IT Operations: Page

Using Netmon to analyze network traffic in Windows Server 2003

The Network Monitor tool can be considered both a network troubleshooting tool and a packet analysis tool. But the version of Netmon that comes with Windows Server 2003 allows only the capture of frames sent to and from your local server.

By Rahul Shah, Contributor • March 21, 2007

Best practices for naming VMware virtual machines

Are you naming your VMware virtual machines in a way that will help you keep track of where they are and what they do? If not, you must read this expert response by Andrew Kutz.

By Andrew Kutz • March 20, 2007

Fix USB audio problems like sputtering or glitching

USB audio often suffers from sputtering or glitching— playback riddled with clicks and pops. The bitstream is being interrupted, and the cause is hardware-related.

By Serdar Yegulalp • March 13, 2007

Memory leaks: Determine an application’s CPU consumption

The same symptoms for a memory leak can be caused by a poorly written application that consumes an excessive amount of CPU time. Here's how to determine how much CPU time an individual application is using.

By Brien Posey • March 8, 2007

Performance Logs and Alerts: A guide to the Windows Server 2003 utility

Performance Logs and Alerts is one of performance monitoring tools in Windows Server 2003. This tip discusses the tool's two types of logs: counter logs and trace logs.

By Rahul Shah, Contributor • March 2, 2007

Server data sheets: How they can simplify your server installations

Servers are complex environments that are constantly changing, especially if users are assigned to them. A server data sheet allows you to keep track of all those changes. Here's what a server data sheet should contain.

By Nelson Ruest, Danielle Ruest • Feb. 28, 2007

Fixing corrupt Microsoft Outlook calendar entries

Microsoft Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 can occasionally suffer from corrupt calendar entries. When this happens, certain appointment reminders repeatedly pop up no matter how many times you dismiss them. Exchange MVP Brien Posey explains how to fix this problem.

By Brien Posey • Feb. 15, 2007

Automating server management and IT processes

Server automation can free up data center resources to focus on higher-value activities. This tip provides some suggestions for getting started by automating low level IT processes.

By Audrey Rasmussen, Contributor • Feb. 14, 2007

Cannot reply or forward in Outlook Web Access

If you can't reply or forward in Outlook Web Access (OWA), you may need to add your Exchange Server URL to Internet Explorer's Trusted Sites list.

By Bradley Dinerman • Feb. 13, 2007

Simple WMI tricks for AD administrators

Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) can be a great asset for Active Directory admins. Expert Gary Olsen offers useful WMI tips and tricks for locating and gathering information from objects in an enterprise.

By Gary Olsen • Feb. 6, 2007

Microsoft’s daylight-saving time (DST) patch -- Does it matter to AD?

Who would've thought that expanding the dates of daylight-saving time would cause so many problems for IT administrators? Expert Gary Olsen analyzes what the changes mean to Active Directory regarding domain operations.

By Gary Olsen • Jan. 30, 2007

Diskpart utility scans for newly added disks

Use the Windows Diskpart utility to scan for newly added disks, instead of Windows' Disk Administrator tool.

By Tim Fenner • Jan. 25, 2007

Beware of bare linefeeds in Exchange Server email

A bare linefeed is a single linefeed character that isn't preceded by an ASCII carriage return. In some instances, virus scanners or security appliances will insert bare linefeeds into an Exchange Server email and cause delivery failures.

By Serdar Yegulalp • Jan. 10, 2007

Configuring DNS server properties

When followed correctly, DNS is fairly simple to use in Active Directory. However, it's even easier when you understand certain configurations. Expert Gary Olsen breaks down the DNS complexities that every admin should know about.

By Gary Olsen • Jan. 2, 2007