An Alien Life of Starboykb

Except this time was Windows Server 2012 R2. My company has asked me to retake Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 Installing and Configuring course last week. Same as usual 5 days training courses driving up and down to the capital. After that taking the examination yesterday and failed again miserably for the last 2016.

I actually not interested retaking the course again but due to the limited course's selection set by AITI (Government). My boss insist I have to go for the same course and see what’s new in Windows Server 2012 R2. Honestly, if you want to learn what’s new then better off looking at Windows Server 2016.

The early examination was surprising unexpected and a bit disappointing not enough time preparing. The reason behind this was because it was subsided by the Government, you cannot postpone to next month which is kinda button pusher. I didn’t even know at first and thought able to take it next month once the holiday is over. The rush really put me really stress even I have to study during Christmas day and at the same time dealing nonsense in the company work.

I only managed gone through 30% of Windows Server 2012 R2 topics before the examination day. Still, not bad for myself able to score 600 points. I might able to passed if given more time. Will I retake the exam again next month? Nope, I really want to focus Windows 10 Installing and Configuring since the study book is here and today I just finished prepare the image in the Virtualbox. Let’s see if I might score big on 4D next month then I will retake one last time.

Anyway, goodbye 2016!!!

How much did I blow so far is unbelievable. This time around are more on about getting something useful. Yes, books! I can’t believe myself would ever bother to buy books that I don’t usually like to read. Age probably really changes part of me and of course it’s about keeping up. Three study books from Microsoft Press Store (just arrived from FedEx) and two Richard Dawkins from Book Depository.

If I couldn’t find a way to change my current IT Technician position then you better stay and get some knowledge upgrades. When Microsoft Press Store offer 55% coupon for all the paperback books and eBooks, this is something I can’t overlook. The timing of these offers probably the best so far because both Exam Ref 70-698 Installing and Configuring Windows 10 and Troubleshooting with the Windows Sysinternals Tools (2nd Edition) were published two months ago. Nice~!

The last one took me a while to decide was Windows Server 2012 Inside Out. I previously attended the course (I failed) three years ago and continue hands on deploying to the market today. Continuing support and optimizing the operating system are the most important part of my daily job. Despite the book was more than three years without any further update. I felt it’s best to have around with me. I just had to say wow, total 1381 pages to read.

Now, are you having a hard time looking for certain books and waiting for discount? Look no further, Book Depository might become one of your favorite online bookstores. I am really surprised with the huge selections titles available at their store. The wildest part is able to get free worldwide shipping deal.

Since I already brought three Microsoft books, why not get some controversy books to read? Yup, ‘The God Delusion’ and ‘The Magic of Reality: How We Know What's Really True’ books. Got a great deal from the bookstore and in case you wonder, these two books are highly recommended by tons of people (not just atheist) around the world. Sadly, they are still separately on the way from UK. I do hope one day I might able to get Richard Dawkins to sign the books.

Never imagine one of my clients Exchange server would be busted before Chinese New Year. Well, this is a sign to work during holiday. There is no way to escape and the reason is simple. They only have one server and manage everything. This is what I fear the most working with people leading the department who have stingy mindset and not bother to foreseen such situation. There is no excuse on myself too not spending time monitoring the server health using some free tools such as Spiceworks. It just simply too hard to be working a bit server administrator, then IT Technician and then admin job nowadays. When you are exhausted, you going to forget your next pending job sooner or later if you don't focus on one thing properly.

Despite being good at maintaining Windows Server 2012, but when it comes with Microsoft Exchange. I am nothing with no single knowledge managing and understand how Exchange really works. Using search engine looking for troubleshooting and solutions from time to time does help. Not much helpful when it comes to serious problem. I tried to study Exchange, so far not much progress except learning how to set up does give me some experience.

Looking at the problem my client server is facing, for one, the Exchange storage hit with low disk space. Secondly, the external mail entirely stop coming due to its high pressure suffering low disk space. Lastly, I found Outlook 2007-2013 no longer able to connect to Exchange and kept getting errors. I do not know if Exchange shutdown all its running services causing such errors. My mind is telling me this is not good.

I don't denied my part miscalculate the partition size back in 2013 I personally first setup the server. Back then, I am confidence the mail database won't expand when the Outlook would download everything into the user computers. However, later I found out the fucking new Microsoft Outlook 2013 option to deliver Exchange emails to a pst-file has been officially removed. This backlash is the result of fast growing mail database size in one year. The solution to such problem either can either create POP3 account or add rules to do the job. To me, this is just unnecessary extra works.

Another way, is run Exchange maintenance mode and perform compacting mail database to squeeze the size maybe once or every few months. Honestly, this is something I trying avoid and even well suggested by many Exchange expert because it's very dangerous task that can corrupt the mail database. Again, I have no good knowledge and best not to touch such maintenance duty when never once done any recovery mail database experience before. Why take that risk?

My friend told we can take it slowly to find solutions to fix this problem instead jumping straight suggesting reformat the server. The problem here is our clients have no patience playing waiting games during their crucial time working with upcoming new tenders and projects. So it's not good idea to drag any longer before they start working on Tuesday (after Brunei National day). Moreover, there's no guarantee we can solve the problem because none of us are even trained Exchange admin in the first place. The only thing already perform are the necessary solutions to get the Exchange working again for two days straight and seeing so many weird errors showing up in the events log drive me crazier before the CNY holiday starts. Reformatting and rework the server is the best option during the holiday time.

I bring it back to the office on CNY eve and starts working on the Friday and Saturday. On Monday afternoon, I send back and starts rejoin all domains and slowly warp up the remaining pending setting until Thursday this week. It was tiring and stressful reworking from scratch. I revised the Exchange storage size from 200GB to 700GB by sacrificing 80% data size. I also upgrade to Service Pack 1 and Cumulative Update 7 for Exchange Server 2013. There are no second thought or regrets doing so since everything now fresh installed. Why not just throws in everything? I did somehow notice Microsoft puts out quite a few new options or features in the Exchange console. Nonetheless, my priority are as long the emails start coming in and out. Those shitty new features or not are not my concerns.

By laws, Exchange must need to have its own powerful server to run and separate from the main server. It was not supposed to run with single server in the first place. Like I said earlier, stingy mindset brought the problem. If I in charge on the sales, there definitely going have two servers rather one. In case my client can only afford one server, I would convince them have their Emails hosted on Cloud. Even though we have crappy ISP in Brunei, why bother with so much worrying when you get 100% up time, 24hrs support and can use anywhere anytime?

What do I learned from this? I lost my holiday mood and unnecessary stress. That's it. It was supposed my resting month. Things just doesn't turn out to be after this incident. Hard to say how many times had repeated itself. I seriously really need to rethink my role if its wise to continue working as multitasking job this year with the company.

Just when you thought Microsoft Brunei encourage its customers to get the genuine products to prevent Malware attack or whatsoever you might encounter on the internet these past few days. Today they made a new headline warning the local retailers to cease continuing selling pirated copies of their products. Otherwise, they may (will) face legal action.

Its been quite long after they took one of the company to court few years ago. But that stunt didn't even budge the local computer shops or companies ever since. Well, all you cunts starting from now need to pay more attention because Microsoft Brunei will start monitor and lookout for those ignore their warning.

To be honest, I do support their move. Even its very late decision at this stage. Still, I am fucking happy this is happening because it going keep my current job more control and preventing users over abuse the pirating software especially Microsoft Office, Projects and Visio. I am so tired dealing ignorance bunch of cunts not understanding the problem using pirating software that can't be update to fix bugs. Next year is going to be interesting and I want to see how my boss going to deal with these.

Past weeks was unbelievable busy and stressful dealing sudden break down of server. I got to admit working with Window Server 2012 and Exchange 2013 are not easy like PC that can be simply revert back anytime. All decisions bring risk if you are not careful or not fully prepare to face the worst which I messed up without realizing.

Thanks to the mistake I made myself had to abandon weekend and Sunday to find solutions to work around the problem for the whole days. Luckily my 5 years old PC is able to handle the current stress running multiple VMware Windows at the same time doing test on problem solving. The only are require times to find the right answer to resolved the issue which I success the next day.

I was happy to relieve myself from such incident mistake. I don't really have much problem with Window Server 2012 after I took the training last year and have much confidence to work on problem solving. But MS Exchange 2013 is freaking whole new thing and the hardest to work on because it involve emails. This is something that beginner shouldn’t mess with if you had no knowledge or understanding.

It was definitely silly that I have to waste my effort working over time for nothing. Yesterday, our company server suddenly went disaster when our Exchange services crash at the morning before lunch.  I thought it was normal or even maybe just some errors so I decided to remotely log in and restart the server during lunch. After that, things went nuts and the screen showing the 'Applying Computer Setting' running for more than an hour including signing into the account.

Apparently the problem shows many of the Exchange services crashes unable to start automatically which took freaking long continuously trying load. Luckily, my finding in the event logs prove I didn't screw up the server since the problem started after 11AM. Phew~! But what I'm curios was how the fuck suddenly happen like that?

Well, I’m not a god damn expect on Exchange so have to rely on Google.  I can't seem to be able to find the right answers for two and half hours sitting in the server room figuring out the right solution. I tested many methods doesn't work and did however found about turning on the IPV6 on the Local Area Connection network properties setting. Honestly, I have no confidence on the solution and afraid I might somehow screw it up even more badly. Every choices involve some risk not unless I went for the training then I dared to try. It just never did and the right answer was turning on the IPV6 then it SOLVED EVERYTHING!!!

It was solved by my colleagues at night. Very simple method and just remember when I first install Microsoft Exchange require IPV6 including connected to network to work properly even during fresh installation. No matter if you are not using you must always turn it on. Such little details I couldn’t remember.

This beg a question why it was turned off the first place? We all thought could be a server 2008 |R2 related bug since one of my colleagues who work on it never update or patching any Windows update during fresh installation. Somehow, it wasn't the case not until today it happen again in the morning. We finally caught the culprit and non other my XXXXXXX.

Yup, censor. I have my reason but if you are smart. You should already guess. Nonetheless, I am fucking pissed I work over time and rush back to HQ for nothing when someone simply screws around not even bother to check if the server is running properly or not. Even worst, not informing us he had done something on it, just keeping quiet. I really hate this kind of irresponsible people. Every day, I had to worked angrily thinking how to escape this huge mess and avoid slowly involving into it. I already sick of dealing with a dumbass who still showing no improvement at work and now another trying something silly. I am really sick and tired all of this.

I really sacrifice a lot of saving (Yes, self sponsor!) on this Windows Server 2012: 20410 training course at TechOne. While I do process self experience deploying servers in real life. However depending on the DIY concepts sometimes does put you in wrong directions and even without understanding how to properly configures the servers. It will definitely put both your career and job at huge risk working in large organizations.

Many of my colleagues are self learned from experience from old days, Google search and not even 100% certified nowadays. They may even dump aside the problems without troubleshooting or forget what they may have ever done. So I really feel insecure working in such environments. I already encounter such scenario incidents so many times and it's really unhappy situations for everyone.

Things really change a lot after attending this training class. I won't say I have more confidence than ever before. But it is best to know the correct ways working with Window servers and take advantage on its (existing) features at least giving me more ideas and security. I do find some of the topics quite hard and man, study suck! Luckily, the instructor are really friendly and I was able to abuse more help from him solving my many mysteries problems that hunted me for so many years until now actually left unsolved.

The only thing that tired me was driving up and down from BSB. More than one hours drive is no joke when there are rains and sudden traffics (now in KB-Seria and Seria-Lumut) create so much frustration. Not to mention no longer allow speeding and again, encountering crazy reckless drivers. Anyway, reaching there safe and sound is what everyone wants. Two more days to go until training class finished.