Blog: Networking

Microsoft provides a useful command-line tool called err.exe that can help you find the meanings of error codes. When you run err.exe and specify an error code, the program searches all the error-code definitions from the various header files that Windows uses to generate a list of possible error meanings. You can download err.exe at Microsoft Web site. (Although the Web page is called "Exchange Server Error Code Look-up," err.exe actually handles Windows OS error codes.) [more]

If you run err.exe and specify an error code--for example,

err 1645
the output looks like this:

C:\temp\Err>
# for decimal 1645 / hex 0x66d :
ERROR_INSTALL_REMOTE_PROHIBITED winerror.h
# The Windows Installer does not permit installation from a
# Remote Desktop Connection.
# for hex 0x1645 / decimal 5701 :
NELOG_NetlogonFailedToUpdateTrustList lmerrlog.h
SQL_5701_severity_10 sql_err
# Changed database context to '%.*ls'.
# 3 matches found for "1645"

Notice that err.exe searches for the value you entered in both its hexadecimal and decimal forms.

Windows Vista includes a new technology called ReadyBoost, which is designed to speed-up your system by caching disk reads into flash memory.  Originally, I read this feature was intended for the upcoming hybrid drive technology (more info here), but I recently learned ReadyBoost will also work with other types of flash memory like a USB drive.  Here are some interesting facts about ReadyBoost: [more]

• Caches only disk reads, so the flash device can be removed at any time
• Cache is encrypted using AES-128
• Minimum requirements is 256mb of space, with the device capable of 2.5MB/sec for 4k random access reads and 1.5MB/sec for 512k random writes
• Microsoft recommends matching the capacity of the flash device to the amount of system memory

When you insert a flash drive, Vista will test the device and give you the option of using it for ReadyBoost.  Properties on the drive shows a ReadyBoost tab with an option of controlling the amount of space to be used.

When deploying a Microsoft cluster with shared disk resources on a san, be sure that the SAN controller supports “capacity extension” technology.  If this is not supported, it will be impossible to add storage capacity to the existing disk resource.  A new resource will have to be created. [more]

Even after capacity is extended on the shared disk resource,  Windows will not recognize it, because shared disk resources are basic disks, and cannot be converted to dynamic.  The extra capacity can be utilized only by extending the partition using the diskpart command(use caution!).

To test email, send a help message to a mailing list server, [email protected], for example.  Just include the word help in the body of the message.  Another good place to send email (with anything in the subject and body) to is [email protected].  This sends a message back with a report about your spf configuration and includes details about your original email.

As of IOS 12.3(1), Cisco introduced support for enforcing a minimum number of password characters and sending a syslog message after a specified number of failed login attempts.  Enabling these commands will help banks comply with regulations and their own policies as well as improve the security of their Cisco IOS devices.  I have not found similar commands for CatOS or PIX OS yet. [more]

security passwords min-length <length>

• global command that sets the minimum password length for user, enable, and line passwords.
• Default is six, but it should be configured according to bank policies.

security authentication failure rate <threshold-rate> log

• global command that sets the number of failed login attempts (without at least a 15-second delay) before a syslog message is generated
• Threshold value can be 2-1024.  A value of 1 will not generate any syslog messages.  Default is 10, but should comply with bank policies.