OLW - Help your study group make the grade (or any group project)
08 May 09 03:01 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

There are many ways Microsoft Office Live Workspace beta can make your life easier. Today, we’ll show you how to use a workspace for your next group project.

A workspace gives you a single online place where your group can store notes and schedules, and create a final report, without having to merge separate documents. It’s simple:

1. Create your group workspace
Start from scratch, or use the project or study group workspace templates.

 

2. Add your files
Install the Office Live Update to save documents to your workspace directly from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

 

3. Share the workspace with your group
Let them view and edit the files—so everyone is always working on the latest version. Remember, you can revert to a previous version if necessary.


Sign in to create a workspace for your next group project.

(How are you using Workspace to make life easier? Tell us your story—and get ideas from others—on our blog.)

Next time:  Backing up your important files with Office Live Workspace.
Baking FCS into your image
08 May 09 02:56 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

Here’s some reache we did to help customers deploy Forefont Client Seurity via imaging process.   

1.       If you want the FCS clients in managed mode (go to your WSUS for updates and report to your MOM console:

Install FCS via the command line to the image:

Clientsetup.exe /MS xxx /CG xxxxx

 

MOM installation parameters:

/MS    Collection Server Name (Required if /CG pres

/CG    Config Group Name (Required if /MS present)

 

After which this client cannot talk back to the management server until you reimage a machine. If it does the mom server will assign a unique identifier to this client and all other clients trying to connect after imaging will error out.

 

You can streamline the update process a bit by following the instructions on the following link.

http://blogs.technet.com/fcsnerds/archive/2009/04/01/slipstreaming-a-client-security-client-installation.aspx

 

2.       If you want clients to be unmanaged (go to Microsoft Update and no reporting to your management console):

Install FCS via the command line to the image:

Clientsetup.exe /nomom

 

Plus you need to opt these machines into MU to get updates which is not the default, WU is the default on Windows.

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Microsoft Unified Communications (MUC) User Group
27 April 09 04:34 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

We are pleased to invite you to the first meeting of the Microsoft Unified Communications User Group for Educational Institutions.

 

This is an independent group that encourages communication between users of (and people interested in) Microsoft Unified Communication products and services.  Sentri understands the value of peer to peer networking and knowledge transfer, and encourages all IT Professionals who are responsible for enabling communications and collaboration within their institutions to attend this User Group and develop a deeper understanding of the Unified Communications platform from Microsoft.

The MUC User Group meetings will host guest speakers from Microsoft, Experts in the UC Space, and Messaging and Collaboration Architects.  Also, presentations from educational institutions that have deployed, or are in the process of deploying, Microsoft Unified Communications will be given. 

The objectives of the groups are:

  • Discuss Deployment best practices
  • Review lessons learned
  • Discuss end-user adoption challenges
  • Review on-premise deployment of Messaging vs. Live@EDU
  • Review Microsoft future roadmap and application strategy

The goal of this meeting is to establish a knowledge and information sharing network which allows and promotes the exchange of ideas, tips and tricks, and discusses latest communication technology trends and their impact on education.  The meeting will be open for discussions and or questions at all times.  We want to promote shared ideas, experiences, and collaboration between attendees.

The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 29th at Polycom Headquarters in Andover MA.   The Second meeting will be held on June 18th at the Microsoft Technology Center in Waltham MA.  Thereafter the members of the User Group will take turns hosting the meetings.

The intended audience for the Sentri MUC User Group is:

  • Educational Institutions who have already deployed Microsoft UC (Voting Members)
  • Educational Institutions who own the Microsoft UC licenses as part of a campus agreement, but have not deployed the technology (Voting Members)
  • Educational Institutions who are planning on Deploying Microsoft UC technology (Adjunct Members)
  • Educational IT and Telecom professionals who are interested in learning more on how Unified Communications is influencing change in communications strategy and education (Participants).

Please feel free to forward this invitation to your colleagues who fit the profile above.  Space is limited, so please register today.

First Meeting:

Date:         Wednesday, April 29th

Time:         10:00AM - 2:00PM (lunch will be provided)

Location:    Polycom Inc.

Polycom Inc. (Freedom Trail Room)

100 Minuteman Rd,

Andover MA 01810

Sentri, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, is one of the first partners in New England to achieve Voice Specialization in the Microsoft Unified Communications competency of the Microsoft Partner Program . Sentri focuses on Educational Institutions and deploying Voice over IP, Microsoft Unified Communications solutions, SharePoint and Microsoft Dynamics CRM (for help desk, admissions, advancement and career counseling). 

Recognized by Microsoft as experts in this area, Alex Beletsky co-founder and Principal of Sentri has been invited to participate as a thought leader in the Microsoft CIO summit in Redmond Washington April 5-7 2009, and will be presenting at ACUTA with Sprint and Microsoft on Advanced Communications at the April Conference in Atlanta.

Please register today via the Microsoft click to attend link below.  You can also register by sending an email to cswartz@sentri.com and indicate your interest in attending.     

Register Here: LINK TO REGISTRATION

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Windows 7 - XP Mode (XPM)
27 April 09 12:25 PM | Matthic | 2 Comments   

This is cool stuff for Windows 7 Application compatability efforts.

 

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/business/archive/2009/04/24/coming-soon-windows-xp-mode-and-windows-virtual-pc.aspx

 

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Happy Earth Day - green IT articles
22 April 09 07:42 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

TechNet Magazine published this special online-only Green IT issue for IT Pros earlier this evening.

 

The issue features a strong collection of new and archived articles, including:

·         Framework for Building a “Hyper-Green” Virtual Server System

·         Planning Your Power Management and Virtualization Strategies

·         Essential Tools for Planning Your Virtual Infrastructure

·         Enforce Power Management Settings in your Organization with Group Policy

·         Sleep or Hibernate?

·         Is It Time to Turn Off Your Servers?

·         Conserving Energy with Group Policy

·         Plan and Optimize Your Infrastructure to be Energy Efficient with System Center

·         Build a Green Datacenter

 

It is worth noting that the release of the magazine not only coincides with Earth Day but, perhaps more importantly, the 1st anniversary of the Sustainable IT online column in the magazine. The issue also nicely compliments a separate Green IT publication released by Microsoft earlier this year for strategic architects: The Architecture Journal – Green IT Computing.

Boston Virtualization User group
21 April 09 03:18 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

Virtualization Group - BostonTheir initial charter is to hold monthly meetings in Waltham Ma on the fourth Thursday of each month.  They had an initial membership drive event in which they pulled in plenty of new members, numerous sponsors and new board members to start this group off right.  Their first regular meeting is this week (Thursday March 26, 2009)They will have a live audience attending and stream it via live meeting for others around the country. 

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MOSS as a LMS?
30 March 09 10:23 AM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

One of our partners - AppointLink did a nice job customizing SharePoint at Yale Law School.  Essentially they were able to replace Backboard LMS with SharePoint functionality.  This may not supplant all of your LMS needs but in many cases its good enough (and way cheaper).

 

Here are some LMS SharePoint videos/demos: 

http://www.youtube.com/user/AppointlinkPortal

 

Dan Glass

Sales Manager

Phone: 314-968-5129

AppointLink Inc.

1600 S. Brentwood Blvd. Suite 220

Brentwood, MO 63144

 

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New Case study - Leveraging IAG and AppV for distance learning
25 March 09 03:20 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

We published a new case study recently.  It highlights how IAG and App-V can be combined to build a distance-learning or remote access solution in the Education sector.

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=4000003808

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Microsoft Virtualization Event in Waltham 4/29 (Waltham, MA)
23 March 09 02:30 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

Server and desktop virtualization is one of the most significant technology advancements in IT environments today, as a key enabler of the next generation data center. With the introduction of Microsoft®, Hyper-V™, server virtualization becomes truly pervasive, reaching all segments of the IT market.

Attend this event learn how a complete virtualization solution from Dell™ can provide a fully virtualized infrastructure that cost-effectively delivers high availability, resiliency, flexibility and scalability.

The following will be covered at the event:

MICROSOFT HYPER-V                                                                 

Discover how Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V can deliver an end-to-end virtualization solution. This data-to-the-desktop solution can dynamically assign server resources and provision workloads through streamlined processes to help improve agency and institution data availability, ensure a robust disaster recovery process and drive optimal resource utilization. Hyper-V can help control costs, improve service levels and drive organizational agility.

CITRIX XENDESKTOP

Learn how to help enable a virtual workforce, simplify desktop management, increase security and ensure compliance using Citrix XenDesktop. Built on top of Microsoft's Windows Server® 2008 Hyper-V and SCVMM, XenDesktop virtualization technology can accompany Microsoft VDI.

DELL EQUALLOGIC™ iSCSI STORAGE

The Dell EqualLogic PS Series Internet SCSI (iSCSI) storage area network (SAN) arrays enable advanced integration with the robust server virtualization offered by the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V virtualization platform offering the storage foundation for a comprehensive virtualization solution.

DELL POWEREDGE™ SERVERS

The ultimate design for virtualization. Innovations including additional memory & I/O capacity help deliver the performance and manageability you need to run an efficient operation. Dell's standards-based servers are designed to simplify server administration and enable modular "pay-as-you-grow" scalability.

DELL SERVICES

Complete virtualization consulting services that include infrastructure assessment, planning, training, and on-site installation and integration. Comprehensive ProSupport offers service-level options you can choose to fit your business priorities.

 

Waltham, MA
Wednesday, April 29
9:00am-12:00pm ET
Microsoft Corporate Office
201 Jones Rd.
Sixth Floor

Register here:
http://www.dellevents.com/eventRoadshowCity.asp?EventID=1007

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IE8 RTW very soon
18 March 09 03:22 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

IE8 is going to release to the web very soon.  It wil not come down via Windows Update for several weeks.  Just like IE7 there is a blocker toolkit for when it does.  Contact matthic for more information.

IE8 launch is coming soon. Get your public site ready today.

 

Windows® Internet Explorer® 8 is Microsoft’s latest web browser, currently available as a release candidate. Unlike previous versions of our web browser, Internet Explorer 8 renders content in the most standards-compliant way possible.  This means that web pages will be displayed in Internet Explorer 8’s standards mode by default. This decision was driven by Microsoft’s Interoperability Principles and their goal of helping developers in the long-run, by allowing them to write one set of code to run on all platforms.

 

Please check to see if your public website is compatible with IE8.

If not compatible, we recommend for you to refer to the following actions and be ready for the launch of IE 8.

 

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

 

·         Preferred: Revise site content to support the standards-compliant default view for web pages in  Internet Explorer 8

 

Internet Explorer 8 supports the HTML 4.01 Specification more closely than any previous version and supports some features of the HTML 5 Specification. This release of Internet Explorer also offers full support for CSS 2.1 and supports some popular features of CSS 3.0.

 

For more information, please see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc817575.aspx.

 

·         Alternative: Tell Internet Explorer 8 to display your site in Internet Explorer 7 mode

 

1)       On a per-site basis, add the HTTP header:  X-UA-Compatible: IE=EmulateIE7

 

2)       On a per-page basis, add a special HTML tag to each document, right after the <title> tag (and before any other tags following <title>): <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=EmulateIE7" />

 

For more information, please see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc817570.aspx.

 

Resources
IE Compatibility Center:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/cc405106.aspx

IE8 home page: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/default.aspx

Internet Explorer Developer Center:  http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/default.aspx

Blocker Toolkit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=21687628-5806-4ba6-9e4e-8e224ec6dd8c&displaylang=en

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Live Search Credits program for Edu
16 March 09 03:15 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

This program is called Search@Work and the basic idea behind it is in return for using Microsoft’s Search Engine www.live.com you will receive service credits that you are able use towards support training and more.

 

Below is additional information on the program:

 

Microsoft is committed to innovation in both the business and technology of search.  Today the search business is built on a model in which the provider realizes all the economic value.  We believe in a different model, one that we’ve successfully pioneered with consumers, in which the searcher shares in the value they create.   The Live Search team is excited to introduce a new program that recognizes and rewards business customers for using Live.com called the Search@Work Rewards Program.

 

What is the offer?

In return for making a non-exclusive commitment to use Live.com for web search, Microsoft rewards you with $2 of service credits per deployed PC, with the potential to earn additional service credit.  All we ask in return is that you do three things on enrolled PCs:

1)       Set Live.com as the default provider and maintain that setting in IE

2)       Install the Windows Live Toolbar and maintain the toolbar as visible  in IE

3)       Install a browser helper object, called the Search Rewards Client, which gathers and reports query volume so Microsoft can accurately measure and assign rewards

 

What can the service credits be used for and how can I access them?

Credits can be used for any mutually agreed offering such as deployment services, architecture planning, training classes, adCenter credits, etc…  You can use MCS, Premier or any 3rd party provider subject to reasonable approval.  Credits are redeemed by working with your account team to determine how to best meet your needs and then your account team and the Search@Work team will process your request.

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Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008 Training - Waltham 3/18 10-4 MPR B
09 February 09 04:43 PM | Matthic | 0 Comments   

I worked with Lee Grant a High Performance Computing Specialist to put a customer HPC training class in the Waltham Office.  Hope to see you there! 

Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008 Deep dive 

Daylong training covering an overview of Microsoft Windows HPC Server 2008.  The training will cover both infrastructure and development issues within HPC Server 2008. The following is a sample of the material that will be covered:

·         Introduction to HPC Server 2008

·         Administration and monitoring.

·         Introduction to the WCF Broker.

·         Introduction to HPC Development with HPC Server 2008

 No prerequisites are needed in HPC or SuperComputing. 

Register here: http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032405720&Culture=en-US

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Windows HiEd conference registration open
04 February 09 09:14 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

The registration site for the HiED conference is now available. Space is limited so if you want to attend, please register right away. 

http://www.microsoft.com/education/events/hied2009.mspx

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Academic Analytics and Strategic Planning  - Make critical decisions with confidence - Farmington 2/25 1:30-2:30
03 February 09 07:00 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

Most institutions are facing a series of difficult decisions and have had to review their budgets (again and again).  Most institutions are unaware of 1) The power of the MS BI Platform and Tools and 2) they already own most of it.   SQL Analysis Service is included with SQL Server and MS Office Performance Point is an integrated part of the MS Office family.  Together these tools can help institutions perform critical analysis and significantly improve planning processes such as annual budgeting, enrollment forecasting, and course planning.

 

Register to win a XBOX 2360 game.

 

Register here:

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032403947&Culture=en-US

 

Pondview Corporate Center

74 Batterson Park Rd.

Farmington, CT 06032

Phone: (860) 678-3100

Fax: (860) 678-7414

See map and/or driving directions

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Academic Analytics and Strategic Planning  - Make critical decisions with confidence - Waltham MTC 2/24 1:30-2:30
03 February 09 06:57 PM | Matthic | 1 Comments   

Most institutions are facing a series of difficult decisions and have had to review their budgets (again and again).  Most institutions are unaware of 1) The power of the MS BI Platform and Tools and 2) they already own most of it.   SQL Analysis Service is included with SQL Server and MS Office Performance Point is an integrated part of the MS Office family.  Together these tools can help institutions perform critical analysis and significantly improve planning processes such as annual budgeting, enrollment forecasting, and course planning.

 

Register to win a XBOX 2360 game.

 

Register here: 

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032403944&Culture=en-US

 

890 Winter Street Suite 100

Waltham, MA 02451

(781) 522-7900

mtcbos@microsoft.com

http://www.microsoft.com/mtc/locations/Boston.mspx

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