Kurt Shintaku's Blog

This is a collection of articles that you should read if you’ve downloaded the recently published Office Professional Plus 2013 from the Volume Licensing Service Center web site, http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/servicecenter.

• REFERENCE: Deploy volume activation of Office 2013
  Co-hosting with a Windows KMS host
  If you currently have a Windows KMS host running on an operating system that supports an Office KMS host, we recommend that you use the same computer that you use for your Office KMS host. You must still run the steps in the following sections to install and activate an Office 2013 KMS host key. For more information, see Plan volume activation of Office 2013.
  http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee624357.aspx
• DOWNLOAD: Microsoft Office 2013 Volume License Pack
  Volume license editions of Office 2013 client products require activation. This download enables IT administrators to set up a Key Management Service (KMS) or configure a domain for Active Directory-Based activation. Either of these volume activation methods can locally activate all Office 2013 clients connected to an organization’s network.
  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35584
• STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS: “How to setup Microsoft Office 2013 KMS Host on Windows Server 2012”
  The KMS activation process for Microsoft Office 2013 is the same as what it was for Microsoft Office 2010. However, the interface to setup the KMS host for Microsoft Office 2013 on a Windows Server 2012 has been updated to use the Volume Activation Tools.
  http://blogs.technet.com/b/odsupport/archive/2012/11/07/how-to-setup-kms-activation-host-for-microsoft-office-2013-on-windows-server-2012.aspx

UPDATE 12/10/12:
”How the heck do I get my Office Professional Plus 2013 KMS Host Volume Activation Key?”
If it hasn’t been posted to your account at the Volume Licensing Service Center, Office Professional Plus 2013 KMS Host Keys can be obtained from the US Product Activation Call Center at (716) 871 2781 or Toll Free (888) 352 7140.

Legal IT published the results of the Global Legal IT Professionals Cloud Survey in a 27 page document that goes over topics including:

• Moving key applications to the cloud
• Are people changing their minds about cloud computing?
• Are clients worried about legal IT in the cloud?
• Cloud on the horizon
• BYOD and the public cloud
• Which applications/services are suitable for the public cloud?
• What issues still need to be addressed?
• Reaping the benefits

Here are a few excerpts:

• Clients are rightly concerned about whether their data is held in the cloud or on-premise. Clients should note that the Data Protection Act does not prevent transfer of data outside the EU, nor does the FBI have easy access to data under the USA Patriot Act.” – Frank Jennings, Partner, DMH Stallard LLP
• I have always been a big supporter of purchasing as much of a ‘service model’ as I can from my vendors. This way I can focus mine and my team’s energy on understanding our business and helping address real business and client problems.” – Stuart Walters, IT Director, Taylor Wessing
• …this is also where BYOD (bring your own device) and consumer technology influences legal IT. As connectivity – particularly mobile connectivity – becomes ubiquitous, and lawyers, like everyone else, become culturally accustomed to accessing everything online, cloud computing is likely to become the de facto delivery model for information and applications.
• I am sure this is happening in all firms, it is almost impossible to try and stop. Anyone with a credit card and an internet connection can buy numerous cloud services. Once you block one site or service something else appears. Also some clients insist on using these services. We use all the relevant security products and firewalls to help mitigate the risk, but the best approach is to educate your lawyers and do it in a way that they understand.” – Stuart Walters, IT director, Taylor Wessing

Download a free copy of the report here:

• DOCUMENT: Legal IT Professionals 2012 Global Cloud Survey Report (9.6MB)
  http://litn.eu/gcsr2012

For those of you looking for a jumpstart on understanding Windows Server 2012, this is an opportunity to jump onto some of the courses we deliver to our partner consulting organizations.  Microsoft Virtual Academy posts these courses on our web site and despite their intended purpose, they’re basically available to basically anyone.

Microsoft Virtual Academy: Windows Server 2012 courses

Microsoft Virtual Academy offers nine free Windows Server 2012 courses, from the Technical Overview to detailed modules on key capabilities such as Management and Automation, Identity and Access, and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure.

1. Windows Server 2012 Technical Overview
2. Windows Server 2012: Server Virtualization
3. Windows Server 2012: Management & Automation 
4. Windows Server 2012: Storage
5. Windows Server 2012: Networking
6. Windows Server 2012: Identity and Access
7. Windows Server 2012: Web & Application Platform
8. Windows Server 2012: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
9. Using Solution Accelerators to Prepare for Windows Server 2012

Click here for the courses:
http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/colleges/windowsserver2012

Announced yesterday on the Azure Blog:

Today we are happy to announce another price reduction for Windows Azure Storage by as much as 28%, effective on December 12^th.  This follows our March 8^th 2012 reduction of 12% furthering our commitment to best overall value in the industry.

Reducing prices is only part of the story; we’ve also added more value to our storage offerings in a number of ways. Our Geo Redundant Storage continues to lead the market in durability with more than 400 miles of separation between replicas.  We recently announced deployment of a flat network for Windows Azure across all of our datacenters to provide very high bandwidth network connectivity for storage clients which significantly enhances scenarios like MapReduce, HPC, and others. We also announced increased scalability targets for Windows Azure Storage and continue to invest in improving bandwidth between compute and storage.

…

Here’s the money graphic:

Read more here:

• Announcing Reduced Pricing for Windows Azure Storage
  http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsazure/archive/2012/12/05/announcing-reduced-pricing-for-windows-azure-storage.aspx

Registration for the 2013 Microsoft Management Summit opens December 5th!  This year’s summit takes place at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas from April 8-12, 2013. 

• REGISTRATION: 2013 Microsoft Management Summit
  http://www.2013mms.com/

About MMS

The Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) brings together the brightest IT professionals from around the world to increase their technical expertise through deep hands-on training, best-practice sharing, and interaction with innovators in desktop, device, and datacenter management, as well as cloud technologies.

When we say deep, we mean it – with session content delving into the 300 and 400 level. Only hard-core geeks will feel comfortable in this exclusive setting. With keynotes, sessions, hands-on labs, certification opportunities, and face-to-face access to Microsoft and industry experts, MMS provides a “can’t-miss” opportunity to be among the first to learn about new technologies.

Need help getting your boss on board? No worries, we’ve done the legwork. Click here.

I’m happy to say that we at Microsoft been busy helping Santa over the last few months, and on December 1st, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) launched their annual NORAD Santa Tracker… with the help of Microsoft. 

(Specifically Bing & Windows Azure!)

• ONLINE: Web site for the NORAD Santa Tracker
  http://www.noradsanta.org/
• ONLINE: Facebook Page for NORAD Santa Tracker
  https://www.facebook.com/noradsanta
• DOWNLOAD: Windows Phone – NORAD Santa Tracker app
  http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/store/app/norad-tracks-santa/d005fda7-d20a-4a41-acdd-16d1ecab38e2
• DOWNLOAD: Windows 8 – NORAD Santa Tracker app
  http://apps.microsoft.com/webpdp/en-US/app/norad-tracks-santa/445e2479-6da9-41e2-85f7-66550fe8c55b

Here’s the NORAD Press Release:
http://www.norad.mil/News/2012/113012a.html

NORAD is ready to track Santa’s flight
NORAD and USNORTHCOM Public Affairs
November 30, 2012

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command is prepared to track Santa’s yuletide journey! The NORAD Tracks Santa website, www.noradsanta.org, is going live today at 7 p.m. EST. It features a holiday countdown, games and daily activities, video messages from students around the world, and more. The website is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese.

Official NORAD Tracks Santa apps are also available in the Windows Store, Apple Store, and Google Play, so parents and children can countdown the days until Santa’s launch on their smart phones and tablets! Tracking opportunities are also offered on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+. Santa followers just need to type @noradsanta into each search engine to get started.

Starting at 12 a.m. MST on Dec. 24, website visitors can watch Santa make the preparations for his flight. Then, at 4:00 a.m. MST (6:00 a.m. EST), trackers worldwide can speak with a live phone operator to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com. NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will also stream videos as Santa makes his way over various locations.

NORAD Tracks Santa is truly a global experience, delighting generations of families everywhere. This is due, in large part, to the efforts and services of numerous program contributors. New to this year’s program are Bing, HP, iLink-Systems, Kids.gov, Microsoft’s Windows Azure, BeMerry! Santa, and SiriusXM. Returning collaborators include the 21st Space Wing, Acuity Scheduling, Air Canada, American Forces Network, Analytical Graphics Inc., Avaya, Citadel Mall, Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council, CradlePoint, Defense Video Imagery Distribution System (DVIDS), Federal Aviation Administration, First Choice Awards & Gifts, Globelink Foreign Language Center, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Meshbox, National Tree Lighting Ceremony, Naturally Santa’s Inc., Newseum, OnStar, PCI Broadband, Pentagon Channel, RadiantBlue, Space Foundation, TurboSquid, twtelecom, UGroup Media, Verizon, and VisionBox. Santa’s Countdown Calendar and the Santa Cam videos will feature music by military bands, including the Naden Band of the Maritime Forces Pacific, Air Force Academy Band, Air Force Band of Liberty, Air Force Band of the Golden West, Air Force Band of the West, Air Force Band, Air Force Heartland of America Band, U.S. Army Ground Forces Band, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Band, Air Force Band of Mid-America, and the West Point Band. Santa trackers can also purchase official NORAD Tracks Santa licensed goods by visiting the “Official Licensed Products” link on the site.

It all started in 1955 when a local media advertisement directed children to call Santa direct – only the number was misprinted. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the Crew Commander on duty at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center. Thus began the tradition which NORAD carried on since it was created in 1958.

UPDATE 12/12/12:
I just realized that this table is out of date.  Way, way out of date.  Please don’t refer to this table until I’ve updated it.  I’m keeping it here just for reference but right now, as you can see from the Software Assurance 2006 reference this thing is ancient.  I have an updated chart to post.

———————–
Recently, I had someone ask me the question:

What’s the difference between Microsoft’s ‘Professional Support’ & ‘Premier Support’?”

Really big question, but it starts with the chart below:

X = Service is available.

¹ Any product that is in the mainstream phase of the product lifecycle and is eligible for SA Benefits, except Developer tools and Developer editions of all server and Home and Entertainment products.

² After business hours, support will be provided on issues that are business critical. Support will be in English; however, some local language interpreter services may be available. For those non-English language products where interpreter services are not available, customers will be routed to an English speaking support engineer using English to troubleshoot the problem. For those non-English language products where interpreter services are available, customers will have the option of using interpreter services if they prefer to speak in their local language. If we cannot reproduce the problem or read the logs in the local language, we will attempt to resolve the issue using other available resources; otherwise, we will notify you that the issue cannot be resolved in the customer’s local language. Requesting support in a local language may significantly delay resolution. Please visit the Volume Licensing Service Center to verify local language support availability in your country.

³ Products as mentioned in the lifecycle program Microsoft Support Lifecycle. Currently excluded from Premier and Essential Support are the Groove products, Microsoft TV and Microsoft Windows Storage Server.

⁴ Visit the Volume Licensing Service Center to verify local language availability in your country.

⁵ 24×7 professional support covers problems associated with software and hardware development, network connectivity, server-based technologies, and business-critical systems. Issues can also include problems associated with configuration and deployment of business workstations and servers.

—————————–
For more information about the differences between Microsoft Professional Support, 24/7 Problem Resolution Support, & Premier Support, refer to the following links:

• http://support.microsoft.com/gp/offerprophone_new
• http://support.microsoft.com/sasupport
• http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftservices/enterprise_customers.aspx

Kinda surprised this hasn’t gotten more attention given that it’s sort of a first.

On December 7th at 6:00PM, Xbox Live will be live streaming the “10th Annual Spike TV Video Game Awards” with groundbreaking new live interactivity for viewers.*  Online conversations, voting, shoutouts, extra commentary & content, etc.  It’s gonna be a big deal. 

One of the sneakily mentioned features will be that people who own the Xbox SmartGlass app for Windows 8, Android and iOS will be able to get extra content during the live broadcast.

FEATURING…?
Hosted by Samuel L. Jackson & produced by Mark Burnett, the event will showcase the exclusive world premieres of:

• Gears of War: Judgment
• South Park: The Stick of Truth
• The Last of Us

Additionally, there’ll be musical performances by LINKIN PARK and TENACIOUS D.

AWARD CONTENDERS
Top contenders for awards include Borderlands 2, Halo 4, & Journey – each with 7 nominations a piece.  Game of the Year contenders include Assassin’s Creed III, Dishonors, Journey, Mass Effect 3, and The Walking Dead: The Game. 

See the full nominees list at the link below.

• PRESS RELEASE: Spike TV Announces Nominees For 10th Annual Video Game Awards
  http://www.spike.com/press/2012/11/15/spike-tv-announces-nominees-for-10th-annual-video-game-awards/ 

————————-
* Yes, Xbox LIVE Gold subscription required.  Oh, quit your whining guys.  This stuff doesn’t happen for free and if you’re a customer of mine that really can’t afford <rolleyes> an XBLGold subscription, ping me & I will hook you up with a year’s worth.  It’s Christmas after all.

Holy bejeezus.  This massive sampler is 118MB, 907 page compilation of pure SharePoint goodness.

Curated from 21 different Microsoft Press books about SharePoint, this is the ultimate guide for SharePoint administrators & techs to what you might want to purchase from Microsoft Press to add to your reference library.

Samples are taken from:

• Designing Solutions for Microsoft SharePoint 2010
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Administrator’s Companion
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Plain & Simple
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant
• Managing and Implementing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Projects
• Microsoft SharePoint Designer 2010 Step by Step
• Inside Microsoft SharePoint 2010
• Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 Step by Step
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Developer Reference
• Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 Inside Out
• MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-667): Configuring Microsoft
  SharePoint 2010
• Business Intelligence in Microsoft SharePoint 2010
• Developing Microsoft SharePoint Applications Using Windows Azure
• MOS 2010 Study Guide for Microsoft Word Expert, Excel Expert, Access,
  and SharePoint Exams
• Using Microsoft InfoPath 2010 with Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Step by Step
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010: Customizing My Site
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010: Deploying Cloud-Based Solutions
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010: Creating and Implementing Real-World Project
• Microsoft SharePoint 2010: Business Connectivity Services
• Working with Microsoft Office 365: Running Your Small Business in the Cloud
• Working with Microsoft® FAST(TM) Search Server 2010 for SharePoint®

Download it now from here:

• DOWNLOAD: Sharepoint 2010 eBook Sampler
  http://cdn.oreilly.com/oreilly/booksamplers/msp/sharepoint-mega-sampler4.pdf
• MICROSOFT PRESS:  O’Reilly Web Site for eBooks
  http://shop.oreilly.com/category/microsoft-press.do

FYI: In case you hadn’t seen the news, we announced Unified Access Gateway 2010 Service Pack 3.  We expect to make it available during the first quarter of calendar year 2013 (Q1 CY2013).  Service Pack 3 will provide support for:

• Windows 8 with Internet Explorer 10 clients
• Office 2013 clients (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Publishing Exchange 2013
• Publishing SharePoint 2013
• RDP 8.0 client for Windows 7 SP1 (KB 2592687)

More details in the posts below:

• NEWS: UAG 2010 Service Pack 3 is in the works
  http://blogs.technet.com/b/edgeaccessblog/archive/2012/11/26/uag-2010-service-pack-3-is-in-the-works.aspx
• NEWS: UAG support for Windows 8…and other new tech
  http://blogs.technet.com/b/ben/archive/2012/11/29/uag-support-for-windows-8-and-other-new-tech.aspx