I have been asked this a few times over the past few weeks, so thought it was worth a post.  When you use Remote Desktop software, you are in fact running Terminal services, so therefore log on to the server and run your specific login.  This in turn loads a profile for you and does not show you the interface of any programs being run directly by the Windows server (i.e. Domino).  If you want to use Remote Desktop to gain access to the domino server console, do the following:

Click on START/RUN

Type in

mstsc /v:servername /console

Servername=name of windows server or IP address.

Login and bingo – you can see it now.

Was downloaded over 300 times since I posted it, with some good feedback.  I have not forgotten my Websphere promise, but I was also going to write an article on migrating BES to run on a "real" SQL server as opposed to the desktop engine.  Is anyone interested in this one?

Ok guys, This post is far too long to put in a blog, so I have created the first PDF draft of instructions on how to move BES running on Domino.  This is a DRAFT and I would appreciate feedback and comments to make it more comprehensive and better, for the greater good.  I was of two minds to blog this or not, but after talking with Kevin and Warren, thought I would give it a go.  There are a few ways to skin this cat, and this is just one of them.  Please, if I have left anything out, just let me know and I will add it in, with attribution.

Objective:

Move the BES to a new Domino server, without affecting users (except for downtime of the move of course). This is the same “Domino” server, but you have moved it to new OS/hardware etc.
Click here
to get it.

One that caught me recently!   You try to migrate the certifier to the CA process and an error occurs "Server certificate can not be located".    You are working off the server, on a LAN connection.  So what is the problem?  Its rather easy really – If (like me) you work with local mail files all the time, with scheduled replication, your location document is set to use the local mail file (Location document – Mail  - Mail file location), the migration tool cannot find the public address book.  Change this to "On Server" and retry – it works then.

Not so much a "Show and Tell" thing, but just passing on an issue I had recently.  A site I work for has multi user installations running 6.5.5 clients.  Its a standard Win2k3 network with XP clients.  Anyways… printing from Notes only seems to work 50% of the time, with no error.  Simply put, you click on print and nothing happens.   Rolling back to 6.5.4 immediately resolved this.  Just bear it in mind!

Ok – taken from my Admin Blast presentation.  This is one of the things I look for when conducting a security audit of a domino domain.  Domino servers can offer many services… POP3 server, IMAP, LDAP, HTTP etc.. and each of those services run on different (usually standard) ports.  A lot of the time, on specific tasks are running on your domino server, not all of them.  For example, its relatively rare to find a domino POP3 server.  Now, POP3 uses a standard port (110) just like HTTP uses port 80 by default.  Bad guys know this…

If you are not planning to use specific domino tasks that require ports (e.g. POP3) disable the port in the server document.  This prevents the unintentional or intentional activation of the task/port on your server.  If the port is disabled (as shown below) the task will fail when you try to load it.

This applies to HTTP, LDAP, IMAP, POP, DIIOP, SMTP, RDebug etc.  Of course, your firewall should be taking care of this… but never assume and don’t forget on the LAN – there is rarely a firewall between the clients and domino servers.

Not a tip.  More of a question.  Recently, I am spending more
and more time on Websphere.  I was going to start posting some Portal
tips and possibly a few bits on Domino/Websphere Portal integration.  Kinda
"Portal tips for Domino admin weenies"  or PTFDAW…  Any
comments or objections to this?

Now, if you like this… I want your good Admin tips.  If any of them are better then ones I have in the presentation already, I will add them in.  Either post or mail them to me!  Any ones I add in will be credited to the "tip donor"!