Some time ago Jonathan Hambrook has written an article about Designing a new Report in SCOM 2007. Although this is great article you need to have some prerequisites ready to get started with Designing your new OpsMgr 2007 Reports.
Here are the prerequisites:
BIDS is a Microsoft Visual Studio Tool that may be used to develop Integration Services projects, Reporting Server projects, Analysis Server projects and other database projects. BIDS is available in the SQL Server program group after installation.
So you need to install Visual Studio (Express) and SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio.
Installing Visual Studio 2005 or 2008
You can download Visual Studio 2008 Express from here or Visual Studio 2005 Express from here.
Installing SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio
Click on Advanced.
Select Business Intelligence Development Studio.
After installing Visual Studio and Business Intelligence Development Studio you can open the BIDS via All Programs –> Microsoft SQL Server 2005 –> SQL Server Business Intelligence Development Studio.
And after Opening BID you can follow Jonathan Hambrook article to create a Report Model.
I just stumbled on this video from Marie-Pierre Belanger about EMC Smarts and OpsMgr 2007 integrated solution.
Benefits:
Key Technology ingredients:
Source: Wally’s weblog
My good friend and former colleague has updated his Un-trusted domain and DMZ monitoring Guide.
“The previous guide was for Server 2003 and un-trusted domain or workgroup servers with a standalone CA. I’ve added the scenarios for Server 2008 with an Enterprise Root CA for both un-trusted domains and DMZ servers.
One thing I missed when requesting a certificate on Server 2008 was the “Store certificate in the local computer certificate store” option to make the process a few steps shorter. In addition to the Server 2003 Enterprise CA you don't have to create your own template for the client, server authentication. In the Server 2003 Enterprise CA a predefined Gateway server template is present which just have to be activated to use when for client and gateway authentication. The SCOM Gateway client, server certificate can be used for both DMZ and Gateway server scenarios.”
You can download the new Un-trusted domain and DMZ monitoring Guide from his SkyDrive folder. Go to his weblog and click on the link there.
Now I can finally remove the old one from my old weblog ;-)
Source: System Center Forum
System Center Forum had upgraded their website yesterday and it looks great. They are running on Wordpress. Not sure if they were already running on Wordpress but you can see on here what’s new.
One of the new features they are offering is MPNotifier RSS feed. Curious how this one differs from the one I created. Or you can use the MPNotifier on Twitter ;-)
Check out their new website.
Did you ever heard about Twitter? Twitter is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?
More and more people in the System Center world are using Twitter as a means to communicate with each other. The latest in line is the The Manageability Team and according to J.C. Hornbeck why do they use Twitter?
“Well, the main reason is because while RSS and ATOM feeds are nice, with Twitter you can receive updates on your phone, via IM or on the web at places like Facebook. It's much of the same information, it's just now you have more options on how you receive it."
And what I would add is the great way you can respond to Tweets (messages on Twitter) by replying just like emails.
I hope I’ve convinced you to start using Twitter.
What are the steps to get started?
That’s it ;-)
For more info on read the faq on Twitter.
Most important twitter tip make sure that your Twitter settings say "get all @replies". Otherwise you only receive replies from people you follow.
Warning! It’s addictive!
Source: Pavleck.Net
I updated my OpsMgr Toolbox with a new OpsMgr Tool called OpsMgr Alert Closer from Jeremy D. Pavleck.
It takes 2 arguments - your RMS and an optional comment to insert when you resolve the alert. It then connects to the SDK service on the RMS, retrieves all open alerts, then resolves them. And yes, it does ask if you truly want to do this. It’s in beta, so Jeremy would love it if you all could test it out for him. This is a perfect solution to handle those pesky alert storms and another tool in the box.
I’ve downloaded it and I’m going to test it today. You can download it via my OpsMgr Toolbox link.
Today I installed the New Xbox Experience on my Xbox 360 and created a new Avatar.
NXE the New Xbox Experience, that among other things offers 'Avatars'.
Avatars are caricatures of you as a gamer (or what you would like to be seen as) -- which not only appear on your console, but can be your gamer-picture, and even visible on all of your friends' Xbox consoles during their playlists. Read more on All Backed Up
Do you like my new avatar?
Big nose, grey hair, blue eyes. And trying to be youngher than I really am ;-)
Source: MSExchange.org
Rui Silva has written an configuration guide for monitoring Exchange Server 2007 with System Center Operations Manager (OpsMgr) 2007 on MSExchange.org
This is part 1 of this 4-part series. On part 2 they will cover how to enable certificate based authentication for the agent running on the Edge server, since this server is not part of the domain.
I already knew that OpsMgr 2007 R2 Beta R2 was due to come on Connect soon, but now it’s there!
New Features Import Management Packs directly from the MP Catalog New Process Monitoring MP Template Improved Windows Service MP Template New feature to support custom queries in OLE DB MP Template Support for non-Windows Discovery and Monitoring
Setup and Recovery Support for SQL 2008 User Interface and Experience Improved Alert Description customization Improved Dashboard View search and selection New Overrides Summary view Improved UI performance and view loading usability New and Improved Notification Subscription Wizard
Core Product Support for monitoring IIS7 Support large scale monitoring of URLs Improved behavior for Maintenance Mode New support for monitoring logical sets of Performance Counters New support to put a computer and all related objects into Maintenance Mode Reporting Improved object picker in the Report Parameter Header New feature to create Service Level Monitoring Web Console Health Explorer now available from the Web Console
Keep in mind it’s a beta and some things can change in the final version!
Source: Rod Trent on Twitter and Techlog
System Center Service Manager Beta 1 has shipped!
You can download the Beta from Connect: https://connect.microsoft.com/SelfNomination.aspx?ProgramID=2733&pageType=1&SiteID=44
Source: John Baker’s BritBlog
I’m currently building a new demo environment on Hyper-V for the next Public Beta of OpsMgr 2007 R2 and was looking for a fast way to install some new Windows Server 2008 machines.
And today I stumbled upon this article from John Baker.
“Are you working with Hyper-V? Want to save some time creating virtual machines? Then take a look at the Virtual Machine download site, there are two virtual machines available: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Server CORE installation and Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Server FULL installation.
These VHD's are only available in English only and is only for evaluation and testing purposes. Evaluating Windows Server2008 software does not require product activation or entering a product key. Any edition of Windows Server 2008 may be installed without activation and evaluated for an initial 60 days.”
More info on source.
System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 will introduce new and enhanced capabilities including extending its monitoring capabilities to Unix and Linux servers and workloads, the ability to report on service levels across IT availability and performance, enhanced system and web monitoring capabilities, and more.
The Operations Manager 2007 R2 Beta will be available for public download towards the end of November 2008, through Microsoft Connect. Please check back soon for more information on how to obtain this exciting new beta, and see the System Center Blog for announcements and updates.
Read more on System Center Operations Manager TechCenter
Source: Arlindo Alves
Arlindo Alves is posting info on OpsMgr RC2 on his Twitter timeline.
Source: Rod Trent on Twitter
“Come join us at the Microsoft Management Summit 2009 and learn about the latest IT Management Solutions from Microsoft
The Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) is the premier event of the year for IT Professionals, offering deep technical information and training on the latest IT management solutions from Microsoft.
In this tenth-anniversary year, MMS 2009 will be bigger and better than ever. In addition to executive keynotes, Microsoft experts and industry leaders will present more than 100 technical sessions, all packed with demos. MMS 2009 will feature more than 9,000 Hands-on Lab places during the week, most led by experts providing a guided tour of the latest technologies.
MMS 2009 will offer face-to-face access to Microsoft and industry experts through a variety of networking opportunities and in the MMS 2009 Expo, where over 60 sponsors and exhibitors will showcase their latest products and services. This year’s event will be held at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Special room rates have been negotiated at the hotel for conference attendees, details of which are available on the Registration Overview page.”
This year I’m going to MMS again! Can’t wait to see all those Management focused people again.