Cannot continue. The microsoft runtime dll installer failed for complete installation. VMware Server 2

A partir de ahora, ya que he vuelto a España, voy a poner mis posts en castellano de nuevo.

Estoy jugando en mi pórtatil con Windows XP usando diferentes máquinas virtuales usando Vmware server. La cuestión es que tanto en la versión 2.0.0, como en la 2.0.2, me he encontrado que en algunos casos obtengo ese error.

La solución la encontre aquí .

Básicamente la solución es cuando nos da el error no tenemos que cerrar el instalador de VMware y aprovechar que crea unos ficheros temporales en:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp{AF08C71F-F822-4416-87A9-2BBF5A8A5F12}

Allí tenemos que ejecutar primero el vcredit.exe y luego el instalador de VMware Server. En ningún momento cerréis el instalador original, porque desaparecen los ficheros temporales.

Windows PE network driver in VMware Fusion

I hope next time won't take so much time to post here again. I'll try to do short posts and more often.

At work we use all flavours of VMWare: Server, ESX, Fusion.

Also we have set up a WinPE system to install Windows XP, so we can perform a fresh new installation in a new machine completely unattended with the possibility of installing some extra corporate software and some other tools.

I tried to do the same with new virtual machines, but you need to load the network driver for the installation. For doing that you need to download the AMD lancenet driver here:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/utilities/V4.51.zip

unzip it, stick it in a pendrive, access a console from your WinPE installation and load the driver manually with:

loaddrv.exe netamd.inf

then you have loaded the network driver and you can start the installation.

This is the quickest solution. A more long-term solution would be to include that driver in the CD so you don't need to load it manually.

Virtual Server iSCSI and AiO 600

After a lot of problems in my work, I'm now back on track to write about what I normally do at work.

About my last attempts of using iSCSI these are roughly my conclusions:

- Virtual Server is not a good solution for networking under Windows or Linux if you need to use gigabit throughput: the network drivers from Virtual Server don't support gigabit simulation and although they say it is a naming thing and actually the network interfaces use all the capacity available, the truth is that with iSCSI is impossible to get good performances.

- We have switched to Vmware Server 1.0.4. There are some drawbacks: 2.4.x kernel series fail a lot (the default in Debian 3.1), but they claim they are solved in next version of Vmware Server 1.0.5. In the meantime they claim that upgrading to 2.6.18-4 kernel stops the hangs in the virtual machine. I've just upgraded, so I'll report if this helps. I had another debian 4.0 that doesn't hang at all under the same Vmware server. I've upgraded to that etch kernel, so hopefully the 2.6.18-4 kernel will be in Debian 3.1 as stable as it is in Debian 4.0.

- Also although the performance of iSCSI against my AiO 600 using gigabit network drivers under Debian is much better than in Virtual Server (you have to change the .vmx configuration file to have gigabit drivers), still is not satisfactory. My way to go was the following: since the host OS is Windows Server, I created an iSCSI drive through windows and store in that iSCSI partition my vmware hard drive. That's the best of performances that I could get.

Fedora in Virtual Server

After several months without posting anything on this blog I'm going to start again, at least with short posts.

Today I'm going to talk about virtualization and my last experiments with iSCSI. I'm testing iSCSI against our NAS in our HP StorageWorks machine. HP claims that is possible to use it not only for SMB shares but for NFS shares and iSCSI drives.

Our current environment makes use of Virtual Server as our virtualization solution, so our Windows and Linux servers run on this virtual platform.

I've configured open-iscsi on my Debian etch (stable) virtual machine following these instructions:

http://www.howtoforge.com/iscsi_on_linux

I've tested it and I'm getting a poor performance:

svn:~# dd if=/dev/zero of=/mnt/virtualdata1/zero bs=4096 count=1572864
1572864+0 records in
1572864+0 records out
6442450944 bytes (6.4 GB) copied, 486.128 seconds, 13.3 MB/s
svn:~#
svn:~# dd if=/mnt/virtualdata1/zero of=/dev/null bs=4096

1572864+0 records in
1572864+0 records out
6442450944 bytes (6.4 GB) copied, 505.934 seconds, 12.7 MB/s

So I'm now testing on a virtual machine with Fedora 7 installed.

Installing Fedora on Virtual Server is really painful. First, after having configured all the settings the screen turns blank. It took me a while to figure out how to overcome this, just clicking alt+f1 (as If I was switching to other console) helped me to gain access to the console.

Not being enough with this, after rebooting and although I unselect all the X-related packages, apparently was trying to boot on graphical mode and I got an annoying welcome page where I couldn't see anything.

The way to trick this using grub, was escaping pressing 'Esc' to get the grub menu in the booting process, then press 'a' to append to the booting options the following:

"vga=791 3"

this boots in runlevel 3 (not graphical mode), but still this is not enough, you need to set the vga mode. You will see that the Virtual Server machine console turns bigger and you can see booting your machine cleanly :)

Next posts will be about how I figure out if the poor performance is due to our SAN, the Linux flavour or a network issue.

New storage NAND system will replace Hard Drives

Fusion IO has developed a non-volatile PCI Express card with NAND memories for replacing hard drives. They will feature hard drives from 80 to 640 Gb. The worst is the price: $30 per Gigabyte.

I guess the first customers will be data centers since It will cut down prices on power consumption.
http://www.fusionio.com/faq.html

Weird problems with Apache2 and Tomcat

I am using Tomcat and Apache working together through mod_jk. I am using Debian, so I have to stick to the configuration and the already built-in packages, which are mod_jk2 packages, although you can have mod_jk.so library (kind of weird, for being honest).

I was getting a strange message when cycling Apache:

Forcing reload of web server: Apache2[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [workers.tomcat_home] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create workers.tomcat_home
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [workers.java_home] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create workers.java_home
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [ps] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create ps
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.list] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.list
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.worker1.port] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.worker1.port
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.worker1.host] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.worker1.host
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.worker1.type] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.worker1.type
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.worker1.lbfactor] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.worker1.lbfactor
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.loadbalancer.type] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.loadbalancer.type
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.loadbalancer.balanced_workers] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.loadbalancer.balanced_workers
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.type] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.type
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.class_path] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.class_path
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.cmd_line] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.cmd_line
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.jvm_lib] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.jvm_lib
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.stdout] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.stdout
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.stderr] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.stderr
[Tue Apr 03 13:05:58 2007] [notice] mod_jk2: Unrecognized option config.file /etc/apache2/workers.properties
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [workers.tomcat_home] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create workers.tomcat_home
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [workers.java_home] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create workers.java_home
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [ps] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create ps
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.list] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.list
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.worker1.port] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.worker1.port
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.worker1.host] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.worker1.host
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.worker1.type] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.worker1.type
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.worker1.lbfactor] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.worker1.lbfactor
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.loadbalancer.type] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.loadbalancer.type
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.loadbalancer.balanced_workers] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.loadbalancer.balanced_workers
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.type] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.type
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.class_path] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.class_path
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.cmd_line] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.cmd_line
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.jvm_lib] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.jvm_lib
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.stdout] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.stdout
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] env.createBean2(): Error getting factory for [worker.inprocess.stderr] (null)
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [error] config.update(): Can't create worker.inprocess.stderr
[Tue Apr 03 13:06:01 2007] [notice] mod_jk2: Unrecognized option config.file /etc/apache2/workers.properties

In the end, The key was the last line, there is an apache2 module configuration under /etc/apache2/mods-enable/jk2.conf where you can see the following lines:

# To enable mod_jk2, customize workers2.properties* from
# /usr/share/doc/libapache2-mod-jk2/examples and copy it to
# /etc/apache2/workers2.properties. Then uncomment the following line:
#JkSet config.file /etc/apache2/workers.properties

As can be seen, if you uncomment (which I did) the last line, it means that you activate mod_jk2. Anyway, by default it uses the worker.properties because it is configured to do so in /usr/lib/apache-tomcat/auto/conf/mod_jk.conf

So double check any configuration, I passed several hours figuring out what was actually happening, since I thought it was a JVM issue.

Finally, some quoting on the website that pointed me out to the right place to look at:

http://www.open-xchange.org/oxwiki/OXDebianSargeFromPackage

Update Daylight Saving Time in Debian

Finally I managed to come to the US :)

Right now I am fixing the Daylight Saving Time issue, for Debian boxes you have to test if you have your OS time set correctly, so you have to issue:

file:~# zdump -v /etc/localtime |grep 2007

/etc/localtime Sun Apr 1 06:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Apr 1 01:59:59 2007 EST isdst=0 gmtoff=-18000

/etc/localtime Sun Apr 1 07:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Apr 1 03:00:00 2007 EDT isdst=1 gmtoff=-14400

/etc/localtime Sun Oct 28 05:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Oct 28 01:59:59 2007 EDT isdst=1 gmtoff=-14400

/etc/localtime Sun Oct 28 06:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Oct 28 01:00:00 2007 EST isdst=0 gmtoff=-18000

If you happen to have these dates instead of March 11 and November 4 your system needs to be updated.

Debian stable users: apt-get update && apt-get install libc6

Debian unstable users: apt-get update && apt-get install tzdata

After patching you should get the right time:

file:~# zdump -v /etc/localtime |grep 2007

/etc/localtime Sun Mar 11 06:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Mar 11 01:59:59 2007 EST isdst=0 gmtoff=-18000

/etc/localtime Sun Mar 11 07:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Mar 11 03:00:00 2007 EDT isdst=1 gmtoff=-14400

/etc/localtime Sun Nov 4 05:59:59 2007 UTC = Sun Nov 4 01:59:59 2007 EDT isdst=1 gmtoff=-14400

/etc/localtime Sun Nov 4 06:00:00 2007 UTC = Sun Nov 4 01:00:00 2007 EST isdst=0 gmtoff=-18000

You need to check whether you need to fix other applications:

http://istpub.berkeley.edu:4201/bcc/Spring2007/1019.html

Setting up WPA-PSK with madwifi

I was setting up my wireless AP to support WPA-PSK, for that I used the
following instructions:

http://madwifi.org/wiki/UserDocs/HostAP
http://madwifi.org/wiki/UserDocs/WPA_PSK_on_Both_Ends

Mainly under Debian you have to issue:

apt-get install hostapd

and modify /etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf following the instructions in
madwifi.org. But I kept getting among all the traces this:

madwifi_del_key: addr=00:0c:f1:5d:de:b5 key_idx=0
madwifi_set_sta_authorized: addr=00:0c:f1:5d:de:b5 authorized=0
ath0: STA 00:0c:f1:5d:de:b5 IEEE 802.1X: unauthorizing port

I just had to change in hostapd.conf

from eapol_version=2

to eapol_version=1

and now it works!! :-D

Hope this helps for those who had the same problem...

Beta version of the Sunbird Mozilla Calendar system

For the ones who want to test the new system of Mozilla Calendar called
Sunbird, it is already in the BETA version:

http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/sunbird/download.html

Free and open essential software for Windows

I have a nice list of free and open software for Windows as replacement
of proprietary software. A nice to have list for the ones who wants a
smooth path from Windows for Linux and someone who needs to run the same
software in Windows as in their Linux PCs.

http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/01/30-essential-pieces-of-free-and-open-software-for-windows/