Michael J. Murphy's WebLog

Original Anthony Hopkins Artwork on eBay!

TechNet Archive — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 04:51:00 GMT

WOW! Two original pieces by the Oscar winning actor! Take your pick...hmmmm which one can I afford? LOL

http://cgi.ebay.com/Anthony-Hopkins-Painting-Original-Signed_W0QQitemZ230425210904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Paintings?hash=item35a669b018

http://cgi.ebay.com/Orig-COA-Anthony-Hopkins-Ink-on-Paper-American-Dreams_W0QQitemZ330396901584QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Drawings?hash=item4ced30a0d0

SCIFI Pulse Top 10 of None, DC and Marvel Comic Book Heroes

TechNet Archive — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:12:00 GMT

AND coming in at NUMBER 1,

Ardden Entertainment's FLASH GORDON!

Congratulations to the whole team at Ardden!

NY Exchange Users Group Meets

TechNet Archive — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:28:00 GMT

From teh desk of ben Serebin:

Our September meeting is next week on Tue 9/8 (doors open 6pm). There is a cap of 30 people only. So, rsvp promptly. If you're # 31 and above, you'll be notified an hour after the cut-off time. As always, all our meetings are open to the public, free, includes pizza dinner, and raffles. Feel free to invite people, just make sure they rsvp. For meetup.com folks, I ignore rsvps that do not list 2 names.

Upcoming Oct & Nov meeting details are below...

I'm also very excited about Exchange 2010 (I plan to upgrade to it once my 3 core 3rd party apps support it), so if you're considering upgrading 2003 to 2007, skip 2007 and go right to 2010. It's coming out in Oct/Nov 09 (RC released already and MS will support upgrade from RC to RTM and there are many compelling reasons to upgrade (e.g. reduce # of servers for HA/clustering [4 to 2], OWA premium mode for 3 browsers, 70% I/O improvement in performance over 2007 due to store optimizations, co-existence with 2003/2007, etc). There are some caveats, e.g. heavy Public Folder admin, use caution since the UI is not included for it. I'm hoping this is fixed in SP1. I hate CLI. We'll have a separate meeting about this, since there's a lot to know. Here is a great MS URL to see "Discontinued Features and De-Emphasized Functionality" http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa998911%28EXCHG.140%29.aspx .

Tue September 8 Meeting at 6:30pm

RSVP by Tue 9/8 at 10am - http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=138979

September Meeting's Topics

Speaker - Ben Serebin (network/Exchange consultant) for REEF Solutions

Topic - Align all 3 goals of reducing costs, making an admin's life easier, and saving the planet. Learn about what you could be doing if you had your Exchange environment in a VM. Learn what's supported and what's not. I'm sure you'll learn some surprising things this evening. I did and I'm running Exchange within a VM.

Speaker - Adnan Rafik (full BIO below)

Topic - Adnan will be presenting / demo-ing the Q4 2009 release of Windows Server 2008 R2's Hyper-V and Hyper-V Remote management and an Exchange surprise.

Speaker Bio:
Adnan Rafik is the Founder of UAE’s IT Professional User Group i.e. TECHIES (www.techiesonly.com) based in Dubai. He started the user group and the group has since grown to 350 members. He shares his keen passion in infrastructure, networking, security and virtualization with the IT Pro community. Adnan has always been focused on helping businesses with the ever changing technologies.

Adnan frequently volunteers in user groups activities locally and worldwide. He worked very closely with Microsoft Gulf to promote the user group activities in the region. He also worked with Windows IT Pro magazine to bring a successful series of events, Get Ready for SQL Server 2005 and Get Ready for Exchange 2007, to Dubai. He has been a speaker at DIVE DEEPER in Dubai and Cairo.

Question of the Month

What fundamental method for simplifying clustering setup has changed with Exchange 2010 compared to previous Exchange versions (e.g.. 5.5, 2000, 2003, and 2007)?

Answer to previous Question of the Month:
August 09
Q: What is the Mail.que?
A: The Mail.que is an ESE database that acts as the transport queue on your Exchange 2007 server - Hub Transport or Edge Transport roles only.
How To on Backup and Restore a Queue Database
http://messagexchange.blogspot.com/2008/10/mailque-issues-white-space-defrags-etc.html
Managing the Queue Database (e.g. configuration options and parameters, etc)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa996006.aspx
Overview of Queues for Exchange 2007
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb125022.aspx
Easy To Understand Queue Management with photos
http://www.msexchange.org/articles_tutorials/exchange-server-2007/management-administration/exchange-2007-message-queues.html

Find previous meetings information & upcoming events on our website: www.nyexug.com

See you at the meeting,

-Ben Serebin

--------------------------------

Upcoming Meetings

October 13 Meeting Topic - Fixing the Exchange 2007 Server that failed during our DoS Testing.
Speaker: Ben Serebin (Network/Exchange consultant) of REEF Solutions

Meeting Topic Details - During our August 2009 meeting, we performed extreme load testing on Exchange 2003 and 2007. 2003 passed, but 2007 had some issues recovering. We'll work to understand what happened during this meeting's denial of service testing and how to fix it.

November 10 Meeting Topic - Introducing Exchange 2010

Speaker: Microsoft Rep

Meeting Topic Details - TBA

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Meeting Location
You MUST RSVP to gain access to the building.

Microsoft NYC Office

6th Floor, in the Place Conference Room (at receptionist, go left, right, and left down hall)

The meetings occur every 2nd Tuesday of every Month. All meetings are held at Microsoft, 1290 Avenue of the Americas (between 51st/52nd) in New York.

Interested in Speaking
- Speakers can be Exchange Admins, Network Admins, and anyone knowledge-able of Exchange. Topics could be highlighting a certain aspect of Exchange (e.g. X400, Connectors, RUS, Storage Groups, Shared Hosting, etc), a product you use in your organization that is extremely helpful in increasing your productivity. If in doubt, email me, Ben Serebin. Email address below.

Interesting Sponsoring a Meeting or Topic

- contact me for more information on this.

Future Meeting Topics

Other Topics Interested In - Anti-virus, Common Problems and Troubleshooting, Defragmention of Store, Cached Mode, PBX Integration (if you are a vendor, and are interested in presenting these, let me know.)

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People are AMAZING

TechNet Archive — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:55:00 GMT

This is a pretty impressive musical creation - a song composed entirely of sounds from Windows 98 and XP. Check out the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsU3B0W3TMs&feature=player_embedded

Office 2010 is Coming!

TechNet Archive — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:53:00 GMT

And just look at what PowerPoint can do! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrBd_V7gXQ4

Windows 7, Server 2008 R2 and Exchange 14 Virtual Launch Event Sept 29th

TechNet Archive — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:22:00 GMT

Get Ready for The New Efficiency

September 29th, 2009

Attend the New Efficiency virtual event and see how innovations in Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 and Microsoft Forefront offer familiar, integrated solutions that help you simplify management and compliance and securely connect people to information.

You can be among the first to evaluate these exciting new products. Attend expert-led sessions and keynotes. Find out about special offers, and check out some great demos. Join in when you want, and dive deeper into technical content for desktops, server, communications, and security.

As a special offer, on September 29th 9-10.30am please join us for a televised panel discussion on “The New Efficiency” live from San Francisco. Join in the conversation during this must-see event and see top technology leaders across industry and Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer, debate the role of IT during this economic reset.

Visit www.TheNewEfficiency.com to learn more

Out of Band Security Update

TechNet Archive — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:24:00 GMT

Sorry, everybody, I was on vacation yesterday--Knoebel's--fun food and fantasy!

But seriously--dig it: http://www.microsoft.com/security/updates/bulletins/200907_oob.aspx

Microsoft out-of-band security updates: July 28, 2009

Microsoft released 2 security updates on July 28, 2009.

Latest security updates

MS09-034 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer (KB 972260)
MS09-035 - addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio (KB 969706)

How to get the updates

If you have automating updating turned on, you might already have the updates. To learn how to turn automatic updating on for your operating system, see Update your PC automatically.

If you do not have automatic updating turned on, or to check whether you need the updates, go to Microsoft Update.

Security updates are also available from the Microsoft Download Center. You can find them most easily by doing a keyword search using the words security update and the month the update was released.

Other steps you can take to help protect your computer

Windows 7 (WIN7) Releases to Manufacturing

TechNet Archive — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:03:00 GMT

Imagine you are in a stadium with 12,000 other Microsoft employees. It is nearly 6 pm on a sweltering Atlanta evening--in spite of the grey clouds not a drop of rain has fallen to quench the parched ground and cool the air outside the Phillips Arena.

You have been in your seat more or less for 10 hours now--back sticky, lumbar stiff, barely able to keep your head up--afraid of whiplash because you keep nodding off--it's the first day of the Microsoft Global Exchange and VP's have been going virtually without surcease since 8 am--one after another; each highlighting the accomplishments of their groups over the last year and laying out the strategy for the year ahead. This is critical information and each one helps focus the company for the year ahead.

Still, it's a marathon. Then it all changes--SteveB comes on stage---and, man, you ain't never seen nothin’ like this guy in your life--he's a force of nature. When he starts running through that crowd, shaking hands, shouting hello, embracing old friends, belly busting with new ones--he sparks an energy that suffuses everyone--the lethargy is shrugged off and forgotten--everybody is on their feet, cheering, applauding, shouting--the entire room pulsing with the energy that radiates, palpably from SteveB.

Almost immediately--rather than go into his usual opening comments--he calls Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows group here at Microsoft, to the stage.

After gratefully acknowledging the raucous applause for SteveS the room goes silent—even the noise from the corridors outside has stooped as everyone stands transfixed in front of the remote monitors lining the halls. The anticipation hangs in the air--there can be only one reason SteveB has stopped the show and brought SteveS on stage--and then he says the words "Today, we signed off on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to RTM."

The crowd is insane--everyone was on their feet again, while outside a cool rain feel.

Here's the post from the Windows Server Team

Here’s the post from the Windows Client Team.

Brandon LeBlanc posted a video about the RTM and sign-off process in this blog post.

RC downloads end August 20^th—get your RC bits and product keys before then here.

When can you get RTM bits? Not before August 6^th—so be very suspicious of anyone claiming to offer downloads before that. See Brandon LeBlanc’s post.

NYeWin Meets--I hope some people are still in town--it's worth staying!

TechNet Archive — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:27:00 GMT

The New York Enterprise Windows User Group of NYPC

Presents

Windows Server 2008 R2

Dwayne Fernandez,

Microsoft,

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Agenda:

6:00 pm – 6:15 pm Welcome / Introduction and house items
6:15 pm – 8:00 pm Windows Server 2008 R2

Abstract:

We’ll cover the new features of Windows Server 2008 R2 release.

Speaker Bio:

Dwayne Fernandez is a Microsoft Technology Solutions Professional for Windows Server in the New York Metro Area. Dwayne has over 7 years experience working for Microsoft in multiple geographical districts. Prior to which he worked for several Microsoft Partners as a Consultant and Lecturer. Dwayne has a background of over 17 years in the IT Field with a wide range of experience with Technologies and Vendors from Mainframes to Unix, Novell, Linux and Microsoft. Dwayne has been a MCT, MCSE from NT 3.51 through to present and holds several other Industry Technical Certifications.

Registration site: (http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=139266)

This meeting is held at Microsoft New York Customer Briefing Center, 1290 Avenue of the Americas ( the AXA building, between 51st/52nd Street) 6th floor . You must register with the (http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=139266) to attend. The new building security requires per event registration. You must register each month to get in. Please bring photo ID for building access and come on time. The building security requires a representative from our group to do the security check-in downstairs. Directions: B/D/F/V train to 47th-50th Sts./Rockefeller Ctr
1 train to 50th St./Bway
N/R/W train to 49th St./7th Ave.

Windows & Pricing Announced

TechNet Archive — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:49:00 GMT

From the Windows Blog:

So here’s the low-down on pricing for Windows 7. The estimated retail prices for upgrade packaged retail product of Windows 7 in the U.S. are:

Windows 7 Home Premium (Upgrade): $119.99
Windows 7 Professional (Upgrade): $199.99
Windows 7 Ultimate (Upgrade): $219.99

And the estimated retail prices for full packaged retail product of Windows 7 in the U.S. are:

Windows 7 Home Premium (Full): $199.99
Windows 7 Professional (Full): $299.99
Windows 7 Ultimate (Full): $319.99

This means that Windows 7 Home Premium full retail product is $40.00 less than Windows Vista Home Premium today.

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/06/25/announcing-the-windows-7-upgrade-option-program-amp-windows-7-pricing-bring-on-ga.aspx