THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS DIVA

"From what I have read on the net: even though sbs has "exchange" its not the same exchange that you get if you were to buy exchange from msft. Because of all the hooks and stuff that sbs has to use in order for it to be able to be easily managed and interact with the SBS API."

I love these statements.  How do people get it in their heads that somehow Microsoft takes the time and energy to build a unique Exchange just for SMBs?  Mind you with the next version of Exchange 2010 needing practically a server farm to run it, it might be nice for a unique version of Exchange to be built to cater to SMBs but I think the MS folks think that version is called BPOS.  :-)

For the record the stuff inside SBS is the same code.  The only thing unique is the stuff put in there for licensing enforcement (must have all the FSMO roles on SBS).  But there's no special build for the hooks and stuff.

Hi, I work for Horse and Hound Magazine and my readers want to know…..

You remember that scene in Notting Hill where the character Hugh Grant is playing accidentally ends up being mistaken for the press and going through a press line for a SciFi movie stumbling along asking really  stupid questions?

Well.. that’s what it feels like being “press blogger” at the WPC.  I don’t get access to all of the meet the other partners section of the digitalWPC site, and I’m getting requests for meet ups from vendors.  

…so given that you are the readers of this “Horse and Hound” magazine (aka the blog)  I’ll give you the opportunity to decide which vendor you are interested in me meeting with so I'll blog the invites I've gotten...

So here’s an invite I got today.. Rise (http://www.rise-partners.com ), a division of Fasthosts Internet Group.   Rise delivers hosted IT infrastructure solutions to channel partners, providing a new way for its partners to offer cloud and Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) solutions directly to small to mid-sized business customers.   They will be launching at the WPC and will be wanting to talk to me about upcoming trends and business opportunities on cloud computing in the channel market.

So if you were wondering where Yoda was last night... he had a problem with his external usb backup drive that was causing the server to have issue and then not to boot properly.  It's been removed, a new one on order, and for now he's backing up to 7of9's external hard drive.

(yes I had to go an entire evening without blogging... oh the horror...)

Okay so I have all of my old VLSC licenses hooked to my liveID of e_bitzie@hotmail.com.  It's the one I use for authentication, but the email address is hooked to betas and now forum alerts so it's not one that I want to officially have as the "business email" address for VLSC.  The other day I got the eagreement for the new ...starting 7/1... VLSC license agreement.  And I had to set up a LiveID to match the business email address to accept the agreement.  Okay fine, whatever.  I guess I kinda can see that I need to officially agree to it with a live ID deemed to be my "business email".  Okay fine.

But now I want to ensure that it goes back and hooks to the LiveId I've used for like umpteen years.  So today in trying to figure out how to add an agreement I'm told that because I have a larger agreement, mine doesn't need an authorization, it will just show up on my VLSC log in.

Okay.. but ... I accepted it with my other email address... how do I get it over to my LiveID one?  And dudes... it's a SBS order.  Come on people... SBS is not a LARGE agreement order by any stretch of the imagination here... I'm a rounding error... always have been.  So I call VLSC and they tell me that when I log into the VLSC web site on 7/1 with my business email address it will just be there.

Okay...but how do I get it to show up with all my other LIveID Microsoft licenses. 

Oh no problem, just call SoftwareOne and tell them to redo your licenses to have the business email address match your hotmail/Live ID.  Now all of your VLSC notifications will go there. 

Okay ...but I just use that LiveID for authentication, I'd rather not use it for notification. 

No problem then, go into the VLSC web site with your business email address and authorize the LiveID to have access rights to that license agreement.

Okay so log in first as the other me, giving the original me rights to the thing that shouldn't be this complicated to buy in the first place?

This shouldn't be the  this complicated to give Microsoft money.

How to backup a virtualized Small Business Server– READY for DISCUSSION - Tech Presales and Business News for Austrian Partners - Site Home - TechNet Blogs:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/ptsaustria/archive/2010/06/28/how-to-backup-a-virtualized-small-business-server-ready-for-discussion.aspx

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fblogs.technet.com%2Fb%2Fptsaustria%2Farchive%2F2010%2F06%2F28%2Fhow-to-backup-a-virtualized-small-business-server-ready-for-discussion.aspx&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

It's not German but you can kinda figure out what they are posting about.  I use the native built in backup and backup the hyperV child as if it were a real box.  I just happens to pass out through to usb connected hard drives is all.

Buying a phone these days is hard work.  We went to the AT&T store and was looking for a nice easy phone for my Dad.  We were even looking to possibly do it as a family plan.  In the store, we were told that if we did a family plan we'd not end up saving a lot of money.  But then later using the AT&T web site we realized that the plans we were quoted was above the minute plans we used. 

We ended up ordering a phone online to add it to our plans.

At my office I have the folks well trained enough that they ask me now what phones will sync with the office.  But lemme tell you, it's not easy these days trying to figure out what phones do and don't.  iPhone yes.  Some of the LG's yes.  Some no.  Androids yes... at least I think so.... Windows mobile, of course. 

So while it was a good thing to see the phones in person and know which ones we wanted to get for Dad, we ended up finding out more about the data plans and family bundling online.  Phone shopping is still way too complicated for something that should be lots easier.

https://www.mesh.com/welcome/default.aspx

https://sync.live.com/clientdownload.aspx?ibm=10

Okay so in trying to load up the new sync beta I just realized tonight that I installed the old one.  Or I think I did.  As when I go to mesh it directs me to the live essentials beta -- http://explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials-beta but the other day I downloaded Live sync thinking it was the replacement for Mesh and thought it was rather cludgy... now I think I downloaded the wrong replacement app.

Okay I'm downloading the live essentials beta and clearly the other day when I thought I was downloading the replacement beta and thinking it was a step backwards, I ended up installing the old program, not the replacement for Mesh.

Having similarly named programs is a tad confusing for sure.

Companyweb and SharePoint Central Admin not accessible after installing KB983444 - The Official SBS Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2010/06/18/companyweb-and-sharepoint-central-admin-not-accessible-after-installing-kb983444.aspx

On Facebook yesterday, Shaquile asked if he should patch for the SharePoint security update as he knew he would "have to spend hours to resolve the issues and I know that the clients are not going to pay for it!"

First off let's set some expectations:

I can't guarantee 100% that you won't hit issues installing this SharePoint patch.  But I can't guarantee 100%  that you WILL have issues.  On my production servers and on my test boxes, I could not get this update to fail.  And believe me, I TRIED.  Yet I have seen others that said that they have been hit by this.

Some questions to ask yourself... have you had patching issues with SharePoint on this server before?  I personally have always installed SharePoint updates all by themselves and separately from all other updates.  I don't know if that helps, but for me it helps to narrow down any possible side effects.

Next ... I'd honestly patch this when you have a plan to have other more "maintenance" type of updates.. such as Exchange 2007 sp3.  The security issue in this has a low risk in a SBS 2008 network due to how we don't expose SharePoint to a public url.

Next for most of the folks, all you need to do is the psconfig command.  On a rare few, some need to watch that SharePoint Search service.

But bottom line, just because a security update comes out, doesn't mean that it has to be done immediately, doesn't mean that the risk is horrific if you don't immediately patch and remember.. you can always evaluate the mitigation and do that instead.  Typically buried in the patch section is documentation of a mitigation that will keep you protected just fine in the meantime.

You can use the workaround in the security bulletin to block the help file until such time you patch it.  The workaround will protect you until such time as you are ready to tackle the patch.  The issue is with the help file on the box.  Change the access rights to that help file and voila... issue is mitigated.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms10-039.mspx

To restrict access to the vulnerable Help.aspx, run the following commands from a command prompt:

cacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\TEMPLATE\LAYOUTS\Help.aspx" /E /P everyone:N

cacls "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\TEMPLATE\LAYOUTS\Help.aspx" /E /P everyone:N

Do runas admin and remember it's normal for the error message to occur on the Program Files (x86) because SBS 2008 is a 64bit box and the x64 version of SharePoint is installed.

Once the security is set, you can't browse to that help.aspx file

When's the last time anyone read the SharePoint help file anyway?  Risk mitigation.  Patch not needed for now.  Document what you did to the server to ensure you undo it when you ultimately patch, and there you go. any potential issue with patching right now immediately has been bypassed.

So keep in mind that just because there's a known issue listed here... doesn't mean you'll hit it:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-US;983444

And keep in mind that just because there's a patch, doesn't mean you have to install it if you've taken the time to deem the risk acceptable or taken mitigations to remove the risk.

To undo it follow the workaround instructions again...

How to undo the workaround.

Run the following commands from a command prompt:

takeown /f "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\TEMPLATE\LAYOUTS\Help.aspx"

takeown /f "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\TEMPLATE\LAYOUTS\Help.aspx"

cacls "%ProgramFiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\TEMPLATE\LAYOUTS\Help.aspx" /E /R everyone

cacls "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\TEMPLATE\LAYOUTS\Help.aspx" /E /R everyone

When you run that command... you'll undo the mitigaton and be able to see the security tab info again.

Did you know?  I'm going to start a series of blog posts about parts of SBS 2008 you may not use or may not be aware of... one of them is the 'other' console.  SBS 2008 has a GUI console, but then there's the other one... the one that has the native tools that you may use for certain tasks.

Called the Windows SBS Native Tools Management console it has the active directory users and computers, and ....

In particular it has the Computer Management/System Tools/Shared Folders/Open Files that I have to open up every now and then and deal with line of business app issues.

I typically make a short cut for this on the desktop

The Windows SBS Console of Windows Small Business Server 2008 may crash, display "Not Available" for Other Alerts, or require a long time to display the Security and Other Alerts statuses:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb%3ben-us%3b981939

For those of you that already did a SQL script in a blog post .... you'll recognize that the KB is doing exactly the same as the post.

SBS 2008 Console May Take Too Long to Display Alerts and Security Statuses, Display Not Available, or Crash - The Official SBS Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2009/07/14/sbs-2008-console-may-take-too-long-to-display-alerts-and-security-statuses-display-not-available-or-crash.aspx
 
You'll want to ensure that one or the other is done to every SBS box.

Resources and guidance for Patch issues for Admins - TechNet Articles - Home - TechNet Wiki:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/resources-and-guidance-for-patch-issues-for-admins.aspx

Raw still.  Rough, but I'm throwing up log file and patching information up on that Technet wiki page.

I need to dig up where all the SQL logs are located as they go all over the place as I recall.

Intel puts the “I” back in SMB innovation with new cloud hybrid server…:
http://smbnation.com/Home/tabid/36/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/261/Intel_puts_the_I_back_in_SMB_innovation_with_new_cloud_hybrid_server.aspx

Scroll down... read the blurb... watch the videos....

So .. .what do you think of a cloud/presence server?

From his blog post....

• My three videos.

•  Intel’s Hybrid Cloud Server product website HERE
• Go to Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) July 11-15, 2010 (Washington, DC). Intel will be hosting private demos at a nearby suite for selected partners as well as an invitation-only Tuesday night reception on July 13^th (I will be there for sure)
• Sign up for the pilot program. Visit www.intel.com/go/hybridcloud to register to participate in the pilot program as a channel partner. (This is also the way to get on the invite list for WPC meetings.) Tell ‘em Harrybbb sent ya!

Congratulations to the 2010 Partner of the Year Award winners & finalists! - Microsoft SMB Community Blog - By Eric Ligman - Site Home - MSDN Blogs:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mssmallbiz/archive/2010/06/23/congratulations-to-the-2010-partner-of-the-year-award-winners-amp-finalists.aspx


Way to go Amy!

Small Business Specialist Partner of the Year

• Winner: Harbor Computer Services, United States
• Finalist: Quadrasystems.net, India
• Finalist: NCI Technologies, United Kingdom

Amy is also a part of www.thirdtier.net and provides support to other SBSC partners.

If you happen to not be on the Handy Andy Goodman Spammer list.... well...today you should be.

This is the time of year at Microsoft where you can say thank you to someone who makes a difference.  There are people behind the scenes that come out in front to help ... people like Marie McFadden in the Partner community...  the CSS folks in Las Colinas that post on the www.blogs.technet.com/sbs that have our backside when it comes to SBS.

And then there's a person who .... if you think I don't sleep... he never does either.  Eric "the licensing man" Ligman.  Want to give him some feedback?  Here you go:

Eric Ligman Performance Review Survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B5FVG9N

My first bit of feedback is that we should clone him several times so he can work on licensing and the VLSC web site a bit more... okay a LOT more ... but as he said... baby steps.  And he may be just the Dad that site needs.

The Case in the Corner Series: Session Pool Exhaustion - The Official SBS Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2010/06/21/the-case-in-the-corner-series-session-pool-exhaustion.aspx

Nvidia cards can be evil..but it's the ATI ones that more often than not have been the evil ones for me... including one that blocked me from installing XP sp2 and another that got mangled up with a .NET update (speaking of which .... gawd MORE .NET updates today... remember folks this week is the optional week.... and the ones today have to do with firefox and especially on a server... are you really using firefox.. to surf?  Shame on you.

Download details: EBS 2008 Discontinuation General Info and FAQ:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=4d37c336-f1c0-4b87-ac44-5cac1b7ae881&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MicrosoftDownloadCenter+%28Microsoft+Download+Center%29#tm

Our decision to discontinue future plans for Windows Essential Business Server was based on several factors, but most notably in response to midsize businesses making a rapid shift towards technologies such as management, virtualization and cloud computing as a means to cut costs, improve efficiency, and increase competitiveness.  As it happens, those technologies are offered today through other Microsoft solutions, and midsized customers are adopting them, including Windows Server® 2008 R2, Microsoft® System Center, Microsoft Exchange Server, and the Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). 

Yeah okay I know I live in the backwoods of Fresno, but I'm still finding the mid market folks in this area, not investing, holding back a bit, and not jumping to that cloud.  As many/all/the chorus says these days... you'd better check it out and have a plan otherwise your competitor will be talking to your clients about the cloud.  But even then, Microsoft doesn't do customer service well enough to lead with BPOS.  And Intune ..also designed they said for mid market will be in beta...what... another year or so?

Maybe I'm the one that needs my head examined.  We'll see.

Meanwhile for those of you that did offer EBS, there's the document on how you can transition out of EBS.. the KB with the migration plan isn't quite live yet.

You Had Me At EHLO... : Ask and you shall receive - Exchange 2007 SP3 w/support for Windows Server 2008 R2 Now Available:
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2010/06/21/455145.aspx

Needless to say after the few dead bodies we've had with SharePoint, I'm not willing to let 'er rip and install Exchange 2007 sp3 tonight.  No special wrapper is needed this time, however.

And if you have an iPhone... your first step before upgrading to v4 is to do what you need to do to that SBS 2008 server... back up the phone... back up the server before these service packs. 

Apple delivers iOS 4, users report backup problems - Computerworld:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9178358/Apple_delivers_iOS_4_users_report_backup_problems

Companyweb and SharePoint Central Admin not accessible after installing KB983444 - The Official SBS Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2010/06/18/companyweb-and-sharepoint-central-admin-not-accessible-after-installing-kb983444.aspx

Keep in mind here that if all you do is run the pconfig command that will not mangle the bindings (as we've seen happen in following some earlier blog posts and KBs)

I still would strongly suggest that when you patch for this one, you do SharePoint all by itself.  It may be a bit a bit old wives tale, my superstition, but when I've done it all by itself I've never had issues.

I received an offer from Microsoft to attend Microsoft's World Wide Partner Conference in Washington DC, July 11-17, 2010.  The offer included ticket to the event as well as travel and lodging reimbursement.

Under current Federal Trade Commission guidelines for bloggers I am required to disclose when an entity has provided funds or products that may impact my independence or view of their product.  I'll be the first to admit that I struggled with deciding to go.   I feel that when I pay for something I give a more honest opinion of it.  I honestly would not be attending the WWPC without this offer.  I'd be remotely watching the events via the Digital WPC site (http://digitalwpc.com/ ) and setting up a twitter search for #WPC10 to vicariously "watch" and get a feel for the pulse of the conference.   Not to mention... July... in Washington DC is probably going to be hot and muggy.  If you think going to conferences means you get to sleep in and party all night, not for this gal.  Breakfast is at 7 a.m. and the daily events start at 8:30.  More often than not I come back from conferences more tired with all the meetings, attending sessions and labs that you want to fit in during the timeframe.

But I ultimately decided to take Microsoft up on the offer as I felt that attending in person I could ask the questions that you the blog readers would want asked.  I'm hoping that in attending I can give the remote attendee a better understanding of the changes to the partner program and the changes in the marketplace.   Now, keep in mind that I found out after I said yes but before I booked travel that I have to be in the office on Monday the 11th so I'm taking a late flight from Fresno, and then flying a redeye from San Francisco to Washington Dulles, so anything on Monday I won't be able to attend.  I expect to sleep on the plane but if the blogging on that Tuesday the 12th is a bit rambling, put it down to lack of sleep will ya?

So here's my ask of people reading this post:

1.  Send me the questions you want answered.  What questions do you have regarding what Microsoft's plans are for the cloud?  What about the SBSC plans?  If you were going, what questions would you have?

2.  While I'm there blogging, tell me what sessions you'd go to if you were there -- http://www.mspartnerconference.com/Topic/List  Help me build my schedule and tell me the sessions you'd like to get a more first hand experience of.

3.  Small and Mid sized partner category is one that I've already looked over for potential sessions.  Lots of cloud sessions for sure.  What other sessions would you attend if you were me?

Help me make this a more interactive digital experience of the WPC for you.  So you tell me, what session would you like to see if you were going?  Needless to say I'll be blogging from the event.

Microsoft has made no requirements that I blog or post anything, just offered to send me to the event.