Updating your Holiday Schedule through 2022

Do you update your holiday schedule every year? I just used http://www.calendar-365.com/holidays/2012.html to create my holiday schedule through 2022.

Setting Up Office 365’s Lync for Federation and IM Connectivity

Setting up Office 365’s Lync for Federation and IM Connectivity is a multi-step process.

Step 1: Configuring Office 365’s Lync

From the Admin page click Lync's Manage:

This takes you to the Lync Online Control Panel Overview tab where you can see the Current Settings. Click External Communications to change the settings and check the status.

On the External communications tab you need to Turn on Domain Federation mode (this enables Lync to Lync communication across domains). As you can see I chose ‘Turn on for all domains except blocked domains’. Also, here is where you enable Public IM service providers.

Step 2: To configure external domain name settings This is an expanded list when compared to the list you receive under Admin Overview | Managememnt | Domains | View DNS Settings

• This step is mandatory!
• This step does not include the DNS entries needed for Exchange Online and Mail Delivery!
• These instructions may not be current, please check http://onlinehelp.microsoft.com/en-us/office365-enterprises/hh416761.aspx.

1. If you are using your own domain name with Office 365, add the following CNAME and SRV entries to your DNS server:

Type	Host name	Destination	TTL
CNAME	sip.yourDomainName.com	sipdir.online.lync.com	1 hour
CNAME	lyncdiscover.yourDomainName.com	webdir.online.lync.com	1 hour

Type	Service	Protocol	Port	Weight	Priority	TTL	Name	Target
SRV	_sip	_tls	443	1	100	1 hour	yourDomainName.com	sipdir.online.lync.com

2. If your organization supports domain federation or public IM connectivity, add the following SRV record as well:

Type	Service	Protocol	Port	Weight	Priority	TTL	Name	Target
SRV	_sipfederationtls	_tcp	5061	1	100	1 hour	yourDomainName.com	sipfed.online.lync.com

Step 3: To configure internal domain name settings

• These instructions may not be current, please check http://onlinehelp.microsoft.com/en-us/office365-enterprises/hh416761.aspx.
• If your organization’s Internet proxies or firewalls are configured to block external SRV queries, add the following CNAME and SRV entries to your internal DNS server:

Type	Host name	Destination	TTL
CNAME	sip.yourDomainName.com	sipdir.online.lync.com	1 hour
CNAME	lyncdiscoverinternal.yourDomainName.com	webdir.online.lync.com	1 hour

Type	Service	Protocol	Port	Weight	Priority	TTL	Name	Target
SRV	_sip	_tls	443	1	100	1 hour	yourDomainName.com	sipdir.online.lync.com

Step 4: Configure your firewall or proxy server for Lync Online

• This step is not necessary if your firewall does not block Outbound connections.
• These instructions may not be current, please check http://onlinehelp.microsoft.com/en-us/office365-enterprises/hh416761.aspx.

1. Open the following ports in your organization’s external firewalls and reverse proxy servers.

Port	Protocol	Direction	Usage
443	STUN/TCP	Outbound	Audio, video, and application sharing sessions
443	PSOM/TLS	Outbound	Data sharing sessions
3478	STUN/UDP	Outbound	Audio and video sessions
5223	TCP	Outbound	Lync Mobile push notifications
50000-59999	RTP/UDP	Outbound	Audio and video sessions

Note: Individual computers are automatically configured for Lync Online network traffic when Lync is installed.

2. Create the following rules to apply to all users on your organization’s network.

·         Allow outgoing connections to *.microsoftonline.com

·         Allow outgoing connections to *.outlook.com

·         Allow outgoing connections to *.lync.com

·         Add a firewall entry for the Microsoft Online Services Sign-in Assistant, msoidsvc.exe.

·         Set the HTTP/SSL time out value to 8 (eight) hours.

Step 5: Test

• See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2566790
• Open a Command Prompt (Admin mode)
• nslookup
• set type=all
• _sip._tls.yourDomainName.com .
• _sipfederationtls._tcp.yourDomainName.com
• sip.yourDomainName.com .
• lyncdiscover.yourDomainName.com .
• Each of the queries should result with an internet address. If not, please see the KB article.

Windows Server 2012 (aka 8) Hands On Labs

From the Blog of the "Regular IT Guy" Rick Claus, a Technology Evangelist from Microsoft. It is time to learn about the next generation servers that are nearly upon us. Windows Server 8 Hands On Labs

Windows 8 Start Button

So, in Window 8 Consumer Preview the Start Button/Pearl is hidden and here you thought it was removed! Just move the mouse to the lower left corner of the display to reveal the Start Button. It looks like:

 If you right-click on the Start Button you will get this handy shortcut menu:

 Allegedly you can change the shortcut menu by adjusting the contents of C:\Users\Name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\WinX. I have added several different types of shortcuts but have not seen any additional shortcuts in the menu (even after a restart). Please let me know if you have any success adding shortcuts to the menu.

 

How to create a Windows 8 “Windows to Go” Bootable USB 3 Drive

Here is what you need to create the mobile “Windows to Go” USB Drive that boots Windows 8 Consumer Preview:

 - A PC running Windows 8 Consumer Preview (32 or 64 bit)
 - Windows 8 Consumer Preview ISO image 32-bit
 - Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows® 8 Consumer Preview
 - A USB 3.0 disk at least 32GB or larger - Don’t worry you don’t need a USB 3.0 port on the computer where you will use “Windows to Go”.

Install the Deployment Tools feature when running the Windows ADK installation onto PC running Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Prepare the USB 3.0 disk using DiskPart:

 - Open a Command Prompt (Admin)
 - Run DiskPart from the Command Prompt
 - Run List Disk
 - Select the USB disk, run Select Disk X (where X is the USB Drive #)
 - Wipe the USB disk clean, run Clean
 - Create a partition on the USB disk, run Create Partition Primary
 - Format the partition, run Format FS=NTFS Quick
 - Make the partition active, run Active
 - Exit DiskPart, run Exit

Right-click the ISO and select Mount to mount the Windows 8 ISO.

I’m running 64-bit so I run CD C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\amd64\DISM to change the command prompt to the directory that contains the AIK Tools.

To install the files from the wim, run imagex.exe /apply X:\sources\install.wim 1 Y:\ (Where X is the mounted ISO image and Y is the USB disk drive letters.

To make the USB disk bootable, run bcdboot.exe X:\windows /s X: /f ALL where the two Xs are the drive letter for the USB disk.

You are finished; you can now use this USB disk to boot into Windows 8 from any capable computer. This is a fairly locked down version of Windows 8, so some features won’t be available.

Windows 8 Shortcut Keys

Here are some really helpful key combinations if you are using Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

Key Combinations	Description	Where
Windows	Toggles between the Desktop & Start or between Start & the foremost Metro app.	Both
Windows . or Shift .	Move the split to the right or left.	Desktop
Windows + or -	Magnifier	Both
Windows Arrows	Aero Snap	Desktop
Windows Enter	Narrator	Both
Windows Pause	System Information	Desktop
Windows PgDn or PgUp	Move tiles (Metro) or taskbar (Desktop) to the right or the left.	Both
Windows PrintScreen	Takes Screenshot and saves as PNG in Pictures Library	Desktop
Windows Spacebar	Switch the input language and keyboard layout	Both
Windows Tab	Toggles between other open apps and Start	Both
Windows #	Launches the nth shortcut on the Desktop taskbar. Windows + 1 will launch the first application in the list (from left to right). From Start the screen first switches to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows B	Select the tray notification area. From Start the screen first switches to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows C	Charms and Time, Date & Notifications.	Both
Windows D	Toggles Show Desktop. From Start the screen first switches to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows E	Windows Explorer with Computer view displayed. From Start the screen first switches to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows F	Search Files.	Both
Windows G	Cycles between Gadgets on the Desktop	Desktop
Windows H	Share.	Both
Windows I	Settings for the Start or Desktop screens and provides access to Networks, Volume, Screen Brightness, Notifications, Power and Language.	Both
Windows K	Displays Connect for Devices.	Both
Windows L	Lock PC.	Both
Windows M	Minimizes all open windows and takes you to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows O	Toggles the orientation on slate and tablet PCs.	Both
Windows P	Project or Second screen controls.	Both
Windows Q	Search within Apps.	Both
Windows R	Run. From Start the screen first switches to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows T	Shows thumbnail preview of the applications on the Taskbar. From Start the screen first switches to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows U	Ease of Access Center. From Start the screen first switches to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows W	Search within Settings.	Both
Windows X	Windows Mobility Center. From Start the screen first switches to the Desktop.	Desktop
Windows Z	App Bar in Start or a Metro-style app.	Start
Ctrl Shift Esc	Task Manager	Desktop
Ctrl Windows F	Find Computers	Desktop
Shift Right-Click on a file	Adds Copy As Path to Right-Click Menu	Desktop
Shift Right-Click on a folder	Adds Command Prompt to Right-Click Menu	Desktop
Shift Right-Click on a grouped Taskbar App	Opens Right-Click Menu for Group	Desktop
Shift Right-Click on a Taskbar App	Opens Advanced Right-Click Menu for App	Desktop

Video - Upgrading through every version of windows

This is a great video for all of the PC techies. Enjoy!

My Blackberry Is Not Working!

Cheers to Dana Epp who found this beautiful video! If you are having technology problems then this video may help. ;)

Hipster Bird Moves to the Groove

Tim Carney named in the Top 150 most influential people in the SMB channel!

I am honored to be included in this list. Congratulations to the others who are included in this list and congratulations to the community for being an open place to share!

From the article in the SMB PC magazine, "As the SMB channel partner community has matured, discussions between SMB Technology Network (SMBTN) and SMB Nation—à la SMB PC magazine—have resulted in the Top 150 list."

Tim Carney has been named an Autotask Rock Star

Autotask Rocks the Global IT Community with Proven Best Practices and Faster Business Results

“We launched this program as a way to bring top contributors and leaders from our Autotask Community face-to-face with new and prospective Autotask customers who can experience almost an immediate acceleration of their IT business success from these proven best practices and Autotask Academy training,” says Mark Crall, Executive Director of Community Development, Autotask.

28 Autotask customers, consultants and other influential Autotask community members have been recognized for their personal contributions to the more than 30,000 members of the Autotask CommunITy. “Our first Autotask Rock Star honorees have demonstrated a passion for helping the Autotask community and the IT industry, as a whole. We hope this awards program empowers other IT professionals to join our community and offer their expertise and talents,” Crall continues.

Those recognized as part of the first annual Autotask Rock Star Awards program include:
•Andy Harper , Gaeltek – VA, USA
•Travis Austin, MSPintegrations - CA, USA
•Vince Tinnirello, Anchor Network Solutions, Inc - CO, USA
•Alex Elliott, Advanced Technology Services, Inc. – IL, USA
•Lee Evans, Vital – Harrogate, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom
•Ritesh Kapadia, SynchroNet – TX, USA
•Osama Faris, FAR Support Ltd. – ON, Canada
•Stuart Selbst, Stuart Selbst Consulting – VA, USA
•Jacob Braun, Waka Digital Media Corporation – MA, USA
•Steve Meek, The Fulcrum Group, LLC – TX, USA
•Win Pham, Performance IT – GA, USA
•Ken Edwards, Maverick Mesa Computer Specialties, Inc. – AZ, USA
•Tim Carney, SF Bay Link Network Services, Inc. - CA, USA
•Charles Tholen, Cognoscape – TX, USA
•Brian Kerhin, Byte Harmony, Inc. – WI, USA
•Nathan Franks, Dynamic Business Technologies – NSW, Australia
•Steve Alexander, Third Eye Technologies, Inc. – NY, USA
•Thomas Blandford, eTrepid Inc. – MD, USA
•Craig Tribuno, Systems Engineering – ME, USA
•Melanie Fricke, CMIT Solutions – TX, USA
•Mary Beth Jokela, Concordant – MA, USA
•Lorentz Hinrichsen, Wulf Consulting – PA, USA
•Edd Nicklin, Future Reliance – Kingston, United Kingdom
•Michael Garcia, LuxTech – Hertforshire, United Kingdom
•Paul Tomlinson, Mirus IT Solutions – Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
•Norb Doeberlein, Netzbahn – WI, USA
•Tony Poole, Synergy Technology – Preston, United Kingdom

Autotask CEO Bob Godgart stresses the importance of purposeful networking, “Autotask’s CommunITy is unlike any other peer group or partner community in this industry. Not only do our customers push us to be better and more innovative, they seek each other out and work together to build thriving and successful IT businesses that are on the cutting edge of this industry.”

Each of the Autotask Rock Stars are recognized for their prior year commitment and serve a one-year term where they are given exclusive access to resources and support to help them continue to serve the community in their area of expertise. All Autotask customers and partners are eligible for award nomination. Winners are chosen based on their leadership skills; contribution to the Autotask Community; and, exceptional resourcefulness, innovation and creativity.