should be used with caution. I suggest that you set up appropriate warning thresholds and event triggers so that you can follow up before the user is blocked. The Quota Entries… button allows you to view the current disk usage. In this window you can double click a user to configure a user specific quota that differs from the default settings for the disk.
ATLANTA — April 11, 2011 — Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq "MSFT") CEO Steve Ballmer and Kirill Tatarinov, corporate vice president for Microsoft Business Solutions, today opened a sold-out Convergence 2011 to more than 9,000 attendees, demonstrating how companies can use Microsoft Dynamics to maximize the value of their existing technology investments, remain agile as market conditions change and ultimately become dynamic businesses that can win in any environment. At Convergence 2011, Microsoft's premier event for decision-makers using enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM), the company shared its vision to take Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions to the cloud. It also gave customers a first look at the new Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 release and shared the strong momentum experienced by its portfolio of Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM solutions. Unveiling Vision for Cloud ERP Building on the success of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online, the company revealed a path for its ERP customers to move to the cloud with the next major releases of Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions, which will run on the Windows Azure platform. Customers will be able to move to the cloud on their own terms. The Microsoft Dynamics ERP solutions will bring the same benefits in the cloud as they do on-premises. Understanding that to deliver the benefits of the cloud to customers requires more than just technology, the company reiterated its commitment to help partners benefit from Microsoft Dynamics cloud offerings and released a Microsoft Dynamics Cloud Partner Profitability Guide. This guide provides key success factors and an execution road map, to help partners optimize their business processes and identify new opportunities. "We see the cloud as a turning point in the market that provides the opportunity to create a new business model geared toward increasing the profitability and agility of our company," said David Goad, managing director, eSavvy Pty Ltd. "The Mi