(Post courtesy Anne Schwarz-Nielsen)
Note: Anne has put together a list of resources on Dynamics AX 2010 that were released over the last month, separated into Selling, Technical, and Training resources. Let us know if this is a useful compilation in the comments!
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 is the latest release of Microsoft Dynamics AX. The Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 download is a full install and required for new installations or upgrades from previous versions. Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 supports upgrades from Microsoft Dynamics AX 4.0 Service Pack 1 (or higher) or Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009. You can find CU1 here as well.
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Landing Page
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/resources/productreleases/microsoftdynamicsax2012.htm?printpage=false&sid=5wqhpchn3ypolll5pmb0vbnv&stext=AX 2012
This document provides a summary of new and changed features that are planned to be implemented in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.
It also provides deprecated feature notices for features that are planned to be removed in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 or future versions. Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics AX or other business management software is assumed.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/pricing/announcements/msdyn_newchangeddeprefeaturesax12_en.htm?printpage=false&sid=5wqhpchn3ypolll5pmb0vbnv&stext=AX 2012
The Connector for Microsoft Dynamics Feature Pack 6 provides an integration between Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (minimum Update Rollup #5) or Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 SP1 or Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. The downloadable Connector on this web page is specifically designed to integrate Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 or Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 SP1 or Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/resources/productreleases/mdax2009_crmconnector.htm?printpage=false&sid=5wqhpchn3ypolll5pmb0vbnv&stext=AX 2012
The Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Technical Library is a resource on Microsoft TechNet for IT administrators and application users. It contains information about deploying, configuring, administering, and using Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.
The Technical Library for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 includes the following types of information:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/userguides/ax2012_technicallibraryontechnet.htm?printpage=false&sid=5wqhpchn3ypolll5pmb0vbnv&stext=AX 2012
At this page you can find important information about the new ISV licensing framework, and you can find a link to best practices for application layers.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/isvsolutions/news/ax2012_isvlayer.htm?printpage=false&sid=5wqhpchn3ypolll5pmb0vbnv&stext=AX 2012
This series of white papers is related to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 code upgrade. The following white papers are included in the series:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/whitepapers/ax2012_codeupgradewhitepapers.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 introduces many new developer features and technologies that were not available in previous releases. Additionally, changes introduced in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 update a number of existing developer features and technologies. This document describes new and changed developer features for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/installationandsetup/ax2012_whatsnewdevelopers.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
This white paper describes best practices for shared Application Object Server (AOS) development environments. Many partners create solutions in an environment in which multiple development clients connect to a single shared AOS. A shared AOS development environment can produce unpredictable results unless the guidelines in this document are followed.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/whitepapers/ax2012_developingsolutionsinsharedaoswhitepaper.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
This paper describes how to create and apply XDS policies to filter financial data by dimension value. Dimension value fields provide a common method of filtering a wide range of financial data. This paper describes how to create and apply XDS policies to filter financial data by dimension value.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/whitepapers/ax2012_securingdatabydimensionvaluewithxdswhitepaper.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
This paper describes how to use the Microsoft Dynamics AX Data Upgrade Framework and how to write data upgrade scripts for customer upgrade data models (Microsoft Dynamics AX tables). The Data Upgrade Framework can be used to perform data correction or data transformation.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/whitepapers/ax2012_howtowritedataupgradescripts.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
This document provides prescriptive guidance to system architects, consultants, and IT professionals who are involved with planning a Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 implementation. Topics include Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 architecture, implementation methodology, and hardware and software requirements and planning.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/installationandsetup/ax2012_implementationplanningguide.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
This download contains the UpgradeScripts.chm file, which describes the functionality of the data upgrade scripts implemented by Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 within the Microsoft layer (sys, gls). Data upgrade scripts are executed as part of the data upgrade process to upgrade data from a source Microsoft Dynamics AX database to Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. The documentation contains script information organized by class and method name. You might find the following cross-reference topics useful when upgrading your data:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/whitepapers/ax2012_upgradescriptreference.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
On this page you’ll find demo tools and materials which you can use to help familiarize yourself with the new application functionality and enhancements available in the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 release.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/marketing/marketingcollateral/demos/ax2012demotoolsmaterials.htm?printpage=false&sid=5wqhpchn3ypolll5pmb0vbnv&stext=AX 2012
Now it’s time to learn how to use this new model! One of the key strengths of Microsoft Dynamics AX2012 is its focus on individual roles and their needs. We are connecting our role-tailored design to our simple licensing model, ensuring that customers buy the exact licenses required to meet the needs of their individual users.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/licensingpolicies/msdax2012newpricinglicensingmodel.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=licensing
Find the enclosed a complete list of Menu Items per User Client Access License (CAL) designed to facilitate your understanding and mapping of Role-tailored tasks to User CAL types in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/guides/msdyax2012_menuitemmapping.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
Find the latest information about operations and AX, for instance how to get an evaluation edition, and how to get your partner license.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/ordering/orderingnews/msdax2012operationsupdate.htm?printpage=false&sid=5wqhpchn3ypolll5pmb0vbnv&stext=AX 2012
With Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Pricing and Licensing, customers have the ability to “exchange” a User CAL for a higher level User CAL by paying the difference between those two User CALs at current pricing. This process is called “Step-up”.
This page explains how a Step-up is calculated and is intended to help partners to understand:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/howtoarticles/msd_ax2012stepupcalculationinformation.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
A very handy excel sheet that quickly lists availability for Ax 2009 and AX 2012
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/newsevents/news/msdyax_availabilitylocalizationtranslation.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
Microsoft Dynamics ERP RapidStart Services allows organizations to easily configure business processes and modules thru an intuitive interview style questionnaire. Organizations can answer questions specific to their business processes and based on the responses to questions the necessary records for those business processes are created. Time of configure Microsoft Dynamics ERP can be greatly reduced, allowing organizations to spend time on value add services.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/resources/productreleases/MSDY_Rapid_Start?r=5&l=2
This guide is intended to walk you through the installation components that need to be deployed on the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 installation to connect RapidStart Services to the target Dynamics AX 2012 instance.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/installationandsetup/msdy_rapidstartconfigureprojectsguide.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
This guide is intended to walk you through the steps of activating RapidStart Services for your organization, defining users and user roles, and the installation components that need to be deployed on the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 installation to connect RapidStart Services to the target Dynamics AX 2012 instance.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/userguides/msdy_rapidstartservicesguide.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
This document gives an overview of how to use the kanban framework in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 to support lean manufacturing and pull-based manufacturing scenarios. It introduces the concepts of kanbans as a signal and kanban rules as supply policies, describes how to model pull scenarios, and provides application examples.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/documentation/whitepapers/ax2012_leanmanufacturingkanbanandpullbasedwhitepaper.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
In preparation for a Microsoft product release, this on-demand web seminar series will highlight the new features in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. These web seminars are available via the Microsoft Dynamics Partner Academy on PartnerSource and the Partner Learning Center (PLC). Each web seminar includes a downloadable workbook for additional learning. Courses range from 20-135 minutes in length, with time specified in the PLC course description. PTS Product Release Training is available at no additional charge.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/newsevents/events/webseminars/axptsws.htm?printpage=false&sid=5wqhpchn3ypolll5pmb0vbnv&stext=AX 2012
Welcome to the Solution Learning Plan: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. This Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Role Tailored Learning Plan can help you and your employees focus on specific goals and access the training needed to gain more detailed product knowledge.
The What's New training will be available on Microsoft Learning, Partner Source and Customer Source. Links will be added to the courses as they become available.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/communities/training/msd_ax2012presalesrole.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
The What’s New training will be available on Microsoft Learning, Partner Source and Customer Source. Links will be added to the courses as they become available.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/communities/training/msd_ax2012marketingrole.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
One of the objectives of the Step 1 training is to enable you to attain Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 certifications. The table below outlines which courses are associated with each training track, and which certifications those courses prepare you for.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/partnerreadiness/partneracademy/msdax2012eacertifications.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Enterprise Academy
The elements of the Academy you follow are defined by the role you have within your company. The academy offers the following tracks (broken out by role, functional or technical orientation as well as industry focus)
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/partnerreadiness/partneracademy/msdax2012eastep1curriculum.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
Participants of the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Enterprise Academy are expected to attend all 3 steps. The costs below cover all 3 steps. Please also note that the costs outlined below do not include any travel, accommodation or expenses which may be made by the attendees. The training you are currently registering for will ONLY be for the Step 1 Foundation training. You will be informed at a later stage about the dates and times for the remaining components of the Enterprise Academy.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/partnerreadiness/partneracademy/msdax2012eacost.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=Enterprise Academy cost
If you wish to participate in the AX 2012 Enterprise Academy, then in order to get full value, you should make sure to meet the prerequisites you can find here.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/partnerreadiness/partneracademy/msdax2012eaprgprequisites.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Enterprise Academy – Registration site
Training in the Enterprise Academy program will be in the following sites: Amsterdam, Hyderabad, Seattle.
At the below link you can find links for registration for all sites.
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/partneressentials/partnerreadiness/partneracademy/msdax2012earegistration.htm?printpage=false&sid=ahslhang5tptviezpwuerls5&stext=2012
(Post courtesy Manoj Ravikumar Nair)
Do you have an Exchange 2010 infrastructure setup in your environment for your messaging needs? Do you want to manage your Exchange 2010 from a Client PC or any other server? The most common answer to this question would be a ‘YES’ followed by the installation of the Exchange Management Tools on the Client PC for example, a PC running Windows 7.
Hmm, now that would require you to install .NET framework 3.5.1 and IIS Web Management Tools as a prerequisite prior to installing the Exchange Management Tool (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354.aspx)
Also, for managing Exchange 2010, you need to install the Management Tool on a 64 Bit version of Windows Vista SP2 or Windows 7. That implies that you wouldn’t be able to manage your Exchange 2010 Infrastructure using 32 Bit Operating Systems.
If this is something that’s bothering you, well, PowerShell can be of great help here. Whether you are running a 32 Bit or a 64 Bit PC or Server, you can manage your Exchange 2010 Servers without installing the Management Tools using PowerShell 2.0.
Note that every Exchange 2010 Server role with the exception of the Edge Server Role leverages PowerShell Remoting. The Remote PowerShell is supported via HTTP to a virtual directory called PowerShell hosted on the Exchange Servers. This contains several modules that perform authentication checks and determines which cmdlets and parameters are assigned to the user invoking the connection. This happens both while running the Exchange Management Shell with the tools installed and when manually creating the remote connection
In this blog post, I will show you how to use the implicit remoting feature to manage your Exchange 2010 Servers.
Prerequisites
You need PowerShell version 2.0 installed on the Endpoint used to manage Exchange 2010 (It can be a Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2003 SP2, Windows Vista or Windows 7, Windows 2008 or 2008 R2)
Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2 have PowerShell version 2.0 preinstalled. For all other versions of Windows, you can download the Windows Management Framework from the link below:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/968929
To verify the version of PowerShell, you can run the following cmdlet
Get-Host
You also need to enable PowerShell Remoting on the Exchange Server. To enable PowerShell remoting, you can use the Enable-PSRemoting cmdlet or configure PowerShell remoting using Group Policies. If you are not familiar configuring PowerShell remoting using Group Policies, watch out for the future posts on this blog where I will cover the step by step procedure to configure PowerShell remoting using Group Policies.
Once you have met the prerequisites, you can start managing your Exchange 2010 infrastructure using the following steps.
Create a PowerShell session object and store it in a variable. In the example below, we are connecting to an Exchange Server (COLFAX.AlpineSkiHouse.com) using the –ConnectionUri parameter.
Now on the Workstation (in this example, I’m using a Windows 7 Enterprise x64 Edition, but this can be any machine running PowerShell version 2.0), you will create a session object as given below
$session = New-PSSession –ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange –ConnectionUri <fqdn of the Exchange Server>
Next, we will import the Session Object
Import-PSSession $session
That’s all. You now have access to all the Exchange 2010 Cmdlets which can be used to manage your Exchange Servers
Now, if you want to provide alternative credentials, you can use the Get-Credential Cmdlet to store the credentials in a variable and supply it as a value to the –Credential parameter while using the New-PSSession Cmdlet
$credential = Get-Credential $session = New-PSSession –ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange –ConnectionUri <fqdn of the Exchange Server> -Credential $credential
Exchange 2010 uses a new feature called Role Based Access Control (RBAC) which defines what administrators can do and cannot do. When you make a remote PowerShell connection to an Exchange 2010 server, the RBAC authorization module in IIS determines which cmdlets and parameters you have access to. Once this information is obtained, only the cmdlets and parameters that have been assigned to your account via an RBAC role are loaded into your PowerShell session using implicit remoting.
To learn more about PowerShell remoting, you can the refer extensive help documentation in the Shell window
Get-Help about_remote