How To Edit Your Hosts File block websites

On occasion you will need to edit the hosts file on your machine. Sometimes because of an attack or prank, and others so that you can simply and freely control access to websites and network traffic.

hosts files have been in use since ARPANET. They were used to resolve hosts names before DNS. hosts files would be massive documents used to aide the network name resolution.

Microsoft kept the hosts file alive in Windows networking which is why it varies very little whether used in Windows, OS X or Linux. The syntax stays mostly the same across all platforms. Most hosts files will have several entries for loopback. We can use that for the basic example for the typical syntax.

The first part will be the location to redirect the address to, the second part will be the address that you will want to redirect, and the third part is the comment. They can be separated by a space, but for ease of reading are typically separated by one or two tabs.

127.0.0.1 localhosts #loopback

Now let’s look at accessing the hosts files in the different operating systems…

Windows 7
To access the hosts file in Windows 7 you can use the following command in the Run Line to open notepad and the file.

notepad c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

Once notepad is open you can edit the file. In this example we will block Facebook. To do this just enter in the following after the # mark.

0.0.0.0 www.facebook.com

Now that you have edited your Hosts file make sure to save it.

Now notice if we try to access Facebook in IE we can’t get to the page.

thank u friend

mail me manoranjan2050@live.com

call and sms me 9853639519

4 Ways to Make UAC Less Annoying on Windows 7 / Vista

The single biggest irritation in Windows 7 and Vista is the UAC (User Account Control) system, especially for people that do a lot of tweaking. When you are trying to make configuration changes, it seems like every couple of seconds you are hitting another UAC prompt. Sure, it’s more secure… but what options do we have to make it less annoying?

There are at least 4 different ways that we can tweak UAC to be less annoying, most of which I’ve written about before.

Note: Disabling or modifying UAC is a security risk. If you want to be as secure as possible, you should likely leave things alone.

1) Disable UAC Entirely

The first thing that you can always do is completely disable UAC… the only problem with this is that you’ll end up making the system less secure if you are also the type of person that downloads and tests a lot of software. I can’t recommend that you do this, but at least you know that you have the option to.

2) Auto-Accept UAC Prompts for Administrators Only
If you want to leave UAC enabled, but disable the prompts from showing up under your administrator account, you can tweak a setting that will “Elevate without prompting”, so you never see the prompt show up. This is more secure than disabling UAC entirely, because an application started as a regular user can’t perform an action that is meant for administrators. For instance, Internet Explorer can still run in protected mode this way.

3) Disable the Blackout Screen (Secure Desktop)

The most annoying part of UAC for me is the screen that blacks out everything other than the UAC prompt… because it usually takes forever to show up, and depending on your video card it can do weird things with your desktop. You can disable the secure desktop feature but leave the UAC prompts the way they are… of course this is potentially a security hole as well, since an application could fraudulently “click” the prompt for you. (Secure desktop prevents applications from doing this)

4) Create Administrator Mode Shortcuts Without UAC Prompts
Instead of disabling UAC in any way, what we can do is setup a few shortcuts that bypass UAC entirely. This is especially useful if you open a particular administrator-mode application a dozen times per day. The trick to this is using task scheduler to launch the applications, and then telling task scheduler to run the task. This is more secure than the other options, since only our special shortcut will bypass UAC.

Thank u Friends

mail me manoranjan2050@live.com

call 9853639519

20 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts You Might Not Know

Mastering the keyboard will not only increase your navigation speed but it can also help with wrist fatigue. Here are some lesser known Windows shortcuts to help you become a keyboard ninja.

Global Windows Shortcuts
Win+1, 2, 3, 4, etc. will launch each program in your taskbar. It is helpful then to keep your most used programs at the beginning of your task bar so you can open them one right after another. This also works in Windows Vista for the quick launch icons.

Win+Alt+1, 2, 3, etc. will open the jump list for each program in the taskbar. You can then use your arrows to select which jump list option you want to open.

Win+T will cycle through taskbar programs. This is similar to just hovering over the item with your mouse but you can launch the program with Space or Enter.

Win+Home minimizes all programs except current the window. This is similar to the Aero shake and can be disabled with the same registry key.

Win+B selects the system tray which isn’t always useful but can come in very handy if your mouse stops working.

Win+Up/Down maximizes and restores down the current window so long as that window has the option to be maximized. It is exactly the same as clicking on the middle button on your windows.

Alt+Esc is like Alt+Tab but switches windows in the order they were opened and does not have the fancy window preview overlay.

Win+Pause/Break will open your system properties window. This can be helpful if you need to see the name of a computer or simple system statistics.

Ctrl+Esc can be used to open the start menu but will not work as a Windows key replacement for other shortcuts.

Ctrl+Shift+Esc will open the task manager without needing to hit Ctrl+Alt+Del first.

Alt+Space will open the window system menu which can be used to maximize (x), minimize (n), close (c), or move (m) the window which can be especially helpful if your window is somehow off-screen. This shortcut can also be helpful with windows that don’t close with the Alt+F4 shortcut such as the command window.

Windows Explorer Shortcuts
Here are handy shortcuts built into Windows Explorer which may have similar features in other programs too.

Alt+Up will navigate up one folder level since the up arrow on the menu bar was removed in Windows Vista. Alternatively, you can also make Backspace go up one folder level with a handy AutoHotKey script.

Shift+F10 opens the contextual or “right click” menu for a file/folder. This can be very handy for speed especially if you know which option you want to select. Look for an underlined letter in each option to know which letter you can press for faster access.

Shift+Del deletes a file without sending it to the recycle bin because who wants to empty their recycle bin anyway?

Ctrl+Shift+N creates a new folder in your current directory.

Alt+Enter opens the file properties so you can view file size, sharing settings, and creation date.

F2 renames a file or folder.

F3 will open explorer and select the search bar. If you already have an explorer window open it will highlight the search bar. In some programs it will also open the search dialog to search within that program.

AND MORE IN NEXT TIME

mail me manoranjan2050@live.com call 9853639519

Windows Server 2008 Network load-balancing (NLB) explained

Network load-balancing (NLB)
Best for: Application Servers
Examples: Web Servers, VPN Servers, Exchange 2003 Front-end servers, Exchange 2007 CAS Servers

NLB provides a simple solution that allows high TCP/IP availability for application servers. NLB distribute the load among servers in the cluster group. When using NLB It is very important that Server OS and applications patch level are the identical to provide best user experience. You can install Server 2008 Network load-balancing (NLB) from Server Manager > “Add Features”.

join orkut

Install / Remove Server 2008 Roles and Features from command line

ServerManagerCmd.exe command-line tool can be used to Install / Remove Server 2008 Roles and Features from command line. This command-line tool can be integrated into a script to manage roles and features. Below is the output you will from ServerManagerCmd.exe /?

Usage:
ServerManagerCmd.exe
Installs and removes roles, role services and features. Also displays the list
of all roles, role services, and features available, and shows which are
installed on this computer. For additional information about the roles,
roles services, and features that you can specify using this tool,
refer to the Help for Server Manager.



-query [] [-logPath ]

-install
[-resultPath [-restart] | -whatIf] [-logPath ]
[-allSubFeatures]

-remove
[-resultPath [-restart] | -whatIf] [-logPath ]

-inputPath
[-resultPath [-restart] | -whatIf] [-logPath ]

-help | -?

-version



Switch Parameters:

-query []
Display a list of all roles, role services, and features available,
and shows which are installed on this computer. (Short form: -q)
If is specified, the information is also saved to a
query.xml file with additional information.

-inputPath
Installs or removes the roles, role services, and features specified
in an XML answer file, the path and name of which is represent by
. (ShortForm: -ip)

-install
Installs the role, role service, or feature on the computer that
is specified by the parameter. Multiple roles, role services or
features must be separated by spaces. (ShortForm: -i)

-allSubFeatures
Used with the -install parameter to install all subordinate
role services and features along with the role, role service, or
feature named with the -install parameter. (Short form: -a)

-remove
Removes the role, role service, or feature from the computer that
is specified by the parameter. Multiple roles, role services or
features must be separated by spaces. (ShortForm: -r)

-resultPath
Saves the result of the ServerManagerCmd.exe operation to a
file, in XML format. (Short form: -rp)

-restart
Restarts the computer automatically, if restarting is necessary to
complete the operation.

-whatIf
Display the operations to be performed on the current computer
that are specified in the answer.xml file. (Short form: -w)

-logPath
Specify the non-default location for the log file. (Short form: -l)

-help
Display help information. (Short form: -?)

-version
Display the version of the Server Manager command that is running,
Microsoft trademark information, and the operating system.
(Short form: -v)



Examples:

ServerManagerCmd.exe -query

ServerManagerCmd.exe -install Web-Server -resultPath installResult.xml

ServerManagerCmd.exe -inputPath install.xml -whatIf

join orkut

Server 2008 remote administration tools

Remote Server Administration Tools (also known as RSAT) in Server 2008 replaces Adminpack.msi in Server 2003 and Windows XP.

List of the tools you will find in RSAT:
Role Administration Tools:

* Active Directory Certificate Services Tools
* Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Tools
* Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) Tools
* DHCP Server Tools
* DNS Server Tools
* File Services Tools
* Network Policy and Access Services Tools
* Terminal Services Tools
* Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) Services Tools

Feature Administration Tools:

* BitLocker Drive Encryption Tools
* Failover Clustering Tools
* Group Policy Management Tools
* Network Load Balancing Tools
* SMTP Server Tools
* Storage Manager for SANs Tools
* Windows System Resource Manager Tools

And these tools also fully supported managing Windows Server 2003 servers:

* Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Tools
* Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) Tools
* Active Directory Certification Authority Tools
* DHCP Server Tools
* DNS Server Tools
* Terminal Services Tools
* Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) Services Tools
* Group Policy Management Tools
* Network Load Balancing Tools

Remote Server Administration Tools (x86)

Join Orkut

Auditing Windows Server 2008

Auditing allows IT administrators to keep track of activity on Server 2008 and Active Directory environment. Since auditing cause the event log to fill out very quickly, auditing is disabled by default. IT administrators should enable audit policies as needed since too many audit logs make it hard to review them. Audit polices can be configured in Group Policy Management Console under “Computer Configuration\Policies\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Audit Policy”. See screenshot. Auditing events can be viewed from Event Viewer.
Type of Audit Polices on Server 2008

Audit account logon events
This policy logs events when user attempts to logon to a system.

Audit account management
This policy logs events when an account is changed.

Audit directory service access
This policy logs events when user attemps to access an Active Directory object.

Audit logon events
This policy logs logon events over the network or by service accounts.

Audit object access
This policy logs events when user attempts to access an object, such as file, shared folder or printer.

Audit policy change
This policy logs events when user attempts to change a policy, such as audit polices.

Audit privilege use
This policy logs events when a user attempts to exercise their privilege, such as changing the date or granting another use an admin privilege.

Audit process tracking
This policy logs events when user executes a process, application or a program when accessing the computer.

Audit system events
This policy logs system specific events such as startup and shutdown.

Join Orkut

What Roles Server 2008 Server Core support?

Server Core version on Server 2008 supports following roles:

1. Active Directory Domain Services Role
2. Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services Role
3. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP)
4. Domain Name System (DNS) Services Role
5. File Services Role
6. Hyper-V Role
7. Print Services Role
8. Web Services (IIS) Role


What Features Server 2008 Server Core support?

Server Core version on Server 2008 supports following features:

1. Backup
2. BitLocker
3. Failover Clustering
4. Multipath I/O
5. Network Time Protocol (NTP)
6. Removable Storage Management
7. Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
8. Subsystem for Unix-based applications
9. Telnet Client
10. WINS


Join Orkut

How to Backup and Restore DHCP in Windows Server 2008

In Windows Server 2008, backup of DHCP database and settings has gotten simpler. You may want to backup your DHCP server from time to time to prepare for disaster recovery scenarios or when migrating DHCP server role to a new hardware.
Backup DHCP Server

1. Open Server Manager > DHCP role
2. Right click server name, choose Backup..
3. Choose a location for backup, click OK


Restore DHCP Server

4. Open Server Manager > DHCP role
5. Right Click server name, choose Restore
6. Choose the location of the backup, click OK
7. Restart the DHCP Service


Join Orkut

New Active Directory changes from Server 2003 SP1 to Server 2008

1. Verbose Auditing, Server 2008 log values on changes that are made to AD objects.
2. Restartable Active Directory Services
3. Fine-grained password polices
4. Read-only Domain Controllers
5. Improvements in AD Installation Wizard (dcpromo.exe)

New Roles in Server 2008

Read-only domain controller (RODC)

As the name implies, Read-only domain controller only contains read only copy of Active Directory database. This allows IT administrators to place domain controller in insecure physical location such as branch offices.

Active Directory Lightweight Directory Service (ADLDS)

ADLDS is a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directory service application. It is previously known as “Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM)” in Server 2003.

Active Directory Rights Management Service (ADRMS)

ADRMS provides information protection service to organizations. For example, email can be restricted to read-only; it cannot be printed, duplicated, or forwarded.

Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS)

ADFS allows cross-forest authentication to external resources, such UNIX environment or another forest.

Join Orkut

Explanation of Active Directory Domain Functional Level Features

Windows Server 2003 domain functional level features

- Domain rename capability
Windows Server 2003 functional level supports rename of Active Directory domain.

- Cross-forest transitive trusts
Windows Server 2003 functional level supports transitive trusts between two or more Active Directory forests.

- Universal group caching
Windows Server 2003 functional level supports Universal group caching which eliminate the need for local global catalog server

- Intersite topology generator (ISTG) improvements
More efficient ISTG algorithm allows support for extremely large numbers of sites.

- Multivalued attribute replication improvements
This allows incremental membership changes.

- Lingering objects (zombies) detection
Windows Server 2003 ability to detect zombies, or lingering objects.

- AD-integrated DNS zones in application partitions
This allows storing of DNS data in AD application partition for more efficient replication.




Windows Server 2008 domain functional level features

- Fine-grained password policies
Allows multiple password polices to be applied to different users in the same domain.

- Read-Only Domain Controllers
Allows implementation of domain controllers that only host read-only copy of NTDS database.

- Granular auditing
Allows history of object changes in Active Directory.

- Distributed File System Replication (DFSR)
Allows SYSVOL to replicate using DFSR instead of older File Replication Service (FRS). It provides more robust and detailed replication of SYSVOL contents.

Join Orkut

Windows Server 2008 Editions: Compare and Contrast

Windows Web Server 2008

This version is designed as a dedicated web server. It has all the features you need to deploy as a web server. Compared to other editions, this version only includes web hosting specific features—IIS, ASP.NET, etc.

Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition

This is a basic version for Server 2008. It includes features such as .NET framework, IIS 7 and Active Directory for small to medium size businesses and supports up to two processors and 4GB of memory.

Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition

This version is designed for companies that need an enterprise class system. It has all the features of the Standard Edition as well as support for up to eight processors, clustering, from 64GB RAM for x86 version up to 2TB of RAM for x64 version and hot swappable memory.

Windows Server 2008 Datacenter Edition

As the name implies, this version is designed for data centers. In addition to featuring all those of the Enterprise edition, it also supports hot swappable processors and processors from 8 to 32.

JOIN ORKUT