Journeys of a cranky community organizer..
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  • SBS2011 shows it’s face today

    Posted on December 17th, 2010 HandyAndy 1 comment

    Well if you have an MSDN or TechNet Plus Subscription you can now get your hands on SBS 2011 Standard. The wait is finally over!

    SBS 2011 Standard now on MSDN and TechNet Plus

  • Finally we can talk, Storage Server R2 Essentials Announced

    Posted on November 8th, 2010 HandyAndy No comments

    Well it has been the best kept secret at Microsoft for years, but this morning they announced Windows Storage Server R2 Essentials, what is it you ask, think Windows Home Server backup functionality capable of joining a domain and you get the basic idea. Yes a lot of you (and me as well) have been begging Microsoft for this product and finally they are delivering it. Code named Breckenridge for the last year or so and now part of the Storage Server Family.

  • SBS vNext names and dates announced

    Posted on November 2nd, 2010 HandyAndy No comments

    This morning on the SBS BLOG Microsoft announced the offical names Windows Small Business Server Essentials for what was known as Aurora and Windows Small Business Server Standard for what was referred to as SBSv7, also a Premium add-on that will work for both versions was announced.

    Standard should be out before the end of the year and Essentials in the first half of 2011 according to the post. I have been using them in the beta and am really looking forward to being able to roll them out to my clients. It has been a while since we had cool new stuff like this in the SBS Space!

  • Potential iPad Killer Sighted DownUnder

    Posted on October 3rd, 2010 HandyAndy 3 comments
    Could this be the iPad Killer

    Could this be the iPad Killer

    Saturday I was doing research on Facebook (ok wasting time if you want the truth) and I noticed a status update by my friend and fellow SBS-MVP Wayne Small pointing to HIS BLOG POST  talking about a potential iPad Killer. Well I had been thinking of going over to the dark side since seeing WHS-MVP Grey Lancaster’s new iPad a couple of weeks ago. But as so many of the folks that know me have said, I have the Microsoft Kool-Aid running through my veins instead of blood and I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Boy am I glad I waited! This baby has all the things the iPad was lacking for me, USB Ports, Mini VGA Out, Win7 Operating System and the Right Click Functionality that HA can’t live without.

    The more I read about the TEGA-v2 the more excited I got. Wayne was going to be bringing one to SMB Nation with him, but I couldn’t wait, so I pinged Wayne and asked him to introduce me to Hugo Ortega, Mr TEGA. I got in touch with him and ordered a sample for myself as well. If you are curious and will be at SMB Nation later this month both Wayne and I will have them with us, you can take a look at the first two to be in North America although one will be leaving with Wayne when he goes home. And if you ask us, we will have some special discount coupons while they last. You will be able to find me most of the time hanging around the GFI Software booth, stop by and take a look.

  • #8 Just in from Microsoft

    Posted on October 1st, 2010 HandyAndy 1 comment

    Just heard I have been awarded the Microsoft MVP for Small Business Server for the eighth year running. I would like to thank all of you that belong to the SMB Community for helping to make it something I enjoy being part of and supporting so much to enable me to qualify for this award repeatedly!

    Thanx for your support,
    HA

    HA Awarded for 8th consecutive year

    Great News in the Inbox this morning

  • SBS 7 Install

    Posted on September 23rd, 2010 HandyAndy 3 comments

    Well first impression of the SBS 7 install is wow, it is quick. It took under 2 hours which was less time than it took to download it. So give it a try, it takes but a few minutes of your time, only two or three screens of info and it pretty much runs on autopiliot. You can get your own copy at the Connect Website

    Wow that was quick!

     More to follow later after I play with it a bit, and if you are in the Triad Area I will be showing some of the new features at the next meeting of the Triad SBS Group.

  • SBS 7 Public Preview Ready for Download

    Posted on September 21st, 2010 HandyAndy No comments

    Seen today on the SBS Team Blog at http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2010/09/21/announcing-the-availability-of-windows-sbs-7-preview.aspx

    Begin Quote

    I am very pleased to announce that Windows Small Business Server “7” (SBS7) Public Preview is available for download.

    Built on Windows Server® 2008 R2, this exciting new edition of the all-in-one solution server for small businesses will include Microsoft® Exchange Server 2010 SP1, Microsoft SharePoint® Foundation 2010, and Windows Software Update Services. Small business customers will find significant security and management enhancements over previous versions, as well as much richer features for providing file-and-print, email and Internet services to employees.

    Together with Windows SBS code name “Aurora”, available to download here since August the 16th, SBS7 is dedicated to providing small business customers with a highly manageable, low complexity solution to help cut costs, save time and be more efficient. SBS7 offers on premise email and collaboration suite functionalities that Aurora’s customers can add through online services.

    SBS7 also offers a great opportunity for small businesses with prior versions to upgrade their servers and to simultaneously take advantage of the advancements in security, reliability, and connectivity technology. For this reason, SBS7 offers enhanced migration tools, extensive pre-migration checks, and prescriptive guidance included in the software.

    Furthermore, with SBS7, small businesses gain the freedom to securely access all of their communications from virtually any Web-browser or mobile device — getting more done wherever they are with the integrated Exchange Server 2010 and Microsoft Outlook® Web Access (OWA) capabilities.

    Customers using SBS7 will also have the opportunity to view, edit, and share Microsoft Office documents online with SharePoint Foundation 2010 and Microsoft Office Web Apps. As the online companion to Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel(R), Microsoft PowerPoint(R), and Microsoft OneNote(R), Office Web Apps gives users the freedom to access documents from virtually anywhere.

    To learn more about Windows Small Business Server “7”, you can visit our SBS site.

    The preview release is available on our Connect site and can be downloaded now. If you haven’t already signed up for the preview, you can visit our Connect site and get signed up. We have also setup a Connect feedback form to capture your reaction to the product, bugs and suggestions as well as a newsgroup where you can discuss the preview with other beta testers.

    All the pieces are in place, so don’t wait any longer. Download the preview and start testing with us!

    Kevin Kean
    General Manager
    Windows Home and Small Business Server team

    End Quote

  • SMB Nation Last Minute Content Added

    Posted on September 14th, 2010 HandyAndy 1 comment

    Just in from Harry 

    SMB Nation Fall 2010 Hybrids Happen Here!

     

    BEST PRICING EXPIRES IN DAYS!
    SAVE OVER $300!

     

     Time is Running Out for the ULTIMATE Discount!
    Only days left to save over $300!!


     

    Folks weve just added more value to the 8th Annual SMB Nation Fall 2010 conference with amazing new content:
    GS108: Independent Deep Dive: SBS 7 and Aurora
    GS109: MVP GeekSpeak Panel
    GS110 Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My: Making sense of server offerings in the SMB space
    BS106: MSP Future Speak A Panel Discussion (Speaker: Joe Panettieri, Josh Peterson, David Schafran, George Sierchio)
    BS110: The Greatest Opportunity Health Care IT in 2010/2011

    View ALL of the content HERE and see over 30 sessions!

    Its a “hybrid world” in SMB IT today! SMB Nation Fall 2010 is where the cloud meets on-premises IT. /span>This 8th annual community confab brings together long-time community members including MVPs with day-to-day computer guys and gals for a three-day weekend of professional development. This is the one conference you should attend to prepare yourself to grow into the next generation of SMB technology to better serve your customers.

    Attend over 30+ educational sessions in GeekSpeak, BusinessSpeak, & CloudSpeak tracks to learn about:

    What’s in store for 2011?

    Health care technology (the time is now deadlines approaching DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS)

    Hybrid sever solutions the reality of today and immediately seize the opportunity

    Pivot to cloud computing solutions be an early adopter and profit!

    Achieve new, deeper levels of customer intimacy

    Next generation sales methodologies new speakers, new thinking, new and improved results

    Much MORE from the industry’s TOP SPEAKERS and BEST TRAINERS. You will get to learn directly from over 20 of the industry’s most experienced, influential and well-known experts in the SMB space.

    “How To” knowledge you can use the following week to make more money!

    To be honest changing times require changed behaviors. Consider this your Executive Pocket MBA weekend to improve yourself and elevate your A game in a hybrid world.

    Early Bird & Alumni Rates expire September 15th so do not delay!

    Sign-up at www.smbnation.com

    See you October 22-24, 2010 in Las Vegas!

    PS – Don’t forget our infamous “Hallway 101” peer-to-peer networking where life-long connections are made and the real knowledge transfer occurs! Think of it as an instant peer group!

    PPS – Don’t forget our amazing Pre-Day events from leading experts!

     

    SMB Nation, Inc. 12715 Miller Road NE Suite 202 Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

  • Upcoming Triad SBS Group Meeting

    Posted on August 25th, 2010 HandyAndy No comments

    Our Next Meeting is 6:00pm September 7, 2010

    Coming up for our September 7th meeting (Happy Birthday Lynne) we will have Jason Martin of Zenith InfoTech. He will be going over their Managed Services with bundled NOC, Business Continuity, and the launch of their new Smart Style Cloud Computing solution. He will be doing a high level short PowerPoint presentation and then would like to lead a open discussion about the changes in the industry with peers and even competitors. Jason feels this is a very necessary exercise to do from time to time. In addition he is hoping to stir some talk about the cloud movement, and our views on where it is going.

    Jason and Zenith InfoTech would also like to spring for dinner, so we will be bringing in Pizza and Sodas, so please drop me a note and let me know if you are planning on attending, so I can get a reasonable head count.

    Coming up for the October 5th meeting I will be doing a walkthrough of the Aurora install process, you did hear the public beta has been released right? You can signup at http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/beta.aspx

    Then on November 2nd we will have a demo of Eriq Neale’s favorite new mail server Kerio, details to follow later.

    Good info in the Cyber Slacking post at http://www.gfi.com/blog/control-cyber-slacking/

    Keep an eye on the ever growing SBS 2008 Build Doc, we are up to revision 78 now, http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/small-business-server-2008-build-document.aspx

     Upcoming FireStarter Events this year, http://blogs.technet.com/b/yungchou/archive/2010/08/18/2010-technet-firestarter-events.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage Charlotte is the closest offering unfortunately.

    Free Windows Server 2008 R2 E-Book Offer http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/training/windowsserver.aspx#offers
    Learn about the features of Windows Server 2008 R2 in the areas of virtualization, management, the Web application platform, scalability and reliability, and interoperability with Windows 7. Download Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2, written by industry experts Charlie Russel and Craig Zacker along with the Windows Server team at Microsoft.

  • Triad SBS Group Meeting Aug 3rd

    Posted on July 27th, 2010 HandyAndy No comments

    Our Next Meeting is 6:00pm August 3, 2010

    The first ever Windows Home Server MVP Grey Lancaster (Grey was also one of the first batch ofSBS MVPs as well, but recently jumped ship to WHS) will be doing a demonstration of Microsoft Windows Vail (the next version of WHS) and Microsoft Windows Aurora (the recently announced cross-premise SBS family addition) for our August meeting on 8/3/2010. I have seen them both and they have some really cool new features, you will not want to miss this meeting. Especially if you missed WPC!

    Make sure to sign up for the betas, details at http://forums.redmondmag.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?tid=7184&pn=1

    Keep an eye on the community build doc for SBS 2008, http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/small-business-server-2008-build-document.aspx

    Also time permitting I will give you a peak at the new Take Control feature in MAXrm, which gives you the ability to remote into attended or unattended workstations and servers with a couple of clicks of your mouse.

    Meeting Space compliments of