Kurt Shintaku's Blog

This download contains Awareness Resources, including email templates for a pilot program, form templates for signing users up for a Lync pilot program, and poster and t-shirt templates for creating posters and t-shirts to help generate excitement and awareness for Lync in an organization.

• DOWNLOAD:  Lync Adoption & Training Resources (4.9MB)
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=A1F626C6-3E3D-4D73-84F8-579169D8E066

Before you’re ready to go to production, you’re gonna wanna make sure you run this on your Lync Server implementation to ensure you have things configured for best practices.

Here’s the verbage on what the BPA does for Lync:

You can use Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Best Practices Analyzer to identify and resolve problems with your Lync Server deployment. The Lync Server 2010, Best Practices Analyzer gathers configuration information from Lync Server 2010 components.
With the proper network access, the Best Practices Analyzer can examine servers running Active Directory Domain Services, Exchange Server Unified Messaging (UM), and Lync Server. You can use Best Practices Analyzer to do the following:

• Proactively perform checks, verifying that the configuration is set according to recommended best practices.
• Automatically detect required updates to Lync Server 2010.
• Generate a list of issues, such as suboptimal configuration settings, unsupported options, missing updates, or practices that we do not recommend.
• Help you troubleshoot and fix specific problems.

Best Practices Analyzer provides the following features:

• Minimal installation prerequisites.
• Online documentation about reported issues, including troubleshooting tips.
• Configuration information that you can save for later review.
• State-of-the-art system analysis.

DOWNLOAD:  Lync Server 2010 Best Practices Analyzer
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=030548df-0dc7-4f86-b8a9-2f5ec8de8ba5&displaylang=en

Check this out!  A real “Dummies” book on Desktop Virtualization!  We’re making thie entire 43-page eBook available for free for you to either view online or download in its entirety.

Here’s the table of contents:

• Introduction
• Part 1:  What is Desktop Virtualization anyway?
• Part 2:  Discovering the Benefits of Desktop Virtualization
• Part 3:  Thinking about your organizations requirements
• Part 4:  Choosing between the options
• Part 5: Taking things forward with desktop virtualization
• Part 6:  Ten (well nearly) Top Tips for Desktop Virtualization

Here’s the link to the online version:

• VIEW ONLINE:  “Desktop Virtualization for Dummies”
  http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/54ef6966#/54ef6966/1

(Note:  To download, press the “Print” button which will output a PDF file of the online eBook.)

We’ve published yet another eBook for you client folks to download, called “Windows Optimized Desktop”, a 27-page guide to understanding all the benefits of modern desktop deployment today with the Windows client operating system, including:

• Strong user state virtualization (docs, settings, etc.)
• Application virtualization
• Enterprise search scopes
• Branch caching
• Direct access
• Bitlocker & Bitlocker-to-go
• Enhanced device control over Group Policy
• Applocker
• Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
• Hyper-V
• Remote Desktop Services
• System Center Config Manager 2007 R3
• App-V
• System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2
• etc.

This is a REALLY good document to view online as it’s loaded with hyperlinks and redirects to all sorts of great 3rd party studies and such.

• VIEW ONLINE:  “Windows Optimized Desktop”
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/e-book/Default.html
• DOWNLOAD:  Free eBook – “Windows Optimized Desktop” (7.27MB)
  http://download.microsoft.com/download/E/9/A/E9A95912-92C9-440B-AD61-DAB46FFCF0DA/fullbook.pdf

Microsoft Lync 2010 Group Chat is a feature of Microsoft Lync that allows users to have topic-based, multi-party discussions that persist over time, which allows efficient information sharing and discussions as a group.

(The image to the right is my Lync 2010 Group Chat client… with all the names, messages, and membership redacted in RED.  No, the client doesn’t normally have a ton of red bars in it!)

Here’s a list of goals of Lync Group Chat:

• Create ongoing discussions about specific topics that persist over time and are available to geographically dispersed teams
• Establish chat rooms that federate with partners, customers, and vendors
• Initiate broader Lync 2010-based voice/video/data communications within Group Chat
• Share documents, links, posts, across multiple people immediately and persistently
• Control notifications based on user-designated criteria
• Work in multiple languages across geographies

For more information, visit the product description page:
http://lync.microsoft.com/en-us/Product/Workloads/Pages/group-chat.aspx

Content available online for Lync 2010 Group Chat:

• DOWNLOAD:  Lync 2010 Group Chat client
  User client for persistent topic-based chat rooms.
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=4a202df0-c2ac-48b5-a621-1b3f22003632
• DOWNLOAD:  Lync Server 2010 Group Chat
  Group Chat is a server role of Lync Server 2010, which enables persistent topic-based chat rooms.
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=575484F9-2A93-4450-A4C7-7D08A1290700
• DOWNLOAD:  Lync Server 2010, Group Chat Admin Tool
  Administration of users and chat rooms.
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=A50CF7A4-6E8C-48A3-8C54-2449106F1627
• WHITEPAPER: Lync Server 2010 Group Chat Administration Guide
  The purpose of the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Group Chat Administration Guide is to guide you through the process of administering Lync Server 2010 Group Chat Server and the related components, such as might be required to meet regulatory compliance requirements. These components are required to support organizations set up searchable, topic-based chat rooms that persist over time, allowing geographically distributed teams to better collaborate with one another while preserving organizational knowledge. This document provides step-by-step procedures and other information that you need to set up Lync Server group chat support, including the procedures and information you need to meet the hardware and software prerequisites for administering the group chat components.
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=7af3e109-38ec-4f04-bf2f-3d35b6454a77
• WHITEPAPER: Lync Server 2010 Group Chat Deployment Guide
  The purpose of the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Group Chat Deployment Guide is to guide you through the process of migrating and deploying Lync Server 2010 Group Chat Server and the related components, such as might be required to meet regulatory compliance requirements. These components are required to support organizations set up searchable, topic-based chat rooms that persist over time, allowing geographically distributed teams to better collaborate with one another while preserving organizational knowledge. This document provides step-by-step procedures and other information that you need to set up Lync Server group chat support, including the procedures and information you need to meet the hardware and software prerequisites for migrating and deploying the group chat components, install the required Lync Server and other software for all group chat components, and complete the initial configuration required to support group chat.
  

So Rob Miles wrote an eBook called the “Windows Phone Blue Book” and published it to the web.  In his words:

This is kind of a companion to the "C# Yellow Book” which has been around for a while. However, it has a lot more stuff with it. There are demo programs and also a whole set of presentations and exercises that you could use to create a complete course on Windows Phone 7.

The problem?  The files are no longer hosted where he hyperlinked to.  Here’s the new location:

• Rob Miles Windows Phone Blue Book.pdf (4M)
  Follows on from the C# Yellow Book and shows you how to get started writing Silverlight and XNA applications for Windows Phone.
  http://www.robmiles.com/c-yellow-book/Rob%20Miles%20Windows%20Phone%20Blue%20Book.pdf

• Windows Phone Blue Book Demos.zip (6.3M)
  Demo software that accompanies the Windows Phone Blue book.
  http://www.robmiles.com/c-yellow-book/Windows Phone Blue Book Demos.zip

Internally, Lync is taking Microsoft by storm.  Exchange was a pretty big deal back in the mid 90’s and everyone was either talking about it, deploying it, or finding new uses for it.  Then I thought SharePoint was a big deal.  It spread like wildfire throughout Microsoft practically eliminating the use of file shares:  Everything is hosted on SharePoint now.

But now it’s Lync.  Our Unified Communications technology must have turned a corner or something because everyone is using the heck out of Lync 2010.  Phone calls, desktop integrated conference calls, internal presentations, external desktop sharing, online meeting with 100+ people on line… you name it.

Which begs the question… why is Lync so cool relative to other Unified Communications clients, even it’s predecessor “Office Communicator”?

——————

Single Application, Three Great Ways to Connect

• One tool, many ways to connect – Lync combines the conversation features of Communicator with the collaboration and presentation functionality of Live Meeting and more in a single tool.
• Easy online meetings – Easily join online meetings, revise and compare content, and present information from wherever you are.
• Natural collaboration – Transform every day conversations into fully-fledged collaboration sessions with shared comments, documents, applications and media.

Bring your work and people together.

• Connect and share your work directly from within Microsoft Office applications – send your document through Lync or share your desktop from Save & Send in the File Menu.
• Experts at your fingertips – Advanced search features help you find the people you need chat, meet or collaboration with using names or keywords.

Lync is Your Phone.  Your Phone is Lync.

• The phone you know but better – Lync is a phone on your PC that works the way you’d expect, but does so much more.  Lync has in-line access to voicemail, single click calling, and calling by name rather than number.
• Conversations with context – Start your phone calls from within any document and frame the context of your conversation with the document title.
• Experience greater clarity – Rich panoramic and HD video paired with HD audio give nuance to your communications. (must have HD capable hardware)

So give it a try!  The next time you get a conference call request from someone and you notice that the body mentions the Lync client, try downloading and installing the ‘Lync attendee client’.  (The ‘attendee client’ is the version of Lync’s desktop software for folks without Lync deployed in their organization)  It’ll allow you to participate in the Lync-originated conference call over VOIP directly from your PC, see remote desktop visuals, work on shared whiteboards & fill out polls, view/lead PowerPoint presentations, see video camera feeds from participants, download documents shared within the meeting, and of course, send & receive instant messages between participants… all over the open Internet. (Using a secure protocol & well-know ports, of course)

• DOWNLOAD:  Lync 2010 Attendee – User Level Installation
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=68a3ca04-a058-4e47-98ea-9e9af7ebd6e3
  (To be used if you are not an administrator on the computer you are using but an administrator has allowed you to perform installations; this does a PER USER installation of Lync 2010 Attendee client)
• DOWNLOAD:  Lync 2010 Attendee – Admin Level Installation
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=1772a5ad-9688-4861-8387-ec30411bf455
  (To be used if you are an administrator of the computer you are using; this does a FOR ANYONE installation of the Lync 2010 Attendee client)

A week ago, we announced “Windows Thin PC”, the next version of “Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs”… for volume licensing customers with Software Assurance on Windows Client.

WHAT IS IT?
Windows Thin PC provides a special, scaled down configuration of Windows Embedded 7 for installation on existing older PCs.  The operating system is light and designed to operate on lower end machines while still providing all the traditional manageability of a Windows desktop – including compatibility with:

• Optional Components at install
  • Internet Explorer 8.0
  • Windows Media Player
• Local installs of Allowed Microsoft Applications
  • Desktop management agents – like SCCM2007R2
  • Windows Firewall
  • Anti-virus software – like Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010
  • .NET Framework
  • Office Viewers
• Allowed 3rd party ISV apps
  • Thin client software like Remote Desktop Connection or Citrix Receiver
  • Terminal Emulation products
  • Java Virtual Machines
  • Acrobat Reader
  • etc.

WHAT BENEFITS DOES IT HAVE?
I believe that it’s benefits are identical to that of its predecessor except with a much richer code base being that WinFLP, the previous version of Windows Thin PC, was based on Windows XP Embedded SP3… and of course WinTPC is based on Windows Embedded 7.

• Minimal Deployment Curve
  • Works with existing admin tools & client utilities
  • Same security & management infrastructure
• Minimized hardware requirements on CPU/memory/disk
  • Increases performance of client-facing apps
  • Decreases workstation security risks, data loss concerns
• Optional apps allow org-specific customization
  • Windows terminals… through Remote Desktop/Citrix
    (The client will still require appropriate Terminal Client licensing)
  • Web-based kiosks… through IE 8.0
  • Media kiosk… through Windows Media Player

WHO CAN USE “WINDOWS THIN PC”?
To reiterate – this is ONLY for use by volume licensed customers with Software Assurance on Windows Client.  This is typically a 3 year or more spread payment contract between a volume license customer and Microsoft for the use of the currently released revision of the Window OS. (And any past releases that are supported)

It should be available for download from the Microsoft Connect test site later in the first calendar quarter of 2011.

More about WinTPC is written here:

• http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/business/archive/2011/02/09/windows-7-updates-deliver-more-bang-for-your-buck.aspx
• http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/microsoft-readies-locked-down-windows-7-thin-pcs/8657

Lee Wittington, one of the guys at the Windows Club, produced a tool that provides frankly better management of the Windows 7 System Restore function than the native Control Panel user interface.

Leveraging existing Windows APIs, the System Restore Manager v2.0 tool provides a graphical way of:

• Creating Restore Points
• Deleting individual Restore Points
• Restoring the system to a Restore Point
• Writing Restore Points to a different drive
• Changing the max space used for Restore Points
• Changing the frequency of restore point snapshots
• Changing the length of time a restore point is kept

TOOL:  System Restore Manager 2.0
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/downloads/SRM.zip

POST:  Managing Restore Points with System Restore Manager 2.0
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/system-restore-manager-for-windows-released

A short 8-page eBook/document’s been released for Windows 7 by the usability group here at Microsoft that goes over some of the fundamental differences between Windows Vista & Windows 7.

Subjects covered in this guide, include:

• “Where have all my gadgets gone?”
• “I need to find a file.  How do I search for it now?”
• “Help!  How do I switch to Projector Mode?”
• “How can I see everything I’ve got open without clicking each individual window?”
• “How do I quickly get to the files and apps I use most?”
• “How can I get help from my IT deparment without them being able to see my screen?”

Go check it out.  After all, it’s free.

• LINK:  Announcement link from Rob Margel’s Windows Help Blog
  http://blogs.msdn.com/robmar/archive/2010/01/14/your-guide-to-windows-7-download.aspx
• DOWNLOAD:  eBook – “Your Guide to Windows 7”
  http://download.microsoft.com/documents/UK/it%20pro/Your_Guide_to_Windows_7.pdf?qstr=CR_CC%3dGTITPRO2010TS&CR_ID=