Free voucher for MS Virtualization Certification exam

Just learned in TechNet Newsletter that Microsoft will be issuing out free vouchers to those attending their live Server Virtualization Jump Start on November 19 & 20 from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm PST.

http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/liveevents/server-virtualization-w-windows-server-hyper-v-system-center-jump-start?CR_CC=200329231#?fbid=aVs9FfAH2DJ

Spiceworld

Unable to attend Spiceworld 2013 check out the uStream feed:

• http://www.ustream.tv/channel/spiceworld-2013

or following directions to watch via VLC:

• Install LiveStream (https://github.com/chrippa/livestreamer/releases/tag/v1.6.1) 
• Open CMD browse to Livestream folder Execute following: livestream.exe
• http://www.ustream.tv/channel/spiceworld-2013 best should open in VLC

Check out the Agenda:

http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/400801-can-t-make-it-to-spiceworld-we-are-bringin-it-to-you

Bamboo SharePoint Solutions

****Warning*****

Something I just learned after I tried to remove a Bamboo SP Calendar Solution from our farm.  It changes webconfig to reference new/updated Telerik command/extension.

The removal of their solution cripples your SharePoint rendering all sites outside of Central Admin unreachable.

Solution is to re-install their core wsp from trail solution.

If you wish to remove completely without crippling your SP check out their write up:

http://community.bamboosolutions.com/blogs/sharepoint-2010/archive/2012/08/23/how-to-remove-a-web-config-modification-using-powershell.aspx

http://store.bamboosolutions.com/KB/article.aspx?id=12486&query=Telerik.Web.UI

New Vulnerability Source

We recently had a visit from the FBI to discuss our system security as we are becoming more of an international player.

One of the source they provided me is US-cert.  There are several newsletters you can register for.

I received my first issue of US-CERT Cyber Security Bulletin (https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/bulletins/SB13-301) today.

A quick glance down the list showed some surprising issues I had to verify on our network.

WatchGuard and VMware: Glad to report I was already patched and no issues there.

Highly recommend signing up for at least this newsletter.

Microsoft Virtual Academy: PowerShell M01

Looking to learn more about Power Shell I stumbled across a link on SpiceWorks that lead me to Microsoft Virtual Academy. http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/getting-started-with-powershell-3-0-jump-start?o=3276#?fbid=aVs9FfAH2DJ

I have decided to complete and write a review of each module over the next 9 wks (1 module a week).

Today starts out Module 1.

• Contains two videos:
1. Intro - Don't fear the shell (6.41 mins)
2. Getting familiar with the shell (53:00 mins)
• Presentations
1. 01-Dont fear the shell 1.pptx (15 slides)

Starting off we get a brief introduction from Jeffrey Snover, the inventor of PowerShell, and Jason Helmick, Senior Technologist at Concentrated Technology.

Then we start going over understanding and becoming comfortable with the shell.

Discuss history of PowerShell.  Warn against running out to install 3.0 with out checking release notes first. There are systems that do not support V3 (SP 2010 is one of them).

First introduction to PowerShell is how to tell if you are in Administrator mode or not.  In the Program's title bar your should see Administrator: Windows PowerShell and not Windows PowerShell. If you are not in administrator mode you will have limited access and rights.

Second is a quick lesson on customizing the window to work better for coding.

• Accessing preferences
• Right click the title bar to get drop down, select preferences
• Changing the font to make it easier to differentiate ` vs '
• recommend Lucida Console
• set to bold if presenting
• Setup window size
• Layout tab
• Adjust Window to fit on desktop (black screen)
• ensure blue does not fall off the screen
• Ensure Screen buffer and Window size width match
• Ensure Screen buffer Height is 3000+
• allows you to see more past commands
• many PowerShell Console default to 300
• Colors
• adjust to desired scheme

Third go over basic commands

• cmdlets: Verb - Noun
• set-location
• change directory
• Clear-host
• clear screen
• get-childitem
• list out directory
• Native commands work
• ping
• ipconfig
• calc
• notepad
• Aliases (DOS/Unix)
• dir / ls
• actual runs get-childitem
• cd
• actual runs set-location
• cls
• actual runs clear-host
• get-alias / gal
• list of aliases

Fourth discussed and demonstrated help/gal searching

• gal g*
• All aliases starting with G
• gal *sv
• all aliases containing SV

Microsoft Virtual Academy: PowerShell

Looking to learn more about Power Shell I stumbled across a link on SpiceWorks that lead me to Microsoft Virtual Academy. http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/getting-started-with-powershell-3-0-jump-start?o=3276#?fbid=aVs9FfAH2DJ

I have decided to complete and write a review of each module over the next 9 wks (1 module a week).

Starting Monday with Module 01 check back or head on over to MS site to sign up and complete your own.

SharePoint 2010: Setup Document Library to accept emails

To better utilize our SharePoint setup and reduce strain on end users I needed to set up processing of incoming emails for a couple of document libraries (Quotes and Shipping Labels).  Below are the steps I used to complete.

Check out my How-to with screen shots on SpiceWorks at:
http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/54771-sharepoint-2010-setup-document-library-to-accept-emails

Ensure your SharePoint Server has SMTP feature installed and configured.

---

First we need to configure some farm level features:

1. Access Central Administration > System Settings
2. Configure Incoming email settings
3. Enable Incoming E-Mail
1. Enable: Yes
2. Mode: Automatic
• Automatic for email
• Advanced for drop folder (need to validate permission's on folder)
4. Directory Management Service
1. Directory Management Service: Yes
• No - will have to manually create any needed groups and contacts
• Yes - SharePoint will create groups and contacts as needed
• Remote - Seperate server configured to manage the creation of groups and contacts
2. Container: Enter container info
• We setup a seperate OU for all our SharePoint Accounts and Groups during setup so we just added an OU with in called Contacts
3. SMTP mail server: SharePoint Server with SMTP service running
4. Accept messages from authenticated users only
• Yes for internal use only
• No to allow outside emails to be processed
5. Distrubution group creation
• Yes Allow creation of Distribution groups
• No Deny creation of Distrubution groups
6. Distrubution group settings - Limit settings allowed with SharePoint if groups can be created
• Create new distribution group
• Change distribution group e-mail address 
• Change distribution group title and description
• Delete distribution group
5. Incoming E-Mail Server Display Address
• Set to something user friendly / your domain
6. Safe E-Mail Servers
• You can limit what email servers to process email from or leave it open to all.

---

Next we need to setup the feature on desired Document Library.

1. Navigate to desired Document Library you wish to add feature to.
2. On the ribbon click"Library"
3. Click "Library Settings"
4. Click "Incoming e-mail settings" under Communications
5. Complete the following:
1. Incoming E-Mail
1. Allow: Yes
2. E-mail address: [Enter email address to use]
2. E-Mail Attachments
1. Group: Select process that works for you
2. Overwrite: Decide if overwrite is allowed or not
3. E-Mail Message
1. Decide if the email message needs to be saved also
4. E-Mail Meeting Invitations
1. Decide if the email message needs to be saved also
5. E-mail Security
1. Decide how you want to control who can add to library
1. If allowing outside emails in you may see SPAM