Where System Builders Talk Shop... : SBS

Q&A from Hosting a Web Site in a Windows SBS 2003 Environment webcast

BOBblog — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 21:41:00 GMT

Below are the follow-up questions & answers from the Thursday, January 10, 2008, webcast “Hosting a Web Site in a Windows SBS 2003 Environment” (http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6740). To download the PowerPoint presentation, please visit BOB Wired at: http://oem.microsoft.com/bobwired.

Q: You didn't use IE7 for your demonstration of Windows SBS 2003 and hosting/publishing websites w/ SharePoint....any pro's/con's we should know about?
A: Because I created a virtualized environment for my demonstration, I hadn’t connected my virtual machines to the Microsoft update site to get the latest updates & patches. However, in the real world I would strongly encourage you to do that. Using the latest version of Internet Explorer is definitely the way to go.

Q: What safeguard steps can be done to protect my IIS, SharePoint, and ISA Server installations prior to attempting an extranet site?
A: Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) is an easy-to-use tool designed for the IT professional that helps small- and medium-sized businesses determine their security state in accordance with Microsoft security recommendations and offers specific remediation guidance, http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/tools/mbsahome.mspx.

Q: Regarding the requirements for upstream bandwidth, how can this be estimated and/or calculated?
A: The bandwidth requirements to support a small business web site are not likely to be too intense, so having a connection that allows your web pages to load quickly in a user’s browser is probably more important than being able to support a very large number of simultaneous users. To calculate the actual data throughput required by a web site, you can use a tool such as AWStats (http://awstats.sourceforge.net/?seenIEPage=1) to analyze your IIS log files.

Q: MSConnect has just recently released a beta for simple SharePoint Extranet creation. Are you familiar with this and if so can you comment on its usefulness in Windows SBS?
A: The Solution Accelerators at https://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=14 are an extremely valuable resource which can be applied to any Windows environment.

Q: How suitable is this environment for e-commerce?
A: Generally speaking, I would not recommend this solution for e-commerce unless the volume of transactions is quite low. The best way to judge would be to look at the revenue being generated by the site and the cost of being offline for any reason. These considerations are likely to justify a more robust hosting solution.

Q: As a novice, I presume each customer's web address has to be registered with Network Solutions or an equivalent service. Any suggestions in this area?
A: That is correct. If your customers have not already registered a domain name, that is certainly something you could offer to help them out with. There are a number of high-quality registrars you could use.

Q: Can shared calendars in SharePoint that are linked to Outlook 2007 be synchronized to mobile devices?
A: Yes, check out http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA100832471033.aspx.

5W/50 Series - Q&A from Configure and Manage Exchange Server 2003 on Windows SBS 2003

BOBblog — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 20:04:00 GMT

Below are the follow-up questions & answers from the Thursday, October 25, 2007, webcast “Configure and Manage Exchange Server 2003 on Windows SBS 2003” (http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6513). This webcast is part of the 5W/50 series of events, check out all of the webcasts and download all of the PowerPoint presentations at http://www.mssmallbiz.com/sbstraining/.

Q: How do I configure Exchange Server 2003 to allow different users in my organization to send e-mails using different outbound addresses? For example, some users with @fabrikam.com and others with @contoso.com.

A: You can create E-mail Address Recipient Policies with different primary SMTP addresses. Modify the policy’s filter rules on the General tab to assign each policy to the desired users.

Q: How do I set up an MX record so my Exchange Server can send and receive e-mail?

A: You need to contact your ISP or whoever is administering the public/external DNS server for your domain and have them first create an address (A) record that points to your server’s public IP address. For example, a host name of mail.fabrikam.com with an address of 1.2.3.4. Then they need to create a mail exchanger (MX) record that specifies that host name. You do not need to modify or manually configure your Windows SBS internal DNS server, but you do need to make sure you run through the Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard (CEICW).

Q: Can I use my Windows SBS 2003 server to host e-mail using Exchange but use a 3rd party to host my web site? How do I do that?

A: Yes, in fact that is recommended in most cases. You need to contact your ISP or whoever is administering the public/external DNS server for your domain and have them create an address (A) record that points to the 3rd party’s web server public IP address. For example, www.fabrikam.com with an address of 9.8.7.6. This address will be different than your mail server’s address (see previous question).

Q: Which takes more disk space, the Exchange information store database or the transaction logs?

A: In most small business environments with a regularly scheduled full backup, the information store will grow to require much more space (up to 75GB with Exchange Server 2003 SP2) than the transaction logs. But if you send/receive a high volume of large e-mails, your log files can become very large as well.

Q: Does message filtering only work with SMTP or also when using the POP3 Connector?

A: Filtering can only be enabled for SMTP.

Q: I subscribe to a mailing list that IMF intermittently blocks/bounces even though I've added the address to the Safe Senders list. How can I get IMF to stop blocking/bouncing that particular mail?

A: You would need to adjust the Gateway Blocking Configuration settings and raise the SCL rating. This would allow messages to be delivered to your mailbox, where the Store Junk E-mail Configuration settings would then be used to decide whether or not to put messages into the Junk E-mail folder.

Q: Can you move the information store database?

A: Yes, please see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/821915.

Q: What is the best practice for migrating archive or PST files for a user?

A: Please see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328871.

Q: What's the typical size of a users mailbox? Is there a maximum size?

A: The default is 175 MB, you can increase/decrease depending on the number of users in your organization and the maximum information store size of 75GB. Please see http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sbs/2003/support/6cf4d82d-db94-4a9e-b954-35a048d850bd.mspx.

Q: How do you view the Archive emails when using that setting with IMF?

A: Messages are archived in the UCEArchive folder. By default this folder is created in \exchsrvr\mailroot\vsi 1 folder - where 1 is the instance number of SMTP virtual server. Also, please see http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2005/07/18/407838.aspx and http://hellomate.typepad.com/exchange/2004/06/imf_archive_man.html.

5W/50 Series - Q&A from Installation and Configuration of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

BOBblog — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 23:42:00 GMT

Below are the follow-up questions & answers from the Friday, October 12, 2007, webcast “Installation and Configuration of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0” (http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6724). This webcast is part of the 5W/50 series of events, check out all of the webcasts and download all of the PowerPoint presentations at http://www.mssmallbiz.com/sbstraining/.

Also, there is a complete step-by-step guide that you can use as a reference to walk through all of the steps that were done during the demonstration portion of the webcast. You can find it at http://oem.microsoft.com/serversource in the Deployment column under Step 2.

Q: Does Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 require any Client Access Licenses (CALs) in any situation, e.g., authenticated external access?

A: For a good overview of practical licensing issues regarding WSS, Windows Server, and Windows SBS, please see http://msmvps.com/blogs/cgross/archive/2005/04/02/40723.aspx.

Q: If an anonymous user goes to the website and goes to a document library with Product brochures, do you have to have SQL Server or Windows SBS licenses to download the documents?

A: No, anonymous access does not require a CAL.

Q: Does using offline files through Outlook 2007 break versioning?

A: No, versioning is handled when synchronizing offline content.

Q: Is Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 a component of Windows Server 2008?

A: Yes, it is an in-box optional component that you can install using Server Manager.

Q: Can the data for SharePoint be stored on a different physical server?

A: Yes, for planning and architecture guides, please see http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/WSS/en/library/ab2bedd4-d12b-4825-9c10-1c5e4079e1c61033.mspx?mfr=true.

Q: Will Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 run on Windows Server 2003 Web Edition and SQL Server Express?

A: The usage of WSS on Windows Server 2003 Web Edition is limited to front-end web serving tasks. The data storage portion of Windows SharePoint Services may not be installed or used on Windows Server 2003 Web Edition. However, the data can be stored on a different server running SQL Server.

Q: Are there Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server VHD images?

A: There is currently a MOSS image, but not one specifically for WSS. However, there are more images being created and posted all the time. Please visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/bb738372.aspx.

Q: If you already have a side-by side web (WSS 2.0), can the other site (not comapnyweb) be upgraded?

A: No, you do not want to upgrade WSS 2.0 to WSS 3.0 on the Windows SBS server because that will break the wizards.

Q: Is the WSS 3.0 use of host headers likely to break a Windows SBS 2003 with CRM Mobile clients installed?

A: As long as the host headers are all unique, there shouldn’t be any conflicts.

More Q&A from a previous webcast of this presentation can be found at http://blogs.technet.com/backroom/archive/2007/08/10/q-a-from-installation-and-configuration-of-windows-sharepoint-services-3-0-webcast.aspx.

Q&A from Windows Small Business Server 2003 Service Opportunities, Part 2 of 2 webcast

BOBblog — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:51:00 GMT

Below are the follow-up questions & answers from the Thursday, September 27, 2007, webcast “Windows Small Business Server 2003 Service Opportunities, Part 2of 2” http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6511). To download the PowerPoint presentation, please visit BOB Wired at: http://oem.microsoft.com/bobwired. Look for BOB Decks: US System Builder Webcast Slide Decks to find a link with a username & password to access a number of BOB Team documents.

We have also announced all twelve winners of the book giveaway in the Windows SBS 2003 Service Opportunities Book Giveaway Winners posting. As always, thanks for attending!

I also wanted to thank our Microsoft partners who participated during the webcast and answer your questions below.

· Karl Palachuk, KPEnterprises Business Consulting Inc., Hardware as a Service

· Dana Epp, Scorpion Software, Security

· Robert Guchee, Parsec Computer Corp., Windows Mobile

· Scott Scrogin, Heartland Technology Solutions, Business Process Improvement

Q: Where can I learn more about all of the events in the 5W/50 series?

A: Please visit http://www.mssmallbiz.com/sbstraining.

Q: Where can I download the PowerPoint presentations for the 5W/50 series?

A: We have created a Windows Live SkyDrive, please visit http://cid-63265f352b9da32c.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/5W50%20Webcast%20Downloads/.

Q: When is the webcast on the Business and Technology Assessment Toolkit?

A: This event is available for on-demand viewing, please visit http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6425.

Q: When is the webcast on Managed Services?

A: This event is available for on-demand viewing, please visit http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6448.

Q: Do you do an assessment first before implementing Hardware as a Server (HaaS)?

Karl: Well, all our clients need to be on our Platinum Managed Service Agreement (MSA) before we'll sell HaaS. So there's a separate process for making sure the entire environment is up to spec. HaaS equipment is all new, and software is all new, so there's no need to add an additional assessment. Taking a step back: Clients do need to have assessment in order to go onto a managed service agreement.

Q: What if the customer decides to end the MSA in the middle of the contract period because they have a change in management, philosophy or just plain think it’s too expensive?

Karl: We have a buyout that is based on a percentage of the original equipment price. Basically, we make that pretty easy. We've only been doing this for 8 months, but so far no problems.

Q: When a technician works on a computer at a customer's site where all the computers are not covered by HaaS, how do they know that it is covered by HaaS and how do they let AR know it was a HaaS service as opposed to a non-HaaS service?

Karl: First, our clients must be on Platinum MSA, so all machines are covered. The only issue would be if there were a hardware problem. We tag the machines with our own asset tags, so it says "Property of KPEnterprises” on the machine, and work gets done under the HaaS service agreement. The tools we use are Kaseya and Connectwise.

Q: Is the MS Financing in your name or in the client's name?

Karl: Financing is in our name. Note: ALL HaaS agreements must be on a credit card. So the client's card gets charged on the first of each month. And we pay Microsoft the same day. So we have our profit in the bank on the first day of the month. I love the first day of the month!

Q: Is depreciation handled on your books?

Karl: Yes. We own the equipment, so both value and depreciation go to our bottom line. This is a good way to increase the measured value of your business: you have assets.

Q: If you own the equipment, are you liable for your customer’s business continuity?

Karl: Yes, to the extent that the HaaS machines are business critical. This is no different from a standard managed services agreement. All of our MSAs cover servers. So we're responsible for uptime companywide to all of our clients. HaaS doesn't change that.

Q: Does HaaS include LOB applications, anti-virus software, etc., and the associated maintenance agreements?

Karl: It can cover anything because we use a formula that allows the client to pick whatever they want and we'll just throw it into the HaaS "magic formula." Basically, we add a premium for the managed service piece and then run a calculation on the financing payment so we get three years worth of payments in 24 months. Year 3 is 100% profit.

Q: Who is the software licensed to? You or your client?

Karl: Software is provided through SPLA. So we are "renting" it to clients. So more details, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/spla/default.mspx.

Q: How do you partner with cellular service providers?

Robert: It’s rather informal at this time, just personal relationships with the business service providers at Verizon and AT&T. We did have them attend and present at our mobility events as well.

Webcast: Windows Small Business Server 2003 Service Opportunities, Part 2 of 2

BOBblog — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:34:00 GMT

WHEN: Thursday, September 27, 2007 9 AM Pacific

WHERE: http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6511

WHAT: During this webcast, we will explore in more depth some of the service opportunities that were identified in part 1 of this series (http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6510). We will also be providing a number of links to resources and materials that you can use to get started in these areas.

We have invited several prominent Microsoft Partners to participate on the webcast, to share their knowledge, insight, and experience to help you get started in these areas:

Karl Palachuk, with KPEnterprises Business Consulting, Inc., will discuss Hardware as a Service, which is a bundling of hardware, software, and support into one monthly payment. Learn how Karl leverages Microsoft Finance to drive more business with his customers using this bundled approach.
Dana Epp (Microsoft MVP), with Scorpion Software, will discuss Security Assessments, the Baseline Security Analysis Tool, and compatible product up-sells in the security space. Learn how Dana has created a tremendously successful business around addressing customer security needs.
Scott Scrogin, with Heartland Technology Solutions, will discuss Business Process Improvement strategies. Learn how to take your relationship with your customers beyond technology point solutions and engage with them on a strategic business level.
Robert Guchee, with Parsec Computer Corp., will discuss opportunities around Windows Mobile, one of the hottest growth areas in the small business market. Robert will share his insights on using mobility services to engage more deeply with your customers.

In addition, we will be giving away SIX FREE BOOKS per webcast from SMB Nation Press, SMB Consulting Best Practices by Harry Brelsford. Six winners receiving one book each will be selected in a random drawing from the attendees who fill out the user satisfaction survey at the conclusion of each webcast.

The Server Accelerator is Back!

BOBblog — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:22:00 GMT

The Server Business Accelerator is back with a choice of great new channel offers, new training modules, and new training incentives.

V2 of the Server Accelerator Program is now live and includes:

· A choice of four new SBS services rebate offers

· Three new training options- great for all OEM partner types

· New training incentives, including up to $50 for the OEM SalesCenter

The Server Accelerator ties together our server training programs with an exciting channel offer program. The program has two separate components:

1. A SBS Services Rebate offer for the System Builder channel

2. Accelerator Training incentive program

SBS Services Rebate Program Overview

When partners sell and deploy Small Business Server 2003R2 between now and December 31^st, they can be eligible to receive up to $325 in Services rebates or a SBS 5-CAL Pack. With these new and richer offers, the partners now have an even more compelling reason to call down to end customers or resellers and push the value of SBS. When partners deploy SBS they have a choice of the following offers:

o Both COEM and ROK licenses of SBS are eligible

o The rebate amounts have been aligned with volume licensing incentive levels to give a “One-Microsoft” message at Distribution

For more information on the Services Rebates go to: www.sbsoffer.com/us

Accelerator Training Program Overview

Partners now have three training options to choose from when getting trained on Small Business Server & Windows Server.

There is Sales & Technical training and the partner can choose which option is best for them (MPU Track, BOB Team Live Webcast Series, On-Demand Study Group).

Partners who complete one of three great training options receive:

· Up to $50 credit for the OEM SalesCenter: Can be used for purchasing SBS polo shirts, Server retail displays, and much more

· FREE Small Business Specialist Community Exam vouchers (70-282 Exam)

Note: Training is not required to be eligible for the rebate program

The Server Accelerator homepage is located at http://www.microsoft.com/oem/english/promotions/ServerAccelerator.mspx

Note for Account Managers: Widespread participation in the V1 version of the training program tripled the ROI of the marketing investment with Managed Accounts! Don’t forget to integrate the Server Accelerator into your account marketing plans.

Sales Team Action Items

Ø Drive partners to promote the SBS Services Rebate offer to their customers or resellers

Ø Encourage redeeming partners to use the incentives to offer free deployment services or free CAL packs to their small business customers

Ø Use the Accelerator program to get your partners and their resellers trained & engaged on Windows Server

Ø Use the training incentives to get partners taking advantage of the server sales tools on the OEM SalesCenter

Ø Integrate the Server Accelerator into your account’s marketing plans to boost your Marketing ROI

Resources Available

BOMs has been uploaded to the Disti Download Page and the PAM Share Site. The BOM includes To-Partner and Through-Partner Banners/Buttons, Email Templates, Flyers, Program Overview Decks for both the rebate program and the training program.

Disti Download Page

PAM Share SBS Services Rebate BOM

PAM Share Server Accelerator Training

Windows SBS 2003 Service Opportunities Book Giveaway Winners

BOBblog — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:15:00 GMT

Below are the twelve winners for the Windows SBS 2003 Service Opportunities webcast series. Congratulations! And be sure to check out the SMB Nation website, www.smbnation.com. You can find a link to subscribe to their newsletter along the left-hand side of the page.

Books will be shipped directly to the winners using the contact information provided when you registered for the webcasts, no other steps are required to claim your prize. The books will arrive within 4 to 6 weeks after the webcast is presented.

Thanks for attending!

Part 1 (Thursday, September 13, 2007)
A. Rugel, Rugel Computer Consulting
J. Hummel, BudgieSoft
B. Weber, Oliver Licensing LLC
P. Fasoldt, SEI Ltd
B. Walter, Resource Optimization Inc.
N. Yang, Grandtech Technology

Part 2 (Thursday, September 27, 2007)
B. Lloyd, Eorld Stuff
B. Wolosky, Mithril Technology
J. Walker, JWalker Inc
R. Brayer, Ron Brayer Consulting
W. Erla, WME Information Systems
K. VanWinkle, FACTS

Q&A from Windows Small Business Server 2003 Service Opportunities, Part 1of 2 webcast

BOBblog — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 19:32:00 GMT

Below are the follow-up questions & answers from the Thursday, September 13, 2007, webcast “Windows Small Business Server 2003 Service Opportunities, Part 1of 2” http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6510). To download the PowerPoint presentation, please visit BOB Wired at: http://oem.microsoft.com/bobwired. Look for BOB Decks: US System Builder Webcast Slide Decks to find a link with a username & password to access a number of BOB Team documents.

We will also be announcing the first six winners of the book giveaway in a separate posting coming soon. As always, thanks for attending!

Q: Where can I learn more about all of the events in the 5W/50 series?

A: Please visit http://www.mssmallbiz.com/sbstraining.

Q: Where can I download the PowerPoint presentations for the 5W/50 series?

A: We have created a Windows Live SkyDrive, please visit http://cid-63265f352b9da32c.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/5W50%20Webcast%20Downloads/.

Q: When is the webcast on the Business and Technology Assessment Toolkit?

A: This event will be presented on September 21 at 9am Pacific, and will also be available on-demand. Please visit http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6425.

Q: When is the webcast on Managed Services?

A: This event is available for on-demand viewing, please visit http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6448.

Q: When considering service opportunities around security, can Microsoft Forefront be used in Windows SBS 2003 environments?

A: Forefront is designed to be installed on a server functioning as an Edge Server running Exchange 2007. It will install on Windows SBS 2003, however, you will not be able to utilize it to its fullest capability. The best scenario for using Forefront Security suite is to install it on an Edge Server that also has ADAM installed. For a more in-depth article, please visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb430746.aspx.

Webcast: Windows Small Business Server 2003 Service Opportunities, Part 1of 2

BOBblog — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 19:27:00 GMT

WHEN: Thursday, September 13, 2007 9 AM Pacific

WHERE: http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6510

WHAT: As a Microsoft Partner, you understand the opportunity around selling server hardware and Microsoft Windows Server products. But that is only the beginning of an on-going and mutually beneficial relationship with your customers. Take the next steps to become a trusted advisor for your clients and advance your business to the next level.

During this webcast, we will discuss the wealth of service opportunities that you can engage in with your customers once they have a Windows Server in place. If you are not already engaged in Managed Services, which is often one of the first service opportunities Microsoft Partners take advantage of, be sure to check out this comprehensive webcast, Introduction to Managed Service. If you’re ready to explore additional opportunities, read on!

Service opportunities can be organized into three general areas: IT, Developer, and Business. The services you pursue will depend on your skills and interests. We will talk about a number of possibilities, including:

Security assessment / Penetration audit (white-hat hacking)
Disaster recovery planning
Windows SharePoint Services customization/development
Developing custom solutions using Microsoft Office
Windows Mobile
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Business Process Intelligence (BPI)
Key Performance Indicators (KPI)
Business and IT assessments (Scorecards)
Training

We’ll also discuss how to leverage the toolkits available from Microsoft to help you identify your clients’ highest priorities. In Part 2 of this series, we will talk with some prominent Microsoft Partners who will discuss how they are making money engaging with their customers in these areas.

Register now and complete the user satisfaction survey at the conclusion of the webcast for your chance to win one of SIX FREE BOOKS from SMB Nation Press entitled, SMB Consulting Best Practices by Harry Brelsford!

Webcast: Installation and Configuration of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

BOBblog — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:16:00 GMT

WHEN: Thursday, August 9, 2007 9 AM Pacific

WHERE: http://www.msreadiness.com/CourseDetail.aspx?id=6479

WHAT: Do you need to get your products or services to market faster? Do you want more flexible, agile business capabilities? According to IDC, "Demand for collaboration solutions focused on streamlining business processes and completing business tasks is increasing."* Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services is a versatile technology that organizations and business units of all sizes can use to increase the efficiency of business processes and improve team productivity. With tools for collaboration that help people stay connected across organizational and geographic boundaries, Windows SharePoint Services gives people access to information they need.

In this webcast, we will provide an overview of Windows SharePoint Services and take a look at its primary features. We will also talk about the business opportunities SharePoint addresses and identify the requirements for a successful implementation. But the real focus of the presentation will be on the installation and configuration of SharePoint—how to get it working the way you want to enhance your collaboration abilities. One key area we’ll explore is providing access to your SharePoint site via the Internet, for both anonymous (public) and authenticated (private) users. And finally, we will examine how to perform some common maintenance and management tasks for Windows SharePoint Services. Using Virtual Server 2005 R2, we’ll demonstrate a complete environment and show you how it all works!

*Source: IDC Report: "Paths to Opportunities with Windows Small Business Server 2003: Customizing Windows SharePoint Services."

Q&A for Adding Windows Vista Clients to Your Windows SBS 2003 Environment

BOBblog — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:04:00 GMT

Hello Everyone, below are the follow-up questions & answers from the Adding Windows Vista Clients to Your Windows SBS 2003 Environment webcast presented on Thursday, June 21, 2007. To download the PowerPoint presentation, please visit BOB Wired at: http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?pageid=4078. There you will find a link with a username & password to access a number of BOB Team documents.

Q: Did you say only 32-bit versions of Windows Vista can use the Connect Computer wizard?

A: No, both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Vista clients are supported. However, when creating Active Directory computer accounts using the Set Up Client Computers wizard, during the mobility options section, you can select to deploy the Connection Manager to your clients—the Connection Manager is not compatible with the 64-bit version of Windows Vista.

Q: What is the best practice about deploying Outlook 2003 with the Connect Computer wizard if Windows Vista is preloaded with Outlook 2007? In other words, should we still install Outlook 2003 using the wizard?

A: No, Outlook 2003 should be unselected during the Assign Applications section when creating the computer accounts on the server using the Set Up Client Computers wizard.

Q: Do these updates to Windows SBS 2003 appear in the normal Microsoft Updates site or must they be hunted down per these links?

A: Currently the patches must be downloaded manually.

Q: When adding Windows Vista to a Windows SBS 2003 domain, how can we configure and push Outlook 2007 down instead of Office 2003?

A: Use the Set Up Client Applications wizard to add the Outlook 2007 application, and then use the Assign Applications wizard to deploy it.

Q: All versions of Windows SBS to date require the user to have "local admin" rights…users should not be required to be local admins. Don't you think?

A: An excellent point, and very true. Unfortunately for current and previous versions, this will remain the case. However, looking forward to Windows Small Business Server codename “Cougar,” this exact issue is being addressed!

Q: Three of my clients will be adding Windows Vista PCs to their network, must these clients also upgrade their Windows Small Business Server 2003 machine to R2?

A: No, however you need to install at least SP1—although SP2 is the latest available service pack and is recommended.

Q: Does the Exchange Server 2003 update to support OWA for Windows Vista clients effect Windows XP clients?

A: No, the functionality of Windows XP clients will not change.

Q: Are there any issues with using Outlook 2007 instead of Outlook 2003, as in Office 2007 is installed on the client?

A: No, Outlook 2007 is fully supported with Windows SBS 2003 and Exchange Server 2003.

Q: How can we set the Administrator to use “elevated” privileges all the time?

A: You can turn off the User Account Control (UAC) feature using Group Policy. See \Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Local Policies\Security Options to set the UAC options. This is, of course, not recommended.

Q: How can I troubleshooting issues with migrating user profiles that use redirected folders?

A: Please see http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/6/1/561c9fd7-0e27-4525-94ec-4d2d38f61aa3/TSHT_SBS.htm. Search the page for “user profiles.”

Q: Are there Group Policy scenarios that have been put together as learning examples?

A: Yes. Please see http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032329674.

Q: Why do Windows Vista connected systems to Windows SBS 2003 take forever to start up? Constantly loading background stuff causes the workstation to not allow for Outlook 2003 or other programs to load.

A: If you are experiencing this behavior consistently (not just the first boot after joining the domain), you may need to look at resource availability—additional memory, a faster CPU, or a faster hard drive. Note that Windows Vista introduced low-priority I/O and several system components take advantage of that, which may result in more continuous hard drive activity. However, applications such as Outlook 2003 have a higher priority for I/O, so they will take precedence over background tasks, for example disk defragmentation or anti-virus scans.

Q: Can you configure the new GPOs from the Windows SBS 2003 server or does it need to be done from the Windows Vista client?

A: In order to use the new XML-based templates, the GPOs must be managed from a Windows Vista (or Windows Server 2008) machine.

Q: I've had trouble using folder redirection with Windows Vista clients to a Windows SBS 2003 server. Do we need to have the patches mentioned during the webcast in order to make it run properly?

A: The patches for updating the Connect Computer wizard do not effect folder redirection. I am not aware of any patches that address issues with that functionality.

Q: What are the effects of having printers published on the Windows SBS 2003 server that do not have Windows Vista drivers?

A: In order to allow Windows Vista clients to successfully use these printers, it is necessary to obtain updated driver files from the manufacturer.

Q: Is there a significant client (speed) advantage to the Windows Vista 64-bit version?

A: Yes. Overall, a 64-bit OS on a 64-bit capable processor does have some performance advantages over 32-bit computing.

Webcast: Adding Windows Vista Clients to Your Windows SBS 2003 Environment

BOBblog — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 01:11:00 GMT

WHEN: Thursday, June 21, 2007 9AM Pacific

WHERE: http://msreadiness.com/WS_abstract.asp?eid=15005649

WHAT: As a computer professional, you understand the benefits that Windows Vista adds to a small business environment. You know that increased security, better manageability, and enhanced productivity will improve the ROI for your SBS customers. If you’ve been wanting to know how to add Windows Vista clients to a Windows SBS 2003 environment, this is the webcast for you! We will identify the server and client-side updates required for joining Windows Vista clients to your Active Directory domain, including the ability to migrate pre-existing user profile information. The webcast will feature a live, step-by- step demonstration of updating Windows SBS 2003, adding computers to Active Directory using the Set Up Client Computer wizard, running the Windows Vista client update, and using the Connect Computer wizard on a Windows Vista client computer.

We also examine common administrative tasks, such as adding new printers, and how Windows Vista’s User Account Control (UAC) affects these tasks. Finally, we explore the new Group Policies in Windows SBS 2003 for Windows Vista clients and how you can use them to manage your mobile and desktop systems.

Using Windows Vista Computers in a Windows Small Business Server 2003 Network

BOBblog — Fri, 25 May 2007 21:33:00 GMT

A great question was asked during one of the SBS online study group which was "How do I join Vista systems to an SBS environment?" We decided to write a step by step article with screenshot on what you need to do to join a Vista system to an SBS network. This article includes patching the SBS server with updates and what steps you'll need to do on Vista.

You can find it on the home page at http://oem.microsoft.com/serversource

Q&A from Session 6 of the 70-282 Online Study Group, Tuesday, May 22

BOBblog — Wed, 23 May 2007 00:09:00 GMT

Hello Everyone, below are the follow-up questions & answers from the Tuesday, May 22, 2007, online study group webcast. To download the PowerPoint presentation, please visit BOB Wired at: http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?pageid=4078. There you will find a link with a username & password to access a number of BOB Team documents. At the bottom of the list, you will find a folder called "2007-May 70-282 Study Group". We will be making each presentation deck available in this folder.

Q: Do we need to be familiar with the Windows SharePoint Service roles for the 70-282 exam?

A: Yes, you must know the different default roles for SharePoint.

Q: If you have added groups to a user, and then run the Change User Permissions wizard, will it reset all permissions and remove the previously granted groups?

A: You have the option to replace or append the existing permissions in the wizard.

Q: After modifying a default user template, does the change become effective immediately for users that were previously set up using that template? If not, what has to happen for it to become effective?

A: Modifying a template does not modify the users that were created using that template. However, you can use the Change User Permissions wizard to update users accounts with the current settings from a template.

Q: Which NTFS permission allow users to delete a file or folder?

A: The Modify permission. For more details, please see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419/.

Q: If a folder is moved to a new partition (causing NTFS inherited permissions to be set), are inherited permissions turned back on for all child folders and files, too?

A: Yes.

Q: Can I update an existing Windows SBS 2003 server to the R2 release?

A: Yes, there is a version upgrade. Please see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/howtobuy/pricing.mspx.

Q: If you upgrade Windows SBS 2003 to the R2 release, are you required to rename the domain to use .pri instead of .local?

A: No, it is not necessary. In fact, you cannot change the domain name with re-installing Windows SBS.

Q: Is there a way to change the domain’s top-level domain from .local to .pri, when upgrading to Windows SBS 2003 R2?

A: No, you cannot change the domain name with re-installing.

Q: Can you use the top-level domain .pri with Windows SBS 2003 versions prior to R2?

A: Yes. There are no restrictions in using the .pri naming convention.

Q: Can we save a group policy object (GPO) or export the settings from one server and import them on another server? If so how?

A: Yes, please see http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver/en/technologies/featured/gp/faq.mspx.

Q: If a file is copied from a folder with very restrictive permissions to a folder with full permissions, do both files (the original file and the new copy of the file) obtain the least restrictive permissions?

A: No. When a file is copied from one location to another, whether on the same or different volume, a new file is created in the destination location. The file inherits the permissions, the Access Control List (ACL), from its parent folder. The original file permissions are not modified in any way. Also note that when a file is moved from one location to another on the same volume, the file retains its security descriptor--only the pointer to the resource is modified. However, when a file is moved from one location to another on a different volume, it acts similar to the copy, except the file is deleted from the source location. The moved file would then inherit the permissions from the destination parent folder.

Q: If WSUS was installed independently on a Windows SBS 2003 system (via download & install), should it be removed prior to installing the integrated version from the R2 supplemental CD?

A: No, that is not necessary. Also note that any custom changes or settings will be retained after installing the R2 Technologies CD.

Q: When using WSUS, do the PC users have to have admin authority for the updates to be installed?

A: No.

Q: I am running a Windows SBS 2003 Standard Edition server and want to upgrade to Windows SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition so I have ISA Server 2004. What do I need to backup to move all the users and settings to the new install?

A: As a best practice, you should back up everything, including the System State. You will also need to install SP1 for Windows SBS 2003. Then you can install the new components from the Premium Technologies and R2 Technologies media that are included with Windows SBS 2003 R2.

Q&A from Session 5 of the 70-282 Online Study Group, Monday, May 21

BOBblog — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:00:00 GMT

Hello Everyone, below are the follow-up questions & answers from the Monday, May 21, 2007, online study group webcast. To download the PowerPoint presentation, please visit BOB Wired at: http://oem.microsoft.com/script/contentpage.aspx?pageid=4078. There you will find a link with a username & password to access a number of BOB Team documents. At the bottom of the list, you will find a folder called "2007-May 70-282 Study Group". We will be making each presentation deck available in this folder.

Q: Is there any way to get the POP3 Connector to retrieve e-mail LESS than every 15 minutes?

A: No.

Q: Is it possible to add external email addresses to an Exchange Server 2003 distribution group?

A: Yes.

Q: Can you host public facing web sites on Windows Server 2003 Web Edition behind ISA Server in a Windows SBS 2003 environment?

A: Yes.

Q: Is the POP3 Connector an exclusive component of Windows Small Business Server 2003?

A: Yes. It is not included in other versions of Exchange Server 2003.

Q: Is the FTP Server available in the Standard Edition of Windows SBS 2003 or only the Premium Edition?

A: FTP Server is a component of IIS, and is available on all Windows Server platforms.

Q: When you use or assign a static IP address in SBS, must you also make a "reservation" in DHCP?

A: No. The more typical approach would be to use an IP address that is part of an exclusion range for the DHCP scope. In Windows SBS 2003, the default scope’s IP address range is 192.168.16.1 through 192.168.16.254. The IP address range 192.168.16.1 through 192.168.16.10 is excluded from automatic assignments, so you would use them for your static IP addresses.

Q: I only have a few Windows SharePoint Services web parts, but accessing the web part gallery takes forever. How can I speed this up?
A: Please see http://wss.collutions.com/Lists/FAQ/DispForm.aspx?ID=378 for some suggestions with this issue.