Best posts made by CCWTech

@Dashrender said in How to Stop an Ongoing RAID Rebuild HP P420i RAID Controller:

@scottalanmiller said in How to Stop an Ongoing RAID Rebuild HP P420i RAID Controller:

@dafyre said in How to Stop an Ongoing RAID Rebuild HP P420i RAID Controller:

@scottalanmiller said in How to Stop an Ongoing RAID Rebuild HP P420i RAID Controller:

@wrx7m said in How to Stop an Ongoing RAID Rebuild HP P420i RAID Controller:

@scottalanmiller said in How to Stop an Ongoing RAID Rebuild HP P420i RAID Controller:

@JaredBusch said in How to Stop an Ongoing RAID Rebuild HP P420i RAID Controller:

Shut the system down pull the failed drive and the hot spare turn it back on. You should be up and running on a degraded RAID array

We are terrified to turn the system off at this point.

I am guessing no backups? Is the system available at all?

System is currently available. In theory there are backups, but no capacity to test them and they are across the country. This isn't a managed customer, so we have no documentation, no visibility, no access. We just have to trust that they say that there are backups. But they confused their UPS with their NAS calling both their "backup" so we have literally no clue what they do and do not have.

I'd burn a couple of billable hours at least doing some investigation into their things using Mesh Commander. That way you have a better idea of where they are on the we're screwed o'meter.

That'd be great. But their CIO doesn't like us doing anything.

Then why are you still helping them?

At this point we are not.

We have made our recommendations and it's up to them.

If they choose to disregard our advise, it's at their own peril and we will watch it burn. That's not of course what we want to happen, but the manager has chosen to be the CIO even though she is not competent to do so.

Wow, pricing is crazy high.

Poor service, high price... Hard pass.

@frodooftheshire said in Windows NLA service on 2016/2019 DCs:

@CCWTech Exactly - it's mainly about firewall rules. Like you said I guess I could go into all the firewall rules and make sure its ticked for private as well as domain. It's just annoying because this shouldn't be an issue.

I can see a member server getting confused if the DC isn't booted up and it boots up, but for a DC not to know it's in a domain is just a bit crazy.

@CCWTech said in Connectwise Control / Screenconnect recommends you break the law to run their software:

"Windows
Note: The server installation requires .NET 4.7.1 and above.
Windows 7
Windows 8.1
Windows 10
Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2012 / 2012 R2
Windows Server 2016
Windows Server 2019"

So can you admit your company suggests breaking the law to deploy your software?
Allen Crist 09:09 AM
No we admit that we interpret the EULA different than you.
Tony Seunbane 09:10 AM
And different from how Microsoft interprets it? I have asked Microsoft Licensing Desk Employees and they stated exactly what I have. Keep in mind these are Microsoft employees that specialize in licensing.
Allen Crist 09:11 AM
I understand where you are coming from. I can only tell you what our PM stance on this is.

@DustinB3403 said in Connectwise Control / Screenconnect recommends you break the law to run their software:

@CCWTech said in Connectwise Control / Screenconnect recommends you break the law to run their software:

@DustinB3403 said in Connectwise Control / Screenconnect recommends you break the law to run their software:

To ask, can't you install .net on linux? Maybe the vendor is just being lazy or there is just some functionality that isn't in the linux version so it doesn't work there.

Yes, they specifically said that they will never do .NET on linux because they would have to 'completely re-write' their software. The windows version is .net but in linux they built it on mono.

Gotcha, so they are being lazy or don't have the capability any more to update the code on linux.

Yes, especially 'dirty' is that they proclaim to work on linux. They don't specify a limit.

You must buy the product, install it and then find out that it doesn't work on the OS they say it works on. If there is a limit, it should be disclosed prior to buying.

@Ylian @scottalanmiller

It would be a nice feature of MC if when you have a computer selected (in other words you can see the General, Desktop, Terminal, Files, Events...) to have MC to notify you after you have rebooted it that the computer is back online again.

Not re-connect to the machine, but a notification only.

@RojoLoco said in How can we recover data from Hard Drives were on RAID 10 without controller?:

If you have a server with a hardware RAID controller, you might be able to connect all 4 and import the foreign configuration. We have done this on different Dell models when in a pinch (funny how those dev systems that didn't need to be backed up suddenly became mission critical to recover).

You should not try this with live drives. If you clone them first you can always try with the clones, but if you try with your live drives you may just kiss the data goodbye.

@openit said in How can we recover data from Hard Drives were on RAID 10 without controller?:

@scottalanmiller said in How can we recover data from Hard Drives were on RAID 10 without controller?:

@openit said in How can we recover data from Hard Drives were on RAID 10 without controller?:

Once I connected, how can I combine data from HDD 1 and HDD 2 as singe drive to get the data? with any software?

Only MD RAID. Make sure it is set to read only or you can EASILY hose the images.

How about using these tools on Windows? I would prefer graphical in this situation than Linux CLI.

http://www.freeraidrecovery.com/library/raid10-recovery.aspx

https://www.z-a-recovery.com/tutorials/raid-recovery.aspx

You can try it, but remember only on a CLONE of your drives.

AVImark has been discussed here before, but some may not know - AVImark is a Veterinary Software that was developed back in the 80's and hasn't changed much. It is a flat file database and is the #1 used software by veterinary clinics in the world.

From a client this morning. I'm not sure if I should laugh

"Hey Allen,

So far everything with the updated AVImark seems to be working fine, but
we did run into a little issue with one of the features of the updated
version. We used to be able to go into an existing reminder and change
the amount of months before it reminds again, and now you can't. Not
being allowed to to do this has forced us to make a new code for
distemper vaccines and in addition, a new reminder. AVImark logged in
and set up the new reminder, but then said they needed to do a global
apply which takes several hours and required access to the server.

When he found out that we have a virtual server he told me virtual
servers are NOT recommended with AVImark and that he could run the
global apply but there was a 40-50% change that we could lose the entire
server if something goes wrong. Because I am new to the virtual server I
confirmed that he knew we had a physical server in the hospital and that
we just access it by remote access. He said he understood and that yes
that was they type of virtual server he was referring to in regards to
not being recommended by AVImark.

I mentioned this was news to me and that we just did an entire new
install of AVImark and it was never mentioned that having a virtual
server would be an issue with AVImark. Of course his replay was he
doesn't know why they wouldn't have mentioned that, but it says right in
their hardware requirements that virtual servers are not recommended.

So, long story short I am bugging you again to get your thoughts on this
whole thing. It sounds a little silly to me, but my knowledge of virtual
servers is minimal at best. When he mentioned we could lose the whole
server I thought it best to get you involved."

So we all know that the tech is full of crap, but it's sad the tech didn't even take the time to read their hardware requirements.

You don't need a RAID card, in fact don't use one. There is a chance it will overwrite your data. Clone the drives, ONLY work on clones, never on patient drives.

UFS Explorer Professional
ReclaimMe Pro

Other than physically destroying unless you have data recovery equipment and edit the G list, no software will do the trick. It doesn't matter how many times you overwrite the data or what pattern you use.

G listed sectors will still contain data as the software will never wipe them because the software can't see sectors that are listed in the G list.

It will be a small amount of data still on the drive (depending on the # of sectors in the G list), but it's not really fully wiped unless you do this.

Also no need to drill holes. Just crush the 8 legged BIOS chip on any drive made in about the last 12 years and it's unrecoverable. Normally marked U12 on the board. If that chip isn't there, no one is getting any data.

Tronscript has some of this, I'm not exactly sure what it will/will not remove.

It annoys me so much that Candy Crush is actually part of Windows on a default install. Then add in Teams, etc...

A couple of things I ran into. You need to make sure that you switch to BIOS to UEFI or it won't recognize that there is anything to boot to.

And you have to choose something other than VIRTIO for the controller. Because it's likely that there aren't VIRTIO drivers installed you have to use something else.

You can't install drivers to a device you don't have so...

You can add a 2nd hard drive to the mix as VIRTIO to get Windows to ask for drivers, then you can shut down, trash the 2nd HD and make your main disk use the VIRTIO controller. Obviously use the VIRTIO drivers for the other unknown devices that pop up and you are good to go.

@Pete-S Called IOGear, their engineers say they don't really support DYMO. That's it's a 50/50 chance if it works or not.

Honestly best to avoid DYMO at all costs now that they make you ONLY use DYMO branded labels.

But that's another conversation completely.

@JaredBusch said in Is it legal? Windows 10 or 11 as a server:

@CCWTech said in Is it legal? Windows 10 or 11 as a server:

@Obsolesce Yeah, it's pretty clear to us. We shared a link to this post with the client so hopefully he sees this. We shared the same info with him but he keeps trying to interperet it in a way that supports his opinion, even though it's extreemly clearly written.

FFS this is not new. Tell your "client" that you will be happy to report them to Microsoft.

I put client in quotes because they are acting as their own IT. Why are they bothering to hire you.

Report them to the BSA
https://reporting.bsa.org/r/report/add.aspx?src=us&ln=en-us

BSA (from what I can see, doesn't cover Microsoft) but Microsoft has their direct reporting method.

But yes, he's become so toxic that we just can't deal with him as a 'client'. Way to many good clients out there to worry about instead of him.

Background: AVImark (Owned by Covetrus) is a software company that provides PIMS for vet clinics. Their software requires a Windows Server and Windows server licensing because it goes beyond just working as file sharing.

I got a message on FB Messenger (Unsolicited):

John: "Hi there! I run a small MSP in mid-Michigan that handles a few vet offices. I was wondering if I could pick your brain for a bit about some things? Heck, I'm willing to pay you for your time even.

The main thing right now is that two vets that we've taken over at are running old servers (one 2008R2 and one 2012R2). The 2008R2 one is a fairly small practice. One vet. 6 PCs. They use their server only for Avimark. And they are pretty "cost conscious" about things. Because of that, I'm thinking of just moving to a new box running Windows 10 (or 11) to act as the new Avimark server. Just curious your thoughts on running on Windows desktop instead of a full Windows Server install for such a small office running only Avimark?

Thanks!"

ME: "Hi John, I am happy to help.

It's illegal to use a desktop os for a server.

You can use a desktop pc, but you must use a server os"

JOHN: Hmmm... We may need to agree to disagree on this (as many experts do), but for the sake of argument....

First, even if it was a Terms of Service violation, that would not make it illegal. TOSs are considered civil matters. It is not "illegal" to violate one. So, no, it isn't illegal.

Second, I don't believe that it violates the Windows 10 TOS. And, again, this is very commonly discussed among experts. Windows 10/11 have a 20 device limit for connections. Clearly, MS had multiple PCs accessing it in mind. They even specifically address that Windows Desktop cannot be used as a WEB server because of the 20 connection limit and that each person connecting would be considered another connection. So, since they've made it clear that you can connect up to 20 devices to Desktop -- and said that you can't use IIS as a web server on it -- then that would pretty clearly imply that you CAN use it for server purposes under 20 users. It literally has file sharing built in.

Finally, the official Hardware Requirements for Avimark specifically mention using a Windows 10 PC (running Desktop Windows, not Server) as being acceptable for a smaller office. So are you suggesting that Avimark's own Hardware Requirements recommend an illegal act?

Again, I don't mean that harshly. But this sort of thing is commonly discussion among IT professionals -- and the general consensus is that for situations with under 20 concurrent connections from different devices, the Windows license actually DOES allow this.

Note that software like Quickbooks also runs exactly like this. It is normally installed to a Workstation and shared from there. Very normal in small businesses."

This comes up so often I thought I would do a video on it. It's not a SAM quality video but it was just so bizarre to me.

Youtube Video

Proxmox 8.2 is available. Some really cool new features:

1. EXSI import (how timely!)
2. Automated installation
3. Firewall enhancements
4. Backup performance configuration and more...

Youtube Video

Tagging @scottalanmiller

I'm interested in how other MSP's calculate how to bill clients.

We currently are billing 25/computer/month and 65/server/month (if virtualized we don't count the 1st VM just hosting the hyper-v role).

Initially for remote support we gave clients an allotted hours per month based on the amount of computers/servers they had and billed anything over that. We found that almost all clinics never went over what we allocated.

Then we decided to go unlimited remote for all clients as the cost of keeping track of what they used was overwhelming.

We charge for all time on-site, or any special projects that are out of ordinary help desk support.

We have some clients call fairly often and some that are on our MSP plan that never seem to call us.

I am trying to figure out what others do in order to evaluate our method.

What do you do?

Thanks in Advance,

Allen

i didn't even touch a PC on Christmas... It was soooooo nice to have a break...

From what I have read UT is open from LAN to WAN by default. So I believe so.