Note to self: Merging files before CUCM upgrade

I ran into an issue when upgrading (patching) a CUCM 7.1.2 tonight, and I couldn't see any readme files on cisco.com explaining the problem. However, I came across a blog post mentioning something similar.

When you download patches from cisco.com, they might be big and split into two or more files.

One way to merge them is using the "copy /B" in a dos prompt.

Example: When you have downloaded the two files "UCSInstall_UCOS_X.X.X.XXXXX-XX.sgn.iso_part1of2" and "UCSInstall_UCOS_X.X.X.XXXXX-XX.sgn.iso_part2of2", simply merge them by typing: "Copy /B UCSInstall_UCOS_X.X.X.XXXXX-XX.sgn.iso_part1of2+UCSInstall_UCOS_X.X.X.XXXXX-XX.sgn.iso_part2of2 UCSInstall_UCOS_X.X.X.XXXXX-XX.sgn.iso

The process will take a few minutes, and should complete with "one files copied" (You need to be in the folder where these files are located).

Once this is done, you put the merged file in a folder which you can connect to from the CUCM.

(Tip: I use xlite as a ftp server for this purpose :)

Back from Brussels, and not at all happy.

You might even say I'm "pi$$ed". Not by any means on any one related to the ccie lab, but at myself. Why? because I've tricked myself into believing I knew what I was doing.

I've simply been blinded by believing I knew how to configure a million different features and settings in CUCM and CUCME. And for what? Only to fail because of some "stupid" error.

The first time I sat the lab, I realized I didn't have enough configuration skills. And I was really pressed for time when I ran into a few bugs. Instead of waiting 30 days, i spent 2 months trying to prepare for the second attempt.

This time I thought I had it all covered. Only to sit down at a desk where there was a lot pre-configured (and wrongfully so, to test me, the candidate) for me to troubleshoot. This came as a surprise to me. Here I am, having prepared so well for configuring the systems, I really did not know where to look for answers on some of the tasks. I could argue the lab is somewhat artificial, and in a real life scenario I would either call a colleague of mine or simply just "Google" it. But such is the nature of the ccie lab. It's not like the real world.....

I am obviously not really ready for the ccie lab just yet, but close. And on a lucky day, I might even have passed it. So where does this leave me? I've spent most of my spare time on reading and testing for the past 6 months. It was truly disappointing when I realized how I had failed. I am really tired and fed up with it all. but at the same time, I can't just give it up, can I?

I will take a break over the summer and, as I tweeted some time ago, "..rethink my life". Then I'll try to negotiate a deal with the family (and work) to really go in deep for a few intense week before I'll resit the lab. I know I have the skills, I know I have the knowledge, I just lack the practice and speed. (I'll obviously have to do some troubleshooting labs ;)

A few words on the 074-924 (UC Voice Specialization) Exam

#OCS

As a voice technician, I've been working with both Cisco and Microsoft voice products. But as my company now wants to achieve the Voice Spec. partnership with MS, I had to put my Cisco CCIE books on the shelves for a few days.

Only a few days to study for the 74-924, is that all it takes?. No way! The Exam is one of the hardest exams I've taken so far (and I've taken a few). I feel this test really measured my knowledge and understanding of the OCS platform.

The reason why I passed with only a few days of studying is because I've been working with all of the products involved for several years, and have a thorough understanding of how Exchange, AD, PKI, NTP, DNS and Voice in general works.

I did not attend the Ignite course as recommended, but I really recommend attending the Ignite course if you do not feel you're to comfortable with all of the components I mentioned above. The Ignite course will take you through the basics (but not everything) you need to understand. In the end though, the only thing that will save your day is experience and in-depth knowledge.

*Update*

This is a OCS 2007 exam, not a 2007 R2 exam. So know the difference (I know I missed a few because I've been studying R2). There will be a R2 UC Exam in April: 074-404

Office 2010, Going from Tech-Preview to Beta

#MSOFFICE

I had a few obstacles when I tried to remove the 2010 tech preview I want to share with you.

But first, let me explain to you what scenario I had. I chose to upgrade my 2007 to 2010, and I had to use the 2007 Groove client, as the 2010 groove did not seem to work. After installing the 2010, I had also added the MOC 2007R2 + Live meeting add inns.

First I tried to uninstall the the 2010 tech preview. So far so good. no problems or errors reported. But when I tried to install the 2010 beta, I was prompted with an error message, saying I could not install until all 2010 components were removed.....?

Here is a list of what I had to do make it work:
1: I repaired the 2007 installation -> no go
2: I ran Outlook, and repaired the inbox to a 2007 state -> no go
3: I removed MOC -> no go (By the way, after removing tech preview, the MOC's integration to Outlook stopped working)
4: I removed the Live meeting component -> no go
5: I removed the conference add in for outlook -> Success

The lesson in this? It's not always enough to remove the software in question, but make sure you remove or fix some or all of the plugins/software which are integrated with the product.

I am now running Office 2010 beta, and have successfully reinstalled all the components I had to remove. And BTW: The new Sharepoint client (replacing Groove) is a nice improvement!)

Installing OCS 2007 R2 on Windows 2008 R2

#OCS #WindowsServer #Powershell

Here is a tip for if you want to speed up the process of installing OCS on a Windows 2008 R2 server.

The installation wizard and guide is made for previous OS's, and is not capable of detecting or installing all of the features you need (.net framework beeing one of them). Also, I realized all the tech blogs I came across on google suggested to use the servermanagercmd.exe to add some of the prerequisites. servermanagercmd is depreciated, and I suggest you use Powershell in Windows 2008 R2.

So, before even thinking of starting the OCS setup, you should concider running the following commands in powershell (as administrator):

import-module servermanager
web-windows-auth,web-mgmt-compat,web-mgmt-console,web-http-logging,msmq-server,msmq-directory,rsat-addc,was-process-model,was-config-apis,NET-Framework-Core,Desktop-Experience -restart

So far, so good, but now I,m stuck with a new error: 0x80070534 "No mapping betweein account names and security IDs was done. This error is registered on the "setting NTFS rights" section in the error report. Anyone got an Idea?