http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/partnerwinserversbs/threads

If you are trying to get into any partner forums right now, all of the threads are "locked"

Their forums have been having a bit of issues the last few weeks.  fissues@microsoft.com has been alerted.  Bottom line, it's not just you.

Announcing Office 365 through Open and the New Office availability! Info and resources for you. - Microsoft Sales Excellence Program Manager - Eric Ligman - Site Home - MSDN Blogs:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/mssmallbiz/archive/2013/01/30/announcing-office-365-through-open-and-the-new-office-availability-info-and-resources-for-you.aspx

In addition to the announcement above, we also shared that Office 365 will be available for business to purchase starting on February 27th and that Office 365 will be available to transact in our Open Volume Licensing programs and Full Package Product (Retail Box) channels beginning on March 1st.

Further down the blog post...

 * Midsize Business Open is not available in Australia, China and Thailand
 * Small Business Premium FPP is not available in Australia, China,
   Thailand and Japan

From 9 to 5 pacific tomorrow and yes it will be recorded

http://msl-events.cloudapp.net/EventProfile.aspx?eid=dcc17e2d-2b1f-4833-b113-347a3f4938c5&mva=true  Register there

Microsoft Certified Community Connection:
http://msl-events.cloudapp.net/EventRegistration.aspx?eid=dcc17e2d-2b1f-4833-b113-347a3f4938c5

The Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) team is excited to announce a new course in the popular “Jump Start” series of live online training events! This one-day event will feature Technical Evangelist David Tesar and IT Security and Infrastructure Architect Richard Harrison delivering an engaging, demo-rich, live learning experience aimed at IT organizations interested in embracing the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) movement. Learn why Windows Intune is the perfect choice for IT organizations exploring the best ways to manage and secure PCs, tablets (Surface, iPad, etc.) and mobile devices (Windows Phone, Android, iPhone) in the cloud.

Windows Intune for IT Professionals Jump Start

• Perform key security and management tasks remotely from a web-based console
• Secure PCs from malware and virus threats with endpoint protection
• Deploy most updates and line of business applications through the cloud
• Optimally configure Windows Intune, utilize best practices, and avoid common mistakes
• Understand how to have a unified on-premise SCCM 2012 SP1 infrastructure with Windows Intune to manage mobile devices.

COURSE OUTLINE

(01) Big Picture with Windows Intune
(02) Architecture Design Considerations
(03) Extending Identity to Windows Azure Active Directory
(04) Administrator Roles, Users and Groups
(05) Windows Intune Policies
(06) Cloud-only PC Setup
**Meal Break**
(07) MDM Prerequisites and Cloud-only MDM Setup
(08) Cloud-only Software Publishing and Deployment
(09) Setting Up & Configuring Unified Infrastructure (+ MDM Setup)
(10) Unified MDM Settings and Compliance
(11) Unified MDM Software Deployment
(12) End User Enrollment

So Kerio must be getting enough marketshare to get it's own KB:

You experience issues when you add Kerio or iCloud email accounts:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2810495/en-us?sd=rss&spid=16796

Microsoft Office 2013, Office 365 Home Premium available now; 365 for 
business coming later (updated):
http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/29/microsoft-office-2013-office-365-home-premium-available-now/
To be clear, while every version of the boxed software is now out, 365 
is only being offered to consumers; the business version will arrive 
later, on February 27th.

Watching Lucy Worsley's Elegance and Decadence episode http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b014jbyr/Elegance_and_Decadence_The_Age_of_the_Regency_The_Many_and_the_Few_A_Divided_Decade/ where they are talking about the textile workers that violently protested against the technology. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luddite

Luddite is often used as a term describing people who don't want to change.  At all.

I personally think we, those of us used to on premise deployments - aren't Luddites as much as we're not liking how much it feels like we're being shoved to cloud deployments that ensure that vendors will get constant revenues and us small businesses won't get a fair price for technology.  Take for example this blog post - http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2012/12/12/using-windows-server-2012-essentials-with-more-than-25-users.aspx  On first blush the ability to grow past 25 users easily is a huge win for small businesses.  On the other hand this senttence:  "Keep in mind that the ability to run downgrade bits does not change the licensing or support terms in which you can use the product you purchased. So if you purchase Windows Server 2012 Standard, you will need Windows Server 2012 CALs even if you choose to downgrade an instance to run Windows Server 2012 Essentials."  Means that if you wanted to standardize on HyperV wrapped deployments of Essentials you'll either need to try to get the free HyperV 2012 working (I gave up as it needs Windows 8 to manage it and trying to deploy it in a workgroup leads one to pull your hair out), or you'll have to fork out for Server 2012 cals in order to properly license if all you do is deploy Essentials - and nothing else - in a HyperV deployment.

Why would you want to do such a thing?  Because virtualization gives you options.  And this Luddite thinks that Microsoft is being a Luddite to not let small businesses have options like HyperV available with the downgrade right option of Essentials.

To counter, I'd recommend that you look at the free Vmware ESX instead with their more GUI/WEB client to manage a virtual server.  As other Luddites have said, it's what Microsoft should do with their HyperV deployments instead of recommending System Center (which does not have smb friendly licensing at all).

Bottom line, I don't think I'm a luddite.  I think I'm trying to keep Microsoft thinking about how small businesses are price sensitive and all of these price increases lately are making us feel like we're being nickel and dime'd a lot.

I want a fair price for change.  That's my ask.  Right now all of these changes and monthly fees are adding up.

Post courtesy of David Moen of  Computerprofs.com on the sbs2k@yahoogroups.com list.  Thanks David for letting me share this!

Here's the process for removing/reinstalling it correctly in SBS2008.  Sorry about the formatting of the instructions, cut and past into notepad or word or something and it will be more legible.

First Attempt to Uninstall WSUS 3.0 through Programs and Features
 
1.    Attempt to uninstall "Windows Server Update Service 3.0 Sp2" from Programs and Features in control panel.
If you don't see WSUS sp1 or sp2 in Programs and Features run WSUSSetup.exe from the SBS 2008 Recovery CD #2
Cdrom<drive>: \CMPNENTS\WSUS\WSUSSetup.exe and select the three check boxes to remove WSUS.
 
2.    If you get errors look at the WSUSSetup.log file.
C:\User\Username\AppData\Local\Temp\WSUSSetup.log and  WSUSCa_100719_1452.log
 
3.    After removing the Wsus within Program and Features you may want to still verify that the below directories and registry keys are removed successfully.
 
If you're unable to uninstall with the setup then manually remove  the installation with the following Steps:

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756  How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

(Susan Comment:  Standard section that if you blow up the registry you probably blow up Cleveland)
 
Delete the following Directories and Registry keys:
 
4.    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\WSUS
5.    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\UpdateServices  
6.    HKLM\software\Microsoft\windows\currentversion\installer\userdata\s-1-5-18\products
Look under Each GUID > InstallProperties  
On the right side look for a <DisplayName> with Microsoft Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP<x>
Delete the GUID
 
7.    HKLM\Software\Classes\installer\Products\25B648799C414CF4EB36EF60FA054124
(Look through each GUID.  The default GUID for WSUS is 25B648799C414CF4EB36EF60FA054124)
 On the right side look for a <ProductName> with Microsoft Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP<x>
 
8.    HKLM\System\CCS\Services\WSUS:  and others
9.    HKLM\System \CCS\Services\WSusCertServer
10.    HKLM\System \CCS\Services\WsusService
11.    HKCRoot\wsuscertserver.certmanager
12.    HKCRoot\wsuscertserver.certmanager.1
13.    HKCRoot\wsuscertserver.Utilites
14.    HKCRoot\wsuscertserver.Utilites.1
15.    HKCR\wsuscertserver.certmanager
 
Delete the following from IIS:
16.    WSUS Administration Virtual Directory
17.    Application Pool > WsusPool
 
18.    Reboot the server
 
Rename the following folders:
19.    Stop the "Update Services"  service
20.    C:\Program files\Update services
(Delete everything in the Update Services folder but leave the "Common" Folder)
21.    C:\WSUS  (Be sure to rename on all drives)
 
Reinstall WSUS from CD or Download WSUS 3.0 Sp2
 
22.    Option 1
Download of Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 site:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=a206ae20-2695-436c-9578-3403a7d46e40&displaylang=en
 
Option 2
Get the SBS2008 CD2 navigate and run Cdrom<drive>:\Cmpnents\Wsus\WSUSSetup.exe
 
23.    Select radio button for "Full Server Installation Including Administration Console"
24.    Choose the drive that you would like for the installation to be Installed.  <drive>:\WSUS
25.    Choose the drive for the Database option of <drive>:\WSUS
26.    Select Next until you get to the Database usage.  Choose the "Create new database"
27.    Select Next all the way to the End of the installation.
 
Custom Configuration Wizard
28.    Walk thru Windows Server Update Services Configuration Wizard
29.    On the Language Page leave the Default check for English.
30.    Select "All Products" check box.
31.    On the Classifications page select the following check boxes
•    Critical Updates
•    Definition Updates
•    Security Updates
•    Service Packs
•    Update Rollups
 
32.    Set the Synchronization to Automatic
33.    Uncheck the "Begin initial Synchronization" checkbox.
34.     Select Finish.  
 
Open WSUS Native Console
35.    Expand your Servername > Computers > All Computers
36.    Right click on "All Computers" and select "Add Computer Groups
Here you'll create three groups with the following name:
•    Update Service Excluded Computers
•    Update Services Client Computers
•    Update Services Server Computers
 
 
Open SBS Console
•    Look at the Updates and you should have a green Check.

Poor performance when you enable RemoteFX in Hyper-V on a Windows Server 2012-based computer that uses AMD processors:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;2770440

What’s New in MultiPoint Server 2012 Dashboard - Windows MultiPoint Server Team Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/multipointserver/archive/2013/01/24/what-s-new-in-multipoint-server-2012-dashboard.aspx

If you slide away all of that marketing stuff about schools and teachers, you'll find that MultiPoint is a very easy way to deploy Terminal Services. 

MultiPoint 2012 is on Technet as well as on Action pack for your testing and playing with.

So why aren't we all migrating to Exchange 2013 already?

Migration Challenges Related to Exchange 2013 and Windows 2012 | IT Pro Experts:
http://itproexperts.com/blog/migration-challenges-related-to-exchange-2013-and-windows-2012/

More on the why and why not there.

Free Microsoft Virtual Academy Courses on Hyper-V and Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals - Windows Server Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2013/01/22/free-microsoft-virtual-academy-courses-on-hyper-v-and-microsoft-virtualization-for-vmware-professionals.aspx

Hey everyone,

This is some pretty exciting stuff being brought to you by our Microsoft & VMware virtualization experts Symon Perriman, Jeff Woolsey and Matt McSpirit. I know that it may be difficult to block out an entire day for this training, but here is what you can do if you can't make it for the entire day.

• Register for Introduction to Hyper-V and Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals today.
• Attend all or some of Introduction to Hyper-V on Thursday, January 24^th and Microsoft Virtualization for VMware Professionals on Wednesday, January 30^th. Both classes are from 8am - 5pm PST
• Because you registered, you will get a follow up mail when the full course is made available online at the Microsoft Virtual Academy

Did I mention that the events are FREE? Both of these courses are designed for IT Pros that are either new to Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V or have experience with other virtualization technologies like Citrix or VMware.

There is another Jump Start course coming in late February , Microsoft Tools for VMware Integration/Migration Jump Start, The date is TBD. We will make sure to post a link to it when we have a date and registration link.

 From Amy Babinchak:

We’re ready to kick off the Enterprise Solutions for SMB project! So please join us on February 1st at Noon Eastern time to hear from each author what their contributions are and from all of us what the big picture goal is for this project.

Join Lync Meeting

I had been giving a great deal of thought to what Third Tier’s clients and the small business IT community at large needs in the way of support and training in the post-SBS and Cloud era. Is it enough to write another Unleashed book? Probably not in this era. To do so doesn’t acknowledge the reality that we are all working under. That is that we all need to know A LOT of different technologies, both on-premise and cloud, to be successful today. To efficiently deliver that breadth of information requires more than just words on paper. It requires words on paper, webinars, scripts, video, in-depth training classes and maybe more.


 

Turns out that I wasn’t the only one thinking along these lines and so the SMBKitchen Crew was born and has joined Third Tier to build and support the Enterprise Solutions for SMB project. Now when we’re putting together a crew to deliver awesome content, they have to be the sharpest knives in the drawer. And so the SMBKitchen Crew consists of technical gurus and Microsoft MVP’s: Amy Babinchak, Susan Bradley, David Shackelford, Boon Tee, Lee Wilbur, Kevin Royalty and Philip Elder. Each of them is individually a brilliant small business focused IT professional. Together they will build all of the Enterprise Solutions for SMB content that Third Tier will deliver to subscribers. (more on that later). The content is going to be deep and wide, just like your small business consultancy needs to be successful.

Hope to see you at the webinar!

So if you think you can do RemoteFX and HyperV and get full gui Aero on MultiPoint 2011, you can stop banging your head against a wall.

I did get RemoteFX working on Server 2012 with the right card (thanks John for that).  But what I can't do is get Aero enabled on MultiPoint that's sitting in the HyperV as a child.

Can you connect to a Terminal Server via RemoteFX? Yes! (Here's what you need to know.) - Brian Madden - BrianMadden.com:
http://www.brianmadden.com/blogs/brianmadden/archive/2011/03/03/can-you-connect-to-a-terminal-server-via-remotefx-yes-here-s-what-you-need-to-know.aspx

I thought I had done my homework, but I didn't obviously do enough.

RemoteFX does allow you to host Win7's with full Aero - What you need to know about Microsoft RemoteFX:
http://searchvirtualdesktop.techtarget.com/feature/What-you-need-to-know-about-Microsoft-RemoteFX

But on Terminal Services/MultiPoint it looks like I've been trying to get something to work that well... just won't.

Derek is talking about how to set up a specific password policy for a group of people and in servers less than 2008 r2 you need an add on

http://www.specopssoft.com/products/specops-password-policy

Only with that tool on older level servers can you have specific password policies for groups.

Starting with 2008 era, if all of your DC's are up on the 2008 AD level THEN you can create unique password policies.

From Derek's talk at SMB Tech fest - http://www.windowsecurity.com/Derek_Melber/

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&as_q=group+policy&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&lr=&cr=&as_qdr=all&as_sitesearch=microsoft.com&as_occt=any&safe=images&tbs=&as_filetype=xls&as_rights=#hl=en&lr=&tbo=d&as_qdr=all&q=group+policy+site:microsoft.com+filetype%3Axlsx&oq=group+policy+site:microsoft.com+filetype%3Axlsx&gs_l=serp.3...12542.14343.0.14734.3.3.0.0.0.0.480.946.4-2.2.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.Up9Tvz-TvLI&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&bvm=bv.41248874,d.cGE&fp=35aa3d940bc48dd8&biw=1366&bih=576

Looking for the xlsx spreadsheets of the group policy settings?

Check that link above and you'll see the group policy spreadsheets

http://www.mikepfeiffer.net/2010/09/quick-tip-add-exchange-management-shell-menu-item-in-powershell-ise/

And even more tips - to add the PowerShell ISE to your workstation so you can manage exchange and Office 365 remotely

More Office 365 resources

http://365command.com/pricing/  GUI overlay for PowerShell

From Robert Crane - his new publication

http://www.ciaops.com/publications

Started With Powershell for Office 365

More notes from the SMB Techfest - books and resources on PowerShell

Highly recommended by Dave Shackelfor is Mike Pfeiffer's book

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Exchange-2010-PowerShell-Cookbook/dp/1849682461

Microsoft Exchange 2010 PowerShell Cookbook [Paperback]

Mike Pfeiffer

A beginning PowerShell book that Dave recommends as well is one that he learned how to manage Exchange 2007 - http://www.amazon.com/Cheat-Configuring-Exchange-Server-2007/dp/1597491373/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358535259&sr=1-1&keywords=how+to+cheat+at+exchange+2007

Don Jones book is out now as well - http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Windows-PowerShell-Month-Lunches/dp/1617291080/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358535319&sr=1-1&keywords=don+jones

Some resources from Chartec's presentation at SMB tech fest

Alex@chartec.net For those in the room, email Alex for a copy of the presentation he sends to clients

Here's some of the books he recommended

The art of persuasion - http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Persuasion-Winning-Intimidation/dp/0768413001

The power of body language - http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Body-Language-Encounter/dp/1416561099

The Wedge - http://www.amazon.com/The-Wedge-Selling-Start-Winning/dp/0872183718

Yeah I know you probably think that too, huh?  But show me someone who says they love PowerShell and I'll show you a person who has a cheat sheet of commands they use because if you really asked them, I'll betcha they can't remember the commands for all the stuff they do.

I bet even Charlie "PowerShell MVP" Russel has a cheat sheet of commands and doesn't have all that stuff memorized.

So as a perfect companion piece to Boon Tee's intro to Essentials 2012 comes Robert Crane's PowerShell for Office 365.

As he states:

This book is an introduction to the basic operation of PowerShell for Office 365. It covers material that is applicable for Enterprise Office 365 Plans and well as for the Small Business and Professionals P Plan. It is not however designed as an in depth PowerShell tutorial or training guide. It is mainly focused on getting you up and running with PowerShell in the Office 365 environment as well as providing some commonly used commands. If you are not yet familiar with PowerShell for Office 365 then this book is for you.

http://www.ciaops.com/publications