Sacramento TS2 Seminar
Yesterday I went to the Microsoft TS2 seminar here in Sacramento. Originally, I found out about it because I heard they were going to be giving out a free copy of Windows Server 2003 Standard. I didn't know what TS2 was about or anything, I just saw “free” and was drawn to it.
Overall, I found the seminar very informative and got more out of it than free stuff (though I don't have any free stuff yet). The seminar was actually an overview of Windows Small Business Server 2003, not just Windows Server 2003. It looks very nice... so nice I want it for the network at home. I've been wanting to setup something more secure and and use a VPN to login from school and allow my senior project members to get remote access for when we start development.
The seminar started out by a substitute presenter. The speaker we were supposed to have was flying in to Sacramento that morning from Portland, but the plane got to Sacramento and couldn't land because of the fog, so it flew back to Portland and she had to take another flight. Anyone from the Valley knows how fog can get around here.
The sub was the TechNet presenter, and he was pretty good since the first part was on security and kind of crossed with the TechNet information. He was mainly focusing on the advantages of the Trustworthy Computing campaign and how it has worked on SQL Server SP3 and Windows Server 2003 compared to earlier versions. He also went over all the patching techniques like Windows Update, SMS, MBSA, etc. One very interesting item was the changes coming in patching techniques. Right now, there are like 8 different types of patching methods and about 3 different places to get patches (Windows Update, Office Update, MS Download Center). In the next 12 months, Microsoft is going to be converting to just 2-3 patching methods and one central place to find patches for everything called Microsoft Update.
After the first break, our intended speaker showed up and was able to finish off the rest of the seminar. She went over the main points of Windows SBS 2003 Premium and started into Office 2003, but only got through InfoPath. Since the seminar is geared towards consultants, they mainly focused on the new features in 2003, demonstrating how easy it is to use, and how to sell it to your clients. She showed how it comes with a basic “To Do” list for setting up the server, the new Remote Web Workplace portal, etc. I found it very interesting and effective how she was using Virtual PC. The host OS was handling the Powerpoint presentation and then she had 4 VPCs running. One with SBS 2003, one XP client, one XP standalone (not in the domain), and an XP system to demo InfoPath. She could easily switch from one to the other to demonstrate how to set things up on the server and then connect on a client. Very interesting.
InfoPath caught my eye as well, since I had seen it, but never bothered to look into what it was. She put it very well. InfoPath is to forms as what Crystal Reports is to reporting. It is a nice, streamlined way to enter data that can go into many repositories... whether it is XML, SQL Server, Oracle, or web services, it can send the data to any number of sources. I had gone to the seminar with one of my roommates and he was wide-eyed during that presentation. He's going to talk his boss into getting Office 2003 at work so he can re-write their timesheets and expense reports using InfoPath.
But now, to the free stuff. I didn't really get anything. The presentation was supposed to come on a DVD for you to view later, but it was a new presentation and the first time they were showing it, so they didn't have the DVDs yet. The presenter said that in our packet, there would be a timebombed version of SBS 2003. There wasn't. We were also supposed to get a certificate to order a free copy of SBS 2003 online. My roommate tried his and it said the code was invalid. I had to register my company and was supposed to be emailed an authorization number, but it never came. I emailed MS and they forwarded it to the right area, but said it could take 48-72 hours. Oy. The presenter said that she heard the copy they were going to give away was SBS 2003 Premium... I hope so, since that would be sweet. Could use SQL Server and wouldn't mind setting up ISA Server. But, none the less, it was very informative and I got a nice little Office 2003 book and a cool bag that says Microsoft on it. :)