• IT Systems Engineering

    SQL Server for SCCM 2012

    During my testing of SCCM 2012, I determined that it needs a specific configuration of SQL server. This post tells you what needs to be done. I have a SQL server 2008 instance already installed for use with SCCM 2007. I was hoping I could use the same VM for SCCM 2012 testing. This post is in reference to that VM. Check out the official SQL server requirements list. Out of this I am listing my own experiences here: 1. Database collation: My SQL server has SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS I also checked a few other DB servers, they already have the Database collation required by SCCM 2012 installed by default. So I did not…

  • IT Systems Engineering

    Installing updates on SQL Server 2008

    So when I was installing SCCM 2012 I found  out that I need to install patches/updates on my SQL server. To find out what version I was running I looked at this document. How to determine which version and edition of SQL Server Database Engine is running To determine the version of SQL Server, you can use any of the following methods: Method 1: Connect to the server by using Object Explorer in SQL Server Management Studio. After Object Explorer is connected, it will show the version information in parentheses, together with the user name that is used to connect to the specific instance of SQL Server. Method 2: Look…

  • Gardening

    Sources of vermiculite in northern Virginia

    At first I found out that vermiculite is almost impossible to find here in northern Virginia. After searching for a day or so I eventually found a few suppliers of it: Meadow view farms in Woodbridge has the fine variety…the kind they tell us to stay away from  4 cu ft bag for $25 Home Depot has 2 cu ft bags of the medium variety for $21 Merrifield Gardens in Fair Oaks has the 4 cu ft bags of coarse vermiculite for $40 Roxbury Farms in Fredericksburg has 4 cu ft bags of coarse vermiculite for $27 Southern States in Manassas has 4 cu ft bags of coarse vermiculite for…

  • Gardening

    Trying out the Square Foot Gardening method

    Tilling the soil ever year was a pretty tiresome process. So I was looking for an easier way to grow vegetables and came across this book describing another way called Square Foot Gardening. The ideas in this book seem to be pretty good. Use no soil, just use a mix of compost, peat moss and vermiculite. At first I found out that vermiculite is almost impossible to find here in northern Virginia. After searching for a day or so I eventually found it locally.