THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA"

Next phase... the car is getting ready to be put on a ship to head for Oxnard, California.
http://www.portofhueneme.org/the_port_at_work/rolling_in_the_autos.php
The port of Oxnard is one of the largest Automobile import docks on the West Coast. 
Looks like there are two BMW ships coming into the dock on August 5th and there's specific Ships that list MINI on July 23 and 29th but I doubt they will make those ship dates.
http://www.portofhueneme.org/documents/20080718101136.pdf

(Hopefully no Titanic events in route or anything like that)

You know the more you google and can find out stuff... http://exchange.dnv.com/Exchange/Main.aspx?EXTool=Vessel&VesselID=28513 (Specs on the one ship btw) the more one has to wonder if we really need to be able to google all of this stuff in the first place?

But it's nice to know that I'm not the only insane person who is looking up Ships and what not... http://www.bmwauto.net/forums/bmw/p/244726/anyone_else_on_the_alioth_leader_headed_for_port_hueneme and http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3382162 or figuring out that there's a site that does Vessel tracking...   http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Isolde-8321345.html

The vehicle cargo ships do look a bit odd don't they? http://club.telepolis.com/SHIPS88/AliothLeader.htm

http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2008/07/22/and-another-local.aspx#1641780

"Have you ever had to deploy OCS?" Yes.  In a .local based domain in fact.  The trick is to build another DNS entry with a _tcp _sip property that points to the member server that has the Live Communication Server running.  Then to ensure that the domain will will reroute out to your ISP's DNS, you put an A record to so that the domain/web site will still resolve.

The thing is that having .local doesn't block you, nor, would I argue makes setting up these technologies any harder. 

The point of that post that I made was that indeed we should be discussing why we might need .com versus .local, not that SBS blocked the use of it because it doesn't.  And quite frankly as var/vaps we should be looking very closing at that answer file tool because that's the only means to get a server in a migration mode.  Thus my guess is that most of you will be using that answer file for the bulk of your new installs and certainly ALL of your migration installs.

The point of my post was not to diss the merits of .com versus .local and if it came across that way, it wasn't meant to, but rather to ask that we stop asking about the request of giving us the option of doing a Top Level domain at a time when the SBS 2008 product has just hit RC1 status and in fact it does allow this option.  To make any changes at this time to the installer would hurt a huge amount to rip out the install routine as it stands now.  It would delay the release of SBS 2008.  Windows 2008 has a different install story.  Ergo so does SBS 2008.  That's our new reality.  I'd rather have a post over the fact that in 2k8 I can't do a repair install of the Operating System.  There's no way to plunk down Windows 2008, fire up that media and reinstall the OS over the top of it.

So do let's get to the better meat of that post.

Why should you do .com?  In SBS 2003 there were some issues with sync'ing Windows Mobile devices docked and non docked due to ISA being on the same box and messing with proxy settings.  In SBS 2008 ISA is no longer on the same box.  Issue?  Probably not anymore.

Why should you do .com?  The argument was made for setting up OCS.  (Okay lets put aside the argument that most SBS domains won't be doing OCS anyway...but...) I can tell you that I have LCS here with an internal .local and all I had to do was to set up a _sip record under the  domain name.  Personally I didn't find it any more or less confusing with the .local versus if I had a .com?

Does it provide you with any additional features or functions as you grow?  I'm still not convinced.  I see people making arguements that they can do what they need to do with both setups.  All it takes is a judicious A record editing and it depends on if you want to do that DNS editing on your server (if .local) or an ISP's server (if .com).  But one thing is clear you do need to have full access to DNS information and ensure you can make the edits you need.

So I'm still saying "Make your choice, both are do-able, but stop discussing the install experience of SBS 2008 because we do have the choice.

Canadian IT Professionals : Another .LOCAL post - SBS 2008, EBS 2008:
http://blogs.technet.com/canitpro/archive/2008/07/22/another-local-post-sbs-2008-ebs-2008.aspx

I wish that we could be a little be more understanding of the marketplace that SBS faces.  The reality is not everyone is as talented as Mitch. 

Yes there is an answerfile tool that will indeed allow the uber var/vap to name whatever he wants that server to be.  As a var/vap many like that answer file tool as they recommend filling it out, printing it out, having the customer sign off to document how they want the server to be named so that there are no misunderstandings.

But it can be a bit tiring when there are threats to our DNS structure and we're still arguing over .com versus .local as a "best practice" how many years later? 

The option is indeed there.  If a var/vap cannot read the documentation on how to do this, then maybe they shouldn't be setting up a server.

Yes that's very harsh, I know, but I'm also getting a bit tired of this near religious arguments that bubble up over this topic.  In the first release of SBS 2008 beta there was no option at all to do anything but .internal.  So the var/vap community/beta testers went "whoa" and thus the win here is that there's the answer file mechanism that gives Mitch exactly what he wants to do.  In addition, you can tailor it as a confirmation tool.  How many var/vaps have stupidly misspelled the Firm name wrong and have asked "can I rename the domain now" and we go ... uh...no, flatten it and start over.  Thus the answer file tool will prevent you from those boneheaded fat fingering misspellings that all of us have done a time or two.  If you want .com, do it.  If you want .local, do it.  But gang, the reality is unfortunately that there's a lot of servers that aren't set up well and the customer suffers. 

At the end of the day the design goals for a Small Business Server is not that it be set up for the Var/Vap, nor for the Dell Marketplace, but that it be set up in a manner that whether it's a Var/Vap set up server or a Dell OEM model that the customer at least gets a fighting chance of a decently set up server.

So Mitch, name the server whatever you want, but I think all of us that argue over this .local and .com need to all just get over it and get on with building servers in the manner that we prefer.

To get ready for a migration from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 the first thing you do is READ.

You heard me, READ.

Let me say this one more time.. before you begin to order any new server or anything.. download these guides and READ.

Download details: Windows SBS 2008 to 2008 Migration Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=31cbc5dd-21b1-4a6e-9a9d-740ce7605448&displaylang=en&tm
And then read some more:
Download details: Windows SBS 2008 Installation Guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=48229e80-d05b-4fa5-9591-8c388ab5d633&displaylang=en&tm

The SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 migration path includes migrating SharePoint on the old v2 to the new v3 to be named oldcompanyweb.

Now that you've read those two (you have haven't you?) you know that you know that there's no inplace upgrade.  So if you have a newerish system you can't plop the dvds in there and boot from there and go.  Not to mention, my home SBS Server doesn't have a DVDplayer just a cdrom one. 

But if you want to take a box and migrate plan on imaging it, moving it to a virtual state or something and stage your migration from there.

Then you need to see if your existing box is 64bit ready.  You can either find the specs -- http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12092_div/12092_div.HTML or you can use a couple of tools.

First one is Crucial.com's memory configurator.

Prices range from about $500 for 4 gigs, to $139 for 2 gigs. I'd recommend 4 gigs either in one kit or 2 2gig kits shown there.

Okay now we need to see if the chip is 64bit ready.  We could read the HP info... which says Processors include support for Hyper-Threading and Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T)

Or we can use another tool. http://www.grc.com/securable.htm

Yes to 64bit, yes to Hardware DEP, no to HyperV.

One last thing.  There is no support for going from RC0 to RC1 to RC whatever to RTM.  You cannot run the RCs in production as you will not be supported.

So in the meantime... read.

On the way to Disneyland we stopped by the Apple store to get an Ipod worked on and there in the store the Iphones were on display.  I had to chuckle a little bit when an Apple specialist was on a Apple workstation, safari browser, searching the Microsoft KB.. I think it was something about Outlook and MAPI.  Needless to say I'm sure a lot of Iphones are syncing with Outlook clients these days.....

(woo hooo!)

I am impressed with MINI's CRM and tracking system.  My MINI has moved from "on order" to Scheduled for Production.  It's getting ready to be built in England.

Down visiting friends and the latest word on the gaming front is that the Xbox Bungie gaming venues is that Microsoft messed up a communication announcement at the E3 conference by pulling rug out from under Bungie's game announcement.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/microsoft-pulled-halo-announcement-for-a-stupid-reason/

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/15/bungie-e3-game-announcement-pulled-by-publisher/

Which goes to show you that miscommunication can occur in a lot of places and in a lot of Conference settings.

I was watching the Big Idea the other day on MSNBC and it showcased selling ideas.  How to be honest, how to gain immediate reputation with someone. 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/25396247 and http://www.cnbc.com/id/25415145/site/14081545/

7.      Establish yourself as a trusted advisor.

More sales happen when customers see you as a trusted advisor. You can rise to the top of your company or industry when you become an expert on your product or service, fully understand your target market and what they need, and become a reliable resource who offers value regardless of whether clients are ready to buy. As a trusted advisor, clients will seek you out and want to build relationships with you, relationships that result in referrals and repeat business.

and

Unlike the poker champion, the most crafty and secretive salesperson loses big. In the heyday of the typical tactics, keeping secrets and telling little white lies to make a sale may have worked. Not anymore. There's been a big shift in the market — one from secrecy to radical transparency. A shift in which customers want — and require — full disclosure and total honesty.

The customer - driven demand for honesty and full disclosure is another compelling and profi table reason to adopt the contrarian approach. Grounded in a concern for what ’ s best for the customer, even if that means being honest about the limitations of your products or services, the contrarian approach allows you to be radically transparent and open with potential prospects and clients. When you choose to be transparent, customers know it and tell their peers and friends that you're the person to call when it's time to do business.

In this time of SAAS, there's a lot of vendors running around making statements, blowing the communication big time.  And then there are just as many vendors taking advantage of the paranoia regarding Dell and Microsoft to position themselves accordingly.  Be aware of the impact of cloud technologies, but do your due diligience.   It's in these vendors best interests to make you scared.

Make sure the vendors you are looking at are being honest about their service, their uptime, and their ability to provide you the service level you need.  Get it in writing.

I'm using my Sister's laptop that I upgraded to Vista but forgot to upgrade to Office 2007 and I'm reviewing and I'm looking at the toolbars going... OH MY..... I've forgotten Office 2003's menu bars.

To all those folks that say that Office 2007 is too hard, try using Office 2007 for 6 months and then go BACK to Office 2003 and see if you go ... whoa where IS everything?

I really like the ribbon bar and find it much easier. 

Sitting at the train station for the delayed 714 southbound to Los Angeles (heading to visit friends and a Disneyland trip in the process) and I realized that my Sister's laptop didn't have the bluetooth connection set up.

Okay those aren't my cell phone... ever been in a place and tempted to just see if you CAN connect?

Just make sure you turn off "discoverable" on your bluetooth device okay?

WSUS Product Team Blog : So many drivers...:
http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archive/2008/07/17/so-many-drivers.aspx

The follow up to the drivers coming down on WSUS

Response Point Team Blog : Response Point SP1 Training in Canada - Free to our VARs:
http://blogs.technet.com/rp/archive/2008/07/16/response-point-sp1-training-in-canada-free-to-our-vars.aspx

Okay that's it!  It's enough to make you want to move.  First Robbie gets SBS 2008 for anyone going to the Pre TechEd SMB day, then Canada gets free training.

(but in free fairness they have had training in USA already!  :-)

But if you are in Canada check it out!

Hi Gang,

It is that time again, time for the SBS Chat this coming Wednesday 7/16/2008 7:00pm eastern time

http://chat.sbsmigration.com/sbschat, Harry is supposed to pop in again, maybe this time you guys will
let him get a few words in.

I am hoping some of you that made it to WWPC will be around to share some of the details
of the conference with us.

Also if you are a Microsoft Partner (and if you’re not why are you reading this) please do us all
a favor and fill out the quick survey on Mark Crall’s blog at http://sbsc.techcareteam.com/archives/254,
he can’t represent us if he doesn’t know what we are thinking!

If you didn’t get your copy of Harry’s “smb pc” Partner Community Magazine,
you may have forgotten to sign up at http://www.smbnation.com/contact-form.asp?InquiryType=Join~The~Tribe,
if you bring it to SMB Nation with you, you might just be able to get Dean to autograph it :>)

 And of course you have been to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc184870.aspx
and downloaded the SBS 2008 Beta, right?

Upcoming Events of Interest

SMB Nation Fall 2008 Saturday, October 04, 2008 - Monday, October 06, 2008
http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=172198

MSP Revolution 2008, 9/4/2008-9/7/2008
http://www.regonline.com/Checkin.asp?EventId=619943

Hope to see Y’All in the chat Wednesday,

ha

Andy Goodman, SBS-MVP, SBSC, MSA, MPAN Andy"at"SBS-Rocks.com
~New Blog at http://blog.sbs-rocks.com
~Founding Father SMBTN Triad NC Group http://www.smbtn-nc-triad.org/
~Co-Author Advanced Windows Small Business Server 2003 Best Practices
~DownHome Computers <http://www.SBS-Rocks.com/>
~"If you can't find the key to success, pick the lock."

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/computer_series.do;HHOJSID=YQ3kL2KTMNMQDBSzJH1XYw0VwVHVNQrs0kv1TVzvT1qJf523Cbdz!2075167542?storeName=computer_store&category=desktops&series_name=d5000z_series

Stock up on those printer cables that convert parallel to USB when ordering home PCS.  We just got an HP Laserjet4L working on a brand spanking new 64bit home Vista with one of those usb printing cables.  Just remember to untick "use bidirectional" as that old Laserjet 4L wasn't built in the bidirectional era.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=381274&CatId=76

But I do have to watch myself these days, so many PCs do not have parallel ports anymore and I take them for granted as they are still on the business versions.

SBSC & MSP Buzz » Blog Archive » MS Partners, do you want to get paid for what you sell?:
http://sbsc.techcareteam.com/archives/254

I don't ask for a lot, but when I do, it's when I think it counts.  Mark is one of those kind of guys that when he asks us to help him, there should be no question but to say "what do you want me to do".  He needs your help to provide info on what would be a fair amount for the Forefront subscription on the SBS 2008 box - http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=xZKeCRhx4EXKgmfyGX33Mw_3d_3d

So gang... fill this out for me and Mark, okay?

This morning the news was about the banking system and the loss of trust by bank participants in their respective banks. 

And it hit me this morning that my problem with WSUS is that I've lost that trust as well.

WSUS Product Team Blog : ATI Radeon Graphic Card updates... 3892...:
http://blogs.technet.com/wsus/archive/2007/09/07/ati-radeon-graphic-card-updates-3892.aspx

As Craig pointed out, the WSUS blog has pointed out this experience before, the issue many of us have is not trusting anymore. 

Thousands of drivers got synced up and no where, other than our own servers can we go to confirm this.  While Bobbie says go to the newsgroups, in fairness, there's no official Microsoft presence that I can see there, nor a statement from the WSUS forums on this http://forums.technet.microsoft.com/en-US/winserverwsus/threads/, nor on the WSUS/SUS content page http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894199

Now here's the thing, if there wasn't so many WSUS "oops", I'm not sure we'd/I'd be so concerned about the driver sync issue (okay so maybe even still since there was like 9,000 of the suckers I still would be) but it points out to me the loss of trust.

Getting the trust back to me means better communication of expected behavior.

In this Issue:

TOP SUPPORT ISSUES
NEW & UPDATED KB ARTICLES
NEW & TOP DOWNLOADS
NEW WEBCASTS

TOP SUPPORT ISSUES
===============
The following "hot topics" were posted and resolved during the month of
July:

Issue #1
======
Problem Description
-------------------------
When you open virtual server 2005 web administration site, IE hang.

Resolution:
--------
This issue might occurs because the Network Service account that Virtual
Server uses does not have permission to write the SPNs to Active Directory.
Therefore, the SPN for vssrvc/NetBIOS_Name and
vssrvc/Fully_Qualified_Domain_Name are not registered in Active Directory.
As the error code 0x80070005 means Access is denied.

To determine whether the SPNs have been registered, you can use the Setspn
command at the command prompt, for example:

setspn -L NetBIOS_Name

If the SPN's have been registered in Active Directory, the following output
is displayed:

vssrvc/NetBIOS_Name
vssrvc/Fully_Qualified_Domain_Name
vmrc/NetBIOS_Name:VMRC_Port
vmrc/Fully_Qualified_Domain_Name:VMRC_Port

So reregistering the above SPNs using setspn solves the issue.


Issue #2
=======
Problem Description
-------------------------
There are errors encountered while trying to evict node from Cluster. The
error "System error -2147352567 has occurred (0x80020009)" is received while
perform a cluster node force/cleanup

Resolution
--------------
Incorrect registry key values under
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ClusterServer\]
Change "ClusterInstallationState"=2 and then we can perform a force/cleanup


Issue #3
======
Problem Description
--------------------------
All workstations are 1 hour behind the SBS 2003 R2 DC which is configured as
an authoritative time server.

Cause:
---------
The issue may occur if the server and clients are following different sets
of adjustment rules- for example, due to clients or server not having the
DST update.

Suggestions:
--------
1. Check the time zone settings for the server and workstation's system
clock
2. Check if the required updates for DST are installed on the server and
clients
3. Verify the server has been configured as authoritative time server
properly
4. Configure the clients for automatic domain time synchronization


Issue #4
=======
Problem Description
-------------------------
After setting "MaintainServerList" registry entry to "No" to disable master
browser for a multihomed computer, the computer is still a master browser.

Resolution
-------------
There are two related registry keys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\IsDomainMaster:
False
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser\Parameters\
MaintainServerList : No

"MaintainServerList" just determine whether the server joins master browser
election.
"IsDomainMaster" is the registry key to determine whether this server is a
master browser.

In addition, when a DC holding PDC Emulator FSMO role, these registry
settings will not work. As a workaround, we need to disable NetBIOS over
TCP/IP on PDC emulator.

Modify the two registry keys if the server is not a PDC emulator.
Disable NetBIOS over TCP/IP if the server is a PDC emulator.
Modify DNS and WINS server settings on the NIC.
Cleanup unused records in DNS and WINS database.

Issue #5
=======
Problem Description
-------------------------
When trying to install a program on your new Windows 2003 SP2 DC, the
following error message is received: "Windows cannot access the specified
device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to
access the item".

Resolution
--------------
The issue may occur if the executable file is copied over the network. Due
to security enhancement of Windows Server 2003 SP2, some executable files
copied over the network may not run before unblocking it. Open file
Properties-> Click Unblock


Issue #6
=======
Problem Description
-------------------------
DHCP error event 1003 and client unable get the IP address from the DHCP
server

Cause:
------------
The issue is related to the NIC setting "Link Speed & Duplex"

Resolution
--------------
Change the "Link Speed & Duplex" setting to the 100M duplex as the switch is
capable of 100M.


Issue #7
=======
Problem Description
-------------------------
The message "You may be a victim of software counterfeiting" is received

Solution:
-----------
1) Delete the data.dat file from C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Application Data\Windows Genuine Advantage\data
2) Run "wgatray.exe /b" from the command line to ensure that the latest
validation is updated for WGA Notifications

Description of the Windows Genuine Advantage Notifications application
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/905474/en-us


Issue #8
=======
Problem Description
-------------------------
When attempting to back up to tape using Windows built-in NTBackup Utility,
the following error is received: "The Device reported an error on a request
to MS_UpdateNtmsOmidInfo. Error reported: 11.  There may be a hardware or
media problem."

Cause:
--------
The issue was caused by invalid registry path to the Media Label Library
(MLL) DLL remained after removing CA ARCserve backup

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\NTMS\OMID\Tape\CA
Path: %SystemRoot%\system32\mll_arc.dll

Resolution
--------------
Remove the invalid registry key and Windows Backup now works.


Issue #9
=======
Problem Description
-------------------------
After updating to Windows 2003 Server SP2, the domain name does not appear
in the "domain" box. We have to click on the down arrow to select the domain

Resolution
--------------
Modify the registry key "AltDefaultDomainName" under
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]


Issue #10
=======
Problem Description
-------------------------
Get the event 4102 on the WINS server and you are wondering why the unknown
servers showed in WINS replication partner

Resolution
--------------
The WINS server does have the feature of enable automatic partner
configuration.  We need to disable the automatic partner configuration.

Reference information:
-----------
Enable automatic partner configuration
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/9797d7a7-836e-4cb9-9163-fc84992134231033.mspx?mfr=true

Specifying Automatic Partner Configuration
http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/library/7596d6e9-9714-4e01-a3ba-e40848efe9c51033.mspx?mfr=true


NEW & UPDATED KB ARTICLES
====================
(840191) - Explains that you cannot access the Virtual Server Administration
Web site in Virtual Server 2005 after you install the IIS Lockdown tool.
This problem occurs if you install the URLScan tool. Contains a resolution.
- 7/3/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;840191

(953729) - Describes a resolution for an issue in which individual RPM
packages included in Virtual Machine Additions for Linux are not installed
when you use RPM Package Manager. Occurs if the RPM package that you install
depends on another RPM package.
- 7/4/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;953729

(948515) - Describes an issue in which Virtual Server 2005 R2 Service Pack 1
does not support Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, or
Windows XP Service Pack 3. Provides a resolution.
- 6/16/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;948515

(323527) - This article provides basic information about how to use Windows
Task Manager to start programs, to end processes, and to monitor the
computer's performance. Note For information about how to troubleshoot when
you receive an error message that Task...
- 6/13/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;323527

(317049) - After you change a computer's membership from a domain to a
workgroup and restart the computer, you cannot log on with your previous
user name and password. You may also receive the following error message:
- 6/13/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;317049

(875535) - Fixes a problem in Windows Server 2003 that occurs when you use
the Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snap-in to change the Terminal
Services Home folder path. Permissions on the parent folder are not
inherited.
- 7/8/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;875535

(951072) - Describes August 2008 cumulative time zone update for Microsoft
Windows operating systems.
- 7/9/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;951072

(953325) - Fixes an issue in which Windows Server 2003 may become
unresponsive because the paged pool memory is exhausted. This problem occurs
when an application calls the GetFileAttributesEx function and the
MoveFileEx function on many files.
- 7/5/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;953325

(954091) - Fixes a problem in which you cannot access the correct DFS shared
folders from a Windows Server 2003-based DFS client. This problem occurs
after the link targets are updated.
- 7/3/2008 - /default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;954091

NEW & TOP DOWNLOADS
================
Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB950050)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6f69d661-5b91-4e5e-a6c0-210e629e1c42&DisplayLang=en

Windows Server 2008 Evaluation Virtual Hard Drive Images (for Hyper-V)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=060f0c51-339a-4c4e-bb6e-716bb7401fd4&DisplayLang=en

Update for Windows Vista (KB952627)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bf909242-2125-4d06-a968-c8a3d75ff2aa&DisplayLang=en

Active Directory Migration Tool version 3.1
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=ae279d01-7dca-413c-a9d2-b42dfb746059&DisplayLang=en


NEW WEBCASTS
==========
TechNet Webcast: Managing Hyper-V Virtual Machines with WMI and Windows
PowerShell (Level 300)
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032381325&EventCategory=5&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

TechNet Webcast: How Microsoft IT Improved File Server Performance Using
Windows Server 2008 (Level 300)
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032381208&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

TechNet Webcast: How Microsoft does IT: Structured Active Directory Schema
Management at Microsoft (Level 300)
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032381104&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=US

Just because Virtual PC doesn't list Vista Home premium as an os, doesn't mean that you can't install it on there. 
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/overview.mspx

It just means that it's not officially supported.  So like me, you can't figure out why it's taking so long to boot up....now trying to make an image of XP on the Vista desktop.

Must be an election year... 56 MB and deemed an Important update....
The words "Friendster," "Klum," "Nazr," "Obama," and "Racicot" are not recognized when you check the spelling in Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955020

So the question I have is... if this patch was out for Office 2003 a year ago....

The words "Friendster," "Klum," "Nazr," "Obama," and "Racicot" are not recognized when you check the spelling of English-language text in the Office 2003 programs:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/934269

Hotmail spell-check associates Obama with Osama :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Barack Obama:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1006855,CST-NWS-copy_of_Bam15.article

But why did it take a year for Vista and Windows 2008 to get a patch?

http://www.varvid.com/

 Aaron has posted up more of the videos he did from WPC.

It's interesting to see what I'm going to call the "Houston" effect.

There was definitely a weird "buzz" with this conference from the outside.

Joe Wilcox is saying that Partners were considering it an extinction event - http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/channel/microsofts_extention_level_event.html

Vlad and others are getting beat up for not being accountable  - http://www.vladville.com/2008/07/i-think-ive-strained-my-blogging-muscle.html#comment-34860 (and for the record Vlad is a MVP already and it sure doesn't stop him from the graphical image stuff)

And finally, Gartner says any site under 1,000 seats needs to go to hosted email - http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/07/02/231325/gartner-says-webmail-cuts-costs-for-smes.htm

And me out here in the sticks and being a business decision maker can see both sides.  For the business owner, for SOME FIRMS (not all) I can see that taking Exchange out of the network means that you can get away with lesser equipment.  Exchange 2007 is 64bit,  It needs good ram/muscle.  A real "Oferized" server for sure.  But I cannot agree with Gartner's blanket statement that anyone with 1,000 users and below need to pack up our email (or any other key business task for that matter) lock stock and barrel and hand to a hosting company.  Sorry, I ain't buying that it's the best fit for all of us in the SMB arena.  Gartner is reacting to the march to the cloud.

What I do see is that Microsoft sees that the partner model isn't working for them like they want it to be.  For all that Microsoft touts how large the small business marketplace is, I know that the partner model will not be the way to reach some of the "target markets" that they want to reach.  Costco isn't the largest seller of toilet paper and gas for nothin' folks.  In addition, my opinion is that Microsoft and other hosted players see/know that on premises servers means that the customer doesn't upgrade, thus why all these hosted players are pushing how great the cloud is because it's in their best interests to say how wonderful it is.  I'm guessing that they are also pushing pencils and thinking hosted will be cheaper for them to support.

I'll be brutally honest and say that there are some consultants (and I'll used the word lightly) that should not be touching a server.  Or a workstation for that matter.  They do need to lose their jobs and relearn something.  But then there are those trusted advisors that need to specialize and "boutique-ify" just as those of us in the accounting industry have done over the years with the impact of efiling, tax software and what not.  If you think my firm does tax returns all day long, guess again.  That's not what my firm specializes in at all. 

Will the future of the IT industry be a bunch of consultants that barely know what a router is but know the ins and out of business and workflows as Schrag commented?  I can't predict that.  I honestly don't think that will happen.  But I do think that the culling out of folks that shouldn't be touching servers is good for the ultimate consumer of technology. 

But in fairness to Vlad and in response to the poster on his blog who said.... "Vlad, Mark, Chris, MVPs, PALs, you need to be accountable to this community if you are going to keep on asking us to go to your conferences, buy your books, listen to your podcasts, subscribe to your services. Support needs to be mutual and we need some answers. Doubt we’ll see them.

It is nice to know nobody is really representing SBSC consultant interests to Microsoft. Way to go crowd!"

Let me tell you a little bit about being in "this side" where you do yell, you do give feedback, you do ask for change and sometimes the answer you get back is "by design, that's how it's going to be". 

The other day I saw a press release on a Company that received "Partner of the year" and I was thinking it would be a var/vap type of partner.  So I read the blurb about Sonic solutions and realized that the "Partner" was someone that I consider to be an OEM vendor.  Not exactly what I consider to be a "partner".  At the end of the day Microsoft is no better or worse than any other company... it's a business that makes business decisions.  And sometimes those decisions they make decisions that put their partners above their own customers to benefit those "Partners", and then there are those times that Microsoft benefits their customers over their "Partners".

So to Mr. Anonymous, yes, the SBSC consultant interest IS being represented to Microsoft.  But just keep in mind that feedback may not be where they want to be as a company.  Sometimes that feedback is accepted, filed away and the answer is 'Thank you, but that's "By design".'

The key here is that software as a service is here, and regardless of my personal lack of interest in it and thoughts that it's not right for my firm and my clients that currently have on premises email servers, as it does not serve the security and retention needs that they have, some of your clients WILL be interested... so what are YOU going to do about it?  Don't ask what Mark, Chris, Vlad and Karl are going to do, what business plans do you have to embrace, deal, integrate, with changes in the industry?  Industries have to deal with change.  IT just happens to deal with change a heck of a lot more often.