Wednesday, October 21, 2009

File Classification Infrastructure

Was at a "File Classification Infrastructure" presentation at SharePoint Conference 2009 today.
Especially the topic was about SharePoint and the FileShare strategy from Microsoft.

For once there is proper plans on bring SharePoint and FileShare servers/infrastructre from Microsoft.

Read more from here : http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/fci.aspx

I was told it would go beta in the next few days

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

patterns & practices SharePoint Guidance

Project Description

Microsoft develop guidance to help devs and architects build applications on SharePoint. The second version of guidance expanded coverage to LOB integration, content driven applications, and adding enterprise qualities to your SharePoint applications. The release includes a library of reusable components, a guide, and a new reference implementation of a Partner Portal application. It expands upon the first release which delivered a Training Management application, and guidance around unit testing SharePoint, fundamental design and implementation decisions, and how to setup team development environments with SharePoint.

http://www.codeplex.com/Wiki/View.aspx?ProjectName=spg

Developing SharePoint Applications - from Patterns and Practices

Developing SharePoint Applications
Guidance for building collaborative applications that extend your LOB systems

Summary
The Developing SharePoint Applications guidance helps architects and developers design and build applications that are both flexible and scaleable. It shows developers how to provide IT professionals with the information they need to maintain those applications and diagnose problems when they arise. The two reference implementations illustrate how to solve many of the common challenges developers encounter. One reference implementation addresses basic issues such as creating lists and content types. The other addresses more advanced problems such as how to integrate line of business services, how to create collaboration sites programmatically, and how to customize aspects of publishing and navigation. A library of reusable components helps you adopt techniques used in the reference implementations. The guidance discusses approaches for testing SharePoint applications, such as how to create unit tests, and documents experiences with stress and scale testing one of the reference implementations.

Should You Virtualize Your Exchange 2007 SP1 Environment?

Good place to start with a "checklist" and guide. This scenario applies a lot to what i am doing currently:Branch Office Deployments. Putting virtual servers on branch office with the many tools to assist remote deployments and administration, tremendously helped increase availability and productivity of the folks in the branch office.

Read more from Exchange Team Blog: http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2009/01/22/450463.aspx


Sarbjit

SQL Server Tempdb Usage and Bottlenecks tracked with Extended Events

I find this a pretty good and useful information on monitoring performance in SQL Server's Tempdb.

http://www.mssqltips.com/tip.asp?tip=1853&home

Friday, October 09, 2009

Microsoft Integrated Virtualization ROI Tool

Here is a great tool for ROI calculations just like Branch Office ROI tool i posted about earlier.

This one is the "Microsoft Integrated Virtualization ROI Tool"

The Microsoft Integrated Virtualization ROI Tool was developed independently by ex-Gartner TCO/ROI experts at leading ROI tool developer Alinean, Inc. This ROI tool helps partners and customers examine current production server, development / QA lab, desktop and application virtualization opportunities, quantifying the potential savings, service level and agility benefits, investment and ROI for implementing Microsoft Integrated Virtualization solutions.

https://roianalyst.alinean.com/microsoft/virtualization/

WINDOWS 7 GOVERNMENT-APPROVED

Feds Prepare To Make Leap to Windows 7 -- Redmondmag.com: "Feds Prepare To Make Leap to Windows 7"

Exchange 2010 RTM !!!

You Had Me At EHLO... : Exchange 2010 is Code Complete and on its way to General Availability: "Exchange 2010 is Code Complete and on its way to General Availability"

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Monday, October 05, 2009

Configure a server farm for minimal downtime during software updates (Office SharePoint Server 2007)

This article describes how to update Office SharePoint Server farms with minimal downtime. By following the procedures in this article, you can update servers to add the latest service pack or cumulative update without incurring significant downtime for users. This article describes a step-by-step process for Office SharePoint Server farms that incorporate SQL Server mirroring.

You can achieve similar results on Office SharePoint Server farms that are set up in a clustered server environment.

Web Application Measurements Tool

Check out this tool from Keynote which allows you to monitor your online business performance.
Web Application Measurements Tool: "Application Perspective"

Sunday, October 04, 2009

AvePoint News: AvePoint Introduces Free Tool for Item-Level SharePoint Restores from SQL Server and DPM Backups

AvePoint News: AvePoint Introduces Free Tool for Item-Level SharePoint Restores from SQL Server and DPM Backups: "AvePoint Introduces Free Tool for Item-Level SharePoint Restores from SQL Server and DPM Backups"

This is wonderful to hear. I run DPM and SharePoint in my client's environment and i would love to see how this works out.
Will update in the blog if it really works as mentioned or there is a catch.

An early look at SharePoint 2010 | Windows - InfoWorld

An early look at SharePoint 2010 Windows - InfoWorld: "An early look at SharePoint 2010"

"U.S. Government's Official Website Powered by SharePoint"

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20090928_4383.php?oref=topstory

Microsoft Launches New Open Source CodePlex Foundation : BillS IIS Blog : The Official Microsoft IIS Site

Microsoft Launches New Open Source CodePlex Foundation : BillS IIS Blog : The Official Microsoft IIS Site: "Microsoft Launches New Open Source CodePlex Foundation"

Friday, September 25, 2009

Download details: Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 is the newest version of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit, a Solution Accelerator for operating system and application deployment. MDT 2010 supports deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 in addition to deployment of Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP.


Download details: Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010: "Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010"

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Download details: Office Communications Server 2007 R2, PreCallDiagnostic Resource Kit Tool

Overview
The PreCallDiagTool is an application that reports expected audio quality as it relates to the network effect. The tool should be installed on any desktop or laptop PC that suffers from inconsistent network connection quality. The PreCallDiagTool can provide a quick check of the current network conditions and also preserve a history of quality data to let users profile their network performance over time or other conditions. The tool is particularly useful for home/mobile users and users using WIFI access points

Download details: Office Communications Server 2007 R2, PreCallDiagnostic Resource Kit Tool: "Office Communications Server 2007 R2, PreCallDiagnostic Resource Kit Tool"

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

a useful SQL Server Integration Services site

SQLIS SQL Server Integration Services - SSIS: "SQL Server Integration Services - SSIS"

Pre-Conference session today

Today is the second day of pre-con sessions. It is Greg Low's session. It is going to be very valuable i am sure.



at TechED Australia 2009, GoldCoast




Arrived in GoldCoast yesterday. It was raining in he afternoon but today it is just beautiful with sun out in full force and blue skies.

From my accomodations i can see the beach.



















Monday, August 31, 2009

How to restrict OWA address searches to multiple organizational units

Have you had an issues with OWA and multiple GALs due to the structure of your organisation or hosting environment?
you may find this very useful.

How to restrict OWA address searches to multiple organizational units: "How to restrict OWA address searches to multiple organizational units"

Monday, August 24, 2009

Rubens Barrichello WINS!!!

YES !!! I have supported Rubens all this time. He has come close to winning this year but either the team, his team mate and even himself have failed him, sometimes at the last stages.
He won in last weekend's Valencia F1 race.
http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/8/9794.html

Finally he has done!! I am happy for you.
Let's hope the world championship can be your target now. Not many points behind button.

Sarbjit

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

You Had Me At EHLO... : Exchange Server 2010 Release Candidate Available Today!

You Had Me At EHLO... : Exchange Server 2010 Release Candidate Available Today!:

Love the quote ---> "In fact, Exchange is now is approaching $2B in annual revenues. If Exchange were a standalone business, it would be the 9th largest software company in the world."

Monday, August 10, 2009

SlySoft Download | AnyDVD, CloneDVD, CloneCD, GameJackal, Any DVD, Clone DVD, Clone CD, Game Jackal

SlySoft Download AnyDVD, CloneDVD, CloneCD, GameJackal, Any DVD, Clone DVD, Clone CD, Game Jackal: "Virtual CloneDrive"
From the latest Mark Minasi newsletter, it is mentioned that the ISO mounting tool, Virtual CloneDrive will work on Windows 7 for both 32bit and 64bit.

"Welcome to the Microsoft Branch Office Savings Calculator"

I have a client which is looking at the ROI for deploying servers to their branch office. Right now PCs/Laptop and even VoIP phones from the branch office connects back to servers and Call Manager in the HQ.

After doing a POC for a Branch Office Scenario, the high management did not approve the purchase of servers for the branch office, which happen to be a vessel. :)

I have been told by the technical manager to justify the branch office scenario using some ROI tool.
Searching around and even trying to do my own, i found this tool: The Microsoft Branch Office Savings Calculator. https://roianalyst.alinean.com/branch/launch.html
"The Branch Office Savings Calculator was developed independently by leading IT research firm IDC, and leading ROI tool developer Alinean, Inc. "

Within 30 min i had a cool 87 page reports and the summary one of 9 pages. i think with some more thing customizing my data, i could have some i could hand over to my client and the senior management.

Give it a try if you have a similar scenario.

Friday, August 07, 2009

I have been confirmed for TechED Australia 2009

I will be serving my duties as a TLG (Technical Learning Guide). This is a role created for MCTs and MVPs and have been very popular and successful in many TechEds around the world.

The last time i did work as a TLG was in Orlando in 2007 and Boston the year before that.

If you going to be there, do check out the Technical Learning Centres and the many hands on labs and instructor led trainings. Also don't loose the chance of catching up on Microsoft certifications exams as it would be heavily discounted.

I am presenting at Singapore Windows User Group event

I will be presenting STEALTHbits's StealthAUDIT focusing on Exchange and Active Directory auditing.

Here is the full agenda. http://sgwindowsgroup.org/blogs/swug/default.aspx

Applying Remote Technical Consulting to Your Business

This is a good artcile on building a model and following these best practices for your remote consulting business, you can avoid problems and reduce costs.

Thursday, August 06, 2009

Download details: Microsoft SDL - Developer Starter Kit

Overview
The Microsoft SDL - Developer Starter Kit provides a compliation of baseline developer security training materials on the following core Microsoft Security Development Lifecycle (SDL) topics: a) secure design principles; b) secure implementation principles; c) secure verification principles; d) SQL injection; e) cross-site scripting; f) code analysis; g)banned application programming interfaces (APIs); h) buffer overflows; i) source code annotation language; j) security code review; k) compiler defenses; l) fuzz testing; m) Microsoft SDL threat modeling principles; and n) the Microsoft SDL threat modeling tool. Each set of guidance contains Microsoft Office PowerPoint slides, speaker notes, train-the-trainer audio files, and sample comprehension questions. All materials have limited formatting so that you can leverage the content to achieve broader, enhanced adoption of Microsoft SDL principles in your development organization.

Download details: Microsoft SDL - Developer Starter Kit: "Microsoft SDL - Developer Starter Kit"

If you find Carbonite on your systems...

Carbonite, the consumer/small business online backup company, has struck a deal with Sun to piggyback on Java and offer a free 30-day trial of its widgetry to anybody who upgrades to the latest version of Java or downloads in for the first time.

Carbonite Piggybacks on Java JAVA Developer's Journal:
http://java.sys-con.com/node/1027624

Registration :: Microsoft PDC09

Registration :: Microsoft PDC09: "PDC09 Registration is Open"

Sunday, August 02, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009

Windows Server 2003 Security Compliance Management Toolkit

I have been asked to provide a Windows Infrastructure security audit. The first i looked (besides the SANS.org security policies etc), was the Windows Server 2003 Security Compliance Management Toolkit.

I would be exploring this toolkit in the next few days and write down how a security audit and compliance work can be planned from this tool kit.

Sarbjit

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

I am thankful and humbled to be acknowledged


I got a wonderful email from my MVP Lead.
================================
Hello Singapore MVPs,

The Microsoft Learning Team and SEA MVP Team would like to take this opportunity to call out MVP Sarbjit Singh Gill.

MVP Sarbjit has been a great advocate for the technical community. Just to share some of his initiatives which include helping to promote Microsoft certifications to the community and making of the Voice of the Community video, stepping up to speak and share his expertise for various Microsoft partners/customers and delivering webcasts to help jumpstart MS Certifications to the masses. His great advocacy and support for Microsoft technology and Microsoft certifications has led to many positive feedbacks from both internal and external parties, some of whom came from as far as New Jersey.

Kudos Sarbjit and thanks for going the extra miles!

When will you get Windows 7 RTM? - Windows 7 Team Blog - The Windows Blog

When will you get Windows 7 RTM? - Windows 7 Team Blog - The Windows Blog: "When will you get Windows 7 RTM?"

Friday, June 26, 2009

SIP Trunking and Direct SIP

1) SIP Trunking: this is a solution for the interconnection of an IP-PBX system with the PSTN network over an IP trunk carrying SIP signaling and RTP media (with a range of options). Microsoft participates in the establishment of standard solutions in this domain via the SIP Forum. There is a specific program in the OIP for qualification of service providers.

2) Direct SIP: this is a solution for interoperability of OCS with a third party telephony solution, typically Gateway or IP-PBX. It also uses an IP trunk carrying SIP signaling and RTP media. Microsoft has specific programs in the OIP for qualification of third party gear. The Direct SIP requirements may involve call flows that are more complex/different from the SIP Trunking, with private number manipulation, call transfers, holds on both sides, etc.

Thanks Francois

DMTF : Phone Numbers and Dial Plans in Office Communications Server

DMTF : Phone Numbers and Dial Plans in Office Communications Server: "Phone Numbers and Dial Plans in Office Communications Server"

SharePoint Service Pack 2 Update

Service Pack 2 Update.

The public update for the Service Pack 2 expiration date issue http://blogs.msdn.com/sharepoint/archive/2009/06/25/service-pack-2-update.aspx is now available for download.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

"How we did it"

"How We Did It." This informational blog series is designed to provide a glimpse into the minds who architect and deploy innovative and cool SharePoint solutions.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

THIS IS NOT Best Practices of SharePoint Farm configuring and deployment Part 2 - Installation & Configuration | SharePoint Magazine

This is not a best practise as the poster of the blog has mentioned. There are some statements which are true but a whole other stuff is just plain wrong, or it is now it is done. SO beware before blindly following so called best practises out there on the internet. Here is the article i was talking about ----> Best Practices of SharePoint Farm configuring and deployment Part 2 - Installation & Configuration SharePoint Magazine: "Best Practices of SharePoint Farm configuring and deployment Part 2 - Installation & Configuration"

Friday, June 12, 2009

Updates available for expiration date issue with the evaluation editions of Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 R2 and Office Communicator (OC) 20

Microsoft has just released the following Knowledge Base articles (KB972041, KB972042) to address the incorrect calculations of license expiration dates for Office Communications Server (OCS) 2007 R2 and Office Communicator (OC) 2007 R2 Evaluation Edition. The current expiration dates were calculated based on build time, causing the OCS 2007 R2 and OC 2007 R2 Evaluation Edition to expire after June 13, 2009.

Microsoft has issued the fixes below to correct the issues. By applying this fix, the expiration date will be updated to one hundred eighty (180) days after the initial installation of OCS R2 or OC R2 Evaluation Edition, as stated in the license terms for these applications.

Microsoft encourages its customers to apply necessary updates in their evaluation environment to take full advantages of the evaluation period.

To get the updates packages, please go to:
Office Communications Server 2007 R2Office Communications2007 R2
Or to get your new evaluator edition, please go to:Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Eval
Office Communicator 2007 R2 Eval

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Best Practices for Data Warehousing with SQL Server 2008

Lessons learned in the field and experiences gain, as created the Best Practices for Data Warehousing with SQL Server 2008: "Best Practices for Data Warehousing with SQL Server 2008".

a MUST read for any Microsoft SQL Server 2008 BI pro.

Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Xbox.com | Project Natal

this is going to change how we work, play, live and interact.

One up on Wii.

Xbox.com Project Natal: "No Strings (or Controllers) Attached."