SharePoint performance is down, factors to be considered.

Friends, it would be of great deal and help if we had an overall description of ‘what has occurred’ during determining the factors of down SharePoint performance. Below I am listing some of the key point which had clicked to my mind.

•                     Is issue present on all content databases and sites in a web application?

o   If one site is having issues check the URL for the content database the site resides. – This can help determine if the issue is site specific or larger.

o   If the content database URL has issues then check other Content databases in the same web application.

o   If the web application is having issues validate other web applications in the same method.

o   Compare web applications from each SQL server, this can help determine if there is a SQL issue.

•                     Is the issue present on all WFE's?

o   Test from the WFE’s and from a desktop – This can help locate any issues with Network or Load Balancer

o   Check WFE events, ULS, IIS, performance monitor

o   Do WFE’s have high CPU?

§  Is High CPU on one process/web application

§  Capture all processes organized by CPU utilization

§  Determine what web application is related to process as necessary

•                     IIS SQL performing well?

o   Have the correct Teams such as SA and DBA to validate Wintel Server or SQL for any issues.

•                     Involvement of all internal teams should be required and record everything for easily sharing and record.

•                     When involving Microsoft share all event logs, IIS logs, ULS logs, and performance monitor logs captured with them.

A SharePoint performance troubleshooting guide from Idera would also help you to determining the factors to be considered during troubleshooting down SharePoint performance.   

Add, Remove, System created List Columns in SharePoint Designer

If you wish to Add/Remove system generated columns in SharePoint designer (SPD), you need to first open up the site in SPD then open any view’s aspx file.

In design mode, you need to right click on the DataFormWebPart and select “convert to XLST data view”.

Now you should have a “Common data view tasks” popup, if not, just click on the arrow to the right. You could then select “edit columns”.

Select single column (which you wish to delete), right click on the column and select Delete Column. You desired columns will be deleted. 

Now you will be able to add/remove columns in SharePoint Designer Save the file when you done and your SharePoint site will be automatically updated with the new columns.

If you have any concerns/queries do let me know.

More details on Data Form WebPart

You cannot switch the user account in SharePoint Designer 2013

SharePoint Designer is a powerful application that enables the rapid creation, editing and deployment of content on the SharePoint platform.

Microsoft has already published a document on this issue and here is the KB article for this:

Microsoft KB: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2738178

Additional references:

Please refer the following error messages:

1.      Indexer process doesn’t free up old memory after repartitioning

2.      New-SPEnterpriseSearchIndexComponent checks the existence of RootDirectory in the wrong server

3.      PerformancePoint Dashboard Designer Help doesn’t open as expected

4.      PowerPoint intent isn’t shown

5.      Repair operations on SharePoint Standalone can delete your content database

6.      WSS Sync failed to run in because of a lack of profile database permission

7.      Cannot process argument because the value of argument"implementingType" is null. Change the value of argument "implementingType" to a non-null value.

8.      "Error occurred in deployment step 'Add Solution': Cannot start service SPUserCodeV4 on computer ..."

9.      Unable to retrieve topology component health states. This may be because the admin component is not up and running.

If you are facing any error messages which are listed above then please refer the following Microsoft article for the details workaround information:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/sharepoint-server-2013-known-issues-HA102919021.aspx

If you have any queries/questions regarding the above mentioned information then please let me know. Thank you.

SharePoint Designer permission requirements

SharePoint Designer is a powerful application that enables the rapid creation, editing and deployment of content on the SharePoint platform. As such, certain mandatory permission levels are required.

Detail Information:

As outlined in the article at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint-designer-help/managing-sharepoint-designer-2010-HA101838275.aspx

After enabling SharePoint Designer at the web application level and site collection level, the next steps are to select the users that will be enabled to access, create, and modify SharePoint content through SharePoint Designer.

SharePoint Designer is designed to request and use SharePoint permissions that grant the rights of managing & designing at the SharePoint site level it is not design to use the permission at a smaller granularity level such as list item level permissions..

Reference Documents:

1.      http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc262939.aspx

2.      http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721640.aspx

Conclusion:

To be able to use SharePoint Designer and modify SharePoint content, an user needs to be a member of one of the following groups at the site collection level:

1.      Site Collection Administrators group

2.      The Designers group

3.      Owners group

If you have any queries/questions regarding the above mentioned information then please let me know. Thank you.

IT Security Bulletin: December 2012.

SQL injection is used by hackers to gain access to your database. Cross-site scripting lets a hacker add code to your website to execute tasks. A few simple steps can protect against these common attacks if you know where the weaknesses are in your network.

Download: SSL 101: The 45-Page Guide to Web Application Threats

This 45-page guide will help you understand the risks facing your business today. It focuses specifically on the risks of data loss and loss of customer trust and discusses the ways you can use SSL to protect yourself and your business.

This guide will help you understand the methods, implications and protection measures of attacks such as intercepting communications, spoofing, directed attacks, improperly managed access control and more.