Welcome to Brendon Davis

SQL SBS Built-in command

Autor brendon | 08.03.2010 | Category TechStuff

For all those times I can’t remember how to access the built in MS SQL Database on Windows SBS Server. Use built-in authentication and the server address of \\.\pipe\mssql$microsoft##ssee\sql\query.

Now you can modify the memory and processor, log files, etc.

CISCO QoS for Dummies

Autor brendon | 05.02.2010 | Category Comms, TechStuff

Hey, for all those out there who have as much trouble with the CISCO QoS implementation as I do…. Here are 4 no so easy steps to configure.

Exchange ActiveSync Heartbeat

Autor brendon | 21.01.2010 | Category TechStuff

Most people don’t realise this but for ‘Push’ email to function, the “Client” must keep an open TCP session to the “Server”. Outlook (by default) does this using RPC over the LAN or VPN, constantly exchanging data, even when there is no new information to send.

Mobile phones are a little different, for one they use HTTPS to sync data. Secondly, data traffic is generally more expensive so when there is no new data, you want the phone to send as few data packets possible. When you create a ‘Publish Outlook Anywhere’ rule with ISA 2006, this automatically configures the firewall to let TCP sessions stay open for up to 30 min without seeing any traffic. Meaning that when there is no new email, the phone will send a single data packet every 30 min.

Unfortunately if your running any other type of firewall (ASA, PIX, NetGear, ISA 2004, etc.) you will need to manually configure this setting. By default, most firewalls will forcefully close a session that is idle for 5 min for security reasons AND on most SOHO firewall’s you can’t change this setting.

Moral of this story, if you use ActiveSync with push enabled on client mobile phones and don’t use ISA 2006 as your Internet firewall, you will likely have sessions from mobile devices disconnected causing Error 3033 on the Exchange Server Event Log. There is a Microsoft KB Article that shows simple change you can make to the ActiveSync web.config file to specify the maximum TCP session limit for your firewall to 5 min. eg,

<add key="MinHeartbeatInterval" value="60"></add>
<add key="MaxHeartbeatInterval" value="300"></add>

Group Policy Center

Autor brendon | 21.01.2010 | Category 7, Server, TechStuff, VISTA

Alan Burchill, one of the organisers for the Brisbane Infrastructure Group and a speaker at last year’s auTechEd has started up a web site for the thing he loves most. The Group Policy Center is now online and answering all those questions you didn’t know you asked.

On a serious note though, Alan and Lilia did an awesome presentation at TechEd and I’m sure this site will show the same level of awesome-ness. Rock on Al.