In this issue, you'll read:
Survey - Win $100 Gift card
Upcoming User Group meeting, January 17th 2008
Spring 2008 Certification Study Session
“Self-Study” Study group
Links
Survey - Win $100 Gift card
Microsoft Canada in co-operation with each user group is performing a survey and we are requesting your participation. This survey will only take a few minutes of your time. Like John (see email below) many members of the OWSUG executive committee also feel strongly about this survey and are asking you to please participate.
To encourage participation within this survey, Ottawa Windows Server User Group has anted up a $100 gift card! And there may be other prizes as well. In order to win this gift card you must submit a survey to John by December 17 at noon EST. John and his team will draw the winning name and arrangements will be made to drop of the gift card to you.
It is particularly helpful, even if you don’t know who /what Culminis is, to participate. We need this feedback.
BTW we have filled in question 1 for you J and I have shortened John’s original email see OWSUG announce on Dec 3rd for the unedited version.
If you have any questions about this or any other topic, please feel free to contact John Oxley, Brad Bird or me (Garth Jones).
_________________________________________________________________________
I’ve asked your UG leaders to share the below questions with you via email. Please directly send (individually) your feedback to me. Again, Your opinions matter very much to both myself and Microsoft, and so does your privacy. Please accept my personal assurance that all views will be held in the strictest confidence.
|
1. |
What User Group do you belong to? Ottawa Windows Server User Group |
|
|
2. |
Is your User Group part of Culminis |
[ ] Yes or [ ] No [ ] Don't know |
|
3. |
Can you rate your satisfaction with Culminis |
[ ] very Sat or [ ] Satisfied [ ] somewhat satisfied [ ] dissatisfied [ ] Don't know |
|
4. |
Do you perceive Culminis as an independent organization or is it another supported program that Microsoft offers |
[ ] Independent [ ] Microsoft [ ] Don't know as it's not clear |
|
5. |
Has your or your Usergroups relationship with Culminis had an impact on your perception or satisfaction with Microsoft |
[ ] Yes or [ ] No |
|
6. |
If you've answered [yes] to the previous question has this been positive or negative |
[ ] Positive or [ ] Negative |
I really value your feedback and please feel free to provide any comments or feedback on how Microsoft Canada can improve our community engagement.
As your input is highly valued, please respond directly to me, john.oxley@microsoft.com with your input and feedback.
_________________________________________________________________________
Upcoming UG Meetings
January 17th 2008 User Group Meeting
Topic: Overview of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and review of 1E Products
Description:
In this joint presentation, Garth Jones will present an overview of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and Ed Aldrich will present at overview of 1E products.
In Garth Jones’ presentation, he will cover what is new to Configuration Manager 2007 vs SMS 2003. Garth will discuss and demonstrate a number of features including:
· Asset Intelligence
· Software Updates
· Maintenance Windows
· Software Metering
· Desired Configuration Management
In this meeting Ed will demonstrate 1E's Power & Patch Management Pack, Nomad Enterprise, and Shopping.
SMSWakeUp wakes up machines ensuring they can receive the incoming critical patch. By automatically turning on computers for software and patch deliveries in synchronisation with Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), SMSWakeUp increases delivery success to 100%. This product also includes the very popular SMS Client Health reporting and fixing,
NightWatchman can force immediate system reboots without any loss of user data, to ensure that critical patches requiring reboots have the widest and fastest take up possible. This product also supports “green computing” initiatives via scheduled shutdowns of client systems (with related reporting) to conserve power off hours.
Nomad Enterprise enables OS releases, software applications and updates to be distributed quickly and efficiently to remote, server-less branch offices and to bandwidth-challenged environments. Nomad Enterprise ensures that software packages are only copied once over the WAN to make the most efficient use of available network bandwidth.
Shopping enables self-service, SMS/SCCM packaged application provisioning with proven scalability to suit any size of business up to enterprise-level. Shopping automates the complexities of application self-service, manages licenses automatically and enhances the capabilities of IT staff, approvers and desktop users.
About the speakers:
Garth Jones is the founder of the Ottawa Windows Server User Group (OWSUG) and it’s associated study group, He is an MVP for Windows Server System – SMS, who was recently profiled on the Can IT Pro Blog and is member of the myITforum Community Council. Garth is Chief Architect of Enhansoft, an Ottawa company that develops products and services to extend the value of System Center Configuration Manager 2007, SMS, Operation Manager, MOM and Virtual Server.
He started working with Systems Management Server when it was a v1.1 (1996). He can be found in Microsoft newsgroups, on a few web forums, OWSUG.ca, SMSug.ca, FAQshop.com and myITForum.com and on the mailing list of myITforum.com. Garth has presented numerous times to OWSUG, created webcast for both SMSUG.ca & myITForum.com and has presented at Microsoft Management Summit.
Ed Aldrich joined the ranks of SMS Administrators with the release of SMS 2.0. Building on his increasing SMS expertise, Ed is now a 5 year SMS MVP, Advisory Council member of myITForum.com, 6 times Industry Expert Speaker at the annual Microsoft Management Summit conference, and founder/co-facilitator of the New England Area SMS User Group. Ed’s “day job” is that of a pre-sales Solutions Engineer at 1E, where he uses his SMS Administrator and System Center 2007 expertise to promote the well known product line of 1E solutions that compliment and extend the Windows Systems Management space.
Location:
Microsoft Canada Co.
100 Queen Street Suite 500
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1J9
Agenda:
11:30 a.m. Event registration
12:00 p.m. Presentation
1:45 p.m. Q & A
2:00 p.m. Door Prizes
Notes: Pizza and Pop will be served, Please RSVP to help us order enough of both.
RSVP: https://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=123406
Spring 2008 Certification Study Session
Interested in getting certified on Microsoft’s latest desktop operating system?
Join the OWSUG certification study group as we dive deep into the next generation Windows technology!
Exam 70-622 - Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista® Client for Enterprise Support Technicians
Session runs Monday nights starting February 11th to April 28th & May 5th social event.
Cost: $250, includes
10 positions remaining, first come first served - priority given to people serious about writing the exam before May 5th 2008.
- All participants are expected to contribute to discussions and presentations
- Average of 50 pages of reading a week, with a large amount or reading at the begin that will tailing off at in the late sessions to allow for exam prepares in the later sessions
- Each participant work in teams
- Each team is responsible for presenting weekly topics
- This is not a course
If you are interested please contact certify@owsug.ca.
“Self-Study” Study group
What is a “Self Study” study group? It is a group of people that study independently of each other but on a timetable. This allows each member to put aside the time that is convenient to them but give them the ultimate goal of joining all members on a weekend final study session. They will have access to a forum, where all study members can ask questions and post answers.
We are moving ahead with two self-study groups, one for each exam
70-298 - DESINGNING SECURITY FOR A MICORSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2003 NETWORK
70-299 - IMPLEMENTING AND ADMINISTERING SECURITY IN A MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2003 NETWORK
How each study group will work:
- ~25 pages to read a week
- Weekly one member will write a short summary of that week topics
- Study group leader will merge all summaries into one file, to be used on the review day
- On a weekend, everyone will meet to review the exam ( 9 am – 3pm)
- Everyone is expect to write the exam
- Everyone is expect to have completed reading the book before the exam preparation day
Each member of the study group will get:
- One copy of the appropriate book
- One exam voucher
- Access the forums for each exam
Unlike previous study group efforts, there is unlimited space within the group! However if demand exceeds classroom limits for final preparation day, it will be broken up into two or more sessions.
Cost: TBD based on demand; however it is expect to be signification less than $250 per exam.
Start Date: January 17th 2008
Book: If you have the book already and would like to join this group please contact certify@owsug.ca, for details on how to join this group at a reduced cost.
If you are interested please contact certify@owsug.ca
Links
OWSUG.ca Web Site http://owsug.ca/default.aspx
OWSUG.ca Mailing list http://lists.owsug.ca
OWSUG.ca Forums http://owsug.ca/forums/default.aspx
OWSUG.ca Blog http://owsug.ca/blogs/MainFeed.aspx
