Kevin Remde's IT Pro Weblog
The schedule of TechNet Webcasts for October is ready to go.
I’m doing at least one of them; on Understanding Group Policy.
I’ve posted the entire schedule, complete with breakdowns by topic or product/technology, as well as full descriptions, as an article HERE.
And here are some additional resources:
· NEW: TechNet Events and Webcasts blogger site. § Check out the TechNet Webcasts Weblog. § TechNet Webcast Calendar § Security Webcast Calendar
· NEW: TechNet Events and Webcasts blogger site.
§ Check out the TechNet Webcasts Weblog.
§ TechNet Webcast Calendar
§ Security Webcast Calendar
See you there!
Below are some additional resources for the “Exchange Best Practices Analyzer” webcast I delivered on September 28, 2005.
Hope you find them useful!
-Kevin
—
Microsoft Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer Toolhttp://www.microsoft.com/exchange/downloads/2003/exbpa/default.mspx
Downloadhttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=dbab201f-4bee-4943-ac22-e2ddbd258df3
Overviewhttp://www.microsoft.com/exchange/downloads/2003/exbpa/overview.mspx
System Requirementshttp://www.microsoft.com/exchange/downloads/2003/exbpa/sysreqs.mspx
Quick-start Guidehttp://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/exbpaqsg.mspx
Exchange Team Blog: “You had me at EHLO…”http://blogs.technet.com/exchange/archive/2004/09/21/232516.aspx
Tipshttp://www.microsoft.com/exchange/techinfo/tips/previous.mspx#EHAA
Exchange Server Best Practices Analyzer – MOM Management Packhttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=583FA809-F151-4784-AFD4-44D0B7687E6A
Yessir! That was the rumor, anyway, according to a Business Week article last week.
And that rumor was confirmed.
Check out the press conference announcement here.
I'll add a link to the artlcles when they're available.
---
UPDATE:
September 26, 2005Strategic alliance to accelerate the Smartphone market segment with a new device for mobile professionals and businesses.More...
The inaugural meeting of the Minnesota Exchange Users Group is happening this Thursday, September 29th, 2005, at the Microsoft Office in Bloomington, Minnesota, from 4:30–7:00PM.
Pizza and Soda Dinner provided.
Speaker at the first meeting – Yours truly! I’ll be talking about the new features and benefits coming soon in Service Pack 2 for Exchange Server 2003.
“What’s the purpose of this Users Group?”
This is a peer to peer user group that will meet every other month; normally on the last Thursday of the month. Members include IT administrators, managers, and consultants. No formal experience with Exchange Server is required. People come to learn, share tips and tricks, and network with other professionals.
Go to www.mneug.org for more details, and to register to attend the meeting.
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 024
“What are the differences between the MSDE and the new SQL Server 2005 Express Edition?”
Here’s a good overview document containing a great comparison the two products.
NOTE: This was based on an earlier Technology Preview. Some items can and have changed since then. But overall it’s a very good introduction to this product.
Got an IT question? Give me a comment, or contact me.
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 023
“What’s gonna happen to my DTS packages, now that SQL Server 2005 has this new SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services)?”
Well.. you’ve got several options.
The SQL Server 2005 Books Online has hefty document all about it in the “Upgrading to SQL Server 2005” section.
You basically have three choices:
You also might want to look at the information on Backward Compatibility.
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 010
Number Ten!
Credit for this one goes to my friend and teammate Matt Hester...
Q: How does SQL 2005 handle online databases during the upgrade, what about the applications that are in use?
A: This questions was very interesting to me so I did some checking. The best bet to see how this is going to work, is to use the Upgrade Advisor, this will give you great advice on any potential database or application issues. However ultimately for any upgrade, some good ole’ fashion testing is in order. For more information, and to down load the Upgrade Advisor look here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=cf28daf9-182e-4ac2-8e88-f2e936558bf2&DisplayLang=en
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 011
SQL Tidbits Galore!
Q: Can I put Visual Source Safe components into SQL 2005?
A: Yes. If you have installed the Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 6.0 client components on your machine, SQL Server 2005 Management Studio will automatically detect that the VSS plug-in is available. As noted above, you can find the VSS plug-in listed in the Tools/Option dialog, by selecting the Source Control and then Plug-in Selection node. Also, the Source Control option in the File menu drop down becomes active, and from there you add an existing Management Studio solution to source control, or open a Management Studio directly from source control. You can enable multiple source control systems, and change from one to another. For more information on this check out this article: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnsql90/html/TSQLQueries.asp
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 012
An even dozen Tidbits.
Q: In Mirroring with automatic failover, how do the SQL Client applications fail over when the mirror fails?
A: It really depends on the client application and how it was written. Client applications written using ADO.NET 2.0 will automatically fail over when the database fails over. However other clients will have to manually fail over. Basically the new SNAC (SQL Native Access Client) has information about the mirror, and about where to connect if the principle connection goes down. If the principle drops, the application will try the mirror. If a failover has occurred, then the mirror is able to respond and all is good. If the mirror drops (or doesn’t answer at all), the app will then again try the original principle, and so on.
Mirroring has always generated some great questions. John Baker has a great post on mirroring.
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 013
Unlucky 13!
Q: How do I upgrade SQL 2005 beta to the Full SQL 2005?
A: There will not be a setup-based upgrade from preRTM to RTM. You will need to un install the preRTM and then install RTM. The un install will not remove your user databases. Once you reinstall you can connect those databases to the new install. They will automatically upgrade when they're installed. One word of caution: it's best to move between the same editions (i.e. Beta -> Developer, Standard -> Standard, etc).
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 014
Number 14
Q: What if I do no want to give SQL 2005 Management Studio to my Developers how to I give them access to the databases?
A: Matt was talking with some of his event attendees, and they recommend that you use SQL 2000 query analyzer for that type of access. During their testing this worked fine with the 2000 QA specifically if you used SQL 2005 Express.
My thought on this is that you should go ahead and USE THE MANAGEMENT STUDIO. The issue isn’t one of what tool is installed, but of security. If you’ve set things up right, you won’t be giving your developers anything they shouldn’t have… and you WILL be giving them a tool they can use powerfully.
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 015
Fifteen. It’s a one, followed by a 5. 15.
Q: Can you rename the SQL 2005 SA account?
A: Yes, as a matter of fact, you can! With the new security model there are some great ways to really secure the SQL Instance. You can rename the account with the ALTER LOGIN statement. This is a great way to reduce surface area for your SQL instances. Here is an example:
ALTER LOGIN sa WITH NAME = [new name here];
Additionally you can disable the account as well:
ALTER LOGIN sa DISABLE;
You can download a great presentation on the new Security enhancements for SQL 2005 here:http://download.microsoft.com/documents/australia/msdn/Session_2_Greg_Low.ppt
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 016
(Warning: Old song reference)“You (up)load 16 tidbits… whaddya get?…”
Q: How do you resync in a peer to Peer replication?A: There is a restarable synch capability built into the replication engine, There is a great Q/A log here:http://msdn.microsoft.com/SQL/2005/2005Webcasts/ReplicationQandA.aspx
Also you can view an awesome replication web cast here: http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032263302&EventCategory=5&culture=en-us&CountryCode=US
SQL Server 2005 Tidbit 017
Number 17 Tidbit here…
Wouldn’t you like to have the installable ‘books online’ for the next version of SQL, Microsoft SQL Server 2005, installed and available on your local workstation?
“Absolutely!”
Your wish is granted! You can download and install the Books Online from the SQL Server 2005 June CTP.
Here is the link.
And if you’re interested in downloading and evaluating SQL 2005, the June full CTP can be accessed HERE.
Have you seen Start.com?
Have you seen it lately?
Eileen Brown reminded me of it this morning… Very cool.
Chris Avis also has a couple of posts on it as well. (Post 1, and Post 2)
VERY interesting developments on the MS vs. Open Source battlegrounds…
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1854183,00.asp
Yes, perhaps I’m a bit biased, considering who signs my paycheck. But to me, Stuart Cohen sounds scared. This eWeek article talks about him and OSDL turning down Microsoft’s offer of a joint, co-sponsored “independent” research study. And what were they afraid of? Well.. Cohen pretty much accuses Microsoft of taking parts of studies and only selling the news that is good for Microsoft in the midst of overwhelming bad news. He accuses us of lieing.
“What do you think about that, Kevin?”
Bullsh**. Yep… I’m getting opinionated here… probably not something I should do on a Microsoft-owned blog.
Have you seen http://www.microsoft.com/getthefacts ? Have you, Mr. Cohen?
The site has a HUGE amount of information.. white-papers and research (yes, many sponsored by Microsoft, but some not) on
These are not just snippets, either. The complete studies are included when practical, and if not, they’re linked to and made available elsewhere. Add to that the wealth of great case studies in categories of
Perhaps we highlight the good points in our marketing. That’s granted. That’s what MARKETING does, afterall. But we do not hide any of the findings. If we did so, you would have a valid concern. But your accusation is weak, defensive, and without merit. And frankly, sounds a bit whiney to me, too. Get the facts, Mr. Cohen.
What also infuriates me about the eWeek article is that it only gives Cohen’s side of the story. I’d like to know more details about how Martin Taylor approached them, and what the specifics were.. but we’ll probably never know. The original discussions were supposed to have been kept secret.
No doubt someone posted about it on their blog. Stupid bloggers.
Thoughts?
With all the focus on SQL Server 2005 our team has been doing lately, I was very glad to find this web site. The team that builds the SQL Server engine has a blog of their own: SQL Server Engine Tips.
One post in general got my attention – the team is requesting your feedback on Database Mirroring. In fact, they’re even providing scripts you can use to play with Database Mirroring and familiarize yourself with it.
Here is their “Feedback requested on database mirroring” post. Help ‘em out!
<— That’s Ed Faulkner, the program manager of our Microsoft Across America “Mobile Event Experience”.
Ed has a blog now, and he’s using it to put up stories (and pictures) about how several of these trucks are being used in the efforts to help hurricane Katrina victims in Louisianna and Mississippi. (Here's my earlier blog entry about those trucks.)
Robert Scoble, for Channel 9, finally got that dream interview… it’s on the Channel 9 site for all to see.
Check it out!
Poor Robert sounds sooo nervous. And I don’t blame him one bit. I probably wouldn’t be able to form sentences…