Greetings !
Great article for IT Pros 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)
with warm regards
Suresh Ramani
Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
www.techgyan.com
www.msexchangeindia.com
I came across this great article which is very useful for all IT Pros. This is a must read for all Network Administrators . Check the link below for more details
10 Core Concepts
This post is for Solution Providers who use Microsoft Technologies as a part of their Solution . Every year , Microsoft recognizes Companies who have done exceptional work in one of the listed Categories and awards them at the Worldwide Partner Conference . This year the Conference is taking place in Washington DC from July 11 to 15 .
The awards are open . The key dates to remember are:
Awards submission : February 22nd 2010 to April 02, 2010
As a past winner of the WPC award in 2007, I can tell you that it is a huge honor to be recognized as the Best in your Category . You get excellent mileage for years to come. This year there is an additional award for the Microsoft Country Partner of the Year . So check out the details at the WPC Awards Site
Greetings!
I came across this new offering from Microsoft which is on Trial mode today. Evaluate Release 10.1 of Forefront Online Protection for Exchange The new release of Forefront Online Protection for Exchange (FOPE) integrates the support request system with the Admin Console. See the New Features Guide and the 10.1 Admin Center Guide.
This Trial is open for Customers as well as partners. Essentially you need to point the MX records to Microsoft Servers so that all the mails get scanned before they hit your Exchange server.
Take Trial now
Yesterday at the World Mobile Congress at Barcelona, Steve Ballmer , the CEO of Microsoft, released the Windows phone 7 . Its a radically different Operating system as compared to the earlier version . A lot better too.
To catch the video of the launch click here
To know more about the Windows phone 7, check this blog
Microsoft Most Valuable Person
I came across a very useful resource for Technology Professionals and those of you who are interested in Technology . It is the Microsoft Business Resource Centre.
Joining the same is free. Once you join, you get access to the following information:
Self Help Resources
Personalized Support
Training & Events
Articles & Tips
Microsoft is also giving a FREE e book on Cloud Computing to people who join. So take my advice and join the the Resource Centre.
Microsoft MVP
I am back from a 4 day Conference at Microsoft India Development Centre (MSIDC) , Gachibowli , Hyderabad . This Conference was for Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals from India and South East Asia.
Before the Conference, I had a very faint idea of the work being done at MSIDC . But once I got the details, I was very impressed. Let me share with you what I learnt .
It is one of the Microsoft’s largest R&D centre outside Redmond. There are more than 1500 employees and the centre has filed more than 272 patents in past 5 years. The MSIDC works on more than 20 focus areas around six key domains aligned to Microsoft lines of business. These domains are Data, Tools, Mobile, Windows, Windows LIVE and Business Applications.It is also working on technologies relevant in emerging markets through its Emerging Markets Labs ( EM Labs) initiative.
Data Team works on Data Lifecycle Management & SQL Server
Tools Team has following sub divisions: Microsoft Learning, Mobile Platform & Tools ; Visual Studio Team System
Mobile Team has following sub divisions: Office Mobile; Unified Communication ; Office Mobile Applications for Nokia
Windows Team has following sub divisions: Applets & Gadgets ; Networking ; Remote Desktop Virtualization ; Windows Serviceability
Windows LIVE Team has following sub divisions: LIVE Analytics; adCenter; LIVE alerts; Search
Business Applications has following sub divisions : Biztalk; Duet; Dynamics CRM; Sharepoint
Emerging Markets Labs has following targets: Making PC more relevant to consumers in emerging markets; Thinking beyond PC; Thinking beyond English.
I did manage to click a few pictures of the event and also some fun and games . Click on the MVP Open Day
I have recently upgraded by phone to Samsung Omnia Pro running Windows Mobile 6.1. I just love the phone. It has many cool features. But today I am going to talk of one feature which I just LOVE ! It is the Microsoft Myphone Application.
Once Myphone Application is installed on the mobile, it can work wonders. Some of the things it does are:
1) You get 200 MB space on Microsoft Servers 2) Sync your Contacts, pictures , files, sms, email;, calendar, tasks to the online space 3) Upload pictures directly to Facebook, Myspace 4) Locate your lost phone 5) Lock your phone remotely in case it is lost 6) Upload documents on web space and auto sync with phone
1) You get 200 MB space on Microsoft Servers
2) Sync your Contacts, pictures , files, sms, email;, calendar, tasks to the online space
3) Upload pictures directly to Facebook, Myspace
4) Locate your lost phone
5) Lock your phone remotely in case it is lost
6) Upload documents on web space and auto sync with phone
View the demo at www.myphone.microsoft.com
I will subsequently share more on why I love my Windows Mobile.
Also check the link for Business Benefits of Windows Mobile
www.techgyan.in
I have got information from Azure Team that the Windows Azure is now available. So all Developers and Software Product Companies should look at this seriously as it is one Platform which will bring the power of Cloud Computing to the Users with minimum re training. Check the article below for details.
IAMCP India West Founder President
Microsoft Application Platform
PUBLIC
FOR SHARING WITH ALL AUDIENCES
Commercial Availability of Windows Azure Platform
Summary
Today, we are announcing the commercial availability of subscriptions for the Windows® Azure™ platform, which includes Windows Azure, SQL Azure, and Windows Azure platform AppFabric. In addition, we are announcing new pricing and availability for Windows Azure platform AppFabric.
Customers with Community Technology Preview (CTP) accounts who wish to continue usage of the Windows Azure platform must upgrade their accounts prior to February 1, 2010. New customers can start using the services by signing up for one of the paid subscription offers.
Calls to Action
· Read the information below for details on Upgrading Windows Azure Platform CTP accounts.
· Notify community to upgrade their Community Technology Preview (CTP) accounts to one of the subscription offers beginning today. To get started, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/offers/.
Additional Information & Resources
Customers Receive Opportunity to Upgrade CTP Accounts
Today, CTP account holders will receive an email with instructions on how to upgrade their accounts and how they can access their usage data. You can also review more details of the process posted on the Windows Azure blog here. The service remains available at no charge through January 2010.
If customers upgrade their CTP accounts during the month of January 2010, all Windows Azure platform usage incurred during this month will be at no charge. Customers will also have full visibility during this month to their Windows Azure platform usage. Billing and SLAs for all commercial accounts will begin on February 1, 2010.
To upgrade a CTP account, the credit card or purchase order billing address must be in one of the launch countries listed below. Support for other countries will be phased in over time, with many countries coming online in 2010.
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Ireland
India
Italy
Japan
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
Singapore
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
United States
If customers elect not to upgrade by January 31, 2010:
· February 1, 2010: CTP accounts will be disabled and any Windows Azure Storage will be made read-only. SQL Azure CTP accounts will be able to keep using their existing databases but they will no longer be able to create new databases. Windows Azure platform AppFabric namespaces will be disabled.
· March 1, 2010: The SQL Azure CTP accounts that have not been upgraded will be deleted. For more information on SQL Azure, please visit the SQL Azure blog.
· April 1, 2010: The Windows Azure Storage CTP accounts and Windows Azure platform AppFabric namespaces that have not been upgraded will be deleted. It is important to remind customers to export their data if they do not plan to upgrade to a commercial subscription prior to these dates.
Updated Pricing and Availability for Windows Azure Platform AppFabric
As part of today’s announcement, we are also introducing updated pricing for the Windows Azure platform AppFabric, which helps developers connect cloud and on-premises applications. Based on feedback from the CTP process, we made the pricing simpler and more predictable. Service Bus is priced at $3.99 per Connection-month, and Access Control is $1.99 per 100,000 Transactions. For more information on pricing updates, please visit the Windows Azure platform AppFabric blog.
If customers have any questions regarding the upgrade process, they can contact customer support.
Related Links
· Windows Azure blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsazure/
· Windows Azure platform AppFabric blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/netservices/
· SQL Azure blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/ssds/
· SQL Azure MSDN Documentation: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee336279.aspx
· Windows Azure platform Pricing page: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/pricing/
· Windows Azure platform FAQ: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/faq/
I came across this very useful information posted by my friend Eric Ligman and I am sharing the same to you.
“What media do we use to install the previous version of Windows if a client wants to use the downgrade rights associated with their OEM Windows license?” As a follow-up to that conversation that ensued afterwards, I told them I would post the information here to the blog, along with the link to where they can find this information, so that they had it to refer back to. So, Jeff, and everyone else, here you go:
First, if you are not familiar with what “Downgrade Rights” are, you might want to read this first: Licensing Basics: What are Downgrade Rights?
To directly answer your question about what media you can use for the installation of the downgraded desktop operating system, the answer is:
Now, there was a follow-up question that was posed in the session with the MVPs after the answer was given on the media and that was, “But if we install a prior version operating system on a PC, who’s the one that has to support it?” This is a very valid question because as a former system builder, I can absolutely tell you that if one of my clients had called me and told me they installed a prior operating system on one of the PCs I had built for them, I would have 0% confidence or interest in providing standard support for that install. The answer to this question, and it is an important one, is:
There are several other questions and answers in addition to these two above provided in the Windows Downgrade Rights Details & FAQ posted on the Microsoft OEM site, so I am going to recommend you go there to view this list of questions and answers.”
I have some good news for partners in Delhi and Chennai. My good friend Harry Brelsford (www.smbnation.com ) will be in India this week and will be presenting a couple of workshops on Managed Services in Delhi and Chennai. The workshop details are as follows:
Managed Services – Managed Future
You are invited to attend a live session hosted by two managed services market leaders and an esteemed speaker from the Managed Services Industry. Managed services in India is exploding, and the opportunity for new revenue streams from proactive maintenance services is vast. But selling these services to the SME community still presents challenges. Join Harry Brelsford, renowned expert in the SME space from SMBNation and his hosts Level Platforms and MSPONE as they discuss the latest trends and forecasts, the opportunity, recommend programs, technology and examples of success by Managed Service Providers in the SME segment.
17th December 2009, New DelhiVenue: Mapel Room, India Habitat Center7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m followed by cocktail and dinner
18th December 2009, ChennaiVenue: Courtyard by the Marriott,6:30 pm to 7:30 followed by cocktail and dinner
You will learn:
· Forecast - The SME market in 2010 – Recovery Roadmap!
· Benefit statement: SME-focused services and solutions in demand NOW!
· How to Sell SME technology services and solutions by customer type
· Managed Services “Elevator Pitch” – Selling in under 10-mins
· Three pillars of Remote Management Software
o Reduced cost of maintenance
o Better customer service
o Increased revenue and more customers
· Case studies – Learn to WIN from successful India partners
Partners can get more details and register online at www.mspone.in/event.html
So grab this opportunity and learn from the experts !
We had our first ever meeting of International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners (www.iamcp.org) in Pune on December 5 . What a meeting ! There were 11 partners who travelled from Mumbai . And we had a total of 31 people in Pune . The meeting began at 11:15 am . The agenda was to understand what is IAMCP and to Network, network, network.
We had a small session on Partner to Partner Networking which discussed how Microsoft Classic Partners can network with Dynamics Partners. A few of the Pune partners came to the event via the events page of Linkedin and Facebook .
Hopefully this meeting will pave the way for greater networking between Mumbai and Pune partners on one hand and between Pune partners themselves. Did I hear someone say that IAMCP is the best Partnering Platform ?
Want to follow our activities? Become a fan of IAMCP India West
The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer’s processor (also called a CPU), handles information. The 64-bit version of Windows handles large amounts of random access memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit system.
How can I tell if my computer is running a 32-bit or a 64-bit version of Windows?
To find out if your computer is running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, do the following:
Open System by clicking the Start button , right-clicking Computer, and then clicking Properties.
Under System, you can view the system type.
If your computer is running Windows XP, do the following:
Click Start.
Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
If you don’t see "x64 Edition" listed, then you’re running the 32-bit version of Windows XP.
If "x64 Edition" is listed under System, you’re running the 64-bit version of Windows XP.
Which version of Windows 7 should I install: the 32-bit version or the 64-bit version?
To install a 64-bit version of Windows 7, you need a CPU that’s capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows. The benefits of using a 64-bit operating system are most apparent when you have a large amount of random access memory (RAM) installed on your computer, typically 4 GB of RAM or more. In such cases, because a 64-bit operating system can handle large amounts of memory more efficiently than a 32-bit operating system can, a 64-bit system can be more responsive when running several programs at the same time and switching between them frequently.
How do I tell if my computer can run a 64-bit version of Windows?
To run a 64-bit version of Windows, your computer must have a 64-bit-capable processor. To find out if your processor is 64-bit-capable in Windows 7 or Windows Vista, do the following:
Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type Performance Information and Tools, and then, in the list of results, click Performance Information and Tools.
Do one of the following:
In Windows 7, click View and print detailed performance and system information.
In Windows Vista, click View and print details.
In the System section, you can see what type of operating system you’re currently running under System type, and whether or not you can run a 64-bit version of Windows under 64-bit capable. (If your computer is already running a 64-bit version of Windows, you won’t see the 64-bit capable listing.)
To see whether a computer running Windows XP is capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows, do the following:
If "x64 Edition" is listed under System, your processor is capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows.
If you don’t see "x64 Edition" listed, your processor still might be capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows. To find out for sure, download and run the free Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor webpage.
Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or from a 64-bit version of Windows 7 to a 32-bit version of Windows?
You can use the Upgrade option during Windows 7 installation, which preserves your files, settings, and programs, only if you’re currently running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista and you want to upgrade to the 32-bit version of Windows 7. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista, you can only perform an upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows 7. For more information, go to Upgrading to Windows 7: frequently asked questions on the Windows website.
If you want to move from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or vice versa, you’ll need to back up your files and choose the Custom option during Windows 7 installation. Then, you’ll need to restore your files and reinstall your programs. For more information, see Installing and reinstalling Windows 7.
To install a 64-bit version of Windows 7 on a computer running a 32-bit version of Windows, you’ll need to start, or boot, your computer using a 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc or files.
If you start your computer using a 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc or files, but your computer isn’t capable of running a 64-bit version of Windows, you’ll see a Windows Boot Manager error. You’ll need to use a 32-bit Windows 7 installation disc or files instead.
Can I run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit computer?
Most programs designed for the 32-bit version of Windows will work on the 64-bit version of Windows. Notable exceptions are many antivirus programs.
Device drivers designed for the 32-bit version of Windows don’t work on computers running a 64-bit version of Windows. If you’re trying to install a printer or other device that only has 32-bit drivers available, it won’t work correctly on a 64-bit version of Windows. To learn how to check for drivers, see Update a driver for hardware that isn’t working properly or go to the device manufacturer’s website. You can also get information about drivers by going to the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor webpage.
Can I run 64-bit programs on a 32-bit computer?
If the program is specifically designed for the 64-bit version of Windows, it won’t work on the 32-bit version of Windows. (However, most programs designed for the 32-bit version of Windows do work on the 64-bit version of Windows.)
Device drivers designed for the 64-bit version of Windows don’t work on computers running a 32-bit version of Windows. To learn how to check for drivers, see Update a driver for hardware that isn’t working properly or go to the device manufacturer’s website. You can also get information about drivers by going to the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor webpage.
How can I find programs and devices that work with the 64-bit version of Windows 7?
To find programs and devices that work with Windows 7, look for products that display the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo. They’ve been tested to be compatible with both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7.
You can also go online to the Windows 7 Compatibility Center and check to see whether the program or device is compatible with the 64-bit version of Windows 7. Hardware and software manufacturers continue to update this information, so check back often.
If I’m running a 64-bit version of Windows, do I need 64-bit drivers for my devices?
Yes. All hardware devices need 64-bit drivers to work on a 64-bit version of Windows. Drivers designed for 32-bit versions of Windows don’t work on computers running 64-bit versions of Windows.
To learn how to check for drivers, see Update a driver for hardware that isn’t working properly or go to the device manufacturer’s website. You can also get information about drivers by going to the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor webpage.
Microsoft recently launched the Public Beta of its Best Seller MS Office 2010 . As a Microsoft MVP , I was on the Technical Preview program. What I saw was very impressive . Many partners will say what more can improve in a highly mature product . I have two things which I feel are really cool.
a) Web Apps
You can work on your Office programs from your browser . Take my word. The apps work very well. I know Google Apps has been available on browser for a long time. But it was always a challenge to work on a Excel Sheet on your PC and then upload the same into Google Apps . Some functions were not supported . Now with Web Apps for Office, I have no such worries .
b) Sharepoint Workspace
A few of us have heard of Groove which is a good collaborative solution available in the MS Office Enterprise bundle . I have personally used Groove and found it pretty good collaborative tool. With Office 2010 , Groove will now be called Sharepoint Workspace . What it will do is that it will act as a Client for Sharepoint . I am quite excited about this combination as I love Sharepoint . With Sharepoint workspace , now I can have access to Sharepoint data even in offline mode. Very cool indeed.
So if you want to try the product , download it from Office 2010 Beta.