With all of the licensing programs and promotions out there, which ones work together to help save your customer money and also help you make money? Sign up for this webcast presented by Tech Data Senior Product Sales Champion, Patrick Duroseau, and hosted by J.J. Antequino of the Microsoft TS2 Team where we will discuss The Big Easy Offer, Open Value VAR Rebate and more to help “show you the money!”

As a number of folks have mentioned, it's time for you to give it a shot: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/cc184869.aspx

Here are some details:

Brief Description Public Preview Software – Release Candidate 0 Windows Essential Business Sever 2008 is an integrated and affordable solution that offers the Microsoft software midsize businesses require - preconfigured, integrated and manageable from a single administrative console, and at a significant discount compared to standalone products.

Quick Details

• Version: 6.0 Date
• Published: 5/12/2008
• Language: English
• Download Size: 11092.1 MB

Overview Designed and priced for midsize businesses, Windows Essential Business Server 2008 simplifies your daily activities with a Centralized Administration Console that gives you a single point of access to your IT environment. Windows Essential Business Server 2008 also provides an integrated and predictable platform, allowing you to view, deploy, manage, and administer third-party applications from one starting point.

System Requirements

Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2008

Notes: Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Standard Edition is only available as a 64-bit operating system As this is not final release code, you may not install the software in a live operating environment

Processors

• Systems with Single Core CPU - x64 with a 2.5 GHz minimum clock speed
• Systems with a Multi Core CPU - x64 with a 1.5 GHz minimum clock speed
• Systems with Multiple Physical CPUs - x64 with a 1.5 GHz minimum clock speed

RAM

• Management Server - 4 GB of RAM
• Security Server - 2 GB of RAM
• Messaging Server - 4 GB of RAM

Hard Disk Drives

• Operating System Drive Partition – Minimum of 40 GB of free disk space
• Application Data Drive Partition – Minimum of 20 GB of free disk space

This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Miami SBS User Group.  We went over the highlights of SBS and EBS as well as the Big Easy Offer, Open Value Subscription, MS Financing, and MS GearUp.... but we still had the chance to socialize at Cafe Tu Tu Tango's for a bit after the meeting.  Just like all of the other Florida IT groups I've had the pleasure of working with, the Miami SBS Group truly embraces community, collaboration, and comraderie.

If you are looking for more information about the Miami group, send Alex (atunon@athenix-group.com) or Richard (RBlanco@athenix-group.com) an email.

Alternatively (or additionally), if you find yourself a little further north, you can check out the South Florida Technology Network (www.southfloridasbs.com) and the Palm Beach IT Association (www.palmbeachit.com)

And if you're in Orlando or Tampa, look into attending the next meeting of the Orlando IT Professional Association (www.orlandoitpro.com) and the Tampa Bay SBS User Group (http://www.tampasbs.com)

As of March 18, it is available in 5 languages from our download center.

Here are the links:

x86: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b0c7136d-5ebb-413b-89c9-cb3d06d12674&DisplayLang=en

x64: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=874a414b-32b2-41cc-bd8b-d71eda5ec07c&DisplayLang=en

Enjoy!

If you attended our TS2 Events last year, you probably learned about some of the great benefits that come along with a Managed Services Practice. We were fortunate to work with Erick Simpson and Matt Makowicz in developing that content and I'm hoping you all benefited from everything we talked about!

Erick is hosting a live Webinar on March 25th and is offering his "The Guide to a Successful Managed Services Practice" just for attending. During this Webinar, Erick will be joined by Cisco's Sameer Jayakar to go over Cisco's SMB network monitoring solution.

Here's what Erick sent me:

Join me for our next Live MSP University Webinar Tuesday, March 25th, 2008 Join me for our next live Managed Services Webinar on Tuesday, March 25th at 8:00am PST, where our special guest will be Sameer Jayakar, Senior Manager, SMB Network Management for Cisco Systems. Mr. Jayakar will take us on a tour of Cisco's new Monitor Director Managed Services solution and discuss Cisco's Managed Services strategy for Partners. Cisco's Monitor Director enables Managed Services Providers to deliver comprehensive 24-hour remote real-time monitoring and management of data and voice services for SMB customers with 5 to 250 users.

As a special bonus - all attendees will receive a FREE AUDIOBOOK DOWNLOAD OF OUR BEST-SELLING BOOK: The Guide to a Successful Managed Services Practice! - a $59.99 value!

CLICK HERE to register for this Webinar on Tuesday, March 25th, at 8:00am PST.

Here are the details on Eric Ligman's Blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2008/03/10/8126682.aspx

If you're wondering what Open Value Subscription is, please read about it here:

https://partner.microsoft.com/US/40055360?PS=95000124 

Or watch the webcast here:

https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?publisher=12&delivery=243309&site=US&lang=EN

The good news is, we've got some great webcasts to help you pass!  And they are free !

70-282: Designing, Deploying, and Managing a Network Solution for a Small- and Medium-Sized Business

http://www.msreadiness.com/TrainingSearch.aspx?prodid=0&keyword=70-282

70-631: Configuring Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

http://www.msreadiness.com/TrainingSearch.aspx?prodid=0&keyword=70-631

 74-134: Pre-installing Microsoft Products and Technologies

http://www.msreadiness.com/TrainingSearch.aspx?prodid=0&keyword=74-134

Whenever I head out to South Florida, we usually get big turn outs at our TS2 Events in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.... And that should be the case next week and in December.

But NEXT week, I hope that Palm Beach can rival that turn out!

At the Palm Beach TS2 we have a WHOLE day of Partner Goodness for you...  You might as well tell your spouse you're taking a vacation day without him or her :)

From 10-12 AM we will be hosting an MS101 for our broad channel partners.  If you have been wondering what the best way to navigate the Microsoft Partner Program might be, this is the session for you.  You can read more about this and register here: http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/EventDetail.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032358939

All of our MS101 attendees will receive a $10 Chili's Gift Card to satisfy their stomachs before our TS2 presentation starts in the afternoon.. I believe the closest one is about 3.5 miles away on State Road 7.

From 1-5 PM we will hold our TS2 Seminar.  We will be discussin System Center Essentials, Forefront Client Security... AND a section of Building a Successful Managed Service Practice hosted by Matt Makowicz, the author of: A Guide to SELLING Managed Services – faster, easier, & for greater profit

Here's the registration link for the TS2 in Palm Beach: http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/EventDetail.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032346163

After the TS2 Seminar we'll all head out to a restaurant where I will treat you to some appetizers.  You'll also have the treat of having Matt there to talk with some of you one-on-one in a less "formal" setting :)  We'll anounce WHERE we'll end up at the TS2 Seminar itself. 

But if you have suggestions, please ping Dave O'Keefe and think about joining the Palm Beach IT Association.  The association's website is: http://www.palmbeachit.com

=======

Miami Partners: Fear not!  Matt will also be in Miami to deliver his Managed Services methodology at the TS2 on Wedensday.  Here's a link to register for that event:  http://msevents.microsoft.com/cui/EventDetail.aspx?culture=en-US&EventID=1032346160

I know it was a couple of weeks ago, but I've been traveling so much, I haven't had a chance to write up a blog entry :(

Although I've been on the TS2 team for a few years, this was my first time to check out SMB Nation in person!  I was definitely impressed by the number "Who's who" of  SBS'ers in attendance.  If there is any place for a potential or current Small Business Specialist to network, this is it!

If you haven't been to SMB Nation or if you don't even know what it is, please check out http://www.smbnation.com.  Here's what the SMB Nation Team has to say about it:

"SMB Nation 2007 is the fifth annual edition of the world original and largest SMB channel partner-focused conference. This gathering is essential to all IT consultants that serve small- and medium-business (SMB) customers. This is THE annual convention for Small Business Specialists, registered partners, TS2 attendees, resellers, SMB consultants, VARs and VAPs. It’s also THE event for those who want to become Small Business Specialists."

I helped to host a session on Microsoft Office 2007 Small Business Edition.  I hope that those that attended gained some value from what I spoke about.  I always feel that if someone comes to a TS2 Seminar or any of my events, and learns just ONE thing that helps them make more money, it was time well spent :) 

Here's a link to the deck I presented (hosted in PDF format by SMB Nation): http://www.smbnation.com/SMB%20Nation%202007%20Fall%20Conference/PDF-Videos/PDFs/Session%206D%20Office2007SBE.pdf

At SMB Nation, I also had the opportunity to meet Erick Simpson in person (Finally!).  He has just recently published a new book called "The Best I.T. Sales & Marketing Book Ever!"  I haven't read it yet, but as I said about my own TS2 Seminars.... If I learn just ONE thing in this book that helps me generate more revenue, it was worth it!  And if Erick's Managed Services guide book is any indication, I'm sure this one will be worth it ;)  You can read more about Erick's books at http://www.mspu.us.

Well I just got back to Orlando from Sarasota.... I didn't run into any traffic on 75 or I-4.... Yay!

I just wanted point everyone to the Remote Operations page on the partner site: https://partner.microsoft.com/global/productssolutions/servers/systemcenter/remoteoperationsmanager

Also, just to reiterate that you CAN be a registered partner and still be eligible for ROM:

"Enroll in the Microsoft Partner Program. You must be either a Microsoft Certified Partner or a Registered Member of the Microsoft Partner Program. If you are a Registered Member, you must also enroll in the Microsoft Hosting Program. Each of these programs offers unique benefits to members"

You can read more about this at: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/spla/default.mspx

===========

For those wondering about Forefront Client Security pricing, here's a great link: http://www.microsoft.com/forefront/clientsecurity/howtobuy/default.mspx

See you all next time!

A big thanks to the TS2 attendees in Norfolk!  It was my first time in Norfolk, and had a great time even thought I was only there for about 24 hours :)

The night before the event, a few of us went to a great Indian restaurant called Rajput Indian Cuisine (http://www.rajputonline.com).  Highly recommended even for those "beginners" out there :)

Alot of you have been emailing me asking about the New Client Savings Spreadsheet that will help you show your worth to potential clients.  I have forwarded your requests onto Erick Simpson, but if you would like more information about his Managed Services program or would like to get the spreadsheet from him, his email address is: esimpson@ienterprise.us

I hope you enjoyed our TS2 discussion this quarter... and although Steve Deming will probably be presenting to you next time, I look forward to meeting you all again!

Thanks!

J.J.

Great news for all of those partners that are looking to get certified!

My only ask is that you only use this code and offer if you are serious about getting certified.  The exam vouchers expire at the end of June and I would hate to have the voucher go unused when another partner could have used it :)

EDIT:  If you are also interested in becoming an SBSC (Small Business Specialist), "Technology Specialist: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuration" (also known as 70-631) will fulfill the testing requirement!

Thank you everyone!

How?

Need Training First?

Let us know that you passed the exam and receive a polo shirt too!

You are probably familiar with Remote Web Workplace, and have used or heard about Terminal Services, but if you want to learn more about hosting applications or offering your users the ability to work remotely, you’ll definitely want to check out these TS2 hosted webcasts.  Along with a TS2 Presenter, you will hear directly from Augie Gonzalez who is the Senior Manager for Product Marketing at Citrix!

Citrix Access Essentials can enhance Terminal Services experience in many ways that your customers will find beneficial.

If you are a Microsoft Partner interested in learning how to position and sell Citrix Access Essentials with a Microsoft Solution, you’ll definitely want to check out the events entitled: Web-enable  Line of Business Applications Automatically with Small Business Server and Citrix Access Essentials

After you’ve learned all the benefits and features of Citrix Access Essentials, I’m sure you’ll want to know all of the technical details of putting together a Citrix Access Essentials and Small Business Server solution.  You’ll learn all you want to know in the events entitled: Citrix Access Essentials and Small Business Server – Behind the Scenes

When you attend, you will be entered in a raffle for a full copy of Office 2007 Professional!

Follow this link and register now!

http://www.ts2seminars.com/main.aspx?cat=events&p=webSeminars

I hope you learned alot because I know I did!

Jessica has already kicked off the process to get the Licensing PowerPoint uploaded to the Partner Portal and it should be up shortly.  Please keep your eyes posted here for the link... I'll have it up here as soon as I get it.

Thanks!

We have teamed with Ingram Micro, Tech Data, and Software One to create a series of Licensing Bootcamps - just for our Small Business and Mid-Market Partners!  In these half-day, interactive sessions, you'll learn how to earn additional income and expand your services business!  Partners that have attended these events in other areas have found them extremely beneficial, and I know you'll walk away with new knowledge that you can immediately use to grow your business.  Seating is limited, so please don't miss your opportunity to attend. 

To register, either click the appropriate link below, or go to www.microsoft.com/events<http://www.microsoft.com/events, and search and the appropriate event ID above.  Did I mention that one lucky attendee at each event is going to walk away with a ZUNE?

* 4/3/2007 - 1pm-5pm - Miami, FL

* 4/4/2007 - 9am-1pm - Orlando, FL

<http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032333212&culture=en-US> (Event Code# 1032333212)

* 4/5/2007 - 1pm-5pm - Tampa, FL

<http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032333216&culture=en-US> (Event Code# 1032333216)

* 4/10/2007 - 9am-1pm - Jacksonville, FL

<http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032333217&culture=en-US> (Event Code# 1032333217)

* 4/17/2007 - 1pm-5pm - Birmingham, AL

<http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032333220&culture=en-US> (Event Code# 1032333220)

* 4/18/2007 - 1pm-5pm - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

<http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032333222&culture=en-US>  (Event Code# 1032333222)

* 5/1/2007 - 1pm-5pm - Pensacola, FL

<http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032333230&culture=en-US> (Event Code# 1032333230)

* 5/2/2007 - 11am-3pm - Jackson, MS

<http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032333232&culture=en-US> (Event Code# 1032333232)