SQL Server, Configure Database Mail

Description

This post shows how to configure SQL Server Database Mail in SQL Server 2012.

Solution

Open SQL Server Management Studio.  Expand Management.  Right-click on Database Mail and select Configure Database Mail.

Click Next on the Database Mail Configuration Wizard Welcome Screen.

Choose "Set up Database Mail" and click Next.

Database Mail is disabled by default.  When prompted, click "Yes" to enable the Database Mail feature.

Create a new Database Mail Account.

Complete the "New Profile" screen and click Next.

Mark the Profile "Public" and click Next.

Complete the "Configure System Parameters" screen and click Next.

Click Finish to complete the Database Mail Configuration Wizard.

Verify all configurations are successful and click Close.

References

Microsoft TechNet (2008).  Database Mail.  Retrieved December 17, 2013 from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175887%28v=sql.105%29.aspx

Chart of PMBOK(R) Fifth Edition Knowledge Areas and Process Groups

Description

This chart illustrates the Project Management Knowledge Areas and Process Groups as defined by the Project Management Institute (PMI.org) in the PMBOK(R) Guide Fifth Edition which was published in January, 2013.

(PMI, 2013)


References

Project Management Institute (January, 2013). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) Fifth Edition. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.

PowerShell, New-AdUser Cmdlet for Creating SQL/SharePoint Service Accounts

Description

I think the degree to which you seek to automate various administrative tasks during a SQL Server / SharePoint deployment depends on a variety of things; of which your immediate time and value of reuse-ability in time invested are certainly at the top of the list.  I recently needed to create about ten AD service accounts for a new deployment.  While I could have fully automated the process with a PowerShell script that would read from an Excel file (Microsoft Script Center, 2013), all I really wanted to do was simplify the process of creating AD users, inline, using PowerShell.

Solution

The New-ADUser cmdlet has several parameters.  The example below creates one AD User Account called SvcSampleUser01 with parameters values that make sense for my purposes.  Of course, each environment will differ and so this example may need to be modified accordingly.

New-ADUser –SamAccountName “SvcSampleUser01” -UserPrincipalName "SvcSampleUser01@domain.com” -GivenName “” -Surname “” -Name "SvcSampleUser01" -DisplayName “SvcSampleUser01” -Description "Service Account, SharePoint Farm 01, SharePoint Sample Service Account." -Enabled $true -PasswordNeverExpires $true -CannotChangePassword $true -ChangePasswordAtLogon $false -path “OU=LowOU, OU=MidOU, OU=HighOU, DC=DOMAINNAME, DC=com” -AccountPassword (Read-Host -AsSecureString "Specify Account Password, Enter")

One thing to take note of is the -path parameter.  Most of the examples on the Web only have a single OU listed.  In cases where the target OU is nested, then you list the OU's sequentially from the lowest to the highest as shown in the example.

Also, note that this cmldet will prompt for the password to be typed in.

Using this cmdlet inline in a PowerShell window will be faster than using the AD user interface.  However, this may be slower than using a fully automated approach with an Excel input, depending on how many accounts need to be created.


References

Microsoft Script Center (2013).  PowerShell: Create Active Directory Users Based On Excel Input.  Retrieved December 2, 2013 from http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/scriptcenter/PowerShell-Create-Active-7e6a3978.

Microsoft TechNet (2013).  Active Directory Cmdlets in Windows PowerShell.  Retrieved December 2, 2013 from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee617195.aspx.

Microsoft TechNet (2013).  New-ADUser.  Retrieved December 2, 2013 from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee617253.aspx.