Microsoft Exchange Transport Services Won't Start

Open PowerShell with the Exchange PowerShell CMD Tool

Check the Health of Exchange:
Test-ServiceHealth

Check the Exchange Database Status:
Get-MailboxDatabase -Status | Format-List name,server,mounted

Check the Queues:
Get-Queue | Select Identity,Status,MessageCount

Open up Event Viewer and Read the logs and check what's going on. If you cannot start the EdgeSync Service. Re-Add:

New-EdgeSyncServiceConfig - Site YourSitesandServicesLocation

Start --> Run --> services.msc

Re-Start the services. If Microsoft Filtering is hung. Bounce the server. Mail should start flowing again. If not...Microsoft Support is your friend. Don't take all day...troubleshoot what you can and then bow humbly, give up and call support. Your busy right?

Microsoft US Support: 1 (800) 642-7676
Microsoft US Support (URL): https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/assistedsupportproducts

Mount Exchange Database

Mount-Database -identity Domain\Exchange Server Name\ mailbox name

Get-Server *Exchange* | Start-Service
Get-ServerHealth -Identity Domain\Exchange Server Name
Get-ServerComponentState -Identity Domain\Exchange Server Name
Get-DomainController | fl name,adsite
Get-TransportAgent
Get-AcceptedDomain
Get-ExchangeServer | fl name,admindisplayversion,serverrole,site Add=PSSnapin *exch*

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How to Install VMware ESXi 6.7 on VMware Workstation 15

Static IP configuration were causing me some headaches. The alternative options are DHCP and DHCP with a reservation if you have a DHCP server you manage. Optionally, you can go the static configuration route but it was a headache for me and I'm busy and have other things to do.

Lab Scenario with VMware Workstation 15 (WS15 was on W10)

1. Download the ISO and then double-click until you find the .ova and double-click it or right click and open it in VMware Workstation. The wizard is pretty simple.

2. After you import the VM and configure the VM with the Wizard. VMware Photon 1.0 will launch and run the scripts in the background. Be patient. It runs for like 5-8 minutes. Just leave it alone. It will boot and you will see the screen. NOTE: Make sure you type in :5480 after the IP or the hostname or you will see bupkis.

https://ipaddress or FQDN:5480. I recommend using the FQDN

3. Select the option that works for you and install everything.

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How to Create a Bootable .wim File

1. Download Rufus (Windows Based Systems) / Linux WinUSB doesn't work worth a damn on Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS at the time of this writing so don't waist your time.

https://rufus.ie/en_IE.html (Don't download it anywhere else)

2. Grab your W10 EE/Pro ISO Image if you don't have VLSC:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-10-enterprise (You need a license if you need it more than 90 Days, but for testing/evaluation/school purposes, it's fine.)

3. Launch Rufus and configure the ISO

4. After everything is done. Open the USB and delete the "install" .wim file from \sources and replace it with your .wim file and then rename it  to "install"

5. Boot that sucker and verify everything is working. You're done.

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How to Create Bootable Windows 10 USB on Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS

1. Open Disks app on Ubuntu and format the drive NTFS

Do It The Hard OCD Way:

2. Grab the source code from WoeUSB: https://github.com/slacka/WoeUSB

3. Open Terminal and create a location for WoeUSB:

4. sudo mkdir /opt/woeusb

5. cd /opt/woeusb  && git clone https://github.com/slacka/WoeUSB.git

6. In order to run mk-build-debs you need to install devscripts

7. sudo apt-get install devscripts equivs gdebi-core -y (NOTE: Remove when your done for security of your system)

8. Then prep the environment: sudo ./setup-development-environment.bash

9. cd /opt/woeusb/WoeUSB/ and then run sudo mk-build-deps

10. sudo gdebi woeusb-build-deps_*

Do It the Fast...I Don't Have Time, I'm Busy Way:

1. https://launchpad.net/~nilarimogard/+archive/ubuntu/webupd8

2. sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8 && sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get install woeusb -y

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How to Fix "The Specified Virtual Disk Needs Repair" on VMware Workstation 15 on Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS

You try to enlarge the disk and you run into the error about the disk needing repair.

Verified that works on VMware Workstation 15 on Ubuntu 18.04.1

1. Open terminal on the machine you have VMware Workstation installed

2. /usr/bin/vmware-diskmanager -R /path/to/.vmdk file

3. Go to settings of the VM and try your advanced operation to compact the disk or expand it. Bam...done.

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