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New Microsoft Certification Roadmap

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Microsoft has announced a new roadmap for their certifications.
The full announcement can be found at Born to Learn

For me the interesting stuff is in the newer exams for client devices. 695 and 696 are two that look promising and I will definitely go after on my certification path.

I have recently passed my MCSA on Office 365. There are to exams 346 and 347 which I did quite well at having been knee-deep in a couple of large deployments before leaving my last job.

This year I have a list of exams I want to write those are:

410 – Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
411 – Administering Windows Server 2012
412 – Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services
413 – Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure
414 – Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure
243 – Administering and Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
415 – Implementing a Desktop Infrastructure
416 – Implementing Desktop Application Environments
341 – Core Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013
342 – Advanced Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013

In the past I was part of study groups which helped me get through a bunch of the Windows Server 2003 exams. I did 290,291, 293 and 294 with study groups. We all got a copy of the Microsoft Study guide and we took turns presenting a chapter in front of the other members. It worked really well for me to help get me over the hump and get certified. I wouldn’t be where I am today without certification. I am planning to run another study group for the 70-410 and will post an announcement here once I everything setup.

The New Outlook app for IOS and Android

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Microsoft announced last week a new outlook client for IOS and Android. It’s very slick and really nice. I like the way it handles multiple mail servers (Exchange, O365, Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud and Outlook) and adds support for Dropbox, Box and OneDrive for file storage. Like I say it’s really nice (graphical wise) and I’ve been playing with it on my phone.

But

For the nice interface it does have, stuff some stuff is missing; namely Contact Sync. I need that and love the way the older OWA client did that. Setting Out-of-Office doesn’t work either with this app. These features are not in there yet. I imagine they are coming soon though.

Now, the ugly. If you have MDM policies or corporate policies regarding storage of credentials, this app might not be for you. Right now it only supports ActiveSync remote wipe. It won’t prevent email from coming down on a device with no unlock code from an exchange server that requires an unlock code. It’s a feature that is planned and is coming. No ETA. It also only identifies the app not the device behind it, so it may not be ready for primetime in your corporate environment. It also stores AD credentials in the cloud. Again, a show stopper for some orgs. Check the comments in the Office blog post “A deeper look at Outlook for iOS and Android” for details on this. Also there is a document for IT Pro’s on Yammer which covers this as well. I made a quick link for it @ http://bit.ly/OutlookYammerThread

Also to point out there will be a YamJam on Feb 4th @ 9am PST.  They will be covering security and other features on this date. If you are interested in finding out more or seeing the direction this app is going in, I would suggest attending. The link to Yammer I posted above will take you to the details.

Installing and Updating Adobe Reader

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I am working with a customer and assisting them with their application updates. One of the applications needing updating is Adobe Acrobat Reader MUI. This version of Adobe Reader allows it to be displayed in English or French depending on what language the user is using. Reader is also one of those pain in the ass applications that nag the user to update all the time, so getting in front of this one and updating proactively is always a good way to get ahead of the bullshit calls you’ll get to the service desk. The users shouldn’t have to be asked if they want to update. We should be managing that for them and we know if we can update based on testing those patches.

If you already have Adobe Reader installed, just follow the part in regards to the MSP file. But if you don’t have Adobe Reader installed yet, basically it’s a quick install and update. Here is the link to the Adobe ftp site if you need to download the files. ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/reader/win/11.x/ When you download the Enterprise build, Adobe includes an admin customization tool, but I just ignore that crap. Seriously, unless there is a good reason to run that junk I don’t use it. In my opinion and in my case, there isn’t a good reason to use it as I don’t deviate from the standard install.

 

Adobe-Reader-Directory
Adobe Reader Directory with install files.

Run msiexec.exe /I AcroRead.msi /q. This will install the base of Adobe reader. In my case it’s version 11.0.00. Next grab the current msp file. If you already had Adobe Reader installed, this is your starting step. These are similar to an MSI file but updates. The command to execute these is msiexec.exe /update AdbeRdrUpd11010_MUI.msp /q. This will install the update bringing the MUI up to in my case 11.0.10.

For those of you using System Center Configuration Manager as I am, there are a couple of ways to ensure the order is maintained. Out of Order will cause a failure or at least the base version of Adobe Reader without the update. Create two packages, one package with source files for the Adobe Reader install (msiexec.exe /I AcroRead.msi /q) and the second package will be the Adobe Reader MSP (msiexec.exe /update AdbeRdrUpd11010_MUI.msp /q). Once you have the packages, you have two ways you can do this.

One way to do this is to roll a task sequence with the Adobe Reader msi install first followed by the Adobe MSP patch in the next step. Advertise that task sequence to your collection and Bob’s your uncle.

The other way is to edit the program properties of the patch and tell it to run another package first. In this case, Adobe Reader will be the package you will select to run first. Save that and then the patch will be the package you advertise to your collections.

Configuration-Manager-Program-SCCM
Program Properties in Configuration Manager 2012 SP1

Here is after the deployment. My machine in English language –

Adobe-Reader-English
Adobe Reader welcome screen on an english computer.

And then changing my language to french, notice the recycle bin name. –

Adobe-Reader-French-MUI
Adobe Reader welcome screen on a french computer.