SNMP Monitoring

Recently, I've been working on a project which involves remote monitoring and configuration of server and network devices. Obviously, my research has led me to further discover the intricacies of the SNMP protocol and agents which can often provide extensive monitoring and configuration capabilities.

I've obviously been looking at native and third-party, proprietary and open source, SNMP agents for Windows and Linux. No doubt, configuration parameters can vary drastically depending on the information and level of configurability that you desire but they all rely on similar concepts and use similar vocabulary. These concepts are best outlined in the following locations.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324263

http://www.loriotpro.com/ServiceAndSupport/How_to/InstallWXPAgent_EN.php

The best example of its structure is probably represented by the following picture.

http://i.technet.microsoft.com/cc783142.89f6ecac-cfe5-4e01-aab4-eac93a7c8e09%28en-us,WS.10%29.gif

It will most likely remind you of postal addressing systems, directory service hierarchies and other hierarchal structures such as those used by Domain Service System (DNS) with each level being represented by numbers and/or shorthand strings. At the end of the hierarchy is a string/counter/number which represents the value of the concerned attribute of the piece of hardware and/or software in question at any point in time. These attributes can range from the name of the installed Operating System, to the total number of bytes sent on a particular Network Interface Card (NIC).

Based on the intent on my project it seems clearer that using SNMP as a basis for monitoring may be overkill (though I'll add some SNMP functionality). While it allows for a more finer grained image of the situation, it is also clear that much of this information is redundant especially when you are using 'generic hardware' (whether it is server and or desktop class). As such, it becomes more obvious the reasoning behind extensive templates that often accompany more mature monitoring systems such as ZenOSS, Zabbix, and Dell OpenManage.

While it is clear that SNMP is a useful and mature protocol there have clearly been moves to modernise it (for instance, through enhanced security, accessibilty, and configurability) and there are alternative technologies such as Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) and Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP).

http://www.snmp-informant.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenLLDP

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc783142%28WS.10%29.aspx

http://www.cisco.com/univercd/cc/td/doc/cisintwk/ito_doc/55029.pdf

http://www.snmpinfo.com/versions.htm

http://www.javvin.com/protocolSNMP.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_Layer_Discovery_Protocol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisco_Discovery_Protocol

http://www.petri.co.il/csc_reset_admin_password_with_cisco_snmp.htm

http://www.networking-forum.com/blog/?p=662

- as usual thanks to all of the individuals and groups who purchase and use my goods and services
http://sites.google.com/site/dtbnguyen/
http://dtbnguyen.blogspot.com.au/

NVIDIA Laptop Graphics Chip Repair

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Sometimes you'll encounter a continuing problem over and over again. One of the ones that has come to light for me has been related to discrete NVIDIA graphics chip on laptops (across multiple brands believe it or not including HP, Compaq, Dell, and Apple) which have revolved around excess heat not being dispersed adequately which means that over time the graphics chip can come away from the logic board. A lot of the time this results in an unbootable laptop with the following symptons, power and LED indicator lights turn on accompanied by a black screen. Even though there has been a partial recall of affected laptops there are many 'out in the wild' which still have the same problem.

While conventional solder and mechanical pressure can be used as a means of providing a medium to long term fix on traditionally packaged and attached chips this is not the case with Ball Grid Array (BGA) graphics chips which seems to be a more popular methodology moving forward.

However, the probem is when you have mounting issues they aren't so easy to fix if you don't have the required, proper equipment required in order to complete the job. Moreover, often taking it to a 'professional' may cost the same amount as a new laptop/logic board. Numerous accounts online of this particular problem and some creative and unusual solutions have been proposed that are more 'cost effective' (but are also shorter term fixes). Some of these include:

- stripping down the machine down to the logic board and then 're-flowing' it by putting it in a convection oven or even using direct heat such as using a butane torch

- wrapping it in insulating material, turning it on and using the laptop's own heat in order to 're-flow' the connections

- using direct heat and a BGA kit in order to remove the damaged chip from the logic board, the 'balls', and then using the included solder balls (often of higher quality than the original) to fix problem areas

However, one thing I have been considering is whether or not it is feasible to attempt another solution. Namely, creating the solder balls themselves (too difficult on a large scale), or else using solder wick in order to clean up damaged BGA balls and then using flux gel in order to crudely create 'balls' between the graphics chip and the logic board. While I have been able to partially resurrect one board with this method I'll need more time to determine whether or not whether it is a complete long term fix...

http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2011/02/23/fix-laptop-motherboard-with-failed-nvidia-graphics-chip/

http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2010/10/06/fix-video-problem-hp-laptops/ http://www.ehow.com/how_7569857_remove-bga-chip.html

http://www.laptoprepair101.com/laptop/2010/04/06/fixing-compaq-presario-v6000-motherboard-no-video-issue/

http://www.computerrepairtips.net/how-to-reflow-a-laptop-motherboard/ http://www.insidemylaptop.com/fix-video-failure-hp-pavilion-dv2000-dv6000-dv9000-notebooks/

http://www.nerdmodo.com/2009/04/repairing-the-display-problem-in-hp-dv2000dv6000-series/

http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f108/hp-pavillion-dv2000-wont-start-223415.html

http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f108/hp-pavilion-dv8000-crashed-blinking-power-light-305796.html

http://nvidiasettlement.com/

http://www.assemblymag.com/Articles/Cover_Story/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000242561

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Display-and-Video/Compaq-Presario-V3000-Nvidia-Video-problem/td-p/19809/page/2

- as usual thanks to all of the individuals and groups who purchase and use my goods and services
http://sites.google.com/site/dtbnguyen/
http://dtbnguyen.blogspot.com.au/

VERITAS Backup Exec Research Notes

The following represents some notes that I compiled while researching VERITAS Backup Exec (a commercial backup software solution that has since been purchased by Symantec). Obviously, these notes are based on an older version of Backup Exec so use your discretion.

Intro to Backup

Murphy's Law

SLA - Service Level Agreement

Full - complete copy of all files

Incremental - only files changed since last backup

Differential - all files changed since last full backup

Online Backup - everything accessible all the time

Nearline Backup - data from backup periodically archived to secondary backup server. Requires minimal effort to restore backup to main

Offline Backup - files unavailable during backup

Disaster Recovery Technologies : Hardware

Tape - linear, cheap, high storage capacity density

Hard Drives - less mobile, medium price per unit storage capacity,

Portability

Price

Network Bandwidth

Removable Disks - portable

Optical Media - cheap, portable,

NAS - relatively inexpensive now, RAID

SAN - can be expensive

Disaster Recovery Technologies : Software

Server-based Backup - server/administrator determines backup configuration

Client-based Backup - client/users determines backup configuration

Frozen Image Backup - live snapshot of files possible

SAN-based Backup - backup to SAN

LAN-free Backup - typically uses a SAN to backup using a dedicated Fibre connection

Server-free Backup - client system/software initiates the backup. Stored to tape/SAN

Applying Technologies : Client-based system

One computer

Software Choices

Backup Program on Each Machine

Backup client on each machine with a single, central backup server

Backup Program on Each Machine - often OS includes basic backup capabilities. Free options available but they often from lack of support, flexibility, and robustness

Client Controlled on a Network - user configuration, schedule, backup server stores on tape. User configuration uncommon because users want to backup everything, most users aren't technially aware eough, and most administrators want a consistent environment

Scheduling

Backup Jobs - sometimes also called policies

Generic Troubleshooting - hardware and/or software issues, test partial/complete backup and restores

Applying Technologies : Network-based System

WAN/LAN - primary difference is physical distance between systems

Server-based Solutions - most are server based with a administration utility

Heterogenous Environments - most commercial solutions now have the ability to operate across multiple platforms by using an 'agent'

Replication - latest copy and transparency during failure but server/bandwith requirements are greater along with extra resources for extra hardware/server. Run-Time Vs Traditional Vs Frozen Image backup

Scheduling Issues - timezones, resource consumption, mutual exclusion

Networking Utilization Issues - schedule during off hours, hard to schedule in a genuine 24/7 environment though

SAN Solutions - cost, compatiblity, configuration

Tape Sharing - shared tape drives, tape libraries, robotic libraries

Tape Rotation - saves from wear, space by not having irrelevant backups; schemes include daily, GFS (Grandfather-Father-Son), Tower of Hanoi

Looking Ahead in Backup Technology - increased sophistication/capacity of tape solutions, maturation of disk solutions, NAS/SAN technologies continue to evolve, new technologies will come into existance

Introduction to Backup Exec

Single and Multi-Server Editions

Remote Agents - best to check support for your OS prior to evaluating/purchasing

Autoloader/Robotic Library Support

Library Expansion Option (LEO)

Advanced Open File Option (AOFO)

Backup Options for Various Databases - MS Exchange/SQL/Sharepoint, Oracle, Lotus Domino, SAP

Intelligent Disaster Recovery (IDR) - known as bare metal restore now, involves a scripted installation of a minimal OS and then restoring to some initial configuration/restoration point from there

Shared Storage Option (SSO) - used by various servers/systems to access the same medium

Backup Exec Installation : Suggestion and Pitfalls

Install latest Service Pack/Patches

Update Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) - OLEDB32.dll

Update Microsoft Installer (MSI) - MSI.DLL

Check HCL/System Requirements

Try to have dedicated chain/channel for the storage/backup medium

Security Considerations - use the account that was automatically created, don't try to customise it as it can result in strange permission errors

Getting Your Hardware to Get Along with Backup Exec

Drive Pools - drives from the same server

Cascaded Drive Pools - used to deal with when normal drives can't deal with size of backup. Responsibilty of backups fall to these particular drives if the normal drives pools are unable to

Hardware Configuration Problems - determine whether it is a program, OS, BIOS issue. Use the built-in Wizard to try solve other issues

ADAMM (Advanced Device and Media Management) Log

Install drivers (all drivers in one package) from website if necessary, http://support.veritas.com

BEUTILITY.EXE - to reset hardware tracking databases, BEDB.MDF/BE_DLO.MDF

Database Catalogue - backup jobs, media set information, hardware statistics, automatically backed up after 24 hours of programs/services running

Physical Issues - BIOS, Power Cycle (server and media drives), physical connections

Media Rotations

Overwrite Protection - to stop media from being overwritten prematurely

Append Period - stops any data from being appended to media at all as opposed to overwritten

Media Sets - set of media based on overwrite/append settings

Retired/Scratch/Imported Media

Retention

Time-to-Recovery - balance between time/convenience/cost

Granularity - frequency of backups

Backup and Restore

Shadow Copy Components - System State/User Data/Service State

Remote Selections - will remove redundant data from backup selection by default

The Remote Agent for Windows Servers (RAWS) - must be installed on remote server to complete remote backup, can be installed by going to Tools > Serial Numbers and Installation or running setupaa.cmd

The Advanced Open File Option (AOFO) - must remove Remote Agent if already installed otherwise just install AOFO and it will install RAWS as well

Backup Performance - Avoiding Bottlenecks

Advanced Backup Options

Pre- and Post-Job Commands - run custom scripts

IP-only backup - as opposed to NETBIOS addressing/resolution

Backup Folders - backup to an arbitrary folder (NAS/SAN) rather than media

Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM)

Test Runs

An Introduction to Using Backup Exec with Other Platforms

Microsoft Exchange - allows for "brick level" backup of mailboxes

Microsoft Outlook - need to install MAPI compatible email client on media server (normally Outlook). Backup Exec logs in each user individually and downloads all emails to allow for "brick level" backup

Information Store - Backup Exec uses ESEBCLCLI2.DLL or EDBBCLI.DLL (Exchange 5.5) to communicate with Exchange

Types of Exchange Database Backups - Full/Database&Logs (flush committed logs), Incremental/Logs (flush committed logs), Differential/only transaction logs, Copy/same as Full (none of the transaction logs are deleted though)

Microsoft SQL Server - SQL Enterprise Manager must be installed on media server.

Types of SQL Database Backups - Database (backup everything along with transaction logs), Log (backup only transaction logs and delete old transaction logs from database), Log No Truncate (same as Log but does not delete old transaction logs from database), Consistency Check Before Backup (check database consistency before backup. This may cause a performance hit on a high transaction/traffic server though)

UNIX and Linux - be_agnt.tar

- as usual thanks to all of the individuals and groups who purchase and use my goods and services
http://sites.google.com/site/dtbnguyen/
http://dtbnguyen.blogspot.com.au/