SCVMM 2008 R2 KB 971677

KB 971677 discusses an issue when a Hyper-V differencing disk that you create in Windows Server 2008 R2 cannot be used in Windows Server 2008.

Note: you need to click in "request hotfix" on top of KB page to request the hotfix for this specific error.

A server error occurred while you try to import the virtual machine. Failed to import the virtual machine from import directory ''. Failed to add device 'Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk'. Cannot open attachment '\Filename.vhd'. Error: 'The file or directory is corrupted and unreadable.'Cannot get information for attachment '\Filename.vhd'.

SCVMM 2008 R2 & Read Only Domain Controller

Although it is not a best practice, some people insist in having SCVMM hosted in RODCs. Have a look at some issues that you might encounter when doing this.

From SCVMM Team Blog
Using a Read Only Domain Controller as a Host in SCVMM 2008 and R2

A Read Only Domain Controller (RODC) can only be used as a Host if it was already a Host prior to being promoted. If a RODC needs to be used as a Host and was not previously managed by SCVMM, it will have to be demoted to a member server and made a managed Host prior to promotion back to RODC.
IMPORTANT: Although a Read Only Domain Controller can be used as Host in SCVMM, this is not the recommended usage of a Read Only Domain Controller.

KB975113 discusses an issue where a read only domain controller (RODC) can only be used as a Host if it was already a Host prior to being promoted. The link and title is below.

SCVMM 2008 R2 KB 974869

KB974869 discusses some issues that might occur if the SCVMM 2008 agents from the original version of Virtual Machine Manager 2008 remain after you upgrade to SCVMM 2008 R2.

Solution:
Manually upgrade all remaining agents to Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2.

Warning (2927)A Hardware Management error has occurred trying to contact server . (Unknown error (0x80338041))

Error 0x80338041: The SOAP XML in the message does not match the corresponding XML schema definition. Change the XML and retry.

Error (2927)A Hardware Management error has occurred trying to contact server . (Unknown error (0x80338001))

Error 0x80338001: The WS-Management service cannot process the request. The WS-Addressing action URI is invalid. Check the documentation for information on how to construct an action URI.

Read more at:
KB974869 - You receive a warning 2927 and an unknown error when you create a virtual machine from a VHD file after you upgrade to System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2

SCVMM 2008 R2 KB 975426

KB975426 - Virtual machines cannot migrate from a Windows Server 2008 stand-alone server to a Windows Server 2008 cluster after you upgrade to System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2

This new KB discusses an issue where SAN migration may fail with error 1600 after upgrading to to System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2.

Error (1600)
VMM is unable to process one or more of the provided cmdlet parameters.

Recommended Action
Type Get-Help NO_PARAM -full to view a list of defined parameters and complete descriptions. Then try the operation again.

Windows 2008 R2 Blue Screen in HP Servers

Today I was told about a possible problem when enabling Hyper-V Role on some HP Server models with Windows 2008 R2 installed, appears that the problem is well known in HP internal documents.

The solution:
So far sounds that disabling the disabling Intel Core C3 State option in the BIOS solves the problem.

After little Google search I found this in Minasi Forum

If you’ve this problem, please let me know if that solves your problem.

I already upgrade most of my environment to R2 version of Hyper-V including SCVMM 2008 R2. I waited for the supported version of HP firmware “ver. 8.60”/software/Drivers “ver.8.30” for HP DL380G5 servers, you can find them here, after applying the new firmware and drivers everything worked fine.

Terminals Open Source Connection Manager

Directly from CODEPLEX this free tool is a secure, multi tab terminal services/remote desktop client that uses Terminal Services ActiveX Client (mstscax.dll).
CODEPLEX started this project from the need of controlling multiple connections simultaneously. It is a complete replacement for the Windows mstsc.exe (Terminal Services) client.

Terminals allows storing multiple remote connections of varying types (RDP, VNC, VMRC, Telnet, SSH1, SSH2, ICA Citrix, RAS and HTTP) you also have the possibility of arranging them by tags or in groups. Using Active Directory or scanning a range of IP addresses allows you to create new connections.

Terminals allow you to import RDP, vRD or MuRD files.

But there's more, check it out the System Requirements and the Download file at CODEPLEX, additionally check the Terminals 1.7 - Vista + 2008 Support.

Have Fun!!!

SCVMM 2008 R2 available for download at TechNet subscribers

Finally here!
Since this announcement that I’ve been waiting to have System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 at TechNet...
For all of you that were waiting for that day the good news arrived... we don’t need to wait anymore, the bits are available at TechNet subscriber download area. Assuming a medium/fast internet access you should have no “Time” problems to download the 3,395.68 (MB) of the ISO for the x64 Bit version of System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, if your internet access is slow or if you’re at some place were internet access is not very reliable, remember that you always have the download manager from TechNet that allows you to pause and resume the download whenever necessary.

SCVMM 2008 R2 new features available in my previous post here

If you don’t have a TechNet subscription you still have the evaluation download at Download Center site

But WAIT!!!! There’s more...
Don´t forget to check the new features, upgrade tips, etc.. Check my previous post at:
Useful Virtualization Documentation for MS R2 Products

Last week Microsoft released KB KB974869. According with them after upgrading to Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, when you try to create a new virtual machine from a VHD file that is stored in either a CSV file or in available storage you may receive Warning 2927 or error 0x80338041:
KB974869 - You receive a warning 2927 and an unknown error when you create a virtual machine from a VHD file after you upgrade to System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2.

Have Fun!!!

Getting started with vSphere Videos/Demos

vSphere Videos/Demos:
Check Mike Laverick’s extremely valuable free vSphere videos. If you wish to learn more about vSphere these resources will help you with that. From basic steps to more complex scenarios, Mike does a pretty good job on his demonstrations. So there you go, for free you can get excellent content that you normally would have to pay for.

The book:
The main reason I put these videos together is as free supplement to my soon-to-be-released book on vSphere4, and to give people who by the book - a live on screen demo of the configuration - although you don’t have to buy the book to watch these videos. I find it’s often its easier to quickly show something than it is to do a 100 screen grabs and loads of text - but in the same instance videos don’t allow for long and details discussions of best practises and possible configurations. So if you want detail, get the book - but if you want quick high-level views of things - the videos slot into that…

Check it out here

Have fun!!!

PowerShell V2 new features

Here it's an interesting video to learn how to start using some of the new features of PS 2.0



Have Fun!!!

Microsoft has released the MDT 2010

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 is the newest version of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, a Solution Accelerator for operating system and application deployment. MDT 2010 supports deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in addition to deployment of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP.

Deploy Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with the newly released Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010. MDT is the recommended process and toolset for automating desktop and server deployment. MDT provides you with the following benefits:

- Unified tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment in a common deployment console and collection of guidance.
- Reduced deployment time and standardized desktop and server images, along with improved security and ongoing configuration management.
- Fully automated Zero Touch Installation deployments by leveraging System Center - Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 2 Release Candidate and Windows deployment tools. For those without a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 infrastructure, MDT leverages Windows deployment tools for Lite Touch Installation deployments.

What’s New in MDT 2010
Improvements to the newest version of MDT allow you to:
-Access deployment shares from anywhere on the network and replicate files and settings across organizational boundaries or sites.
-Organize and manage drivers, operating systems, applications, packages, and task sequences with an improved UI.
-Automate UI functionality using the Windows PowerShell command line interface.

The MDT 2010 solution accelerator is a free download You can download it here

Microsoft continues to support the previous version of MDT—Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2008 Update 1. Customers still using MDT 2008 Update 1 can download the files from here.

If you're searching for script to automate the update process of MDT 2010 boot images in WDS have a look at the latest Michael Niehaus Post

You may also check Michael Niehaus other related posts to MDT.