[There's a reason that Yoda is the unofficial mascot of SBS.  Size indeed matters not.] September 2009 - Posts - THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS DIVA

September 2009 - Posts

Already there are folks in route to SMBnation... Remember .. don't take a left turn at Seattle this year, this time turn right for Las Vegas.

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=smbnation

And for all of those at home who can't be there... torture them with blog posts and twitter posts of what they are missing!

Wireless router packed and ready to go!

Posted Wed, Sep 30 2009 23:21 by bradley | with no comments
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a.    Use. You may install and use any number of copies of the software on your devices in your household for use by people who reside there or for use in your home-based small business.

Holy cow the EULA allows for use in a home based small business.  Wow, didn't expect that.

Tinfoil and paranoids.. please see MU is enabled, may contain Silverlight (is that like may contain peanuts for those that have peanut allergies?)


MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
MICROSOFT SECURITY ESSENTIALS 1.0
These license terms are an agreement between Microsoft Corporation (or based on where you live, one of its affiliates) and you. Please read them. They apply to the software named above, which includes the media on which you received it, if any. The terms also apply to any Microsoft
·    updates,
·    supplements,
·    Internet-based services, and
·    support services
for this software, unless other terms accompany those items. If so, those terms apply.
By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the software.
As described below, installation or use of the software also operates as your consent to the transmission of certain standard computer information during validation, automatic download and installation of certain updates, and for Internet-based services.
If you comply with these license terms, you have the rights below for each license you acquire.
1.    INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a.    Use. You may install and use any number of copies of the software on your devices in your household for use by people who reside there or for use in your home-based small business.
b.    Separation of Components. The components of the software are licensed as a single unit. You may not separate the components and install them on different devices.
c.    Included Microsoft Programs. The software may contain other Microsoft programs. The license terms with those programs apply to your use of them.
2.    VALIDATION.
a.    The software may cause the operating system software to conduct validation checks of your operating system software from time to time, depending upon your specific operating system.
b.    Validation verifies that your computer’s operating system has been activated and is properly licensed. Validation also permits you to use certain features of the operating system software or to obtain additional benefits.
c.    If a validation check is performed, the operating system software will send information about the software and your operating system software to Microsoft. This information includes the versions of the software and operating system software. Microsoft does not use the information to identify or contact you. By using the software, you consent to the transmission of this information. For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=163954.
d.    If, after a validation check, your operating system software is found not to be properly licensed, the software you are installing may be disabled, or the functionality of the operating system software may be affected, depending upon your specific operating system and applicable laws. For example, you may need to reactivate the operating system software or you may receive reminders to obtain a properly licensed copy of the operating system software, or you may not be able to use or continue to use some of the features of the operating system software or obtain certain updates, upgrades or services from Microsoft.
e.    You may only obtain updates or upgrades for the operating system software from Microsoft or authorized sources. For more information on obtaining updates from authorized sources, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=163955.
3.    INTERNET-BASED SERVICES. Microsoft provides Internet-based services with the software. Except as otherwise noted in materials accompanying a service, it may change or cancel them at any time.
a.    Consent for Internet-Based Services. The software features described below connect to Microsoft or service provider computer systems over the Internet. In some cases, you will not receive a separate notice when they connect. Unless otherwise noted, you may switch off these features or not use them. For more information about these features, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=148744. By using these features, you consent to the transmission of this information. Microsoft does not use the information to identify or contact you.
Computer Information. The following features use Internet protocols, which send to the appropriate systems computer information, such as your Internet protocol address, the type of operating system, browser and name and version of the software you are using, and the language code of the device where you installed the software. Microsoft uses this information to make the Internet-based services available to you.
·    Microsoft Update Feature. By installing the software on your device, you also agree to receive updates using the Microsoft Update center. This feature provides you with the latest updates against malware threats and can update your device with the latest updates as needed. If you do not enlist in the Microsoft Update center, you will not be able to install and operate the software. For more information about the Microsoft Update feature, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=148744.

·    Microsoft Digital Rights Management. If you use the software to access content that has been protected with Microsoft Digital Rights Management (DRM), in order to let you play the content, the software may automatically request media usage rights from a rights server on the Internet and download and install available DRM Updates. For more information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=123883.

·    Malicious Software Removal. The software will check for and remove certain high severity malicious software (“Malware”) from your device automatically during scheduled scans and after discovery. When the software checks your device for Malware, a report will be sent to Microsoft about any Malware detected or errors that occur while the software is checking for Malware, specific information relating to the detection, errors that occurred while the software was checking for Malware, and other information about your device that will help us improve this and other Microsoft products and services. No information that can be used to identify you is included in the report.

·    Error Reports. This software automatically sends error reports to Microsoft that describe which software components had errors. No files or memory dumps will be sent unless you choose to send them. From time-to-time, we will also download a small file to your computer that permits us to collect information about specific errors you have while using the software. For more information about Error Reports, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=148744.
·    Potentially Unwanted Software. The software will search your computer for low to medium severity Malware, including but not limited to, spyware, and other potentially unwanted software ("Potentially Unwanted Software"). The software will only remove or disable low to medium severity Potentially Unwanted Software if you agree. Removing or disabling this Potentially Unwanted Software may cause other software on your computer to stop working, and it may cause you to breach a license to use other software on your computer, if the other software installed this Potentially Unwanted Software on your computer as a condition of your use of the other software. You should read the license agreements for other software before authorizing the removal of this Potentially Unwanted Software. By using this software, it is possible that you or the system will also remove or disable software that is not Potentially Unwanted Software.
·    Microsoft SpyNet Participation. When you install the software, Microsoft SpyNet allows users to become part of a network community of users that report spyware and other forms of Potentially Unwanted Software to Microsoft. Upon initial installation, users will be opted-in by default to participate in Microsoft SpyNet under a “basic” membership, which allows the software to report potential threats identified in the software that have not yet been analyzed for risks. The reports include information about the files or programs in question. For more information about Microsoft SpyNet and the information collected for reports, see the privacy statement at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=148744.

·    Automatic Updates. This software may contain Silverlight technology. If it does, Silverlight contains an Automatic Update feature that is on by default. Microsoft may change or cancel it at any time. For more information about this feature, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=123883. You may turn off this feature while the software is running (“opt-out”). Unless you expressly opt out of this feature, this feature will (a) connect to Microsoft or service provider computer systems over the Internet, (b) use Internet protocols to send to the appropriate systems your computer information, such as your Internet protocol address, the type of operating system, browser and name and version of the software you are using, and the language code of the device where you installed the software, and (c) automatically download and install, or prompt you to download and/or install, current Updates to a previous version of the software. By installing the software and not opting out of this feature, you consent to the transmission of your computer information and the automatic downloading and installation of Updates.
4.    SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this agreement. In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only allow you to use it in certain ways. You may not
·    disclose the results of any benchmark tests of the software to any third party without Microsoft’s prior written approval;
·    work around any technical limitations in the software;
·    reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, except and only to the extent that applicable law expressly permits, despite this limitation;
·    make more copies of the software than specified in this agreement or allowed by applicable law, despite this limitation;
·    publish the software for others to copy;
·    rent, lease or lend the software; or
·    use the software for commercial software hosting services.
5.    BACKUP COPY. You may make one backup copy of the software. You may use it only to reinstall the software.
6.    DOCUMENTATION. Any person that has valid access to your computer or internal network may copy and use the documentation for your internal, reference purposes.
7.    NOTICE ABOUT VC-1 VISUAL STANDARDS. This software may include VC-1 visual decoding technology. MPEG LA, L.L.C. requires this notice:
THIS PRODUCT IS LICENSED UNDER THE VC-1 PATENT PORTFOLIO LICENSES FOR THE PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL USE OF A CONSUMER TO (A) ENCODE VIDEO IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE VC-1 STANDARD (“VC-1 VIDEO”) OR (B) DECODE VC-1 VIDEO THAT WAS ENCODED BY A CONSUMER ENGAGED IN A PERSONAL AND NON-COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AND/OR WAS OBTAINED FROM A VIDEO PROVIDER LICENSED TO PROVIDE VC-1 VIDEO. NO LICENSE IS GRANTED OR SHALL BE IMPLIED FOR ANY OTHER USE.
If you have questions about the VC-1 visual standard, please contact MPEG LA, L.L.C., 250 Steele Street, Suite 300, Denver Colorado 80206; www.mpegla.com.
8.    EXPORT RESTRICTIONS. The software is subject to United States export laws and regulations. You must comply with all domestic and international export laws and regulations that apply to the software. These laws include restrictions on destinations, end users and end use. For additional information, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=163956.
9.    SUPPORT SERVICES. Because this software is “as is,” we may not provide support services for it. For more information on support provided for the software, go to http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=153375.
10.    ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This agreement (including the warranty below), any addendum or amendment included with the software, and the terms for supplements, updates, Internet-based services and support services that you use, are the entire agreement for the software and support services.
11.    APPLICABLE LAW.
a.    United States. If you acquired the software in the United States, Washington state law governs the interpretation of this agreement and applies to claims for breach of it, regardless of conflict of laws principles. The laws of the state where you live govern all other claims, including claims under state consumer protection laws, unfair competition laws, and in tort.
b.    Outside the United States. If you acquired the software in any other country, the laws of that country apply.
12.    LEGAL EFFECT. This agreement describes certain legal rights. You may have other rights under the laws of your state or country. You may also have rights with respect to the party from whom you acquired the software. This agreement does not change your rights under the laws of your state or country if the laws of your state or country do not permit it to do so.
13.    Disclaimer of Warranty.  The software is licensed “as-is.” You bear the risk of using it. Microsoft gives no express warranties, guarantees or conditions. You may have additional consumer rights under your local laws which this agreement cannot change. To the extent permitted under your local laws, Microsoft excludes the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.
14.    Limitation on and Exclusion of Remedies and Damages.  You can recover from Microsoft and its suppliers only direct damages up to U.S. $5.00. You cannot recover any other damages, including consequential, lost profits, special, indirect or incidental damages.
This limitation applies to
·    anything related to the software, services, content (including code) on third party Internet sites, or third party programs; and
·    claims for breach of contract, breach of warranty, guarantee or condition, strict liability, negligence, or other tort to the extent permitted by applicable law.
It also applies even if Microsoft knew or should have known about the possibility of the damages. The above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you because your country may not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental, consequential or other damages.

Remote Working Enabled by Windows Small Business Server 2008
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2009/09/28/remote-working-enabled-by-windows-small-business-server-2008.aspx

Just a follow up to this.  Recently someone stated that they had called Microsoft support and they had stated that after the installation of IE8 that RWW was no longer a viable technology.  Nothing could be farther than the truth.

You do have to put the RWW web site in the trusted site zone. You may need to click on the reset IE and blow off cookies/passwords, etc to reset the IE so that it will enable the ActiveX properly.  Check out the information on www.fixmyrww.com for details on how to reset this.

But bottom line, no matter if you have XP sp3, IE8, Vista, Win7, you name it, it STILL WORKS.

Posted Tue, Sep 29 2009 21:57 by bradley | with no comments
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What does the fact that Onecare is now officially and really dead mean for SBS 2008?  It means that you can no longer depend on OneCare as a potential antivirus package.  Microsoft security essentials is also not a package that can be used/installed on the server.

I need to double check the eula of Security Essentials and see if it can even be installed in a workstation setting or if it's only allowed in a home environment.

http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/activation/oc_eol_guidance.htm

WHAT IS CHANGING FOR WINDOWS LIVE(tm) ONECARE(r)?
Windows Live OneCare will begin discontinuing sales in all markets this summer. This page is intended to provide guidance and answer questions for customers as we complete this process. We will continue to update this guidance page as new information becomes available.

WHEN WILL ONECARE DISCONTINUE SALES?
Sale of Windows Live OneCare retail boxes will be discontinued during the summer season. Windows Live OneCare will be removed from direct online renewal and sale this fall.

HOW LONG CAN I USE MY WINDOWS LIVE ONECARE SUBSCRIPTION?
OneCare will support all existing customers through the duration of their subscriptions to ensure all subscribers remain protected and have ample time to find another security solution for their PC. OneCare will continue to be updated and supported until at least one year past the last subscription activation date. All OneCare customers will receive support and servicing through the end of their subscriptions. Please note that while Windows Live OneCare anti-virus and anti-malware protection will be continuously updated and all OneCare subscribers will be supported for the life of their subscription. OneCare will not be updated to support Windows 7.

WHAT OTHER SECURITY SOLUTIONS ARE THERE?
Microsoft announced that it plans to begin offering Microsoft(r) Security Essentials, a new security anti-malware solution, to consumers in the second half of 2009. The anti-malware solution will provide comprehensive anti-malware protection from threats including viruses, spyware, rootkits, Trojans, and other emerging threats in a single lightweight anti-malware solution. In concert with the ongoing improvements in internet security offered by Windows Vista(r), the forthcoming Windows(r) 7, and Internet Explorer(r) 8, Microsoft believes that this no-cost service will offer the essential security that consumers need. And by making this available at no charge, we hope to be able to help the estimated 60% of consumers who still do not have up-to-date antimalware protection. If you would like to try Microsoft Security Essentials, the Beta is available now in select markets at http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/default.aspx. This page will be updated regularly as new information about the Security Essentials release becomes available. Microsoft wants to ensure your PC is protected. If Windows Live OneCare and Microsoft Security Essentials do not meet your needs, you can learn more about security software providers for Windows here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/antivirus-partners/windows-7.aspx

 

 

Posted Tue, Sep 29 2009 20:36 by bradley | with no comments
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Do you need help setting up QuickBooks?  if so check  out http://www.terimilligan.com  and let Teri help you save time, money and your sanity.

I saw that little tag line on an email and had to laugh.  Indeed Quickbooks can drive you insane at times.  Sometimes setting something up is indeed the hardest thing to do.  Or sometimes reviewing what you set up and ensuring that what you did is the most efficient way to ensure the proper workflow ensures that you are the most efficient you can be.

Sometimes getting another pair of eyes to look over what you done saves you money in the long run, making you more efficient. 

Bottom line there are folks like Teri that looks over how you've set things up, or, better yet, will help you set it up right from the get go.

Posted Mon, Sep 28 2009 23:00 by bradley | 2 comment(s)
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http://www.cloudave.com/link/apple-is-just-as-sneaky-as-microsoft-dumping-software-on-your-computer

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1349

http://www.shootingatbubbles.com/index.php/2009/09/27/ed-bott-gets-all-picky-on-apple/

You just bought a computer.  But who's computer is it anyway?  Is it yours?  Really?  More and more it's the playground for vendors.  The blog post at Shootingbubbles.com should be read in it's entirety.  Go ahead and read it and then come back here.

So what do you think?  Is it okay that every vendor that ever installs anything has the right to do a notification that there's an update to it? 

Ed didn't have that software on his computer.  It's not an "update" rather an additional piece of software. 

Why should I trust any vendor that prechecks these software notifications?  Apple has prechecked these boxes before, then unchecked them, now they are back to prechecking them again. 

The battleground is currently our desktop, but what about the future in the cloud? 

What will it take to get vendors to only offer up security updates and to stop blurring the lines between updates and security updates?

 

Posted Sun, Sep 27 2009 16:43 by bradley | 2 comment(s)
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http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/24/DDKJ19QF95.DTL

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2009/09/sneak_peek_the_presidios_walt.php

Today we visited the soon to be officially opened Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco. 

Of the many fascinating lessons of the Musuem is the number of times that the Disney family bet the farm, sometimes figuratively. 

http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2004/07/15/walt-disneys-failures-could-inspire-entrepreneurs The number of business failures that both Walt and his father lived through showcased that failure is sometimes the best lesson of all.

The back side of the museum showcases the resuse of the Presidio buildings. 

Overall, definitively not a museum for kids, but a museum for Disney fans (of which both my Sister and I are), and an interesting study of a man who took risks.

http://www.facebook.com/TheWaltDisneyFamilyMuseum?ref=mf

And of course ...they have a facebook page.

 

Posted Sat, Sep 26 2009 21:19 by bradley | 2 comment(s)
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In San Francisco for the weekend and walking around the shopping district....cheap is in... expensive department stores look a bit ... well... empty. 

But retailers..here's some hints how you can keep me in the stores and keep me from going to amazon.com and doing my shopping there.

1.  Clean up the restrooms.  When you see a female back out of a restroom stall and go look for another, I won't go into the blog a description of why she did that.  Use your imagination.

2. Clean up the showroom.  When you are in the shoe section and you have to dodge the shoes and trip over them, it doesn't make for a pleasant shopping experience.

3.  Clear signage of where the checkout stands are.  When you have to ask where the checkout stand is, because you can't tell, unlike Amazon's always there shopping cart in the upper corner, maybe some well placed signs might be in order?

4.  Have unique items that I can't buy online.  When walking through a fabric store in Union Square a woman said "it's worth the cost of the plane ticket to fly back here". 

5.  When walking by the carcass of the now closed Virgin Megastore in San Francisco,  the juxtaposition of the Apple store right across the street was a bit of irony. The rise of one, begat the demise of the other.  But people are still listening to music (as the white ear buds in their ears attest to as well and their upcoming and ultimate deafness in their old age), it's just that the buying patterns have changed.

On the news tonight, they are talking of the business of America hoping that consumers will help the recovery.  But at least for me, you need to try to spiff up a bit before shopping in person equates to how comfy I can be in my jammies ordering online.

Posted Fri, Sep 25 2009 21:20 by bradley | with no comments
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http://www.symform.com/

Check it out   So last night Kevin Brown did an excellent webcast on how Symform works...  channel only is their focus and the "peer" storage model means that they can flat fee the costs.  The bits you backup are distributed out to other nodes.  You can actually lose a certain amount of "stuff" and it won't endanger the backup.  The major thing I liked was how partner responsive they are and have heard from others that they are. 

Sign up for a seminar... check out the platform.  It is a very interesting platform to use in your backup strategy to provide for additional storage in the cloud.  As someone said the other day, one can never have enough backups.  Secure, yes.  Cloud, yes.  I would argue a nice addition to a on premises backup strategy.

Web Seminars 

Symform 101 -- Implementing the Cooperative Storage Cloud
This program is designed for IT Service Providers. It provides a complete orientation that includes:
-  installation
-  configuration
-  backup best practices
-  the initial upload -- options to increase speed
-  hot failover -- rebuild a customer's server from your office in hours not days
-  pricing

Schedule:
Every Thursday -- 2PM to 3PM (Pacific time)
To request web seminar login and audio instructions, send us an email.
Posted Fri, Sep 25 2009 9:36 by bradley | with no comments
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image368462585.jpgSee why I had to buy it!

Www.cooperusb.com !
image364546554.jpgAs you can see, I had to buy this.

 

Software Licensing and Product Activation

 

 

How to troubleshoot Volume Activation error codes on Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista-based computers (article 938450 in the Microsoft Knowledge Base)
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164728)

 

Windows Volume Activation

 

 

Windows Volume Activation on the Windows Client TechCenter
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=153857)

 

Hyper-V Live Migration

 

 

Hyper-V: Using Live Migration with Cluster Shared Volumes in Windows Server 2008 R2
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164729)

 

Hyper-V and Failover Clustering

 

 

Migrating Settings to a Failover Cluster Running Windows Server 2008 R2
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=142796)

  

 

Hyper-V: Using Hyper-V and Failover Clustering
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=159624)

 

Failover Clusters

 

 

Overview of Failover Clusters
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164730)

  

 

Migrating Settings to a Failover Cluster Running Windows Server 2008 R2
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=142796)

 

Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services)

 

 

Remote Desktop Services team blog (how to set up, configure, and so on)
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164731)

  

 

Performance team blog about Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services)
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164732)

  

 

Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2008 R2 (includes how to deploy RD Licensing and RD Gateway)
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164733)

  

 

Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services) Health Model
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164734)


 

Operating System Deployment, Migration, and Upgrade education

 

 

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2008 Update 1
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=150927)

 

Direct Access and Networking education

 

 

Direct Access for Windows Server 2008 R2 on Microsoft TechNet
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164735)

  

 

DirectAccess Early Adopter’s Guide
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=148639)

 

Networking education

 

 

The Cable Guy Column Archives
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=164736)

 

Application Compatibility

 

 

Getting Started with Application Compatibility in a Windows Deployment
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164737)

  

 

Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Version 5.5
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=159081)

  

 

Application Compatibility and User Account Control Web site
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=150904)

  

 

Windows Server 2008 R2 Supported Applications
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164738)

  

 

ISV Application Readiness and Certification
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164739)

  

 

Application Compatibility Resources for IT Professionals and Developers
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164740)

 

Applocker

 

 

Applocker Step-by-Step Guide
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164741)

 

Public Key Infrastructure and Certificate Services

 

 

Active Directory Certificate Services
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=163168)

  

 

Active Directory Certificate Services: Web Enrollment
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164742)

  

 

Active Directory Certificate Services: Enterprise PKI (PKIView tool)
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164743)

  

 

Windows PKI blog on Microsoft TechNet
(http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=164744)

 

Posted Thu, Sep 24 2009 22:34 by bradley | with no comments
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Call 1-866-553-8146

code 5592528585

Dial into this number

(and sorry for any issues you may be having)

Posted Thu, Sep 24 2009 18:54 by bradley | with no comments
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...when  you call the pizza firm and he says "Susan?  You want the canadian bacon pizza, the combination pizza and the......"

Uh... pretty sad when I'm recognized and he can just reorder the same order.

Tonight is the Fresno SMB partner group night and we're going to have a presentation on SymForm.  Join in with virtual pizza if you like!

https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/winserver_usergroup/join?id=RQHCT9&role=attend&pw=8%5E-%5CzqX

When: Thursday, Sep 24, 2009 6:30 PM (PDT)
Posted Thu, Sep 24 2009 17:54 by bradley | 2 comment(s)
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The Official SBS Blog : WSUS Language Settings Could Be Lost After Upgrading to WSUS 3.0 SP2 on Small Business Server 2008:
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2009/09/24/wsus-language-settings-could-be-lost-after-upgrading-to-wsus-3-0-sp2-on-small-business-server-2008.aspx

Posted Thu, Sep 24 2009 17:36 by bradley | with no comments
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RunAs Radio:
http://www.runasradio.com/
Richard and Greg talk to Dana Epp about the free tools he uses to manage his networks. The list of tools include nmap (http://www.nmap.org ), Microsoft's Baseline Security Analyzer (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/cc184923.aspx ), Windows Server Update Services (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/wsus/default.aspx ), the Application Compatibility Toolkit (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd562082(VS.85).aspx ) and of course the SysInternals tools (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx ).


 

Dana Epp, Scorpion Software's founder and CEO, researches software security and sets the corporate vision in the convergence of information security principles and practices with digital information asset protection. As a computer security software architect, Dana has spent the last 15 years focusing on software development with a particular emphasis on security engineering. His latest research has been on risk-based authentication, focusing on strong two-factor authentication for small business.

 

Dana has been twice awarded the Community Spirit Award for Business in recognition of his ongoing initiatives in promoting high technology industries in his community, and won the 2001 Chamber of Commerce "Young Entrepreneur of the Year" award. In 2006 and 2007 Mr. Epp has been honored with the award and distinction of “Microsoft Windows Security MVP” for his work and expertise in Windows security. Mr. Epp is the author of "Computer Security Concepts: Managing Business Threats in a Wired World", a book written to explain at an executive level how to handle the threats of online risk as companies move to the new digital economy, and is the author of the popular security blog "Dana Epp's Rambling at the Sanctuary".

Posted Wed, Sep 23 2009 23:10 by bradley | with no comments
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Springboard Series Virtual Roundtable

Windows 7 Application Compatibility Part 2: Virtualization

 

Date:  Thursday, September 24

Time:  9:00am Pacific Time

 

https://ms.istreamplanet.com/springboard

 

Hear from a panel of experts how virtualization tools can help you with application compatibility concerns whether you’re migrating from Windows Vista or Windows XP. Join us to discuss how presentation virtualization, desktop virtualization and application virtualization can reduce testing times, expedite deployment and ultimately help you streamline PC management. We’ll cover the latest desktop virtualization technologies from Microsoft, including App-V, MED-V and XP Mode for Windows 7. Plus we share tips and tricks and demonstrate free tools to analyze and fix applications while answering your questions live during the event. Join live on Thursday, September 24th, 2009, 9:00am Pacific Time. Missed Part 1? Watch the replay.

 

For IT Pro tips, tricks and resources for Windows 7, visit the Springboard Series.

 

As part of the “virtual” experience, you may submit your questions about Windows 7 Application Compatibility to the panel live during the event—or submit questions in advance to vrtable@microsoft.com.


Springboard Series: The resource for Windows desktop IT professionals

Posted Wed, Sep 23 2009 21:58 by bradley | with no comments
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Now while I'm not a fan of popconnector... sometimes for testing purposes you set one up...and did you know that there's log files on the box so you can see what it's doing?

For the actual pull of the emails the logs are located in  C:\Program Files\Windows Small Business Server\Logs\pop3connector\

And you can see the raw details of the connection made.  If the server does a normal scheduled pop pull it will log basic stuff.  If you kick a manualy pop pull it will be an automatic verbose logging.

There's also a SBS specific event log

Open up the event log, drill down under Applications and Service logs, drill down under Windows Small Business Server 2008, and then drill down under Microsoft Windows Small Business Server/Operational.  Review the details in there for what's what.

Posted Wed, Sep 23 2009 18:42 by bradley | with no comments
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The Official SBS Blog : How to Move WSUS Content and Database Files to a Different Volume:
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2009/09/23/how-to-move-wsus-content-and-database-files-to-a-different-partition.aspx

Posted Wed, Sep 23 2009 18:02 by bradley | with no comments
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http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2009/09/21/some-of-the-more-unusual-but-fortunately-uncommon-error-messages-and-issues-you-might-see-in-patching-on-the-2k8-platform.aspx In the comments to that post someone asked me if 2k8 was worth it given the potential for patching issues in that post.

First off that post is similar to those prescription ads you see on television.  "This drug cures the common cold, side effects could include death, dismemberment, living a life of poverty, or bad breath".  You know the ones I mean where the goodness of the drugs sound so good and at the very end the voice over speeds up as they rattle through all of the known side effects that sound so horrific to make you wonder why someone would want to even take the drug in the first place?

The reality is that I've never had a workstation hit with this.  Nor a server.  Nor have I personally seen the "black screen of death" with Vista.  Nor have I seen personally the stuck on "stage 3 of 3".  But I've seen people impacted.  I personally know a few folks that have gotten hit with the issue where a Server 2008 asks for a SP1 (which is impossible).  But then again, I see people just as impacted with normal security patch issues on the 2k3 platform.  I cringe at a SQL patch.  I wince at a .NET patch. 

The reality is that vast majority of us patchers go through the month of patching just fine. 

So please remember these issues you see are like those drug commercials.  A few of you just might die as a slight side effect.  The vast majority of patchers are just fine and live a long and very healthy life.

Posted Tue, Sep 22 2009 23:30 by bradley | 1 comment(s)
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