I strongly recommend a visit to StarWind's website to read about the upcoming release of StarWind's iSCSI target software software. I usually explain what it is to people by calling it a software SAN for Windows servers. Any Windows server can be made into a SAN by using StarWind's software. However, version 5.0 adds automated failover between servers to provide fault tolerance for the storage. For more info, visit the StarWind site at http://www.starwindsoftware.com/starwind-v5-preview

If the answer is a loud and resounding , "YES!" then you are not alone. I hear from reliable sources that the new StarWind Software release will have this capability in it and will enable WAN separated clustering of file services as well as other services. How? I am glad you asked. From what I have seen, the software will perform the replication and control it and also provide a single user interface for iSCSI so that the cluster can point to a single iSCSI target source and if it fails

I did a one day workshop on March 15 in Orlando at the Exchange Connections conference. As usual, it was a great deal of fun. However, for some reason, I never posted this blog entry until today. Anyways, I decided to put some of the key bits of information out here for others to enjoy. I hope it helps everyone. First off, we need to understand that putting up a CCR cluster requires several steps, which can be combined into four categories. Configure the Hardware Install and Configure the Operating

One of the major changes moving forward into Windows Server 2008 R2 is that some of the tools are being deprecated (I love that word) in favor of PowerShell. Some people just screamed, “Wooo hooo, fantastic!” while others screamed, “Great, now I have to learn another tool after investing all of those years in the tools of the past!” I, personally, take the first view point in that this is great news. It now forces me to start using PowerShell more than just in Exchange Server

StarWind Software has been a wonderful partner to work with over the last few years. I first started working with the product when it was part of Rocket Division, but it was split off and became its own company several months ago. I recently did a web cast for StarWind Software, and it was a fun project. They also have had several others do web casts on cluster topics. I highly recommend that everyone visit their site to learn more about clustering and to see how their product works with clustering

I was using the freebie that came with my WHS, which is provided by McAfee. So, me being a lazy person, I figured I would just purchase the product since the free trial ran out. Once on the console, it looked easy. I clicked the link to buy the product. Well, that is where it because a major pain. While McAfee was more than willing to take my money, they don't seem very willing to tell you how to install it. No problem, I will suck it up and call the tech support team. Well, the tech support

I love free stuff. https://www.mindsharp.com/Default.aspx?page=Login&destPage=UCPosterRequest You can also get free SharePoint posters, whitepapers, and more.

I wrote up some information on deploying CCR on Windows Server 2008 after doing a full day workshop. After trying to explain how to perform some of the steps, I found it was easier to demo some of the steps, so I used Camtasia to capture them and save them as .avi files. Make a trip to my Mindsharp blog for more info: http://unifiedcommunications.mindsharpblogs.com/RussK/archive/2009/04/03/Exchange-Server-2007-CCR-on-Windows-Server-2008-Failover-Cluster.aspx

During my one day pre-conference session at Exchange Connections, I heard a desire for something that doesn't exist today. Later in the week, I sat in the back during a Harold Wong session, and the same topic/request/demand/whatever came up. The basic is this: Customer sets up CCR in site1. Customer sets up CCR in site1 as an SCR source to a member server in site2. Customer wants to activate SCR destination because of a problem with bandwidth from site1 to site2 and from site1 to the Internet

I started a new blog on the MindsharpBlogs.com site. So far, I am just having a little fun, but I will be adding lots of new content there in the next few weeks. Make sure to add it to your feed list. My plan is to discuss Unified Communications in general, OCS 2007 and OCS 2007 R2, and hardware such as headsets and phone devices. I have a few headsets that I need to review, so I will post those reviews there, too. For those that hate links, here is the URL: http://unifiedcommunications.mindsharpblogs