apache2 could not bind to address 0.0.0.0:631 after vSphere upgrade

After the upgrade from vSphere 4.0x to vSphere 4.1 or ESXi 4 to ESXi4.1 apache on a OES 2 server wouldn’t start with the error

apache2 could not bind to address 0.0.0.0:631

As you all probably know TCP port 631 is for IPP print, or for us Novell guy’s iPrint. iPrint is started with apache (the website that is). But if iPrint cannot start, apache wouldn’t start also. So what’s blocking TCP port 631? The must be another service that’s using TCP port 631 for ipp printing. After some investigation I discovered that CUPS was started on the OES 2 server. And CUPS also uses ipp and so TCP port 631. So shutting down CUPS enabled me to start apache (rcapache start). Of course you have to make sure that CUPS isn’t started by default anymore on boot time (insserv -r /etc/init.d/cups).

But what started CUPS because it wasn’t started at boot time before. The only change that was made on the OES 2 was the upgrade of the VMware tools. So that was it.

I must say, not really nice of VMware to enable the start of daemons that weren’t started by default before? I don’t know what the reason is why they want to start CUPS for the VMware tools? So if you know the reason, let me know!

Novell Sale part 2

The New York Post reports that Novell is about to sell itself in two parts. First to a stratetig buyer then in parts to other companies who are unknown.

So what does this mean for us Novell guy’s? I really don’t know. I think SuSE will continue as also IDM and ZENworks. But what for Groupwise, Access Manager and don’t forget Netware? I think this it the finally straw for Netware, because as muts it hurts me: Netware is death!

The rumor is that the deal will be closed in 3 to 4 weeks. So we have to wait……

Will be continued!

Service Console Memory defaults

Duncan Epping (www.yellow-bricks.com) wrote a great post about de default amount of service console memory for vSphere 4.

I must confess I also thought that the default amount of service console memory was 800 Mb. But Duncan explains that this dynamicly configured during the installation of vSphere , depening on the amount of memory the vSphere host has installed.

ESX 4.x hosts – the default amount of RAM is dynamically configured to a value between 300MB and 800MB, depending on the amount of RAM that is installed in the host. For example, if the host has 32GB of memory the service console RAM will be set to 500MB, while a host which has 128GB of RAM will see the service console RAM set to 700MB. The maximum has not changed from 800MB, which would be seen on hosts with 256GB of RAM or higher, if it is being dynamically allocated.

Novell Data Synchronizer QA

There is a new post on the coolsolutions site from Novell about the most QA about Novell Data Synchronzier.
The post is written by Tony Anderson who has been a QA Engineer about 1,5 year.

Comman questions are:

• I can’t connect
• Is the LDAP server down
• Is the user connecting in via a wi-fi or cellular connection (or both)?

Very interesting

New Novell Certification

Novell has announced some new certifications:

• Certified Novell Identity Directory Manager Administrator

You will learn administration skills such as the following in Course 3109: Novell Identity Manager 4 Administration:

Performing traces
Checking driver states
Managing policies
Performing health checks
performing basic reporting tasks

In Course 3110: Novell Identity Manager 4 : Entitlements, Workflows and Roles Provisioning, you will learn:

Developing policies
Implementing advanced drivers
Configuring Advanced reporting
Managing entitlements
Configuring custom workflows
Defining and creating roles

Study Path

• Novell Certified Linux Engineer 11
  In order to become a Novell CLE 11 you must be certified as a Novell CLP 10 or 11.

  Novell CLE 11 courses include:

  3107 – SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11: Novell Certified Linux Engineer 11

  Study Path

• Certified Novell ZENworks Administrator

Introducing the Certified Novell ZENworks® Administrator available November 2009. The CNZA will include Courses 3098 and 8004.
You will learn administration skills such as the following in course 3098:

Installing and configuring Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management
Deploying the Novell ZENworks Adaptive Agent
Configuring and using Remote Management
Distributing applications and files
Configuring Policy Management
Creating and deploying a workstation image

In course 8004, you will learn:

Advanced administrative tasks associated with Novell ZENworks 10 Configuration Management
Asset Inventory Services
Patch Management Services

Study Path