When you setup a Dedicated server with a host like 1and1 they setup an admin account for root access on MySQL but the password is a mystery and login from outside the localhost isn’t possible anyway. After tons of frustration and searching I finally found the fix for this. The reason this is so important is mainly for backups, there’s no other way to backup all of you databases quickly other than using an account which can access all of your databases. When running Plesk in the default Reseller mode access to databases is limited to each domain and one account cannot access another domain’s database. This is obviously like this for security and its great but we really need access to all DB’s as root. Another reason is then use if programs like MySQL workbench which requires a master account that can access all databases if you want to administer all databases. On with the fix, log into Plesk and navigate to “Tools & Settings \ Database Servers” now click on your database, select
Setup Dedicated (VPS) Virtual Private Server from the ground up (1and1 hosting specific)
By now you should already have your server purchased and ready to go, if not go watch a movie while its being “set up” and come back here, I’ll be here I promise. I know when I got my first dedicated server from 1and1 Web Hosting it took forever for them to “set it up” or whatever it is they do. I read on the website it normally takes about 24 hours but in my case it was closer to 4 days. I don’t want to knock them because maybe they were low on hardware and I did get double the amount of ram I signed up for so I can’t complain. Obviously since I have 1and1 hosting there will be many references to how they do things and to Parrales Plesk Panel, you can still follow along if you have another hosting company but there will be many things that don’t apply to your hosting situation. Hopefully the usefulness of this article is great enough that even with another hosting company everyone will be able to
Client Configuration for Microsoft PPTP VPN
Ok a while back I promised a part 2 for the VPN configuration guides so here it finally is. I dont know why i didnt get this done sooner considering it will be quick and painless. I will cover both XP and Windows 7 but not Vista. Dont worry Vista is a combination of both so you can figure it out from the following screenshots and article. I will start by covering a few things that apply to any client OS. First you need to get the IP address of the server that you wish to connect VIA VPN to. You can do this by physicaly going to the server and opening a web browser then typing www.whatsmyip.org. This site will print out your IP in large bold numbers. Next you need to make sure your firewall is forwarding VPN (PPTP) traffic to your VPN server (the machine we configured in the first half of this article). I will cover port forwarding for VPN and RDP traffic in a later article. If you have Linux
Resolve Names on a home network without DNS
I will create a more complete guide with pictures and all later. I want to get this down while its fresh in my head. So the point of this guide is to make your home network act like it has a real DNS server and not just a Linksys, D-link, Netgear or whatever brand router. This guide will be based around a D-link brand router since it’s what I own and have on hand. Note: some older routers (especially Linksys) simply pass DNS to your external ISP servers. This is bad and if this is the case then this guide will not apply. This guide will also not apply if you do not own a router and instead have a switch installed in its place. To check if your DNS is internal or external open the command prompt and run “ipconfig /all” without the quotes. If the DNS server matches your gateway or something close then its internal. To check if your computer names are recognized on your network open a command prompt and ping
Configure Windows Server 2008 as a VPN server
This Guide will walk you through the process of setting up a VPN server role on Windows Server 2008 Lets get started Start by logging in as an administrator or an account with administrative privileges Open “Administrative Tools” then select “Server Manager” Alternatively you can enter the run command “server” into the search box of the start menu Right click on “Roles” to the left and select “Add Roles” Click next and then select “Network Policy and Access Services” then click next and then next again Select “Routing and Remote Access Services” then click next and finally install Now open Administrative Tools and navigate to “Routing and Remote Access” Right click on your server and select “Configure and Enable Routing and Remote Access” You will select next and then check the first option “Remote access [dial-up or VPN]“ On the next page select VPN and click next Oh NO we only have one NIC and received an error If you did not receive the error you may continue on, BUT there are a few things
Configure Windows Server 2003 as a VPN server
This Guide will walk you through the process of setting up a VPN server role on Windows Server 2003 Lets get started Start by logging in as an administrator or an account with administrative privileges Open “Administrative Tools” then select “Configure Your Server Wizard” From there you want to highlight “Remote Access / VPN Server” and select next Select next again and watch the pretty scrolling bar for a few moments before being greeted by the setup wizard You will select next and then check the first option “Remote access [dial-up or VPN” On the next page select VPN and click next Oh NO we only have one NIC and received an error If you did not receive the error you may continue on, BUT there are a few things to keep in mind such as -Is the other NIC connected to anything? -Does the other NIC even work? -What speed is the other NIC? For the lack of knowing these questions I suggest pressing the back button even if you do have 2 NIC’s
Configure Windows XP, Vista, 7 as a VPN server
This Guide will walk you through the process of setting up a VPN server role on Windows XP Professional Lets get started Start by firing up your Windows XP machine and make sure you are logged in as an Administrator You will have wanted to already set a static IP on the machine that will be acting as your VPN server Please reference my other guide on how to set a static IP, if it is not up yet Google can be your best friend Open your “Network Connections” and click on the file menu to select “New Connection” A quick way to get there is to type “NCPA.CPL” in your run command box You will want to “Set up an advanced connection” click next Select “Accept incoming connections” click next Click next again without selecting anything then select “Allow virtual private connections” and click next On the following page you will select the users and / or groups to grant access to Make sure the user account has a password set because VPN does
