Check out Chico's new SBS wardrobe over at Sean's blog.
Author Archive for steve – Page 3
Categories : Steve
Feb
26
26
by steve
Great post to check out if you are having network issues with your SBS 2008 network!
We have seen an increase of instances where customers are experiencing various networking problems because they have altered the networking topology by installing multiple NICS or assigning multiple IPs to their single NIC. Some of the more common issues we have seen with this scenario include, but are not limited to:
· Slow or complete loss of file share/network login access
· Problems with Outlook connectivity (mailbox login, Autodiscover, OAB, Free/Busy, OOF assistant, Outlook Anywhere)
· Issues accessing web sites (OWA, RWW, Sharepoint, Connect)
· Issues with service startup, particularly Exchange.
· The server hangs at “Applying Computer Settings” upon boot.
· Inability to complete the SBS networking wizards (IAMW and CTIW)
Bring your lunch and your SBS related SQL questions this Saturday and join the Puget Sound Small Business Server User Group for our half-day SQL event at Microsoft's Lincoln Square offices! Information is at the PSSBS Website.
Categories : Steve
Received this request earlier today, so getting the word out!
The Windows PowerShell Community Review process is looking for volunteers for our third documentation review cycle – especially beginners and intermediate PowerShell users and people with little or no programming background. Volunteers can contact June at juneb@microsoft.com or Marco (Marco.Shaw@gmail.com ).
Windows PowerShell Community Review
Have you ever read Help that wasn't really helpful? Here's your chance to fix it.
The Windows PowerShell documentation team and PowerShellCommunity.org jointly sponsor the Windows PowerShell Community Doc Review. As a member, you'll get to read and comment on the Help docs before they're published, and work with the writers, editors, and the product team to make sure every word is really helpful.
We're looking for users at all experience levels and with all different backgrounds, but we love to have beginners, people with no programming experience, people who know other scripting languages or shells, and people who are not native English speakers. If you're a system admin and you don't really know Windows PowerShell, this is a great way to learn it with help from insiders.
Ready to rock the help? Contact June Blender (juneb@microsoft.com) or Marco Shaw (marco.shaw@gmail.com).
Thanks,
June
Windows Powershell Spoken Here
Categories : Steve
OpenDNS is an incredble service, and I highly recommend using it. Word of caution though. If you are sharing an ACT! 2010 database across a peer-to-peer network, the computer names will attempt to resolve to the OpenDNS servers (on the Net) and your other ACT! clients on the network will be unable to attach to the database. A workaround is to use IP addresses, but it's simpler to remove the OpenDNS server settings and use the default DNS for your upstream ISP.
Otherwise, you'll be looking at the likes of this:
Error: "The database <Database name> could not be accessed. In order to access this database, check your network connection and verify that your database server is available. It may be necessary to disable any firewall software...
Categories : Steve
Great tip from the folks at Calyptix:
On DSL connections, if you are experiencing slow Web browsing, or certain Websites and downloads not loading across multiple computers on your network, you might need to change your firewall's MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit, or largest packet size that can be transmitted) value from the default of 1500 (default on most firewalls) to either 1452 or 1492.
You can check with your ISP for their recommended setting, but a simple way to check is to run a speed test from behind your firewall using each of the three settings (1500, 1492, and 1452) and take the one that reads the highest over a couple tries. For example, with Actiontec DSL modems, Calyptix and SonicWALL firewalls, and Qwest in Seattle, Washington, 1452 is working the best from what I've personally seen so far. If you are on Qwest, use http://speedtest.qwest.net/ (always use your ISP's test if they have one for the best accuracy).
http://www.pssbs.org/meetings/january-21-2010-pssbs-monthly-meeting/
The focus of this month’s meeting is the running of your SMB consulting practice. To start off the conversation, join us for a presentation by PSSBS member, Brenda Luper, with the Washington Branch of Franklin Computer Services.
The Franklin Moves division of Franklin Computer Services was started in 2001 when several of their clients were looking for project help during their move process. Franklin’s services helped facilitate the needed communication and tasks between IT, General Contractors, Facilities, and Employees and enabled their clients to achieve a well executed move.
Franklin Moves For Small Business is a service that Franklin Moves can provide to your client with the tools and services necessary to execute a successful, organized, cost-effective move, resulting in minimal downtime, enabling your clients employees to return to their primary tasks as quickly as possible. Franklin’s process involves your input to the plan so you remain the clients trusted advisor before, during and after the move.
Following Brenda’s presentation, we will be continuing the conversation in a roundtable between all members of the group, so bring your business questions and we’ll do the best to answer them for each other.
Meeting will be at our normal location in Microsoft’s Lincoln Square offices in Bellevue, WA. Pizza and beverages will be sponsored by the Microsoft SBS team thanks to Jim H., so be sure to thank him when you see him at the meeting!
Our meetings are the third Thursday of the month and are held at Microsoft’s Lincoln Square offices in downtown Bellevue (700 Bellevue Way NE - Lincoln Square, Bellevue, WA 98004).
Park in the Lincoln Square garage and meet at the elevators on the first floor by 6 PM to head up to the meeting (take a ticket when you enter the garage, but parking will be free for the evening).
Meeting times are 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
For information about the group, email Steve Banks. Address is steve @ banksnw.com.
Categories : Steve
On Saturday, February 6th, Microsoft & the Puget Sound Small Business Server User Group is holding its Hyper-V 2008 R2 Partner Day: Practical Knowledge for Successful Deployments at Microsoft’s Corporate Headquarters, register now, space is limited.
This is day of Live Builds; Instruction; Demonstration; and, Tips & Tricks on Hyper-V for fellow Microsoft partners who want to use Hyper-V within their practice. You will see deployment, optimization and management of Hyper-V, all with a focus for how to use Hyper-V within a Microsoft focused IT practice from a fellow practicing Microsoft partner. Watch & Learn as the Hyper-V Role is deployed on a Windows Server 2008 R2 and while Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 is installed.
This is not a Hyper-V versus VMware day.
This is not a hands-on day.
This is not a test preparation day.
This is an “I can do ‘that’” day.
This is a Partners sharing with Partners day.
Schedule:
|
9:00 AM |
- |
9:30 AM |
Registration |
|
9:30 AM |
- |
11:30 AM |
Morning Session |
|
11:30 AM |
- |
12:20 PM |
Lunch Break |
|
12:20 PM |
- |
1:50 PM |
1st Afternoon Session |
|
1:50 PM |
- |
2:10 PM |
Break |
|
2:10 PM |
- |
3:30 PM |
2nd Afternoon Session |
|
3:30 PM |
- |
4:00 PM |
Wrap Up |
Here is a list of the topics we will be covering:
Deploying Hyper-V Role via:
· Windows Server 2008 R2 (Full Installation) with Hyper-V ß Live Build
· Windows Server 2008 R2 (Core Installation) with Hyper-V
· Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 ß Live Build
Managing Virtual Machines:
· Hyper-V Manager ß Live Demonstration
o Virtual Network Manager
o New Virtual Machine Wizard
o New Virtual Hard Disk Wizard
· System Center Virtual Machine Manager
Practical Tips & Tricks:
· Virtualizing Windows Small Business Server 2008 ß Live Demonstration
· Virtualizing Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services)
· Performance Optimization ß Live Demonstration
· Backups
Overview of Advanced Topics:
· Power Shell Hyper-V
· Managing Virtual Machine Storage
· Quick Migration
· Live Migration, Failover Cluster & Cluster Shared Volumes
· System Center Essentials and how it integrates into the System Center Virtual Machine Manager
· Hyper-V and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
The primary person in front for this event is Tim Carney. Tim a MCP and Small Business Specialist is President of EBT Solutions / SFBay-Link Network Services, Inc. Since 2002, Tim has been providing technology consulting services to emerging San Francisco Bay Area businesses and assisting other IT Professionals in designing Secure Infrastructure. During the 15 years prior to establishing his consulting business, he was the CFO and CTO for a 45 person Copier Sales and Services Business in Silicon Valley. Tim was the technical force in changing its sales focus from Telex to Facsimile, Fax to Copiers, Analog to Digital, and Stand-Alone to Connected. Tim’s areas of expertise include Small Business Server, Secure Infrastructure, Virtualization and Mobility Enablement. Tim is an Eagle Scout and has a B.S. degree in Business Management. As a leader in the local community, Tim has co-founded BASBiTS.org a San Francisco Bay Area users’ group for Small Business Information Technology Specialists. Follow Tim on his blog at SBS-Mobility.blogspot.com and on Twitter as TechmoTim.
When: Saturday, February 6th
Registration starts at 9:00 am
Main Event is from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Wrap-Up Event by 4:00 pm
Where: Microsoft Corporate Headquarters
3350 157th Ave N.E., Building 9, Room 1001 – Tahoma
Redmond, WA 98052
You Give: $20 per person
You Get: Relevant & Useful Information
Food & Drinks provided
RSVP: Register for the event by clicking:
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032439175&Culture=en-US
See you all there!
Steve
Categories : Hyper-V, SBS 2008, Steve, Virtualization
Having a hard time figuring out the Microsoft Product Support Lifecycle (also referred to as the end of life date) for SBS 2003? Selecting one of the Windows Small Business Server 2003 options from http://support.microsoft.com/gp/lifeselectserv makes me feel like I need a flowchart to decipher the notes.
For the easy one, SBS 2003 WITHOUT SBS SP1 went end of life on 7/10/2007. If you still haven't installed SBS 2003 SP1, do it now!
SBS 2003 SP1 falls under the following rules:
Support ends 24 months after the next service pack releases or at the end of the product's support lifecycle, whichever comes first. For more information, please see the service pack policy at http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/#ServicePackSupport .
SBS 2003 R2 Premium and Standard fall under these rules:
The support date for this product package is determined by its individual component product’s respective support lifecycles. Please review the individual component product’s support lifecycle to determine its length of support.
Are you wondering when you are going to have time to look all the products up and check 'em out for their individual dates? I was. Thankfully, Lennart Wistrand with the SBS team has done some of the back-end work for us to make it simpler. Use Lennart's notes below (valid as of 1/11/2009) to help you figure out the end date for your version of SBS03:
Important dates to keep in mind for SBS 2003 when reading its lifecycle.
• http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=1773: Exchange Server 2003’s EOL date is April 8, 2014.
• http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=7022: Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 is July 9, 2013.
• http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=2852: SQL Server 2000 goes out of support on April 9, 2013.
Customers would need to be on ISA Server 2004 and WSUS 3.0 for the server to be supported up until these dates. For SBS2K3 R2 customers, the SQL date is later than the Exchange date.
Thank you Lennart!!
Had an Exchange Rollup questions on Twitter over the past week, so asked around for some clarification. The question was "...downloaded rollup 1 and 4 and they both say rollup 9 when I launch them, can't install old rollups over new ones?" Here are responses from Dave Shackelford, Exchange MVP, and Scott Roberts, Test Lead for the Exchange CXP team.
From Dave Shackelford:
FWIW--Every new rollup includes all updates to date:
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/12/01/431722.aspx
So if there is a worry that an update hasn't taken effect, best to just rerun latest rollup, unless there is a suspected issue with it. But some rollups fix issues introduced by earlier rollups, so generally best to just run the latest.
Scott Roberts offered the following explanation of how the current rollups are working in Exchange 2007.
If you have Rollup 9 installed with a build version of 8.1.2345.003 and you try to install Rollup 6 with a build version of 8.1.1321.000, the UI experience that the customer will see is a combination of the RTM UI + the Rollup 6 UI + the Rollup 9 UI combined. The Rollup 9 UI will always win and be displayed since it is the latest version. It sucks and we tried to work around this but it is a MSI limitation. If you install Rollup 6 in the manner described, Rollup 6 will be installed correctly but it mostly is sitting in the MSI Cache and the newer Rollup 9 files will be what is on the box. If you uninstall Rollup 9, The MSI Service will take the RTM MSI and the Rollup 6 MSP and perform the reinstall action since rollup 9 (not 6) will no longer be on the box.
Rollup 9 contains all fixes that are in Rollup 6/7/8
Hope that helps.
Categories : Steve
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