psconfig

Inconvenient Settings Loss With Dismount-SPContentDatabase

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:29:00 -0400

Are you someone that likes to go through your web applications and dismount your databases prior to patching? Or maybe you’re just moving a content database from one web application to another. Or maybe, just maybe, you want to dismount a content database for the fun of it!

Well, if that’s you, you might have noticed (or maybe not), that when the content database is remounted, a few properties get reset to their default values such as MaximumSiteCount and WarningSiteCount (2,000 and 5,000 respectively). This can be pretty inconvenient (to say the least!) if you’ve modified these settings in any way and even more inconvenient if you didn’t document them before running Dismount-SPContentDatabase.

Once again, it’s our friend PowerShell to the rescue. The following functions allow you to dismount all of the content databases in a given web application (Dismount-SPContentDatabases) while retaining the pertinent settings in CSV file. The function helpfully titled Mount-SPContentDatabases will remount the content databases (using Mount-SPContentDatabase) to the supplied web application using the previous settings (including the original DatabaseServer), thus saving you at least 5 minutes to enjoy an additional cup of coffee.

Example Use

Imagine you have a web application with the name ContosoIntranet.

Dismount-SPContentDatabases http://intranet.contoso.com
Mount-SPContentDatabases http://intranet.contoso.com (Join-Path $pwd “ContosoIntranet_ContentDB.csv”)

SharePoint 2013 Additional Prerequisites Unavailable for Download

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:28:52 -0400

As you’re all aware, SharePoint 2013 has some additional prerequisites that are required for a proper installation that aren’t included in the Prerequisite Installer. Todd Klindt just had a great post on this (so go there for the extra details), but he forgot to mention that 2 of the required hotfixes don’t currently have publicly available request forms. Todd was also nice enough to include some download links, so I’m posting them here as well for posterity.

KB 2759112 - A hotfix is available for the .NET Framework 4.5 that resolves an ASP.NET race condition issue in Windows Server 2008 R2 – Download
KB 2765317 - A hotfix is available for the .NET Framework 4.5 that resolves an ASP.NET race condition issue in Windows Server 2012 – Download

Office 365 Sign-In Changes

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:01:00 -0500

Coming in March 2013, following the release of the next version of Office 365, users will be presented with a streamlined sign-in experience. The sign-in page will a feature responsive design and was designed to “provide the best possible performance and experience on computing devices”.

If you’d like to opt-in earlier and test drive the new experience, click here.

Post opt-in, here’s what you’ll experience on the desktop.

Shredded Bits. It's What's For Breakfast

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:11:00 -0500

Dan Usher (@usher) and I were given the opportunity to head down and present at the Richmond SharePoint User Group (@RichmondSUG). It was a great crowd and we had a great time. Now, for your viewing pleasure…

The Slides

Shredded Bits, It’s what’s for Breakfast… from Scott Hoag

Presenting SharePoint Worst Practices and Blunders

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 00:45:00 -0500

Dan Usher (@usher) and I had the distinct pleasure of presenting to the Baltimore SharePoint Users Group (@baltsharepoint) on 18/1/2013. A copy of our presentation is embedded below.

Bonus! Video

Video streaming by Ustream

WMF 3.0 Compatibility Update Pulled From Windows Update

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:18:11 -0500

WMF 3.0 Compatibility Update Pulled From Windows Update:

The Windows Management Framework 3.0 Compatibility Update has been pulled from Windows Update due to compatibility issues with existing server applications, such as SharePoint 2010.

As noted on Trevor Seward’s blog, if you have installed the update and are experiencing issues, you can uninstall and reboot your server to get everything operational again.

Do not install WMF 3.0 on #SharePoint Servers - sharepoint.nauplius.net/2012/12/do-not…
— Trevor Seward (@NaupliusTrevor) December 19, 2012

Easily Hide Columns on a SharePoint Form with PowerShell

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 11:22:03 -0500

Marc Anderson recently had a post on his site titled Easily Hide Columns on a SharePoint Form with jQuery. As with all things SharePoint, there are a number of ways to approach a solution, so I thought I’d offer it up in PowerShell (or Po$h as it were).

So, if you’ve ever asked yourself

I want to hide columns in my list forms but I don’t know any jQuery! What is an IT Pro to do?

I’ve got an answer for you!

The Setup

I have a custom list at http://intranet.contoso.com/Lists/CustomList with a single column added called HideOnNewShowOnEdit (creative right?). Through the use of the ShowInNewForm property on the SPField object, we’ll mask the field and prevent it from being shown in any NewForm.

Before

After

More fun

There are a few more properties which will aid you in your field hiding journey. Take a look at:

My Sites and The SPDataAccess SQL Role

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 23:49:07 -0500

You’ve been busy spinning up your RTM SharePoint 2013 farms haven’t you? And of course, you’ve been deploying under the least-privileged security model like any good IT Pro. After you have everything configured, you open the event viewer and what to your wondering eyes should appear? An error of course!

The error and why

So, why is my content Application Pool attempting to access My Sites? Well, if we read Account permissions and security settings in SharePoint 2013 (go ahead, I’ll still be here when you finish) under the SharePoint service application accounts section (specifically My Sites application pool account) there’s a little follow-section titled Other application pool accounts. Let’s take a look at the permissions our “Other” pool accounts should be granted automatically:

Configuration Item	Works as advertised
This account is assigned to the SP_DATA_ACCESS role for the content databases.	No*
This account is assigned to the SP_DATA_ACCESS role for search database that is associated with the web application	No**
This account must have read and write access to the associated service application database.	Yes
This account is assigned to the WSS_CONTENT_APPLICATION_POOLS role that is associated with the farm configuration database.	Yes
This account is assigned to the WSS_CONTENT_APPLICATION_POOLS role that is associated with the SharePoint_Admin content database.	Yes

* The account is not automatically added to the My Sites content database(s). If it was, we wouldn’t be here.
** The search databases don’t have the SPDataAccess role.

Fixing the error

To alleviate the error (and make your servers happy again!), we’ll be heading off to SQL and executing a quick query on each content databases associated with your My Sites web application:

Changes to the Design View in SharePoint Designer 2013

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 21:17:45 -0400

Changes to the Design View in SharePoint Designer 2013:

“there is no longer a need to support a visual web page editor within SharePoint Designer”

And that’s that.

Enable Health Data Collection with PowerShell

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:16:09 -0400

Need to enable the collection of health data in a SharePoint 2010 build with PowerShell?

Here you go.

SharePoint 2010 Prerequisite installer fails on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:32:57 -0400

SharePoint 2010 Prerequisite installer fails on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1:

When running the SharePoint 2010 prerequisite installer (PrerequisiteInstaller.exe) on a Windows 2008 R2 box with SP1 installed, the installer may fail with the following error:

“There was an error during installation. The tool was unable to install Hotfix for Microsoft Windows (KB976462)”

The answer? Just run it again.

SharePoint 2010 Prerequisites Installer ADOMD.Net Installation Error

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 09:54:04 -0400

You’ve gone out and downloaded all of the perquisites for an offline SharePoint 2010 installation either by hand (or with a handy script) and you’re getting errors related to some of the files you downloaded? Yep, SharePoint is picky. For some reason or another the PrerequisiteInstaller really needs a super special version of the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services ADOMD.NET installer or else you end up with an error similar to the following:

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Analysis Services ADOMD.NET: installation error

What’s an IT Pro to do? That’s right, go out and download a different version. A working version of the x64 msi can be obtained from Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Feature Pack, October 2008 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 Feature Pack (depending on your target version of SQL Server).

Or, better yet:

SQL Server 2008 ADOMD.NET x64 - SQLSERVER2008_ASADOMD10.msi
SQL Server 2008 ADOMD.NET x64 - SQLSERVER2008_ASADOMD10.msi

Disabling IPv6 on Server Core

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:08:00 -0400

Disabling IPv6 on Server Core:

A few options.

The Hammer - Follow KB929852 and set the DisabledComponents registry key. Reboot. Life is good.
The Finesse - Use nvspbind to unbind IPv6 from the interface. Can’t install nvspbind? See Step 1.

SPTechCon: SharePoint Authentication and Authorization

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 16:57:43 -0400

I had the pleasure of getting up on a stage at SPTechCon Boston 2012 with Dan Usher (@usher) and Jason Himmelstein (@sharepointlhorn) to talk about SharePoint Authentication and Authorization. We were stepping in for Liam Cleary (@helloitsliam) and had some big shoes to fill. Thanks to all who came out to the session and if you have any questions, don’t forget to reach out.

The Presentation

SharePoint Authentication and Authorization from Scott Hoag

SPTechCon: Pitfalls of Migrating to SharePoint 2010

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:55:16 -0400

Dan Usher (@usher) and I presented on the pitfalls of migrating to the SharePoint 2010 platform at SPTechCon Boston 2012. Thanks again everyone to came out.

The Presentation

Pitfalls Of Migrating to SharePoint 2010 from Scott Hoag

SPTechCon: Admin 2010 - So You're the New SharePoint Administrator...

Tue, 24 Jul 2012 11:43:23 -0400

It’s been a pleasure to attend and speak at SPTechcon Boston 2012 with Dan Usher (@usher). Our first presentation was a 1/2 day workshop on SharePoint Administration for the new Site Collection Admin. Thanks again to all who attended.

The Presentation

Admin 101: So You’re the New SharePoint Administrator… from Scott Hoag

Dan Usher and I decided to to record a quick teaser for our...

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 23:47:41 -0400

Dan Usher and I decided to to record a quick teaser for our upcoming sessions at SPTechCon Boston 2012.

If you’re attending the conference, you can stop by and see us in any of the following sessions/workshops:

Pitfalls of Migrating to SharePoint 2010
Worst Practices of SharePoint
SharePoint 101: So You’re the New SharePoint Administrator…

A List Apart Summer Reading Issue

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:26:59 -0400

A List Apart Summer Reading Issue:

Presenting the ALA Summer Reading Issue—our favorite articles from 355 issues of A List Apart.

Excellent. My Instapaper queue is full again.

Where to download Office Web Apps in the Volume Licensing Center

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:11:26 -0400

Where to download Office Web Apps in the Volume Licensing Center:

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

SharePoint Saturday Dayton - Building A SharePoint Platform That Scales

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:43:53 -0400

SharePoint Saturday Dayton (@spsdayton/#spsdayton) is in the books and it was another great event. I had the pleasure of presenting with Dan Usher (yes, that @usher) once again and if we happened to miss you (or you’d like to continue the conversation) just let us know.

Building a SharePoint Platform That Scales

View more PowerPoint from Scott Hoag