Using Powershell to send an email alert when a file type is found

A while back I had the privilege of working with a brilliant dev; Andrew Nesbit in helping sort out some processes for the Horizon ILS and how it would work with the Metro Library Card System (melibraries.ca).  I helped him with some of the Horizon work with how the different library systems work together more specifically SirsiDynix Symphony, polaris and Horizon.  

One issue that came out that I never got around to fixing till now was the creation of the .FAIL file that is generated if the server has a problem or there is some sort of incompatibility between library systems, such as pin, city name, password length, etc.  There is also an issue with the service stopping without notice; which also creates a .FAIL file as shown below.

So I decided to finally write a powershell script to send me an alert when this happens.  So it looks in the directory where the Me Server saves it's logs; and I have powershell checking that directory as shown below.  The script uses powershell to check for a .FAIL file in the log directory and then sends a send-mail message.  I know that this is depreciated and I will have to update this sooner then later; but it will work for the purpose I need for now.

Photoshop ippcvm7.dll Error on Hyper-V

Downsizing systems can be hard but to make space virtualization is a great way to go, however sometimes you encounter issues when virtualizing.  For instance I needed to virtualize a machine that was running adobe creative cloud.  Now by default since I use different generation processors, I typically turn on processor compatibility.

However with Adobe Creative Cloud this causes an error that seems to be related to Intel SSE 4.2

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/p-error-at-loading-of-ippcv-library-photoshop-22-0-windows-10/m-p/11521776

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/known-issues.html#ErroratloadingofippCVlibrary

The server running the VM is a E5-2680v4 which according to intel Ark, doesn't support the instruction set either. https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/91754/intel-xeon-processor-e52680-v4-35m-cache-2-40-ghz.html

However since this machine isn't going to be leaving this virtual server, if you uncheck the Processor Compatibility this enables the requirements for Photoshop and it is able to launch.

With the machine configured with 4 processors, and 16GB of RAM, the user didn't even notice the difference running the VM vs hardware as they were accessing the system with remote desktop.

"LbShrMem.FindName: invalid 'shared memory' pointer" Error when Launching Reports in Horizon on Windows 10

There is a bug in the ILS system for Horizon by SirsiDynix where for what ever reason, reports are not accessible and you get the following errors.

You will need a SirsiDynix account to view the KB https://support.sirsidynix.com/kb/164380 but essentially when you go to run reports the ILS system errors out with a LBShrMem pointer error. In the past, by that I mean going back to Windows Vista putting in a global system variable for the ILS application resolves the error.

Variable name: HzShrMemBase
Variable value: 1912602624

However under windows 10 this prevents access to the ILS application but adding and removing the variable fixes it as does running the app in legacy mode for Windows XP SP2 but this is temporary. After a reboot the issue remains persistent. Doing file system scans (SFC) and check disk also occasionally resolves the issue, but the issue remains persistent and comes back after a couple shutdown and restarts.

After doing some intense investigation into this matter it appears to be related to security and application permissions.  Unfortunately thus far the only resolution I could find had to do with running the ILS application as an administrator and for staff convivence disabling UAC.

Step 1.  - Make the user using the application a local admin as shown below.

Make use a local admin

Step 2. - Set the app to run as administrator

Step 3. - Change UAC (Reason for this is to prevent the popup prompt)

After running the ILS application like this for 3 weeks I am confident that the issue has been mitigated.  Do I recommend running an application like this?  No.  However it was consuming IT resources having to go back and disk scanning, adding/removing system variables to get the report to run.  There is extra security precautions put on to the system for monitoring and firewall blocking.  For now that is all that can be done until an application update.

Fixing Lansweeper Active Directory USER LDAP Syncing Error

In our organization we use lansweeper for ticketing and system inventory and management.  Recently we had an issue where our AD users would not sync with lansweeper.  The error shown was that the LDAP Server was unavailable

LDAP ERROR

The issue was caused by using a preferred domain controller that had died.  Theses settings are under "Scanning Targets"

We removed the Preferred domain controller

And setup a new scan

Setup a new scan after the preferred ad controller has been removed

Lansweeper Syncing with AD

After the scan the Users started to sync with the AD Controller again.  However having had this issue once before, you may need to reboot the lansweeper server if the users continue to have the LDAP error after the rescan.  After the reboot the LDAP Error should be gone.

Windows Printer Driver Causes Lexmark Firmware Error 900

I had an interesting issue with a AD Deployed printer causing a firmware crash in our Lexmark MX1145 printer.

Our Lexmark MX1145 MFP has been setup on our Server 2012R2 Server using Printer Driver version 1.2.0.0 though our ethernet network. This appears to be an issue with a gif file embedded in the email.

The Setup:

Windows Server 2012R2 Active Directory deployed printer using driver version 1.2.0.0, to a Windows 10 Pro Client using chrome and gmail.

What Causes it:

The client prints a page in printer layout format in chrome (gmail) and when the job is sent to the printer causes a firmware error 900. I believe it is an issue with the Gif file embedded in the email as viewing source and printing did not cause a crash, neither did saving the file to a PDF. It also crashes on other emails that we have from the same place, not just this one off email.






When you go to print the printer immediately crashes.

Resolution:

Update to the Universal Printer Driver Version 2XL (2.11.0.0). The troublesome emails didn't crash the printer anymore.

ENETUNREACH FTP Error in Filezilla caused by Kaspersky Security Center 10

 Server/client security software is annoying at best but it is even more annoying when things are not clear how to fix a problem much like I had with Kaspersky Security Center 10 and Filezilla.  After a server update a new policy was made and all FTP access was denied from our clients and they needed access for us to continue to do our business.  Here is how to fix the ENETUNREACH Error that you will get if your trying to use Filezilla with Kaspersky.

Filezilla FTP ENETUNREACH Error caused by Kaspersky Security Center 10

If your using Kaspersky Security Center 10 and Filezilla for any FTP services you may require if you don't have a proper policy in place you will encounter the following error

Error: The data connection could not be established: ENETUNREACH - Network unreachable

To resolve the error and allow your users to FTP again you need to make the following changes in your policy.

Right click on the policy and go Properties.

Go to Anti-Virus Protection -> General Protection Settings -> Monitored Ports Settings

De-select/uncheck the FTP port as shown in the image below.

Hit OK then go to Firewall Settings -> Configure Rules for Network Packets and Data Streams

Add a new Network Packet Rule

After you add the rule you can move it to the top of the list to ensure it doesn't get blocked by another rule.  You can also limit this to particular IP addresses if you only want specific users to have access.

Hit Ok -> Hit Apply -> Hit Ok

That's it your done.


Special thanks to Pavel Labanov and his great YouTube video also documenting how to fix this issue.

Microsoft Hyper-V Integration Services Error 1603

In Hyper-V if you try do an upgrade of Integration services and you get error 1603 or says that it is successful in updating but Hyper-V is still saying that your integration services are out of data here is what you do.

Hyper-V Integration Services Requires and Upgrade and will not Upgrade

Error Code on Server 2003

First you need to remove Hyper-V integration services from the VM, yes this could break stuff so have a backup or have your settings for your network adapter, etc.

Once removed you will need to restart your system

Once your rebooted re-install Integration Services

Integration services may come up with a few errors while installing if you experience this it is best to continue and ignore the errors and fix the drivers after the fact once you get your network card reinstalled.

Once you have restarted and Windows has auto detected your Hyper-V integration services you will be up-to-date and ready to continue running.

Freenas Format Error: Operation Not Permitted

Freenas Format Error

If your trying to erase a drive in freenas and you get an error "Can't Erase Drive /dev/: Operation not permitted it is happening because of GEOM's protection of the MBR of the disk drive.

To solve this turn off the sysctl variable from the console.

sysctl kern.geom.debugflags=0x10