Configuration Point-to-Point OpenVPN link

I like OpenVPN because it's simple and it does what you need - VPN.

Let's assume that we have two un*x like servers with OpenVPN software and regular OS user openvpn in group openvpn. One server has IP address 192.168.4.10 and second 192.168.4.100.

In server 192.168.4.10 use following configuration file (openvpn.conf):
remote 192.168.4.100
ifconfig 10.0.0.1 10.0.0.2
dev tun0
port 5001
proto udp
secret /usr/local/etc/openvpn/secret.key
ping 10
comp-lzo
verb 5
mute 10
user openvpn
group openvpn

In server 192.168.4.100 use following configuration file (openvpn.conf):
remote 192.168.4.10
ifconfig 10.0.0.2 10.0.0.1
dev tun0
port 5001
proto udp
secret /usr/local/etc/openvpn/secret.key
ping 10
comp-lzo
verb 5
mute 10
user openvpn
group openvpn

In one of this two servers create secret.key by issuing following command:
openvpn --genkey --secret /usr/local/etc/openvpn/secret.key

Finaly:
Somehow (for example scp) copy secret key to second server into correct location and run openvpn daemons on both servers. On servers new network interface appears (tap) with IP addresses (10.0.0.1 and 10.0.0.2) and you can ping these 10.0.0.1-2 IP addresses over secure VPN link.

Here we go.

Scripting reference manuals

Command line reference for Windows, Bash, Oracle, and SQL Server
http://www.ss64.com/index.html

Creating the 64 KB aligned partition with Diskpart.exe

Once you are at the command prompt, use Diskpart.exe to create an aligned partition. To do so, type in the following:

diskpart
select disk 0
create partition primary align=64

You can now exit diskpart by typing 'exit'.

How to print to a network printer from an MS-DOS-based program in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314499

Newbie SysAdmin Guide to Solaris

http://www.unixville.com/~moazam/stories/2004/05/17/newbieSysadminGuideToSolaris.html

EMC Cellera Simulator

http://virtualgeek.typepad.com/virtual_geek/2008/08/celerra-virtual.html

Top 10 PowerShell scripts that VMware administrators should use

Top 10 PowerShell scripts that VMware administrators should use

By Eric Siebert
published: Wednesday, December 10 2008

http://www.virtual-strategy.com/Eric-Siebert-s-Top-10/Top-10-PowerShell-scripts-that-VMware-administrators-should-use.html

iSCSI on FreeBSD

FreeBSD iSCSI howto
http://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/freebsd-iscsi-initiator-howto/

FreeBSD network link agregation
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en/books/handbook/network-aggregation.html

Running FreeBSD 7.0 on ESX Server

Good resources ...
http://ivoras.sharanet.org/freebsd/vmware.html
and
http://scottf.wordpress.com/2008/01/17/running-freebsd-70-on-esx-server/

ESX Server, IP Storage, and Jumbo Frames

Very good article about setting end-to-end Jumbe Frames on VMware environment.
http://blog.scottlowe.org/2008/04/22/esx-server-ip-storage-and-jumbo-frames/

Note: even it's not supported solution yet

UBNT Wispstation - default config

UBNT: WispStation board - 22 dBm AP/klient (5 GHz)

Default IP	192.168.1.20
Default name	ubnt
Default password	ubnt

System Information for Windows

SIW is an advanced System Information for Windows tool that gathers detailed information about your system properties and settings and displays it in an extremely comprehensible manner.
http://www.gtopala.com/

This tool is extremely useful when you need to get your activation code from already installed Windows OS. When this tool does not work you can try KeyFinder
http://magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/

New VMware technologies are comming ...

Look at web-casts bellow to see what new technologies are coming from VMware.

VMware FT (Fault Tolerance)
http://download3.vmware.com/vdcos/demos/FT_Demo_800x600.html

VMWare Distributed Virtual Switch
http://download3.vmware.com/vdcos/demos/DVS_Demo_800x600.html

Host Profiles
http://download3.vmware.com/vdcos/demos/Hostprofiles_Linked_VC_800x600.html

Storage vMotion (GUI)
http://download3.vmware.com/vdcos/demos/Storage_VMotion_800x600.html

Citrix XenServer & EqualLogic Storage Integration

No words are needed. Just watch demo at http://bits.xensource.com/demo/Dell/eql/xenserver_equallogic_demo.htm

How to crimp RJ45 connector?

There are two norms EIA TIA 568A and 568B. Look at picture.


Nice article with more information is at http://www.ertyu.org/steven_nikkel/ethernetcables.html

VirusTotal

Virustotal is a service that analyzes suspicious files and facilitates the quick detection of viruses, worms, trojans, and all kinds of malware detected by antivirus engines. More information...

100,000 I/O Operations Per Second, One ESX Host

See http://blogs.vmware.com/performance/2008/05/100000-io-opera.html for full text.

Understanding and fixing VMware ESX problems without pulling the plug

VMWARE MANAGEMENT, MIGRATION AND PERFORMANCE
Understanding and fixing VMware ESX problems without pulling the plug
Eric Siebert, Contributor
06.24.2008
LINK TO ARTICLE

VMware: configuring a static MAC address in a VM

Original article from http://virtrix.blogspot.com/2007/04/vmware-configuring-static-mac-address.html

Sometimes it can be necessary to configure a static MAC address in a VM. A typical issue during P2V is an application that has its licensing based on the MAC address.

VMware has defined that VirtualCenter does not use the following range: 00:50:56:00:00:00 to 00:50:56:3F:FF:FF where 00:50:56 is the OUI.

The steps:

1. Power off & remove the server from the VirtualCenter inventory. This is a necessary step, because VC will overwrite your settings during Power On!
2. Edit the .vmx file and locate the following generated MAC address:
Ethernet0.addressType =
and
Ethernet0.generatedAddress =
3. Change the value for ethernet0.addressType from “vpx” to “static”
4. Change ethernet0.GeneratedAddress to ethernet0.Address
5. Change the current MAC to a MAC address in the following range:
00:50:56:00:00:00-00:50:56:3F:FF:FF
6. In VirtualCenter, select an ESX host and go to storage
7. Browse the data store & locate your VM
8. Right-click on the .vmx file, and select Add to inventory
9. Power On the server. Issue the command ipconfig /all and locate the VMware NIC. Your manually assigned MAC address should be there.

I know you can set your MAC address inside Windows, but I would avoid this.

Sysprep Virtual Center integration for Win 2003 SP3

http://virtualizationinformation.com/?p=28