SBS migration guidance, click through simulator and checklist

Just got this note and though I would share it with you, be sure to check out the links to the updated docs!
(this is the MS migration path, not Jeff’s)

Earlier this week we released the SBS migration checklist on to the download center. This checklist helps partners follow the steps needed to migrate customers from SBS 2003 to SBS 2008 and is based on PSS details, additional research into migration, and feedback from yourselves.  Please use it with the document “Migrating to Windows Small Business Server 2008 from Windows Small Business Server 2003” also found on the Download Center.

I want to thank several of our MVPs for supporting this with their real world feedback on this doc

Eric Neale, Susan Bradley and Wayne Small – a big thank you for taking the time to support this effort.

Family, can I ask that you take the time to have a look at this doc, and we’d love your support to get the word out there on this checklist.

Also don’t forget to check out the migration click through as well.

Have a great weekend.  Cheers, Nick

Nick King

Product Manager | Windows Server Solutions Group

Best of Both Worlds ShadowProtect and SBS backup

Well I am a belt and suspenders kind of guy deep down inside. So I have been a bit annyoed that I had to choose between ShadowProtect and SBS Backup. If you read KB838183 it will explain the problem. Well today is the day I said enough (ok so it was really last year, I am recreating this from scraps). So I put together a few scripts and files to ge the job done.

All 4 of these files should live in C:\DHC\Exch or you can modify them to go where ever you wish.

The first one will be saved as DisableExchVSS.cmd
Open notepad and paste the text between the dotted lines into the file
If you use MS CRM remove the “REM”  comment from the 2 CRM lines

———————————————

Rem Batch File to turn Exchnage VSS Writer off
C:
cd C:\DHC\Exch

reg import ExchIS-Disable.reg

REM net stop “Microsoft CRM-Exchange E-Mail Router Service”

net stop “Microsoft Exchange Information Store”

net start “Microsoft Exchange Information Store”

REM net start “Microsoft CRM-Exchange E-Mail Router Service”

———————————————

The second one will be saved as EnableExchVSS.cmd
Open notepad and paste the text between the dotted lines into the file
If you use MS CRM remove the “REM”  comment from the 2 CRM lines

———————————————

Rem Batch File to turn Exchnage VSS Writer on
C:
cd C:\DHC\Exch

reg import ExchIS-enable.reg

REM net stop “Microsoft CRM-Exchange E-Mail Router Service”

net stop “Microsoft Exchange Information Store”

net start “Microsoft Exchange Information Store”

REM net start “Microsoft CRM-Exchange E-Mail Router Service”

———————————————

The third one will be saved as ExchIS-disable.reg
Open notepad and paste the text between the dotted lines into the file
Note the line that starts [HKEY_ may wrap but should be all one line in your file,
all the way to dword:00000001

———————————————

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem]
“Disable Exchange Writer”=dword:00000001

———————————————

The fourth will be saved as ExchIS-enable.reg
Open notepad and paste the text between the dotted lines into the file
Note the line that starts [HKEY_ may wrap but should be all one line in your file,
all the way to dword:00000000

———————————————

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem]
“Disable Exchange Writer”=dword:00000000

———————————————

Now all you need to do is schedule these files to run before and after the ShadowProtect backup.

Before the SP backup runs you need to run our  EnableExchVSS.cmd

After the SP backup runs you need to run our DisableExchVSS.cmd

When I originally wrote this, you needed to do it with task scheduler found in the accessory menu of Windows, but StorageCraft now offers the ability to run commands before and after their process. So use their scheduler to do this.

Start the Backup Wizard in SP and when you get to the Options Screen
Click the Advanced button 

Click Advanced Button

And on the next page
Click on the Commands tab
Then fill in the fields to tell it to run our scripts
Give it a few minutes to make sure the store has time to dismount and mount

Fill in the fields to run our scripts

 That’s all there is to it and you too can have the best of both worlds.

Remember HA’s Motto, You can never have too many backups :>)

Aaron catches up with HA at SMB Nation Spring 2009

Aaron from VARvid had a good time gathering video clips of folks at the SMB Nation Spring 2009 conference. He even managed to grab a quick interview with yours truly :>)

You can see his ORIGINAL POST on his site

Ok before y’all jump on me, yes I know it was not called SBS back then. It was called “Microsoft Back Office Small Business Server” but I have to tell you, when that 120mm camera lens is starring ya in the face, your mind goes blank. This explains why guys standing infront of a firing squad, when asked if they have any last request always ask for something stupid like a cigarette or a blindfold. If they were thinking straight, they would ask for a 1/2 inch thick steel plate :>)

The Elevator Speech Perfected

At SMB Nation’s Spring conference this year, Aaron Booker from VARvid was trying to capture folks off guard to get some spontaneous comments. Watch as he tries to catch Patti of SMB Nation in the elevator and how she hits one over the wall with 3 short sentenances. Way to go Patti, a perfect close.  Harry this gal deserves a raise!  The rest of you go pratice your elevator speech, you never know when or where Aaron may pop up next :>)

Original Post

SMB Nation East Breaks All Previous Records

Well gang I just got back from attending SMB Nation East and I have to tell you, Harry belted one out of the park this year. In spite of the bad economy and the swine flu outbreak, official attendance was 310 beating every other year’s numbers. It was real obvious Harry was listening to the comments from the last couple of events where folks were calling the gatherings vendor fests, not this time! This was pure content, the speakers were not even allowed to make a small pitch or offer anything for sale during their presentations. Maybe the pendulum swung a little too far, but the audience was delighted. Pure academic content, and what better place to acquire it than in a college hall :>)

I spent a good deal of time scooting around the show floor and the halls and everyone was making positive comments. About the only negatives I heard were about the conference being split between floors and a minor mix up with lunch being a few minutes late one day.

I am betting after this showing that the Fall Conference in Las Vegas breaks records as well; I think he could see his first 1000+ conference between the word of mouth after this one and the venue for the next one, smart money is on Harry to break the 4 digit barrior.

Keep up the Great Work Harry and Kudos to the Staff they did an outstanding job.

Return of the HA’s Blog

Well it has been a lonely few weeks since the blog blew up and all the kings horses and all the kings men could not put it together again.

As you may have noticed I started pulling posts out of my newsreader’s cache and putting them up on http://handyandy2.wordpress.com before I realized I they do not allow redirects to it. Well the plumbing is finally repaired and I will re-post the important pages here, over the next few weeks.

Sorry all the old links will undoubtley be broken, but at least the important content will be back.

Where is blog.sbs-rocks.com?

Well a couple of weeks ago the gods of bits and bytes decided to sacrifice my blog for some unknown reason.

All attempts by mere mortals to restore or resurrect it from the ashes have failed.

What you see here is a last ditch attempt to save some of the content from my NewsGator Aggregator thanks to a an idea from the Diva herself. So please be patient as I restore these pages one at a time without losing too much hopefully. And please excuse the dates being completely out of whack.

A Day in the Life of HA

This can only happen to HA

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