Month: June 2005

With official support for Windows 2000 ending June 30th, 2005 Microsoft is cramming to make the most of it’s final days, or so it seems. Just released:   Microsoft Security Advisory (891861) (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/891861.mspx) Release of Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4)   Just in time. Here is the link to the KB http://support.microsoft.com/kb/891861 which will allow you to download the rollup.   Notice that this is a rollup; service packs for Windows 2000 are a thing of the past.   Do you think Microsoft is trying to get everyone on Windows Server 2003 or what?

Dell only supports Open Manage 4.4 (http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/type.aspx?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz&SystemID=PWE_PNT_P3C_2850&category=0&os=WNET&osl=en&deviceid=2331&devlib=36) BEFORE you install Windows Server 2003 SP1. Read the FAQ first – http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1092292&c=us&l=en&s=biz&cs=555 Time to test this out on a Dell 2650. Dell says to upgrade to 4.4 before you install SP1, when I tired to upgrade, Open Manage wanted a full uninstall of 4.3 (this includes Broadcom & Intel support if installed), reboot, installed Dell Open Manage 4.4, rebooted, tested Open Manager – everything is working so far. Dell also says that you may get an error – http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=TT1092326. Though I have thankfully not seen this error – YET! Too bad the … Continue reading Dell Open Manage 4.4 and Windows Server 2003 SP1 – Help and Support is uninstalled

Rant: Is Google trying to be the next Microsoft? Have you seen http://video.google.com/video_download.html yet? Google has an ever growing number of tools and services. When is the desktop OS due out? I know several of the Google products/services are in beta, but still. Gmail (https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=mail&passive=true&rm=false&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2F%3Fui%3Dhtml%26zy%3Dl) is way better then Hotmail will ever be. Google Groups is a must have (http://groups-beta.google.com/grphp). Froogle is gaining momentum (http://froogle.google.com/frghp?hl=en&tab=gf&q=). And who could live without the latest Google Toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com).   Windows: Windows 2000’s Demise: Greatly Exaggerated? – Say what you will, extended support is still not the same level. You have 48 hours to … Continue reading Rant, Windows, Exchange, LCS, XP, VS

Support WebCast: Windows Server 2003 Clustering: New Features http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810220 Good stuff 🙂 They are not new anymore, but they still might be new to you!   TechNet Webcast: A Sneak Peak at the Future of Server Clustering (Level 300) http://www.microsoft.com/events/EventDetails.aspx?CMTYSvcSource=MSCOMMedia&Params=%7eCMTYDataSvcParams%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ID%22+Value%3d%221032271683%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22ProviderID%22+Value%3d%22A6B43178-497C-4225-BA42-DF595171F04C%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22lang%22+Value%3d%22en%22%2f%5e%7earg+Name%3d%22cr%22+Value%3d%22US%22%2f%5e%7esParams%5e%7e%2fsParams%5e%7e%2fCMTYDataSvcParams%5e I know the URL is long and mighty, but this session is by someone mighty – Elden Christensen, Program Manager, Windows Server Clustering , Microsoft Corporation. Elden is the man at Microsoft when you want to talk clustering. Don’t miss this session.   Support WebCast: Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Clustering http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325106 So nice they have updated this one … Continue reading Clustering webcasts you may have missed…

Exchange: ExBPA v2.1 Released – The latest update is cluster aware now J YES! http://blogs.technet.com/exchange/archive/2005/06/24/406846.aspx   Lookout v1.2 – I use this and love it! http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=09b835ee-16e5-4961-91b8-2200ba31ea37&displaylang=en   SQL Server 2000 Report Pack for Microsoft Exchange http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=108c2b01-2cc9-4a84-a669-eb22533fa5e2&displaylang=en   Scripting Exchange Using VBScript and ADSI (Part 3) http://www.msexchange.org/articles/Scripting-Exchange-VBScript-ADSI-Part3.html   Configuring Exchange SMTP Gateways at Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=85dc356f-301b-4e61-b239-870047251997&displaylang=en   Security: Deploying PKI Inside Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=46ca7043-0433-4140-853a-05f01430a30d&displaylang=en   Microsoft Begs To Be Hacked http://www.newsfactor.com/story.xhtml?story_title=Microsoft_Begs_To_Be_Hacked&story_id=36563   Microsoft® Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) – Update which makes it good until Dec 31, 2005. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=321cd7a2-6a57-4c57-a8bd-dbf62eda9671&displaylang=en   Overview of Information Security at Microsoft http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=b0de3b24-46ca-49f4-bead-6e9fbd82b8e9&displaylang=en   Windows: Service Pack 1 for 2003 continues … Continue reading Exchange, Security, Windows, LCS, Live Meeting, SMS, SPS, Misc.

Merriam-Webster defines a cluster as (http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary): “a number of similar individuals that occur together: as a : two or more consecutive consonants or vowels in a segment of speech b : a group of buildings and especially houses built close together on a sizable tract in order to preserve open spaces larger than the individual yard for common recreation c : an aggregation of stars or galaxies that appear close together in the sky and are gravitationally associated”   Microsoft defines a cluster with one of 4 different definitions:        High Performance Computing (HPC)        Component Load Balancing        Network … Continue reading The State of Microsoft Clustering Today…

Exchange: Business Contact Manager Update for Outlook 2003 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3aec8b42-6dc5-4922-9dfb-1c82237d6b62&displaylang=en Multi-site Data Replication For Exchange Server 2003 – interesting read. http://blogs.technet.com/exchange/archive/2005/06/15/406437.aspx How to Set Size Limits for Messages – Pretty simple stuff… http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Set-Size-Limits-Messages.html Baseline BIS TCO Assessment – v3 – For Windows & Exchange migrations http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=ba662d64-0f48-4122-b974-9d9103300641&displaylang=en SQL: SQL Server 2005 CTP June 2005: Books Online http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=f0d182c1-c3aa-4cac-b45c-bd15d9b072b7&displaylang=en Windows: Deploying Microsoft Windows Server Update Services http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=e99c9d13-63e0-41ce-a646-eb36f1d3e987&displaylang=en Windows 2000 Still Dominates Enterprises – DOH! Support runs out in 14 days folks, its time to move on… http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=164303033 Interesting information about SP1 for 2003 http://www.tokeshi.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3941 Security: The Services and Service Accounts Security Planning Guide – … Continue reading Exchange, SQL, Windows, Security, SBS, RMS, News

I have a discount code that I received at TechEd. If you want the code, just drop me a line.   Update – This code no longer works. Check back in the future because to do get more discounted or free stuff.

I know it’s been a few weeks, but my travel schedule, vacation and TechEd all got in the way…   Exchange: The Cliff Notes on System Attendant (MAD.EXE) – Great explanation. http://blogs.technet.com/exchange/archive/2005/06/09/406137.aspx   Demystifying The Exchange Dial-tone Restore Method (Part 1) – Cool. http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Exchange-Dial-tone-Restore-Method-Part1.html   Demystifying The Exchange Dial-tone Restore Method (Part 2) – Cool, part 2. http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Exchange-Dial-tone-Restore-Method-Part2.html   Optimizing your Exchange Server 2003 Deployment using Exchange Best Practice Analyzer 2.0 – I simply the concept of this tool, and I can’t wait until every Microsoft product has one just like it! Way to go! http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Optimizing-Exchange-Server-2003-Deployment-Best-Practice-Analyzer-2.html   Disk Geometry – … Continue reading Exchange, Windows, Security, ISA, SQL, LCS, XP, Virtual PC/Server, Office, SMS, SBS, Misc, News

If you have not been to a Microsoft conference or event, here is what you missed at last weeks TechEd 2005 – Orlando, Florida…   June 5, 2005 Day 0 I first registered to get my badge for the event. Doing this during the week can take as long as 2 hours, so getting in early is a great idea.   I also get the layout of the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), which is huge: 3 million square feet for the North and South building which was 100% occupied by TechEd. 950,282 square feet of Exhibition Space. 94 break … Continue reading TechEd 2005 Recap