SharePoint and SQL 2012

Now that SQL 2012 has come out I though I’d give it a whirl with SharePoint Foundation. Firstly I installed SQL 2012 Express with Advanced features onto the machine. There are a few changes but nothing major. I them attempted to install SharePoint Foundation and was going along swimmingly until I received an error like:

 

An exception or type System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException was thrown. Additional information: Coudl not find stored procedure ‘sp_adoption’.

 

 

As http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh231665.aspx points out you need SharePoint Service Pack 1 prior to using SQL 2012.

 

Now that’s all well and good but there is currently no download of SharePoint Foundation 2010 WITH Service Pack 1. So how do you go about doing a clean install of SharePoint Foundation onto SQL 2012?

 

Bottom line is, at the moment you can’t really. The best bet is to get SharePoint Foundation 2010 working on SQL 2008 R2 Express. Then you need to apply SharePoint Foundation Service Pack 1 and THEN you need to upgrade SQL to SQL Express 2012 using an in place method.

 

I also suppose that it is possible to install SharePoint Foundation 2010 and not run the configuration wizard, install SharePoint Foundation 2010 Service Pack 1 and then proceed but that is very, very messy.

 

Bottom line? It looks like we have to wait until SharePoint Foundation 2010 with Service Pack 1 is released before there is a clean installation option with SQL 2012.

 

So what advantages does SQL 2012 Express provide over SQL 2008 R2 Express? Not much I can see.

 

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645993(v=SQL.110).aspx

 

It still has a 10GB database and 1GB RAM limit. So, if it was me, I wouldn’t be rushing to upgrade SharePoint Foundation 2010 to SQL 2012 Express just yet.

Things you hear

Here is a statement I came across from a reseller recently in reference to Office 365:

When I said “cloud” I meant cloud that works.  I have not yet used O365, I run on hosted exchange with zero problems

It illustrates to me the fact that many so called ‘IT people’ have already formed options about Office 365 without ever having used the product. I wonder on what hearsay the above person bases their opinion? I would suggest that it has probably come from a few ill-informed naysayers but interestingly that has proved to be enough to sway this individual.

I am not saying that Office 365 is perfect, far from it, but really what IT is ever perfect? However, I would contend that Office 365 does work and works very well for many many people. Importantly, Office 365 is more than hosted Exchange it is Lync, SharePoint and Office Professional Plus. Even more importantly, it offers enterprise features such as legal hold, hybrid co-existence and so on that few other providers offer. Their argument is already defunct because they are unable to compare products like for like but yet they continue to scream the failure of products at the top of their lungs. Worst of all they haven’t even taken the time to examine something they are criticising. How can their opinion hold any validity at all in those circumstances? They have criticised a product and in the same breath admitted they haven’t even used it? Am I the only one that see a massive credibility gap where?

It always amazes me how parochial so called ‘IT Professionals’ get about certain technology and not just in relation to cloud computing. Whether they be Apple “fanbois”, Linux devotees or gooey eyed Windows zealots, the common thing about all of them is that they represent a teeny tiny percentage of the technology market. However, they defend their beliefs with such fanaticism that it beggars belief sometimes. Analysis would reveal that these very zealots are afraid, they are afraid to admit they might be wrong. If what you are saying is so good why is there a need to defend it so vigorously? It should speak for itself shouldn’t it?

The more choice we have the better for it spurs competition and creates improved products. There is very little chance that a single product from a single supplier can solve everyone’s needs. So rather than deriding the competition with emotional vitriol examine the products rationally and professionally and guess what? You may even learn something about the competition that can help you. You may even find there is a business opportunity for their implementation that could, shock horror, even generate revenue! Such individuals are far more interested in being ‘right’ than running a business. They are entitled to their delusion I suppose.

Such statements unfortunately remind me that we still live in a world with small frightened technology ‘unprofessionals’ who are too scared to admit that they might not know something and more so, might be struggling with the change that is transpiring in the market place. What’s the saying? Empty vessels make the ….. 

SMBs and Cloud Services

I was browsing through my RSS reader recently and found the following interesting article from Box Free IT:

http://www.boxfreeit.com.au/Productivity/small-businesses-using-cloud-to-triple-in-next-three-years.html

Now all of this comes from a Microsoft funded survey of influencers at 3,000 SMB’s including some here in Australia. Now because it comes from Microsoft you do have to take the figures with a grain of salt, however the trends are still very interesting.

If you dig into the article you’ll find the actual Microsoft article at:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2012/mar12/03-28SMBCloudPR.aspx

Which too contains a graphic:


 This one aimed at the opportunity for the SMB reseller. Now, as I have mentioned many time here before I certainly believe there are plenty of opportunities for resellers BUT they are going come without some pain and re-alignment for these resellers.

Take for example the figure that 65% expect to be using cloud based email services in the next 2-3 years. This means that there is going to much less call for a product like Exchange Server on site for SMB’s. It is also going to mean that ancillary services like message hygiene (spam and virus filtering basically) are also going to move into the cloud and away from reseller revenue streams. Conversely to that you also see figures there like 60% don’t have the resources to implement new technologies and applications. That is certainly an opportunity, however it also means that resellers who want to provide that need to get skilled up on these ‘new technologies and applications’. So an investment is required but it would certainly appear to be worth it.

Perhaps what these sort of surveys do is challenge the perception. Take a look at the figure that only 20% believe their data is less secure in the cloud than it is in their on-premise system. That is certainly contrary to what you hear out there generally.

What these survey’s do reinforce is that fact that there is still opportunity in the IT business no matter whether it is cloud based or not. Importantly however, cloud services are going to require some skills education, investment and development to reap the rewards. It is very unlikely that staying with the same old business model and the same old skills is going to provide you with more opportunity in the coming years.

In the end you can take away from these surveys what you want but to me the important thing is to look at the trends that all these surveys point to. If you are not paying attention, chances are you’ll get left behind and have to struggle. Don’t say that you haven’t been warned!

SBS 2011, Configuring (70-169) Certification Guide

Product Details

 

I am very happy to announce that the book (MCTS): Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard, Configuring (70-169) Certification Guide that I co-authored with Drew Hills is now available for purchase. You can purchase directly from the publisher here:

 

http://www.packtpub.com/mcts-microsoft-windows-small-business-server-2011-standard-configuring-certification-guide/book

 

or from most other book stores like Amazon.

 

The book is aimed at helping those looking to pass the Microsoft SBS 2011 70-169 certification. Hopefully it is also a good reference source for those looking to get the most from SBS 2011.

 

I’d like to thank my co-author Drew Hills for working with me on the project as well as the reviewers Susan Bradley, Boon Tee and Hilton Travis. The book is much better for all your input.

Tri-focal

If like me you have read the Daniel Suarez novel Daemon you will have heard of the concept of augmented reality. Basically it allows you to project an image in front of your vision (like a heads up display) and that show you information pulled from the Internet.

Google now has a prototype called ‘project glass’ which is basically a set of glasses to provide this augmented reality. They have created the following video to demonstrate the concept:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c6W4CCU9M4

Now of course this video is the ‘rose coloured glasses’ through which Google would like us to believe it will be like. If it is from Google then it is probably going to look more like this video:

Good publicity for Windows Phone

I have always been a fan of Windows Phone and think that with the release of the Nokia hardware it makes a very compelling offering. The other good thing is that Microsoft has found a great angle to publicize the phone.

 

As I mentioned before they have been touting the ‘Smoked by Windows Phone challenge’. Here’s the latest video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNgN5vS_stc

 

Now there was some recent controversy around one challenge incident (and there have been others). But that sort of thing is always going to happen when you put yourself out there now isn’t it? I applaud Microsoft for sticking with this campaign as it is certainly novel and gets the word out there that Windows Phone are at least equivalent with most other models available today. This is definitely the thing you need to do when you are coming from behind. Kudos I say as I’d rather see Windows Phone being aggressive in the market rather than taking a beating like it did with Vista.

 

Another way they are promoting is via events like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_c0LYmmutA

 

Personally, I’m not into all this ‘cult of the celebrity, (a.k.a. Kardashian’s et al) but I will readily acknowledge that it does appeal to a huge segment of the market. Similar techniques have been used by other brands to great success so I again applaud Microsoft and perhaps more so Nokia in this case for being out there are doing these sorts of things to lift the profile of the Windows Phone.

 

Time will tell what the results are but I think it is great to finally start seeing a strong challenge from Microsoft against the incumbents. 

Some more Office 365 videos

These ones focus on IT Providers and have some good examples of how they are staying competitive with Office 365.