October 2005 - Posts
For the last couple of days, I have been working to set up a Virtual PC of SBS 2003 so I can install and play with the CRM 3.0 beta. I have had some issues doing this on the new Virtual Server 2005 but I'll discuss this at another time. Instead I've decided to go to Plan B and install it on my notebook PC. In doing so, I've observered a little 'something'. I'll admit I'm a bit of a 'Newbie' on Virtual PC. Virtual PC likes to install whatever it can in the My Documents\My Virtual Machines folder. This is well and good... except! On my SBS 2003 network, I've configured My Documents Redirection. In other words, my My Documents actually resides on the server with a 'copy' on the local machine. Anytime I log on or off, My Documents synchronizes with the server. Having my Virtual PC files in the My Virtual Machine folders means these synchronize each time I log on or off or whenever the system decides it's time to do so. But these are multi-GIGABYTE images which must be copied back and forth. Also, when loading up or saving an image state, it takes FOREVER! My observation/recommendation: Put your VPC files on a static folder on your local hard drive.
The Alamo PC Organization SBS SIG will hold its November meeting this coming Friday, November 4th, at 8 AM at the Alamo PC Learning Center, Crossroads Mall (San Antonio, Texas).
Albert Obar will be providing the tacos for our Taco Social. A $1 per taco reimbursement is appreciated.
Following our Taco Social we will have presentations on Business Contact Manager by Rick Higgins and the new MS CRM 3.0 by Larry Lentz. We will also have our second round of Meet the Member presentations. Larry Gebhart has volunteered to be a presenter. If you would like to be the second, please let me know. Otherwise I will have to 'volunteer' someone.
Please try to Bring a Buddy, a friend who is interested in SBS but hasn't attended our SIG before.
For more information please visit http://www.LentzComputer.net/SBS.
Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 2 was released recently. Last night I finally got around to applying it to my server. There have been a number of articles about it and how to install it, including Vlad Mazek's blog at
http://vladville.com/articles.asp. One of the things always mentioned is to be sure to uninstall IMF (Intelligent Message Filtering, Microsoft's antispam for Exchange). I did so and the installation went find. However, this morning I noticed a HUGE amount of spam in my inbox! I quickly figured what had happened. I had sorta kinda expected IMF to have been enabled since SP2 installs IMF v2 automatically. Wrong! And the articles I'd read had told me so, but I forgot... Hey, it was late. Any way this morning I went back to enable it. I had to dig around a bit to find it though. So I thought I'd pass that on to you and perhaps save you a few minutes searching. From the Exchange System Manager, expand your server, then expand Protocols and SMTP. Right-click on the Default SMTP Virtual Server and select Properties. On the General tab click the Advanced button next to the IP Address drop-down. From the Advanced dialog box, highlight the appropropriate IP address and click Edit. On the resultant Identification dialog box, check the Apply Intelligent Message Filter check-box.'OK Click' your way back out of all the dialog boxes and you're done. Now I'm off the clean all that junk out of my inbox!
Today the long awaited Microsoft CRM 3.0 Beta was released on the MS CRM Early Access web site.There are actually two versions, one for the enterprise (regular) version of CRM, and the Small Business Editiona (SBE) designed for use on Small Business Server. EachCRM version offers the main code, an SDK, and an Implementation Guide. I am in the process of downloading the packages.
I already have the CRM 3.0 Readiness Tour VPC demo which is at this point my main vehicle to experiment with the features of the program. However, the new beta will give me a chance to play with how to deploy it. I will set up a virtual SBS 2003 environment to load the SBE for sure.
Stay tuned as I work my way through these packages.
Welcome to the inauguration of Larry's Taco Talk! I am flattered that I've been given this opportunity. But why 'Larry's Taco Talk'? Are we going to talk about tacos? Maybe... But basically we'll be discussing topics concerning my passions which are Small Business Server, CRM, and User Groups. Hmmm. Nothing about tacos there, huh?
I've been working with Microsoft's Small Business Server since version 4.0 (that was the first version!) was first released in 1997. That was also the time I earned my MCSE in Windows NT 4.0. I've been certified in every component of SBS: IIS, TCP/IP, Proxy/ISA, SQL, Exchange, etc. SBS is the best solution in my mind for the businesses I serve. Anyone see a taco??
I have been working with CRM like programs since the early 90s. When I first started my business, I wrote a VERY basic contact tracking program in Borland's Paradox. I soon was introduced to ACT! and became San Antonio's ACT! guru until 1998 when I discovered GoldMine. I became a GoldMine Solution Partner and a GoldMine Certified Professional. Then more recently I moved to Microsoft's CRM. Let's face it folks, Microsoft is the 800 pound gorilla and they are committed to make their CRM a force in the market place. They also have a great program to support their partners. Hmmm... Anyone see a taco here???
In 1997 Tom Hodges started the MCSE Study Group for Alamo PC. Several of us stuck with it and worked through the exams to earn our MCSE. Then, seeing that there were a number of other tests that I felt were of interest, I started the MCSE Advanced Study Group. Membership in the group is somewhat restricted to those who already have their MCSE. Our first objective was the MCSE + Internet certification. Once that was accomplished, we went on to other topics. When Microsoft came out with the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator, MCDBA, we decided to go for that. Then there was the MCSE on Windows 2000 and other topics over the years. It's kind of gotten out of control as you'll notice if you check the tests I've inflicted upon myself over the years. Our little group, affectionally named The Geeks, has been meeting every Saturday morning for years. Oh! And did I mention that we start each session with TACOS! Each week one of us is tasked to provide the breakfast tacos (eggs and bacon or potatos or sausage wrapped in a flour tortilla and topped with hot sauce, a South Texas tradition). Then we sit around, eat our tacos, drink coffee, and tell war stories. We discuss problems we've encountered, solutions we've found, or request assistance. Taco Talk! Eventually we get around to actually studying whatever topic/exam we're committed to. Currently we're working through Dr. Thomas Shinder's ISA 2004 book.
About a year ago we felt it would be a good idea to form a Small Business Server Special Interest Group. We have about 40 members and consistently get around 20 at each monthly meeting. We meet at 8 AM on the first Friday of each month. We start out with our Taco Social where we all sit around eating breakfast tacos, drinking coffee, and telling war stories, lies, etc. Taco Talk! This blog will have a few war stories, lessons learned from the field, tips and tricks, etc. as they occur. You'll have to supply your own tacos though unless you come meet us in person on the First Friday or any given Saturday in San Antonio.