Getting around firewalls with SSH tunnels

Another interesting problem today - a new subnet was delivered to us vCloud guys (finally), but port 1688, necessary to activate eagerly-awaited Windows VMs in that new subnet with the KMS server, wasn't opened as requested.

Rather than wait until the weekend, or put the VMs into another subnet temporarily, I chose to use an SSH tunnel to a linux server in one of our other vCloud subnets (one which I knew had access to the KMS server on port 1688).

These are the instructions I wrote quickly so that I could palm off the work (after testing it of course!) - IPs and hostname changed to <value>;

RDP into the VM as your adm account.

On activation prompt, Click ask me later, then OK

Run <hostname>\c$\windows\putty.exe

Type <linux server> then on the left under connections expand SSH then click tunnels

Source port 1688

Dest port <kms server>:1688

Leave other settings, click Add then open

(The above instructions create the SSH tunnel so that local port 1688 goes through the Linux server to get the KMS server)

 

Leave this running then open a command prompt

Copy and paste in this line;

Slmgr /skms localhost:1688 & Slmgr /ato & shutdown /f /r /t 15

(The above line changes the KMS server to use, use's it to activate the PC, then reboots it)

Laptops that will take 32GB of RAM

I have been thinking lately that it might be nice to have a laptop with 32GB of RAM, as most of the VMWare stuff that I'm touching these days needs the host to have more than 16GB (VC Ops and vcloud director for example). I have a home lab but I it would cost MORE to buy 4x8GB sticks for that than it would to buy 4x8GB sticks for a laptop (I am conveniently ignoring the purchase price of the laptop of course!).

The below is a list of laptops that have 4 memory slots, and in most cases, Quad Core CPUs (some are Core 2, most are i7 - I believe only the i7s support 8GB per channel. I've left the Core 2s in as they are a lot older therefore cheaper and 16GB could suit some people).

I'll try to keep it up to date, at least until I finally purchase one - I haven't found a list as comprehensive as this one.

**Good tip for finding number of slots**
Google one of the below;
i7 "4 sockets" site:memorystock.com
i7 "slots: 4" site:crucial.com

----------------------LIST BEGINS--------------


**NOTE BEST**

1. Some of these laptops are available with different CPU types - to take 32GB of RAM it HAS to be a QUAD CORE i7 (ONLY the i7 was\IS available as a quad core, BUT SOME i7 chips are DUAL core - even if a dual core laptop has 4 slots, only two will work and i7s can only take 8GB per channel. Quad core i7s usually have QM in the name). 
2. I am not responsible for any mistakes on the list below. This is intended as a research guide only, you should confirm with another source before purchasing anything.

Lenovo Thinkpad W510 - 1st gen i7. 15"
Lenovo Thinkpad W520 - 2nd gen i7. 15"
Lenovo Thinkpad W530 - 3rd gen i7. 15"
Lenovo Thinkpad W701 - 1st gen i7. 17"!
Lenovo Thinkpad W701ds - 1st gen i7. 17"!

Dell Precision M4600
Dell Precision M4700
Dell Precision M6500
Dell Precision M6600
Dell Precision M6700
Dell XPS 17 L701x

Alienware M17x
Alienware M18x

Asus G73SW (not JW) apparently takes 8GB per slot and has 4 slots.....
Asus G74SX
Asus G75VW
Asus G75VX

MSI GT60
MSI GT70

HP Elitebook
8540w and 8540p (i7 v1)
8560w (and 8560p?)
8570w (and 8570p?)
8760w(and 8760p?)

Acer Aspire 8943G (18.4 inch screen!!!!)