Windows 10 1803 update breaks file-sharing access and viewing of large number of files in shared folder

The organization I work at uses a CRM application that requires access to a central file server to access large number of files.

After 1803 was installed and set-up on the workstations, we encountered weird issues with loading of file attachments to each ticket in a very-extremely-painfully slow manner.

Doing some searches on the internet resulted in the following info -

• https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/8e468316-c70f-4270-8778-c30215b7d3f3/network-folders-slow-after-windows-10-1803-update?forum=win10itpronetworking
• https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/2135698-network-share-performance-of-windows-10-1803
• https://partnersupport.microsoft.com/en-us/par_clientsol/forum/par_win/network-folders-slow-after-windows-10-1803-update/5c622107-46d5-43b3-a98c-9ae480968e77

The summary of the fix is to go into registry editor and insert the following DWORD(32bit) values into the key -

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters]

values -
"DirectoryCacheLifetime"=dword:00000000
"FileInfoCacheLifetime"=dword:00000000
"FileNotFoundCacheLifetime"=dword:00000000

Once these values are added, browsing of files on the file server and extraction of attached files within our CRM are sped-up like there's no tomorrow!

Hope this helps some of us out there!

Interesting trivia - LANMan (LAN Manager) is the same application used to display folder structure/contents in a GUI environment before Explorer.exe (Windows Explorer) came into existence. This tool/software is theoretically in use since Windows 3.1! :)

Small Business Set-up for a Vo-ip solution with freepbx

I have never considered myself as a Linux guy and I have always went with what is really-easy to implement and configure, and by the best-practices, especially when it comes to implementing IT solutions to enable businesses.

Lately, my boss has been toying with the idea of setting up and venturing into the possibility of setting up our own VOIP phone system PBX with handsfree sets, SIP trunk, etc-etc-etc.

My first response was - where can I find the time to figure this out??

Thankfully, the steps aren't that difficult!

The process, well, summary of it anyway, would be:

1. you need a PABX server. 
2. you need a SIP Trunk from an ISP
3. you need soft-phones - apps basically
4. you need a good head-set

I am not talking about pulling ISDN line in, and getting 30 voice direct lines frm Singtel.
What we're hoping to achieve is to ride on the existing stable Singtel Evolve/ELITE, any other ISP Fiber broadband plans that we can utilize for voice, since voice call uses significantly lower bandwidth than... say- youtube!


As such, we decided to go with the easiest to set-up, and most cost effective. Here is our plan.

1. Set-up a new hyper-v host (Windows server 2012r2), we use trial version first... on a spare-old-server, with 1-TB of RAID-1 Storage array.
2. Download and set-up FreePBX virtual machine (we used freePbx server with the CentOS 5.2 core, but in a virtual box vdi format.
3. We set-up the virtual machine in VirtualBox 5.2, and get it to work. 
1. meaning, we configured network, configured the phone system, configured the settings, and - 
2. tested the call with a trial SIP trunk from the States.
3. we tried calling one another internally using our computers and mobile-phone using the Zoiper client
4. After proven to work, we proceed with the conversion of the VDI virtualbox image that has been configured-and-tested, to a VHD format.
5. Then, we proceed with the set-up of the VHD on our Windows Server 2012r2 Machine. Note, we used a HP Proliant ML150G6 server for this purpose. The server is about 6 years old, but it works, and the VM utilizes only about 2-3-GB of memory (max), and 10-GB of disk space.
6. Note that FreePBX actually do not support the configuration and running of their server in a Virtual Machine, on Hyper-V. Note here - 
1. http://community.freepbx.org/t/x64-distro-on-hyper-v/16296
7. And there's also issues with FreePBX running on hyper-v with poor line quality... note - 
1. http://community.freepbx.org/t/poor-call-quality-packet-loss-jitter-on-hyperv-machine/21360/4
2. As such, we ought to rely only on the main network adapter and not the legacy network adapter
8. But we the IT Pros are all in the business making things happen, so in the spirit of that, we tried and we did.
9. There is a post in note-6 that a few people manage to get the set-up to work. Here is a summary:
1. Set-up the Hyper-V VM with a legacy network adapter (more details here if you need pictures)
2. Remove any existing network adapter in the hyper-v manager settings for the VM
3. ensure that the legacy network adapter is set as disconnected for now. (not connected to any network)
4. Load the ISO file for Microsoft Linux Integration Toolkit - at the point of writing, i used 4.1, for Cent OS 5.2
5. Start the VM, Login as root, mount the DVD/CD-Rom device, go to the relevant OS folder, and .\install.sh
6. Once the integration services and drivers are installed, we are in business, and we can proceed to shut-down the machine.
7. Proceed on next to remove the legacy network adapter in Hyper-V, and install the standard Hyper-V network adapter.
8. Note the MAC Address, and set the connection to your LAN.
9. The VM will boot, and if you're like my situation, the network would not work because of the changes of network interface adapter and the issues with the start-up/enable of the adapter.
10. Based on this link here the issue is related to the choice of network settings and adapter to start.
1. Basically - Cent OS will start up the relevant network adapter with the required settings like IP/SM/GW from the start-up scripts. 
2. Since the FreePBX VM was originally set-up in virtual-box, we had to re-configure the start-up script as the network interface card has been changed from eth0 to eth2 (in our case).
3. using the command "ifconfig" will tell us what is the name of the current enabled network adapter.
4. if there's no eth(number) available, it means that you need to 'turn-on' the adapter by ifconfig eth(number) up and this command will bring-up the network interface adapter.
5. next, go to the following location /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts and look at the adapters available. 
6. I had these adapters, and I have ifcfg-eth0 and I noticed that eth0 is no longer available in my step-3 above while running ifconfig. But, I did have eth0, and i do not have any ifcfg-eth2 file.
7. As such, I proceed with my vi editor to check the settings for ifcfg-eth0, make the necessary network address amendments (if there is any), and save it.
8. Next, I cheated by renaming the ifcfg-eth0 to ifcfg-eth2 (since eth0 is no longer in use/not available). - rename files in Linux using "mv" command.
9. Reboot the VM.
11. The VM is now accessible on the local network
10. We proceed with the set-up and application of the SIP trunk from MyRepublic, they are one of the more affordable options down here in Singapore.
11. We used our existing fiber broadband line, thank God we have 1x Static IP address (dynamic works too by the way.. just need a Dynamic DNS provider like dyndns.org or noip.com)
12. We performed the necessary port forwarding (NAT) on our firewall (Sonicwall)
13. Installed Zoiper on our client computer and devices
14. We are now... in Business! 

I will update with more details as we go along. But thus far, this is a summary that I am hoping that we can refer to in future, and for the community out there to benefit from realizing how fast/reliable our Singapore Fiber Broadband network is.

If we can save more money with it... and change our 15-20year old PBX or Key-phone systems.... why not? :)

Error-Full GeForce Disappointing Performance of GTX-720

Client is using an old Lenovo Thinkcentre Edge computer and since her needs aren't heavy, when the system was due for upgrade, we upgraded Memory to 4-GB on Windows 7 Pro 32-bit, we changed the disk to a Samsung EVO 850 500GB SSD, and we also changed the graphic card/controller from it's old on-board GT-720...

viola, we had BSOD crashes with DirectX driver, Geforce reported failure and crashes from it's console and plentifull of errors.


Oh well, I really didn't know the whole-load-of-crashes :( :(
- https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/886609/geforce-drivers/358-50-kernel-mode-driver-crash-/4/
- http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2747382/nvidia-driver-353-crashing.html
- my google search

So what's the summary of the fix? I still have to fix the issue since my client is desperate to use the system in a stable manner...

We want to do the following:

1) downgrade driver to 352.86

2) do not install 3D Vision and PhysX drivers components

3) STOP AUTO updates and updating on the application.

4) Use SOFTWARE Rendering for IE instead of GPU rendering (We go IE option and tick the button)

UPDATE – we didn’t manage to downgrade the driver version.

We are now monitoring the status for a week, to see if the crashes - Kernel Mode Driver crashes and the message "Display driver NVIDIA windows kernel mode driver stopped responding and successfully recovered." will permanently disappear!

Oh yes, since there's no need for IE to be on GPU power, we decided to use the software based graphic acceleration too.

What we didn't do is to down-scale the PCI-E version to 2.0 instead of Auto in the BIOS. Oh well, it's a core-2-duo PC, I don't think it's any advanced version anyway...

 

 

Running a Hyper-V VHD file on Virtual Box

We set-up a hyper-v based server in our office here in Singapore.
From time to time, we do get our free-lancers to manage and configure patches etc-etc-etc.


There is this one case where our dear Bangladeshi partner requires access to the Virtual Machine and for weird reasons, need the entire VHD file to do the necessary configuration.

Well, the overall VHD is 40GB, and it'll take days to get it across the WAN lines even with fiber.
So, we decided to ship it in a 64GB Thumbdrive so that it can be sent over quickly.

My colleague was concerned that it might not run properly once it's sent over, as such, she wanted me to verify if the VHD file and the OS is valid.

My quickest way of verifying the set-up would be to use the Virtual Box, and in this case, a VirtualBox Ver 5.0.6r103037

I simply created a VM, set it to Windows Server 2008r2, I did disable the Audio drivers, set the LAN to NAT... and without much thinking, left the processor settings and disk settings as they are.

Windows did not boot. Blue-screen Error with 0x00000007B

Upon google-ing, I realized it's related to the disk controller -
Proceeded to change the Disk from SATA with AHCI mode to IDE with PIIX4 mode.

That solved the problem Immediately and Windows boot.

I wanted better performance on the VM, as such, I decided to change the following configuration on the:
1) motherboard - unticked the ICH9 and enable I/O APIC
2) acceleration - Paravirtualization Interface (Hyper-V), maintained VT-X and Nested Paging

Done!

The Virtual Machine should be happily making its way to Bangladesh now....

The IDEAL IT Infrastructure Set-up for all Organizations

At times, people have come to me to seek help with their Infrastructure set-up for their businesses.
Although they appreciate my advise, many simply do not understand the value or the implications or the benefits in the long run of implementing a stable, ease of management and adequately redundant systems in the organization.

Any-how, what would entail an ideal small-business (or any business) IT infrastructure set-up?

Let's approach to what is needed in every organization:

1. Internet connectivity - fast and efficient
2. Reliability of connection - not problem free, but being able to know what is the problem when problem happens
3. Centralized storage for files - not just cloud-based, but a storage solution to maintain knowledge assets of the organization.
4. Backup-backup-backup - a way to have backup, and if possible-an archival backup solution where snapshots of files can be kept for yearly storage
5. Good working machines - of course users are at the center of all that is set-up. No users, then no need for infrastructure.
6. Secure working environment - protection from external malicious attack, and internal accidental actions
7. Audit-trail - having a form of logging to track and trace what happens in the organization
8. Disaster Recovery - what happens when the office gets burned-down? Do we have an operating else-where?
9. Ease of Connectivity for all users - WIFI is now-adays a defacto for all office networks. Mobile devices and BYOD implementations are core to every organizational effectiveness in allowing staff to be productive not just on company assets, but personal as well.
10. Centralized Authentication - People do not want to remember so-so many passwords... give me 1 to rule them all!
11. Presentable outputs - a sufficiently fast and eco friendly tool(s) to print, scan, copy, with the capability to trace... who printed what? 
12. Good Email System - these days, email seems to be linked to mortality. Users can DIE without email.. really?

Thinking about all of these should get an organization started on how IT can stabilize the business processes and then, implement line of business applications to further improve the business efficiency.

Having said that, the infrastructure is critical and having one that is 'open' and expandable is very critical to long-term benefits albeit a slightly costlier set-up.

I will post more in the days to come with the recommended solutions.

Virtualizing a Windows XP Pro (Server)

Yes, I am not joking...

my client has a Windows XP, running core-2-duo, more than 8-years old system that is running a critical operation on their hotel infrastructure.

the PC simply perform interfacing between their phone, POS and internet accounting systems into the property management system.

well, the idea is that since it's not broken, why fix it... But isn't it concerning to know that there is no RAID, only a simple configuration backup, and the OS is obsolete, to run a critical system?

thus, i decided to take this opportunity to re-arrange their infrastructure a little bit, convert one of their 'free' server to work as a Hyper-V machine!

process is supposedly simple:

1. perform disk2vhd to somewhere outside of C drive on WinXP
2. transfer disk2vhd to host server
3. set-up hyper-v on host server
4. configure vm
5. decommission the old machine
6. run the new virtualized Windows XP

or so I thought..


my REAL process:

1. Installed Hyper-V function on the host server (all was smooth)
2. reboot host server on one wee-hour morning
3. set-up hyper-v environment
4. perform disk2vhd 2.01 conversion of the existing C: of WinXP machine to it's D:
5. transfer 20GB of VHD file (not VHDX) since host server is Windows Server Standard 2008r2 across network to the Host Server D:
6. configure working environment and boot.

Horror 1 - Mouse is not usable

1. what the heck, I just used keyboard. everything was typed!
2. alt-tab, shift-tab and tab were my friends
3. I had to run the VM in full-screen mode for transfer of short-cut keys to work...
4. I needed to be able to send "Windows + U" command to work... that's the most critical!

Horror 2 - Windows XP cannot activate

1. I couldn't activate windows! no LAN drivers activated too!
2. at the windows activation prompt, i had to say YES
3. then run "Windows + U" to run the Windows Narration Toolbar (Prompt)
4. then tab-tab to click on a link to browse internet.
5. Internet Explorer launches and I needed to then run c:\windows\explorer.exe on the address bar.
6. that will allow me to run windows explorer window, so that I can perform any application install/uninstall
7. I had lots of system junk stuff that came with my HP workstation, so i had to uninstall all of them.
8. went on to MSCONFIG and disabled a whole-load of un-helpful start-up items too.
9. shutdown VM
10. Mount VHD to the Host OS... as a new disk
11. Copy the following stuff:
1. 7-zip
2. AntiWAT tool for Windows XP Activation
12. after copying stuff, I then proceed to dismount and boot-up the Virtual Machine again.
13. repeat step 2 to 5, then run the activation of AntiWAT toolkit. Sorry Microsoft.
14. Reboot one more time after the Activation is successful in AntiWAT.
15. VIOLA! no more Windows XP Activation screen! 
16. Proceed to horror-3...

Horror 3 - Hyper-V integration cannot install

1. I thought installing hyper-v integration tool was supposed to be  breeze, well not-for-me.
2. no matter how many times i tried installing them-app, the system reboots after that stating that integration service need to be installed to be running etc-etc.
3. then I realize the root issue, see, when I boot up the system i get this prompt:
   
4. I always chose the Disk2VHD Microsoft Windows XP Professional thinking that it's the right one...
5. I was obviously wrong. After selecting the second option, I could proceed with the installation, and after 2-reboot, the integration services/stuff/ were installed succesfully.
6. But I can no longer boot into the first option... so I really need to go into boot.ini file to remove that line.. or my horror won't stop when the server is unable to start after it's reboot.
7. Attempt to boot with auto-option 1 after integration service is installed proved futile:
   
8. Boot with the second option, and it works!
9. and my mouse works!!!

Horror 4 - what about drivers??

1. Guess what! after horror 3, the installation of the Hyper-V integration tools automatically installed the system driver, the mouse, the LAN and everything is working in-order! 
2. Next, proceed with boot.ini amendments and we're done!

such is how i spent my saturday 12-noon to 4-pm in my office.. :(

Help, my MYOB and PC is simply just... SLOW

Well, my long time client contacted me yesterday and rambled upon the slowness of her PC.

It's Windows 7, 4-GB of RAM, 32-bit PC, on Core-2-Duo system. I know right, it's like 6-years old, but what she uses is mainly skype, MYOB accounting application, Word/Excel and tons of email (Outlook) all in 2010!

Anyhow, we super-charged her PC with a Samsung EVO 850 SSD disk and it flew.

Up till a few days ago when system just started crawling. Help!


My colleague remote into the system, did some checks, and did some deletion, and system went back to norm.


What did my super-tech colleague do?

He said: "Go to C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\ ,delete all Font*.dat and reboot PC."

Literally in his super-tech language...