My Geek Finds

Bare Metal Software’s Bare Tail

Bare Tail is a handy little free utility that allows you to monitor log files on Windows real-time. Basically a GUI of the Unix command tail -f.

Allows you to tail monitor multiple files. Pretty neat check it out here http://www.baremetalsoft.com/baretail/index.php

The Windows 2003 Resource kit contains a command line tail utility that is also pretty handy.

Free, easy, and quick.

UltraDefrag – Windows Disk Defragmentation Utility

UltraDefrag is powerful disk defragmentation tool for Windows NT/Vista/XP/Server2003. Extremely fast and useful. Some of the unique features of UD are ability to defragment system files at boot time and defragmenting single file or directory.

Just some notes on backing up an Active Directory domain controller or the system state of any Windows client using EMC’s AVAMAR.
—

Install the AVAMAR client on the DC(s) to be backed up.

In the AVAMAR Administrator create a Dataset for the DCs (WindowsDC).

Use the Windows file system plugin and do not set any exclusions.

On the Options Tab check the Backup Windows System State check box and define a Backup label.

The AVAMAR client uses the NTBackup Utility to create a backup of the system state, it stores this backup in var in the avamar client install directory (C:\Program Files\avs\var\).  If the space on that drive is limited you can set an attribute systemstatefile with a value of the full path to store the back up – D:\avs\SystemState.bkf (after you set the attribute/value make sure to hit + to add it)

Now create a Policy Group for the Dataset and set the schedule, retention, and add the clients (the AD Domain Controllers). Once you enable the group it will be run on the schedule or it can be run on demand.

When the backup runs the AVAMAR client first uses the Windows NTBackup Utility to backup the  critical system state information such as the registry and the Sysvol directory.

Reference the AVAMAR System Administration Manual for more details on System State backup and restore.