Where am SharePointing some Knowledge .....

Just Released: Patterns & practices SharePoint Guidance

Mohammed Zayed — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 11:34:27 GMT

Microsoft patterns & practices is excited to announce the latest addition to
the p&p library of software architecture guidance:

SharePoint Guidance

Quick Links

- MSDN site: SharePoint Guidance

- Future friendly url: http://microsoft.com/spg

- Download: SharePoint Guidance - November 2008

- Codeplex site: http://codeplex.com/spg

- Community Forum: http://www.codeplex.com/spg/Thread/List.aspx

Guidance at a Glance

This guidance helps architects and developers build SharePoint intranet applications. The guidance contains a reference implementation (RI) that demonstrates solutions to common architectural, development, and lifecycle management challenges. This guidance discusses the following:

- Architectural decisions about patterns, feature factoring, and packaging.

- Design tradeoffs for common decisions many developers encounter.

- Implementation examples demonstrated in the RI and in the QuickStarts.

- How to design for testability, create unit tests, and run continuous integration.

- Set up of development, build, test, staging, and production environments.

- Managing the application life cycle including upgrade.

- Team-based intranet application development.

The following areas are not discussed in this version of the guidance:

- Content-oriented sites that use Web content management.

- Internet and enterprise-scale SharePoint applications.

- Multilingual SharePoint applications.

- Scale or security testing of SharePoint applications.

Feedback

Your feedback is invited. Please post it under Discussions on Codeplex.

Information on Microsoft patterns & practices

Visit us at http://msdn.microsoft.com/practices/ to see the full line of existing patterns & practices.

SQL SERVER 2008 ENERGY using Silverlight is now Live !!

Mohammed Zayed — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:23:01 GMT

http://www.microsoft.com/servers/sql/2008/sqlserverenergy/en/us/default.aspx

Get SharePoint Training on Your Desktop

Mohammed Zayed — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:59:29 GMT

SharePoint End User Training Kit

SharePoint Designer Training Kit

Automation Forms using InfoPath

SharePoint Online Courses

SharePoint 2007 Demos

SharePoint 2007 Webcasts

PDC 2008 is coming .. And i can't wait .

Mohammed Zayed — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:50:49 GMT

http://www.on10.net/blogs/tina/PDC-2008-is-comingand-I-cant-wait/

What an Awesome hilarious Song though :D

PDC 2008 is coming...and I can't wait!

IE8 Beta 2 is now Available !!!

Mohammed Zayed — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:38:55 GMT

Today the world's most popular browser just got a whole lot better.

We launched in English, German, Simplified Chinese and Japanese, and then follow with another 21 languages in mid-September. You can download IE8 Beta 2 now at http://ww.microsoft.com/ie8

The bottom line is that IE8 is faster, easier and safer. To get a feel for the new IE8 experience, check out the videos here, download the product, and try it out. Here are some AWESOME features:

Accelerators - Highlight an address, click the blue button and hover over "Map" or try Right Clicking a Page and Choosing Translate with Windows Live. Check out the new IE Gallery that has cool accelerators and slices from Digg to FaceBook to Ebay
Web Slices - Visit Live Search, search for "Seattle Weather" (or major city relevant to your region), hover over the rich search result and click the green button. Click it to add a Weather Web Slice to your Favorites Bar.
Search Suggestions - Go to your Instant Search Box (top right) and type a search to see search suggestions in action.
Navigation - Use the new Smart Address Bar to quickly find sites you've visited before. The Smart Address Bar searches your history, favorites AND feeds for pages that match what you're typing.
Security: IE8 has the best security features in the market today from its updated Smartscreen phishing and malware filter to domain highlighting to the industry leading cross-site scripting filter so I feel my machines, my identity and my family will be safer on the Internet.

Below are just a few things that IE8 has that Firefox doesn't:

Out-of-the box integrated Accelerators put your favorite blog, mapping, mail, search and other services a click-away
Built-in Privacy mode keeping you in control of what information you share and with whom, both on your PC and on the web
Rich visual search results and instant answers from partners like Wikipedia, New York Times, and Amazon
Intuitive tab grouping and color coding to mirror the way you browse and help organize your browsing experience
Automatic tab-level crash recovery for uninterrupted browsing

SQL Server 2008 RELEASED

Mohammed Zayed — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:06:53 GMT

Microsoft has released to manufacturing SQL Server 2008. This version of SQL Server provides new capabilities such as support for policy-based management, auditing, large-scale data warehousing, geospatial data, and advanced reporting and analysis services. SQL Server 2008 is available in the following editions:

SQL Server 2008 Enterprise, a data management and business intelligence platform that provides scalability, data warehousing, security, advanced analytics and reporting support for running business-critical applications. With this edition, it is possible to consolidate servers and perform large-scale online transactional processing.

SQL Server 2008 Standard, a data management and business intelligence platform that provides ease of use and manageability for running departmental applications.
SQL Server 2008 Workgroup, a data management and reporting platform that delivers secure, remote synchronization and management capabilities for running branch applications. This edition includes core database features and is easy to upgrade to the Standard or Enterprise edition.
SQL Server 2008 Web, designed for highly available, Internet-facing Web-serving environments running on Windows Server. SQL Server 2008 Web provides the tools to support Web applications or hosting solutions.
SQL Server 2008 Developer, lets developers build and test any type of application with SQL Server. This edition features all of the functionality of SQL Server Enterprise but is licensed only for development, test and demo use. Applications and databases developed on this edition can easily be upgraded to SQL Server 2008 Enterprise.
SQL Server 2008 Express, a free edition of SQL Server that features core database functionality including all of the new SQL Server 2008 data types, in a small footprint. This edition is ideal for learning and building desktop and small server applications, and for redistribution by ISVs.
SQL Server Compact 3.5, a free embedded database designed for developers building stand-alone and occasionally connected applications for mobile devices, desktops and Web clients. SQL Server Compact runs on all Microsoft Windows platforms, including the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, and on Pocket PC and smartphone devices.

Your Data, Any Place, Any Time

SQL Server 2008 delivers on Microsoft's Data Platform vision by helping your organization manage any data, any place, any time. It enables you to store data from structured, semi-structured, and unstructured documents, such as images and music, directly within the database. SQL Server 2008 delivers a rich set of integrated services that enable you to do more with your data such as query, search, synchronize, report, and analyze. Your data can be stored and accessed in your largest servers within the data center all the way down to desktops and mobile devices, enabling you to have control over your data no matter where it is stored.

SQL Server 2008 enables you to consume your data within custom applications developed using Microsoft .NET and Visual Studio and within your service-oriented architecture (SOA) and business process through Microsoft BizTalk Server while information workers can access data directly in the tools they use every day, such as the 2007 Microsoft Office system. SQL Server 2008 delivers a trusted, productive, and intelligent data platform for all your data needs.

See SQL Server 2008 Overview

Announcing: Availability of SharePoint Infrastructure Updates (Includes Enterprise Search Server 2008 Pack for SharePoint)

Mohammed Zayed — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:27:42 GMT

We released to web early this week (7/15) three new important updates that affect SharePoint Server 2007, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Project Server 2007, Search Server 2008, Search Server 2008 Express and Project Professional 2007.

The Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (KB951297) applies to:

Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
Microsoft Search Server 2008
Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express

The Infrastructure Update for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (KB951695) applies to:

Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

The Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Project 2007 (KB951547) applies to:

Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007

The Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers contains the new Enterprise Search features that were shipped in Search Server 2008 and Search Server 2008 Express that were are not already in SharePoint Server 2007; this includes Federated Search capability, a unified administration dashboard and several Search core platform performance updates. Read more about the new Search features here.

There are several Content Deployment updates included in both the Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers and the Infrastructure Update for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. These updates address many of the top customer reported issues with Content Deployment. Read more about the Content Deployment updates here.

The Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (KB951297) and the Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Project 2007 (KB951547) include several usability and performance updates for Project Server 2007 and Project Professional 2007 in addition to addressing the top customer reported issues. Read more about the Project Server and Project Professional updates here and in this White Paper.

All three updates contain fixes and product performance updates driven by customer feedback which have resulted in significant platform performance improvements in several areas. There has also been a focus on several core platform components, including improvements to upgrade, future patching and servicing, several targeted updates for workflow, the Business Data Catalog and inter-farm server authentication with Kerberos. For more detailed information please read the KB articles listed further on in this post.

We strongly recommend that you install the updates that apply to you as soon as your patching and maintenance schedules permit.

The updates can be downloaded from the links below:

· Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (KB951297) - x86
· Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (KB951297) - x64
· Infrastructure Update for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (KB951695) - x86
· Infrastructure Update for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (KB951695) - x64
· Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Project 2007 (KB951547) - x86

* The updates are applicable to all shipping languages.

Installation Instructions are available from the links below:

· Deploy Software Updates for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0
· Deploy Software Updates for Office SharePoint Server 2007 - This article also applies to Project Server 2007, SharePoint Server 2007, Search Server 2008 and Search Server 2008 Express.
· Install the Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (Office SharePoint Server 2007)
· Install the Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (Search Server 2008)

Related Knowledge Base Articles are available from the links below:

Please read and familiarize yourself with the installation instructions before you start.

For reference the following products require the following updates to be applied.

If you are running SharePoint Server 2007 you should:

Install Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1) if you haven't already
Install 2007 Microsoft Office Servers Service Pack 1 (SP1) if you haven't already.
Install the Infrastructure Update for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (KB951695).
Cancel out of the "SharePoint 3.0 Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard". (You CAN run the wizard if you want. It will just save you time if you run it once at the end.)
Install Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (KB951297)
Run the "SharePoint 3.0 Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard".

If you are running Project Server 2007 you should:

Install Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Service Pack 1 (SP1) if you haven't already
Install 2007 Microsoft Office Servers Service Pack 1 (SP1) if you haven't already.
Install the Infrastructure Update for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (KB951695).
Cancel out of the "SharePoint 3.0 Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard". (You CAN run the wizard if you want. It will just save you time if you run it once at the end.)
Install Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (KB951297)
Run the "SharePoint 3.0 Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard".
You should also then install the Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Project 2007 (KB951547) on all Project Professional 2007 client PC's.

If you are running Search Server 2008 or Search Server 2008 Express you should:

Install the Infrastructure Update for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (KB951695).
Cancel out of the "SharePoint 3.0 Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard". (You CAN run the wizard if you want. It will just save you time if you run it once at the end.)
Install Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Servers (KB951297)
Run the "SharePoint 3.0 Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard".

If you are running Project Professional 2007 you should Install the Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Project 2007 (KB951547).

The installation process will incur server and farm downtime that you will need to plan for - updates should be installed on all servers in a farm.

SharePointMagazine Website in now Live !!

Mohammed Zayed — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:21:35 GMT

International SharePoint Professionals Association

Mohammed Zayed — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:17:26 GMT

The International SharePoint Professionals Association ("ISPA") is the first independent, community-run, not-for-profit organization designed specifically for SharePoint Professionals. ISPA is a professional association dedicated to the promotion and global adoption of Microsoft SharePoint Products and Technologies. The Association provides support and guidance to the community by establishing connections between SharePoint professionals and groups, resources, education and information.

Muhanad Omar in Jordan is listed in ISPA Regional Evangelists List.

A very nice initiative that will increase SharePoint awareness among different roles and communities.

Thanks for the great board for bringing this alive.

Muhanad Omar as our First SharePoint MVP in Jordan !!

Mohammed Zayed — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 14:25:27 GMT

Technorati Tags: Community,MVP

His Continuous support for the community and his valuable skills in SharePoint certified him to become MVP awarded on SharePoint Server specialization.

https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Muhanad.Omar

I know Muhanad on a personal level. He is one of the most enthusiastic peoplelwho always available to support community in all levels, as well he is a SharePoint Lover. I believe he breath SharePoint, he drink SharePoint and don't despite the fact he might sleep next to SharePoint as well :P. Muhanad, Congrats and keep this passion up.

What I Like About Muhanad Omar, Ayman Farouq and Mohammed Sales that when they do community stuff, you feel by heart that "it's COMMUNITY SPIRIT". They made a big impact on our market bringing Microsoft Technologies in the hand of alot of members across various segments.

Again, Congrats Muhanad on the gr8 effort you continues spending on the community. KEEP IT UP HERO !!!

Thanks Gannotti for Windows SharePoint Service 3.0 Resources Links !!

Mohammed Zayed — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:44:39 GMT

Quoted from http://sharepoint.microsoft.com/blogs/mikeg/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=1090

WSS Adminisration and Config: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/sharepoint/default.aspx

WSS Development: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/default.aspx

Migration tools on CodePlex: http://www.codeplex.com/SPMigration/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=14764

Online WSS Virtual Labs:

· TechNet Virtual Lab: Using Microsoft Windows PowerShell for Administration and Customization of Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

· TechNet Virtual Lab: Enterprise Search Protocol Handlers (Lab 8 of 8)

· TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Installation and Configuration

· TechNet Virtual Lab: Customizing Enterprise Search (Lab 3 of 8)

· TechNet Virtual Lab: Enterprise Search Security and Compliance (Lab 2 of 8)

· TechNet Virtual Lab: Creating Workflows for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

· TechNet Virtual Lab: What's New in Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Feature Walkthrough

· TechNet Virtual Lab: Introducing Content Types for Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

· TechNet Virtual Lab: Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Installation and Configuration

Hyper-V from Microsoft is now RTM !!

Mohammed Zayed — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:25:57 GMT

Yesterday, Microsoft will reach a significant milestone for customers and partners with the release of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, the hypervisor-based virtualization feature included in select versions of Windows Server 2008. Those who have already deployed the x64 versions of Windows Server 2008 can receive Hyper-V from Windows Update beginning July 8, while new customers and partners can download Hyper-V tomorrow afternoon.

Since the beta release of Hyper-V in February, more than 250 customers have participated in Hyper-V's early adoption program. We have been actively listening to customer and account team feedback on Guest OS support and we are now able to add additional guest OS support for Hyper-V at RTM. Integration components will also be made available for all of these operating systems:

· Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 x86 (VM configured as 1, 2 or 4-way SMP)
Windows Server 2008 x64 (VM configured as 1, 2 or 4-way SMP)

· Windows Server 2003

Windows Server 2003 x86 (VMs configured as 1 or 2-way SMP)
Windows Server 2003 x64 (VMs configured as 1 or 2-way SMP)

· Windows Vista

Windows Vista x64 with Service Pack 1 (VMs configured as 1 or 2-way SMP)
Windows Vista x86 with Service Pack 1 (VMs configured as 1 or 2-way SMP)

· Windows XP

Windows XP x64 with Service Pack 2 (VMs configured as 1 or 2-way SMP)
Windows XP x86 with Service Pack 3 (VMs configured as 1 or 2-way SMP)
Windows XP x86 with Service Pack 2 (VMs configured as 1-way only)

· Windows Server 2000

Windows Server 2000 with Service Pack 4 (VMs configured as 1-way only)

· SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 with Service Pack 1 x86 Edition
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 with Service Pack 1 x64 Edition
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 with Service Pack 2 x86 Edition
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 with Service Pack 2 x64 Edition

To learn more about the news, specifically on customers using Hyper-V and partner benefits, visit the Microsoft PressPass site at: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/default.mspx
Also, as a resource for you, yesterday a PowerPoint presentation has been uploaded to the Server & Tools page on Microsoft ARnet: http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/itanalyst/ that provide an overview of the details of the RTM announcement, improvements made to Hyper-V between the beta and RTM phases, performance data and other useful information.

Please scroll down for links to additional information and Microsoft customer case studies. As always, Additional Hyper-V resources:

The following are links to detailed customer case studies and videos focused on server and management virtualization, as well as application virtualization:

1. The SCOOTER Store: United States - Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, System Center Operations Manager 2007, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007, Virtual Server 2005

2. Kroll Factual Data: United States - System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007, Virtual Server 2005 R2, System Center Configuration Manager 2007, System Center Data Protection Manager 2006, System Center Operations Manager 2007

3. State of Indiana: United States - Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition

4. Continental Airlines: United States - Windows Server 2008, System Center Configuration Manager 2007, System Center Operations Manager 2007

5. PGGM: The Netherlands - Microsoft Terminal Services, Windows Server 2008

6. BASF IT Services: Germany- Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization

Site Planning worksheet for SharePoint now Available

Mohammed Zayed — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:46:11 GMT

Endusersharepoint.com has posted a very nice Excel Sheet tool that allows people manage their site structure planning. As others said i would love to see this tool has Audience Management, Site Quota Management, Security Groups and content types structure as well. Over All I Liked as many will do what Mark has started..

Worksheet URL

New SharePoint tools arrive from FAST acquisition

Mohammed Zayed — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:35:20 GMT

On April 25th 2008, Microsoft completed the acquisition of FAST Search & Transfer and will now deliver the FAST Enterprise Search Platform (ESP) as its high-end search offering to Microsoft customers worldwide. ESP is the world's most advanced search platform, delivering secure, relevant answers and insight to accelerate decisions, improve performance, and increase profits. These Web parts represent an early step towards making ESP search capabilities interoperable with SharePoint Server 2007.

Project Details: http://www.codeplex.com/espwebparts

An interesting Article I have just read: http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/29135

Enjoy !!

Vista TechCenter is now LIVE !!

Mohammed Zayed — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:08:00 GMT

Two Big Chances to Help Desktop IT Pros!

The New, Windows Client TechCenter
Today, we officially launched the new Windows Client TechCenter, merging the Windows XP and Windows Vista TechCenters with the Springboard Series lifecycle approach to give IT pros a one-stop source for all of the Windows Client guidance, downloads, and community resources they need to adopt and manage Windows in a desktop environment.

Key features of the new TechCenter include:

· New "zones" for top tasks related to application compatibility, User Account Control (UAC), imaging, hardware compatibility and performance, desktop security and encryption, and networking.

· Improved organization of resources by lifecycle phase and technical level (overview or advanced)

· Advice from subject matter experts at Microsoft and in the community

· New information on ways to advance and simplify desktop management

· Available in 8 languages: French, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Germany, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, and Italian

Show IT pros that we listen to their feedback!
Visit www.microsoft.com/springboard today and share your thoughts about the new Windows Client TechCenter in your blog!

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June 18^th Virtual Roundtable on Windows Vista Security
Let's talk Windows Vista security! On Wednesday June 18^th at 9:00AM Pacific Time, Microsoft Technical Fellow and desktop guru Mark Russinovich will again be hosting a live, interactive Springboard Series virtual roundtable-this time on the topic of Windows Vista security.

As with the March roundtable on deployment, Microsoft will be taking questions from those tuning in for the live event. Questions can also be submitted in advance by e-mailing vrtable@microsoft.com.

Give IT pros the chance to join the discussion!
Tell them to visit https://ms.istreamplanet.com/springboard and register for the June 18^th event today!

For those who can't tune in at 9:00AM, the roundtable will also be available on demand at https://ms.istreamplanet.com/springboard shortly after the conclusion of the live event.

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