THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA" : Training and Books

No SBS Lemonaide stand in Sydney!

bradley — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 03:58:00 GMT

There may not have been a huge SBS presence at TechEd in Boston, but there sure will be in Sydney.....no SBS lemonaide stand needed there.... there's going to be several SBS targeted presentations in Australia....if you haven't signed up by now... you should! And tell Michael that I'm jeolous that they've got SBS content at their TechEd!

SBS306 - Microsoft Exchange: Preparation and recovery of data in Microsoft Small Business Server 2003
August 24, 5:15 PM - 6:30 PM
Exhibition Cabana A
Henry Craven

e'Mail is both ubiquitous and mission critical to many if not most small and medium businesses. SBS MVP Henry Craven shows you how to minimise the effect of an SBS Exchange outage and provide a speedy recovery.

SBS302 - Small Business Server 2003 Disaster Recovery
August 24, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Exhibition Cabana A
Dean Calvert, Wayne Small

Small Business Server provides a fantastic platform on which to base your business' technology requirements, but having all those roles on the one server can present a higher risk, especially when things go wrong. Find out how to reduce your risk, how to prepare for when things go wrong and how to recover when the inevitable disaster strikes. This is your opportunity to hear from two of Australia's most respected SBS specialists - SBS MVPs Wayne Small & Dean Calvert. Learn tips, tricks and get practical insight into the tools & techniques that will deliver a solid SBS based network, and keep it up & running.

SBS304 - SBS 2003 R2 - Patching is just the start of it…
August 24, 8:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Exhibition Cabana A
Wayne Small

SBS 2003 R2 contains a number of fantastic improvements beyond the sum of it's components. Small Business owners and resellers alike can get even more out of the product than ever before. Find out how to increase your security and reduce your risk to vulnerabilities across your network with SBS 2003 R2. Learn from long term SBS MVP Wayne Small as he shows you the in's and out's of SBS 2003 R2 and how you can make it work for you.

SBS305 - Mobility and Small Business Server
August 24, 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Exhibition Cabana A
Dean Calvert

Small Business Server provides multiple ways for workers to connect with the network remotely. There are so many options, how do you make sense of these and deliver the right solution that's secure, scalable and manageable? Join this session for key information on how to identify the right tools & solutions plus learn how to extend the core features of SBS's remote access capabilities. Real world examples and best practices will be discussed in this interactive and information packed session. This session will be hosted by Dean Calvert, one of Microsoft's 40 Small Business Server MVPs.

SBS301 - De-mystifying SharePoint Services in SBS
August 24, 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Exhibition Cabana A
Dean Calvert, Stuart Applegate

You know SBS provides you with Intranet capabilities, but what exactly does this mean and how can you make the most of this? Come to this session to learn more about Windows SharePoint Services in SBS. Topics covered will include: • What you can do with SharePoint Services in SBS - "the out of the box experience" • Understanding SharePoint components • Templates, Samples, url's, & whitepapers - the ultimate resource • Sharepoint Services vs SharePoint Portal Server • The Road Ahead - SP 2007 SBS-MVPs Stuart Applegate and Dean Calvert will unravel the mysteries around Windows SharePoint Services particularly with regard to operation with SBS2003. Using real world examples and best practices you can learn how to make SBS sizzle with SharePoint.

Handy Andy Chat on tomorrow at 4 p.m pacific

bradley — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 05:05:00 GMT

Handy Andy posted this earlier....and JeffM and Marina and I were playing around with the chat ... pretty cool... I'll be there at 4 p.m pacific... don't miss the new location of the Handy Andy Chat!

Hi Gang,

I have some great news!

You know we have been over-powering the chat server at MCPmag.com for the last few months.

I spoke to my editor there and he is allowing us to relocate it, Thankx Michael!

I have also been talking with my friend and fellow MVP Jeff Middleton and he has graciously offered to host the chat for us on SBSmigration.com.

It will be just like it was before, free to all, an informal logon that you can create yourself, and no sales e-mails targeted from the logons.

The only thing that will be different is Jeff is hosting the chat on a real powerful server on a fat pipe so we can accomadate more users.

Well there are also a lot more bells and whistles and you will be able to cut and paste from the chat window.

I know a lot of you have been very disappointed lately with not being able to logon, but give us a try tomorrow, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

And you know who will be slumming in the chat since it's on his home turf :>)

I am also hoping Harrybbb will stop by and help christen our grand re-opening, it wouldn't be a true SBS happening without him!

Sorry for the late notice but I just got word minutes ago that the site up and running.

Here is the link to access the chat tomorrow at the regular time,

Http://Chat.sbsmigration.com . (just click on register in the corner, and log in, it's really easy)

I sure hope to see y'all there 7:00pm est (4:00pm pst)

Heard of SMB Nation?

bradley — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 03:31:00 GMT

From the "truth is stranger than fiction"... from an email I got today.....

On an unrelated note, have you heard of SMB Nation?  Someone mentioned
it to me the other day and I hadn't heard of it.

Yeah.. I can say that I've heard of it...been a speaker at it several years in a row now.... 
and if you do work in the SMB marketplace...it's probably the best place for you to be 
that first weekend in September...

So if you haven't heard of SMBNation.com ... now is the time to make plans to attend

Now granted.. I've not been to the World Wide Partner Conference..but in just looking at 
the agenda.. it's historically been a much better "Peer speaking to Peer" venue than
any other conference that serves the SMB markeplace.

...so check it out if you haven't heard of it....  :-)

Want to know about SBS 2003 R2?

bradley — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 04:28:00 GMT

Buy a book.

The SBS 2003 R2 admin companion book has specific chapters about SQL 2005 workgroup, FRSM the quota tool and the SBSized WSUS....

(Full disclosure... I was a reviewer on the book...but it's an excellent resource and has the needed R2 info)

"The" debug presentation from TechEd

bradley — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:59:00 GMT

You know I already posted up dump files for folks to play with..now see the expert in action.....

Watch this webcast and download this powerpoint for "THE" debugging webcast of TechEd... and you can even buy the DVD of all of the presentations for $195(US).

If you didn't have a reason to be a SBSC-er before... you do NOW!

bradley — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 05:06:00 GMT

So you were hesitating on becoming a Small Business Specialist because you were not liking the fact that Microsoft PAMs would call you.. or that you got cool offers? But what if there was something cooler?

What if you could go to a staffed and managed newsgroup and get a guaranteed response from a Microsoft support engineer in four hours?

What if you could only get this kind of access if you were a SBSCer?

Guess what..that's exactly what is going to happen.

If you are a SBSC firm you will get special access to a SBSC only newsgroup that has a faster response time... from 6 a.m to 6 p.m if you have a question about SBS, Windows server, Exchange, Win XP, Office (from Access to Word) you'll get this special benefit.

Look for more info on the SBSC web site on access to this closer to the World Wide Partner Conference...but if you were on the fence before about why you should be a SBSCer... this is just one more of many reasons why you need to step up to the plate and brand yourself as a small business specialist.

Got the SBS 2k3 R2 Admin companion book

bradley — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 03:00:00 GMT

Charlie Russel brought us copies of the SBS 2k3 R2 admin companion book and it's really cool to see the final product. I was exceedingly pleased and excited to be part of this book... mainly because it's a rewrite of the original book and includes chapters on the transition pack, chapters on secure wireless deployment and includes specific information for the R2 product.

It was really fun (and really educational) to be working as a tech editor on this book... so if you see it.. it's now it, along with SBS Unleashed book by Eriq Neale are the SBS books to get...

Ooh there's a Podcast for the weekend

bradley — Sat, 27 May 2006 07:02:00 GMT

The SBS blog has given us homework for the US three day weekend...

http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2006/05/26/430584.aspx

A newbie podcast.. but you know what.. sometimes everyone needs to revisit those foundations and ensure that the "best practices" they think they are doing are still good best practices...

... oooh I said best practices didn't I?

Notes here...

Even the experts need to listen to this.. there are lessons learned from these OEM machines... I know what she's talking about...

1. The fact they offer that Yosemite Technolgies tape drive software on those OEM machines when it's totally NOT needed drives me absofreakinglutely insane. To me that is highway robbery what Dell does when they talk about that tape drive software and do not even tell you that as paranoid as I am .. I USE THE NATIVE SBS BACKUP... and given that in the SBS 2000 era I used another backup software says a ton.

2. The fact that the OEM install forces you to a small C: drive on that preinstall... many of the oldtimers flatten it and start over. No, SBS doesn't have to have a small C drive.

3. The fact that if you try to move some of MSDE instances, there's a spot in the SBS "where do you want me to move things screen that you have to be very careful, and I've found that (and hopefully I can remember the proper way..) is that I sometimes make the folder location and actually browse to the location.. merely putting in a drive letter and a folder name won't work.

4. Yes, you still want to have partitions out on your system. You do not want to have 120 gigs of a c drive for a disaster recovery purposes..still the best practices for parititions sizes is to not have one big harddrive.

5. Moving folders.. the white paper is here....

6. And these days.. I'm using hard drives for backups.

7. www.eventid.net is a great resource for event log... but those Dell machines in their documentation has a whole section of "here's some of the wacko things that SBS does in it's event log only during boot up and shut down so just ignore them" in the documentation....

The crown jewels...

bradley — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 05:19:00 GMT

And no we're not talking about these jewels either.. even though I'm sure you'll agree those are nice too... we're talking about the key features of Small Business Server that any small firm just can't live without.

Chris Rue.. aka HappyfunBoy is going to be in the LiveMeeting seat and handing out the diamonds and rubies of SBS.

Don't miss it!

part 1 -  http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15004063  4/26/2006
part 2 - http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15004064   4/27/2006
part 3 - http://www.msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15004065   4/28/2006

Doing some readin'

bradley — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 06:43:00 GMT

Out scanning the blogs for a smidge and was reading the TaoSecurity blog... and it reminded me that some books that I read.. are just a real pleasure to read... and some are just really dry. Now that I've been on the other side of the fence and have done some book writing myself...(okay let's get real... just a few chapters) I must say I give my hats off to the book writing side... it's WAY easier being the one just putting the little comments in the margins.

So what's your opinion?

What's the best IT tech book you've read lately and why did you like it? I'll agree with TaoSecurity that Protecting Your Windows Network is an excellent read.

Taking the server for a spin...

bradley — Fri, 13 Jan 2006 03:58:00 GMT

So Michael pings...

I'm wondering if you could reccomend a book about SBS to me.

We were running SBS on NT 4.0 and have recently installed SBS 2003 Premium so I'm after a book that will explain the possibilities of SBS 2003 Premium to me. I've got a book called "Exchange Server 5.5 & Outlook Complete" published by Sybex, which explained was pitched at the right level in terms of explaining what could be done with these products, how they interact together, and how to configure them.

I've had an extensive look around Microsofts website, and find it's too vague (collaborate, work smarter, stay productive)

In particular I'd like to know how to best use Outlook 2003 when using Exchange Server, and what are the possibilities with Sharepoint and how that can interact with Outlook/Exchange.

The majority of books available are for system administrators and are very technical and detailed. I'd just like to know what the additional functionality in SBS 2003 is and what the possibilites are.

Now while I can send Michael to my past posts about books...There's a lot of stuff right inside the Remote Web Workplace...help menus and what not.... and how about that first set of emails you got when you set up the server?

Your company installed Windows Small Business Server 2003 on your computer network. Windows Small Business Server provides software tools that help you work more productively, and communicate more effectively with co-workers and clients. Some or all of the following options are available. Click a link for more information:

Internal Web Site Your company's new internal Web site allows you to share information, such as documents, photos, and events with your co-workers. Open the internal Web site.
Shared Documents Using document libraries on your company's internal Web site, you can share many types of content, such as documents, faxes, presentations, and proposals. Take a look at your company's document libraries.
E-mail Communicate with your co-workers and clients by using either Microsoft Outlook or a Web-based version of Outlook.
Mobile Devices Use your mobile device on the Small Business Server network.
Calendar Keep track of meetings, events, and appointments by using Microsoft Outlook 2003. You can also use the Vacation Calendar on your company's internal Web site.
Remote Access Check your e-mail or access files over the Internet or by dialing directly into your company network.
Fax Send and receive faxes while working at your computer

Go find that email..... and click those links.... see exactly what this box can do. My fellow beancounters LOVE remote web workplace as they can even access their desktops from clients. I love it because it ensures that I can be paranoid and secure at the same time enabling remote access for our employees.

My server broke

bradley — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 02:56:00 GMT

Happyfunboy showcases every tech support person's dream.

A knowledgeable person who doesn't say things like "my server broke"

Taking the time to gather the information ahead of time means that your call to support is as good as can be expected with a dead server on your hands. Business critical down is... well... one dead network on your hands.

So the inlaws are in town and you needs something to divert your attention, eh?

bradley — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 18:43:00 GMT

As always, Vlad comes to the rescue with the SBSShow. It features Eriq Neale about the latest book in the SBS family, "SBS Unleashed".

(with the caveat that I wrote two chapters in the book so, as usual I'm going to be a smidge biased here)

Someone asked in the blog yesterday as to why they needed this one if they already had the others, well, for one, if you have, or are thinking about adding ISA 2004 to your product line up, this is definitely the book on that as no other book has the "ISA Diva" Amy Babinchak in it. Then, it has Eriq's own Mac integration specialties in the book. There's no other 'interop' book in the market. So if you have that one client with a Mac, or are starting to get questions about adding Macs to your SBS network, this will be your bible. It's got a chapter on patching and WSUS which isn't in any other book, that I think, to get ready for R2 that will have WSUS in it.

But listen to Vlad's show as to why, I think, that one can never have enough SBS books.

Need some reading for Christmas?

bradley — Fri, 23 Dec 2005 23:11:00 GMT

The SBS Unleashed book is now out, but I still haven't gotten mine from Amazon.com. (With the disclosure that I wrote two chapters in this book) If you are building a SBS 2003 sp1 box 'today', this is the one...the only one in fact that covers SBS 2003 sp1 and does it justice.

There were so many times as I was reading the chapters that I kept saying...Oh I didn't know that....Not sure if it's in bookstores yet...and I know that I haven't gotten it from Amazon yet.

SBS Technical books

bradley — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 22:35:00 GMT

Released books or near released SBS books:

These are my personal opinions....

Small Business Server 2003 Administrator's Companion - Charlie Russel, Jason Gerand - My only complaint about this book is the title - it's really geared torward the external administrator or consultant and not the right book to pick if you've never ever done a server before in your life. Good for: IT Pros, Experiencd DIYers, Former Enterprise guys who have seen the light. Not Good for: The Server newbie until they've had some time under their belts. If you've had some server experience though, but not SBS, it's one to start with.

Advanced Windows Small Business Server 2003 Best Practices - Harry Brelsford [and no it's not by SMS Mvps either... - If I had to pick three mainstays of the SBS Library it would be Russel/Gerand, this one and the new one by Eriq Neale below. [With disclosure I did one chapter in Harry's book and two in Eriq's] While there is some overlap, each one has really good nuggets of perspective that make them the “Trinity of SBS books“ in my opinion. Good for: IT Pros, Experiencd DIYers, Former Enterprise guys who have seen the light. Not Good for: The Server newbie until they've had some time under their belts

Microsoft Small Business Server Unleashed - Eriq Neale - this book was written with SBS 2003 sp1 in mind and was a book that has some rockin' chapters by Amy [you go girl - ISA 2004 power] Babinchak. There were many times in reviewing the book that I went “Oh I didn't know that!“ Good for: IT Pros, Experiencd DIYers, Former Enterprise guys who have seen the light. Not Good for: The Server newbie until they've had some time under their belts

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Best Practices - Harry Brelsford's first book. If you've never done a server before.. this is the book to start with. This is our baby step bible for newbies. Definitely Good for: The Server Newbie [yes that even means you Enterprise folks. If you dont' know what /connectcomputer is and you've already installed a SBS network or two.. for your customers sake grab a book.

How to Cheat at Managing Windows Small Business Server - Susan Snedaker - this one... I think the title gets me off, like the reviews say, it's a basic book. Definitely Good for: The Server Newbie [yes that even means you Enterprise folks too

Using Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 - Jonathan Hassell - another solid beginning book. Like the reviews say, lots on standard, not much on premium. Definitely Good for: The Server Newbie [yes that even means you Enterprise folks too

Microsoft Small Business Server 2003: A Clear and Consise Administrator's Reference and How to - S. Kencht-Thurman - This one, I'm with Wayne who wrote a review on the site... the book writing style felt like an Enteprise person wrote it and there were parts that we SBSers just wouldn't do or even be bothered with. If you want the view from the Enteprise side...but not the SBS world... but otherwise this is one that I too have a hard time seeing has a good target audience.

SBS Support Blog Podcast is HERE

bradley — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 05:04:00 GMT

The Official SBS Support Blog : Inside SBS Episode #8 is Here!:
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2005/11/12/414279.aspx

Tonight's episode is about Migration/Transition

BOB [the System builder guys] and the Small Business Specialist online study group

bradley — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 19:47:00 GMT

Are you an OEM builder and want to get the Small Business Specialist Designation? The Bob the Builder crew have majorly gone out of their way on this one....

Web site [you need to be a MS partner and sign up for the OEM site for this]

Blog

Webcasts

Did you miss the first ones? That's okay...they are recorded!

Pretty cool, huh!

This 6-week series starting on November 1, 2005, expands on the topics covered in the TS2's SBSC 70-282 Exam Prep webcasts by diving deeper into the actual content of the test questions using books by SMB Nation as well as Microsoft Press.

The 70-282 Study Group is an opportunity for technicians at the partner level to grow their skills to include all of the basics required to install, maintain, and troubleshoot networks built on Microsoft Small Business Server 2003.

Along the way, attendees will gain knowledge needed to help them pass the Microsoft 70-282 Exam, a key component in acquiring the Small Business Specialist Certification. Harry Brelsford (co-author, with Beatrice Mulzer, of Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 & Exam Preparation Guide) will be joining Sterling and the rest of the US System Builder Tech Team (aka BOB) occasionally throughout the course. Here are just a few of the topics we'll cover:

Analyzing the Existing Environment

Designing a Business Technology Solution for a Small- or Medium-sized Business

Installing SBS 2003

Configuring Networking and Remote Connectivity

Configuring Messaging and Collaboration

Securing SBS 2003

And there's much more...please see the following list of classes.

Want more? Each Friday we'll spend time going over practice test questions provided by Self-Test Software to help ensure that you're ready for the actual exam.

Blogs? Heck! What about our Community Podcasts?

bradley — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 22:39:00 GMT

So I was doing a little Technorati surfing and came across this post about “Small Business Resources” and thought it funny because we SBSers pride ourselves on being helpful.

John, if you think the blogs we have out here are helpful... you haven't seen the REST of our Small Business community

The SBS partner groups website

and

And we have podcasts these days

SBSshow

The Official SBS support Blog Podcast

And above all else don't forget our Listserves and newsgroups

And then last but not least.. the SBS2k3 newsgroups

It's Podcast time again this Friday!

bradley — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 04:10:00 GMT

Invitation to Join the Podcast Gang This Friday - New Time!

The show starts live this week at 1:00 PM CST. If it's SBS, we're talking about it.

Phone number for the live call-in portion of the podcast:

(866) 500-6738

Use participant code: 5362361 (same as last week)

Keep the questions coming! You can also reply to this post, send email to sbspod at microsoft.com, or leave voicemail at 206-984-0184.

See you then,

Mark

Want to know about Open value?

bradley — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 16:57:00 GMT

TS2 Wed on the Web: Partner Opprtunities with Open Value

TS2 Wed on the Web: Partner Opprtunities with Open Value Event Date:

11/2/2005

Presenter:

Justin Preston and Michelle Hendricks from Ingram Micro

Event Time:

12:00 PM Pacific, USA & Canada (DST) = GMT - 08:00

Duration:

60 minutes

Description:

Microsoft has developed volume licensing programs to provide ongoing value

and benefits to our customers. For small and medium businesses, there is Open Value and Open Business. Join us for a coversation with Michelle Hendricks from Ingram Micro on why should you recommend Open Value to your customers in the process of acquiring software licenses.

Sorry about the late notice..but yes the webcast will be recorded