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February OWSUG Presentation

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Yes, I am presenting in February on Windows SteadyState. I plan to cover setting up SteadyState on a standalone computer and on a computer which is part of a domain. I am also going to explain some of the group policy settings, Disk Protection and explain how the updates work.

Overview of Windows SteadyState, How to give your computer a short term memory

Upcoming UG Meetings

February 21st 2008 User Group Meeting

Topic:
The topic of this presentation will be Microsoft Windows SteadyState, the product formerly known as the Microsoft Windows Shared Computer Toolkit. Through discuss and demonstrations, we will be covering installation and configuration in a standalone & Active Directory Domain environment domain environment. We will discuss common situations and look at how SteadyState can meet these needs.

Presenter Bio:
Todd Lamothe is a member of the Ottawa Windows Server User Group (OWSUG) and its associated study group and is also on the board of the newly formed SQL Pass Ottawa Chapter. Todd is a Microsoft Certified System Administrator and also a Microsoft Certified Trainer. Todd is a Systems Administrator for the County of Lennox & Addington – Information Services Department; supporting their Libraries and Museums and the approximately one hundred computers and servers they have throughout their 12 points of service. He also provides support for the Leeds & Grenville and Prince Edward County public Libraries as well as other departments within the County of Lennox & Addington including Ambulance Services and Property Services. Todd started using Windows SteadyState in the County of Lennox & Addington libraries when the program was in Version 1.1. He was part of the closed beta team for version 2.0 and now is working with 2.5.

Agenda:
5:00 p.m.  Event registration
5:30 p.m.  Presentation
7:30 p.m.  Q & A
8:00 p.m.  Door Prizes

Location:
Microsoft Canada Co.
100 Queen Street Suite 500
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J9

Notes:  Pizza and Pop will be served, Please RSVP to help us order enough of both.

RSVP: http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=124678

January 17th Ottawa Windows User Group Meeting

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Upcoming UG Meeting

January 17th 2008 User Group Meeting

Topic:

Overview of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and review of 1E Products

Description:

In this joint presentation, Garth Jones will present an overview of System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and Ed Aldrich will present at overview of 1E products. In Garth Jones’ presentation, he will cover what is new to Configuration Manager 2007 vs SMS 2003. Garth will discuss and demonstrate a number of features including:

  • Asset Intelligence

  • Software Updates

  • Maintenance Windows

  • Software Metering

  • Desired Configuration Management

In this meeting Ed will demonstrate 1E’s Power & Patch Management Pack, Nomad Enterprise, and Shopping.

SMSWakeUp wakes up machines ensuring they can receive the incoming critical patch. By automatically turning on computers for software and patch deliveries in synchronisation with Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), SMSWakeUp increases delivery success to 100%. This product also includes the very popular SMS Client Health reporting and fixing, NightWatchman can force immediate system reboots without any loss of user data, to ensure that critical patches requiring reboots have the widest and fastest take up possible. This product also supports “green computing” initiatives via scheduled shutdowns of client systems (with related reporting) to conserve power off hours.Nomad Enterprise enables OS releases, software applications and updates to be distributed quickly and efficiently to remote, server-less branch offices and to bandwidth-challenged environments. Nomad Enterprise ensures that software packages are only copied once over the WAN to make the most efficient use of available network bandwidth. Shopping enables self-service, SMS/SCCM packaged application provisioning with proven scalability to suit any size of business up to enterprise-level. Shopping automates the complexities of application self-service, manages licenses automatically and enhances the capabilities of IT staff, approvers and desktop users. 

 

About the speakers:

Garth Jones is the founder of the Ottawa Windows Server User Group (OWSUG) and it’s associated study group, He is an MVP for Windows Server System – SMS, who was recently profiled on the Can IT Pro Blog and is member of the myITforum Community Council. Garth is Chief Architect of Enhansoft, an Ottawa company that develops products and services to extend the value of System Center Configuration Manager 2007, SMS, Operation Manager, MOM and Virtual Server.  He started working with Systems Management Server when it was a v1.1 (1996). He can be found in Microsoft newsgroups, on a few web forums, OWSUG.ca, SMSug.ca, FAQshop.com and myITForum.com and on the mailing list of myITforum.com. Garth has presented numerous times to OWSUG, created webcast for both SMSUG.ca & myITForum.com and has presented at Microsoft Management Summit.

Ed Aldrich joined the ranks of SMS Administrators with the release of SMS 2.0. Building on his increasing SMS expertise, Ed is now a 5 year SMS MVP, Advisory Council member of myITForum.com, 6 times Industry Expert Speaker at the annual Microsoft Management Summit conference, and founder/co-facilitator of the New England Area SMS User Group. Ed’s “day job” is that of a pre-sales Solutions Engineer at 1E, where he uses his SMS Administrator and System Center 2007 expertise to promote the well known product line of 1E solutions that compliment and extend the Windows Systems Management space.

Location:
Microsoft Canada Co.
100 Queen Street Suite 500
Ottawa, OntarioK1P 1J9 Agenda:
11:30 a.m.  Event registration
12:00 p.m.  Presentation
1:45 p.m.  Q & A
2:00 p.m.  Door Prizes

Notes:  Pizza and Pop will be served, Please RSVP to help us order enough of both.

RSVP: https://www.clicktoattend.com/invitation.aspx?code=123406

Second Shot is only Good if you pay Full Price for your Exam.

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One of the members from the OWSUG Study group has decided to tackle the Windows Vista exam. As part of the fees, we bought Microsoft Exam vouchers for group participants. We have told people to make sure you take a shot at the exam because if you fail, you’ll get a second chance.

No Second Shot for You!

Turns out, if you use a voucher you can’t use the Second Shot because it too is a voucher and you can only use one per exam. I don’t know it is the same if you have a 15% off from the Microsoft Press Books but my guess is, one voucher per exam, it isn’t going to work. Personally, its a piss poor policy in my eyes. I can see people maybe buying bulk vouchers, since work is paying for them, instead of expensing them one at time. They pay full price but since they are entering a voucher code, the second shot is useless, at least through the website. I plan to write my 293 exam shortly, so I may check it out and try calling into Prometric.

Stupid.

I personally started the road to my MCSE 2003 by using a 50% off coupon and the second shot as confidence to write it. At the time, it would have cost over $150.00 to write the exam, (Canadian dollar was the peso then) and I probably would not have written if I didn’t have both factors. I am hoping this is a website issue and not a rule. I’ll update this once I know one way or another.