Check out the Search Server Demo by clicking on the logo above and the full press release here.

Some nice 'how to' posts from Dave Overton here all around Search Express - I do want to make it very clear that I had just put the finishing touches to an MSDN article all around the more technical side of Search Express   actually no, you all know there isn't a technical bone in my body so here's some of Dave's finest!:

Fixing the last 2 problems with my Search Server Express - DCOM error 10016 (application settings do not grant Activation Permission form COM) and Gather warning 2436 for Search Services on my home server

Obviously when I wrote the last blog entry on installing search server , not quite everything was working, although I did not realise it until a few errors appeared in the event log. The errors appear below - one is a DCOM permissions error and the other is a Gather error. The DCOM error Event Type: Error Event Source: DCOM Event Category: None Event ID: 10016 Date: 09/11/2007 Time: 06:35:26 User: NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE Computer: HOMESERVER Description: The application-specific permission settings do not...

· How to install Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express - including how to install on Windows Home Server

I wrote about the search products the other day, but I then decided to take it for a spin. The easiest server for me to install on was a Windows Home Server, so here is the process. Download the software and run the setup program and run the preparation tool: Now run the installation tool. For me, I don't want much installed on the C drive, but I do have some drives known as E and F. Once this is done, now go via the web to configure it. I asked for it to crawl my file shares, web sites and more I then did...

· Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express is available as a release candidate and will be free when it releases. This is all the power of SharePoint search engine integrated into 1 web page

I have only just been able to start playing with this, but it is looking good. I'm told that it does NOT YET load on SBS, but that the issue is being looked at (the auto config tools that make it so easy clash with the pre-defined IIS settings for SBS) and the plan is to support SBS too. I will look at how to hack it on SBS yet :-) More info can be found at Enterprise Search from Microsoft . So what is it? (basically, web, share and application search capability with lots of abilities, but some important...

Thanks Dave!

I wanted to say thanks to all of you that took the time to come to the second Enterprise Search Community Event and give those of you that didn't manage to get along a feeling of what went on - not quite everything you understand because for that you will need to come along next time! :-)

Topline Summary:

• Record attendance from over 55 SharePoint Search focussed partners up 210% on last July
• Announcement of the Enterprise Search Ski Incentive to Verbier in April 2008!
• New format – less powerpoint and more discussion and talk – lots of positive feedback about this – the fact that a lot of people stayed for 3 to 4 hours after the event finished was testament to this – great opportunities for networking and getting to know Microsoft better but also account planning and action oriented chat
• Brilliant near 100% reattendance from the last quarterly event

The keen eyed amongst you will have spotted the word incentive in the bullets above, really simple synopsis below for those of you that are interested:

The slides from the afternoon are attached to this blog post - thanks again to everyone for making it such a worthwhile event!

Okay so finally I can talk about something that has been brewing here for a very long time!

Today we have announced the release of the release candidate for Microsoft Search Server the really exciting bit is the release of an Express version which for those of you familiar with Microsoft terminology means a free version. This is really cool for partners for the following reasons:

1. It allows partners to give customers the experience of MOSS07 search for a far reduced price - the Microsoft Search Server Express can be used for giving all prospects an idea of the power of Enterprise Search - like these customers have had
2. It allows hosters a brilliant way of adding detailed search into all their hosted websites free of charge - nice

In the UK specifically we already have some customers using this technology - very cool indeed and they love it!

So what's new compared to MOSS for Search that we have had around for a while:

• Simplified Installation Experience
• Enhanced Administration Interface
• New Federation Capabilities
• Performance and Stability Enhancements
• No Preset Document Limits

For those of you who already have MOSS or are intending to buy it then don't worry you will automatically get the feature enhancements within the product through MOSS07 SP1. The full detail of the Microsoft Search Server can be seen in this presentation.

Here are some screen shots of the install experience and welcome screen:

Download it here - FREE!

Enjoy!

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Hi All - Quick one this, but loads of value - we have released an Enterprise Search Click through demo which will allow you to demonstrate the value of Enterprise Search really simply in front or your customers and colleagues.

You can download it from my Windows Live Skydrive share here.

Unless you already have it you will need to download the Win RAR software from here.

Enjoy!

Nice handy site here!

A collection of nice quotes from the weeks news around MSS:

Microsoft Unveils Free Enterprise Search: "Information workers waste as much as 9.5 hours each week on searches that don't turn up the right information, which can add up to millions of dollars in lost productivity every year," said Rob Gray, Microsoft's UK SharePoint product manager, on Tuesday. "We believe there is a core set of enterprise search features that every business should have, and we're delivering them for free in Search Server 2008 Express."

Microsoft Expands Enterprise Search Offering, Introduces Search Server 2008 Express: "Our research shows that time wasted searching equals money lost for businesses that haven't provided effective search," said Sue Feldman, vice president for Search and Digital Marketplace Technologies, IDC. "This year, with products like Search Server Express, cost is no longer an issue for companies that may have thought such a solution was either too complex, or too expensive."

Many great quotes coming out - I remember a cracking one from my friend Mike Davis over at Ovum but I have to admit to loosing the source - does anyone have it?

No more posts now for a couple of weeks whilst I take some holiday - back soon!