THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA"

Okay so I was wrong.  There's some magic in http://connect but the rest is the magic of group policy.

First off if you have a local profile it will move that local profile to the domain profile.

And that's where the SBS magic stops.

What happens next will happen whether or not you use the sbs connect or merely manually install the workstations.  All of the rest of the magic is actually pushed out by group policy.. not by any voodoo done by the SBS box.

•    Create a Windows SBS group on the Start menu, and place the Internal Web site link in the group.
•    Create a shortcut to the internal Web site on the desktop of computers running the Windows XP operating system.
•    Set the Home page link in Internet Explorer to point to the internal Web site.
•    Create favorite links in Internet Explorer for the Internal Web site, Outlook Web Access, and Remote Web Workplace.
•    Configure Windows Firewall ports to allow the following features to work:
•    Core Networking
•    Remote Assistance
•    Remote Desktop
•    Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
•    Configure Automatic Update on the client computer to install updates automatically.
•    Install the Windows Small Business Server 2008 Client Agent application on the client computer (Client Side Extension).
•    Configure the Windows Small Business Sever 2008 WMI Provider to help ensure system health monitoring.
•    Install the Windows SBS 2008 Desktop Links gadget on client computers running the Windows Vista operating system.
•    Deploys an outlook 2003 PRF auto configuration profile (Outlook 2007 utilizes Exchange 2007 autodiscover to connect)

All of that is all done via group policy.

Now about that Vista/Win7 gadget.  On a Win7/Vista box right mouse click on the right side and click on add gadgets.

There will be a SBS gadget in there.

Click on it and you'll get a short cut to key items

This gadget works when you are domain joined, not when you are not domain joined.

So when you add Vista and windows 7 machines to the network there's a couple of edits I do to the existing firewall rules to allow me to view the windows event viewer remotely.

In addition to these firewall rules I add two more

•    Configure Windows Firewall ports to allow the following features to work:
•    Core Networking
•    Remote Assistance
•    Remote Desktop
•    Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)

The first is to poke a hole in Remote Administration and the other is in the Remote Event Log Management.

Open up group policy management, go down to the windows vista policy and edit the rules in there.

http://www.sbslinks.com/windows_sbs_client_-_windows_vista_policy1.htm

Go down to the section

Choose remote administration

And remote event log management.

Now you can review the event logs remotely in active directory users and computers.

So why do you want to use http://connect rather than just manually adding the box to the domain?

Because of the extra magic the wizard does.

First off if you have a local profile it will move that local profile to the domain profile.

Then it will do the following:

•    Create a Windows SBS group on the Start menu, and place the Internal Web site link in the group.
•    Create a shortcut to the internal Web site on the desktop of computers running the Windows XP operating system.
•    Set the Home page link in Internet Explorer to point to the internal Web site.
•    Create favorite links in Internet Explorer for the Internal Web site, Outlook Web Access, and Remote Web Workplace.
•    Configure Windows Firewall ports to allow the following features to work:
•    Core Networking
•    Remote Assistance
•    Remote Desktop
•    Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
•    Configure Automatic Update on the client computer to install updates automatically.
•    Install the Windows Small Business Server 2008 Client Agent application on the client computer (Client Side Extension).
•    Configure the Windows Small Business Sever 2008 WMI Provider to help ensure system health monitoring.
•    Install the Windows SBS 2008 Desktop Links gadget on client computers running the Windows Vista operating system.
•    Deploys an outlook 2003 PRF auto configuration profile (Outlook 2007 utilizes Exchange 2007 autodiscover to connect)

Pretty cool huh?  For Vista and Windows 7 it pushes out the Vista gadget but doesn't automatically put it on the desktop, you have to manually enable it.

Okay some of this magic is due to group policy... for a revised version of this post go to

http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2010/02/09/so-why-use-http-connect-revisited.aspx

https://www.microsoft.com/licensing/servicecenter/Software/Product.aspx?d=/wEPBQIyMwUDNjc4

For those keeping track, yes the VLSC web site is back up and operational a day before they announced it would be.  I'll check back in tomorrow to see if it continues to stay that way.

As of 11:51 p.m. on 2/6/2010 the VLSC web site is working again.. and here's the screen I intended to show you the other day.  That of the SBS 2008 screen.  You can't download the media from here because SBS media has to be shipped to you as the product key is on the back of the media.

 So Eric Ligman posts that the recording of the VLSC web site was online.  I was trying to work/half listening the other day so I figured I'd take the time to watch it tonight.

http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2010/02/04/replay-of-the-microsoft-volume-licensing-service-center-vlsc-webcasts-for-partners-now-available.aspx

I click on the partner network link he says to click http://bit.ly/blr0jb

I click on the submit boxes he says to submit, and nada.  I get little windows indicating that the use of popup blockers will impact the web site.  Okay fine, whatever, I'll make the site allow pop ups from the partner site.  Try again.  Same thing.  Try with the site in the trusted site zone.  Same thing.

Still, a tiny square window trys to pop up and then goes away.  Okay fine, I'll use Firefox.  Same experience, a popup flashes up and then whatever is suppose to occur doesn't.

Okay, fine, whatever, I'll use the other evil Empire, Google's chrome.  Same thing.  It indicates it's blocking a popup.

What am I doing wrong?

Okay let's go back to the blog post and ensure I'm reading all of the instructions, so let's go back and redo all the steps, closing out of the browser and starting over.  Hmmm no change using Internet Explorer (Vista/IE8).  Let's try Chrome again, ensuring I click on "register", noting that I don't see the same radio buttons in the blog post, but hitting submit this time, I do get the video starting to download

Finally.

I don't know if it was just my Friday night inabilty to deal with pop up blockers or what, but if you face the same issues I do, the moral of this story is, if at first the first evil empire doesn't succeed, try the other one.

One can only hope that Elvis's long lost brother Harry Presley will show up in Vegas again...

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Well-established SMB technology community portal SMB Nation is proud to announce its inaugural SMB VoIP workshop for channel partners, computer consultants, resellers and VARs. “Our intentions at SMB VoIP are two-fold,” shared Harry Brelsford, CEO of SMB Nation. “First, we want to properly introduce our long-time SMB technology consultants to the amazing world of voice and specifically VoIP. Second, we want long-time telephony experts including interconnects and agents to embrace the SMB opportunity. This second group can benefit from our speeches on how to be a managed services provider. Our intent is to bring the SMB data and voice communities together and do good business.”

The three-day workshop is “co-located” inside the well-established Channel Partners event (Virgo Publishing) at the Mandalay Bay Center in Las Vegas, March 1-3. SMB VoIP attendees will have full access to both shows and the exhibit hall (Channel Partners typically has 3,000+ attendees). The SMB VoIP workshop content offerings are both business and technical in nature. “We have content for all interests. For example, on the business-side, we have “How to Sell VoIP in SMB” and on the technical-side, we have a healthy debate about on-premises solutions versus hosted VoIP.” Brelsford added.

Speakers include leading industry experts who will provide individual sessions and open panel discussions. “You will meet Erik Lagerway, Tom Cross, Jay Weiss, Karl Palachuk, Ray Horak, Doug Green, Chris Bangs, Daniel Williams, Matt Mackowicz  and Matt Wass de Czege. We’ve brought in SMB-specific VoIP subject matter experts.” Said Brelsford. “You can’t afford NOT TO ATTEND to fast forward your journey into SMB VoIP right now!”

“If you don’t “VoIP” your customers, some else will.” Exclaimed Chris Bangs, director at Telephonation, a well-respected SMB VoIP portal. “Computer guys and gals must view this opportunity both optimistically and defensively. It’s a new decade and a new economy and the VoIP opportunity on existing data networks is HUGE! Computer professionals need to learn IP-based telephone systems “yesterday” to protect their client-base. Not to mention telecoms are looking to take over network management from the computer consultant.”

This inaugural SMB VoIP workshop is sponsored by Avaya, Microsoft, Cisco, ConnectWise and many more. Avaya and Cisco will focus on new and exciting telephony products and partner opportunities. Microsoft will present its Business Productivity Online Suite, a set of hosted applications including Microsoft Exchange e-mail, SharePoint collaboration and conferencing tools. Event support has also been provided by Virgo Publishing, Telecom Reseller News and Telephonation. 

You can learn more about the SMB VoIP workshop by viewing the “Get Your Head Into VoIP” webinar: http://smbnation.com/Events/Webinars/tabid/101/Default.aspx.

About SMB Nation

SMB Nation (www.smbnation.com) is a publishing and events company, targeted at the small and medium business technology consultant and reseller community. SMB Nation spreads the knowledge of SMB technology trends through its books, magazine, online services, conferences and worldwide seminars and workshops. As an active participant in the technology community, SMB Nation has a long history of advocacy and evangelism.

The company was founded in 1999 as Matthew\Brelsford Associates and became SMB Nation in early 2003, to promote the books and consulting services of Harry Brelsford, the author of a successful series of SMB technology books.

  Today, SMB Nation conferences, seminars and workshops bring forward-thinking IT consultants, technologies and vendors together, sparking new opportunities in the SMB space. Being THE information source for SMB technologists and Small Business Specialists worldwide, SMB Nation delivers complete business solutions to help them better manage their business, technological and marketing needs. Whether it’s delivered in print, online, or in person, everything SMB Nation produces reflects our unshakeable belief in the power of information to spur a profitable global community.

 About Virgo Publishing

Virgo Publishing is a dynamic information services company specializing in communications through print and electronic media, trade shows and special events, education and training, and value-added business services. In general, each print magazine serves as a platform to create communities through the integration of publishing, events and the Web. For information, visit www.vpico.com.

About Channel Partners Conference & Expo

The Channel Partners Conference & Expo (www.channelpartnersconference.com) is the communications industry’s only event exclusively for indirect sales organizations – agents, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and consultants – focused on transforming their businesses to become converged solutions providers. Produced by PHONE+ magazine (www.phoneplusmag.com), the event is produced twice annually in the spring and fall and features future-proofing advice from thought-leading speakers and how-to courses on best practices, technology and strategy. Topics range from hot technologies and new opportunities to partnering, diversification, sales tips and skills building.

Contacts:

Harry Brelsford

SMB Nation

harryb@smbnation.com

So if you are concerned about ways that data can leave your office, today I learned of another means.  We're getting bids on new copiers/scanners and the Ricoh model we're looking at has an optional scan/copy to SD card or USB flash drive.

http://www.ricoh-usa.com/products/product_features.asp?pCategoryId=8&pCatName=Multifunction+Color&tsn=Ricoh-USA&pSubCategoryId=5&pSubCatName=General Office&pProductId=1283&pProductName=Aficio MP C4000

In the past I've seen people do forensic analysis of workstations to determine if someone copied information from a network drive to a usb flash drive.  Now you may need to be aware of the ability for your copiers to transfer data.

Just another sign that data can move from your network in ways you might not think of.

One of the guys in the office has a wife that has an older HP laptop.  It's backlight in the screen failed.  So expecting a fee for the replacement, I emailed HP care.  Amazingly enough, through a series of emails where they had me check this and that, they determined it needed to be in for repairs, they sent me a box and fixed the screen issue.

So it came back today and since we wanted to check it out and make sure it was okay, we also took the time to bump it up to Windows 7 Home Premium.  Then we did what we've been doing a lot lately to home PCs.  Removing the antivirus on it (in this case the Comcast supplied McAfee) and installing Microsoft Security Essentials.

And of course right off the bat it was picking off stuff that the McAfee didn't find.  The other trick we do when having Laptops is using the power of LiveMesh to be an online cloud backup/migrator of data from one laptop to another.  Before we sent it off there were three files of personal (non sensitive stuff) that she needed from one computer to be moved to the other.  Using Live Mesh the transfer occurs in the background and ensures that no matter what computer she's on, her files that she wants are always there.

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

Now, if it will only come out of beta one of these years.

Warning: Do not try installing Windows 7 on older PCs without parental supervision - THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA":
http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2010/01/28/warning-do-not-try-installing-windows-7-on-older-pcs-without-parental-supervision.aspx

You know my post about how a Laserjet 1012 host based printer didn't have a Windows 7 driver and I had to move another printer over...today I moved that Laserjet 1012 back and tried the Vista 64bit printer driver...and it works like a champ.

So if at first you don't succeed, try again with the Vista drivers.

Apparently the spare linksys I have (or had) at home that was between my main network and my HyperV test box was plugged into the wrong power brick.  So the other day it started making a noise.  A wwwrrrruuurring noise.  A noise that Linksys boxes NEVER make if they are doing what they normally do.

Fortunately I had a spare at the office (why I had a spare at the office, I'm not sure why, but I did) and plugged it in and set it up.  Then I had to remember how I had set up the old network with the paths.  I leave it so that I can RWW into the main box but then RDP into my test network.  So it's always fun setting up that secondary router as it has a funky path and a non normal IP address so to separate out and keep the two networks apart.

The ISP's router is at 192.168.1.254 then the second linksys is at 192.168.1.66, then the internal IP of the router is 192.168.0.200 and then the HyperV box is 192.168.0.101, and from there there's a HyperV copy of SBS 2003 or SBS 2008 that has their own DHCP (and don't run at the same time). 

They are literally copies of real servers so great for doing tests on and what not.

There are times the religious trolls better known as posters on various journalists blogs make me laugh.

Nine out of 10 premium-priced PCs sold at US retail is a Mac | Betanews:
http://www.betanews.com/joewilcox/article/Nine-out-of-10-premiumpriced-PCs-sold-at-US-retail-is-a-Mac/1265047893

Take some of the comments on Joe Wilcox's blog as a case in point... SeaMonkey 420's comment that reads "my currnet [sic] laptop is a macbook pro 13 that rocks both os x snow leo and win7 ultimate x64. can you run os x leo in vmware on a windows machine?"

No Mr. 420, you can't.  You see it's against the EULA, dude.  I'm sure there are lots that would love to run an OSX inside a virtual machine but the folks at Apple require you to only run it on Mac Hardware.  Granted that's so Steve can ensure an asthetically pleasing product (that is cold on your knees btw during the wintertime until it warms up and the magnetic cord pops out, but sometimes the religion back and forth gets tiring.

At the end of the day, it's the workflow/applications that dictate the platform.  We're still moving to that platform agnostic world and not there yet.  Ergo why even Mr. 420 has Win7 on it.  It's eula allows that btw.

Had an interesting thing today, I had a XPmode 'fall off' the network.  I think as a best practice now I'm going to flip back to workgroup and flip back on the domain because when I'm moving a real box to a virtual, I freak out the AD a bit.  So today I couldn't log onto a network joined XPmode virutal.  And when I tried to log onto the local admin profile on the box, it said that the Remote desktop connection "The local policy of this system does not permit you to logon interactively" http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289289

Huh?  Oh but wait, XPmode acts like I'm in a remote desktop window... so if I DISABLE integration features (tools in the virtual pc) it will flip that mode off, then allowing me to log in locally, take it off the domain, and put it back on again.  Oh and make sure that your local admin account has a password,  If it doesn't it won't let you log in either.

It's not necessary to reboot in between the workgroup and domain, just click OK, don't reboot, put it back on the domain, THEN reboot.

Then reenable the integration features so you can do the XPmode integration stuff.

Steve asked "Do you have any idea about end of life/end of support for SBS 2003 sp2?  I'm not finding it anywhere?

And another Steve answered this -- Microsoft Product Support Lifecycle for SBS 2003 - The other steveb - Steve Banks' Blog on SBS, EBS, and other Small Business Technology Topics:
http://msmvps.com/blogs/steveb/archive/2010/01/11/microsoft-product-support-lifecycle-for-sbs-2003.aspx

But let's make this real clear --

"SBS 2003 SP1 will be supported until 2014 at least for extended support."

That said, I'm not a fan of being the first on a platform, nor am I recommending that you be the last.  What is pushing most upgrades are when the hardware changes out.  I can't accept/don't like installing old code on new hardware either.

I have two pairs of pants that got a bit dusty when moving around computers this week.  It's amazing how many dustbunnies can be inside a computer isn't it?  So the pants I was wearing were a bit dusty so I was checking to see if they could be washed or only dry cleaned.  And from the tag in the clothing, I couldn't tell.  Granted the tag was small (not as small as the Certificate of Authenticity tags on the side of computers mind you) but still, and they were all in icons.  And Saturday night at my house is laundry night.  Do I know how to paaarrrty or what?  So I'm sorting colors and clothes and get to these two pairs of pants that have never been washed before, and I honestly don't know if they can be.  And the only "manual" they have instructing me what to do when or if I should wash them is on that tag with a bunch of icons.

Okay... great... but what if you don't know what the icons mean?  

So I do what every self respecting geek does when facing laundry issues.  

http://www.textileaffairs.com/c-common.htm and so I had to search to figure out what the symbols meant.  Sometimes we're like that in technology when we communicate to those that don't live and breathe this stuff.  We use jargon and words that we assume everyone will understand....because of course WE understand what we mean.  But if you aren't in the business... in this case ... I'm not a specialist in laundry (or at least try to only do it once a week or as necessary) and my entire world doesn't live and breathe around laundry, it's no wonder that I'm looking at this laundry jargon going "Huh?".  Is that a W for wash or a Crossed out washing machine?

Don't forget when trying to explain something new to a user that they may be not understanding what you understand.  Ensure that you are communicating on the same level, with the same understanding.  Ensure there are visual instructions when someone starts to use something new.  Ensure that the instructions you give are clear and jargon free (as much as we can in the Information Technology world).

And in case anyone is wondering, Do not wash, No bleach, Do not tumble dry, Light iron, Dryclean, Any Solvent Except Trichloroethylene.

Hmmmm, maybe I can use a lint roller and get the worst of the dust off of them?

Open licensing changes frustrate one reseller:
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=56229

"As for customers requiring a WindowsLive ID, it's a matter of security. Customers ultimately own the license and the software even if they hand over permission to their IT environment to a solution provider, Sharp said."

There's a nagging question I'd like to know.  Was this an issue in the past or merely something done for the Attorneys.  As I was poking around the VLSC web site seeing if there was a Windows 7 Ultimate license I could download or order a media kit like there was for Vista Ultimate, the more you dig around the VLSC web site, the more you hit spots that are still the old web sites.

I still don't think this site is small business friendly as it should be.  I'm poking around and having to try to figure out where things moved around to.

As part of the new system integration, Microsoft is increasing security to mitigate privacy and anti-piracy concerns. If customers would like partners to work on their behalf, the customers must add their partner of choice as an administrator for Open Licenses.

You know, there were partners that posted (whether or not they actually did so) that they were going to go to bittorrent to download media because they couldn't get access.  I'm not sure how this is mitigating anti-piracy.  The best apology would still be a month extension on everyone's license agreement.

On Wednesday, February 3rd there will be multiple webcasts showcasing the new process -- http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2010/01/27/microsoft-volume-licensing-center-vlsc-webcasts-for-partners-register-today.aspx

I'd urge everyone to make time for a webcast. I'll be honest and say that it will take some time for me to regain the favor of open value licensing I once had.

So if you are migrating from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 one of the key things you need in place is SBS 2003 sp1.

SBS 2003 sp1 is not the same as Windows 2003 sp2.

SBS 2003 sp1 is a five part service pack

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Service Pack 1:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/downloads/sp1/default.mspx

If you already have Windows 2003 sp2 on the box you can substitute the SP2 that is already on the box for that first plart.

But you need to get the latest Sharepoint service pack and most importantly that component referred to as

You can skip over XP sp2 and the Outlook 2003, but that's the part you need to ensure a proper base.

Don't forget, review the tips at www.sbsmigrationtips.com to have a successful migration.

You know that Steve Jobs does PR well.  Even my Dad last night asked me about the iPad.  I told him about the chatter that the gals were not liking the name.

It struck me with the media frenzy that if Steve Jobs introduced toilet paper, I have no doubt the Scoble-ish people would stand it line to buy it.

The PC Officially Died Today | The New Republic:
http://www.tnr.com/article/the-pc-officially-died-today

The headline and hype of this post just makes me shake my head.  I do hope that the iPad (and dudes, as a gal I must say that the name IS lame) does catch on because there is a real issue of attention span deficit that our twitter world is generating in our young people.  The size of my local paper, the Fresno Bee keeps getting smaller and smaller and thinner and thinner.  People want a twitter sound byte world.  But life isn't a twitter feed.  And sometimes comprehension only comes from reading.  And I'm not convinced the younger generation is reading and comprehending like they should.

So if it takes a tablet device to bring newspapers, books, textbooks to an afforable marketplace, so be it.  If it takes Steve Jobs to give his blessing on it, so be it.  But the idea that we just jumped a new hurdle in computing, oh pllllleaaseee, come on with the hype.  You are starting to go down the same road of financial divide between Wall Street and Main Street that is impacting Obama.  I'll wait to see if that iPad makes it to Main Street and not just hyping it up Wall Street.  $400 is still a lot of money.  "It's what you do with it, stupid", should be the matra of any platform released these days.

You know about the HP datavault right?

What?

You don't?  Here's your chance to find out more about it!

Twitter / Ross Miles: ZOMG!! The SBS 2008 Migrat ...:
http://twitter.com/rosscify/statuses/8260638166

ZOMG!! The SBS 2008 Migration guide tells you to enable circular logging!!!!!! WTF???

It does it for purposes of migration.  When you migrate over the email, those log files will grow.  Now you can leave it disabled and then  just be aware that right after you migrate those mailboxes that store will be a tad large, then it will shrink down and go back to normal size.

What the Microsoft migration docs fail to say is once you enabled it for purposes of migration... go back and TURN IT OFF.

But really it truly is okay to enable it for migration... then to turn it back off afterwards.

One of the things when migrating is to soften the blows of change.  Today thanks to Oli of www.ebsfaq.com I softened another one.

We used to map drives to SharePoint in Windows XP.  In Vista and Windows 7 it's not as obvious how to do that.  Once you figure out the trick it's a duh moment.

Go to map a drive and in the \\server location put instead \\companyweb\DavWWWRoot  That will expose the root of company web and from there you can set mapped drive letters straight to the company web.

Yes, it's not as pretty, yes, it's not as webified but for us in the stone tablet era of technology love to ensure that our folks that hate change, embrace change by making an easy and smooth transition.

Amy Babinchak of www.thirdtier.net reports that this works with a BPOS hosted Sharepoint as long as you enable Webdav on the Windows 7 workstation.