Right Click, select offline. Then remove it on the VM host.

Was it the last IT guy's fault? You can be the judge.

When I first started with my current company, I was suppose to meet the last IT guy so he can show me things, it never happened, he never showed up! After a day and a half of waiting, my boss gave me the last IT guy's credential and I logged into the IT computer, I found he had his google account logged in, I can see his "google hangouts" buddies, I can see his gmails, I can see he was chatting real time with his buddies and when he was going to start playing games with them. I reported the finding to my boss and let it be. When I looked for documents, they were 7 months behind, just so happen the last IT guy was here 7 months.

During the first week, three physical servers froze, two were DC servers. During the second week, virtual email server ran out of disk space, I had to come in on a Saturday to fix it. Even though the email server is a virtual server, I found the email data volume is spanned across three drives. I think my heart skipped a beat or 10. I had to add another drives to the spanned volume just to get the email server working. I fixed the spanned volume the week after, by enlarging the main drive, defragging the volume and removing the additional drives.

VMware vSphere Essentials Plus Kit, (over $5,000) was purchased, yet, the company servers are only setup to use VMware vSphere Essentials Kits (slightly over $500) worth of functions (backup API and vCenter). Company could have chosen HyperV and saved over $5,000 and will not make a difference in daily operations! Only two ESXi virtual server were setup. vCenter was also installed on a physical server running windows server, I replace it with a vCenter appliance running on one of the the ESXi host and saved a server license.

In the third week, I proposed and got approval to buy a few used HP DL380G6 and use them as virtual server host, buy more RAM, and new 2TB harddrives to refresh the current virtual host servers as well as converting all physical servers to virtual. DL380G6 was $50 each, RAM and harddrives were the main expense, total was maybe $5,000. A week or two after I have got three HP DL380G6 servers with new harddrives and RAM hosting the virtual servers and running happily and couple spare HP DL380G6 shells/RAM/harddrives for DR.

At one point of time, the physical windows file server was running out of space, but instead of buying more harddrives for the server, a decision was made to buy QNAP NAS, set to RAID 5, established an iSCSI connection to the server, then the server shared out the files. Result was a unstable file server that would forget permission of files when the server is restarted. There was an old HP server on the IT desk, the document left behind by two IT guy ago said this would make a good file server, but he didn't think he has time to setup up the server. During the first week there, I plug the kvm and power to that server, server will not even boot!!

Two months in, the physical windows file server finally crashed. File system was in a read only mode and would not allow any write until the CHKDSK was done. I saw this as an opportunity to get rid of the physical server and QNAP at the same time. I gave my boss two options: I can attempt to repair the current physical file server or I can spend time and energy to build a new virtual file server and then copy everything over. Boss chose the latter and I had the new virtual server up and sharing its files by the next morning. I set it up so quickly, I wondered why the two IT guy ago even bother to write the document stating he didn't have the time.

So, by the start of the third month, I had all virtual servers on fresh harddrives running RAID10, I have three virtual hosts and no other physical servers, I had cold server shells with RAM and harddrives for DR, no more QNAP running RAID5, plenty of disk space for all the virtual servers, all virtual servers were backed up, no more frozen servers since the virtual conversion and I can sleep better.

I found and bought an old iJuke jukebox by Crosley. I liked the design and price was good so I bought it. All functions worked as designed, but I wanted more than the outdated iPod/iPhone connection and an AUX in.

My original plan was just to put a car stereo head-unit in the box and upgrade the power supply but during my research, I came across MP3 decoders that accept USB/micros SD card and play MP3 and FM radio. They are small in size and cheap! So I thought, why not buy one and give it a try. The decoder uses 5 volt, same as the iPod/iPhone connection, the same connection also provided ground/right speaker/left speaker. I made brackets to mount the decoder, soldered all 10 wires to their counter part, and also kept the remote receptor and soldered the 3 wires to it so I can keep the remote to control volume.

I plugged the finished product in and it worked! I gave an old jukebox a new life.

Next step will be putting in an Arduino Uno to control the flashing LEDs.

Youtube Video

Next thing you know, water must be bad for you because 100% of the people that drinks water dies.

Pinging from a server that connects to a 24 port rack mount switch, then to a pair of wireless bridge, then to a 8 port rack mount switch.

Switch maker said the ping delay from switch is not a issue with the switch, as long as the switch can pass traffic fine. I tend to disagree.

Pinging 192.168.1.33 with 32 bytes of data:

Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=245ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=230ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=223ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=214ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=201ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=191ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=187ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=176ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=164ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=147ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=150ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=139ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=126ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=128ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=121ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=120ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=109ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=98ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=100ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=100ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=90ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=80ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=67ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=57ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=38ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=25ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=15ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=19ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=23ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=8ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=12ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=421ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=410ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=398ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=400ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=391ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=380ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=381ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=372ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=373ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=372ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=361ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=364ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=354ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=343ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=334ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=324ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=312ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=305ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=302ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=304ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=294ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=285ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=274ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=276ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=271ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=266ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=255ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=242ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=231ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=232ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=220ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=203ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=204ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=206ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=208ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=205ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=212ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=198ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=192ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=181ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=182ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=173ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=159ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=162ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=156ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=156ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=158ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=158ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=160ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=157ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=149ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=150ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=152ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=154ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=150ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=139ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=128ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=130ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=126ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=127ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=122ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=110ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=97ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=98ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=107ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=100ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=104ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=92ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=93ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=81ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=69ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=66ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=64ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=60ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=67ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=52ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=47ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=48ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=52ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=44ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=32ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=21ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=11ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=6ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=5ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=434ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=433ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=423ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=421ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=415ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=402ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=402ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=391ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=389ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=373ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=374ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=377ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=367ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=358ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=348ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=348ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=355ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=353ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=357ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=352ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=352ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=353ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=351ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=341ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=343ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=333ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=325ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=329ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=319ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=322ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=313ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=298ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=302ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=297ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=284ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=273ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=267ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=260ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=249ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=239ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=231ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=230ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=217ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=222ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=212ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=216ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=205ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=194ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=193ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=192ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.33: bytes=32 time=186ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.33:
Packets: Sent = 89683, Received = 89608, Lost = 75 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 2ms, Maximum = 2280ms, Average = 94ms

In this separate test, I had a laptop plug directly to a 26 port rack mount switch, ping gets drop but switch maker said the switch is working in their environment.

Tried 3 different cables, 3 different port on switch same result.

In this separate test, nothing else is plug into the 8 port rack mount switch other than the laptop, switch was even reset to factory default, and I got this response. It goes to a cycle of 1ms then back up to ~400ms than back to 1ms and repeat.

I'd call Synology and see what they say.

New or used?

New, whatever with the best warranty that you don't have to support it.

Used, Business laptop with good battery life.

The conclusion was to abandon Site A's DC1. Make Site B's DC2 a primary DC and seize the FSMO since I screwed up by changing permission, screwed up even more by taking out DC1 and restore it from a VM image backup and MS couldn't help.

Then, I talked to my old boss and an idea came to me, "What if I just call MS for help with Exchange and nothing else." So I spent just over 3 hours on the phone with the support guy from India, Neel Kamal Sharma Engineer -Microsoft Enterprise Communication Support. He was VERY knowledgeable about Exchange. Then we found out the Exchange 2010 we have is only a SP2, which is not supported by MS. He upgrade it to SP3, which took over 90 minutes, then he reconnected the lost mailboxes, set the permissions, and Exchange was running fully again. I restored what I can from GFI archiver so minimal lost on emails.

Though this incident, I learned

1. All our VM guest servers are backed thru Barracuda, which takes snap shot then backup the server. Great for an application server. It does NOT work for DC because once you restore the DC, the GUID changes, and AD on that DC will be broken.

2. Our way of backing up Exchange created logs that continue to take up storage space since the backup does not delete the logs.

3. Hosting internal Exchange can be very dangerous thing, since one wrong permission change can wipe out your entire mailboxes.

and many other things.

I still got a few things I need to fix, but at least email is working now.

Then, I will be proposing some new recommendations to management from what I learn.
Thanks for all those who helped.

@Dashrender

On the first call, I was trying to get the Active Directory permission restored from the VM image base backup, then I though I can bring the restored exchange back online. It is just not possible. I tried it, and AD failed immediately with just the restored DC1 being on. It's not the tech's fault for my screw ups.

Second call was to only focusing on Exchange Server, and that ended well.

Return it to the seller and get your money back.
That is the only logical thing to do at this point.

Have you patched your Exchange yet?

https://krebsonsecurity.com/2021/03/at-least-30000-u-s-organizations-newly-hacked-via-holes-in-microsofts-email-software/

@biggen said in What do you use for petabyte storage?:

An Isilon for surveillance cold storage?! I need to work for a company like this that wastes cash like its toilet paper.

It's our tax money at work.

Just like how the last Stimulus bill is 5,593 pages long.

@scottalanmiller said in What do you use for petabyte storage?:

@Harry-Lui said in What do you use for petabyte storage?:

Having a zoom chat scheduled with Dell regarding to Isilon.

I can make this quick: They will recommend it.

I hope they do. And I hope they quote me in the billion so I don't have to be involve with this project.

Having a zoom chat scheduled with Dell regarding to Isilon.
I know, it's meant for high criticality, high performance, always online workloads at crazy high cost. It ain't my choice.

@JaredBusch

Government directive. Put a non IT person in charge of an IT department and this is what happens.

Do you have any recommendation for tape storage device?

Thanks.

A company is wanted 3 years of footage of NVR and I calculated they needed about 1.5PB of storage.
I see Dell EMC has a Isilon Scale-Out NAS Storage line that looks nice.
What devices do you use?

Simple fix is to replace Edge icon with IE icon and make IE default.

Posted.

SAM, can I just copy and paste your comments on their youtube page?