Microsoft to Strip Windows Server 2008 RC1 of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

Microsoft is currently cooking some modifications for the next stage of Windows Server 2008, formerly codenamed Longhorn. In this regard, the company informed that Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 will be stripped from Windows Server 2008. Those familiar with the development milestones of Microsoft's last 32-bit server operating system have had a chance to see that Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 has so far been a component of the product included by default in the platform. Julius Sinkevicius, Senior Product Manager, Windows Server Division, revealed, that with the upcoming testing release of Windows Server 2008, this will no longer be the case.

"As we're getting closer to release, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 is returning to how it was previously available to Windows Server 2008 customers. Specifically, we are going back to making it available as a separate download that is available to customers at no additional charge. This is how Windows SharePoint Services was available to Windows Server 2003 customers (pre-R2). With the beta and RC0 versions of Windows Server 2008, we offered it in the Windows Server 2008 software. Starting with RC1 and going forward, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 will have to be downloaded separately," Sinkevicius explained.

Joel Oleson, Microsoft Sr. Technical Product Manager, confirmed that, indeed, WSS 3.0 will not be made available as a component of Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 1. Microsoft is currently offering for download the Release Candidate 0 of the server operating system. Windows Server 2008 is planned to be released to manufacturing in early 2008 and for official release in late February of the next year.

"We made this decision to allow customers to most conveniently obtain the technology while allowing Microsoft to have flexibility in the Windows SharePoint Services development process. If you have not looked at WSS 3.0, be sure to download it and peek around. It offers great collaboration, social computing and document management features and provides a rich composite application development platform based on our .NET technologies", Sinkevicius added.

Source:http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Strip-Windows-Server-2008-RC1-69472.shtml

CyberPower Launches compact Windows Home Server

Best known for their gaming machines and workstations CyberPower has jumped into the Windows Home Server market. The Windows Home Server 100 is packaged in a compact Mini-ITX enclosure, offers 500GB of storage for $399, and is designed to be quiet and energy-efficient.

The hardware specs aren’t bad either featuring a 1.6Ghz Intel Atom processor, 2GB of DDR2 Memory, 7200 RPM SATA-II HDD, Gigabit Ethernet, and S-Video & Audio output support via its Intel GMA 950 mainboard. Full press release below.

CyberPower Inc., a manufacturer of custom gaming machines, notebook systems, and high performance workstations, today announced its Windows Home Server 100 – a small form factor home-based server that allows users to easily access their files, photos, videos and music in their home or remotely. With CyberPower’s Windows Home Server 100 users can protect, connect to, and organize their digital data, and also expand their storage needs with very little effort.

Windows Home Server 100 was designed for households and home-based businesses that have more than one personal computer. This energy-saving server can automatically complete the daily backup of your computers on a home network, which allows users to restore a single file or an entire PC. Users can now access files at home, in the office, or even on the road. The CyberPower Windows Home Server 100 also features a secure and personalized website address, which allows users to organize their digital media in a central location to make it easier to share photos, music, and home videos.

CyberPower Windows Home Server 100 features include Intel’s energy-saving ATOM 330 Dual Core CPU (45nm, FSB 533MHz, 1.6GHz, 1 MB L2) on the Intel’s Mini-ITX mainboard with Intel GMA 950 & S-video output support, 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet, ALC662 High Definition Audio, a 500GB SATA-II hard drive, 2GBs of PC2-4200 DDR2-533 memory and Microsoft Windows 2003 Server OEM version. List price of this configuration is $399.

The CyberPower Windows Home Server 100 is available direct from CyberPower and can be customized from the company web site with numerous component options. All CyberPower computer systems come with a 3-year limited warranty and free lifetime labor and phone support.

Source: http://www.slipperybrick.com/2009/02/cyberpower-launches-compact-windows-home-server-100/

Microsoft Exchange Server Hosting Outsourced for Versions 2007 and 2003

MS Exchange Server 2007 has a long list of features that truly benefit its users. Security is one of the major concerns, when it comes to email, data, and computers. When you buy MS Exchange Server or its hosting equivalent, you can be little relaxed and keeps your worries aside with respect to security. Exchange Server 2007 includes exceptional security enhancements to fortify all data. Destructive and damaging threats including virus spam, hackers and firewall infiltration could be easily prevented by using this server for handling business e-mail.

Considering all these benefits and advantages, Microsoft Exchange Server, hosted or in-house, may be considered as the best and trustworthy business communication and mail management software. The e-mail system is completely protected and users can avail complete utilization of their desktop. The value added benefits of Exchange Server include calendaring, e-mail, contacts, tasks, mobile support, data storage, easy web based access and several more.

An earlier product, the MS Exchange Server 2003 made its debut earlier in the decade and established itself firmly in many companies. Microsoft Exchange 2003 can be executed on 32 Bit Win Server 2003 and Win 2000 Server. The Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 was designed with several compatibility modes, which allowed the users to move on to the new system. Exchange Server 2003 is available primarily in two branded versions. One is the Standard Edition, whereas the other is the Enterprise Edition. Both versions have their own quality features and pricing and you can decide which will the best match for your requirements.

A recently introduced MS Exchange product is the Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. With extensive new features, this server was released in the end of 2006 to benefit all business consumers. Microsoft Exchange 2007 was formulated with new clustering options, voice mail integration, 64 bit support intended for better scalability, integrated search with web, enhanced filtering options and the latest Outlook Interface. Like any other hosted or dedicated exchange server, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, comes with well tested list of features. Here are some benefits of MS Exchange Server 2007:

Remarkable reduction of virus, spam and hackers
eliability and easy communication flow
Improved productivity with quick work response
Seamless interface of new style of Outlook
Easy integration of Exchange Server Data with Web Services

Source: http://www.articlebiz.com/article/282284-1-microsoft-exchange-server-hosting-outsourced-for-versions-2007-and-2003/

Features of Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003

Protecting a business can be a full-time job - with full-time worries. Just consider the issues you need to be alert to every day:

1. Worms and viruses that can sneak into your computer systems
2. Hackers trying to gain access to your company's confidential data
3. Employees who might download harmful files from the internet
4. A disaster or accidental deletion that could wipe out critical business records

If you use Windows XP Professional, there is an even easier way to get updates. Simply activate the Automatic Updates feature, which allows your PC to automatically notify you of important updates once they are made available.

Is the anti-virus software current on all of our machines?

It's not enough to simply have anti-virus software. Virus writers are prolific, releasing hundreds of viruses each month. That means you need to keep not only your operating system current but also your virus protection software. And make sure it is current on every PC and laptop in your organization. However, relying on users to stay current with software updates may not be effective in every organization. Employees may forget or may not think it's important. That's one of the benefits of a server-based environment, where updates to PCs and laptops can actually be managed from the server.

Does everyone understand they should never open e-mail attachments they aren't expecting or that come from senders they don't know or trust?

Even with the most current anti-virus software, there's always a possibility that a destructive worm or virus will get through. That's why your entire organization needs to be cautious about e-mail attachments and downloading files from the internet. Consider making these safety tips company policy:

1. Never open suspicious e-mail attachments or those from unknown or untrustworthy senders
2. Configure e-mail to read all messages you receive as plain text to increase security
3. Set the security level on Internet Explorer to the highest level and make exceptions for trusted websites only
4. Use a utility that blocks pop-up ads, which can be used to install malicious code on computers
Do we have a regular back-up procedure, are we following it and do we verify the back-up is accurate?

Backing up the data on your computers is one of the simplest and most effective "safety nets" you can institute. It's also inexpensive. The idea is to routinely make electronic copies of everything on your computers. The copies should be stored off-site so that in the event of a disaster or accidental deletion, you have a way to restore the bulk of your lost data.

Have we installed a firewall? Do we have a clear policy on employee internet use and is it monitored and/or enforced?

If you don't have an internet policy, your company and employees are at risk. And the risks can be serious, from the harmful downloads discussed above to offensive and/or illegal activity that can jeopardise your company's reputation and create messy legal problems.

Do we use strong passwords and are we diligent about keeping them private?

Be honest about this one: There's a big difference between having passwords and using strong passwords. In many workplaces, it is common for employees to share passwords, post them next to their computers or choose passwords that are easy to guess. Worse yet, they use the same passwords for everything and never change them. Make sure everyone knows how to create strong passwords.

Do we have a secure way for remote users to access our network?

Enabling employees to access your network from the road or from home is great for efficiency, but it also exposes your network to risk. For small businesses, Windows Small Business Server 2003 offers a full slate of features designed to make remote access less risky. One is Remote Web Workplace, a remote portal that allows authorised users to access e-mail or their company's internal websites, from anywhere through a Virtual Private Network or over the internet.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/features-of-microsoft-windows-small-business-server-2003-710653.html

Microsoft Adds Some Features to SharePoint Server

Microsoft later this year will stop developing the standalone version Performance Point Server and has moved the software's scorecard, dashboard and analysis features into SharePoint Server. It's a move that can be seen either as a sign of the belt-tightening times, or as fodder for the argument that business intelligence is more of a feature than a product.

PerformancePoint has been added to the SharePoint Enterprise client access license and is now available to subscribers of SharePoint Software Assurance, wrote Pej Javaheri, senior product manager for Sharepoint, in a recent blog post.

Microsoft will release a third and final service pack for PerformancePoint around midyear, after which the vendor will stop development work on the standalone offering, Javaheri wrote.

PerformancePoint uses Microsoft's SQL Server database as an underlying platform and employs Microsoft Office applications such as Excel as the user interface, and that won't change, according to DelBene. "Microsoft is removing the barriers for customers who want to deploy a complete Business Intelligence solution, leveraging their existing investments in SharePoint Server, SQL Server, and Excel," he wrote.

Business intelligence is a useful technology for cash-strapped companies looking to maximize efficiencies, but BI solutions have been derided as too expensive and complex.

PerformancePoint was priced at $20,000 per server, plus $195 for each CAL, a level that required Microsoft to seek out large-scale deployments to keep pace with rivals such as Cognos, Business Objects and Oracle.

In addition, smaller, more nimble vendors like Tableau Software have come to market with products that reduce the complexity of business intelligence by taking information buried in databases and presenting it in a more easily digestible graphical format.

"This gives us another strong selling point for SharePoint," said Tyler Roye, senior executive officer at MindSHIFT, a Fairfax, Va.-based solution provider. "This lets us more affordably assemble business intelligence metrics into a portal or dashboard, where previously we had to assemble these component by component."

Source: http://www.crn.com/software/212903347