Asterisk – VOIP Server on FedoraCore
Please check sure you install no pre-configured options. Once installed :
Logon as Root
Mount the CDROM
mkdir /mnt/cdrom
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
YUM Installation :
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/rpm-python-4.4.2-32.i386.rpm
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/python-elementtree-1.2.6-5.i386.rpm
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/python-sqlite-1.1.7-1.2.1.i386.rpm
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/python-urlgrabber-2.9.9-2.noarch.rpm
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/yum-metadata-parser-1.0-8.fc6.i386.rpm
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/yum-3.0-6.noarch.rpm
Kernel Sources Installation :
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/kernel-devel-2.6.18-1.2798.fc6.i686.rpm
ln -s /usr/src/kernels/2.6.18-1.2798.fc6-i686/ /usr/src/linux
Compiler Installation :
yum install gcc ncurses-devel openssl-devel gcc-c++ gnutls-devel make -y
WGET Installation :
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/wget-1.10.2-7.i386.rpm
SSH Installation :
yum install openssh openssh-clients openssh-server -y
Start SSH Daemon :
/etc/init.d/sshd start
VSFTP Installation :
yum install vsftpd -y
VSFTP Daemon Start on Boot :
/etc/init.d/vsftpd start
chkconfig vsftpd on
Source files in /usr/src/
Via CDROM
cd /
umount /dev/cdrom
Change CD :
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
cp /mnt/cdrom/* /usr/src/ -R
rpm -i /mnt/cdrom/Fedora/RPMS/lsof-4.78-3.i386.rpm
cd /
kill -9 `lsof -t /dev/cdrom`
umount /dev/cdrom
rpm -e lsof
Open Linux Conifugration : vi /etc/selinux/config
change SELINUX=enforcing to SELINUX=disabled
vi /etc/vsftpd/user_list
remove root from the list
vi /etc/vsftpd/ftpusers
Please make sure you remove root and Reboot
Login to to through FTP
wget http://ftp.digium.com/pub/zaptel/releases/zaptel-1.2.16.tar.gz
wget http://ftp.digium.com/pub/libpri/releases/libpri-1.2.4.tar.gz
wget http://ftp.digium.com/pub/asterisk/releases/asterisk-1.2.17.tar.gz
wget http://ftp.digium.com/pub/asterisk/releases/asterisk-sounds-1.2.1.tar.gz
wget ftp://rpmfind.net/linux/SuSE-Linux/i386/update/9.3/rpm/i586/madplay-0.15.2b-32.i586.rpm
wget http://ftp.freshrpms.net/pub/freshrpms/fedora/linux/6/libmad/libmad-0.15.1b-4.fc6.i386.rpm
Madplay Installation
yum install libid3tag -y
rpm -i /usr/src/libmad-0.15.1b-4.fc6.i386.rpm
rpm -i /usr/src/madplay-0.15.2b-32.i586.rpm
MPG123 Installation
Install MPG123 (MOH)
cd /usr/src/mpg123-0.65/
./configure
make
make install
ln -s /usr/local/bin/mpg123 /usr/bin/mpg123
Zaptel Installation
Here, please make sure /li’b/modules/2.6.18-1.2798.fc6-i686/build and /usr/src/2.6.18-1.2798.fc6-i686/ are linked.
cd /usr/src/zaptel-1.2.16/
make clean
make
make install
make install-udev
make config
Change Code 2,16,19 to 2,6,18
#if LINUX_VERSION_CODE < KERNEL_VERSION(2,6,19) to
#if LINUX_VERSION_CODE < KERNEL_VERSION(2,6,18)
vi /usr/src/zaptel-1.2.16/xpp/xbus-core.c
Start Zaptel :
/ect/init.d/zaptel start
LibPRI Installation :
cd /usr/src/libpri-1.2.4/
make clean
make
make install
Asterisk Installation :
cd /usr/src/asterisk-1.2.17/
make clean
make
make install
make samples
make config
Asterisk Sound Pack Installation
cd /usr/src/asterisk-sounds/
make install
mkdir /tftpboot
useradd usr
passwd usr
1234 enter
1234 enter
vi /etc/passwd
vi /etc/vsftpd/vsftpd.conf
change the following:
chroot_list_enable=YES
userlist_enable=YES
userlist_deny=NO
vi /etc/vsftpd/chroot_list
In the file : vi /etc/vsftpd/user_list, add “usr” and remove all through Text Editor
cd /tftpboot/
chown usrprovis /tftpboot/
chmod u-w . (note the period)
mkdir contacts
mkdir log
mkdir overrides
chown usrprovis log
chgrp usrprovis log
chown usrprovis contacts
chgrp usrprovis contacts
chown usrprovis overrides
chgrp usrprovis overrides
Firewall should be turned :
chkconfig iptables off
In order to check the services : chkconfig –list
Root SSH should be disabled and creation of account with permissions.
Edit sshd config and remove # PermiRootLogin and change yes to no. : vi /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Perl Module
Install Perl – Makefile.PL
wget through any website for Perl
perl Makefile.PL
DHCP Installation :
yum install dhclient -y
Troubleshooting tools Installation :
yum install yum install iftop -y
Configuration : Realtime DEP :
yum install mysql mysql-server mysql-devel
Add-on Compile :
./configure –with-mysqlclient=/usr
Asterisk – VOIP Server Installation on Linux – centOS
Prior to installation, you need to make sure all packages up-to-date. Run yum-y update. In case, any Kernel files were updated, the server will require reboot of the server. Now, you will need to download pre-requisites or essentials of Asterisk :
gcc
kernel-devel
bison
openssl-devel
doxygen #
In case you have a Dual Core Processor Server, Kernel-smp-devel is required through
apt-get update
apt-get install gcc kernel-devel bison openssl-devel
Or through yum
yum -y update
yum install gcc kernel-devel bison openssl-devel
Donwnload the latest version through asterisk website to /usr/src
In case you are using PRI cards, you need to the following :
wget http://ftp.digium.com/pub/libpri/releases/libpri-<version>.tar.gz
Untar the files :
tar -zxf zaptel-<version>.tar.gz
tar -zxf asterisk-<version>.tar.gz
tar -zxf libpri-<version>.tar.gz
Installation of Zaptel :
cd /usr/src/zaptel
make clean
make
make install
Restart Zaptel Service
Installation of LIBRI :
In case you are using E1 Cards, install LIBRI :
cd /usr/src/libpri
make clean
make
make install
Asterisk Installation :
cd /usr/src/asterisk
make mpg123 #
make clean
make
make install
If kernel is used, edit spinlock.h or Zaptel will not compile :
vi /usr/src/kernels/2.6.9-34.EL-x86_64/include/linux/spinlock.h
In Text Editor : define DEFINE_RWLOCK(x) rw_lock_t x = RW_LOCK_UNLOCKED
and change to define DEFINE_RWLOCK(x) rwlock_t x = RW_LOCK_UNLOCKED
MSMQ Independent Client Installation on a Cluster SQL Server 7.0
- MS DTC and it’s DLL should be removed
- MS Message Queuing Installation
- MS DTC Upgration
Message Queuing Installation and Cluster Setup with SQL Server 7.0 and Message Queuing :
- SQL Server and SQL Server Agent should be stopped
- Run Command : msdtc -remove on Server1
- Run Command : msdtc -remove on Server2
- Remove MS DTC reource in Cluster Resource Group
- Locate and remove : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\MSDTC
- On each node, delete files in \%windir%\System32 folder :
- Adme.dll
- Dtcadmc.dll
- Dtccfg.cpl
- Dtccm.dll
- Dtctrace.dll
- Dtctrace.exe
- Dtcuic.dll
- Dtcuis.dll
- Dtcutil.dll
- Dtcxatm.dll
- Dtcsetup.exe
- Msdtc.dll
- Msdtc.exe
- Msdtcprx.dll
- Msdtctm.dll
- Msdtcw.exe
- Reboot Nodes
MS Message Queuing Installation :
- Move SQL Server group that containts MS DTC and Message Queuing to Servers.
- Move all to Server2
- Message Queuing Routing Server Installation on Server1
- Run Setup.exe which is located in \Msmq\Msmq\Server folder on MS Windows NT Server 4.0 Ent. Edition Component CD
- It will run until 0×424 error for MS DTC is reported.
- Click Ok
- While Installation, Click Customer and clear installation share and then click Route Server. When Primary Site Controller is prompted, type PSC name
- In IP Address list, click IP with group, this is required that Message Queuing that is used to communicate with other Message Queuing.
- In Connected Network drop-down, click connected network and Continue.
- When Error is seen, Click Ok
- Click Yes to continue when it shows MS DTC cannot start.
- At prompt of MSMQ installation, Click Ok
- Start Cluster Administrator, open Properties of MS DTC resource
- On Advanced, click clear Affect group and apply
- It will be seen that MS DTC service will be offline
- Move resource group to Server2 and other resource to Server1
- Message Queuing should be offline
- Run Message Queuing Setup on Server2.
MS DTC Upgration :
- Move resource group back to Server1
- Run Dtcsetup.exe from SQL Server 7.0 CD – \x86\Other on Server1
- Run Dtcsetup.exe on Server2 and click Ok on Server1
- In Cluster Administrator, Right-click MS DTC resource, click Dependencies.
- Add SQL Servers to the list.
- MS DTC and Message Queuing should be Online
- All resource should be on node and Windows NT 4.0 SP4 should be applied
- Server1 should be Restarted now and all resources should be moved
- Apply Windows NT 4.0 SP4 to Server1 and Restart Node
Normally the errors occur when upgrade is done on a backup domain controller or restrictions of creation of local groups. When extending a site, extensions create admin group and automatically adds user accounts to administer site. In this case, server doesn’t allow creation of local groups and hence error message is seen. Prvent Frontpage Server Extensions from creation and use of local groups to acces websites.
Following steps need to be implemented :
- One Windows Start Menu, Click on Run
- In Open Box, type Regedt32.exe and click OK
- Select subkey : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Web Server Extensions\All Ports
- On Edit Menu, Click Add Value
- In Value, type NoMachineGroups in Data Type box type REG_SZ
- Click on Ok
- In String Dialog box, type 1 and click Ok
- In Registry menu, Click Exit
How to protect your emails from Viruses in Outlook express ?
With Outlook Express 6, internet zone is restricted and enables only active contents to run. For customization in IE Security Zone :
- Open Outlook Express
- Click on Tools Meno – Options
- Click Security Tab and then Click Restricted Zone
- Click Ok to close options dialog box
- Start IE, click on Interner Options and click on Security
- Click Custom Level and apply the changes.
Reading messaged in Plain Text :
- In SP1, configure Outlook express to read emails in plain Text Format
- Start Outlook Express
- Click on Tools and Options
- Click Read tab and select Read all messages in plain text
- Click on Ok
Prvention of programs from sending emails without Approval :
In this case, if Outlook Express is set as mail handler, it will process requests by using Simple MAPI calls. This function is used by Virus and send copies of email mesages that will contain virus to your email contacts. In case Of Outlook Express 6, email’s are prevented from sending without approval.
IE Unsafe list to filter Email attachments :
- Start Outlook Express, click on Options
- Click Security Tabs and select “Do not allow attachments”
In Outlook Express 6, it checks for unsafe attachments and only if it’s safe, it will download / open with the email messages.
Add additional files to remove from Unsafe list :
- Click on Start
- Then click on Control Panel
- Double-click Folder Options
- Select File Type to be allowed or blocked and then clicked on Advanced.
- In order to add new, click on New – In Create New Extension dialog box, file extension should be typed and added to unsafe list.
- Click on OK
Microsoft Silverlight is a programmable web browser plugin. It enables many features such as vector graphics, animation, and audio-video playback all these applications are rich internet applications. Version 2.0 of Microsoft Silverlight was released in October 2008. It got some additional interactive features and support for .NET languages and development tools. It is compatible with many web browsers used on Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. Symbian phones and Windows Mobile 6 will also be supported. New third party free software named Moonlight is under development. Once released it will bring compatible functionality to GNU/Linux.
Similar to Windows Presentation Foundation Silverlight provides retained mode graphics system. It also integrates graphics, multimedia, interactivity and animations into a single runtime environment. Silverlight is designed to work in conjunction with XAML and is scriptable with JavaScript. XAML is used for marking up the vector graphics and animations. If you create textual content using Silverlight, it’s searched and indexed by search engines. The textual content is not compiled, but represented as text (XAML). Windows Sidebar gadgets for Windows Vista can also be created using Silverlight.
Playback of media files like WMA, MP3 and WMV is also supported by Silverlight across all the supported browsers. For the playback Silverlight doesn’t need Windows Media Player ActiveX control or Windows Media browser plugins. Windows Media Video 9 is an implementation of the SMPTE VC-1 standard; Silverlight supports VC-1 only in ASF container format. Adding to that the software license agreement says VC-1 is only licensed for the “personal and non-commercial use of a consumer”. Silverlight doesn’t provide support for H.264 video. With Silverlight it possible to dynamically load XML content that can be manipulated through a DOM interface. This technique is consistent with conventional Ajax techniques. A Downloader object which can be used to download content, like scripts, media assets or other data as per the requirements of the application is also installed in the Silverlight.
Silverlight applications can be written in any of the .NET programming languages. Therefore any development tools that can be used .NET languages can work with Silverlight. For this process development tools have to target Silverlight CoreCLR instead of .NET framework CLR. Microsoft Expression Blend version 2.0 and 2.5 are assigned the job of designing the UI of Silverlight 1.0 and 2, by Microsoft. To develop and debug Silverlight applications Visual Studios 2008 can be used. For creating Silverlight projects and allowing compiler to target CoreCLR, Visual Studio 2008 requires the Silverlight Tools for Visual Studio.
A Silverlight project consists of the Silverlight.js files and CreateSIlverlight.js files which initialize the Silverlight plugin for use in, a XAML file for the UI, HTML pages and code-behind files for the application code. Just like ASP.NET applications Silverlight applications are debugged. Visual Studio’s CLR Remote Cross Platform Debugging feature can be used Silverlight applications running on a platform as well. Eclipse was added as a development tool with Silverlight 2.0.
SQLAgentReaderRole can solve the problems of giving rights to the users for administration of SQL Agent jobs. It is located in MSSQL Database and is a Database role. With the help of this it is possible to assign the user the permissions to see any SQL Agent job in the database server. However, this can also create some problems as the users will be able to see the jobs which are owned by other users. It is also possible for the users to check the history of the job. But the group of users will not be able to execute the job and you will have to add the user to SQLAgentReaderRole as a member. Follow the steps given below to do so :
Enter the following commands
use msdb
EXECUTE sp_addrolemember
@rolename = ‘SQLAgentReaderRole’,
@membername = ‘username’
There are 2 more SQL Agents role which are available in SQL Server 2005.
1) SQLAgentUserRole – This will allow the users to manage the jobs after they have created the job.
2) SQLAgentOperatorRole – The permissions assigned to SQLAgentUserRole are also assigned to SQLAgentOperatorRole. However, SQLAgentOperatorRole also provides permissions to the users to start the local jobs that they do not own.
Custom Code for viewing jobs
If you do not want to assign SQLAgentReaderRole then you have an option. Even if you do not have SQL server 2005 then too you do not have to worry as there is an option. Below is the listing of jobs on the system with the custom system and also the details of the specific jobs. You can assign permissions to the users to view the jobs on the system according to you after you have created the procedure given below.
use master
go
CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[sp_ViewJobListing]
(
@JobName VARCHAR(255)=NULL
)
AS
BEGIN
IF OBJECT_ID(‘tempdb..#Results’)>0
DROP TABLE #Results
CREATE TABLE #Results
(
job_id UNIQUEIDENTIFIER NOT NULL,
last_run_date INT NOT NULL,
last_run_time INT NOT NULL,
next_run_date INT NOT NULL,
next_run_time INT NOT NULL,
next_run_schedule_id INT NOT NULL,
requested_to_run INT NOT NULL,
request_source INT NOT NULL,
request_source_id SYSNAME COLLATE DATABASE_DEFAULT NULL,
running INT NOT NULL,
current_step INT NOT NULL,
current_retry_attempt INT NOT NULL,
job_state INT NOT NULL
)
DECLARE @JobID VARCHAR(100)
SELECT TOP 1 @JobID = job_ID FROM msdb.dbo.sysjobs
INSERT INTO #Results
EXECUTE master.dbo.xp_sqlagent_enum_jobs 1, @JobID
SELECT
s.Name,
CASE WHEN s.enabled = 0 THEN ‘No’ ELSE ‘Yes’ END AS Enabled,
CASE WHEN next_run_date > 0 THEN ‘Yes’ ELSE ‘No’ END AS Scheduled,
sc.name AS Category,
current_step AS CurrentExecutionStep,
last_run_date,
next_run_date,
CASE WHEN xp.running = 0 THEN ‘Not Running’ ELSE ‘Executing…’ END AS Status,
ISNULL((
SELECT CASE WHEN run_status = 1 THEN ‘Succeeded’ WHEN run_status = 3 THEN ‘Cancelled’ WHEN run_status = 0 THEN ‘Failed’ WHEN run_status IS NULL THEN ‘Unknown’ END AS LastRunStatus
FROM
msdb..sysjobhistory sho
WHERE
sho.job_id = xp.job_id AND
sho.instance_id =
(
SELECT MAX(instance_id)
FROM msdb..sysjobhistory sj (NOLOCK)
WHERE sj.job_id = sho.job_id
)
) ,’Unknown’) AS LastRunStatus
FROM #Results xp
INNER JOIN msdb..sysjobs s on xp.job_id = s.job_id
INNER JOIN msdb..syscategories sc on s.category_id = sc.category_id
WHERE
s.Name = ISNULL(@JobName, s.Name)
ORDER BY s.Name
IF @JobName IS NOT NULL
BEGIN
CREATE TABLE #JobHistory
(
StepID INT,
StepName SYSNAME,
Message NVARCHAR(1024),
RunStatus INT,
RunDate INT,
RunTime INT,
RunDuration INT,
operator_emailed NVARCHAR(20),
operator_netsent NVARCHAR(20),
operator_paged NVARCHAR(20)
)
INSERT INTO #JobHistory
SELECT
sjh.step_id,
sjh.step_name,
sjh.message,
sjh.run_status,
sjh.run_date,
sjh.run_time,
sjh.run_duration,
operator_emailed = so1.name,
operator_netsent = so2.name,
operator_paged = so3.name
FROM
msdb.dbo.sysjobhistory sjh
JOIN msdb.dbo.sysjobs sjj ON sjh.job_id = sjj.job_id
LEFT OUTER JOIN msdb.dbo.sysoperators so1 ON (sjh.operator_id_emailed = so1.id)
LEFT OUTER JOIN msdb.dbo.sysoperators so2 ON (sjh.operator_id_netsent = so2.id)
LEFT OUTER JOIN msdb.dbo.sysoperators so3 ON (sjh.operator_id_paged = so3.id),
msdb.dbo.sysjobs sj
WHERE
sjj.Name = @JobName and
(sj.job_id = sjh.job_id)
SELECT
StepID, StepName, Message, RunDate AS LastRunTime,
CASE RunStatus
WHEN 0 THEN ‘Failed’
WHEN 1 THEN ‘Succeeded’
WHEN 2 THEN ‘Retry (step only)’
WHEN 3 THEN ‘Canceled’
WHEN 4 THEN ‘In-progress message’
WHEN 5 THEN ‘Unknown’
END AS RunStatus
FROM #JobHistory
ORDER BY LastRunTime DESC, StepID ASC
END
END
GO
EXECUTE sp_ms_marksystemobject ’sp_ViewJobListing’
Please note :
Make sure that you do not assign permissions to the users without being sure that you are assigning these permissions to the right one. As these permissions allow the user to to see the SQL Agent jobs on the database server and this can create problems for you if you assign these permissions to a wrong user.
Also, try not to give permissions for a user to check the job of the other user on the database server which can redure the risk of any problems in future.
Coldfusion dedicated web Servers are those which specifically host Coldfusion on dedicated web servers. It is easy process to create Internet applications. It also integrates with different environments and applications for users. ColdFusion Markup Language (CFML) is tag-based language that are utilized bv Coldfusion application developers. It is very easy to learn CFML to handle applications have more requirements. It basically uses a syntax which more or less resembles HTML and XML and which suit to applications of programmings that use markup languages. It easy use syntax makes a developers work a lot easier. It can also be customized with custom tags, components, functions and integrates with JAVA, .NET, SOAP Web services.
Coldfusion is basically designed for developers who build dynamic websites and internet applications. It is a new beginning from the basic HTML page design and development. Features such as debugging, XML processing, Java and .NET integration, web services are ideal for developers for developing complex web applications.
Coldufusion have basic text files and easily be edited with any test editor. It is build for designers and developers and include all the features required for developers. Infact, many developers use Coldfusion with Adobe Flex development framework to create powerful internet applications.
Adobe Flex builder software is Eclipse based IDE for developments of RIAs combining various desktop applications with different platforms. It builds easily and also integrates with Adobe Coldfusion 8 for FML or Coldfusion Markup Language. Coldfusion 8 has code debggin extensions for Flex builder which makes the development even more easier. Various Training and documentations are provided online for Coldfusion which will definitely get you out from the basic HTML development.
Coldfusion MX versions – 6.0, 6.1 and 7 applications can easily upgrade to Coldfusion 8. Applications that run on ColdFusion 5 can also be migrated to ColdFusion 8. Following is the current pricing of Coldfusion 8 :
Coldfusion Standard edition : $1299.00USD / 2 CPU’s
Coldfusion Enterprise edition : $7499.00USD / 2 CPU’s
Coldfusion Developer Edition – Free!
Coldfusion 8 Enterprise Edition can easily serve multiple websites and applications on more than one server. It can also run on J2EE application servers whereas Coldfusion 8 Standard Edition is a solution that delivers applications on a single server. If you have noticed, the license is based upon the no. of CPU’s that currently run and is done in 2-CPU’s bases. Both of the editions allow software installation with one or two CPU’s. If additional CPU’s are added, then it will definitelt require additional licenses. Multi-code chips are single processors that are calculated for pricing of the licenses. Coldfusion 8 is currently available in English and Japanese Version.
Coldfusion 8 runtime environment is Java applications that takes advatanges of powerful services in J2EE platform to connect to databases, security managements and request of applications. Enterprise Edition is installed in J2EE configuration on Java application web server. Coldfusion 8 supports the following JEE Servers :
- IBM WebSphere
- BEA Weblogic
- Oracle
- Macromedia Jrun
- JBoss
It supports major databases including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase etc. and suppoer web servers such as Apache Web Server, IIS. Operating Systems that are supported are Windows, Linux, IMB and MacOS.
Coldfusion Developer Edition and Enterprise Edition – 64 bit applications can run the following Operating Systems :
- Windows Server 2003
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
- RedHat Enterprise Linux 4.x and 5
- Suse Linux
Coldsution 32-bit cannot be upgraded to 64-bit. It will need to be uninstalled through 64-bit installer. It is always advisable to have 64-bit machines rather than 32 bit machines. With 32-bit, 4GB RAM can be accomodated and 64-bit can accomodate 16GB RAM.
Coldfusion are supported on all BODHost Dedicated Web Servers.
what is Microsoft sharepoint server ?
Windows Sharepoint Server / Services creates websites sharing information between organisations that allow increasing benefits to the company and productivity. It is also a component of Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008. It is basically a platform development of various applications and sharing information. It also includes web-based conferences which locate and distribute information and connect with others. It is important to deploy the operations of Windows Sharepoint Services.
Features such as deployment options that enable administrators to collaberate within organization. It’s cost effective for organizations and development of hosting services that connect customers and other related to the operations or infrastructure. It’s highly scalable and it’s easier to work together on documents, contacts and informations that need to be shared.
It is flexible in deployment. It is based upon ASP.NET components and can easily be configured by administrators and users. It allows to share communications between team staff and allows checks through each document shared between different Windows Server users. It can also communicate through Instant messaging which is an added advantage over email. Site contents can easily be personalized by each user. Microsoft Office utilizes Sharepoint site content and can easily be edited where it’s shared. It also allows editing of pictures etc.
Personal calendars, appointments can all be shared with Microsoft sharepoint services. It can also customize the content of websites and provide information only when it’s required. Websites can be saved as templates to be used accross organizations. It also supports Windows Load-balancing web servers and cluster database servers. It also integrates with .NET and can easily by managed through Frontpage and you don’t need to be developer to develop a website.
How to Set up a Microsoft SQL Web Server cluster
Types of clusters
A cluster is basically referred to as grouping of similar things to reduce the load or work of a single one. When it comes to servers there are 2 types of clusters :
1) Load Balancing Web Server ;
Load balancing Web Server is setup so that the traffic load is distributed among a number of servers instead of one single server. It involves a number of servers which are setup in such a way that the traffic is equally distributed among all of them. Due to this kind of a setup, the network load is not concentrated on one single server and this helps in improving the reliability with the tremendous improvement in performance. This kind of setup is also available for 2 or more nodes in the cluster.
2) Failover cluster Server :
Failover cluster also involves a number of servers but this is not the same as Load Balancing servers. Failover, as the term suggests, is setup to provide high availability even after there is an hardware or software failure. Once there is a software or an hardware failure, an action is taken by the cluster immediately so that the resources of the server are moved to another server. Cluster is informed once the hardware of software failure has taken place as the cluster keeps on monitoring the resources.
Real time failover for hardware and software failures including the current status of the applications can be acheived by fault-tolerant failover cluster. But this requires a better software application and more hardware and this is due to the fact that the condition of the current applications must be known. The applications which are currently in use are lost while the failover process is going on by the hardware and the software components and these should be recovered.
Microsoft’s Cluster Service (also known as MSCS) is exactly opposite to the true fault-tolerant cluster and is built in as a high-availability cluster. This is better as the cluster will not require specialized fault-tolerant solution and can work with more applications with less hardware also. This will definitely reduce the price. The cluster will not be in a good position after the failover but will be able to recover from a hardware or software failure. Two servers (nodes) are supported by the MSCS high-availability solution.
Basic hardware and software components
A common set of hardware is involved which are actually two servers nodes in a cluster. Both the servers in the cluster are connected to the network and both of them have there own operating system. The harddisks are external but they are connected to the servers through a network. A drive controller connects the shared disks to the servers. A Storage Area Network (SAN) is commonly used for this purpose.
Only one of the nodes in the cluster is active at a time. They are not active together and hence this solution is also called as an active/passive solution. The resources of the cluster is used up by the active server (node) and the active server writes all the data on the Shared disks. If one node fails the other one comes into play. To make sure that all the nodes are working properly, a signal known as a heartbeat is sent accross the private network to which all the servers are connected. If the active server fails, the passive server gets a signal about it through the heartbeats and once it receives the signal, it starts working as an active server and starts using all the resources of the cluster.
How to Install SQL Server in a cluster ?
Operational cluster is required to install SQL server in the cluster. Follow the steps given below to install Operational cluster.
1) First, install a Windows Server edition which supports MSCS on each server.
2) Now, make sure that each server in the cluster is connected to a Public network which is required to receive requests.
3) Make a different network and all the servers shouldn’t be connected to this network as this network should only be established between two servers within the cluster. This network will only be used for the heartbeats to send signals.
4) You will have to create a user account for the service account so that the cluster operates under this account in the domain. Make sure that you add this account to each Administrator’s group of each server.
5) Now you will have to connect the Shared harddisks to the server and you will have to power off the servers for this purpose. Once you connect the Shared harddisks to the servers make sure that the resources are being used by the server. Turn on node number one of the cluster.
6) Install Microsoft Cluster service and then configure it through control panel. Follow the steps given below to do this.
a. Go to Control Panel.
b. Then, Add/Remove Programs
c. Finally, Windows Components
7) You will have to give a name to your cluster and also assign an IP address with the Shared disk resources.
Now turn on the second node in the cluster and move to the First one (Original one) once the second one is online. Once you get back to the original one, to add another node use the Cluster Administrator.
Note : You will be able to install the second node quite easily in comparison to the first one as it will be based on the configuration of the second one.
Once you have installed the cluster sucessfully and everything works fine, follow the steps given below to install SQL server into the cluster :
1. To begin the installation process, you will have to insert the SQL Server Enterprise edition CD. If the installation does not start auto-matically, launch the setup through setup.exe.
2. Select Virtual Server on the computer name screen and enter a name by which you would like the Cluster be referred.
Note : This name is a Virtual name and is just like the hostname of a server.
3. Now make a service account to run the SQL web server and make sure that you provide Administration rights on each node on the cluster.
4. You will have to assign an IP address, Shared Resources and a service account to the SQL server while the installation.
Once you have done all the above steps correctly, a copy of SQL Server server will be installed on each node by the setup program within the cluster and the setting of the cluster will be installed automatically. Now you will be able to control the SQL server services by the cluster administrator.