DavidOverton.com
This site is my way to share my views and general business and IT information with you about Microsoft, IT solutions for ISVs, technologists and businesses, large and small.  

May 2007 - David Overton's Blog

  • Don't want to download Longhorn, then try the virtual Labs

    I've said it before and I will say it again, the next version of SBS will be based on Longhorn - you need to go and get knowledgeable if you want to be good with SBS Cougar. Test-Drive Windows Server "Longhorn" Join a Virtual Lab to try out new and improved features and functionality in the upcoming Windows Server "Longhorn" release, including management, network protection, and improvements to Terminal Services. The site then has the following options: Step into a New Windows Server “Longhorn” Virtual Lab for Free It's simple-no complex setup or installation is required to try out Windows Server “Longhorn”. You get a downloadable manual and a 90-minute block of time for each module. You can sign up for additional 90-minute blocks anytime. Managing Windows Longhorn Server and Windows Vista using Group Policy Managing Windows Vista and Windows Server Longhorn Network Bandwidth with Policy-based Quality of Service Windows Server Longhorn Beta 2 Server Core Windows Server Longhorn Beta...
  • Should you be recognised as a Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) partner (or do you want to be), here is how - do it today including the new technical areas that are accepted into the program (Sharepoint skills)

    A couple of years back Microsoft realised that it needed a specialised group of partners that it could recommend to small business customers, invest time and effort into helping succeed and help elevate themselves above the 33,000 other partners in the UK. From these desires the SBSC program was born. What are the benefits of becoming a SBSC Partner Use the Small Business Specialist logo for advertising and marketing (eg http://www.bmsnet.co.uk/blog/?p=58 ) Be listed as a Small Business Specialist in the Microsoft Resource Directory Gain access to premium content on the Microsoft Partner Program Web site Access exclusive Small Business Specialist Private Managed Newsgroups If you don't have it already, using the Microsoft Action Pack which has LOADS of software in it and it costs less than £200 per year (10 copies of Vista, 10 copies of Office, SBS Server, Exchange 2007, MS CRM and much, much more) How to become a SBSC Partner From scouring our records some parnters qualify, but haven't signed up yet,...
  • Virtual TechEd - all the joys of Tech-Ed without being their (well you can be there too)

    Virtual TechEd is the place to be to get the lowdown on TechEd and also to get access to "stuff" and information all year round that is normally only at TechEd. This is what they had to say for themselves inside Microsoft: Visit www.virtualteched.com today to extend Tech·Ed to an always-on, year-round, online experience! Easily access Tech·Ed content when you want, where you want, in an engaging community environment. Gain the technical education you need to build, deploy, secure, mobilize, & manage solutions across currently shipping and soon-to-be-released products. In addition to new content postings we will be adding new functionality to extend the site at regular intervals, both pre- and post-event; so be sure to check back often. We think you’ll like what you see! ttfn David Technorati tags: TechEd , Virtual
  • Don't e-mail me and then block me with your spam list

    I get lots of e-mail. I answer it all hours of the day and while I can be snappy sometimes (sorry Guy), I do try to get the right information out there. One thing that has caught me out a few times (especially when I am mailing from a train or while disconnected from a useful Internet connection) is that when I reply I get a message saying that my address is blocked, could I go and verify myself. I know this is a bit of a rant, but if you want me to reply, please go and put me into your system so I don't have to do this... pretty please, it just makes my life sooo much easier when I get hundreds of mails a day. thank-you David
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  • Longhorn Events in London and Reading in late May and early June

    23 May 2007, London: Web Administration Summit: An In-depth Look at Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0 in Windows Server "Longhorn" Windows Server "Longhorn" delivers Microsoft's most powerful pipeline of web technology around the latest version of Internet Information Services (IIS). Far from a simple version upgrade, IIS version 7.0 is an extensible platform for more reliably and securely hosting Web applications and services that are easy to manage at scale. IIS 7.0 is a major enhancement to earlier versions, offering for the first time a componentized architecture with full extensibility, a single integrated pipeline for all IIS and ASP.NET processing, and a comprehensive administration tool to support powerful diagnostics and delegated management. This comprehensive one-day seminar will introduce you to many of the key improvements in IIS 7, including administration, security and troubleshooting. 12 June 2007, Reading: Overview of Windows Server codename "Longhorn" The...
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  • Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" – Learning Portal

    Since we will all have to learn Longhorn for the next version of SBS, here is a place to start Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" – Learning Portal Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" is the next-generation Windows Server operating system that helps IT professionals maximize control over their infrastructure with increased security, reliability, and flexibility. E-Learning training Collection 5934: Introducing Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" (Beta 3) — Free for a limited time! This online learning collection of five clinics introduces the new features and functionality in Windows Server "Longhorn." The courses cover server virtualization, security and policy management, branch office management, centralized application access, and server management. You can take the entire collection or just the courses that interest you. • Clinic 5936: Introducing Security and Policy Management in Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" (Beta 3) • Clinic 5937: Introducing Branch...
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  • Site Performance over the shop while NTL (Virgin Media) upgrade internet connection to 20mbs/768kbs

    My server is on an NTL XL line and this is being upgraded at the moment. The result is pants network performance, so if the site is slow, blame the upgrade and not me. It should take a few days to sort, but then be 50% faster to access the site. ttfn David
  • The "If you only read one post today, this is the one" Post tag is coming

    I was talking to Adrian from EJC.IT yesterday (a great Small Business partner) and one comment that was made was that I sometimes post lots of entries and knowing which one to read if only one was to be read was hard. So, I have decided to create the " If you only read one post today " tag for those blog entries that fall into the category. Obviously this is one as it is the 1st one and tells you about it :-) [updated 11:33 on 23/05/2007] The URL to get just these posts is http://uksbsguy.com/blogs/doverton/archive/tags/If+you+only+read+one+post+today/default.aspx and the RSS feed for this is http://uksbsguy.com/blogs/doverton/rss.aspx?Tags=If+you+only+read+one+post+today&AndTags=1 ttfn David Technorati Tags: If you only read one post today
  • A Nod to Journalistic Integrity Is Seen in an Editor’s Return - PC World - he wanted to run a 10-things we hate about Apple article, but the CEO would not let him as they were a big advertiser

    I saw this and was amazed twice - 1st that PC World magazine allowed their independence to be so badly tarnished and then 2nd the actual article that they wanted to print. Have a look at the story at http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,130994/article.html or the what happened story below: A Nod to Journalistic Integrity Is Seen in an Editor’s Return Heidi Schumann for The New York Times Harry McCracken was reinstated as the editor in chief of PC World after a disputed article about Apple was posted on the publication’s Web site. Source: A Nod to Journalistic Integrity Is Seen in an Editor’s Return - New York Times ttfn David Technorati Tags: apple , PC World
  • Site up and down more frequently than something that goes up and down - like an lift (elevator for my US friends) at the "how do lifts work" world convention!!

    My trusty old SBS box that was a re-purposed server from somewhere else with old (very) cpus etc is crying at me lots. I've moved the databased elsewhere, but it won't be enough, so a new machine has been ordered. I hope to be able to put it together in the next day or two, however until it happens, the performance of the site will still stink a bit and might just hang every-so-often :-( Please bear with us, we hope to have normal transmission resumed as soon as possible
  • Powershell is the new tool for managing Exchange 2007 and Windows Servers too - get a look at it on 22nd May in Reading or the Powershell User Group

    Again, something you will have to get to grips with in Longhorn and Exchange 2007. To find out about powershell go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/powershell/default.mspx . It is described as: Microsoft Windows PowerShell command line shell and scripting language helps IT Professionals achieve greater productivity. Using a new admin-focused scripting language, more than 130 standard command line tools, and consistent syntax and utilities, Windows PowerShell allows IT Professionals to more easily control system administration and accelerate automation. Windows PowerShell is easy to adopt, learn, and use, because it works with your existing IT infrastructure and existing script investments, and because it runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server “Longhorn”. Exchange Server 2007, System Center Operations Manager 2007, System Center Data Protection Manager V2, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager leverage Windows PowerShell to improve efficiency...

(c)David Overton 2006-23