The Support and Escalation Teams have released a new whitepaper to help you understand better how to support, optimize and maintain Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.  This is also a good read if you're considering a new implementation of Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010.  From the document:

The purpose of this white paper is to complement, rather than replace, existing resources that are specific to optimizing and maintaining the components of a Microsoft Dynamics GP implementation. This white paper provides relevant information on maintaining and optimizing a Microsoft Dynamics GP environment as well as links to related resources that may offer additional guidance. This white paper also provides a starting point for troubleshooting performance issues with Microsoft Dynamics GP.  If you are experiencing performance issues with Microsoft Dynamics GP, please review this white paper to ensure your environment meets the recommendations provided. 

Important: The optimization techniques and performance improvements provided in this paper are based on a Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 implementation with a standard configuration. When considering the applicability of the information provided in this paper to a specific implementation, be sure to keep in mind the following points:

• Depending on the level of customization in a specific Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 implementation, these techniques may perform differently or yield varying results.
• Verify the functionality and performance impact of any of these optimization techniques before implementing them in a production environment.

Important: Create backup copies of all databases before performing any of the optimization techniques described in this white paper.

If you have basic questions regarding the content in the white paper, please contact Microsoft using the links below:

Customers:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/support

Partners:
https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/support/
https://partner.microsoft.com/US/Partner

If you would like assistance applying the recommendations to your system or would like assistance with continued performance issues following the review of the white paper, please contact your Partner or e-mail askpts@microsoft.com to arrange for an advisory services engagement.

Key Contributors:                                                         Technical Reviewers:
Chad Aberle - Sr. Escalation Engineer                            Microsoft Dynamics GP Escalation Engineers
Kelly Youells - Sr. Support Escalation Engineer              Microsoft Dynamics GP Support Team

The document can be downloaded at:

https://mbs.microsoft.com/customersource/documentation/whitepapers/MDGP2010_WhitePaper_Performance

Jay Manley

Today we are releasing our first-ever 64-bit Hyper-V image for Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2.  This image, as we previously discussed, is actually a set of 3 images.  We have discussed many aspects of this image previously in our blog at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/gp/ but here are a few highlights: 

Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2 RTM VPC PartnerSource Download Page:

https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/marketing/marketingcollateral/demos/MSDYN_GP2010R2HyperVDemoImageSet

GP-A (2GB) – Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

• Active Directory Services – Need that for Dynamics GP (domain controller)
• Exchange 2010 SP1 – Mail Server
• Office 2010 x64

GP-B (4GB) – Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

• Remote Desktop Services
• Lync Client 2010 – Gives you presence information when demoing Dynamics GP
• SharePoint 2010 Foundation SP1
• SQL 2008 R2 SP1
• SSRS Report Builder
• Office 2010 x86 SP1
• PowerPivot 2010 – For deeper BI experience
• Visual Studio 2010 SP1 – For developer experience
• Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2
• Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Analyzer
• Management Reporter
• Forecaster

GP-C (2GB) – Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1

• Lync Server 2010 – Personas are created and have Lync accounts

The idea is that you can start the parts that you need.  In the future, we might add other images to support other functionality. 

We will also be releasing along with this image a document that discusses creating a dual-boot machine (assuming Windows 7 is your primary OS) and we will also be releasing a Hyper-V image of Windows 2008 R2 Server to use as the secondary OS.  This is an option if you don’t have a server to run the image on.

The image will also have many new databases:

• Databases from previous installs will be used – Fabrikam (TWO, TWO-A), CES, USD and CAD
• Industry databases to be added – FM and FF (Public Sector), PHONE, BIKES, and SUBS – These are from the Industry DVDs that were sent out in GP 9, but might add value in demo scenarios
• We will include a file that you can download separately that has many walk-through demo scripts from GP 9.  While they have not been updated, and while the  ones that required ISV products are there, but we have not installed the ISV product, they can be used for a good basis of a new demo script that you create.

Supported Scenarios

• For all functionality, the user will need to change the system date to anything in the year 2018.  If that is not done, then all reports/analysis/BI will appear as “0” information.
• Business Analyzer – Set up and working (see year change above).
• SSRS and Excel Reporting – Set up and working – Excel reports deployed.
• Workflow - Installed and activated each workflow type.  User can then go in and setup a PO workflow if they want.  Did not setup the actual workflow or activate it in the company.
• Web Services – Installed and functional.  No setup here except for whats needed for Business Portal and Workflow.
• Payroll – Tax tables are installed.
• Management Reporter and Forecaster – Installed and functional.
• Extender / Smart List Builder – Installed and functional.
• Business Portal – All modules are installed.  A basic req hierarchy is set up and assigned to the company.  BP is setup for all companies.
• Users – Phyllis is setup in Dynamics GP and Business Portal.  Phyllis is set up as the Accounting Specialist in Business Portal, which means she can see financials.

Enjoy this demo image set, and wishes for much business success with it!

Special thank you to: Kelly Youells, Lyle Curry, Jason Siever, Ryan Sandness, Daniel Sly, Jon Studsrud, and John Dooley for your help to make this release a success!

Jay Manley

I know there is some concern out there right now as the current Dynamics GP VPC and Hyper-V image "time bomb" today.  It was our intention to have the new 64-bit Hyper-V out and available today so that this wouldn't have been an issue, but with a couple of technical glitches, and people out on Holiday leave, we're been delayed just a bit.

I'll post on here as soon as it's available, but would assume that it'll be no later than Wednesday end-of-day, as it's already going through the "signing and scrubbing" process.  After that, it's just a matter of getting it on PartnerSource.

In the interim - changing the system date on your hardware might help...

Jay

Shortly, the image set for the Microsoft Dynamics GP Hyper-V image will be released.  In the past, this has typically meant that we have shipped with just a couple of databases – mainly “TWO” and “CES”.  With this image, we are releasing it with many more databases than past releases.

These databases are included “as is” and while I cannot say that you’ll get a use out of all of them, I’m hoping that you’ll be able to build more industry-based focused demos with at least one of them.

• “TWO” and “TWO-A” will be back in this image – TWO-A is a copy of TWO.
• “CES” – The consumer electronics dataset is also back.
• “USD” and “CAD” – These might be useful for multicurrency applications.
• “FF” and “FM” – These are public sector databases and can be used nicely in that vertical.
• “PHONES”, “BIKES”, and “SUBS” – All of these again are from industry DVDs that were sent out in the time of Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0, and should add value in vertical industry demos.

I will be packaging some of the demo scripts and powerpoints that were shipped on the DVDs originally.  While they will not be perfect, and we are not updating them from Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0, they should help you with building your own demo scripts on Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2.

Very soon, the image set will ship.  We hope that it’ll bring many successful sales and deep demo experiences!

Jay

In a previous blog, I talked about the move to a 64-bit Hyper-V image, and the reasons why.  Now, with the inevitable end to our 32-bit VPC image, I thought I would give you an update on where we are.

The image set (and I’ll discuss that more in a second) is designed to run on any machine that can run a Hyper-V (typically Windows 2008 R2 Server), and has at least 8GB of RAM, approx. 200GB of free hard disk space (or an external hard disk with appropriate space and a quick enough interface – preferably USB3), and at least a dual core processor. 

As most sales consultants don’t want to run Windows 2008 R2 Server as their primary operating system on a laptop, we will publish with the image a guide to help explain how you can take a Windows 7-based laptop and create a dual-boot-to-VHD (dual boot to a Windows 2008 R2 Server Hyper-V image) scenario.

We will deliver a few different things with this Hyper-V:

• A guide on how to set up a dual-boot system to run the Microsoft Dynamics GP image set
• A Windows 2008 R2 Server Hyper-V image to be used in the dual-boot system
• Guides for the Microsoft Dynamics GP image set
• A image set to be used for demonstration purposes – this set will at least initially come in three parts:
• Image A – This image is our domain controller for the demo, and runs in 2GB of memory, and also contains:
  • Active Directory Services – Need that for Dynamics GP (domain controller)
  • Exchange 2010 SP1 – Mail Server
  • Office 2010 x64

• Image B – This image is the Microsoft Dynamics GP image, and runs in 4GB of memory, and also contains:

  • Remote Desktop Services – Can help for multi-user scenarios/multi-instance
  • Lync Client 2010 – Gives you presence information when demoing Dynamics GP
  • SharePoint 2010 Foundation SP1
  • SQL 2008 R2 SP1
  • SSRS Report Builder
  • Office 2010 x86 SP1
  • PowerPivot 2010 – For deeper BI experience
  • Visual Studio 2010 SP1 – For developer experience
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2
  • Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Analyzer
  • Management Reporter
  • Forecaster
• Image C – This image is the Lync Server, and runs in 2GB of memory.  This image is only needed for demos where you want to use Lync and indicate presence.  Otherwise it does not need to be started.  If you want to run this part of the image, you’ll need at least 10GB of memory since the image set will use 8GB ram and the Windows Server Hyper-V image will require another 2GB ram.

 Very soon, the image set will ship.  We hope that it’ll bring many successful sales and deep demo experiences!

I wanted to send out a quick note to make sure you are aware that the Customer Excellence Awards nominations for Convergence are now open.

The Customer Excellence Awards recognize, honor, and celebrate customer organizations that are achieving outstanding success with their Microsoft solutions. There are nine (9) categories this year, including the Dynamic Business Award which will recognize the organization that best exemplifies a true dynamic business with their use of Microsoft Dynamics ERP, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and other Microsoft technologies.

This is a great way to recognize your customers and have them recognized by Microsoft as well!

 Nominations are made by partners and start, December 5 and go through January 9!

 AwardCategories this year are:

Dynamics Business Award

Champion

Cloud Transformation

Global Business Excellence

Industry Excellence

OngoingEvangelism

Operations Agility

Productivity

Technology Innovation

Please click here to learn more and start nominating your customers today!

Remember,we need Microsoft Dynamics GPpartners to nominate their customers.

This doesn’t happen without you!

Happy to let you all know that eOne is holding two hour trainings on SmartList Builder.  Even if you are an expert you will learn something in these sessions.  It is our number one add-on product for Microsoft Dynamics GP so if you are not using it, it might benefit you to take a look at it.

1:00-3:00 CST

1/4/12 – “Advanced SmartList Builder”

1/11/12 – “Intro to SmartList Builder”

1/18/12 – “Advanced SmartList Builder”

1/25/12 – “Intro to SmartList Builder”

2/1/12 – “Advanced SmartList Builder”

$200.00 per person

To find out more:  www.eonesolutions.com

GPUG has announced their annual all star award.  Congrat to these people who work so hard to make our community strong.

Pam

2011 GPUG All Star
Award recipients were announced and recognized at Summit in Las Vegas - thank
you, Bob, John and Zubin for all you do for the GPUG community! http://www.gpug.com/news/2011gpugallstarwinners

GPUG
- Microsoft Dynamics GP User Group - Microsoft Dynamics GP User Group Announces
2011 All Star A

www.gpug.com

The Microsoft Dynamics GP User Group (GPUG®) released the recipients of the
inaugural GPUG All Star Award. These winners were announced and recognized at
the recent 2011 GPUG Summit at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV

View
article...

Mariano Gomez has created a series of articles that recaps much of what we shared as far as our plans around Microsoft Dynamics GP "12", from architecture to feature lists.

His series of blogs are here:

Microsoft Dynamics GP Roadmap Update - Welcome codename GP "15"

Codename GP "12" Preliminary Features Series - 1 of 4

Codename GP "12" Preliminary Features Series - 2 of 4

Codename GP "12" Preliminary Features Series - 3 of 4

Codename GP "12" Preliminary Features Series - 4 of 4

Codename GP "12" Preliminary Features Series - Wrap Up

I would invite you to take a look at them as they have a lot of great insight, and really are the foundation of what we will be showing you at Convergence 2012.  What?  You say you're not going?  If you are a strong supporter and want to see the future direction of Dynamics GP, you really need to be there.  We have an exciting product to show you, one that we feel changes the way that you not only will use the product, but also how you can make better and more informed decisions.

As Errol mentioned in a previous blog, Convergence is CLOSE!  Especially when you consider the holidays.  So, come and join us at Convergence 2012 in Houston, TX, and learn all about Dynamics GP "12".  In the meantime, enjoy Mariano's articles!