Cisco ASA 5500 Series 8.2 Software Release

Cisco has some new code in the works for the ASA 5500 series.  Check out the new features here.

It wasn’t posted for download as of a few minutes ago.  Keep checking…

Exchange 2007 Certification Path

After obtaining the Cisco Certified Voice Professional (CCVP) certification back in February, I decided I needed a break from studying Cisco material for a couple months.  I’ve been working with Exchange 2007 more and more over the last year, mostly migrations from Exchange 2003.  I figured an Exchange 2007 cert would be a good thing to add to my resume, not to mention I’ll no doubt learn some things in the process.

Microsoft offers two certification levels for Exchange 2007.

The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) Exchange 2007 requires one exam (70-236).  The exam material covers topics related to install and configuration, server roles, clustering, monitoring, the exchange management shell, and disaster recovery.

The Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional (MCITP) Exchange 2007 requires two additional exams (70-237, 70-238).  These exams cover material related to larger enterprise level design and deployment.

For now I’m focusing on the MCTS certification. I picked up two books, Microsoft Press Exchange 2007 Administrator’s Companion and the Sybex MCITP Exchange 2007 Messaging Design and Deployment Study Guide, the latter of which I found on eBay for $3.99!  In addition, Microsoft has a Second Shot promotion where you can retake a failed exam.  I started studying back in March and attempted the 70-236 exam after two weeks of reading over the material.  I missed passing by 38 points, bummer.  Well, at least now I know what areas I need to focus on.

I have a lab set up consisting of a DC and two Exchange 2007 VM’s running on my home ESX server.  I’ve been reviewing clustering, various powershell commands, client access, and permissions all of which were areas where I struggled on my first attempt.  I’m scheduling another attempt for late this week or early next week.

Transfering the Schema Master FSMO role

On occasion, it may become necessary to move active directory FSMO roles to different servers, such as when decommissioning an old domain controller or adding new DC’s to your forest.

Of all of the FSMO roles (RID, PDC Emulator, Infrastructure Master, Domain Naming Master, and Schema Master) the procedure for moving the schema master is the one I have the hardest time remembering.

Server Configuration

Open a command prompt on the target DC that you will be transferring the schema master role to.

Enter regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll.  This registers the schema management dll so you can open it in MMC..

Next, open MMC, go to Add/Remove snap-in, click Add, select Active Directory Schema, click Add, then click Close and then Ok.

Verify the snap-in is pointed to the DC that you will be transferring the schema master role to.

Right-click on Active Directory Schema, select Change Domain Controller, select Specify Name and enter the name of the target DC in the dialog box. Click Ok.

Now, we’re ready to transfer the role.  Right-click on Active Directory Schema, then select Operations Master.

In the Change Schema Master dialog box, verify the FQDN in the lower dialog box corresponds to the name of the target DC.  Click Change, then click Ok to verify the change.

Check your Directory Service event log for event ID 1458 verifying the successful change.