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January 2008 - Posts
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Upcoming UG Meetings
February 21st 2008 User Group Meeting
Topic:
The topic of this presentation will be Microsoft Windows SteadyState, the product formerly known as the Microsoft Windows Shared Computer Toolkit. Through discuss and demonstrations, we will be covering installation and configuration in a standalone & Active Directory Domain environment domain environment. We will discuss common situations and look at how SteadyState can meet these needs.
Presenter Bio:
Todd Lamothe is a member of the Ottawa Windows Server User Group (OWSUG) and its associated study group and is also on the board of the newly formed SQL Pass Ottawa Chapter. Todd is a Microsoft Certified System Administrator and also a Microsoft Certified Trainer. Todd is a Systems Administrator for the County of Lennox & Addington – Information Services Department; supporting their Libraries and Museums and the approximately one hundred computers and servers they have throughout their 12 points of service. He also provides support for the Leeds & Grenville and Prince Edward County public Libraries as well as other departments within the County of Lennox & Addington including Ambulance Services and Property Services. Todd started using Windows SteadyState in the County of Lennox & Addington libraries when the program was in Version 1.1. He was part of the closed beta team for version 2.0 and now is working with 2.5.
Agenda:
5:00 p.m. Event registration
5:30 p.m. Presentation
7:30 p.m. Q & A
8:00 p.m. Door Prizes
Location:
Microsoft Canada Co.
100 Queen Street Suite 500
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J9
Notes: Pizza and Pop will be served, Please RSVP to help us order enough of both.
RSVP: http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=124678 
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As some of you know I am working on updating my MCSE. As part of the study group, we have done 70-290, 70-291, 70-294, and 70-620 exams using the MS Press books for each of them. Also there as a much smaller study group for 70-431 exam. Anyways, over the last few weeks I have written a few exams starting with the 70-401 Beta exam, 70-620, 70-622, and finally 70-431 on Jan 22nd. For each exam I installed the appropriate “Microsoft Press Readiness Review Suite” or “Microsoft Press Training Kit Exam Prep”. Anyways, I am planning on going back and passing 70-290 now, so I tried to use the Microsoft Press Readiness Review Suite for 70-290 and I got an error, “Automation error ClassFactory cannot supply requested class “.  After check round for a while I finally sent a email to MS Press about the issue. After a few emails, I was directed to Support at MeasureUp. I sent them an email and got an email back from that telling me to use the compatibility mode in Vista to make it work, It did not. Then I was told that this was related to having both “Microsoft Press Readiness Review Suite” and “Microsoft Press Training Kit Exam Prep” installed on the same PC. And need to combine the test from the working version with the one s from the non-working work version. For whichever one is not working do the following adjust the directory structure as needed. Here are the basic instructions for Support at MeasureUp So you have MS Press Training Kit working on your PC. Leave that one alone for the moment. Open C:\Program Files\Microsoft Press Readiness Review\Tests\ folderIn the Tests folder are the tests themselves *.MUP In the TestObjects subfolders will be folders of the graphics in their own little subfolders. Gather up the MUP files and copy or move them into the C:\Program Files\Microsoft Press Training Kit\Tests\ folder.Gather up the individual subfolders in the TestObjects folders and place them all into the \Tests\TestObjects folder. Now when you invoke the Training Kit program you will also see listed all the other tests you copied into it. They should all work with the engine you have installed. You can uninstall the Readiness Review Suite from Add/Remove programs if you like then at any time. My only question is why doesn’t the setup recognize this and fix this as part of the test routine? Anyways, I hope this will help other out there, if they come across this error as I could find anything to help me before I had to contact MS Press and Measureup support.
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http://support.microsoft.com/kb/946202
MORE INFORMATION
The removal of Windows Internet Explorer 7 from the WSUS catalog in October 2007 stopped the reporting of inventory and deployment for Windows Internet Explorer 7 through the Inventory Tool for Microsoft Updates (ITMU) of Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003. The February 2008 SMS 2003 ITMU cab will include Windows Internet Explorer 7. Until that time, customers can create a standard Windows Internet Explorer 7 MSI installation by using the IEAK 7. 
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Attached is the Ed's presention for the OWSUG from Jan 17th. 
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On January 17th we have a user group meeting where I presented an overview of ConfigMgr and where Ed Aldrich presented an overview of 1E products.
I have to say it was a great success as we had 125% of projected attendance with 40 people! This meant that we ran out of Pizza and Pop but no one complained about it.
As promised I have attached to this blog post the PPT for both presentations.
Look for our next Presentation to be on Feb 21, on steady state workstation given my our very own Todd Lamothe.
My 5 meg PPT is attached. Look for a secodn post with 1E's PPT.
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Yesterday, I wrote the hardest exam every.. 70-431 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance. I choose this exam as a way to help me get my MCT but that is another story. Anyways, a small study group formed and we worked every Saturday for 2 months to finish the MS Press book! Then the Vista 620 study group came into being and that brought the SQL study group to a standstill. So after passing both 70-620 and 70-622 I started back on the 431 exam, since I did put all that hard work into study for it.
This exam was broken into two parts, 35 question and 12 simulations!
I found that the simulations where hard mostly because not of the training material that I used to study for this exam had any simulation on them! Yes they did have labs but on their testing software none of them had any simulations. So if you are going to take this exam make or any other exam with simulation make sure that you work your way through the examples and labs in the training material, otherwise you will have no idea how to do anything in the simulations! I’m glad that I did.
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Just after posting the blog stats, I remember that I also want to check out that number of ping backs and comments.
Since April 1 2007 there have been 181 ping backs and 22 comments select count(*) as '# of Comments' from cs_Posts cs_Posts, cs_Sections SEC where cs_Posts.SectionID = Sec.SectionID and Groupid = 3 and cs_Posts.SectionID = 20 and postdate > '2007-04-01' and posttype = 1 and postlevel > 1 select count(*) as '# of ping backs' from cs_Posts cs_Posts, cs_Sections SEC where cs_Posts.SectionID = Sec.SectionID and Groupid = 3 and cs_Posts.SectionID = 20 and postdate > '2007-04-01' and posttype = 0 and postlevel > 1
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Here is the query
select
count(*) as 'Number of post',
sum(totalviews) 'Total # of web views',
avg(totalviews) 'Average # of web views',
sum(aggviews) 'Total # of Agg views',
avg(aggviews) as 'Average # of Agg Views'
from cs_Posts cs_Posts, cs_Sections SEC
where cs_Posts.SectionID = Sec.SectionID
and Groupid = 3
and postauthor = 'Garth' and cs_Posts.SectionID = 20
and postdate > '2007-04-01' 
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Recently I was asked about stats for my blog, so instead of guessing what the stats are I created a SQL query to figure it out.
So with out further ado here are the stats from April 1 2007 until this just before this post. Number of post 325
Total # of web views 49042
Average # of web views 150
Total # of Agg views 96404
Average # of Agg Views 296
I wonder what my stats would have been like if I kept my blog on the www.myITforum.com site?
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select * from v_R_System sys
where sys.ResourceId not in (
Select resourceID from v_gs_computer_system)
and Client0 = 1 
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Select
CS.Name0,
right(filename,4),
count(right(filename,4))
from
dbo.v_GS_SoftwareFile SF,
dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM CS
Where
right(filename,4) in ('.exe', '.dll')
and CS.resourceID = SF.resourceID
Group by
CS.Name0,
right(filename,4)
order by
CS.Name0
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IT Pros, Developers, IT Managers, and Architects–get ready for the Microsoft launch event of the year! Heroes Happen Here kicks off its Canadian tour on February 27, 2008, with the debut of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008. Get an in-depth and up-close look at the new products. Meet with Microsoft experts, technology partners, and members of the development teams who created the cutting-edge technologies. Plus, take home a promotional pack containing all three new products. Join us and see how the new products can help you be the hero to your organization as you drive your business forward!
The URL of the homepage is http://www.microsoft.ca/technet/launch Launch Events: With software experts and development teams on-hand for demonstrations and Q&A sessions, the myriad events that make up Heroes Happen Here will show you how new products Windows Server® 2008 operating system, Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 and Microsoft Visual Studio® 2008 can help you meet your challenges and free up time in your day. Network with peers at pre-Launch events; learn how to manage change at Technical Readiness events; and gain an comprehensive understanding of how the new products can help you optimize your IT operations and be the hero to your organization. At the launch events, you will find a partner pavilion and a community zone for you to explore.
Technical Readiness Events: Will show you how new products Windows Server® 2008 operating system, Microsoft® SQL Server® 2008 and Microsoft Visual Studio® 2008 can help you meet your challenges and free up time in your day.
Community Connection Events: These pre-launch events occur from 6pm to 9pm the evening before the main launch events. In today’s constantly changing world, everything from our jobs to the technology is moving at a rapid pace. As such, it is important to build out a plan to grow our skills and network to help guide and support our career. Brought to you in collaboration with CIPS and ICTC, these interactive workshops will look at some of the core changes that are occurring from a technology, industry, community and career perspective - sharing experiences and connecting you with key individuals in your community to support your plan.
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As SMSUG.ca member you will receive a 25% discount on the Advanced SoftGrid training course offered by Big Hat Group and GridMasterTraining.com in downtown Toronto March 3-7, 2008.
GridMasterTraining.com is a course developed between Tim Mangan (Microsoft MVP) of TMugent Technologies and Kevin Kaminski of Big Hat Group. This course is intended for those who wish to get a quick and in depth jumpstart on the Microsoft SoftGrid platform. Basic concepts will be covered but the focus is to get under the covers by exposing real world design considerations, operational practices and troubleshooting.For full details and the course outline, follow this link: Softgrid TrainingThe normal cost is $2000 per person for the five day program, but contact Kevin Kaminski directly at kevin.kaminski@bighatgroup.com and inform him that you are an SMSUG.ca member, and you'll recieve a 25% discount on the March 3-7 course. Not a member of SMSUG yet, then this is the perfect time. Our membership is free and easy. Just join here.
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SELECT v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.Name0, v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.Manufacturer0, v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.Model0, v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.UserName0
FROM dbo.v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM
WHERE v_GS_COMPUTER_SYSTEM.Model0='Virtual Machine' 
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SMSUG.ca members will receive a 25% discount on the Advanced SoftGrid training course offered by Big Hat Group and GridMasterTraining.com in downtown Toronto March 3-7, 2008.
GridMasterTraining.com is a course developed between Tim Mangan (Microsoft MVP) of TMugent Technologies and Kevin Kaminski of Big Hat Group. This course is intended for those who wish to get a quick and in depth jumpstart on the Microsoft SoftGrid platform. Basic concepts will be covered but the focus is to get under the covers by exposing real world design considerations, operational practices and troubleshooting.
For full details and the course outline, follow this link: Softgrid Training
The normal cost is $2000 per person for the five day program, but contact Kevin Kaminski directly at kevin.kaminski@bighatgroup.com and inform him that you are an SMSUG.ca member, and you'll recieve a 25% discount on the March3-7 course.
Not a member of SMSUG yet, then this is the perfect time. Our membership is free and easy. Just join here. 
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Upcoming UG Meeting 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:
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, OntarioK1P 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
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select SMS_R_System.Name, SMS_R_System.SMSAssignedSites, SMS_R_System.IPAddresses, SMS_R_System.IPSubnets, SMS_R_System.OperatingSystemNameandVersion, SMS_R_System.ResourceDomainORWorkgroup, SMS_R_System.LastLogonUserDomain, SMS_R_System.LastLogonUserName, SMS_R_System.SMSUniqueIdentifier, SMS_R_System.ResourceId, SMS_R_System.NetbiosName from SMS_R_System inner join SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM on SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.ResourceID = SMS_R_System.ResourceId where SMS_R_System.OperatingSystemNameandVersion like "%Workstation 5.1%" and (not SMS_G_System_OPERATING_SYSTEM.CSDVersion = "Service Pack 2") 
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Winnipeg Jan 22, 2008
Victoria Jan 22, 2008
Vancouver Jan 24, 2008
Ottawa Jan 24, 2008
Calgary Jan 29, 2008
Toronto Jan 29, 2008
Edmonton Jan 31, 2008
London Jan 31, 2008
Mississauga Feb 05, 2008
Montreal Feb 05, 2008
Québec Feb 06, 2008 Register for your local event on Microsoft Events and Webcasts
Event Overview
It’s a constantly changing landscape.
Right now, people are relying on you to help drive your business forward. They want you to make critical data available to them… wherever, whenever. They want you to enable real-time market insights. They want you to help them make instant connections with their colleagues and suppliers and customers.
How can you navigate it?
Join us at the latest IT Executive Roadmap Winter Tour to find out.
This three-hour morning presentation offers an in-depth examination of three core Business Productivity solutions showing how you can help:
· Improve insights through Business Intelligence (BI)
· Secure and manage content through Enterprise Content Management (ECM); and,
· Work smarter with Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C). 
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Ellen and I would like wish you all the best in the New Year. 
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