Big news day

The first bit of news is that Microsoft is officially killing off Essential Business Server (EBS) which was sorta a bigger version of Small Business Server. The announcement came as a surprise to many and disappoints some who have been building a business around a product that suits larger businesses. Some of the reasons for the death of EBS?

“midsize businesses are rapidly turning to technologies such as management, virtualization and cloud computing as a means to cut costs, improve efficiency, and increase competitiveness.”

so says the Official Microsoft EBS blog.

Next bit of news is that Microsoft plans to release Office and SharePoint 2010 on the 12th of May which was announced on the SharePoint Team blog.

Even though the Official Microsoft EBS blog says, discontinuing EBS:

“will not impact any other Windows Server products and solutions, including the next version of Windows Small Business Server (SBS)”

you gotta wonder eh? It certainly only seems like a matter of time before that which instigated the demise of EBS starts to white ant the SBS end of the market. Most IT people will tell you that what happens at the larger end of town ultimately end up filtering down to the smaller end.

Almost two years ago now, in this blog, I speculated that SBS 2008 would be the last version of SBS we would see. I still believe that is the case, however I believe we may see something called “SBS” which really isn’t. I’m not going to split hairs on what ‘being SBS’ actually is, because I will still content that the fate of SBS will be the same as EBS. It will take longer to eventuate because the SBS product has a longer history and greater support base but it will happen in the end.

The imminent release of Office 2010 further marks a march to cloud computing and change in the landscape. Why? Because not only will Microsoft make available a version of Office available for free download but it will also have versions (including a free one) available via the web.

Office and SharePoint 2010 will survive because they can go to the cloud, EBS didn’t because it couldn’t. As I said, I reckon that the same logic applies to SBS, it is going to struggle as a product to survive a move to the cloud. Personally, I wouldn’t be betting my business on SBS at the moment.

On the other side of the ledger I think that it is good for Microsoft to reduce the number of products it sells and focus more of its energy on making those that sell well better. If all the resources from EBS get thrown into SBS to make it something better, then that can only be good? Microsoft needs to do what it believe is right for its business. At the end of the day that is going to burn some people who believed in the EBS product but in all my travels I have never seen an EBS installation and have only heard of one actual client who had installed it. Now I will readily admit that I am not as well travelled as other IT Professionals and I probably move in the limited circles of the ‘S’ in SMB, however I would have expected to have seen and heard more of EBS in all the time it has been released.

To say that current IT trends are not having an effect on customers and resellers is naive. Technology people need to appreciate that many aspects of traditional IT are being commoditized and perhaps sadly coming to be the domain of accountants rather than technicians. Someone told me once that change takes longer than you think to occur but when it does it ends up being much greater than you could have imagined. I certainly wonder what even the next 12 months will bring. The only certainty will be change but the uncertainty is just how much.

When a volcano erupts it can reek some of the most drastic changes on our environment, causing, flooding, tsunamis, earthquakes, solar winter and so on. Yet at the same time the earth that is brought to the surface during a volcanic eruption is some of the most fertile. In a nutshell every change brings threats and opportunities, what the end result becomes is only determined by a reaction to these events. A rational person appreciates that if they can’t change their circumstances then they can only react to the circumstances they find themselves in.

As much as I appreciate people will suffer because of the loss of EBS, I also see great opportunity in the changes that are brought to the IT landscape. It is up to myself to determine how best to exploit these for my business, because quite simply they are a fact of life and will always continue to be so. I may not like them but in the end I’ve just gotta deal with them.

Installing SQL Server 2008 on Windows Server 2008 R2

I was recently installing SharePoint v3 on a Windows Server 2008 R2 machine using SQL Server 2008 for database storage when I came up with a problem.

Now that’s interesting, I thought, SQL Server 2008 has issues running on Windows Server 2008 R2. The latest version of SQL has problems on the latest version of Windows Server. Go figure. No major issue, I mistakenly thought, I’ll just follow what it says to do on the Compatibility Assistant and I should be right. Famous last words.

Turns out that even when you install SQL Server Service Pack 1 directly after installing SQL Server 2008 you can’t get access to the SQL instance on the machine. I did some Googling and came up with the following article which provided the resolution:

http://wadingthrough.wordpress.com/2009/09/14/problem-installing-sql-server-2008-on-windows-2008-r2/

So what I’ll do here is go into the resolution in a little more depth for people.

Before installing SQL Server 2008 RTM on Windows Server 2008 R2 you need to install SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 as this will install updated SQL Setup Files which “know” about Windows Server 2008 R2. So download the service pack and double click on the download to start the install.

Follow the installation through and allow the Setup Support files to install after which the Service Pack installation will exit and you will be returned to the desktop. Now commence the SQL Server 2008 RTM install.

You will receive the same compatibility warning you always receive.

Simply click on Run program to proceed. You can now install SQL Server 2008 RTM as you normally would from the menu.

During the install you may again be prompted about compatibility issues but just continue through until the installation of SQL Server 2008 is complete.

Once the installation of SQL Server 2008 is complete you need to install the SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 to update all the SQL files (you only did the setup files before).

With SQL Server 2008 RTM and SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1 now installed, your installation on Windows Server 2008 R2 should be good to go.

Two more points

An interesting read over on Dave Overaton’s blog ”Server line-up for small businesses (and home) is increasing in options (or complexity for some) – SBS 2008, Home, Foundation, Windows Standard Server or BPOS – how do you choose?” where he attempts to discern the best option in IT for a small business.

Interestingly he rates a Windows PC network at the top and SBS and Microsoft Business Productivity Online Suite last. I also especially liked these charts he has come up with:

and

Now I am generally in agreement with the conclusions that he reaches but I think that he has overlooked two important facts.

1. It is unlikely that a single IT solution is going to be adopted by most businesses these days.

As I noted in my recent blog post “Up in the sky”, in relation to cloud services at least

“data also shows that only 16% of those who have adopted cloud computing, or will within 12 months, will go solely with an off-premises model. But 50% of those respondents will go with a mixture on both on-premises and off premises.”

So what about the combination of a Windows PC network and BPOS? What about Windows Foundation server combined with BPOS? These are certainly going to provide far more options and flexibility than just the single product on its own.

2. Do not overlook the impact of Google Apps

If there ever an elephant in the room that most Microsoft types constantly neglect, ignore, dismiss over overlook it’s Google. Using their cloud based solution of Google Apps works extremely well for businesses in this target market (much like BPOS does). Again, it will provide its strongest appeal when used in conjunction with a Windows network or Windows Foundation server say.

I understand where Dave is coming from in his analysis but I’d like to contend that he is thinking about SMB customers in terms of the ‘old world’. Today’s SMB customers want the flexibility to work anywhere, with unlimited access to their data and the ability to share it will all the members of their team easily and quickly. They don’t want to shell out thousands of dollars for a server based solution (read SBS) when they can achieve something almost identical with online services on a per month per user basis. As I have said many time before, cloud computing not only changes the technology side of the argument but it also changes the economic argument for a customer. This economic model is far more important to a customer generally.

Dave has done a remarkable job with his analysis however he has perhaps unwittingly confirmed again, in my mind at least, the way technology people look at technology is not the way that customers do. Secondly, it highlights the fact that resellers face a herculean task trying to support the huge variety of possible solutions for a customer. That is sure fire way to burn people out in the end. Finally, I still see that online services, from Goggle, Microsoft or whomever, are going to have a major impact in the SMB space.

Search Server Express on SBS 2008

Let me save you a lot of pain. From everything that I have found to this point, Search Server Express CANNOT be installed on SBS 2008. I have tried to get it working many, many different ways and have never had any success. I have asked Microsoft support how to get it working and they couldn’t help. I had some highly regarded contacts in the SBS community attempt to get answers from Microsoft as well but to no avail.

How can this be? Search Server Express is built on SharePoint technology and would make a fantastic addition to an SBS 2008 server yet it won’t install and worse, when you attempt to uninstall it after a failed installation, it blows up the existing SharePoint installation. How can this be? Search Server Express works fine in a stand alone installation but yet on SBS 2008 it all goes pear shaped.

So rather than go through the misery yourself here’s what happens.

1. You install Search Server Express on SBS 2008 and everything look sweet until the SharePoint Products and Technology Configuration Wizard runs. At about step 6 you get the following nasty error.

2. Realizing the error of you ways you go into Control Panel and remove Search Server Express.

3. Search Server Express uninstalls successfully but now when you attempt to access http://companyweb you see something like:

4. Now you start to sweat. You try maybe resetting IIS and attempt to access http://companyweb again and now you see:

Indicating no web sites there at all.

5. As the panic rises you try and access the SharePoint Central Administration site which only results in the following message:

Which means that uninstalling Search Server Express has effectively uninstalled SharePoint from your SBS 2008 system!

6. This now means you have to get SharePoint back and working.

Now it becomes a question of can you restore SharePoint? How was SharePoint being backed up? What method are you going to use to restore SharePoint to where it was before you attempted installing Search Server Express? I can tell you that you are in for some fun and games if you aren’t prepared for it.

So why doesn’t Search Server Express work on SBS 2008? I don’t know. Why doesn’t Microsoft provide some guidance on install Search Server Express on SBS 2008? I don’t now either. All I know is don’t try to install Search Server Express on SBS 2008 because you’ll end up in a world of pain.

I’m still working on a solution and when I find it I’ll let you know.

SBS 2008 Unleashed

Windows Small Business Server 2008 Unleashed by Eriq Oliver Neale

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
If you are planning to install, manage or maintain Windows Small Business Server 2008 then this book is a must have. It goes beyond the standard information and delves into the areas that the average installer simply doesn’t know about. The information provided in this book will ensure that Small Business Server 2008 machines in you care will not only be correctly configured they will have all the additional options enabled to ensure that users get the most from the product.

This book goes beyond the standard information that Microsoft provides by encompassing the knowledge and experience from a range of MVPs (Most Valued Professionals). That is just something money can’t buy these days. Sure you maybe able to find the same information on the Internet by why would you when it is perfectly encapsulated in this book. Along with in depth technical information it contains a whole raft of practical suggestions from people who know the product inside out.

The book covers a wide range of topics about Small Business Server 2008 from installation to configuration to maintenance. If you want information that goes beyond the ‘usual’ with Windows Small Business Server 2008 then this is book for you. It is a must have reference for anyone working with the product.

View all my reviews >>

Not just me

So it seems I wasn’t the only one that thought the new ad for Internet Explorer 8 was rank. As the article “Microsoft withdraws offending ‘puke ad’” details Microsoft has stopped promoting the ad.

In this day and age it is really hard to be funny without offending or alienating someone or something. Microsoft has not had much luck of late with its Seinfeld ads and now this, whereas Apple has been able to really milk Mac vs PC.

I wonder what Microsoft has in the wings for Windows 7? Seeing this kinda worries you a bit doesn’t it?

Sign of the times

Have a look at this “commercial” for Internet Explorer 8.

<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jk5SOaXT5AQ/UQcHFcSOAXI/AAAAAAAAICg/Ji_EN8AD_Wk/videob14177a812bc%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('9f0cecea-f4c9-4fe6-a4d6-9c650e0959b6'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "

http://www.youtube.com/v/xB9fhjnJcB0?hl=en&hd=1“;” alt=””>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB9fhjnJcB0&feature=player_embedded

Now tell me that you think it’s an effective way of promoting the features of Microsoft’s latest browser. I understand the concept, but really I gotta say that they have missed their mark in so many ways. For one I can’t say that I like seeing someone repeatedly ‘puke’ on someone else. Secondly, you’re promoting a function of the browser that allows you to view porn at the breakfast table. Maybe I’m missing something here and that feature is in high demand, but not amongst the small population of Internet users I know at least.

I don’t know who Microsoft is using for their ad agency but there’s gotta be someone other better! Is the only feature of Internet Explorer that is better than Firefox or Safari is that it allows you to surf porn in private? I can’t see that making people switch, but hey I could way off base here.

Courses this term

In conjunction with Macquarie Community College I’m happy to announce the list of courses that I’ll be offering in the next term.

309M293 – Improve your Technology Skills (Thursday September 10 2009 9.30am – 4pm)

Technology is a critical requirement of most positions these days. This course will help improve your technology skills and make you more valuable to any employer. Get hands-on experience with technologies such as YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, blogging, Twitter and Internet search engines and learn how to use them to improve your job prospects.

309M301 & 309C103 – Networking Basics (2 locations and times)

Gain the knowledge and confidence to set up your own computer network at home or work. Learn the fundamentals of networking two or more machines, as well as many of the technologies that comprise the Internet. We look at IP addressing, protocols such as TCP, routers, switches, firewalls, security and more. This course combines practical hands-on training as well as seminar based content.

309M297 – Networking with Small Business Server (3 sessions starting Thursday August 27, 7-9 pm)

Small Business Server is growing in popularity, and our expert trainer will clearly demonstrate its benefits. You will learn how to install and manage SBS, plus gain critical insight into security, backup, internet access and general network management issues. Highly beneficial if you have network systems and want to enhance your management of the technology.

309M299 – Wireless Networking (2 sessions starting Thursday September 17, 7-9pm)

This course will provide an overview of the technologies available, and the benefits and downfalls of what wireless has to offer. See practical demonstrations of the installation of wireless networks and receive valuable information about setting up your own wireless network – whether for home or business – so that you can get it right.

309M291 – Do Email Less (Friday, August 28, 9.30am – 4pm)

Email is an important tool, however if used incorrectly it can be the source of frustration, anxiety and lost productivity. Ask yourself, have you ever been trained how to use email effectively? Chances are you never have. This course will show you how to configure your email programs to obtain the maximum benefit from them.

309M295 – Everything Google (Thursday 13 August, 9.15am – 3.15pm)

Google is now so much more than a search engine. It allows you to create custom calendars, schedules and to do lists. You can create and store documents that you can access from anywhere. You can also use it as your primary email account. There are maps and street views of just about everywhere. This course will show you how to use all these tools to enhance your online workflow.

To for more information on any of these courses or to enrol simply visit www.macquarie.nsw.edu.au. I hope to see you there.