Your Microsoft Dynamics GP Product Management & Marketing team:
Errol Schoenfish
Pam Misialek
Jay Manley
Jen Dorsey
Gerice Anderson
Darrin Hawley
While this blog is technically "owned" by the Microsoft Dynamics GP Product Management and Marketing team, it truly belongs to ALL of those who call themselves a part of the Microsoft Dynamics GP community!
Hello everyone,
It is with great excitement, we are announcing the availability of the second of the two Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM VPC images. The VPC that is available starting today is called “Core-Plus.” Many of you have been waiting for the comprehensive (i.e. Business Portal, Dashboards, Workflow…etc!) Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM VPC and we are here to say that the wait is over! Here are the details:
What is the Platform Utilized for this Technical Demonstration Toolkit?
Many of you are aware that we adopted HyperV technology for the BETA Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Technical Demonstration Toolkits. HyperV really gave us some great performance gains and allow us to truly demo the full Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 solution by supporting 64-bit guest operating systems (required by Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010.) With this technology, it also presented some administrative challenges (running HyperV on your laptops….etc.) Well, we listened. “Core-Plus” utilizes the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 platform.
Why did you name this new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM VPC “Core-Plus?”
We named the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM VPC “Core-Plus” because it is designed for more of the “Advanced Management” type demonstrations “plus” all of the “Core” Business Essentials type demonstrations. These demonstration toolkits focus on the broad spectrum of capabilities that Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 has to offer. Management Reporter for Microsoft Dynamics ERP is also installed and configured on this VPC. We have also included Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus. Functionality like Workflow and Business Portal ARE ENABLED on this VPC. In all, this new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “Core-Plus” VPC is a very comprehensive and powerful demonstration tool.
What Are the Key Programs Installed?
1. Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 (RTM) – FULL INSTALL
2. Management Reporter for Microsoft Dynamics ERP
3. Business Portal 5.0 for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
4. Workflow for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
5. Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Dashboards
6. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2
7. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
8. Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
9. Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder 2.0
10. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SRS Reports for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
11. Microsoft Office 2010 – Professional Plus
12. Word Forms for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
13. Audit Trails and Electronic Signatures
14. Advanced Human Resources and Payroll
15. Extender, SmartList Builder, Excel Report Builder and Navigation List Builder
16. IW Specific Demonstrations
Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “Core-Plus” VPC PartnerSource Download Page:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/methodology/vpc/MSDYGP2010_RTM_CorePlusTechDemoToolkit
Documentation???
When you download and extract the files for the new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “Core-Plus” VPC, you will see an IMPORTANT INFORMATION folder. This folder contains the “How To Setup and Use “Core-Plus” document. This document is a KEY document which contains important information on how to setup and use the new “Core-Plus” VPC. The VPC Skills Builder Best Practices document is another key document that can help you optimize the performance of the VPC. You will also see the zipped up: Online MR Training Course (There are no training manuals for MR at this time.) Within this folder, you will find word docs and power points that are very informative regarding Management Reporter. We have also included the help files for the Professional Services Tools Library. This toolset can help you customize Microsoft Dynamics GP Master Record Data….etc. Finally, you will find a Extender/SmartListBuilder/Excel Report Builder Demonstration Script. For your information, this “IMPORTANT INFORMATION” Folder is also on the Desktop of the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “Core-Plus” VPC.
Does this have Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 Installed?
No. Unfortunately, Microsoft Virtual PC only supports 32 Bit guest operating systems, so we will not be able to integrate with Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 (new External List functionality.)
What about HyperV?
As mentioned previously when we launched the “CoreMR” VPC, we will convert “CoreMR” and “Core-Plus” over to the HyperV platform, for those of you who choose to utilize HyperV. This will take place in late September- early October.
Is Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Service Pack 1 Installed on this VPC? How about “CoreMR?”
No. Unfortunately, SP1 was released yesterday (9/22/10.) As a result, we did not have the time to install and test the new service pack. We will test it, and provide an updated “CoreMR” and “Core-Plus” GP 2010 RTM VPC as soon as possible.
What about a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 or Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Integrated VPC?
In October, we will be taking the “CoreMR” VPC and installing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and the Connector For Microsoft Dynamics. We will likely provide a HyperV version as well. The Connector for Microsoft Dynamics will not likely be compatible with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 until Calendar Q4 2010/Calendar Q1 2011. We will look to create a demonstration toolkit that integrates Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 as soon as possible.
Important Points to Remember:
1. We highly encouraged you to view the “Core-Plus” Setup/Introduction Video: Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM "Core-Plus" VPC Introduction Setup Video . (Check back to the download page on PartnerSource. We will upload additional instructional videos associated with this VPC.)
2. You must utilize the .vmc (virtual machine configuration) files that get extracted with the .vhd (virtual hard disk) files in order for the “Core-Plus” VPC to function correctly.
3. There are two .vmc (Virtual Machine Configuration Files) files and two .vhd (Virtual Hard Disk Files) respectively.
4. We have created a separate Domain Controller VPC that needs to be running simultaneously with the “Core-Plus” VPC in order for this technical demonstration toolkit to function correctly.
5. Please pay close attention to the IMPORTANT INFORMATION folder that gets extracted from the .rar files. (It is also located on the Desktop of the “Core-Plus” VPC
6. The “Core-Plus” VPC is only supported on the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 platform. You will not be able to utilize the new Windows7 Virtual PC Platform. (In some cases, you may need to uninstall Windows7 Virtual PC from your laptops as it cannot “Coexist” on the same machine with Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1.
7. The Microsoft Dynamics GP Technical Support Team does NOT provide technical support for VPC’s. If you have a question, please contact your regional Partner Technology Advisor. If you have general feedback regarding the new “CoreMR” VPC, feel free to email: mbsgp@microsoft.com
I would like to say a very special thanks to the Microsoft Dynamics ERP/GP Demonstration Toolkit v-team. John Dooley, Lyle Curry, Jason Siever! You all spent countless hours on these new demonstration toolkits. I cannot thank you enough for the hundreds of hours you all put in to make this project a success!! I would also like to thank Corey Davidson’s Microsoft Dynamics GP Technical Support Team for being instrumental in the build process of the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “Core-Plus” Technical Demonstration Toolkit. In reality, so many people were involved in helping us build these VPC’s! I know I am forgetting some additional team members who helped with this project, so I apologize in advance. Thanks again!
Happy Demoing everyone!
Thanks, Ben Corwin, John Dooley, Lyle Curry and Jason Siever (the GP 2010 VPC v-team)
P.S. As many of you have experienced, the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 BETA images expired on 8/31/10. There is no easy way to reset the expiration date for these virtual machines. You will need to download and utilize “CoreMR” or “Core-Plus” for your immediate demonstrations. Please have your partners download this new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “CoreMR” or “Core-Plus” Technical Demonstration Toolkit as soon as possible in order to avoid any demo interruptions!
In addition, many of you asked for a direct link to the GP 2010 “CoreMR” VPC on PartnerSource. Here it is:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/deployment/methodology/vpc/MSDYGP2010_RTM_CoreMR_TechDemoToolkit
While this summer found many of us in Product Management catching a bit of a break after an incredibly busy (and quite successful!) launch of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, it is very apparent that our GP development team hasn't been sitting idle! Just this morning we received the internal announcement of the availability of Service Pack 1 for Microsoft Dynamics GP! On top of the typical updates and fixes, this release also marks the first step towards launching a new Online Services for Microsoft Dynamics GP (more on that in a blog post coming VERY soon!). You can download the service pack here:
CustomerSource: https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/downloads/servicepacks/mdgp2010_patchreleases.htm?printpage=false
PartnerSource: https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/downloads/servicepack/mdgp2010_patchreleases.htm?printpage=false
If you haven't already upgraded to Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010, with the release of Service Pack 1 now official, my only question is...what are you waiting for?!
AndyW
I recently learned that we have a Dynamics ERP webcast calendar. It has all of the webcasts planned that customers or partners can attend.
New learning for me, so I thought I'd let everyone know.
http://www.microsoft.com/events/webcasts/calendar/monthview.aspx
Pam
We have two Dynamics GP web seminars coming in September. I've working on the content the last couple weeks and they should be a good spend of your time. They focus on two important topics we've heard from our community.
We're planning others for October as well. When new ones get posted you will see them on CustomerSource under events.
These will be recorded and you can watch them on demand if needed. Please plan to attend. Partners, educate your customers and get the word out.
As with every release of Microsoft Dynamics GP, our test team has been hard at work creating the latest and greatest performance benchmark tests to help illustrate the incredible scalability and performance that Microsoft Dynamics GP can deliver. The latest benchmarks prove yet again that even under the most strenuous of environments, Microsoft Dynamics GP continues to perform!
Recently, the Microsoft Dynamics GP team completed 3 separate performance benchmark tests. They were:
1. 500 constant concurrent users in the rich Microsoft Dynamics GP client, all engaged in heavy transaction processing or analysis activity across various functional areas of the solution.
2. 500 constant concurrent users in the rich Microsoft Dynamics GP client in addition to 10 instances of continuous (synchronous) integrating Web Services clients creating Sales Order transactions.
3. US Payroll testing, including both check processing and payroll reporting for a 30,000 employee organization.
As you can see from the results below, the performance benchmark numbers are very impressive...
User Test
Transactions per 8 hour day
Transaction Lines per 8 hour day
1. 500 concurrent users
2.96 million transactions
9.85 million transaction lines
2. 500 concurrent users + 10 Web Service instances
3.20 million transactions
11.29 million transaction lines
Payroll Test
Time to complete
3. 30,000 employee check run & reporting
· Build, Calculate, Print, and Post 30,000 checks: 8 Hours
· Month-End Reporting: 1.56 Hours
· Year-End Reporting: 49.4 Minutes
· Total time for check processing and reporting: 10.4 Hours
Customers and Partners can download the complete White Paper detailing these three tests and their results here: https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/documentation/whitepapers/MSD_GP2010ScalabilityPerfomance
500 vs. 1,000 Concurrent Users
Those with knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics GP's history around benchmark testing may question why this test focused on 500 concurrent users as opposed to the previous 1,000 concurrent user tests. The answer is quite simple. Previous benchmark tests for Microsoft Dynamics GP were done in a 1,000 concurrent user environment, and were focused on proving the user scalability potential of the system. Based on real-world customer feedback, Microsoft’s goal has shifted to focus more on transaction throughput in a user environment more in-line with Microsoft Dynamics GP’s target market. In addition to this change in focus, a new test has been added to simulate common real-world environments where customers are leveraging Web Services for Microsoft Dynamics GP to import data from external systems while users engage in heavy transaction processing. As a result of this change in focus and the continuing evolution of the testing hardware and environment, readers should not compare outcomes of these tests against previous versions of performance benchmark results.
We hope you enjoy this latest testament to the great scalability of Microsoft Dynamics GP!
Presented by the Dynamics GP User Group (GPUG), the GPUG Summit is the annual conference for Dynamics GP users, GPUG Partners and key Dynamics GP personnel from Microsoft. It's coming up in October and I think you should consider attending.
It is October 25-28 with additional trainings before and after. https://www.regonline.com/gpug_summit_2010
Partner Connections is the 23rd and 24th focused on consultants. http://www.gppartnerconnections.com/.
It is with great excitement, we are announcing the availability of the first of two Microsoft Dynamics GP RTM VPC images. The VPC that is available starting today is called “CoreMR.” Many of you have been waiting for a new and improved RTM version of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 VPC’s and we are here to say that the first VPC is finally here! Here are the details:
VPC...Yep, you heard correctly.
Many of you are aware that we adopted HyperV technology for the BETA Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Technical Demonstration Toolkits. HyperV really gave us some great performance gains and allow us to truly demo the full Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 solution by supporting 64-bit guest operating systems (required by Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010.) With this technology, it also presented some administrative challenges (running HyperV on your laptops….etc.) Well, we listened. “CoreMR” utilizes the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 platform.
Why did you name this new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM VPC “CoreMR?”
We named the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM VPC “CoreMR” because it is designed for more of the “Business Essentials” type demonstrations. These demonstrations focus more around the “Core” back-office functionality that Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 has to offer. Of course, when you are demoing this “Core” functionality, it is often a requirement to demonstrate Financial Reporting/Corporate Performance Management…..i.e. “MR” or better known as Management Reporter for Microsoft Dynamics ERP. We have also included Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Plus. Functionality like Workflow and Business Portal are NOT enabled on this VPC. In all, this new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “CoreMR” is a very streamlined, yet powerful demonstration tool.
3. Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2
4. Microsoft SQL Server 2008
5. Microsoft SQL Server Report Builder 2.0
6. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SRS Reports for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
7. Microsoft Office 2010 – Professional Plus
8. Word Forms for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010
9. Audit Trails and Electronic Signatures
10. Advanced Human Resources and Payroll
11. Extender, SmartList Builder, Excel Report Builder and Navigation List Builder
PartnerSource Download Page:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/Cms/Templates/document/General.aspx?NRMODE=Published&NRNODEGUID={7D4EB861-2321-43A4-943D-DAD61342978A}&NRORIGINALURL=/partnersource/deployment/methodology/vpc/MSDYGP2010_RTM_CoreMR_TechDemoToolkit&NRCACHEHINT=Guest&wa=wsignin1.0
When you download and extract the files for the new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “Core-Plus” VPC, you will see an IMPORTANT INFORMATION folder. This folder contains the “How To Setup and Use “CoreMR.” This document is a KEY document which contains important information on how to setup and use the new “CoreMR” VPC. The VPC Skills Builder Best Practices document is another key document that can help you optimize the performance of the VPC. You will also see the zipped up: Online MR Training Course (There are no training manuals for MR at this time.) Within this folder, you will find word docs and power points that are very informative regarding Management Reporter. We have also included the help files for the Professional Services Tools Library. This toolset can help you customize Microsoft Dynamics GP Master Record Data….etc. Finally, you will find a Extender/SmartListBuilder/Excel Report Builder Demonstration Script. For your information, this “IMPORTANT INFORMATION” Folder is also on the Desktop of the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “CoreMR” VPC.
Will you be releasing an all-encompassing VPC that will include functionality like Business Portal and Workflow?
Yes. We will soon be releasing a Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “Core-Plus” VPC. Yep, another demonstration image on Microsoft Virtual PC!! Of course, this will have all the features of Core and then “Plus.” This VPC will have key functionality like Workflow and Business Portal. With “Core-Plus,” you will be able to demo between 90-95% of the total solution. Again, unfortunately Microsoft Virtual PC only supports 32 Bit guest operating systems, so we will not be able to integrate with Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 (new External List functionality.)
We will also be converting “CoreMR” and “CorePlus” over to the HyperV platform, for those of you who choose to utilize HyperV. This will take place in mid-late September.
What about a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Integrated VPC?
In October, we will be taking the aforementioned “CoreMR” VPC and installing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and the Connector For Microsoft Dynamics. We will likely provide a HyperV version as well.
1. You must utilize the .vmc (virtual machine configuration) file that gets extracted with the .vhd (virtual hard disk) file in order for the “CoreMR” VPC to function correctly.
2. We promoted this machine to be a domain controller for Management Reporter for Microsoft Dynamics ERP
3. Please pay close attention to the IMPORTANT INFORMATION folder that gets extracted from the .rar files. (It is also located on the Desktop of the “CoreMR” VPC
4. The “CoreMR” VPC is only supported on the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1 platform. You will not be able to utilize the new Windows7 Virtual PC Platform. (In some cases, you may need to uninstall Windows7 Virtual PC from your laptops as it cannot “Coexist” on the same machine with Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 SP1.
5. The Microsoft Dynamics GP Technical Support Team does NOT provide technical support for VPC’s. If you have a question, please contact your regional Partner Technology Advisor. If you have general feedback regarding the new “CoreMR” VPC, feel free to email: mbsgp@microsoft.com
I would like to say a very special thanks to the Microsoft Dynamics ERP/GP Demonstration Toolkit v-team. John Dooley, Lyle Curry, Jason Siever, you all spent countless hours on these new demonstration toolkits. I cannot thank you enough for the hundreds of hours you all put in to make this project a success!! I would also like to thank Corey Davidson’s Microsoft Dynamics GP Technical Support Team for being instrumental in the build process of the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “CoreMR” Technical Demonstration Toolkit. In reality, so many people were involved in helping us build these VPC’s! I know I am forgetting some additional team members who helped with this project, so I apologize in advance. Thanks again!
P.S. As many of you have experienced, the Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 BETA images expired on 8/31/10. There is no easy way to reset the expiration date for these virtual machines. You will need to download and utilize “CoreMR” for your immediate demonstrations. “Core-Plus” will be available within the next two weeks. Please have your partners download this new Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 RTM “CoreMR” Technical Demonstration Toolkit as soon as possible in order to avoid any demo interruptions!