You may encounter a problem with activation of Windows Server 2008: there's no internet connection in place (for example, a virtual machine with internal connect only) and the link to alternate activation methods either does not appear or disabled (not clickable):
Last week I was faced to following problem: I drive a temporary MOSS Website on a standalone box for a half dozen of external users. Every user has an own local (!) account on the box since there's no domain. It does work well since MOSS supports WinNT authentification.
The local administrator is responsible to create users and provide them with initial passwords. Users can now login on Website. Immediately come the questions like: "How can I change my initial password? I forgot my password, can you reset it?"
As the one and only administrator of the box I can do it only over the weekend, when I get physical access to the machine. It is a little bit annoying for users as well as for me. So I dreamed about self-service for users: just change your own password via dedicated MOSS web page.
After a couple of minutes Web surfing I've understood: there are numerous approaches to change a user password for AD based MOSS farms. Unfortunately they won't work for WinNT authentification.
So I decided to write my own Web part helping the currently logged in user to change her/his password. Additionally there must be an option for administrator to set password for any user, if he/she forgot it.
Thanks to the MOSS Web part framework and .NET Framework at all, the work was done in couple of hours:
Both options were implemented as Web part editable parameters to provide the Web site administrator with comfortable configuration integrated into standard MOSS Web page edit mode.
That's all. Check out the code and feel free to ask for more information (e. g. how to build a MOSS solution with this Web part, how to localize etc.
Enjoy!
WebPart as .wsp file available on request.
Code:
using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.DirectoryServices;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls;
using System.Web.UI.WebControls.WebParts;
using Microsoft.SharePoint.WebControls;
using System.Security.Principal;
using System.Threading;
namespace MBecker.SharePoint.Web
{
public
class
MBChangePasswordWebPart : WebPart
{
///
<summary>
/// WebPart title
///
</summary>
public
const
string Title = "Web Part to help users to change their passwords.";
///
<summary>
/// Logfile pathname
///
</summary>
private
string logFileName = "";
///
<summary>
/// Directory entry string to access user object
///
</summary>
private
string userEntryString = "";
///
<summary>
/// WebPart property: Provider connection string.
/// To be configured in webpart modification mode.
///
</summary>
[WebBrowsable]
[WebDisplayName("Provider connection string")]
[WebDescription("Provider connection string to get the user object for password changes; {0} is the placeholder for user login, {1} is the placeholder for domain/server name.")]
[Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.Shared)]
public
string UserEntryString
{
get
{
return userEntryString;
}
set
{
userEntryString = value;
}
}
///
<summary>
/// WebPart property: Logfile pathname.
/// To be configured in webpart modification mode.
///
</summary>
[WebBrowsable]
[WebDisplayName("LogFile Pathname")]
[WebDescription("Quick switch to toggle tracing on/off; empty logfile pathname assumes no tracing required")]
[Personalizable(PersonalizationScope.Shared)]
public
string LogFilename
{
get
{
return logFileName ;
}
set
{
logFileName = value;
}
}
///
<summary>
/// Mastering outlook of the WebPart with required child controls, required.
///
</summary>
protected
override
void CreateChildControls()
{
if (Page.IsPostBack)
{
}
else
{
}
// Add webpart controls
try
{
// Label for username
Label labelUsername = new
Label();
labelUsername.Text = Resource.labelUser;
labelUsername.CssClass = "changePasswordLabel";
Controls.Add(labelUsername);
Literal br1 = new
Literal();
br1.Text = "<br/>";
Controls.Add(br1);
// Textbox to enter username
// will be displayed as readonly if current user is not an local administrator
TextBox textBoxUsername = new
TextBox();
textBoxUsername.Text = System.Threading.Thread.CurrentPrincipal.Identity.Name;
textBoxUsername.ReadOnly = !IsAdminMode();
textBoxUsername.CssClass = "changePasswordTextBox";
textBoxUsername.ID = "textBoxUsername";
Controls.Add(textBoxUsername);
Literal br2 = new
Literal();
br2.Text = "<br/>";
Controls.Add(br2);
// Label for old password
Label labelOldPassword = new
Label();
labelOldPassword.Text = Resource.labelOldPassword;
labelOldPassword.CssClass = "changePasswordLabel";
Controls.Add(labelOldPassword);
Literal br3 = new
Literal();
br3.Text = "<br/>";
Controls.Add(br3);
// Password textbox to enter the old password
PasswordTextBox textBoxOldPassword = new
PasswordTextBox();
textBoxOldPassword.ID = "textBoxOldPassword";
textBoxOldPassword.CssClass = "changePasswordTextBox";
Controls.Add(textBoxOldPassword);
Literal br4 = new
Literal();
br4.Text = "<br/>";
Controls.Add(br4);
// Label for new password
Label labelNewPassword1 = new
Label();
labelNewPassword1.Text = Resource.labelNewPassword1;
labelNewPassword1.CssClass = "changePasswordLabel";
Controls.Add(labelNewPassword1);
Literal br5 = new
Literal();
br5.Text = "<br/>";
Controls.Add(br5);
// Password textbox to enter new password
PasswordTextBox textBoxNewPassword1 = new
PasswordTextBox();
textBoxNewPassword1.ID = "textBoxNewPassword1";
textBoxNewPassword1.CssClass = "changePasswordTextBox";
Controls.Add(textBoxNewPassword1);
Literal br6 = new
Literal();
br6.Text = "<br/>";
Controls.Add(br6);
// Label for new password repeated
Label labelNewPassword2 = new
Label();
labelNewPassword2.Text = Resource.labelNewPassword2;
labelNewPassword2.CssClass = "changePasswordLabel";
Controls.Add(labelNewPassword2);
Literal br7 = new
Literal();
br7.Text = "<br/>";
Controls.Add(br7);
// Passowrd textbox to enter new password repeated
PasswordTextBox textBoxNewPassword2 = new
PasswordTextBox();
textBoxNewPassword2.ID = "textBoxNewPassword2";
textBoxNewPassword2.CssClass = "changePasswordTextBox";
Controls.Add(textBoxNewPassword2);
Literal br8 = new
Literal();
br8.Text = "<br/><br/>";
Controls.Add(br8);
// Button to invoke password change
Button buttonSetPassword = new
Button();
buttonSetPassword.Text = Resource.buttonSetPassword;
buttonSetPassword.Click += new
EventHandler(buttonSetPassword_Click);
buttonSetPassword.ID = "buttonSetPassword";
buttonSetPassword.CssClass = "changePasswordButton";
Controls.Add(buttonSetPassword);
Literal br9 = new
Literal();
br9.Text = "<br/><br/>";
Controls.Add(br9);
Label labelResult = new
Label();
labelResult.ID = "labelResult";
labelResult.CssClass = "changePasswordResultLabel";
Controls.Add(labelResult);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
// Adding child controls fired an exception
Debug.Assert(false, Resource.exceptionCreateChildControls + ex.Message + "\r\n" + ex.StackTrace);
trace(Resource.exceptionCreateChildControls + ex.Message + "\r\n" + ex.StackTrace);
}
base.CreateChildControls();
}
///
<summary>
/// Button click handler, invokes change/set password
///
</summary>
///
<param name="sender">Button object</param>
///
<param name="e">Click event argumets</param>
void buttonSetPassword_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string result;
try
{
((Button)this.FindControl("buttonSetPassword")).Enabled = false;
((Label)this.FindControl("labelResult")).Text = "";
try
{
bool bSetPassword = false;
string userName = ((TextBox)this.FindControl("textBoxUsername")).Text;
// Check if set or change password operation should be invoked
// change password - to change password for currently logged in user
// set password - to change password for username entered in username textbox
// (only if currently logged in user is a local admin)
bSetPassword = (userName != System.Threading.Thread.CurrentPrincipal.Identity.Name);
string serverName = "";
if (userName.IndexOf('\\') != -1)
{
// Parse user name to split server name and user name
serverName = userName.Substring(0,userName.IndexOf('\\'));
userName = userName.Substring(userName.IndexOf('\\')+1);
}
if (!bSetPassword)
{
// Change password for currently logged in user
result = changePassword(
serverName,
userName,
((PasswordTextBox)this.FindControl("textBoxOldPassword")).Password,
((PasswordTextBox)this.FindControl("textBoxNewPassword1")).Password,
((PasswordTextBox)this.FindControl("textBoxNewPassword2")).Password
);
}
else
{
// Set password for a username entered in textbox
result = setPassword(
serverName,
userName,
((PasswordTextBox)this.FindControl("textBoxNewPassword1")).Password,
((PasswordTextBox)this.FindControl("textBoxNewPassword2")).Password
);
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Debug.Assert(false, Resource.exceptionSetChangePassword1 + ex.Message + "\r\n" + ex.StackTrace);
trace(Resource.exceptionSetChangePassword1 + ex.Message + "\r\n" + ex.StackTrace);
result = ex.Message + "\r\n" + ex.StackTrace;
}
((Label)this.FindControl("labelResult")).Text = result;
((Button)this.FindControl("buttonSetPassword")).Enabled = true;
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Debug.Assert(false, Resource.exceptionSetChangePassword2 + ex.Message + "\r\n" + ex.StackTrace);
trace(Resource.exceptionSetChangePassword2 + ex.Message + "\r\n" + ex.StackTrace);
}
}
///
<summary>
/// Check if the currently logged in user is a local admin
///
</summary>
///
<returns>True if the currently logged in user is a local admin, false otherwise</returns>
private
bool IsAdminMode()
{
bool bRet = false;
string groupAdministrators = "Administrators";
//if (System.Threading.Thread.CurrentPrincipal.Identity.Name.IndexOf("mbecker") != -1) bRet = true; // :-)
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetPrincipalPolicy(PrincipalPolicy.WindowsPrincipal);
bRet = Thread.CurrentPrincipal.IsInRole(groupAdministrators);
trace(
String.Format("{0} is " + (bRet?"":" not ") + "in role {1}.",
Thread.CurrentPrincipal.Identity.Name,
groupAdministrators
)
);
return bRet;
}
///
<summary>
/// Change user password
///
</summary>
///
<param name="serverName">Server name</param>
///
<param name="userName">User Loginname</param>
///
<param name="oldPassword">Old password</param>
///
<param name="newPassword1">New password</param>
///
<param name="newPassword2">New password repeated</param>
///
<returns>State string to display on webpart</returns>
private
string changePassword(
string serverName,
string userName,
string oldPassword,
string newPassword1,
string newPassword2)
{
string result = Resource.textPasswordChanged;
if (newPassword1 != newPassword2)
{
// new password and new password repepated do not match, break operation
result = Resource.testPasswordNotChanged + Resource.exceptionPasswordDoNotMatch;
}
else
{
try
{
// Change user password as seen in numerous ADSI samples
DirectoryEntry myDirectoryEntry;
string directoryEntryString = String.Format(UserEntryString, userName, serverName);
trace(directoryEntryString);
myDirectoryEntry = new
DirectoryEntry(directoryEntryString);
string[] passwords = new
string[2];
passwords[0] = oldPassword;
passwords[1] = newPassword1;
myDirectoryEntry.Invoke("ChangePassword", passwords);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
// Change password failed
result = Resource.testPasswordNotChanged + ex.StackTrace;
while (ex != null)
{
trace(ex.Message);
trace(ex.StackTrace);
ex = ex.InnerException;
}
}
}
return result;
}
///
<summary>
/// Set user password
///
</summary>
///
<param name="serverName">Server name</param>
///
<param name="userName">User Loginname</param>
///
<param name="newPassword1">New password</param>
///
<param name="newPassword2">New password repeated</param>
///
<returns>State string to display on webpart</returns>
private
string setPassword(
string serverName,
string userName,
string newPassword1,
string newPassword2)
{
string result = Resource.textPasswordChanged;
if (newPassword1 != newPassword2)
{
// new password and new password repepated do not match, break operation
result = Resource.testPasswordNotChanged + Resource.exceptionPasswordDoNotMatch;
}
else
{
try
{
// Set user password as seen in numerous ADSI samples
DirectoryEntry myDirectoryEntry;
string directoryEntryString = String.Format(UserEntryString, userName, serverName);
trace(directoryEntryString);
myDirectoryEntry = new
DirectoryEntry(directoryEntryString);
myDirectoryEntry.Invoke("SetPassword", newPassword1);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
// Set password failed
result = Resource.testPasswordNotChanged + ex.StackTrace;
while (ex != null)
{
trace(ex.Message);
trace(ex.StackTrace);
ex = ex.InnerException;
}
}
}
return result;
}
///
<summary>
/// Trace diagnostic information in configured log file.
/// Ensure access rights to the file/folder to avoid exceptions due to
/// file access failures
///
</summary>
///
<param name="msg">Trace message string</param>
private
void trace(string msg)
{
if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(LogFilename))
{
// Trace message if a logfile specified
try
{
System.IO.StreamWriter sw = new System.IO.StreamWriter(LogFilename, true);
sw.WriteLine(DateTime.Now.ToString() + "\t" + msg);
sw.Flush();
sw.Close();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
Debug.Assert(false, String.Format(Resource.exceptionTrace, msg) + ex.Message + "\r\n" + ex.StackTrace);
}
}
}
}
}
Last week I've got a new PC for evaluation of W2K8 Server - especially Hyper V features. Unfortunately, two days ago the box started to show me BSOD approximately once a hour. All the available out-of-box checks didn't show valuable results. Microsoft error reporting displayed on each new start after crash, the report is corrupt. Analyzing of numerous dump files didn't show any regularity either.
Only usage of Microsoft Memory Diagnostics helped to detect memory problems:
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp
This free tool was the only solid technical witness for computer store to change the bad memory modules.
I would highly recommend to burn this bootable diagnostics CD and keep it in the "emergency box" to be able to detect memory problems quickly.
Enjoy!
This blog entry I created using Windows Live Blog Writer:
http://get.live.com/writer/overview
Must have for bloggers.
Enjoy!
No. Time Delta Source Destination Protocol Info SrcPort DstPort HwSrc HwDst Length
2 21:16:19.909854 0.000099 192.168.2.105 RNPC5354D NBNS Name query response NBSTAT 137 61929 00:1d:92:29:55:ec 00:00:74:c5:35:4d 253
Frame 2 (253 bytes on wire, 253 bytes captured) Ethernet II, Src: Micro-St_29:55:ec (00:1d:92:29:55:ec), Dst: Ricoh_c5:35:4d (00:00:74:c5:35:4d) Internet Protocol, Src: 192.168.2.105 (192.168.2.105), Dst: RNPC5354D (192.168.2.102) User Datagram Protocol, Src Port: netbios-ns (137), Dst Port: 61929 (61929) NetBIOS Name Service
Transaction ID: 0x0000
Flags: 0x8400 (Name query response, No error)
Questions: 0
Answer RRs: 1
Authority RRs: 0
Additional RRs: 0
Answers
*<00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00>: type NBSTAT, class IN
Name: *<00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00><00>
Type: NBSTAT
Class: IN
Time to live: 0 time
Data length: 155
Number of names: 6
Name: SCH<9a>R<00> (Workstation/Redirector)
Name flags: 0x400 (B-node, unique, active)
Name: RA<00> (Workstation/Redirector)
Name flags: 0x8400 (B-node, group, active)
Name: SCHsR<20> (Server service)
Name flags: 0x400 (B-node, unique, active)
Name: RA<1e> (Browser Election Service)
Name flags: 0x8400 (B-node, group, active)
Name: RA<1d> (Local Master Browser)
Name flags: 0x400 (B-node, unique, active)
Name: <01><02>__MSBROWSE__<02><01> (Browser)
Name flags: 0x8400 (B-node, group, active)
Unit ID: 00:1d:92:29:55:ec
The NETBIOS name of the VISTA box was using german umlaute characters: SCHÃœR. These characters were wrong interpreted by RICOH (seems to be, the built-in networking communication software cannot process localized characters - only english character set).Do you have/plan for Windows Server 2003? Mind following caveats:
…and one more thing to do, if you install a W2K3 pure (means - no SPs): apply SP2 before joining domain. Otherwise you may encounter problem receiving "Timeout expired for semaphore…"
Enjoy!
Nothing easier on windows: there's a very useful library called OLEPRN.DLL sitting in system folder.
You may use VBS like follows:
dim o
' create an COM object to communicate to network printer
set o = createobject("oleprn.olesnmp")
' open a snmp session to printer using its IP address, public interface, retry count 1 and 6000 msecs as timeout
o.open "192.168.1.18","public",1,6000
' get printer state by state OID
x = o.GetAsByte("25.3.2.1.5.1") '
' output the state: 2 is OK, all others are warning/error codes '
' change MsgBox to desired notification method '
MsgBox x
You may want to write a C++ code:
#include
"stdafx.h"
#import
"d:\\windows\\system32\\oleprn.dll" no_namespace
#define USAGE _T("usage: %s <printer IP address>\nsample: %s 10.10.10.10")
int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
if(argc < 2)
{
wprintf(USAGE,argv[0],argv[0]);
return -1;
}
CoInitialize(NULL);
ISNMPPtr aPtr;
_bstr_t bstrHost(argv[1]);
_bstr_t bstrCommunity("public");
_bstr_t bstrOID("25.3.2.1.5.1");
HRESULT hr = S_OK;
try
{
hr = aPtr.CreateInstance(__uuidof(SNMP));
hr = aPtr->Open(bstrHost,bstrCommunity);
int iStatus = aPtr->GetAsByte(bstrOID);
printf("Status %d\n",iStatus);
aPtr.Release();
}
catch(_com_error *e)
{
wprintf(e->ErrorMessage());
}
catch(...)
{
wprintf(_T("Unknown error occured\n"));
}
CoUninitialize();
return 0;
}
Or you may want to get it working in managed code:
http://blog.crowe.co.nz/archive/2005/08/08/182.aspx
Enjoy!
