Thursday, 30 December 2010

SQL Alias and SharePoint installation

While install SharePoint, it's a best practice to use SQL Alias for your DB server name. With SQL alias set up, it can save you headache when you want to move your DB to another server.

How to create SQL Alias? There are 2 options, both produce the same result

Option 1: Use cliconfg (SQL Server Client Network Utility, this tool is shipped with OS from Windows 2000)
Start > Run > cliconfg
Click TCP/IP, then  "Enable >>"

Click Alias Tab
Type in Server Alias, e.g SHAREPOINT
Select TCP/IP
Server name: point to your real SQL server instance



Option 2: Use SQL Server Configuration Manager
In SQL Server Configuration Manager, expand SQL Native Client Configuration, right-click Aliases, and then click New Alias.



Once create SQL alias, you can create your SP Farm using alias, SHAREPOINT in this case, without problem

Friday, 24 December 2010

Error while restore SharePoint from back-up

I got the following error while restore SharePoint (2007) Site from a back up
Object ... failed in event OnRestore. For more information, see the error
log located in the backup directory. SqlException: The media family on device
'...\spbr0000\0000000B.bak' is incorrectly formed. SQL Server cannot process
this media family. RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
The restore log file got this message
Error: Object ... failed in event OnRestore. For more information, see the
error log located in the backup directory.
SqlException: The media family on
device '...\spbr0000\0000000B.bak' is incorrectly formed. SQL Server cannot
process this media family.
RESTORE DATABASE is terminating abnormally.
I scratched my head several times, wondering if my SharePoint got problem? Well, the problem is odd enough: the back up was created on a SharePoint with SQL 2008; my target SharePoint is using SQL 2005.
This is a famous message when you restore an back up in newer SQL version into older SQL version. The backup or detach database file is not backward compatiple. Note: The SharePoint backup pacakage was created using SharePoint back up feature (Central Admin > Operations > Backup and Restore :: Perform a Back up)

Windows Server 2008 - sysprep

If you need to prepare a Windows 2008 Server image (any version: Web, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter) to install on other computers of multiple Virtual Servers, it is highly recommended you use the sysprep tool to wipe the image of all unique information Microsoft assigns in the specific install. If you are running multiple VMs in the same environment, and don’t do this you could run into problems.
Unlike previous versions of Windows, sysprep is actually located on the server and you do not need the installation CD to use it.
  1. Run sysprep: c:\windows\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe
  2. If you are using it on VM, select the shutdown option as you don’t want to reboot straight after.
If you wish to do it from Windows Server 2008 Core (i.e. command line interface) you can run it as follows: sysprep /OOBE /Generalize /shutdown

Source: http://www.crucialp.com/blog/2008/05/04/preparing-windows-server-2008-to-image-using-sysprep/

Free Advance SharePoint 2010 Training

There are self paced training modules (slides & videos recordings) available for IT Pros and SP Dev - ALL for FREE

SharePoint 2010 Advanced Developer Training
  1. Developer Roadmap and Tools
  2. Core Development
  3. User Interfaces and Lists
  4. Data Access in Technologies
  5. Composite Solutions
  6. Enterprise Content Management
  7. Enterprise Search
  8. Business Intelligence
  9. Communities
  10. Development Life Cycle
SharePoint 2010 Advanced IT Professional Training
  1. Core Architecture of SharePoint 2010
  2. Security in SharePoint 2010
  3. IT Pro Management in SharePoint 2010
  4. Upgrading to SharePoint 2010
  5. Enterprise Search in SharePoint 2010
  6. Content Management in SharePoint 2010
  7. Composite Solutions in SharePoint 2010
  8. Communities in SharePoint 2010
  9. Business Intelligence in SharePoint 2010
  10. SharePoint Online Overview

SharePoint 2010 and Kerberos

Type: Whitepaper
SP2010 Kerberos Guide.docx
This document provides you with information that will help you understand the concepts of identity in SharePoint 2010 products, how Kerberos authentication plays a critical role in authentication and delegation scenarios, and the situations where Kerberos authentication should be leveraged or may be required in solution designs. The document also shows you how to configure Kerberos authentication end-to-end within your environment, including scenarios which use various service applications in SharePoint Server. Additional tools and resources are described to help you test and validate Kerberos configuration. The "Step-by-Step Configuration" sections of this document cover several SharePoint Server 2010 scenarios.