The other day I was helping a client setup their fax environment and ran into an interesting issue. The server that we installed the software was windows 2008 R2 and the core software went great. There is a web client that they also wanted to have installed so I kicked off the install and everything appeared to install as well. In 2003, it would automatically enable windows authentication by default. This would allow users to automatically login to the web applications if their account exists in windows.

Well, in windows 2008, the application does not do this. Instead, you need to set this up manually. In earlier versions of windows, windows authentication is added as a feature automatically. In windows 2008, it is an installable module. I had to go into the IIS roles and check windows authentication. Once this was done, it required a restart of the IIS services. I then went into the website instance and enabled windows authentication. Once done, the web application worked as expected.

I wonder why this option is no longer installed automatically by windows. I understand that Microsoft is continually trying to make IIS more secure, but I’m not entirely sure that this was a good move. By default, website instances are setup as anonymous access and you need to allow other authentication methods. If anonymous access and another authentication method is checked, the website breaks. Therefore, I just don’t understand why windows authentication is not installed as a default installation.

Here is a true story about the unspoken tale of Palm Pre JR and his magical journey to become the greatest pancake maker in the known lands.  How did it happen, you may ask?  Well, let me inform you of the epic tale.

It all started one fateful night that a ninja, Palm Pre, lost in his way stumbled upon a web programmer named bekabug.  Bekabug, had always loved ninjas and when she saw the lost Palm Pre, she just knew what her calling would be, she would take him home and care for him.  She also thought it would earn her credits on forums where everyone claims they own a ninja, now she did!

As the weeks moved on, bekabug realized why no one actually harbors a ninja.  For one, he always leaves the seat up on the toilet, I mean, is this really ninja like?  Then, one day, as she is doing ninja laundry, she starts getting sudden cravings.  She does not understand, but she yearns for pancakes.  Yes, pancakes of all things.  It then dawns on her that she has become pregnant and when she goes to confront Palm Pre, he is no where to be found.

Damn Ninja!

With the ninja, gone, her pancake needs are still left unsatisfied.  She needed to find a pancake restaurant to meet her needs.  She had spent the next several months searching for a pancake restaurant but it seems that pancakes in TN have vanished.

She tried the huddle house but they only had waffles.  WAFFLES!  Clearly, the terrorists have gotten to the huddle house.  Who would serve waffles over pancakes.

Next she tried IHOP but the international house of pancakes makes horrific pancakes.  She knew this when patients were playing Frisbee with the pancakes.  Clearly she will get no satisfaction there.
As she got to the waffle house, she clearly realized that the pancakes would be sub par.  This has left her in a zombie like stumper for 9 months eating waffles.  Fucking waffles.

When Palm Pre JR finally came to light, his goals were clear.  He would bring pancakes back to TN.  The terrorist will not win, they will not force waffles on us anymore.  Bekabug sent him to the finest pancake schools and he graduated with high honors.  He rushed home to share his new found recipes with his mother.  Tears of joy were streaming down Palm Pre Jr’s face as he raced home only to find bekabug in a comma.  A waffle comma.

This is a tragic ending to the epic tale of Palm Pre Jr and his search for the pancake!

I have a virtual windows machine on a ubuntu host and I wanted to print something.  Before, I would move the file to ubuntu and print it from there, but that is difficult and annoying.  Instead, I did the following and it works great!  It took me all of 10 minutes to do!

The Print Server is the Ubuntu computer that is directly connected to the printers.

1. On the server machine (the one the printer is attached to) open up printer manager with by going to System in the top toolbar panel, then Administration and Printing. This will open the Printer Configuration window.

2. Select Server in the menu bar, and then Settings.

3. This will open the Basic Server Settings window. If this computer only serves as a Print Server and does not need access to a printer connected to another computer select the second box.

   • Publish shared printers connected to this server

   If this computer acts as both a Print Server and a client (it does need access to a printer connected to another computer), select the first two boxes

   • Show printers shared by other systems
   • Publish shared printers connected to this system

4. Select the OK button.

That is all you need to do on the ubuntu “server.”  Next, I needed to configure my windows XP station to print to the printer as well.

WindowsXP Client Machine

1. Open the Control Panel

2. Click Printers and Faxes

3. Click Add a Printer

4. On the first page of the Add Printer Wizard, click Next

5. Choose Add a network Printer

6. Choose Connect to a printer on the internet and type http://SERVER_NAME:631/printers/PRINTER_NAME in the text box and then click next

7. On the next screen, Choose the correct driver for your printer

8. Click ok to finish

9. Right click the printer, choose properties, and then try to print a test page

As I write this entry, I am on the phone with RIM technical support.  Let me tell you the story of upgrading my BES server to version 5.0.

*NOTE: The second time for this issue, the issue was DNS related insofar, the entry had gotten changed with the wrong server name through replication.
I have been working with BES for a long time (since version 2) and my current environment is 4.6.  I downloaded the 5.0 upgrade media and kicked off the install.  I was pleased with the progress and the install seemed to be moving right along with no major issues.  Every other time I have upgraded my BES servers, something always went crazy mid install, be it my fault or not.

The first option which I am still regretting is the option to select windows authentication for the Blackberry Administration Service.  I had thought, why would I need another hardset password, my organization would just use the besadmin account anyways!  As you will see, this is a huge mistake.

The install finishes without any noticeable problems and the first thing I realized was that the Blackberry manager snapin no longer works.  I read up on the features that version 5.0 brings, but for some reason, I never knew that it would take it to a webdav.  Regardless, I launch the shortcut and it brings me to a pretty login page where I enter the besadmin creds.  It then provides the error message:

“The username, password, or domain is not correct.  Please correct the entry”

The first thing I do is enter it again, and again, and again.  Next, I check to make sure that the time is correct on the bes server and the LDAP domain controller.  It is.  This rules out TIME KB.  I then verify that my reverse DNS and proper ldap settings are correct.  They are.  This rules out the LDAP kb.

After further reading, I see that the test LDAP settings button may be corrupted.  I did hit the test LDAP button (who wouldn’t????) and thought, HA that MUST be my problem.  I followed the following steps in option 1, and rebooted the BES, but the error still occurred.

Option 1

1. On the server where the BlackBerry Administration Service is installed, navigate to this directory:<drive>:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\BAS\bin
2. Run the following command:basUtility “C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_15″ “C:\Program Files\Research In Motion\BlackBerry Enterprise Server\BAS” encode “<LDAP Password>” > C:\Output.txt
3. Open the text file created in Step 2.
4. Copy the hashed version of the password to your Microsoft SQL Server.
5. Run the following SQL Query against the BlackBerry Configuration Database:update BASAuthenticationCredentials set password = ‘<contents of output.txt>’ where AuthenticationType LIKE ‘1′
6. Restart the BlackBerry Administration Service services.
7. Log in to the BlackBerry Administration Service using Microsoft Active Directory.

Option 2

Install the BlackBerry Administration Service again.
I then went down the path of option 2, but this also did not fix my issue.  At this point, I was at wits end, and decided to give RIM tech support a call.  Applying the latest SPs actually allowed me to login, and I was happy.  This worked until my VM got rebooted, and now today, the problem is still occuring.  Once the BES tech gets back on the phone, (I have been on hold for 40 minutes now, while he “reviews” my case, I will paste the resolve)

Another day, another walkthrough. Today’s walkthrough? You only live once!

DISCLAIMER: This game is harsh insofar that once you die, without doing evil things to your flash cache, you cannot play the game again.  Instead, I have found this fun youtube clip of the game and what happens when you win!  I must say, dieing in a pit kinda has a better ending…

I really liked the effort that was put into this game, but I don’t like the fact that you can’t play it again (without doing crazy shit) I mean, I got to play this game twice, and I got tired of trying to kill everything in order to get it to work again.  It would be nicer that after the ending finished a few times, it actually did let you play again.  I would of liked to die in different locations and see if there was an alternate ending and such…

I recently rolled out Rightfax 9.4 to a client that uses novell as their default email client.  When they open up Faxutil, they receive the following error:

“Either there is no default mail client or the current mail client cannot fulfill the messaging request. Please run Microsoft Office Outlook and set it as the default mail client.”

1. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CLIENTS\MAIL.

2. Find key called PreFirstRun.

3. Rename this value to “PreFirstRun.Renamed”.

4. Close the Registry Editor. The error should no longer occur.
Once I have done this, the error stopped and everyone was happy!  Oh silly Rightfax and Microsoft for making your products act so retarded!

Using Google SMS.

One of the best ways to get information via the mobile phone for those of us that don’t have a Blackberry or internet-enabled, data-ready phone is to send a text message to Google, or 466453. If you have free texting, this is an excellent way to get information while on the go.

Phone Numbers

Syntax: “marks pizza penn yan ny”
Probably the easiest thing to find is phone numbers. The syntax above will get you the number for Mark’s Pizzeria in Penn Yan, New York the same as if you had typed it into google.com. Occasionally you’ll have a problem if it’s a common name or a busy location, but if you’re just looking to order a pizza on your way home or call a restaurant to tell them you’re running a couple of minutes late on your reservation, texting Google is the way to go.

Movie Times

Syntax: “m 11580”
This search will give you movie listings for zip code 11580, which is on Long Island. From there, Google understands exactly what you’re looking for. It’ll text you back a menu of movies, you pick which one you want to see, and it’ll tell you where it’s playing in the area.

Flights

Syntax: “jetblue 12”
Curious if your friends flight is delayed? This query told me that the flight from JFK to SYR was scheduled to arrive at 4:42, but actually landed at 5:01 at gate B6.

Sports

Syntax: “mets game” or “mets score” or just “ny mets”
Get the last game results as well as when the next game is, or get the score if you’re not near the tv. This could probably be more detailed, as it doesn’t mention pitchers or which inning the game is in, but it’ll get you the score in a pinch.

Weather

Syntax: “w shanghai”
It’s 81 degrees in Shanghai right now, cloudy, with 89% humidity. It also tells me the forecast for the next three days.

Google SMS can be very helpful. For more beyond these tips and tricks, text help to 466453.

Well, I love it when buy.com is completely random in its weekly ads.  I still remember when I could buy a deal on condoms and a wireless router.  Just what every geek needs.  Now, you ask, what did they do now?  Read em and weep…
TRENDnet TV-IP422 Day/Night Pan/Tilt Internet Camera
Server w/ 2-Way Audio
SAVE $150.00
FREE BUDGET SHIPPING
Buy.com price: $199.99 (Expires 7/31/09)
List price: $349.99

Mens Brushed Finish 6mm Tungsten Band
Ships from and sold by Buy.com Marketplace
FREE BUDGET SHIPPING
Buy.com price: $15.99

Kingston 64GB DataTraveler 150 Flash Drive
FREE BUDGET SHIPPING
Buy.com price: $128.89

Thats right, in the middle of a camera and a flash drive, you can buy a wedding ring from buy.com!  I do not know anyone that would buy a 15 dollar wedding ring, let alone from the buy.com people…  but hey, it just shows that there are a lot of deals all over the internet!
Also, just to note, tungsten cannot be resized so make sure that your finger can fit the ring before you buy it.  Really, any men’s rings that are not gold or silver should never be bought on the internet.

Travian.com is a fun webgame that I have been playing to fill my time.  One of the annoying things though, is when you are in a large alliance, they use weird terminology and never explain wtf it means.  For example, lets use the term “Hammer”

Since my alliance is going to war, they have been saying, everyone post your hammer and let us know the size of it.  Well it would be nice if SOMEONE had a termonology page or something… regardless, after much reading, here is what a hammer is:

A 15C that has enough troops on it to destory the opposing force.  More importantly, the hammer should consist of the most powerful force that your race offers and the ability to level a city wall and have enough catas to level the city.

In essance, without reinforcement, your “hammer” should be able to defeat any village that is not another 15c.  Doesn’t that sound much simplier?   I thought so!

For the life of me, I could not get my netscreen vpn software to connect.  No matter what I did to the virtual windows xp, it just would not fly.  I kept receiving the following errors:

6-24: 07:18:55.296 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – Initiating IKE Phase 1 (IP ADDR=160.79.51.201)
6-24: 07:18:56.108 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – SENDING>>>> ISAKMP OAK AG (SA, KE, NON, ID, VID 6x)
6-24: 07:19:11.239 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – message not received! Retransmitting!
6-24: 07:19:11.239 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – SENDING>>>> ISAKMP OAK AG (Retransmission)
6-24: 07:19:26.261 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – message not received! Retransmitting!
6-24: 07:19:26.261 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – SENDING>>>> ISAKMP OAK AG (Retransmission)
6-24: 07:19:41.283 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – message not received! Retransmitting!
6-24: 07:19:41.283 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – SENDING>>>> ISAKMP OAK AG (Retransmission)
6-24: 07:19:56.303 My Connections\wvenezia@bitxbit.com – Exceeded 3 IKE SA negotiation attempts

I had initially thought it was due to the virtualbox blocking the IKE packets from reaching the gateway, but then decided to take virtualbox out of the picture and troubleshoot this like a normal computer.  Once I did this, it only took me 10 minutes to figure out what is wrong.  The message not received means that the remote host did not get the packet and the retransmission means that the remote host is not responding.  Well, that would indicate that the netscreen software is sending out the packets right but the gateway is a no show.  I thought, maybe I used an old Security Policy.  I opened up my working laptop and compared it to the virtualbox pc, and sure enough, the gateway ip addresses are different.  Once I changed this, it started working without a charm!

This makes me very happy as I am tired of carting my laptop with me to use my vpn!