- Are you using Microsoft Search Server?

- Would you like to tell us how it has helped your organisation and why you chose our software (thanks!) over other alternative software platforms?

- Cos guess what we would love to hear your views! Just click on the link below for a very simple web form to start the ball rolling!

I look forward to hearing from you!

Some of you will know the great man Lord Waite (they tell me the House of Lords is considering this upgrade to the existing Mr Waite as I type..) who looks after Windows HPC development alongside a team of merry men. He is currently on bended knee asking for your help; be you a customer or partner to help in checking the new and highly exciting Windows HPC Server 2008. Check out what you need to do below:

Windows HPC Server 2008 Beta Survey

Overview

You’ve been invited to provide data to Microsoft about the beta of Windows HPC Server 2008. Your feedback is valuable and will help shape future versions of Windows HPC Server. Thank you thank you thank you.

In exchange for completing this survey we’ll mail you a copy of the brand new Microsoft Press book, “Windows Server® 2008 Inside Out” by William R. Stanek. This 1500 page book provides detailed information about administering Windows Server 2008. For more information on this book please go to: http://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/11448.aspx#AboutTheBook.

There are 5 steps to completing this survey: 1) Install our beta, 2) Complete our written survey, 3) Provide HPC Server diagnostics to Microsoft, 4) Provide SQM data to Microsoft, and 5) package up and mail the results to Microsoft.

Here is more information about each of the steps:

1. Install the Beta

The Windows HPC Server 2008 beta is available from Microsoft Connect at http://connect.microsoft.com. To sign up for the beta go to http://connect.microsoft.com, click on “Available Connections” and select “Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008 Beta” from the list. Follow the instructions for signing up for the beta.

Install the beta on one or more x64 servers.

Support is provided in the newsgroups at http://connect.microsoft.com. We will respond to questions within 48 hours, and often within 24 hours.

2. Complete the Written Survey

Please complete the attached survey (attachment at the base of this post)

3. Provide Diagnostics Results

Windows HPC Server 2008 provides diagnostics tests to help administrators identify problems with their clusters. Please follow these steps to provide diagnostics results.

1. Start the Windows HPC Server 2008 Administration Console

2. Click on “Diagnostics” in the lower left hand corner of the console

3. Run all diagnostics tests against all nodes in your cluster

4. Copy the results of diagnostics tests into Microsoft Word or a text file.

4. Provide SQM Data

SQM (Software Quality Metrics) is a tool that provides information about usage of Microsoft products back to Microsoft. You may have seen SQM in products like MSN Messenger where you’re asked if you want to participate in the “Customer Experience Improvement Program”.

If your server has Internet connectivity then it will automatically provide SQM data to Microsoft during the beta. You can disable SQM. Please note, SQM is not turned on by default in released Microsoft products. In released products users must “opt-in.”

If you do not have Internet connectivity from your cluster collect the .SQM files from:

%ccp_home%\data\logfiles\

5. Mail Results to Microsoft

Please package up the Survey, the Diagnostics results, and the SQM files in a .ZIP file.

If you were invited to participate in this survey by a Microsoft employee please send the .ZIP file to that Microsoft employee.

If you were not invited by a specific Microsoft employee please mail the .ZIP file to me and my colleague Alex Sutton directly. My address is ryanw@microsoft.com and Alex’s address is asutton@microsoft.com.

Thank you again for taking the time to provide this valuable feedback.

Best regards,

Lord Waite

(Nota Bene: I may have changed Ryan's title for the sake of mirth and merriment he is also known as Group Program Manager – Windows HPC)

Roll up Roll Up all UK attendees of the Seattle SharePoint conference - we have confirmed the venue and timing for the UK soiree - an evening of sophisticated discussion, sporting activity and of course fine food and refreshment!

Date: Monday 3rd March - 6pm until midnight

Location: Garage Billiards click to get the precise map

Dress Code: Whatever you Like :)

Note: Please bring a form of UK Government issued ID

Please come along and meet the UK MOSS team - we look forward to hosting you!

24,000 of our 34,000 Registered Partners currently subscribe to Action Pack, our quarterly toolkits of software and sales and marketing materials. These are created to help our partners stay competitive, meet their sales goals and grow their business. So what is in the new action pack?

New Rules and how you get it:

To enhance the value of Action Pack, from March 1^st, all of those renewing their subscription must take a course and pass an assessment to renew. Partners must take one specific Microsoft online course from the required Partner Learning Centre course list and complete its associated assessment with a minimum score of 70 per cent. To continue receiving Action Pack, partners must pass an assessment every two years. Courses are all 100% subsidised and take no more than 60 minutes. The assessments will take no more than 30 minutes to complete.

If this might be of interest to your readers, in your blog posting would it be possible to highlight the following:

1. All information regarding the Microsoft Action Pack resides at: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/actionpack

2. We have made available to partners a enrolment and re-enrolment guide from: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/actionpack

3. If partners have a query regarding their Action Pack subscription, they should call: 0870 60 70 700 (press option 1)

On March 27, we are holding a 1 day technical introduction for the 2008 version of Windows HPC.  The 1-day jumpstart will be held in London, at our Cardinal Place offices.  The details are here. 

This would be a great opportunity for new or existing HPC partners in the UK to learn about the technical benefits of Windows HPC.  This day is for systems administrators, developers and systems integrators to:

• Discuss clustered computing solution scenarios with Microsoft HPC technology specialists.
• Review the HPC platform technology roadmap for Windows HPC.
• Learn about Microsoft Compute Cluster Pack v2 features and capabilities
• Experience the significant advancements coming in the area of cluster management, scalability and performance
• Explore HPC Development tools and techniques
• Identify integrated solution scenarios leveraging Windows platform technologies.

The agenda is here.

If you think it useful for your contacts, please ask them to register!  This will be the best way for them to learn about version 2 before the official launch, and similar sessions have filled quickly.  It will also be a chance to network with other HPC partners in the UK and is free-of-charge.

Enjoy!