October 2005 - Posts
New Server, Faster link.... New Address
http://web2.minasi.com/forum
A quick post to let you know that I have just finalised the first version of an effects tutorial on scenerydesign.org. Thanks to those who helped me narrow down the issues. (You know who you are) ;)
Today I had a client that was having problems connecting to a site behind ISA Server. The site was using SSL, but the port was not the standard 443 that ISA Expects.
There is an article available from Microsoft, but it is not great for Small Business Users. So here is a dumbed down version...
Lets say that you need to allow port 8087 to work for SSL Sites. For example https://www.anydomainhere.com:8087
Create a text file, and paste the following into that. Then save as a .vbs file.
set isa=CreateObject("FPC.Root")
set tprange=isa.Arrays.GetContainingArray.ArrayPolicy.WebProxy.TunnelPortRanges
set tmp=tprange.AddRange("SSL 8087", 8087, 8087)
tprange.Save
Note, the green bit is the description of the port you are adding, the purple is the starting port and the red is the end port (start and end are normally the same unless you want to add a range of addresses)
Once you have saved this file, double click on it. It will look like nothing has happened... but it has.
Restart the Microsoft ISA Server control service and you are good to go.
Now, I have not tried this yet with ISA 2004, but the same should apply except you use the following script:
Dim root
Dim tpRanges
Dim newRange
Set root = CreateObject("FPC.Root")
Set tpRanges = root.GetContainingArray.ArrayPolicy.WebProxy.TunnelPortRanges
set newRange = tpRanges.AddRange("SSL 8087", 8087, 8087)
tpRanges.Save
No warranty blah blah blah........
There is an interesting "conversation" going on on the SBS MVP Group. It referrs to the fact that Exchange Service Pack 2 (and one of the patches recently 888619) causes the Outlook Web Access Logon screen to show domain\username as the logon requirement from a user. On SBS before, this screen was modified to show simply username.
So, here is my take on it... (others would not agree).
In an attempt to standardise things, the SBS team have made the logon requirement change in the background of IIS. In other words, even though the screen is looking for domain\username, the username will work. I for one applaud this, as it means the the SBS version of OWA is identical to the Enterprise versions, but people that are used to logging on with their name only, still can.
First, if you want to read a long post on the matter, Susan Bradley has provided that here. However, if you are a "~" like me, then you want to know one thing...
Does Exchange Service Pack 2 work on SBS2003? YES!
However, if you are working on a client site, please make sure to read Susan's blog on the subject.
You see, Susan has split us down into two groups. Where as I believe that consultants, or "people like me" are actually both. The key is to have a test bed system (and by that I mean more than just Virtual PC / VMWare).
Oh... for those that have not figured out how to get your 75Gigs... Go to the Exchange Team Blog post here
Thanks to Adrian Woods, I found this Blog "pricer". Fun stuff, and very geeky. Amazing I am not in negative figures...
Susan Bradley... for the record, is $60,970.32!
A quick link to Jason Waskey's latest blog post. This is a subject that I have found myself on many forums trying to explain to people. From now on, I will simply point to this :)
http://blogs.technet.com/pixelpoke/archive/2005/10/15/412558.aspx
I also noted from Jason's previous post that Owen Hewitt has started a blog as well!
http://owenhewitt.blogspot.com/
Yesterday I had the pleasure to meet Simon Azzopardi, Managing Director EMEA for GFI Software. It was a quick meeting, but a productive one. I will be posting about some of the products and Small Business offerings that we are working on soon, but until then, here is a quick tip.
In GFI Mailessentials, if you select the option "Move to Exchange 2003 Junk Email Folder", the email arrives in that folder, but the reason it arrived there can only be found by comparing against the text log files. This is obviously a nightmare. You can see, for instance, others have the same issue on the GFI Forums.
I put this to Simon when I met him, and he came up with a simple work around. Instead of using the option "Move to Exchange 2003 Junk Email Folder", simply use the "Move to subfolder on user's mailbox" option and type in "Inbox/Junk E-Mail" in the folder name.
Simple, but effective.... For the record, I have asked Simon to get the Junk Email filter to work properly and tag up the emails as well as let the user know if the email was filtered by Exchange IMF, GFI or Outlook.
Sometimes, you find the most amazing things... The MP3 Breast implant. No need to bring the stereo to the bedroom any more ;)
Click here for more information
As requested by some, I have uploaded some of my own personal pictures from the MVP summit. Some you have already seen. You can get to them here.
On another note, that flickr service from Yahoo is fantastic! So easy to use.... I wish MSN would come up with something as good as that.
Enjoy!
I have been meaning to post about this for a while, but have not had much of a chance. Matthieu Laban - Flight Simulator Project, is doing some really fantastic work on his site here. I have also linked him up on my blog listings...
Go give that guy some money!
As you can read on the Autodesk site, and on pretty much every Flight Simulator forum / blog, GMAX has been dropped. (Silence... Tumbleweed goes by....)
Do not panic.... the ACES team are waaaay ahead of you and as mentioned on Jason Waskey's blog, have already met with Autodesk about the subject.
Have a read here
Good Man Adrian! A blog from a VERY talented Artist on the Flight Simulator team...
http://blogs.technet.com/torgo3000/
Microsoft Ireland held a fantastic Partner event to coincide with a visit from Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft. Or as Steve put it at the MVP summit "Bill's Boss" ;)
During the Q&A with Steve, I asked why Media Centre Edition of Windows XP had taken so long to happen in Southern Ireland and if that would happen again with the Vista version. Apparently the problem was simply related to setting up a local deal with the TV Providers (as usual in Ireland) and he agreed that two years was too long. It will not happen again. Good news!
Since I was greedy, I also asked a second question. That was "What are Microsoft going to do to ensure that OEM's, like Dell, sell the right version of the new Vista OS to end users who know no better?". Steve answered that there are two reasons this will not be an issue. The first is that it is going to be more profitable for OEM's to sell the "higher" version of Vista. The second is that users will have a clear and cost effective upgrade path if they are sold a lower version. I do hope that means that users will not be penalised because they are upgrading...
After the Q&A, I snuck out early to answer a phone call. As I am standing there, a door opens and the smiling face of Steve is before me. "Hi Steve", I say. "Hi Nick.... Nick Whittome, Small Business Server MVP right?". WOW, he knows my name and knows I am a SBS MVP. (I am reminded later by my darling wife that I had a name tag on.) But... he did email me the following day to say it was nice to meet me.... so he must have known right??? :)
Thanks Steve...! and thanks for the picture ;)
Click for Larger Version
One of the Badacid Clan members pointed me to this video... Since the previous Halo video I posted got so much attention, I thought you might like this as well. To the author.... clever stuff... nice job.
Download the steaming video here
"If you are an Enterprise IT Pro who is installing or supporting Windows SBS 2003 for the first time or who just wants to know more about it, this paper is for you!
This paper begins with a brief survey of the Windows SBS 2003 design philosophy. It then continues with the Top 10 must-know facts that Enterprise IT Pros unfamiliar with Windows SBS often miss, it highlights the Top 10 cool features of Windows SBS, and then it concludes with a quick look at some of the standard scenarios that you’re likely to find in many Windows SBS installations."
Overdue...
Lot's of people have asked me for this one.... so go check it out here!
According to Hal's post, he wants to increase his audience membership.... go check out his latest post here.
My flight back was not as entertaining as my flight over. Mainly because I was fast asleep and could not harm anyone that way ;)
I have had a few emails from people asking why this year I have not reported much on SBS. Well, to be to the point... there is nothing to report, except that this product is still cool, and the MVP's that surround it are even cooler!
Oh yeah... Vista is going to ROCK! You wait and see!
Sorry for the lack of updates on the summit, but I simply have not had time to post. This year, more than last, I have been pulled from all directions and had to dump the entire contents of my brain on two product teams. That along side meeting my fellow SBS MVP’s and friends like Mark Minasi, Darren Mar-Elia, Sean Deuby, Karen Young, and Lorna Williamson…. The list goes on. One person that I did fail to track down was Robert Scoble, who (if you are reading Robert) I wanted to thank for the recent Flight Simulator Trackbacks. Oh, hang on, there was another… Paul Williams… man you are a hard man to find!
Anyway, I am rambling as usual... Back to the point…
Yesterday, I met with the ACES team. Who were, as usual totally phenomenal at embracing the spirit of the MVP program… First, and important piece of news… those guys are going blogging mad – Finally! :) Links added here for you. As new ones come along (Hint Hint Adrian), the team will be informing me, so I will keep that list up to date for you. Readers here should understand the importance of the push internally by the team to get their people blogging and working closer with the community. This is simply the start of GREAT work with you… the user.
I can tell you all that there is some FANTASTIC, Jaw dropping game technology work going on with the team. Both Steve Lacey and Jason Waskey have posts on the subject here and here and I need not say more.
Until I have time to do more… (plane back to Ireland in 6 hours) here are some pictures of the team…. Your team….
As you can see, Hal is a modest kind of a guy ;) I was told that one part of this sign is true... I simply could not figure out which.
Hal, deep at work.
Some of the team. Except that fat bloke at the back.
Another shot, with a special mention to Adrian Woods, a guy who has always been exceptionally nice and helpful to me (The one with the cool glasses) and Anthony Walp (back to the wall) who looks after me at every summit.
So, keep it up guys... you are doing a GREAT job.
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