Connecting Drives via SBS RWW 2008 / RWA 2010

This info is _fairly_ easy to find, but I thought I'd post it along anyway to make it a tiny bit easier. If your users need to be able to connect network drives via their Remote Web Workplace or Remote Web Access desktop sessions, check out this document from Microsoft:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=180370

Best Practices Analyzers (BPA)

Okay, it's just shocking to me the number of people that haven't heard of these. I could blame Microsoft and say that they aren't doing a good job publicizing, but I can't. Until the day comes that I read every single Microsoft newsletter that hits my inbox, I am simply not allowed to complain about Microsoft not telling me about something.

So here we go:

SBS 2008 BPA: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=86a1aa32-9814-484e-bd43-3e42aec7f731&displaylang=en

SBS 2003 BPA: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3874527A-DE19-49BB-800F-352F3B6F2922&displaylang=en

The SBS BPA tools are absolute must haves on all SBS boxes.

Not running SBS?

Exchange Analyzer Tools main page: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/bb288481.aspx

Exchange Troubleshooting Assistant: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4BDC1D6B-DE34-4F1C-AEBA-FED1256CAF9A&displaylang=en

Exchange Remote Connectivity Analyzer (for anything to do with remotely accessing Exchange, also works with SBS): https://www.testexchangeconnectivity.com/

SQL Server 2005 BPA: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=DA0531E4-E94C-4991-82FA-F0E3FBD05E63&displaylang=en

SQL Server 2008 BPA (Not ready yet, but here's a link to something related): http://blogs.technet.com/andrew/archive/2008/03/30/sql-server-2008-best-practice.aspx

The Microsoft IT Health Scanner: http://blogs.technet.com/essentialbusinessserver/archive/2009/06/29/microsoft-it-health-scanner-released.aspx

You could even use the EBS Preparation Wizard to give a network a clean bill of health: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc768594(WS.10).aspx

With the release of Server 2008 R2, Microsoft has taken BPAs to the next level and included them for every single server role: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd759260.aspx

Now, one thing I feel is missing here is some kind of Terminal Server or Remote Desktop Services (RDS) BPA. I don't think the RDS BPA included with R2 really hones in on best practices that directly affect performance and the user experience, which I think would be valuable. Maybe someday soon.

The truth might not be out there, but help sure is.

SBS 2008 and Third Party AV

Having problems loading the SBS 2008 Console? Keeps crashing a few moments after you open it? The problem might be the way the SBS 2008 console tries to use WMI to enumerate the security status of the various AV products that you have sitting on the servers and PCs on your network. Check out this procedure:

http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2009/03/12/sbs-console-crashes-when-duplicate-entries-from-av-products-are-written-into-security-center.aspx

Its a bit deep, and requires some concentration and patience, but definitely worth a look.

Free Stuff: SBS 2008 Admin Companion

I like free stuff. Check this out - Microsoft Press is offering a PDF copy of the SBS 2008 Administrator's Companion for free.

Also, Dana over at Scorpion Software has an AuthAnvil promotion going on. Check that out too.

Make sure you're doing everything you can to end up with a stable networking environment.