Find Machine Name using an IP Address in Windows / Linux

C:\Users\Homer>nslookup 10.50.2.100
Server:  windc.ad.simpson.org
Address:  10.50.2.70
*** windc.ad.simpospn.org can't find 10.50.2.100: Non-existent domain

C:\Users\Homer>nbtstat -a 10.50.2.100
Local Area Connection:
Node IpAddress: [10.12.4.29] Scope Id: []
    Host not found.


MyLinux:/ # nslookup 10.50.2.100;
Server:         10.50.2.70
Address:        10.50.2.70#53
** server can't find 175.2.50.10.in-addr.arpa.: NXDOMAIN


MyLinux:/ # smbclient -L 10.50.2.100
Enter root's password: 
Connection to 10.50.2.100 failed (Error NT_STATUS_CONNECTION_REFUSED)


MyLinux:/ # host 10.50.2.100
Host 175.2.50.10.in-addr.arpa. not found: 3(NXDOMAIN)

SQL 2008, Linked Server Error: "The EXECUTE permission was denied on the object 'xp_prop_oledb_provider', database 'mssqlsystemresource', schema 'sys'"

You setup a linked server in SQL Server Management Studio, on a SQL 2008 server and it works as expected. Another person or user logs into SQL Server Management Studio and tries to view the linked server databases (under  Server Objects > Linked Servers > LinkedServerName > Catalogs) and gets the error:

TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio ------------------------------  Failed to retrieve data for this request. (Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc)  For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&LinkId=20476  ------------------------------ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:  An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)  ------------------------------  The EXECUTE permission was denied on the object 'xp_prop_oledb_provider', database 'mssqlsystemresource', schema 'sys'. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 229)  For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&ProdVer=10.50.2500&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=229&LinkId=20476  ------------------------------ BUTTONS:  OK ------------------------------

I have encountered this issue and the fix is to run this:

GRANT EXECUTE ON sys.xp_prop_oledb_provider TO [UserDomain\Account Name];

ex. GRANT EXECUTE ON sys.xp_prop_oledb_provider TO [AD\MyLogin]

SCSM Portal - Add, edit, move (up/down) or delete a link in the left side navigation pane

Launch your SCSM Portal site (login with the SCSM admin account)
Click Site Actions and select Site Settings
Under Look and Feel click on  Quick Launch

Click on the little page/pencil icon to move, edit or delete the link.

SCSM 2012 announcements dont show on Portal

 "This is By design. In SCSM 2012 we do not have out of the box Announcements. Instead our guidance is to use the Annoucements feature in SharePoint.  I believe we are planning to release some documentation either in form of blog post or part of the official documentation providing the guidance on how to accomplish this."

for more read: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/systemcenterservicemanager/thread/8053dc01-628b-4d90-9108-5b938730ba65/

SCSM Portal - Add announcement page

To add an announcement page

1. Start a browser, and connect to the Self-Service Portal home page, for example, http://<WebServerName>:82/SMPortal.
   
2. In the upper left corner, click Site Actions, and then click Site Settings.
   
3. On the Site Settings page, in the Look and Feel area, click Quick launch.
   
4. On the Quick Launch page, click New Navigation Link.
   
5. In the Type the Web address field, type /SMPortal/Lists/Announcements/AllItems.aspx, and then in the description box, type Announcements.
   
6. Click OK, and then navigate to the home page.
   

To create an announcement

1. Start a browser, and connect to the Self-Service Portal home page, for example, http://<WebServerName>:82/SMPortal.
   
2. Click Announcements.
   
3. On the Announcements – All items page, click Add new announcement.
   
4. In the Title box, type a name for the announcement. For example, type Help Desk Closed New Year’s Day.
   
5. In Body, you can type additional information for the announcement.
   
6. Optionally, you can set an expiration date by selecting the date in the Expires box. For example, you can set the Expires date to January 2nd.
   
7. Click Save to close the announcement.
   
   
   from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh770165
   
   also see: add edit and delete list items http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint-server-help/add-edit-or-delete-a-list-item-HA010099228.aspx 
   
   

SCSM portal Site Settings returns 404 page not found

Going to SMPortal/_layouts/settings.aspx returns page not found

Launch Sharepoint central administration
Click Application management
Click Configure alternate access mappings
Click Add internal URLS
Select Service Manager Portal
Enter your site name (i.e. http://MyServer:PortNo./)
Select "Intranet" from Zone option
Save

Taking Database Offline Hangs - SQL 2008, 2008

I've experienced this multiple times with both SQL 2005 and SQL 2008 database servers when using the SQL Management Studio GUI.  The best way to take a database offline is via TSQL, not the GUI.

Use this:

Go offline

USE master
GO
ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName
SET OFFLINE WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE
GO

Go online

USE master
GO
ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName
SET ONLINE
GO