THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS DIVA

Stealing a post from Joan in the BCM newsgroup:

http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.outlook.bcm/browse_thread/thread/ec72826d66064f2d/744893e30446cf04?lnk=gst&q=memory#744893e30446cf04

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/2005/mgsqlexpwssmse.mspx#EPIAE

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=C243A5AE-4BD1-4E3D-94B8-5A0F62BF7796&displaylang=en

Inside Entourage by Amir : DST Workaround for Entourage 2004 & 2008 
Users in ANZ:
http://blogs.technet.com/amir/archive/2008/03/31/dst-workaround-for-entourage-2004-2008-users-in-anz.aspx

Don't forget you can go to www.microsoft.com/dst for wizards on how to get info for DST issues

BBC NEWS | Technology | Spam blights e-mail 15 years on:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7322615.stm

As a result of whatever brilliant thing SBCglobal/Yahoo did to their servers, some of the email being sent from domains that I know are hosted on sbcglobal domains are now being caught by my spam filters.

So if you were expecting an email and didn't get it, go check your spam filters for it.

My co-worker looks at porn - Work + Money on Shine:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/money/my-co-worker-looks-at-porn-152931/

Interesting.
CC may hate a snitch, but will she like it when the network/computer that she uses to compose her CC content is owned by malware possibly introduced by said web sites.

Granted, I think it's the IT admin's job if the policy of the firm to block such things to limit access through the use of web filtering and what not, but this is a work environment.  It's introducing risk to the firm.  If the acceptable use of the Internet policy at the firm (and they do have one, yes?) says this is not appropriate, what this points out is the IT staff is not doing their job.  Have a policy is only half of the battle.  Next you have to enforce it.

If it's not acceptable.. block it.

Stolen from Charlie Russel --  XP 64 bit guru, as well as uber author if you want to install a certain.... 
hmmm... let's just call it the meow meow cat of a beta product on Hyper-V you need to ensure that you use 
legacy nic settings.

When you are doing tests on HyperV, bottom line if it doesn't see the nic, try "legacy nic" instead.

Charlie's instructions for how to do Hyper-V and Cou ... I mean "meow meow" server are as follows:

1.) Create new VM in Hyper-V manager. 
2.) Before you start it, go in and change the settings:
	a.) 2 Processors
	b.) 5120 GB RAM
	c.) Add a Legacy NIC. 

3.) Start it. You'll want to boot from the ISO, not a physical DVD. MUCH faster. 
4.) When you get to the first GUI screen, where it is going to start installing the 
"Susan inserted Meow server" stuff, press Shift-F10 to open a command window. 
5.) On the Actions menu of the Connect application, select Install Integration services. 
6.) In the CMD window, drill down to the AMD64 directory and run setup.
7.) Reboot as required to get the Integration Components to install 
(I think it takes two reboots, but it might be down to one.)
8.) Continue installing. 

That's it. Runs fine. You can, once the integration components are installed, 
switch back to a regular NIC. 

If you want to run the RC of Hyper-V, you'll need to add the .msu Hotfix
to an ISO and run them from there.

http://smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2008/03/linux-is-still-not-viable-for.html

"Bottom line is that clearly many people are buying Macintosh computers for two reasons: due to the overall frustration and complexity of Windows and due to the increased marketing (and possibly a better product) of the Mac platform."

http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/vista/my_lack_of_confidence_in_vista_sp1.html

The sad thing about reading Joe Wilcox's story about his friend who is having issues with his computer is that get that machine in front of competent tech support and that machine could be working like a champ.  That Outlook with BCM combo sucks performance unless you do that SQL command to limit the msde instance.  Outlook crashing?  That needs a good debugging job of looking at the add-ins to see which one is causing a problem. 

The fact that the words "frustration" and "complexity" goes in the same sentence with Windows is of interest.  I still argue that due to the Windows "developer, developer, developer" mantra, combined with the need for Microsoft to have other parties build the hardware that runs their software, this leads to the situation we have today.  Applications that need work to behave, Driver manufacturers that get away with murder, and blogger articles like this. 

Is Apple a better product?  It's a different product.  The big issue that I have with the Mac platform is evidenced by my ever beloved Quickbooks.  On the Windows platform I have umpteen versions of the product, some tailored for certain industries with a robust community of third party plug ins.  If I outgrow QB there's an enterprise version.  On the Mac platform there's one version of Quickbooks.  What this limitation of options does is by default ensure that complexity is lessened.  I don't have to debug umpteen versions, there's just one. 

But the day and age of a business machine being able to be serviced by DIYers... I don't think it was ever there to begin with, nor is it especially there now. 

I'm in a crisis right now.  My baby laptop, The Acer Travelmate c110, my trusted travel companion, the one that's gone from XP to Vista without complaint, the one that I've worn off the M and the N key and have a shiny spot on the space bar is now having a key problem.  It sometimes doesn't 'take' a space bar.  So I'm typingaway onit and don'trealize that everyother placewhereI needa spaceisn't doingone. 

k

o

t

a

So now I'm typing on an HP Pavilion and the touch pad is slightly in the wrong place and suddenly I'll find myself with a keystoe in the wrong place and my cursor somewhere else and then have to go back and put the cursr back to the place I'm supposed to be typing at.  I may try sticking a post it noe pad over the touch pad because it's right around the area where I rest the heel of my right hnd and it gets a tad annoying.

The IBM 8088 had a keyboard to die for.  No keyboard since that era of the IBM typewriter era has had quite the same key feel. 

When you go to buy a laptop, how the keys feel is critical.  On a desktop, one can buy a keyboard, but a laptop, you are stuck with what ships with the laptop.

So do I buy a new laptop even though I LOVE my Acer C110?  Find a keyboard on ebay and replace it?  (Which is actually what I'm contemplating on doing)....I love the travel size and with 2 gigs of ram running the Vista basic color interface on a tablet pc works just fine. 

Okay I just talked myself into buying a replacement keyboard for that laptop because it's still a sweet size, great for travel, runs Vista like a champ and my AT&T wireless card fits in the pcmcia slot.  This HP pavillion doesn't have a pcmcia slot so that's another thing to think of when upgrading laptops.  Do all of your 'other' technology pieces still fit your new laptop.  Don't assume the new "home" ish models have the business features you need.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140206202314&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=004 

Done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_business_server

"It must be noted that Windows Small Business Server is technically not an 'edition' of the Windows Server operating system but rather a customized SKU of server technologies targeted especially to small businesses. As such, the application servers are not merely bundled with the OS but are tightly integrated into the operating system. The same service packs as those for Windows Server or other server products cannot simply be used to update the OS."

It must be noted that this is no longer true.  One can install Windows 2003 sp2 to SBS 2003.  Since the R2 era (meaning post SBS 2003 sp1) the goal has been to not have special service packs for SBS, but rather be able to install the same exact service packs as Windows Server, Exchange Server, Sharepoint, WSUS, ISA and so on.

So let me restate that:

The SAME service packs as those for Windows Server or other server products CAN simply be used to update the Operating system. 

SBS is just parts with extra magic.

Book Review: The 7 Triggers to Yes | Small Business Trends:
http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2008/03/book-review-the-7-triggers-to-yes.html/

Today I got something in the mail that was the two triggers to 'no'.  A postcard from a Computer company.  Here's some constructive criticism for those considering sending out postcards.

First off, ensure that you finish up your web site before sending out that postcard.  Something half done doesn't leave a good impression when the person getting the postcard then goes to the web site and sees a templated web site with sections that are still "to finish".  It doesn't leave a good impression.

Use of Clip art doesn't grab my eye.  I'm not saying you need to hire a professional developer, but well done business cards grab me.  The pencil drawing clip art on the postcard needs some work.

To the company that sent me the postcard, I wish you well in your marketing efforts.  But I'm going to say "no, thank you".

Dawn: A small business trends movie | Comcast SMB:
http://businessclass.federatedmedia.net/archives/17
 

"Take time for thinking each day"

Watch this little slide show.....

Small Business Trends Movie:
http://www.smallbiztrends.com/dawn/

Tim Anderson’s ITWriting - Tech writing blog » Small Business Server 2008: no ISA Server, no built-in tape backup:
http://www.itwriting.com/blog/?p=559

I have a $3,000 Sony tape door stop.  Well it used to be a fully functional... okay most of the time functional tape backup until until it decided to crap out on me.  (It was sorta like this Sony model) And I looked at that $3,000 unit and went..da heck with this why am I fighting with tape with it's on again off again  "it works tonight... it doesn't work tomorrow" that I was fighting.  So I switched to harddrives and never looked back.  I know you will tell me that they aren't built for ruggedness.  They won't last as long.  I have a bunch of useless tapes in my office that I need to properly destroy because my drive unit won't function.  How rugged was it?

My biggest thing I want people to think about when the reality of ISA 'off the domain controller' means is something even more than security.  For too long vendors have done the 'blame ISA" routine.  Because we had ISA ON the same server as everything else, a vendor could justifiably come back with an excuse that the ISA configuration was the problem.  Given that it's not like we want to remove it to prove the vendor wrong, it placed us in a awkward position.  Add to that the issue that ISA on a DC is only supported on a SBS box means we're in the minority down here. 

There's also another factor that I talk about in the Small Biz chapter of the Win2k8 Security Res Kit...I talk about it on page 397 "Choosing a Firewall" section... where I point out that having the firewall 'off' the server and now a choice for the customer/consultant to pick out means that you can select a firewall 'just right' for your client.  From Sonicwalls to Fortinets, to MonoWalls, to ISA Server, to yes, even LInksys if the client doesn't need the extra protection and paranoia you can select how much "paranoia" your client really needs and choose the right solution.

QuickBooks Online Subscribers Can View Company Data From iPhones | Quickbooks, Bookkeeping and Accounting Blog:
http://www.samarak.com/accounting-blog/quickbooks/quickbooks-online-subscribers-can-view-company-data-from-iphones/

You can't enter data from the iphone.. but you can view it.

That is a $200 Die Hard Platnium battery that I bought at about 6 p.m. from Sears for my Dad's "newer" car.  I bought it after the car refused to start around 4:50 p.m.

....so I had to drive out of town today and Dad says "take my car, it needs to be driven.." and I proceed to drive it there and back.  On the way back to the office Dad calls and needs me to stop by the Doctor's office.  So I drop by to pick up supplies that Dad needs and then get in the car to drive back to the office.

wrrrr ....rrrrrr ....click.

Uh oh....  Let's try that again.

wrrrr ....rrrrrr ....click.

Shoot.  And then I'm like ...shoot I'm not sure I have my AAA emergency tow service card with me (nor at this time of the year am I certain that I sent it in for renewal), so I call my Sister and she says "Oh yeah, last night when I drove it into the garage and parked it, it acted like the battery was going".  Thanks Sis for warning me.  Call Dad.  "Yeah, the battery is five years old, it's probably due for a change".  Okay, that's nice to know.  So while I'm deciding to get a tow service, one of the guys at the office with jumper cables calls and says he'll swing by.  So I wait in the parking lot.  Around that time the Xray technician at the Doctor's office comes over and asks where's my Dad and I explain I came for supplies and he's fine and the car won't start.

He turns the key and for him it goes...

wrrrr ....rrrrrr ....click.

So I say someone's coming, I'm fine and he drives off.  It's only about 4:30 anyway on a very lovely spring day.  Birds are churping, it's not bad at all to be standing out in the sun with the breeze.

So along comes Ken from the Office.  And he says "So what sound does it make when you try to start it?"

And I say "Hang on let me show you....."

I proceed to get in the car, turn the key and the car goes....

"vroom vroom vroom vroom...."

(just imagine a picture of Ken standing in the parking lot laughing at me)

The moral of this story is....

Just like computers, when batteries get to a certain age, change them out.

When the technician shows up, the technology works just fine.

Emotions drive purchasing decisions. 

In the emotional aftermath of getting nearly stuck on the road, the $80 price differential between the Sears Gold level and the Sears Platnium battery seems like peanuts.  Amazing how when emotions are involved you tell the Sears guy, "whatever is your top of the line battery, I want that!"

P.S.  In case you think I'm crazed enough to take a picture of the battery just for blogging purposes, we actually took it to show to Dad the new battery.

One of the reasons that people kick and scream about Vista is that they have been "ADMIN" for many eons on their computer.  Just when I think we're getting to the tipping point of LUA, every now and then I hear a story about a vendor who still doesn't get it.  A vendor in fact who is trying to convince the client that the consultant is wrong to advise the client to strive to run without administrator rights.

You only need administrator rights when you install software.  Normal folks don't do that on a daily basis.  And the mere act of running without admin rights means that you are more protected, usually can patch later, and all sorts of wonderful stuff.  Don't believe me?

Check out these links...

http://blogs.technet.com/jesper_johansson/archive/2005/11/30/415328.aspx

http://blogs.msdn.com/aaron_margosis/archive/2006/02/16/fixing-lua-bugs-part-i.aspx

Let me quote from Mr. LUA man himself... Aaron Margosis:

Remember nothing is perfect....

Yeah yeah redecorating again... even though I have a Google blog search box, it wasn't as good as the Community server search box native to the blog that I lost when I changed the skin.  And then I changed it to a skin that didn't have the news items (aka the icons for the SBS blog and what not)

After busy season ... I'll be in search of new skins... tired of these.

Why People Don't Get Twitter | NoGeekLeftBehind.com:
http://www.nogeekleftbehind.com/2008/03/26/why-people-dont-get-twitter/

As a follow up to Tim, many a twitter post that I see is about as fascinating as how it took 13 minutes for me to blow my nose.  It's all in how your communication flows for you.  Some folks communicate through newsgroups, some through web forums, some through chats and IM, and obviously some tweet.  If your group of twitters keep the conversation to something more exciting than "Jane Austin fest" and "What exactly was Nicole's necklace?" which has been some of my past tag lines, then wonderful, but I really and truly don't consider those throw away lines up at the top of the IM window anything other than throwaways.

One of my IMers gave a clear use of it as it flowed in his conversation style.  He could ask and get real time answers for his tech issues.  (For the old school folks it also sounds like the web version of an ICQ channel... it's funny for everything new and web 2.0, I see a lot of old technologies reused in different ways.)

If it works for you, fine.  But I think I communicate enough now.  (Too much some say)

Sorry Tim and Vlad, for now anyway, not going to take that red pill.

tweet

http://emea.salesforce.com/servlet/servlet.FileDownloadPkb?file=00P20000001pNQZ&orgId=00D200000001J9u&pPid=501200000008p83

SBS Best Practice Guide for ShadowProtect Microsoft’s SBS 2003 Best Practice Guide
for use with StorageCraft ShadowProtect.

Situation:
This guide is for End Users and Resellers to provide some guidance when building an SBS 2003 Server for best optimal usage of the hardware provided for the life cycle of the hardware.

Key Words: Best Practice Guide, Small Business Server, SBS, SBS2003

Disclaimer
This document is provided in an ‘as where is’ basis and is based on eight years of experience.

(link courtesy of David Benet, SMB Technology, Melbourne, AU and of course StorageCraft)

P.S. 20 gigs is too small IMHO.  I'm at 35 gigs with 8 gig free. 

http://www.portfolio.com/interactive-features/2008/02/New-Five?TID=st092007ab

Try to take a $5 on a color digital copier and make a copy.  The page will come out totally full of black toner.  The new $5 has a pattern that tells the copier to 'not copy'.

The back of the bill made us first think we got monopoly money.  There's a big purple 5 on the back.

Link courtesy of Bill Castner -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EURion_constellation