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18/08/2008

SQL 2008 is now officially supported for MOSS

SQL 2008 is now officially supported for MOSS SP1 and WSS v3 SP1 as database server.

You can find here some documentation already updated

MOSS: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc262485.aspx

WSS: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc288751.aspx

Posted at 10:32 by Benoit HAMET | Category: SharePoint; SQL Server | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

16/08/2008

.NET Framework 3.5 Enhancements Training Kit

Overview

The .NET Framework 3.5 Enhancements Training Kit includes presentations, hands-on labs, demos, and event materials. This content is designed to help you learn how to utilize the .NET 3.5 Enhancement features including: ASP.NET MVC, ASP.NET Dynamic Data, ASP.NET AJAX History, ASP.NET Routing, ADO.NET Data Services, ADO.NET Entity Framework, WCF 3.5 SP1, and the .NET Framework Client Profile.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=355C80E9-FDE0-4812-98B5-8A03F5874E96&displaylang=en

Posted at 09:25 by Benoit HAMET | Category: Development | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

New Service Pack available : SP1 for .Net Framework 3.5 and SP1 for Visual Studio 2008

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1

.NET Framework version 3.5 Service Pack 1 provides the following new features and improvements:

ASP.NET Dynamic Data, which provides a rich scaffolding framework that enables rapid data driven development without writing code, and a new addition to ASP.NET AJAX that provides support for managing browser history (back button support). For more information, see What's New in ASP.NET and Web Development.
Core improvements to the CLR (common language runtime) that include better layout of .NET Framework native images, opting out of strong-name verification for fully trusted assemblies, improved application startup performance, better generated code that improves end-to-end application execution time, and opting managed code to run in ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) mode if supported by the operating system. Additionally, managed applications that are opened from network shares have the same behavior as native applications by running with full trust.
Performance improvements to WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation), including a faster startup time and improved performance for Bitmap effects. Additional functionality for WPF includes better support for line of business applications, native splash screen support, DirectX pixel shader support, and the new WebBrowser control.
ClickOnce application publishers can decide to opt out of signing and hashing as appropriate for their scenarios, developers can programmatically install ClickOnce applications that display a customized branding, and ClickOnce error dialog boxes support links to application-specific support sites on the Web.
The Entity Framework is an evolution of the existing suite of ADO.NET data access technologies. The Entity Framework enables developers to program against relational databases in according to application-specific domain models instead of the underlying database models. For more information, see Getting Started with the Entity Framework. The Entity Framework introduces some additional features, including support for new SQL Server 2008 types, default graph serialization of Entities, and the Entity Data Source. This release of the Entity Framework supports the new date and file stream capabilities in SQL Server 2008. The graph serialization work helps developers who want to build Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) services that model full graphs as data contracts. The Entity Data Source provides a traditional data source experience for ASP.NET Web application builders who want to work with the Entity Framework.
LINQ to SQL includes new support for the new date and file stream capabilities in SQL Server 2008.
The ADO.NET Data Services Framework consists of a combination of patterns and libraries, which enable data to be exposed as a flexible REST (Representational State Transfer)-based data service that can be consumed by Web clients in a corporate network or across the Internet. The ADO.NET Data Services Framework makes data service creation over any data source. A conceptual view model of the underlying storage schema can easily be exposed through rich integration with the ADO.NET Entity Framework. Services created by using the ADO.NET Data Services Framework, and also compatible Windows Live (dev.live.com) services, can be easily accessed from any platform. For client applications that are running on Microsoft platforms, a set of client libraries are provided to make interaction with data services simple. For example, .NET Framework-based clients can use LINQ to query data services and a simple .NET Framework object layer to update data in the service.
Windows Communication Foundation now makes the DataContract Serializer easier to use by providing improved interoperability support, enhancing the debugging experience in partial trust scenarios, and extending syndication protocol support for wider usage in Web 2.0 applications.
The .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server (SqlClient) adds new support for file stream and sparse column capabilities in SQL Server 2008.

Download it from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=AB99342F-5D1A-413D-8319-81DA479AB0D7&displaylang=en

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 (Installer)

Overview

This download installs Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1) and the .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. SP1 addresses issues that were found through a combination of customer and partner feedback, as well as internal testing. These service packs offer Visual Studio and .NET Framework users improvements in responsiveness, stability and performance.

Click here for more information regarding about these service packs.

IMPORTANT

If you previously installed a Visual Studio 2008 Hotfix or Visual Studio 2008 SP1 pre-release, you must run the Service Pack Preparation tool before installing Visual Studio 2008 SP1.

If you have multiple Visual Studio products installed, you must upgrade all of them to SP1. If you have Visual Studio 2008 and one or more 2008 Express Editions, you cannot upgrade the Express Editions until you have upgraded Visual Studio.

Prior to installation, you should carefully review the included readme file to be aware of any known issues with this release.

The following technologies have been tested and verified to work with SP1:

Silverlight 2 SDK Beta 2 & Silverlight Tools Beta 2. (If Silverlight Tools Beta 2 is already installed, you must upgrade it after you install Visual Studio 2008 SP1. To upgrade, use the installer on the Silverlight Tools Beta 2 page on the Microsoft Download Center Web site.)
MVC Preview Release #3
ASP.NET Extensions/Dynamic Data Preview
VC 2008 Feature Pack
VB PowerPack Controls (2.0 & 3.0)
Expression Studio 2 (RTM)
SQL Server 2008
.NET Framework 3.5 SDK
XSLT Profiler
VSTA 2.0 SDK
Visual Studio 2008 SDK

If you encounter issues installing SP1, uninstall technologies and/or development add-ins not listed above, and then try SP1 Setup again. When other technologies are verified to be compatible with SP1, they will be added to this list.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=FBEE1648-7106-44A7-9649-6D9F6D58056E&displaylang=en

Posted at 09:18 by Benoit HAMET | Category: Development | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

15/08/2008

VMWorld 2008

VMworld 2008 is the must attend event for all IT professionals looking for actionable ideas, innovative products and best practices for virtualizing the enterprise—from the desktop to the datacenter.The event offers a content-rich program for attendees who are new to virtualization, including informative breakout sessions, keynotes and hands-on labs, plus unlimited opportunities to network with like-minded professionals.

http://www.vmworld.com/conferences/2008/agenda/schedulebuilder/?elq=9B89BB228DD144DA852208F99183467A

Posted at 13:16 by Benoit HAMET | Category: Virtualization; Conference | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

09/08/2008

Using the WebDAV Redirector

Microsoft has updated a documentation related to WebDAV (a protocol used to access document stored on a website in a 'windows explorer' like mode).

If you're using SharePoint (2003 or 2007), you may already know this under the name 'Explorer View'.

Sometimes this protocol may not respond correctly (most of the time due to some firewall configuration), and to troubleshoot it you may already have read this white paper 'Troubleshooting Explorer View' http://blog.hametbenoit.info/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=76

Now, some additional information have been post for IIS 7 http://learn.iis.net/page.aspx/386/using-the-webdav-redirector/

Posted at 14:14 by Benoit HAMET | Category: IIS | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

04/08/2008

VMWare ESXi now FREE !!

VMWare is now distributing his major virtualization software for free, ESX.

In order to fight with Microsoft, which include for a very small fee (about $28), VMWare has decided to provide for free his ESX software for free.

After a first shoot with VMWare Server, it's now a big move which is not the last one in my point of view.

Go to http://www.vmware.com/go/getesxi to download ESX FREE !!!

Posted at 20:50 by Benoit HAMET | Category: Virtualization | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

22/07/2008

Add federated search to your MOSS environment

As I said on my previous post (http://blog.hametbenoit.info/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=301), I updated my MOSS platform with the Infrastructure rollup's, which include search updates.

If you want to add federated search to your MOSS platform, it's pretty simple.

First, go to your Shared Services administration web site and click on the search administration link. As you can see, the search administration pages have been updated to provide simpler search administration.

PS: I deleted 'sensitive information' such as service user account and server name J

Then, click on Federated Locations link available on the left part

By default, you have only 3 federated search location: Internet Search Results (which request Live Search), Internet Search Suggestions and Local Search Suggestion.

If you want to add Internet search engines (such as Google, Live, MSDN, Technet…) you have to add a new location. If you don't know how to configure a new location, you start y downloading the sample available here http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=95798. The location configuration is an XML file.

Once you have downloaded the sample you want, or created your own, click on the Import Location button

Your federated locations should be like this

If you want to change the default settings (for example, define a specific search engine to use depending of the keyword), click on the link related to the federated location you want to update

At this stage, you have prepared the basics. Now you have to add the federated search result available to your users.

To do this, you have to update the search result page on your Search Center (results.aspx). If you want to update the result page for ALL your search center or if you want to update your WSS search results page (osssearchresults.aspx) you have to do this on the file system on all of your SharePoint server – DON'T FORGET to do a backup before doing anything

So, go to your search center and perform a query to display the result page. Then, with a user account which has administrative rights, open the Site Actions\Edit Page menu.

Then add a webpart (where you want to display the federated results) and choose the web part Federated Results available on the section All webpart\Search

To finalize the configuration, you have to edit the web part to define which federated location to use, the number of results to display…

You have to repeat these steps to add more than one federated results.

Enjoy the new search in MOSS J

Posted at 13:18 by Benoit HAMET | Category: SharePoint | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Federated search now available on the site

Few month earlier, Microsoft has released a product called Microsoft Search Server 2008 to provide advanced search functionality in environment with NO MOSS servers (such as WSS or no SharePoint technology at all).

As part of this product, customers have the ability to add federated search which push your request to an Internet Search Engine (such as Yahoo, Google, Live, Technet…).

In June, a post SP1 rollup has been released to update the search engine on MOSS environment and to provide this federated search functionality.

I have updated my platform with the latest rollup (called Infrastructure rollup available as download here for WSS: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951695 and MOSS: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/951297).

As a rollup is cumulative – ie include previous fix and new functionality, I modified my search result page to include federated search to Live and TechNet.

Posted at 13:02 by Benoit HAMET | Category: SharePoint | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 now available in RTM

Microsoft has released the RTM version of Windows Home Server Power Pack.

This pack is available to download here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=1A6AEF46-DB57-401F-814F-6EFA26E7A1E8&displaylang=en

It will be downloaded automatically (in August) to your Home Server if WindowsUpdate is set to automatic (or when you will run WindowsUpdate manually).

Power Pack 1 provides a range of new enhancements, including support for home computers running Windows Vista x64 editions, backup of home server Shared Folders, improvements to remote access, more efficient power consumption and better performance. And, of course, it delivers a fix for the data corruption bug. Documentation for Power Pack 1 (Build #1800, to those who have been part of the beta testing) is available here (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=F219DD13-3D9A-4506-8BE2-FBCC4E195415&displaylang=en).

Posted at 09:59 by Benoit HAMET | Category: Windows Home Server | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

17/07/2008

Issue with SharePoint after installating the hotfix which solve DNS issue

If you install the DNS fix (KB 953230) and experience SharePoint trouble – such as error message which says unable to connect to database or unable to connect the configuration database.

You can follow the steps below if you're using Windows Internal Database/MSDE:

Download and install SQL Management Studio Express (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C243A5AE-4BD1-4E3D-94B8-5A0F62BF7796&displaylang=en) if you don't have any SQL 2005 management tool available
Connect the server using the following information
- Server: \\.\pipe\mssql$microsoft##ssee\sql\query
- Windows authentication
Detach the SharePoint configuration database
Reattach the SharePoint configuration database
Restart your SharePoint server

Your trouble should have been solved

Posted at 16:57 by Benoit HAMET | Category: SharePoint | Permalink | Email this Post | Comments (0)

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