Improve VMware Console Mouse Experience with Windows Server 2008

ref.: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1011709
ref.: http://vm-pro.com/improve-vmware-console-mouse-experience-with-windows-server-2008/

Install X server via YUM on Redhat/CentOS

First you can see all the yum groups available with the command:

yum grouplist

You can install X and Gnome or KDE like this:

yum groupinstall "X Window System" "GNOME Desktop Environment"

or

yum groupinstall "X Window System" "KDE (K Desktop Environment)"

You may also want to add some other groups from the list like "Graphical Internet" or "Office/Productivity"
ref: http://wikinux.wetpaint.com/page/Install+X+server+via+YUM+on+Redhat%2FCentOS

Linux delete large number files (argument list too large when using rm)

ref.: http://linux.byexamples.com/archives/326/rm-complains-argument-list-too-long/

There is a limitation of rm command, where you can’t delete a large groups of files with *. For examples,

rm -rf something*

If there are large amount of files initiate with something, rm will fails and complains

/bin/rm: Argument list too long.

The solution is to make use of find, xargs and rm.

find . -name 'something*' -print0 | xargs -0 rm -rf  

Data Recovery with Linux

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DataRecovery

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/TestDisk

http://www.cgsecurity.org/wiki/PhotoRec

Full backup NTFS partition using Linux

Backup:
Suppose backup partition is sda1 (The first partition on master HD) and the backup data will store on another system/drive

0. Optional step, backup boot menu if your using multiboot. Do it in windows: bcdedit /export "C:\bcdbackup\bcdbackup"
1. Bootup with rescue CD
2. mount another location to place the backup data, as example we use sda2
> mkdir /mnt/backup
> mount /dev/sda2 /mnt/backup
> dd if=/dev/sda of=sda.mbr bs=512 count=1    <----Backup MBR
> sfdisk -l /dev/sda > sda.sf         <---Backup partition status
> ntfsclone --save-image -o - /dev/sda1 | gzip > sda1.pimg.gz <---Wait with coffee
3. Verify the backup data with "ls /mnt/backup"

Restore:
1. Bootup with rescue CD
2. Start to restore mbr, partition status and partition
> mkdir /mnt/backup
> mount /mnt/backup /dev/sda2
> cd /mnt/backup
> dd of=/dev/sda if=sda.mbr bs=512 count=1
> sfdisk -f /dev/sda < sda.sf
> mknod /dev/sda1 b 8 1     <------create special or ordinary file for sda1, so you need to check major and minor number
> gunzip < sda1.pimg.gz | ntfsclone -r -O /dev/sda1 -
3. Optional step, do it in windows: bcdedit /import "C:\bcdbackup\bcdbackup"

vmware remote console on firefox 3.6.x problem

The problem is the vmrc plugin is not available on firefox 3.6.x, it return timeout error. So my solution is just run the vmrc directly, you can follow the steps:

copy the plugin from /usr/lib/vmware/webAccess/tomcat/apache-tomcat-6.0.16/webapps/ui/plugin/ to client site.
on client, just unzip it, (for me, unzip vmware-vmrc-linux-x64.xpi)

after extract, you can see vmware-vmrc in plugin folder, run it directly and give the hostname (e.g: 192.168.0.2:8333), username and password.


Linux:
vmware-vmrc -h [<hostname>] [-u <username> -p <password>] [-M <moid> | <datastore path>]

Windows:
vmware-vmrc.exe -h <hostname> [-u <username> -p <password>] -M <moid> | <datastore path>

You can find the object id (moid) from vmInventory.xml
For example: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\VMware\VMware Remote Console Plug-in\vmware-vmrc.exe" -h localhost:8333 -M 16

Windows startup no desktop screen -- explorer.exe don't startup

open registry (menu Start -> run (or run Comand prompt): regedit).

open: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ Current
Version \ Winlogon

At right pane there is "Shell". The value of it must be "explorer.exe"

sql 2008 server express installation fail - Performance counter registry hive consistency

Solution1:
Install with the following command:
C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads\SQLEXPRWT_x64_EN.exe U>setup.exe /ACTION=install /SKIPRULES=PerfMonCounterNotCorruptedCheck


Solution2 (Environment: win vista sp2 32bit):
I fixed by change the registry
go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Perflib
then you can copy 0404 reg key and create new reg key call 004
Then install again.

Fine tune your VM - Extend vm disk size in Linux

Step1: Login with admin, shutdown your PC

Step2: Eg: Extend your vm to 40GB
vmware-vdiskmanager -x 40GB winxp.vmdk
Then your disk space would be expanded, but the free space is not assigned to your system.

Step3: List your registered vm, check the ID
vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms

Step4: Poweron your vm
vmware-vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on 96

Step5: If you the vm is windows, then go to computer manager to assign the free space to C: or D: as you like.
To expand system driver (such as C: which holding winxp) then you may need to do it with thrid party partition tools. Here you can get more information: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1004071

Fedora 12 enable root login in GUI

1. edit /etc/pam.d/gdm and /etc/pam.d/gdm-password
2. Add comment(#) to the following line
# auth required pam_succeed_if.so user != root quiet

Cache 50 Windows logins for better availability (快取的網域登入資訊)

ref.: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/172931

快取 Windows 記憶體前一個使用者的登入資訊在本機，以便如果在更新登入嘗試時無法使用登入伺服器，它們可以登入。

快取登入資訊由下列機碼控制:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"cachedlogonscount"="0 - 50"           

Ubuntu pppoe dialup problem with Network Manager

Step1: ensure eth is ready
Step2: >sudo service network-manager stop
Step3: >sudo pppoeconf
Step4(optional): add nameserver to /etc/resolv.conf

Mozilla Firefox & Thunderbird remove master password

Method 1: Go to Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxxx.default and rename key3.db to key3.db.bak

Method 2: run the url chrome://pippki/content/resetpassword.xul and press the reset buttom.
For thunderbird, you can evaluate the url in Tools>Error console.