DPM Error 324

Recently, we are doing a DPM Proof of Concept with Microsoft.

Everything works fine with DPM Server installation, DPM Agent push. However, the second day, the agent is not be able to communicate with DPM Server with an error 324.

The detail of the error sounds like:

The agent operation failed because the DPM Agent Coordinator service did not respond.
To troubleshoot this, according to Microsoft website, you will need to:

1) Check the recent DPMAC source records in the application event log on .

2) Verify that the DPM server is remotely accessible from.

3) If a firewall is enabled on the DPM server, verify that it is not blocking requests from .

4) Verify that the time on the DPM server and the selected computer is synchronized with the domain controller. At a command prompt, type "net time /set" to synchronize the time with the domain controller.

However, it is not the case of ours, what we found out:
It is because of Windows 2003 SP2...

We will need to verify that the DPM server is a member of the Distributed COM Users group and that the group has DCOM Launch and Access permissions.

1) In Computer Management, expand System Tools, expand Local Users and Groups, and then click Groups.

2) In the Details pane, double-click the Distributed COM Users group.

3) Verify that the computer account for the DPM server is a member of the group.

For DCOM Launch and Access permission:

1) In Administrative Tools, open Component Services, Expand Component Services, expand Computers, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

2) On the COM Security tab, under Access Permissions, click Edit Limits. Verify that the Distributed COM Users group is allowed both Local Access and Remote Access permissions.

3) On the COM Security tab, under Launch and Activation Permissions, click Edit Limits. Verify that the Distributed COM Users groups is allowed the following permissions:

• Local Launch
• Remote Launch
• Local Activation
• Remote Activation
  

Wait for sometime, the DPMA now be able to communicate with DPM Server.

It tooks us about 1-2 hours to solve it together with the customer.

Backup SCCM Site

If you want to backup your SCCM site, you may make use of SCCM Site Server Maintenance Task to accomplish this. Below is the steps to configure the SCCM Backup job:

1. In the SCCM console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager / Site Database / Site Management / <site name> / Site Settings / Site Maintenance / Tasks.

2. Right-click the Backup Site Server task, and click Properties.

3. Specify how frequent you would like to backup your site in the the backup task properties, and click OK. Ensure that you schedule the backup task to run at an appropriate time.

Try to make use of SCCM native backup method. My 2 cents... :)

Windows Firewall exceptions for SCCM Client Push Installation

After you had enable Client Push Installation in SCCM, you found all the client machines failed to receive and install the SCCM agent. After you verify the log files, you may found out the Windows Firewall in client machine is blocking the Client Push Installation. Due to company policy, it is impossible for you to turn off the Windows Firewall on client machines...

Here we provide one good solution for IT Administrators to encounter issue above.

In order to successfully use SCCM Client Push Installation, you must add the following as exceptions to the Windows Firewall on every client machines:

• File & Printer Sharing
• Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

After all things is done, lets rocks with SCCM Client Push Installation!

DPM - Installing DPM Agent

Before you protect your data/application on certain server, like other backup application, you will need to install its client agent. In DPM 2007, you will need to install DPM 2007 client.

For mass deployment, you can either deploy using AD GPO, SCCM 2007, install using DPM 2007 console or install manually.

In the following video, we will share on how to install using DPM 2007 console.

Video: How to install DPM 2007 agent.
Desc: This video will show on how to install DPM 2007 agent using DPM 2007 console.

DPM 2007 - Adding disk

Guys,

After successfully installed DPM 2007, you will need to add disk to allow DPM to protect data to store.

You wont be able to use removable storage for this usage, however, you can use ISCSI, the new technology as its disk spool, additional hdd, or SAN of course.

After you installed the nessasary hardware, you will need to add the disk to DPM.

Below the video on how to add disk

Video : How to install disk to DPM 2007.
Desc: After adding disk hardware, you will need to add the disk to allow DPM to store its protected data.

DPM 2007 - Intro with Video

Guys,

Long time never post any articles here. Recently, prepared a training for Microsoft Malaysia's customer. Managed to come out some video about DPM 2007.

Why DPM 2007? Yes this is Microsoft version of backup. Simple answer, because this is developed by Microsoft and it works well with Microsoft products! Windows, Files and Folders, Applications like SQL, Exchange +++. We will share the top reasons why DPM 2007 in our next posts.

Attached some video to share with you guys. We are producing more video. Come back to this blog for more stuff.

Video 1: Installing DPM 2007.
Desc: You will see the steps to install DPM 2007 here. Please search for another post on installing SQL for DPM manually.

Cheers

How to customize SCCM 2007 Software Metering data collection timing

If Software Metering Client Agent is enable in your desktop management environment, some of the administrators may wonder where to customize the schedule for software metering data collection timing? and how frequent the software metering run for data collection?

Well, in SMS 2003 and SCCM 2007, there is a Predefined Maintenance Task for data collection and database maintenance. In this predefined maintenance task, you can specific the schedule for Software Metering data collection time. There are under:

Summarize Software Metering File Usage Data
Default Schedule: Runs daily, between midnight and 5:00 A.M.
Function of this task: Software metering collect the daily usage for the metered applications and store it inside the database.

Summarize Software Metering Monthly Usage Data
Default Schedule: Runs daily, between midnight and 5:00 A.M.
Function of this task: Software metering summarized the data's more than one month old.