THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS DIVA : Training and Books, News

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.

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)

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....

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.

MS Partner roadshow in Australia

bradley — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 01:24:00 GMT

This sounds so cool [especially the part about afternoon tea]

But look...presentations on ALL the cool stuff... SBS, Mobility, CRM 3.0, Office 12 and Vista.

Presentations by HP [I love my HP server by the way].

Small businesses in Australia are a huge, high growth market, with big prospects for Microsoft Partners. To provide superior control and expertise, as well as further opportunities for growth, Microsoft has developed the Small Business Specialist program.

Learn more about this exciting program that includes:

Specialised technical and sales training
Improved access to support and resources and
Customised marketing tools

SMBNation Update

bradley — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 04:54:00 GMT

Dear SMB Nation Attendee,

WOW! We are only 2 weeks away from the 3rd Annual SMB Nation Conference! I have some general information for you in this email. [Susan: Blog post]

Airport Transportation – Getting Here

Here are some suggestions for transportation from the Seattle-Tacoma Airport to the Redmond Town Center Marriott.

Single passenger – the most cost-effective transportation option for a single person is to contact in advance and arrange transportation with one of the following two van-based shuttles:

Shuttle Express at http://www.shuttleexpress.com/ . When I checked on travel dates for the conference, I was quoted a $31.25 fare. You might try this shuttle first.

Seattle Express at www.seattleexpress.com is quoting a $39.00 fare.

Multiple passengers (e.g., two or more attendees sharing a ride). Consider All Star Town Car Services at (206) 510-9649 or Eastside Town Car at 425/558-2511.

BEST PRACTICE: Please arrange your transportation in advance. J We believe your return trip to the airport might be cheaper because you’ll be able to “cost share” on transportation with all of your new friends crowding into a single vehicle! Also, Nathan Codding from California has rented a van and has generously offered to help transport anyone that is arriving late in the afternoon on Thursday (Sept 8). You can contact him at: nathan@computersabc.net

REMINDER: We will be providing all transportation to/from the Microsoft Conference Center.

Certification Testing

If you plan to take a Microsoft Certified Professional exam (e.g., 70-282) during testing hours on Friday or Saturday at SMB Nation 2005, you are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to REGISTER NOW as seating and time slots are limited. Visit the testing site to sign up.

Lunch with Microsoft!

Meet face-to-face with Microsoft product and program managers, vendors, MVPs, user group leaders, speakers, etc. during a special lunch session on Friday, September 9. Lunch will be provided. You just have to pick a table and then mix and mingle with all sorts of folks, including individuals from SBS, MS CRM, Sonic Wall, and many others. Tables accommodate 10 people and halfway through lunch, you’ll also have an opportunity to move to a new table to make even more new connections.

Hands On Labs

Microsoft, working closely with HP and Asentus, is the muscle behind the hands-on labs (HOL) on Saturday and Sunday at the conference. A working list of HOL titles, subject to change, includes the popular “Beyond The Basics SBS 2003” (300-level HOL), CRM, Exchange Server and Small Business Accounting (SBA). The intent is to have labs at the 300-level or higher.

Sweet Deal – Extranet Portal Offer!

You’ll be able to launch your own .NET extranet portal at SMB Nation! A new session (and extranet portal offer) was just added for conference attendees only. $399 set up and $99 monthly gets your .NET extranet portal up and running! In this special session, to be held on Saturday morning at 8:15 AM in the Baker room, you can create/launch your own professional extranet portal. A pilot program with Steve Banks has already been incredibly successful. Steve also enrolled in the reseller program and booked his first sale with one of his small business accounts. His set up fee was recouped in the first week! See product details at http://www.acrosonic.com .

SBSMobile

The rumors are true! The infamous SBSMobile from the SMB Nation 2003 conference (Indy) has returned! Attendees will transform a humble unsuspecting automobile into the new SBSMobile!

BEST PRACTICE: Bring kitsch trinkets to superglue on to the SBSMobile! Anyone have pink flamingos?

Reminders

First, for those of you that are planning to take the 70-282 exam as part of the Small Business Specialist journey, Beatrice Mulzer (Co-Author with Harry Brelsford of the “Microsoft Small Business Specialist Primer and 70-282 Exam Preparation Guide”) is offering an “Exam Cram” course on Thursday, September 8 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott in Redmond Town Center. You can register for this class at www.smbnation.com and the cost is $49.95.

Second, join Karl Palachuk, author of “The Network Documentation Workbook” for a FREE seminar immediately following Beatrice’ course! This entertaining program will highlight 14 strategies for increasing your sales to new and existing clients by making standardized network documentation a key part of your SMB Consulting business. This brief seminar is packed with information you can use immediately to make more money in your consulting practice.

To register for this free seminar, go to http://www.GreatLittleBook.com or email Karl directly at karlp@kpenterprises.com .

Third, Jeremy Moskowitz, Group Policy author and expert, is hosting a two-day intensive pre-conference Group Policy course in the Seattle area on September 7-8, 2005. Highly recommended. Details: http://www.moskowitz-inc.com/index.html?mo=9&yr=2005 .

Lastly, Jordan Shultz of iPromptu is planning a golf tournament for Thursday. If you are interested in participating, please contact Jordan at jshultz@ipromptu.com .

As always, my job is to make this an informative and enjoyable experience for you. If you have any questions regarding the conference, the Seattle area, or the price of a Starbucks’ Latte, feel free to contact me.

See you soon.

Nancy Williams

SMB Nation Operations Manager

206/842-1127

www.smbnation.com

5 weeks and counting to SMBNation

bradley — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 17:10:00 GMT

Dear SMB Nation Attendee,

Wow! We are only 5 weeks away from the SMB Nation Conference. This is the first, in what will become a series, of emails from me. I will be in constant contact to keep you informed about the conference. The focus of this e-mail is the VALUE we are adding to SMB Nation 2005 for YOU!

To register for this free seminar, go to http://www.GreatLittleBook.com or email Karl directly at karlp -at-kpenterprises.com.

Lastly, Jordan Shultz of iPromptu is planning a golf tournament for Thursday. If you are interested in participating, please contact Jordan at jshultz-at-ipromptu.com.

I look forward to seeing you in September.

Nancy Williams

SMB Nation Operations Manager

...and so do I...see you THERE!

Sometimes I forget that people don't know about the "Community" resources...

bradley — Sun, 20 Jun 2004 18:23:00 GMT

In case you are not aware, here are some places to go for SBS 2003 advice and guidance

WEBSITES

www.smallbizserver.net

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/default.mspx

NEWSGROUPS

http://www.microsoft.com/WindowsServer2003/sbs/community/newsgroups/dgbrowser/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs

LISTSERVES

sbs2k-subscribe[at]yahoogroups.com - This listserve is for technical issues with SBS 2k3

smallbizit-subscribe[at]yahoogroups.com - This listserve is for more marketing and business matters with SBS 2k3

mscrm_smb[at]yahoogroups.com - This listserve is for the combo of CRM+SBS [Scott Colson ROCKS!]

CONFERENCES

SBS Conference, September 2004 in Seattle - www.smbnation.com

True geek fest for SBSers all over the world. Get together with fellow SBSers to talk geek for a couple of days in Seattle.

BLOGS AND RSS FEEDS OF INTEREST TO SBSERS

well... this one ;-)

KC Lemson's Blog

Kevin Weilbacher's Blog

Chad Gross's Blog

Exchange [the EHLO] Blog

Charles Anthe's Blog

Windows .Net Mag SBS RSS feed

[updated for the CRM Yahoolistserve that I forgot and Chad's blog]

[oops forgot Harry's web site but it resolves to smbnation so I guess I'm not too much in the doghouse ;-)]