Managing System Environments, Profiles, and Properties

You use the System utility to manage system environments, profiles, and properties. To access the System utility, double-click System in the Control Panel. This displays the System Properties dialog box.

As shown in Figure 2-3, the System Properties dialog box is divided into six tabs. Each of these tabs is discussed in the sections that follow.

Figure 2-3. Use the System utility to manage system environment variables , profiles, and properties.

The General Tab

General system information is available for any server running Windows Server 2003 through the System utility's General tab, which is shown in Figure 2-3. To access the General tab, start the System utility by double-clicking the System icon in the Control Panel.

The information provided in the General tab includes

• Operating system version and service pack

• Registered owner

• Windows serial number

• Computer type

• Amount of RAM installed on the computer

• Processor type

• Total system RAM

The Computer Name Tab

You can display and modify the computer's network identification with the System utility's Computer Name tab, shown in Figure 2-4. As the figure shows, the tab displays the full computer name of the system and the domain membership. The full computer name is essentially the Domain Name System (DNS) name of the computer, which also identifies the computer's place within the Active Directory hierarchy.

Figure 2-4. Use the Computer Name tab to display and configure system identification. Notice that you can't change the identification or access information for domain controllers.

To access the Network Identification tab, start the System utility by double-clicking the System icon in the Control Panel; then click the Computer Name tab. You can now click Change to change the system name and domain associated with the computer.

The Hardware Tab

Servers running Windows Server 2003 can use multiple hardware profiles. Hardware profiles are most useful for mobile servers, such as those configured on laptops. Using hardware profiles, you can configure one profile for when the computer is connected to the network ( docked ) and one profile for when the computer is mobile ( undocked ).

Configuring the Way Hardware Profiles Are Used

To configure hardware profiles, click the System utility's Hardware tab and then click the Hardware Profiles button. This opens the dialog box shown in Figure 2-5. As with systems with multiple operating systems, Windows Server 2003 allows you to configure the way hardware profiles are used as follows :

• Set a default profile by changing the profile's position in the Available Hardware Profiles list. The top profile is the default profile.

• Determine how long the system displays the startup hardware profile menu by setting a value using the field Select The First Profile Listed If I Don't Select A Profile In. The default value is 30 seconds.

• Have the system wait indefinitely for user input by selecting Wait Until I Select A Hardware Profile.

Figure 2-5. You can configure multiple hardware profiles for any Windows Server 2003 system.

Configuring for Docked and Undocked Profiles

To configure a computer for docked and undocked profiles, complete the following steps:

1. In the Available Hardware Profiles list, select the default profile, and then click Copy.

2. In the Copy Profile dialog box, type a name for the Docked profile in the To field.

3. Select the new profile, and then click the Properties button.

4. Select the This Is A Portable Computer check box, and then choose The Computer Is Docked.

5. Select Always Include This Profile As An Option When Windows Starts, and then click OK.

6. Select the default profile in the Available Hardware Profiles list, and then click Copy.

7. In the Copy Profile dialog box, type a name for the Undocked profile in the To field.

8. Select the new profile, and then click the Properties button.

9. Select the This Is A Portable Computer check box, and then choose The Computer Is Undocked.

10. Select Always Include This Profile As An Option When Windows Starts, and then click OK.

11. Now set the default hardware profile as appropriate for the computer's current state as either docked or undocked.

12. You're done. Click OK.

When the system is booted , the hardware profiles are displayed, and you can select the appropriate profile.

The Advanced Tab

The System utility's Advanced tab, shown in Figure 2-6, controls many of the key features of the Windows operating system, including application performance, virtual memory usage, user profile, environment variables, and startup and recovery. To access the Advanced tab, start the System utility by double-clicking the System icon in the Control Panel; then click the Advanced tab.

Figure 2-6. The Advanced tab lets you configure advanced options, including performance options, environment variables, and startup and recovery.

Setting Windows Performance

Many graphics enhancements have been added to the Windows Server 2003 interface. These enhancements include many visual effects for menus , toolbars , windows, and the taskbar. To ensure that the server performs at its best level, these options are turned off by default in an initial installation. This reduces the amount of work the server must do when administrators log on locally to perform tasks , and you shouldn't change this default setting in most cases. However, if you need to modify these options, you can do so by following these steps:

1. Click the Advanced tab in the System utility, and then click the Settings button in the Performance panel to display the Performance Options dialog box.

2. The Visual Effects tab should be selected by default. You have the following options for controlling visual effects:

   • Let Windows Choose What's Best For My Computer Allows the operating system to choose the performance options based on the hardware configuration. On a server, this typically means that Windows selects only the Use Visual Styles On Windows And Buttons option and that all other options are cleared.

   • Adjust For Best Appearance When you optimize Windows for best appearance, you enable all visual effects for all graphical interfaces. Menus and the taskbar use transitions and shadows. Screen fonts have smooth edges. List boxes have smooth scrolling. Folders use Web views and more. On a server, this setting unnecessarily uses a lot of memory and system resources, and you should rarely use it.

   • Adjust For Best Performance When you optimize Windows for best performance, you turn off the resource- intensive visual effects, such as slide transitions and smooth edges for fonts, while maintaining a basic set of visual effects. In some cases this completely turns off all visual effects.

   • Custom You can customize the visual effects as well. To do this, select or clear the visual effects options in the Performance Options dialog box. If you clear all options, Windows doesn't use visual effects.

3. When you're finished changing visual effects, click OK and then click OK again.

Setting Application Performance

Application performance is related to processor scheduling and memory caching options that you set for the Windows Server 2003 system. Processor Scheduling determines the responsiveness of the current active application (as opposed to background applications that might be running on the system). Memory Caching determines whether physical memory is optimized for applications or the system cache.

You control application performance by completing the following steps:

1. Access the Advanced tab in the System utility, and then display the Performance Options dialog box by clicking the Settings button in the Performance panel. Select the Advanced tab to modify the performace settings.

2. The Processor Scheduling panel has two options:

   • Programs To give the active application the best response time and the greatest share of available resources, select Applications. Generally, you'll want to use this option for Application, Web, and Streaming Media servers.

   • Background Services To give background applications a better response time than the active application, select Background Services. Generally, you'll want to use this option for Active Directory, File, Print, and Network and Communications servers.

3. The Memory Usage panel has two options:

   • Programs Choose this option to optimize physical memory usage for applications. Generally, you'll want to use this option for Application, Web, and Streaming Media servers.

   • System Cache Choose this option to optimize physical memory usage for the system cache. Generally, you'll want to use this option for Active Directory, File, Print, and Network and Communications servers.

4. Click OK.

Configuring Virtual Memory

Virtual memory allows you to use disk space to extend the amount of available RAM on a system. This feature of Intel 386 and later processors writes RAM to disks using a process called paging . With paging, a set amount of RAM, such as 32 MB, is written to the disk as a paging file, where it can be accessed from the disk when needed.

An initial paging file is created automatically for the drive containing the operating system. By default, other drives don't have paging files, and you must create these paging files manually if you want them. When you create a paging file, you set an initial size and a maximum size. Paging files are written to the volume as a file called Pagefile.sys.

Best Practices

Microsoft recommends that you create a paging file for each physical volume on the system. On most systems, multiple paging files can improve the performance of virtual memory. Thus, instead of a single large paging file, it's better to have several small ones. Keep in mind that removable drives don't need paging files.

You can configure virtual memory by completing the following steps:

1. Start the System utility, and then click the Advanced tab.

2. Click Setting in the Performance panel to display the Performance Options dialog box, and then select the Advanced tab. Then click Change to display the Virtual Memory dialog box shown in Figure 2-7.

   Figure 2-7. Virtual memory extends the amount of RAM on a system.

   

   This dialog box has three key areas:

   • Drive [ Volume Label ] Shows how virtual memory is currently configured on the system. Each volume is listed with its associated paging file (if any). The paging file range shows the initial and maximum size values set for the paging file.

   • Paging File Size For Selected Drive Provides information on the currently selected drive and allows you to set its paging file size. Space Available tells you how much space is available on the drive.

   • Total Paging File Size For All Drives Provides a recommended size for virtual RAM on the system and tells you the amount currently allocated. If this is the first time you're configuring virtual RAM, you'll note that the recommended amount has already been given to the system drive (in most instances).

     Best Practices

     Although Windows Server 2003 can expand paging files incrementally as needed, this can result in fragmented files, which slow system performance. For optimal system performance, set the initial size and maximum size to the same value. This ensures that the paging file is consistent and can be written to a single contiguous file (if possible, given the amount of space on the volume). In most cases I recommend setting the total paging file size so that it's twice the physical RAM size on the system. For instance, on a computer with 512 MB of RAM, you would ensure that the Total Paging File Size For All Drives setting is at least 1024 MB. However, on servers with 2 GB or more of RAM, it's best to follow the hardware manufacturer's guidelines for paging file sizes.

     
     

3. In the Drive list box, select the volume you want to work with.

4. Use the Paging File Size For Selected Drive area to configure the paging file for the drive. Select Custom Size. Then enter an initial size and a maximum size and click Set to save the changes.

5. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for each volume you want to configure.

   Note

   The paging file is also used for debugging purposes when a STOP error occurs on the system. If the paging file on the system drive is smaller than the minimum amount required to write the debugging information to the paging file, this feature will be disabled. If you want to use debugging, the minimum size should be set to the same figure as the amount of RAM on the system. For example, a system with 256 MB of RAM would need a paging file of 256 MB on the system drive.

   
   

6. On the system volume, the initial size must be as large as the current physical RAM. If it isn't, Windows won't be able to write STOP information to the system drive when fatal errors occur. Click Set to save the changes.

7. Repeat Steps 3 and 4 for each volume you want to configure.

8. Click OK, and, if prompted to overwrite an existing Pagefile.sys file, click Yes.

9. Close the System utility.

   Note

   If you updated the settings for the paging file that is currently in use, you'll see a prompt explaining that you need to restart the server for the changes to take effect. Click OK. When you close the System utility, you'll see a prompt telling you that you need to restart the system for the changes to take effect. On a server, you should schedule this reboot outside normal business hours.

   
   

Configuring System and User Environment Variables

You configure system and user environment variables by means of the Environment Variables dialog box, shown in Figure 2-8. To access this dialog box, start the System utility, click the Advanced tab, and then choose Environment Variables.

Figure 2-8. The Environment Variables dialog box lets you configure system and user environment variables.

Creating an Environment Variable

You can create environment variables by completing the following steps:

1. Click the New button under User Variables or System Variables, whichever is appropriate for the type of environment variable you want to create. This opens the New User Variable dialog box or the New System Variable dialog box, respectively.

2. In the Variable Name field, type the variable name. Then in the Variable Value field type the variable value.

3. Choose OK.

Editing an Environment Variable

You can edit an existing environment variable by completing the following steps:

1. Select the variable in the User Variables or System Variables list box.

2. Click the Edit button under User Variables or System Variables, whichever is appropriate for the type of environment variable you're modifying. This opens the Edit User Variable dialog box or the Edit System Variable dialog box, respectively.

3. Type a new value in the Variable Value field.

4. Choose OK.

Deleting an Environment Variable

You can delete an environment variable by selecting the variable and then clicking the Delete button.

Note

When you create or modify system environment variables, the changes take effect when you restart the computer. When you create or modify user environment variables, the changes take effect the next time the user logs on to the system.

Configuring System Startup and Recovery

You configure system startup and recovery properties by means of the Startup And Recovery dialog box, shown in Figure 2-9. To access this dialog box, start the System utility, click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings on the Startup And Recovery panel.

Figure 2-9. The Startup And Recovery dialog box lets you configure system startup and recovery procedures.

Setting Startup Options

The System Startup frame of the Startup And Recovery dialog box controls system startup. To set the default operating system, select one of the operating systems listed in the Default Operating System field. These options are obtained from the operating system section of the system's Boot.ini file.

At startup, Windows Server 2003 displays the startup configuration menu for 30 seconds by default. You can

• Boot immediately to the default operating system by clearing the Time To Display List Of Operating Systems check box.

• Display the available options for a specific amount of time by selecting the Time To Display List Of Operating Systems check box and then setting a time delay in seconds.

Generally, on most systems you'll want to use a value of 3 “5 seconds. This is long enough to be able to make a selection, yet short enough to expedite the system startup process.

When the system is in a recovery mode and booting, a list of recovery options might be displayed. As with the standard startup options, you can configure recovery startup options in one of two ways. You can set the computer to boot immediately using the default recovery option by clearing the Time To Display Recovery Options When Needed check box, or you can display the available options for a specific amount of time by selecting Time To Display Recovery Options When Needed and then setting a time delay in seconds.

Setting Recovery Options

The System Failure and Write Debugging Information areas of the Startup And Recovery dialog box control system recovery. Recovery options allow administrators to control precisely what happens when the system encounters a fatal system error (also known as a STOP error). The available options for the System Failure area are

• Write An Event To The System Log

  Logs the error in the system log, which allows administrators to review the error later using the Event Viewer

• Send An Administrative Alert

  Sends an alert to the recipients specified in the Alert dialog box

• Automatically Restart

  Check this option to have the system attempt to reboot when a fatal system error occurs

Note

Configuring automatic restarts isn't always a good thing. Sometimes you might want the system to halt rather than reboot, which should ensure that the system gets proper attention. Otherwise, you can only know that the system rebooted when you view the system logs or if you happen to be in front of the system's monitor when it reboots.

The Write Debugging Information selection menu allows you to choose the type of debugging information that you want to write to a dump file. You can in turn use the dump file to diagnose system failures. The options are:

• None

  Use None if you don't want to write debugging information.

• Small Memory Dump

  Use this option to dump the physical memory segment in which the error occurred. This dump is 64 KB in size.

• Kernel Memory Dump

  Use this option to dump the physical memory area being used by the Windows kernel. The dump file size depends on the size of the Windows kernel.

• Complete Memory Dump

  Use this option to dump all physical memory being used at the time of the failure. The maximum dump file size is the same as the total physical memory size.

If you elect to write a dump file, you must also set a location for the dump file. The default dump locations are %SystemRoot%\Minidump for small memory dumps and %SystemRoot%\Memory.dmp for all other memory dumps. You'll usually want to select Overwrite Any Existing File as well. This option ensures that any existing dump files are overwritten if a new STOP error occurs.

Note

You can create the dump file only if the system is properly configured. The system drive must have a sufficiently large memory-paging file (as set for virtual memory with the Advanced tab), and the drive where the dump file is written must have free space as well. For example, my server has 256 MB of RAM and requires a paging file on the system drive of the same size ”256 MB. Since the same drive is used for the dump file, the drive must have at least 512 MB of free space to create a complete dump of debugging information correctly (that's 256 MB for the paging file and 256 MB for the dump file).

Enabling and Disabling Error Reporting

Windows Server 2003 features built-in system and program error reporting. Error reporting sends information about errors to Microsoft or to a corporate file share that administrators can monitor. Error reporting is enabled by default for all Windows Server 2003 installations, and you can configure it to monitor these specific areas:

• Windows Operating System

  Reports critical operating system errors that cause a blue screen crash. The error report contains all the information that is displayed on the blue screen.

• Unplanned Machine Shutdowns

  Reports when the server is shut down and the shutdown reason is listed as unplanned. Selecting this option helps you keep track of unplanned reasons for server shutdowns, which is essential to maintaining good uptime and service records.

• Programs

  Reports illegal program operations and internal program errors that cause a program to stop working. With program errors, you can specify which programs should be monitored for errors and which shouldn't. If you elect to report program errors, you can enable Force Queue Mode For Program Errors. In Queue mode, the last 10 errors are displayed the next time an administrator logs on and the administrator is able to choose which errors are reported. Without selecting this option, only the last error that occurs is reported , which might be misleading.

How an error is reported depends on where the error originated. When a component or program error occurs, a dialog box appears asking if you want to report the problem. If you choose to report the problem, the error report is sent over the Internet to Microsoft and a Thank You dialog box is displayed with additional information that might be helpful in resolving the problem. When an operating system error occurs, the system doesn't generate the error report until the next time you successfully boot and log on to the system.

You can enable and configure error reporting by completing the following steps:

1. Start the System utility. Click the Advanced tab and then click the Error Reporting button.

2. Select Enable Error Reporting and then select areas to monitor.

   Tip

   By default, all program errors are reported, regardless of who the manufacturer is. If you chose to report program errors, you can change the default configuration. Choose Programs in the Error Reporting dialog box, and then select All Programs In This List. You can now select programs to add to the reporting list and you can disable reporting for Programs From Microsoft and Windows Components. You can also add programs to the Do Not Report Errors list.

   
   

3. Click OK.

You can disable error reporting by completing these steps:

1. Start the System utility. Click the Advanced tab, and then click the Error Reporting button.

2. Select Disable Error Reporting, and then click OK.

Another way to configure Error Reporting is to do so through Group Policy. Because Group Policy is discussed in detail in Chapter 4 , "Automating Administrative Tasks, Policies, and Procedures," and in other chapters, I won't go into depth on how Group Policy works. I will tell you, however, which policies you'll want to look at to help better manage Error Reporting for the enterprise. These policies are located in Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Error Reporting and in Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Error Reporting\ Advanced Error Reporting Settings.

Tip

Error reporting can be distracting, but the information helps ensure that Microsoft resolves problems. To remove potential distraction, yet still help improve Windows for the future, you might want to disable Display Error Notification and enable Report Errors. When you do this, errors are automatically reported without notifying users that an error occurred.

The two most useful error reporting policies are:

• Display Error Notification

  Determines whether users are notified when errors occur. If not configured, users can specify error notification preferences using the System utility. If disabled, users aren't notified when an error occurs (but this doesn't prevent error reporting). If enabled, users are notified when an error occurs and given the opportunity to report the error.

• Report Errors

  Determines whether errors are reported and provides the opportunity to precisely control error reporting. If not configured, users can specify error reporting preferences using the System utility. If disabled, users won't be able to report errors but might still be notified when errors occur. If enabled, errors might be reported to Microsoft over the Internet or to a corporate file share that administrators can monitor. You can also specify whether More Information links are available, whether associated files and machine data is collected, and whether application errors are queued.

Real World

Storing error reports on a file share can be helpful in resolving problems. Users might not tell you they're having problems. They might assume that a crashing program or other problems that they see are normal behavior. To be proactive in your support, you might want to store error reports on a corporate file share. If you want to do this, create a network share and then specify the share using the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) notation, such as \\Gamma\ErrorReports, where Gamma is the server name and ErrorReports is the network share.

Tip

If you display errors and report them, you might want to customize the error reporting text with your company name. To do this, type your company name in the Replace Instances Of The Word "Microsoft" With field of the Report Errors Properties dialog box. Now your company name appears in text instead of Microsoft.

The Automatic Updates Tab

The Automatic Update tab of the System utility controls the Automatic Updates configuration on the server. This feature is discussed in the section entitled "Understanding and Using Automatic Updates" in Chapter 5 , "Working with Support Services and Remote Desktop."

The Remote Tab

The Remote tab of the System utility controls Remote Assistance invitations and Remote Desktop connections. These options are discussed in Chapter 5 in the section entitled "Managing Remote Access to Servers."