January 2006 - Posts
Last weekend I completed my first Swing Migration. It was definitely a learning experience, but a good one. Now I'm a Swinger!
I first was exposed to Swing Migration by it's creator, Jeff Middleton, SBS-MVP, when he presented it to the SMB Nation conference in Seattle in 2004. Jeff has put an awful lot of work and devotion into documenting this process. To partially compensate him for his efforts he charges a modest $125 or $200 for his documentation and utilitlies. It is well worth it! Plus Jeff gives you a lot of (virtual) hand holding on your first migrations. Don't even consider doing another migration without Jeff's kit.
Basically Swing Migration involves installing the W2k3 portion of SBS on a temporary server. I did this on a Virtual PC on my notebook. Then you take this temporary server and connect it to the existing network and make it a member of the domain. Then you dcpromo this server to be an additional domain controller of your existing SBS domain. You then disconnect this temporary DC from the network and do some clean up off line. You then install just the W2k3 portion of SBS on the target server. You join that target server to the 'domain' represented now by your temporary DC and dcpromo it to a domain controller just like you did originally with the temporary DC. Then you disconnect, do some stuff, and you have a full and clean copy of your Active Directory on your new box. You then finish the SBS installation and you now have a new server with all the user accounts, etc. intact. Transfer data from the old server, configure shares, etc. and you're good to go.
I've over simplified it. You need to buy Jeff's documentation. If you are going to do a real migration, I highly recommend the Technician's Kit which is only $75 more. The SwingMig utility will save you much more than that in your time and stress when doing your migration. Some specific benefits I enjoyed are:
- Users don't have to be reconfigured. Once the migration is done, especially the shares using ShareMig, the users continue to see the same shares, mapped drives, permissions, etc. as before. Previously when I upgraded a server I would have to spend a lot of time at each workstation recreating the user 'experience' as we would have a 'new user' since their account would be recreated in AD. I would have to copy over all their settings, My Documents, Favorites, etc. With Swing, all that's gone!
- Active Directory Contacts are migrated. My client maintains a large list of client e-mail addresses in AD as Contacts. Recreating these using the AD utilities has always been tricky and frankly a pain. With Swing they are simply still there!
- Public Folders are still intact. My client maintains a public folder contact list of vendors and their e-mail and fax addresses. Without Swing I would have had to move these to a mailbox folder, used ExMerge to extract.... well lots o' steps. Done using the 'Forklift' method.
If you need to migrate from one SBS installation to a new one, or just need to migrate anything to anything, take a strong look at Swing Migration. You can learn more about it and purchase your kit on-line at www.SBSMigration.com. Contact Jeff Middleton at ycst@sbsmigration.com (stands for You Can Swing That).
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly!
Well, I installed CRM 3.0 last weekend! It wasn't particularly pretty. But it's (almost) done. As I noted in my last post several days ago, I had several 'issues' from the Upgrade Advisor that prevented me from installing CRM. First, it didn't like that I had CRM Mobile installed. I uninstalled that! That was personally traumatic as I spent many many hours with Microsoft PSS getting that to work on my PPC (Pssst - I haven't uninstalled it from my PPC yet - don't tell MS).
Then we continued to have an error that indicated that there was an open connection to the SQL database. Didn't have this error when I ran the Upgrade Advisor earlier. Turns out an SQL MSDE was running on my client PC, a notebook. Shutting down that SQL server resolved the issue. Only thing I can think of that would have made the difference is that I have added MS Small Business Accounting which I have based on the server. So it you are running SBA and CRM, you might want to shut down SQL (MSDE) on your clients before installing CRM on your server.
Once I got CRM installed, mostly, I tried installing the Outlook client on my notebook. The install went fine but when I tried to launch Outlook, I got a couple of errors, mainly telling me that Outlook could not communicate with the CRM database. This was resolved with the help of Microsoft Partner Managed News Groups managed by my good friend and great lady Marie McFadden. Basically what was needed was adding the CRM FQDN to my Trusted Sites in Internet Explorer. I still have another issue with SQL Reporting Services pending before I'm all set.
So, what's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?
The Good - I got CRM 3.0 installed and running. So far I am very impressed. It's integration with Outlook is much better than I expected. I have been using it within Outlook for several days and have to remind myself I'm using CRM. The many features of CRM 3.0 I like will be fodder for many future blogs and an article or two.
The Bad - I miss my Home Page from CRM 1.2. It gave me three sections of activities; overdue, today, and tomorrow. I left stuff I may have done but hadn't billed the client for in the system so it appeared in the overdue section, easy to pickout, invoice, and close when appropriate. Today included all types of activities including phone calls. And the Tomorrow section let me know what to expect the next day. Perhaps I can figure out how to customize my CRM so it gives me back that functionality. Learning a new program has its complications and I'm not yet familiar with the new program. But that's fun too! I also miss my CRM Mobile. But that may change soon.
The Ugly - The install/upgrade was definitely ugly. I won't go into all the gory details, some of which may have been my fault...maybe. I still have an open issue with the SQL Reporting Services which definitely does not want to play pretty. Gory details would be the order of the day if I tried to describe it. But I'm sure Marie's Magicians will help me through that as well.
But hey! I got it running, I can access it via the web, even from outside the network via the Internet and SSL, and my data appears intact. Life is good and CRM 3.0 is GREAT!
I've just completed a Swing Migration from SBS 2000 to SBS 2003. When the users tried to use the shared Fax service, they would get "The fax server is blocked for outgoing faxes. The fax wizard will close now". And close it did. On Google, I found instructions to go to Server Manager, right-click on Fax (local) and click properties. In the General tab there are 3 check boxes: "Disable submission of new faxes", "Disable tramission of outgoing faxes", and "Disable reception of new faxes". All three were checked which obviously prevented us from faxing. However, when I unchecked any or all of the boxes and hit OK or Apply, I got "Unexpected Error". No joy here.
A little more searching and I found some interesting errors in my Event Viewer Application Log. Basically it indicated that the Fax system could not access the Fax Queue folder. (The path is looong so I'll spare you that. I you have this problem, you can see it in the error.) So, I drill down to the Queue folder and check permissions. Looks OK except there is one 'orphan'. Then I decide to compare it with those on my server. So I remote in and find that the NETWORK SERVICE has Full Control permissions. I add NETWORK SERVICE with Full Control, I rechecked the Fax properties and the check boxes were all clear. Then I tried sending a Fax and lo and behold, it WORKED!
Well, isn't this interesting. I have previously run the CRM Upgrade Advisor on my production server, just for fun, and it's always come up clean. Well, now that I'm ready to do the REAL THING, huh uh. Got 2 blocking errors and a warning!
The first, 
basically says I have to uninstall CRM Mobile. I can kinda understand this since it is a new program structure and there will be a CRM Mobile 3.0 shortly. But I'll miss my CRM Mobile until it's released. Sure hope the new one is faster.
The next blocking error says that existing SQL connections to the CRM databases need to be closed before proceeding. I tried rebooting my CRM/SBS server but still get the error. Will have to look into this one. Perhaps removing CRM Mobile will resolve this.
The final 'hiccup' is a warning but one I think I should investigate: "The stored procedures in the CRM database are not consistent with CRM 1.2 stored procedures. I don't remember creating any custom stored procedures or anything so don't know what this one is either. But since this is my productions (yes, I have a backup) I want a clean install.
I'll keepya posted.
Today my Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) quarterly update arrived and with it my long awaited CRM 3.0 Small Business Edition. I am anxious to install it and start using the new version. I am looking back at the notes from my blogs back in early December when I did a test upgrade in a Virtual PC. I have already looked back and 'briefed' myself on what to expect. Remember my blog on the value of writing? This is one of those times. Stay tuned and I'll let you know how the upgrade goes. Wish me luck!
I am in the middle of a Swing Migration from SBS 2000 to SBS 2003 (more on that in a later post). Today it's been asking me for CD 4 on which Internet Explorer is supposed to be located. This threw me. CD 4 is Outlook, right? Well, apparently not right. This is a Service Pack 1 media set and it contains one more CD than did the earlier version. Had to look in the media case cafefully and sure enough I found a CD 4 neatly hidden in a white CD sleeve in the side pocket, instead of being spindled like the rest of the CDs.
Thanks to Jeff Middleton and Hilton Travis for pointing out the new addition to the media set.
Today I wanted to use CRM to blast out an invitation to all my local contacts to invite them to the upcoming Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Launch in Austin in a couple of weeks. So I built myself a nice template for both my Contacts and my Leads. Then I used Advanced Find to capture the appropriate records in zip codes that begin with 78 (mine is 78209). That covers San Antonio, Austin, and inbetween. Then I went to Actions and Send Direct E-mail. Done! Oops. Not so fast. I get back an error message saying I don't have permission to do that! Moi? The master of my CRM? I think not. Unfortunately my system had other ideas.
Now what do I do? Then I got a couple of e-mails from my monitoring service, HyBlue (www.HyBlue.com). It reported the problem stating it was a DCOM issue and that a COM+ object did not have sufficient privileges to run. Hmmm. Maybe it wasn't MOI afterall, but some object. In addition to the HyBlue notes, I looked in the Event Viewer (what a concept) and found a couple of errors relating to my issue. The first one in the Applications log, Source Microsoft CRM, Event ID 2 gave entirely too much information to be of use to me. Perhaps the development team would be interested. However, the second error, this one in the System log, Source DCOM, Event ID 10016 gave the specific information I needed to correct the problem. Combined with the information from the HyBlue message I knew to search the Registry HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID for the GUID listed in the Event Log error. This told me it was the CRM BulkMail Class. Sounds familiar. Then following advice from both HyBlue and Event Log I bring up Component Services from Administrative Tools. I never use that tool so I was glad HyBlue told me it was there. I opened up Component Services and drilled down to find CRMBulkMailService. I found it under Computers, My Computer, DCOM Configuration, CRMBulkMailService. The Event Log also included the service account that the CRMBulkMailService uses. I went to the Security tab of the CRMBulkMailService in DCOM and added my service account with appropriate permissions.
I then retried my invitatioon to the CRM Launch. NO ERROR. Yea! And I've even had some responses from folks who are signing up for the event because of the message.
Yesterday we had the first meeting of our new CRM 3.0 Study Group!
I have been running an MCSE Advanced study group for about 8 or 9 years now for the Alamo PC Organization here is San Antonio. We meet every Saturday morning from 8:30 to noon. (Of course we start with Taco Talk!). The group was formed because a number of us who had earned our MCSE wanted to learn more and get advanced certifications. We have used this to achieve MCSE + Internet, MCDBA, MCSE on Windows 2K and 2K3, Exchange, ISA, etc. We just finished studying ISA 2004. With the start of the new year, we have taken up a new topic, CRM 3.0!
I am very excited to be doing this in our group. Dedicating every Saturday morning to digging into CRM will be a great help to me personally. It's hard to dig during the week when you have to watch out for all the alligators in the swamp. Our official goal will be passing the 3 CRM 3.0 certification exams. But the real benefit will be getting a much deeper working knowledge of the product.
It gets even better. When I mentioned to CRM MVP Anne Stanton that our group was going to start working on CRM she immediately said 'I want to join'. So, Anne is now an official member of 'The Geeks' as we call ourselves. Anne has a wealth of knowledge, contacts, and experience that will be invaluable to the group. Of course Anne is in Vermont so we aren't including her on the taco list. She'll have to get her own. But she joins us via MSN Messenger. Our first meeting went surprisingly well. We had better success with our remote experience than I had hoped for our first session.
Since I recently was awarded Microsoft MVP in CRM, we are now the only CRM 3.0 study group (that I'm aware of) with not one but TWO CRM MVPs participating. This is going to be great!
I received a call this afternoon from Microsoft. A few months ago Microsoft bought antivirus developer Sybari, www.sybari.com. I've been a Sybari partner for several years. I consider Sybari one of the best, if not THE best, antivirus programs that protects the Exchange (and SMTP gateway, ...) server. Sybari runs each e-mail through up to 4 different engines to be sure it is clean before allowing it into the Exchange server.
Anyway, because I was previously a Sybari partner, I am automatically given the Security Solutions competency. With that and my Microsoft Small Business Specialist and a few other points, it gave me enough points to make Certified Partner. Part of the promotion includes waiving of the fee for the first year. I sent the required e-mail expecting to wait a week or two to get something back, etc. No! About an hour or so later, I received an e-mail welcoming me to the Certified Partner level!
If you are a Microsoft partner and interested in Microsoft Dynamics CRM, then you need to attend one of the upcoming CRM 3.0 Launch Tours coming to a town near you. You can learn more about it and find the event best for you at the
CRM 3.0 Launch Tour web site.. However, if you are indeed a partner, you should help Microsoft drive attendance to the event and build a bit of exposure for yourself. Do this with the Click To Attend event site. If you already have a Partner Events account, you can set up your own event registration site for one or more of the launches directly from the
Partner Events web site. There is a Launch Tour link on the left side of the Partner Event web site. It will guide your through the process. If you don't already have an account, you can sign up and get one there. There are many uses for the Partner Events site and a lot of resources as well. Take advantage of them!
You can view the recorded session with Amy the ISA Diva and MVP here. The first 20 minutes we had problems with the audio so you might want to fast forward to where we settle down and Amy really does her stuff.
(That's Part Two for those of you in Rio Linda[:)])
Today Amy Babinchak, ISA Diva AND brand new ISA MVP, once again presented ISA Server to the Alamo PC Organization. This time it was to the SBS SIG in general. Once again Amy was outstanding! One of the members commented that 'you'd pay money for that anywhere else!' Absolutely. Unfortunately it got off to a bit of a rocky start as this newbie Live Meeting leader tried to figure out how to get the audio running. Most of it was ID10T errors. But once we got things smoothed out, Amy gave the group many tricks and tips on how to get the most out of ISA on Small Business Server.
I attempted to record the session. Hopefully it worked but I do not yet know for sure. When/if the recording is available, I'll post the link to it here and to the Alamo PC SBS SIG web site, www.LentzComputer.net/SBS.
Thanks, Amy!!!
It is with great pride that I announce that I have been awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Microsoft Dynamics CRM! I am looking forward to participating in the program.
If you attended one of the MS Readiness Tour events on CRM 3.0, you likely received a DVD with a Virtual PC image of CRM 3.0. This was great and allowed us to play with the new version as well as use it to demo the product to potential customers. However, this was based on beta code and may have even had an expiration date. Microsoft has since come out with a new VPC that can be downloaded on the MS downloads site. You can get it here. I saw somewhere that it has an expiration date of 12/31/2006 but I'm not sure on that.
Beware! This is a BIG download. There are 6 separate files, 5 of 700 MB each and 1 of over 380. Together they make up a big self extracting folder which is over 7.5 GB so be sure to extract it somewhere where you have plenty of space. The folder contains a subfolder that contains a trial version of Microsoft Virtual PC in case you don't already have it. I used that to install the beta demo on a client's workstation so he could evaluate CRM. It also has a Supporting_materials folder which contains a demo script to use with the included Adventure Works Cycle data, 2 Hands on Labs, and some additional data in an Excel spreadsheet.
The real payload of this package though is in the VPC_Image folder. This contains the file CRM demo.exe which is 3.76 GB. This is another self-extracting zip file. I expanded it across the network to my notebook where I run my Virtual PC. Eventhough it took somewhat longer to expand it over the network, I wanted to save the disk space the .exe would have taken. Plus it would have taken a while to copy over the .exe anyway. Of course if you've downloaded the original files to the same computer you're going to run VPC from, you're good.
I expected the CRM demo to include SBS 2003 as did the original beta VPC. However this version includes Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, and SQL 2005! It will be interesting to see how things may be different with SQL 2005. It also includes Exchange Server 2003, the CRM Server 3.0 and the Outlook client. You can run the Outlook client on this server as you could in the beta VPC.
I haven't had time to play much with the new version nor go through any of the Supporting_materials. I'll report back as I find items of note. In the mean time, go ahead and get the VPC so you can learn the product and demonstrate it to your customers.
With the advent of the new year, I've decided to convert my business' accounting system from QuickBooks to Microsoft Small Business Accouting.2006 (SBA). I installed the eval version a few months ago but never really played with it as I had intended. When I recently tried to fire it up, I discovered it had expired. What I also discovered is that it's not so easy to uninstall! Since I was probably going to install SBA on my SBS server, I really wanted to uninstall the eval on my notebook. But, there was no identifiable item listed in the Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs. In restrospect there probably was but it was something like Small Business Management instead of Small Business Accounting.
I went searching for my SBA install CDs in my Action Pack. When I inserted it into my notebook, up came the SBA install stuff offering to remove SBA from my computer. (It did not offer to install). So, I selected Remove and my first hurdle was cleared, uninstalling the eval version.
I then had a decision to make. Should I install SBA on my notebook (with licensed code from MAPS), or install it on my server? I remembered reading a number of posts on the Yahoo groups about SBA on SBS. So, I searched my saved e-mail from the Yahoo groups. There I found a reference to 'How to Install and Configure Small Business Accounting 2006 on Windows SBS 2003'. I decided the best course was to go ahead and install SBA on my SBS server since that is a scenario I am likely to encounter with my clients.
I searched my past Yahoo groups e-mail and found references to the document that details how to install SBA on SBS. I found it here . If you are interested in running SBA, and perhaps you should be, and you are running it on SBS 2003, then you really ought to download this short document and follow its instructions to install SBA on your SBS server.
Happy New Year and Happy SBA!