Archive for September, 2009
SQL Server Deep Dives book now available
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I have had an opportunity to be a part of a wonderful project that took almost a year in the making.
SQL Server MVP Deep Dives is not your ordinary SQL Server book as it brings together the world's most highly-regarded SQL Server experts to create a masterful collection of tips, techniques, and experience-driven best practices for SQL Server development and administration. These SQL Server MVPs—53 in all—each selected a topic of great interest to them, and in this unique book, they share their knowledge and passion with you.
SQL Server MVP Deep Dives is organized into five parts: Design and Architecture, Development, Administration, Performance Tuning and Optimization, and Business Intelligence. Within each part, you'll find a collection of brilliantly concise and focused chapters that take on key topics like mobile data strategies, Dynamic Management Views, or query performance. The range of subjects covered is comprehensive, from database design tips to data profiling strategies for BI.
The authors of this book have generously donated 100% of their royalties to support War Child International. War Child International is a network of independent organizations, working across the world to help children affected by war. War Child was founded upon a fundamental goal: to advance the cause of peace through investing hope in the lives of children caught up in the horrors of war. War Child works in many different conflict areas around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of children every year. Visit www.warchild.org for more information.
If you are attending the PASS Community Summit 2009 this year at Seattle, WA, you can get your copy there. And since most of the authors are SQL Server MVPs, you will have a chance to have your book signed during the conference. I believe that there is also a book launching activity that will occur during the summit so watch out for that
Welcome Steve Banks
Posted by: | CommentsThird Tier is pleased to announce the addition of Steve Banks to our staff.
Steve will be helping to man the SBS, Exchange, and General support queues. Steve has been an SBS MVP since 2003 and has also been heavily involved with the EBS product as well.
Steve founded and has been running the Puget Sound SBS user group for a number of years. He has also spoken at a number of events, including the IT Pro Conference in New Orleans. You can read Steve’s full biography here.
Welcome to Third Tier, Steve!
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
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LinkedINNeed to tame TMG in EBS 2008? Here’s your ticket!
Posted by: | CommentsAfter having a few weeks of close and personal time with TMG at one of our EBS sites, I had a chance to deploy and use this at another and it is awesome. If you run into a blocking issue that you need to deal with ASAP, you can drop down the overall level of TMG with the click of a button and alleviate your pain while you work on a new rule to drop into TMG to fix the original challenge. Or drop down the firewalling in TMG altogether and allow yourself the option of using a hardware firewall.
Calyptix/Third Tier SMB Nation Welcome Reception
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are headed to SMB Nation for the 2009 Fall Conference, Calyptix and Third Tier would like to invite you to visit us Thursday evening to kick off the conference:
We hope to see you there!
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
Get Support Blog Twitter Facebook LinkedINThird Tier at SMB Nation
Posted by: | CommentsFor those of you who are heading to Las Vegas for the SMB Nation conference, several Third Tier members will be in attendance as well.. Eriq Neale will be speaking at the conference, and you can check out his presentation on Alternative Solutions in the SMB Space Friday at 11:30am on Friday. Amy Babinchak and other Third Tier staff will be on hand throughout the conference. Please stop us and say “hello” if you pass by during the weekend.
See you in Vegas!
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
Get Support Blog Twitter Facebook LinkedINLearn SQL Server thru videos
Posted by: | CommentsMSDev.com has tons of resources to help IT professionals and developers learn more about technology. Check out this link for SQL Server-related resources
Chico and Sean Daniel get interviewed!
Posted by: | CommentsCheck out Sean and Chico's Microspotting interview!
So when do I get to take a float plane ride with you up to your place? :-)
WSUS Webinar Download Available
Posted by: | CommentsThe LiveMeeting recording from last week’’s Third Thursday Webinar by Susan Bradley is now available for download from the Third Tier Store. Click on the Store link or browse to http://www.thirdtier.net/store to download the webinar for off-line viewing. Thanks again to Susan for an outstanding presentation!
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
Get Support Blog Twitter Facebook LinkedINSBS/EBS 2008 Remote Web Workplace not working for you?
Posted by: | CommentsHaving trouble getting to your SBS or EBS 2008 Remote Web Workplace (RWW) from your remote computer? Check to make sure you have the certificate package installed on your client computer.
SBS Links to learn more:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd353115(WS.10).aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2008/09/30/how-do-i-distribute-the-sbs-2008-self-signed-ssl-certificate-to-my-users.aspx
http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2008/10/03/receiving-certificate-errors-when-connecting-to-clients-servers-with-ts-gateway-or-remote-web-workplace-on-sbs-2008.aspx
EBS Links to learn more at:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc463553(WS.10).aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc463480(WS.10).aspx
Q&A from the WSUS Webinar
Posted by: | CommentsHere is the Q&A panel from the September 17, 2009, WSUS webinar from Susan Bradley.
Question: Disclaimer: When running image based backup solution and/or utilizing online backup services, be sure to either create a seperate volumn for WSUS content or exclude it from off-site backup if possible. 
Answer: Excellent recommendation. Thanks!
Question: Are there any problems with XP SP3? Thanks.
Answer: Globally, I”m not aware of any. Have almost all of our customers up on XP SP3. There may be individual application issues, but not that I”m aware of.
Question: XP SP3 causes problems by switching off the TS ActiveX used for RWW but that has been blogged to death!
Answer: Correct, I don”t consciously think about that because it’’s just automatic to fix. Thanks for the reminder. 
Question: What is the best way to “Disable” WSUS?
Answer: Services – disable the WSUS service
Question: Is the specific service just the “Windows Update” service on the server? Are there any other ones?
Answer: That’’s the one.
Question: Is the method used to relocate WSUS content on sbs 08 the same as prior versions?
Answer: No, There is a wizard in the SBS 2008 Console to move the WSUS data to different partitions.
Question: I called some of my LOB vendors and found out that one of them does not support downloading their program’’s updates through IE8 yet. I”ve gotten into the habit of calling my main vendors or checking their FAQ before I roll anything out.
Answer: That’’s an excellent suggestion. Thanks for sharing.
Question: WSUS 3.0 SP2 needs the new reportviewer. but… the viewer needs .net 3.5. How ugly is the .net install?
Answer: Test it first, but I haven”t had too many problems when doing the 3.5 install for my sites.
Question: Do you recommend partitioning SBS08.
Answer: yes minimum 2
Question: Is there going to be a WSUS 4.0 someday?
Answer: Someday, we don”t know when
Question: Because I have installed WSUS manually I have the Not Available in the Updates. I can go to the WSUS server via 8530 and I can go to the updates page but it does not show any updates. I do have all the products checked in the list and I am not downloading drivers but I still have problems not getting the green check mark. Good point about not unistalling. I did that and it messed it up a lot
Answer: susan provided a list of items that you need to include and point to the green check/blue check SBS blog post for the answer
Question: Can you speak to the relative importance of patching Microsoft products vs. third party products like Java, Adobe, Firefox, QuickTime, etc.? The focus seems always to be on Microsoft products, but many of the threats are coming from third-party products as well. How do you handle those?
Answer: VERY important to patch the 3rd party stuff. The bad guys are choosing to come in via 3rd party becasue MS is generally updated these days.
Question: Not a question, but a praise, I highly recommend SBS08 Unleashed; and I just posted a review on Amazon.
Answer: Thanks!
Question: is there a way we can submit our WSUS policy/procedures for a slap on the back or a slap on the head?Kevin royalty warned me about the 2×4.
Answer: you can contact Susan via her blog, or submit a ticket a Third Tier
Question: Is there a place that a new MSP can go to see historically what patches have caused problems? We are developing our patch management policy and have basically an enormous amount of patches to approve or deny to “catch up”. It would be great to have a publish list of patches that a low or high risk. Any resource available that you know of to help us out?
Answer: www.patchmanagement.org, but nobody keeps a “master database” of this information
So who wrote this blog and what do they do for a living anyway?
We’re Third Tier. We provide advanced Third Tier support for IT Professionals.
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