SQL Eval has Expired for SCVMM

I had an issue.  Someone installed the SQL as eval copy.  I tried to Start the Database but couldn’t.  It states as expired.

So there’s I’ve to work around.  Firstly I find the location of the Database.  e.g.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10_50.SYSPREPSQL\MSSQL\DATA

Copy both the DB out to a location as backup.

From the services of the VMM check which account is used to start the System Center Virtual Machine Manager. 
In this scenario is pcloud\vmmsvc

 

Then I uninstall the entire SQL and then reboot the VMM server.  Install a fresh new SQL (full license) into the VMM server.

After the installation I copied both the files back into the new SQL path e.g.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL_10_50.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA

I then launch the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.  Expand the Databases. 

Then <right-click>  on the Databases and select Attach …

Click Add …

Select the VirtualManagerDB.mdf from the location that I copied into earlier and click OK twice.

Expand the Security – Logins.  <Right-click> on the Logins, and select New Login ….

Add in the user that was use to start up the VMM Services (information services that was gathered earlier).  In this example is pcloud\vmmsvc.

<Right-click> on the particular user and select Properties.

In the Login Properties select User Mapping.

In the Users mapped to this login select VirtualManagerDB

In the Database role membership for VirtualManagerDB, select db_owner & public then click OK.

Once it’s done, launch the Virtual Machine Manager Console

Then it’s ready to go for administrating through the VMM Console.

Also thank you to both my colleagues, Law WF & Edmund Lim. Hope the steps help. 

keywords : Systems Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012, scvmm, vmm, SQL evaluation, SQL eval, expire SQL, SQL 2012.

How to move from Windows Full GUI–Minimum Server Interface–Server Core with Windows Server 2012 (Using GUI Interface) without installation again

I’ve just finished presenting with Raymond Chou on how you can convert from Server Core to Full Server GUI and vise versa today in SME CORP.

One of the GREATEST big achievement running Server 2012 is that it it can convert from Server Core to Full GUI and vise versa …. without reinstalling.

Server CL-VM-03 is a Windows 2012 Server Core.  The server is joined to the domain and needs to be Fully GUI.

The screen below shows the CL-VM-03, is a pure Server Core.

I’m using a second server, which is CL-VM-04 to manage the features remotely (which I don’t need to access locally in CL-VM-03 server) to add in the features to be fully server GUI.

From CL-VM-04, select Add roles and features.

Click Next.

In the Installation Type, select Role-based or feature-based installation, then click Next.

In the Server Selection, select the server (CL-VM-03, which I’m converting from Server Core to Server Full GUI), then click Next.

Since I’m not adding Roles, I click Next.

In the Features, select the Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure , Server Graphical Shell and click Next.

Note : If you need the server as Server Minimal Interface select only the Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure.

In the Confirmation, remember to check the “Restart the destination server automatically if required” , then click Install.

Can click close or wait for the installation to complete, then click Close.

Now back to CL-VM-03, you can see the reboot ha started and the features as added into it.

Wait for it to complete, then login.

 

Type Explorer or MMC from Command Prompt

There you go, now the server CL-VM-03 is now fully Server GUI.

 

To Convert Server Full GUI to Server Core.

To remove the features to convert the Server Full GUI to Server Core, just carry out the process by accessing the Server Manager (locally or remotely) by selecting the Manage, then select the Remove Roles and Features, then follow the instructions to uncheck the Graphical Management Tools and Infrastructure , Server Graphical Shell in the Features.

Hope the above helps. Thank you.

keywords : Converting Server core to gui, fully gui, server minimal interface, server core to GUI, server 2012 windows server 2012, datacenter standard server