Smartwombat Blog

New Passport allows dot in the name

An exhaustive list of Community Server resources

drink (attribute in Active Directory Schema)

drink: The drink (Favorite Drink) attribute type specifies the favorite drink of an object (or person).

from the Active Directory Schema (Platform SDK).

How to Kernel debugg a virtual pc image with windbg.

Here is a really quick howto if you want to kernel debug a virtual pc image on your machine.

• on virtual pc modify the boot.ini file. Add the following: 
  
  /DEBUG /DEBUGPORT=COM the number of the COM port that you want to use for debugging /BAUDRATE=115200

Boot.ini then will look like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows Server 2003, Enterprise" /fastdetect/DEBUG /DEBUGPORT=COM2/BAUDRATE=115200

• Configure the serial port for virtual PC
  
  Virtual PC 2004

• Start Virtual PC 2004.
  Click the virtual machine that you want to configure, and then click Settings.
• In the Setting list, click the serial port that you want to configure, click Physical serial port, and then click to clear the Wait for modem command to open port check box if it is selected.
• Click Named pipe, and then type \\.\pipe\ name that you want to assign to the named pipe in the Named pipe box. For example, type \\.\pipe\com2 .
• Click OK. 

Virtual Server 2005

• Start the Virtual Server Administration Website program. To do this, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft Virtual Server, and then click Virtual Server Administration Website.
• Under Virtual Machines, point to Configure, and then click the virtual machine that you want to modify.
• Click the COM ports link.
• Under the serial port that you want to configure for debugging, click Physical computer serial port, and then click to clear the Wait for modem command to open port check box.
• Click Named pipe, and then type \\.\pipe\ name that you want to assign to the named pipe in the Named pipe box. For example, type \\.\pipe\com2 .
• Click OK.
   

• start windbg
  Windbg -k com:port=\\.\pipe\ pipe name ,pipe,resets=0,reconnect

Source:
How to debug the Virtual Server service on a computer that is running Virtual Server 2005 or Virtual PC 2004, part 1 of 2

Half Life 2 Domino

Using the physics of Half-Life 2 to set up an amazing domino routine.

Click here to watch the video.

Microsoft Certified Architect

There is a new kind of MCP exam called Microsoft Certified Architect: Solution and Infrastructure Architect. It seems that the requirements are pretty though. You need 10 years proven experience for example. This whole thing sounds really interesting.  

During its beta phase, applications to the program are only being received through trusted referrals. The program is expected to be opened publicly in the first half of 2006 when a non-referral application process will be made available to experienced architects.

The certification process has 8 steps:

1. The Microsoft Certified Architect candidate is expected to have at least 10 years of verifiable experience as a practicing architect prior to applying for the program
2. The candidate applies for acceptance into the program by:
   • Contacting Microsoft directly (via the Microsoft.com web site) during an open enrollment period
   • Being referred by his or her employer
   • Being referred by an existing Microsoft Certified Architect or Microsoft Certified Architect Review Board member
3. The candidate’s application is screened for the necessary work experience
4. Upon verification of experience, the candidate is accepted into the program and assigned a program mentor
5. In addition to a program mentor, the candidate is given access to a library of self-paced technical and non-technical content to assist them in the preparation of their solution
6. The candidate submits his or her solution to the Review Board in preparation for formal presentation to the Board.
7. The candidate attends the Review Board Meeting and presents his or her solution to the Review Board members. Upon conclusion of the presentation, the candidate fields a series of questions about his solution and presentation from the Review Board
8. After the formal presentation and a positive vote from the Review Board, the candidate is awarded the Microsoft Certified Architect credential

Isnide the Xbox 360 (from arstechinca)

Inside the Xbox 360, part I: procedural synthesis and dynamic worlds
Inside the Xbox 360, Part II: the Xenon CPU

xbox360 fever builds up with apple users.

Even apple fans dreaming of the xbox360 sometimes. If you are one of them, download this OSX widget called countdown to xbox360.  

Write powertoy for OneNote

... and win a cool TabletPC. OneNote is my favorite office application, so it is going to be really interesting to see all the cool powertoys coming.

OneNote PowerToy Contest