HPE DL380 Gen10 Unboxing | Prepare Server to Install in DATACENTER

Unboxing the HPE DL380 Gen10:

  1. Inspect the Package:
    • Carefully inspect the external packaging for any signs of damage.
    • Ensure that the package includes all the components listed in the packing list.
  2. Open the Box:
    • Use a box cutter or scissors to carefully open the packaging.
  3. Remove Accessories:
    • Take out all the accessories such as power cables, documentation, and any additional components that come with the server.
  4. Inspect the Server:
    • Carefully take the server out of the packaging and inspect it for any physical damage.
    • Ensure that all components, including hard drives, are properly seated.
  5. Documentation:
    • Review the provided documentation, including the quick start guide and any safety information.

1. iLO Configuration:

a. Physical Connection:

  1. Connect to the iLO port on the rear of the server using a network cable.
  2. Ensure the iLO port has an IP address on the same network as your management system.

b. Access iLO Web Interface:

  1. Open a web browser and enter the iLO IP address.
  2. Log in with the default or provided credentials.

c. iLO Configuration:

  1. Change the default password for security.
  2. Configure network settings as needed.
  3. Enable iLO Advanced features if necessary.

1. Accessing Smart Array Configuration Utility:

  1. Power on the Server:
    • Ensure all necessary components, including hard drives, are properly installed.
  2. Access RAID Configuration:
    • During the server boot process, press the designated key (e.g., F8) to access the Smart Array Configuration Utility.

2. Creating a RAID 6 Array:

  1. Select/Create Array:
    • In the Smart Array Configuration Utility, choose an option like “Create Array” or “Manage Arrays.”
  2. Select Drives:
    • Choose the physical drives you want to include in the RAID 6 array. There should be at least four drives for RAID 6.
  3. Configure RAID Level:
    • Select RAID 6 from the available RAID levels.
  4. Set Array Size:
    • Define the size of the RAID array. Keep in mind that RAID 6 requires at least four drives, and usable capacity will be less than the total drive capacity due to the dual parity.
  5. Confirm and Save:
    • Review the configuration and confirm to save the RAID 6 array settings.

3. Installing an Operating System:

  1. Boot from Installation Media:
    • Insert the installation media for your operating system (e.g., Windows Server, Linux) and boot from it.
  2. Select Installation Drive:
    • During the OS installation process, you will be prompted to select the logical drive created by the RAID 6 configuration.
  3. Complete OS Installation:
    • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the operating system installation.

4. Additional RAID 6 Management:

  1. RAID Monitoring:
    • After the OS is installed, monitor the RAID status through the HPE Smart Storage Administrator or other management tools provided by HPE.
  2. Expand or Modify RAID:
    • If needed, you can later expand the RAID 6 array or modify its configuration through the Smart Storage Administrator.

2. ESXi Installation:

a. Obtain ESXi Installer:

  1. Download the ESXi ISO image from the VMware website.

b. Prepare Boot Media:

  1. Create a bootable USB drive with the ESXi installer using tools like Rufus or UNetbootin.

c. Install ESXi:

  1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the server.
  2. Power on the server and boot from the USB drive.

d. ESXi Installation Wizard:

  1. Follow the on-screen prompts to install ESXi.
  2. Select the installation disk (usually the local storage on your server).

e. Configure ESXi:

  1. Set a password for the ESXi host.
  2. Configure management network settings (IP address, subnet mask, gateway, DNS).

f. Complete Installation:

  1. Allow the ESXi installer to complete the installation process.
  2. Reboot the server.

3. Post-Installation ESXi Configuration:

a. Access ESXi Web Interface:

  1. Open a web browser and enter the ESXi host IP address.
  2. Log in with the credentials you set during installation.

b. Configure Networking:

  1. Verify and configure networking settings as needed.

c. License ESXi:

  1. Apply a license to your ESXi host if required.

d. Create Datastores:

  1. Configure storage settings by creating datastores on your server’s storage.

e. Virtual Machine Management:

  1. Create and manage virtual machines through the ESXi web interface or vSphere Client.

f. Monitor and Manage:

  1. Monitor the ESXi host health, performance, and other settings through the web interface.

4. Additional iLO Integration:

  1. Back in the iLO interface, you can integrate iLO with the ESXi host for enhanced management features.
  2. Configure iLO settings to enable remote console access and other management features.

Attach QNAP iSCSI Disk to Windows | Connect to Storage Without HBA Interface

Certainly, attaching a QNAP iSCSI disk to a Windows system involves several steps. Below is a general guide, but please note that specific steps may vary depending on the QNAP NAS model and the version of QTS firmware. Always refer to the documentation provided by QNAP for your specific model.

1. Configure iSCSI on QNAP NAS:

  • Log in to the QNAP NAS web interface.
  • Go to “Control Panel” > “Storage & Snapshots” > “iSCSI Storage.”
  • Create an iSCSI target and specify the settings, such as the target name and access permissions.
  • Create an iSCSI LUN (Logical Unit Number) within the target, specifying its size and other relevant parameters.
  • Note the iSCSI Target IQN (iSCSI Qualified Name) and the IP address of your QNAP NAS.

2. Connect Windows to the iSCSI Target:

  • On your Windows machine, open the iSCSI Initiator.
    • You can open it by searching for “iSCSI Initiator” in the Start menu.
  • In the iSCSI Initiator Properties window, go to the “Targets” tab.
  • Enter the IP address of your QNAP NAS in the “Target” field and click “Quick Connect.”
  • In the Quick Connect window, select the iSCSI target from the list and click “Connect.”
  • In the Connect to Target window, check the box next to “Enable multi-path” if your QNAP NAS supports it.
  • Click “Advanced Settings” to configure CHAP (Challenge-Handshake Authentication Protocol) settings if you have set up authentication on your QNAP NAS.
  • Click “OK” to connect to the iSCSI target.

3. Initialize and Format the iSCSI Disk:

  • Once connected, open the Disk Management tool on your Windows machine.
    • You can open it by searching for “Create and format hard disk partitions” in the Start menu.
  • You should see the new iSCSI disk as an uninitialized disk.
  • Right-click on the uninitialized disk and choose “Initialize Disk.”
  • Right-click on the newly initialized disk and select “New Simple Volume.”
  • Follow the wizard to create a new partition, assign a drive letter, and format the disk with your preferred file system.

4. Access the iSCSI Disk:

  • After formatting, the iSCSI disk should be accessible through the assigned drive letter.
  • You can now use the iSCSI disk for storage purposes, and it will behave like any other locally attached storage device.

Remember to follow best practices for iSCSI security, such as enabling CHAP authentication and restricting access to specific IP addresses, especially if your QNAP NAS is accessible over the internet. Always refer to the specific documentation for your QNAP NAS model for accurate and up-to-date instructions.

Install and Configure Veeam Backup and Replication | How to Use FREE Veeam Backup

Certainly, I can provide you with a general overview of the process to install, configure, and use Veeam Backup & Replication, including the free edition. Note that specific steps might vary based on the version of Veeam Backup & Replication you are using, so always refer to the official documentation for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

1. Download and Install Veeam Backup & Replication:

  • Go to the Veeam website and download the Veeam Backup & Replication installation package.
  • Run the installer on the machine where you want to install Veeam Backup & Replication.
  • Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

2. Configure Veeam Backup Repository:

  • After installation, open the Veeam Backup & Replication console.
  • Configure a backup repository to store your backup files. This can be local storage, a network share, or a cloud-based repository.

3. Add VMware or Hyper-V Server:

  • In the Veeam console, click on “Backup Infrastructure” and then “Add Server.”
  • Choose either VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V, depending on your virtualization platform.
  • Enter the server details and credentials to connect to your virtualization host.

4. Create a Backup Job:

  • Click on “Backup & Replication” in the console.
  • Right-click and choose “Backup Job.”
  • Select your virtual machines or VM containers.
  • Choose a destination (backup repository).
  • Configure scheduling and retention policies.

5. Perform a Backup:

  • Run the backup job manually or wait for the scheduled time.
  • Monitor the backup job progress in the console.

6. Restore from Backup:

  • To restore VMs, go to the “Home” tab and choose “Restore.”
  • Follow the wizard to select the VM or VMs you want to restore and the restore point.
  • Choose the restore destination and complete the wizard.

Using Veeam Backup Free Edition:

  • Veeam offers a free edition with limited features, but it can still be powerful for smaller environments.
  • Download the free edition from the Veeam website.
  • Install and configure it following a similar process to the full version.
  • The free edition supports VM backups and restores, but it may lack some advanced features found in the paid version.

Additional Tips:

  • Regularly check the Veeam documentation and knowledge base for updates and best practices.
  • Consider setting up email notifications for backup job results and monitoring.
  • Explore additional features, such as replication and VeeamZIP for ad-hoc backups.

Remember, these steps provide a general guideline, and you should refer to the specific documentation for your version of Veeam Backup & Replication for detailed instructions.

Login to ESXi with Domain User | VMware ESXi Active Directory Authentication

Configuring VMware ESXi for Active Directory (AD) authentication involves joining the ESXi host to the Active Directory domain and configuring user permissions accordingly. Here are the steps:

1. Access the ESXi Host:

  • Connect to the ESXi host using the vSphere Client or vSphere Web Client.

2. Configure DNS Settings:

  • Ensure that the DNS settings on the ESXi host are correctly configured, and it can resolve the Active Directory domain controller’s name. You can set the DNS configuration in the ESXi host under “Networking” > “TCP/IP Configuration.”

3. Join ESXi Host to Active Directory:

  • In the vSphere Client, navigate to the “Host” in the inventory and select the “Configure” tab.
  • Under the “System” section, select “Authentication Services.”
  • Click “Join Domain” or “Properties” depending on your ESXi version.
  • Enter the domain information, including the domain name, username, and password with the necessary permissions to join the domain.
  • Click “Join Domain” or “OK.”

Example:

  • Domain: example.com
  • Username: domain_admin
  • Password: ********

4. Verify Domain Join:

  • After joining the domain, you should see a success message. If not, check the credentials and network connectivity.

5. Configure Permission:

  • Go to the “Permissions” tab in the “Host” section.
  • Add the AD user account to the appropriate role (e.g., Administrator or a custom role).

Example (PowerCLI):

New-VIPermission -Principal "EXAMPLE\domain_user" -Role "Admin" -Entity $esxiHost

6. Test AD Authentication:

  • Log out of the vSphere Client and log in using an Active Directory account. Use the format “DOMAIN\username” or “username@domain.com” depending on your environment.

Example:

  • Server: esxi.example.com
  • Username: example\domain_user
  • Password: ********

7. Troubleshooting:

  • If authentication fails, check the ESXi logs for any error messages related to authentication or domain joining.
  • Ensure that time synchronization is correct between the ESXi host and the domain controller.
  • Verify that the Active Directory user account has the necessary permissions.

Note: Always refer to the official VMware documentation for your specific ESXi version for the most accurate and up-to-date information. The steps might slightly differ based on the ESXi version you are using.

Setup VoIP Phone System at Home or Office in 4 EASY STEPS | FreePBX and Zoiper Guide

Setting up a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system at home or in an office with FreePBX involves several steps. FreePBX is an open-source PBX (Private Branch Exchange) software that can be used to manage and control VoIP phone calls. Here is a basic guide to help you set up a VoIP phone system using FreePBX:

1. Requirements:

  • A computer or server to host FreePBX (can be a physical machine or a virtual server).
  • A reliable internet connection with sufficient bandwidth for VoIP calls.
  • IP phones or softphones for users to make and receive calls.
  • VoIP service provider for external call routing.

2. Install FreePBX:

  • Download the FreePBX ISO from the official website: https://www.freepbx.org/downloads/
  • Install FreePBX on your chosen hardware or virtual machine following the installation instructions provided on the website.

3. Access FreePBX Web Interface:

  • Once the installation is complete, access the FreePBX web interface using a web browser. The default login credentials are usually:
    • Username: admin
    • Password: admin

4. Configure System Admin Module:

  • In the FreePBX web interface, go to the “Admin” menu and select “System Admin.”
  • Set the time zone, hostname, and other necessary system settings.

5. Configure Extensions:

  • Extensions represent individual phone lines or users in the FreePBX system.
  • Navigate to the “Applications” menu and select “Extensions.” Add extensions for each user or device, specifying the type of device (SIP phone, softphone, etc.).

6. Set Up Trunks:

  • Trunks are used to connect FreePBX to external VoIP providers for making and receiving calls.
  • In the FreePBX web interface, go to the “Connectivity” menu and select “Trunks.” Configure trunks with the details provided by your VoIP service provider.

7. Create Inbound and Outbound Routes:

  • Inbound routes determine how incoming calls are handled, and outbound routes determine the path for outgoing calls.
  • Navigate to the “Connectivity” menu and select “Inbound Routes” and “Outbound Routes.” Configure routes based on your requirements.

8. Set Up IVR (Interactive Voice Response):

  • If needed, create an IVR to provide callers with menu options for call routing.
  • In the FreePBX web interface, go to the “Applications” menu and select “IVR.”

9. Configure Voicemail:

  • Set up voicemail boxes for users who need voicemail services.
  • In the FreePBX web interface, go to the “Applications” menu and select “Voicemail.”

10. Test the System:

  • Once everything is configured, test the system by making internal and external calls to ensure that the setup is working as expected.

11. Security Considerations:

  • Implement security measures such as firewall rules, strong passwords, and regular system updates to protect your VoIP system.

Remember to consult the documentation provided by FreePBX and your VoIP service provider for specific configuration details and troubleshooting tips. Additionally, configuring a VoIP system may require a good understanding of networking concepts and VoIP protocols, so be prepared to address any technical challenges that may arise.

FortiGate Radius Configuration

Hello everyone , in this video I am going to integrate fortigate firewall with radius server , after that fortigate administrators can login and manage fortigate by using their active directory username and password.

Step 1: Log into FortiGate

Access your FortiGate device through a web browser or SSH client.

Step 2: Navigate to System Settings

  1. Go to System > Settings in the FortiGate web interface.

Step 3: Configure RADIUS Server

  1. Under Authentication Settings, click Create New to add a RADIUS server.
  2. Fill in the following details:
    • Name: A descriptive name for the RADIUS server.
    • Server: Enter the IP address or hostname of your RADIUS server.
    • Secret: This is a shared secret key that must match the one configured on the RADIUS server for authentication. It ensures secure communication between FortiGate and the RADIUS server.
    • Authentication Port: Usually set to 1812 for RADIUS authentication.
    • Accounting Port: Typically set to 1813 for RADIUS accounting, if needed.
  3. Click OK to save the RADIUS server configuration.

Step 4: Define a RADIUS Server Group

  1. Under Authentication Settings, click Create New to add a RADIUS server group.
  2. Give the group a descriptive name to identify it later.
  3. Add the previously configured RADIUS server(s) to the group. You can use multiple RADIUS servers for redundancy and load balancing.
    • Select the RADIUS servers from the list and use the right arrow button to move them to the “Selected” column.
  4. Click OK to save the RADIUS server group.

Step 5: Configure User Groups for RADIUS Authentication

  1. If you want to use RADIUS for user authentication, navigate to User & Device > User Groups.
  2. Edit an existing user group or create a new one based on your needs.
  3. In the user group settings, go to the Remote Groups section and select the RADIUS server group you created in Step 4.
  • This configuration ensures that users in this group will be authenticated against the RADIUS server.

Step 6: Testing

  1. It’s essential to test your RADIUS configuration to verify that it’s functioning correctly. You can do this by attempting to log in using user accounts associated with the RADIUS server.

Step 7: Monitoring and Troubleshooting

  1. FortiGate provides various monitoring tools under Log & Report where you can review RADIUS authentication and accounting logs. These logs can be instrumental in troubleshooting any issues with the RADIUS configuration.

Step 8: Additional Configuration

  1. Depending on your specific requirements, you may need to configure additional options such as RADIUS accounting, timeout settings, and other advanced features. Consult the FortiGate documentation for comprehensive details on these options.

Step 9: Save Configuration

  1. Make sure to save your configuration changes to ensure they are preserved across device reboots and updates.

By following these detailed steps, you can set up FortiGate to authenticate and authorize users through a RADIUS server effectively. This configuration enhances network security by centralizing user authentication and access control.

Install Web Deploy on IIS (Export and Import Websites With Application Pools)

Hello everyone , in this video I will show you how can migrate Websites in IIS from one server to another servers with all required components by using Web Deploy tools. Let me describe Web Deploy Tools: Web Deploy (also known as MSDeploy) in IIS refers to a technology developed by Microsoft that enables seamless deployment, migration, and synchronization of web applications, websites, and web server configurations across IIS servers. It streamlines the process of exporting and importing IIS configurations and content, making it easier to move web applications between different servers or environments. Web Deploy provides a set of tools and utilities that allow you to Export IIS Configuration and Content, You can use Web Deploy to create a deployment package that includes not only the web application’s files but also the IIS server’s configuration settings. This package captures everything needed for the application to run correctly on another server. Second provided option is  Import and Deploy, On the target server, you can use the same Web Deploy tool to install the application and its associated configurations using the deployment package. This process ensures that the target server’s IIS configuration matches the source server’s configuration. Also you can use Web Deploy to synchronize changes between a source and target server. For example, if you’ve made updates to a web application on your development server, you can use Web Deploy to sync those changes to your staging or production server.

Step 1: Installing Web Deploy

  1. Download Web Deploy:
  2. Install Web Deploy:
    • Run the downloaded installer with administrative privileges (right-click and choose “Run as administrator”).
    • Follow the installation wizard:
      • Accept the license terms.
      • Choose the installation location (you can leave it as the default).
      • Select the components to install. Make sure to select at least the following:
        • Web Deployment Tool
        • IIS Deployment Handler
        • Management Service Delegation UI
      • Click “Install” to begin the installation.

Step 2: Configuring IIS for Web Deploy

  1. Open IIS Manager:
    • Press Win + R, type inetmgr, and press Enter to open the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.
  2. Enable Management Service:
    • In IIS Manager, select your server node (usually the top node in the Connections pane on the left).
  3. Double-Click on “Management Service” under the “Management” section in the middle pane.
  4. Configure Management Service:
    • Check the “Enable remote connections” checkbox to allow remote management of the IIS server.
    • Set the “Start Type” to “Automatic” to ensure the service starts automatically with Windows.
    • Specify a unique port for the management service (default is 8172).
    • You can also configure other settings like SSL and client certificates if needed.
  5. Configure Permissions:
    • Under “Management Service Delegation,” you can configure permissions for various users and roles. Click “Add User…” to specify the users or groups that should have permission to deploy websites.
  6. Apply Changes:
    • Click the “Apply” button to save your configuration.

Step 3: Exporting and Importing Websites with Application Pools

Now that Web Deploy is installed and IIS is configured, you can use Web Deploy to export and import websites with application pools.

Export a Website:

  1. Open a Command Prompt:
    • Press Win + X and choose “Command Prompt (Admin)” to open a command prompt with administrative privileges.
  2. Run the Export Command:
    • Use the msdeploy command to export a website. Replace placeholders with actual values:
    bashCopy codemsdeploy -verb:sync -source:webServer,computerName=<ServerName>,userName=<Username>,password=<Password> -dest:package=<PathToPackage.zip> -enableRule:AppPoolExtension
    • <ServerName>: Replace with the server name or IP address.
    • <Username> and <Password>: Replace with the credentials of an account with sufficient permissions.
    • <PathToPackage.zip>: Specify the path where you want to save the exported package.

Import a Website:

  1. Open a Command Prompt:
    • Open a command prompt with administrative privileges.
  2. Run the Import Command:
    • Use the msdeploy command to import a website. Replace placeholders with actual values:
    bashCopy codemsdeploy -verb:sync -source:package=<PathToPackage.zip>,includeAcls=“False” -dest:webServer,computerName=<ServerName>,userName=<Username>,password=<Password>
    • <PathToPackage.zip>: Specify the path to the package you want to import.
    • <ServerName>: Replace with the server name or IP address.
    • <Username> and <Password>: Replace with the credentials of an account with sufficient permissions.
  3. Execute the Command:
    • Execute the command, and the website with its associated application pool will be imported to the target server.

By following these detailed steps, you should be able to successfully install Web Deploy, configure IIS for remote management, and perform website export and import operations with application pools. Always exercise caution when making changes to production servers and ensure you have backups in place.

Generate pfx and Install SSL Certificate in IIS, Enable https in IIS

Hello every one , in this video I will show you how can convert your certificate and key file to pfx format and also how to import that pfx in IIS webserver . as you know import pfx ssl certificate is easiest way to import in IIS.

Acquire an SSL Certificate:

  • You can obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) or through a third-party provider.
  • Alternatively, you can create a self-signed certificate for testing purposes, but it won’t be trusted by browsers.

2. Generate a PFX File:

  • Once you have the SSL certificate, you need to generate a PFX (Personal Information Exchange) file. This file will contain both the certificate and the private key.

Using OpenSSL (for Windows):

  • Download and install OpenSSL for Windows if you don’t have it already.
  • Open a command prompt and navigate to the OpenSSL bin directory.
  • Run the following command to generate a PFX file:

openssl pkcs12 -export -out yourdomain.pfx -inkey yourdomain.key -in yourdomain.crt

  • Replace yourdomain.pfx, yourdomain.key, and yourdomain.crt with your actual file names.

3. Install the SSL Certificate in IIS:

  • Open the IIS Manager:
    • Press Win + R, type inetmgr, and press Enter.
  • In the left-hand Connections pane, select your server node.
  • In the right-hand Actions pane, click on “Server Certificates.”

For a Self-Signed Certificate:

  • Click “Create Self-Signed Certificate” on the right-hand side.
  • Follow the wizard, providing a friendly name for the certificate.

For a Commercial Certificate:

  • Click “Import” and follow the wizard, selecting the PFX file you generated.
  • Enter the PFX password when prompted.

4. Bind the SSL Certificate to a Website:

  • In the IIS Manager, expand the Sites node in the Connections pane.
  • Select the website you want to secure with HTTPS.
  • In the right-hand Actions pane, click on “Bindings.”
  • Click “Add” to add a new binding.
  • Set the type to “https” and select the SSL certificate you installed earlier.
  • Choose an appropriate IP address and port (usually 443).
  • Click OK to save the binding.

5. Configure HTTPS in IIS:

  • Make sure the URL Rewrite module is installed in IIS. You can download it if needed.
  • In your website settings, go to the “SSL Settings.”
  • Check the box that says “Require SSL” to force HTTPS.

6. Test the Configuration:

  • Open a web browser and enter your site’s URL with “https://” (e.g., https://yourdomain.com).
  • Ensure that the connection is secure and that your SSL certificate is valid.

By following these steps, you’ll generate a PFX file, install an SSL certificate in IIS, and configure HTTPS for your website. This will help secure the data transmitted between the client and your web server.