I am usually out of the office and depend on my web enabled PDA phone (HTC Mogul). In addition to ActiveSync with my Exchange server which provides me constant updates for e-mail, etc. in Pocket Outlook, I also have installed CWR Mobile CRM 4.0 which is a PDA mobile client for CRM 4.0. When I want to have a new appointment linked to my CRM, I can use CWR Mobile to enter it and it appears in my CRM. But then I'd like it to also show up in my Outlook calendar on my phone. However Pocket Outlook and CWR Mobile do not have a synchronization feature. But the solution is really pretty simple. I keep Outlook running on my Office workstation 24/7. It is set as the CRM/Outlook synchronization client. I used to have my notebook set as the synchronization client but I turn my notebook off when I'm not using it. The workstation (a desktop) I can leave running all the time. So now I can enter a new appointment in CWR Mobile CRM and a few minutes later have it appear on my phone's calendar. Data entry such as notes on what I'm doing for my client is much easier in Outlook on my phone so this is helpful.
This also works with Contacts. Should I enter a new Contact using CWR Mobile, it will appear on my phone a few minutes later. I don't do this often but it's nice to know I can.
But that's just me. I'm a one man shop and the only CRM user to speak of. In a bigger organization, an assistant could be entering appointments and or contacts into CRM and they would appear on the remote user's phone. The reverse is also true. Once linked via Outlook, any updates I do to my appointments or contact information on my phone is quickly reflected in CRM. If others are using that info, they will have quick updates as well.
I have been selling, and supporting Microsoft Small Business Server since the first version (v4.0) back in 1997. One of the killer features it had was it provided Internet access for all the computers in the network. Sounds like no big deal now, but back then dial-up was state of the art. If users wanted Internet access, they had to fight over who had access to the phone line. Only one user at a time could access the Internet over a given phone line. Small businesses were not anxious to give everyone their own dedicated modem phone line. But with SBS 4.0, the server would have the modem and would allow everyone on the network to access the Internet simultaneously through only one phone line. That was huge! Then came broadband access and the server still filled the function of being the Internet gateway for the network. The primary feature that made all this work was originally Proxy Server and then with SBS 2000 and SBS 2003 Premium, Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA). ISA not only provided Internet access but was the firewall for the entire network. And a fine firewall it was. And as part of SBS, it made SBS a super deal. But being a sophisticated firewall, it did require a little bit of knowledge to use. Actually only a little bit as the CEICW (Configure E-mail and Internet Connection Wizard) in SBS pretty much configured it with little effort. But apparently most purchasers of SBS 2003 (the first version to split off the ISA and SQL portions into a 'Premium' Edition) bought the Standard Edition without ISA or SQL. So the SBS development team decided to remove ISA from SBS 2008. There are a few technical reasons as well which I will touch on here. So if you are going to have an SBS 2008 server and network, you will need a separate firewall of some sort.
In preparation for migrating to SBS 2008 on my own network, I've decided to load ISA on a separate dedicated server to be my firewall. My original plan was to install Windows Server 2008 Core and install ISA 2006 on it to be the firewall for my network. While installing W2k8, I did a Google search and found that ISA 2006 (and all other versions) is NOT compatible with Windows Server 2008. Not just Core, but W2k8 in general. Seems to be a conflict with the Windows firewall on W2k8 which can't be disabled. This is likely one of the technical reasons why SBS 2008 doesn't come with ISA.
The replacement for ISA is Threat Management Gateway. I'm not sure whether TMG is available yet but it will only run on Windows Server 2008 -- 64bit! My server isn't 64 bit so that's out.
My final solution is to configure my server with Windows Server 2003 and load ISA 2006 on that. I will have to configure my current SBS 2003 server, as well as all my workstations, to use the new ISA server as the network gateway to the Internet. My ISA 'server' by the way is an OLD workstation that I'm loading W2k3 on. It is an old AMD K7, 550 MHz, with 768 MB RAM. Wouldn't want to run much more that ISA on it, but it should work fine as my firewall. My ISA MVP friend, Amy Babinchak, told me so :-).
I just returned from SMB Nation 2008 fall conference in Seattle. Actually the conference was held over the October 4th weekend but my wife and I took advantage of the trip to take a short vacation and tour southern Washington state and Oregon. Oregon is beautiful, as is Washington. Lots of wineries!
The main take away from the conference was some tips and cautions on moving to SBS 2008. Looks like SBS 2008 will have plenty of WOWs but they are offset by some gotchas when moving to it from SBS 2003. Jeff Middleton, SBSMigration, gave a great presentation on the pitfalls of migrating to SBS 2008. Seems the Microsoft migration takes quite a long time because it has to do a MOVE on each Exchange mailbox from SBS 2003 to 2008. It also changes the original SBS 2003 box so there is no roll back in case there is a 'problem'. The SBS MVPs attended a week long deep dive training on SBS 2008 just before the conference and the consensus was allow 4 days for the migration.
Amy Babinchak, ISA MVP, gave a great presentation on choosing a firewall since ISA will no longer be included with SBS. The take away here was to decided what solution best fits your client and present that, and only that. You are the trusted technical advisor. You make the decision, don't make the client try to decided other than whether to purchase your solution or not.
Susan Bradley, SBS Diva, and Ofer Shimrat gave a presentation on the Gotchas of SBS 2008. They were introduced by Australian honorary MVP Ken Gareoux (see picture). Big take aways here are be sure to have plenty of hardware. EVERYTHING starts on the C: drive. You can move it later but it starts on C: so have a big C: drive. Also have LOTS of RAM. 4 GB is the minimum. The more the better. Obviously a good fast CPU(s) is (are) best. They gave us a lot more but you would have to be there...
The second day was dominated by presentations on EBS (Essential Business Server). It appears to be a great product for the mid-sized company with an IT person on staff.
It was once again a great conference. If you have the chance to go to SMB Nation 2009, go. Harry puts on a great show. Great parties, great venue (right on the water). It was great to see many old friends, MVPs and otherwise, and to make new ones. Hope to see you there next year.
While doing my CRM Online install, I attempted to set the client up with the CRM Outlook client. It appeared to install properly but then Outlook would not run. When attempting to run it, we would get a message that the program had not shut down properly and the data file needed to be massaged. After a bit, Outlook would simply shut down. I eventually decided to uninstall the CRM client and full functionality was restored to Outlook. I also noticed that the customer had Microsoft Office Business Contact Manager (BCM) installed. Further research (asking my fellow MVPs) revealed that this is a common behavior. Matter of fact there is a hotfix in the works, but not public yet, to fix this. In the meantime I will simply uninstall BCM and then reinstall the CRM client.
One of the benefits of this 'research' was that a recent CRM Team blog, CRM 4 Outlook Client - Issues and Fixes, was highlighted that listed a number of hotfixes for the CRM Outlook client. It can be found here. I encourage you to visit this blog and learn about the fixes. Links are available to request the individual (free) hotfixes.
This week I've had my first opportunity to set up CRM Online for a client. It's been a learning experience for sure. CRM Online, Microsoft's hosted version of the product, looks like a good choice in a number of scenarios. My current customer is a substantial company with a network infrastructure and several servers. But at this point, only a handful of users need CRM. Rather than spend several thousand dollars to install a new server to run SQL and CRM, they can use the Online version to see how the product will work for them, especially the 30 day free trial. I expect they will eventually move up to On-premise as they see the value of the program. Other possible fits for this would be branch offices of larger corporations, like banks. In this scenario the local branch manager may see the value of CRM for their business development, but convincing the IT folks and management at the corporate headquarters may be an uphill battle, at least at first.
There were a few pitfalls in my first Online setup experience. I went to the customer's office on Tuesday fully expecting to spend the afternoon setting up CRM and showing him how to get started using it. Well, not so fast. When you sign up for an Online account, you must wait for someone from Microsoft to contact the customer and verify that they are in fact a real live company wanting to use CRM and not a spoof trying to sabotage the system. I left after about a half hour having only been able to apply for the account. Later that afternoon, I received notification that my customer had been approved. So today I returned and had to set up the account. I fully thought it would be a quick process. Once again the system told me that we would be notified when the new CRM system was ready for use, hopefully within 24 hours. I was looking at another wasted day. But after a short wait (30 minutes?) I tried logging on the their organization and I got it! Never did receive that e-mail notification.
So, my recommendations when you are setting up a new client is to apply for the account ahead of time. It can really be done from any computer. Once you get the go ahead, you can also do the initial set up remotely as well. Once up and running, you can go to the customer's office and set up the Outlook client and show the customer how to use it. You will need a Windows Live ID for your client and a credit card in order to set up their CRM.
Well, I've spent the better part of today (and tonight) trying to resolve a pesky problem that suddenly popped up this morning. Whenever I would try to Track in CRM (promote) an e-mail message, I would get the error "An error occurred promoting this item to Microsoft Dynamics CRM. The Microsoft Dynamics CRM server could not be contacted or the user has insufficient permissions to perform this actions." I did numerous Google searches which produced a number of hits, including one from MY BLOG! None seemed to help. Most of the solutions, including my own, seemed to focus on there being a problem with attachments in the affected message. But it didn't matter what type of message I tried to promote, it still gave the same error. I tried running the Outlook CRM client Configuration Wizard. That didn't help. I tried messing with the Outlook offline cache. No help. I did a bunch of stuff that didn't help. I tried uninstalling the CRM client from Outlook using the Configuration Wizard and then reinstalling using the Wizard. Nope! Finally I tried going to Control Panel and Add/Remove Programs (well the Vista equivalent, Programs and Features). I had intended to completely uninstall and then reinstall the client from there. But it gave me the option to Repair as well. I figured I might as well try that first. It worked!
I just blogged about using the Service Calendar as a corporate calendar. I noted that it is not available out of the box in the Outlook client. I've just experimented a bit and managed to expose the Service Calendar in my Outlook client.
To do so, you must modify the Site Map and remove the Client="Web" item from the Service Calendar entry. Below is the Site Map entry before modifying it. Be sure to save a copy of the original before you modify the Site Map. If you screw it up, you might not be able to access CRM!
<Group Id="SM" ResourceId="Area_Scheduling" IsProfile="true">
- <SubArea Id="nav_apptbook" ResourceId="Homepage_AppointmentBook" Icon="/_imgs/ico_18_servicecal.gif" Url="/sm/home_apptbook.aspx" Client="Web">
<Privilege Entity="activitypointer" Privilege="Read" />
<Privilege Entity="service" Privilege="Read" />
</SubArea>
</Group>
A client of mine actually pointed this out. I'd never thought of this. The owner wants to be able to have a common 'Corporate Calendar' for all CRM appointments. The CRM calendar doesn't do that, nor does the Outlook calendar. Thought about using a public folder in Exchange, but it wouldn't link to CRM. Then my client, (he's actually the outsource IT guy for the user) came up with the idea of using the Service Calendar. Duh! I'd only thought of it for tracking service activities but it will also track all appointments for all users and display them all in one screen with lots of options as to what to display. It also allows you to access the CRM activities directly. You can even schedule new appointments directly from there. Only problem is the business owner wants to be able to access it from the Outlook client. The Service Calendar isn't available in the Outlook client. But, perhaps we can modify the Site Map or something. I'm looking into that and will post when I see if that works or not.
I received an e-mail today purporting to be from Microsoft XP, with an e-mail address equal to one of my distribution lists. I tries to get you to download a free update by clicking the title. The web site it takes you to does not appear to be a Microsoft address. According to WhoIs.net, it is actually RIPE Network Coordination Centre in Amsterdam. I don't KNOW if this is bogus, but it SURE feels that way. Microsoft wouldn't put out a message looking like this. Beware!
Well, I guess second time's a charm. I managed to pass the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Applications certification exam. This was my second try and I barely passed it. But pass I did. I qualifies me for not only the Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Specialist for CR$ 4.0 Applications, but also the Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Professional in 4.0 Applications as well.
It is a hard test that asks questions that have responses that are either very close to each other, or are ones you wouldn't have thought of. Plus one has to read it carefully to be sure you know what's being asked. If you are planning on taking this exam, don't take it lightly.
Microsoft released the new SBS 2008 to manufacturing today. Peter Gallagher blogs in more detail at
http://ts2blogs.com/blogs/petergal/default.aspx. More info is also available at the SBS team's Official SBS Blog at http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2008/08/21/sbs-2008-released-to-manufacturing.aspx.
Congrats, Team!
Regional Director and CRM Guru David Yack has just released his latest book, CRM As A Rapid Development Platform. With this book, CRM is not just a CRM application anymore. With its extensive customization features and ability to use external programs, and for external programs to access CRM data, Microsoft Dynamics makes a great platform to develop all manner of business applications.
David has just blogged it on the CRM Team blog. A direct link to his book, and the opportunity to purchase it, can be found at http://www.thecrmbook.com.
If you are a developer, you need this book!
Microsoft's TS2 team will be presenting Dynamics CRM and ERP briefings at select cities this month. Attendees will receive a copy of Office at the CRM events and a copy of Vista Ultimate w/SP1 at ERP events. Sure hope they have one in San Antonio in September. Best hurry though as they start next week!
| City | Dates | Register Here! | Time | Presenter |
| Chicago, IL | 19-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics CRM Briefing | 9a - 12p CT | Julie Herman |
| Chicago, IL | 19-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics ERP Briefing | 1:30p - 4:30p CT |
| Denver, CO | 21-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics CRM Briefing | 9a - 12p MT | Lori Harner |
| Denver, CO | 21-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics ERP Briefing | 1:30p - 4:30p MT |
| Fargo, ND | 21-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics CRM Briefing | 9a - 12p CT | Julie Herman |
| Fargo, ND | 21-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics ERP Briefing | 1:30p - 4:30p CT |
| Bellevue, WA | 26-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics CRM Briefing | 9a - 12p PT | Kim Shek |
| Bellevue, WA | 26-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics ERP Briefing | 1:30p - 4:30p PT |
| Ft Lauderdale, FL | 26-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics CRM Briefing | 9a - 12p ET | Kathy Burkett & Todd Juchem |
| Ft Lauderdale, FL | 26-Aug | Microsoft Dynamics ERP Briefing | 1:30p - 4:30p ET |
Microsoft Dynamics CRM & ERP Events for Partners – Register now!
Partners - Looking for new ways to expand your offerings and grow your business? Be sure to attend the Microsoft Dynamics partner event in your city!
· Microsoft Dynamics CRM Event: We’ll discuss how you can empower your customers with unprecedented choices of how to buy, run, and use Microsoft Dynamics CRM, and also how to increase your reach by addressing opportunities in new geographies, market segments, and industries.
· Microsoft Dynamics ERP Event: Learn how Microsoft Dynamics ERP can adapt to the changing environments of organizations through collaboration and extensive business intelligence, and how it integrates with Microsoft Platform tools. We’ll show you how to position Microsoft’s ERP offerings to better engage with your customers and prospects.
Register NOW for your local event, and even take home some software.
Although I've been in the SBS 2008 Beta program since the start, I haven't had the appropriate hardware to be able to play with it. I was able to access a few remote sites kindly set up by some of the SBS MVPs, and I even loaded SBS 2008 on a new server for a client, before I wiped it and installed the real (SBS 2003) system. But I've not had a system of my own to play with. Well, I didn't think I did. My notebook is 64 bit and when I first got it, I had Vista 64 running on it and figured that I could run the 64 bit version of Virtual PC to load SBS 2008 (a 64bit only system). Nope, couldn't do that. Never did it dawn on me, until recently, that I could purchase a second hard drive for my notebook and load SBS 2008 directly on it. So, I did!
My notebook is a Dell D830 with 4 GB RAM (the max it will hold and pretty much the minimum for SBS 2008). I looked for an appropriate hard drive for my system, a SATA notebook drive. The SBS MVPs recommended I spring for a 7200 RPM drive as performance would be miserable with a slower drive. I looked around and although I found some slightly lower prices, I decided to purchase a new drive from Dell. It cost a little more ($15) but it came with its own caddy so all i have to do is slip out the old drive (OK, I have to unscrew and couple of screws) and slip in the new drive (I leave the screws out until I put the old drive back in). I have another drive I bought for my previous notebook and I had to unscrew the drive from the caddy, then screw in the new, etc. A pain!)
On to installing SBS. I have the RC1 DVDs and was very impressed at the installation process, for the most part (a little on disappointments in a bit). The first screen asked me to select the drive I wanted to install it on (only one). There was a link to install drivers but I didn't need that. I had anticipated it would take a bit for it to format the new hard drive. Nope. It seemed to go right on installing. I did notice that the glide point mouse on my notebook didn't work, at least not until I got further into the install. My USB mouse did work so I was OK.
On my first run, I was just running 'RAW', meaning my notebook sitting here on my den chair with its normal connection to the world, WiFi. Well, naturally SBS didn't pick up on the WiFi NIC which is fine. But I do have a problem with the fact that it sat there looking for whatever it was looking for for quite some time before finally giving me a report that the network connection I was using was routable and that I needed to connect it to a router/modem. There was no indication of what IP address was being used nor any indication of how to configure an IP address. And it took a LONG time to give me that error. That was last night.
Tonight, I hooked up a small router (no external connection) which gave the SBS 2008 installation a 'proper' IP address. The installation went great, except it bombed at the end. I think it was because I selected the options to include OneCare and ForeFront Security for Exchange, which SBS 2008 provides as 120 day Trials. Since I don't have it connected to the Internet yet, it probably couldn't do whatever it needs to do for those trials. I restarted the whole installation, did NOT select the OneCare or ForeFront, and my install worked great, except it would have liked some online updates. I was most impressed with how quickly the installation went. With previous versions of SBS, installs took hours. This install only took about an hour (I didn't time it).
So much for Part 1 of my SBS 2008 Odyssey. I've been motivated by using this to present SBS 2008 to my SBS user group. We have a lot of material for several months of meetings.
Stay tuned as I continue to play with/learn about SBS 2008. Oh, and I still have CRM stuff to blog too.
I took my first CRM 4.0 certification exam today, Customization and Configuration. Passed with an 86! Yea. I found it to be a good exam, though I have heard otherwise about the other 4.0 exams. CRM 4.0 Customization and Configuration includes configuring Business Units, Users, and Security Roles which were in the Installation and Configuration course in 3.0. Also, they have left off many of the meatier areas covered in the 3.0 Customization course to include Workflow, Client Side Scripting, and Reporting. These (well maybe not reporting) are briefly touched on in the final chapter of the course. Next I think I will attempt the Installation and Deployment test. Our Saturday morning study group as been working through this. I had thought I'd take the Applications exam but there has been some concern about it voiced in response to my post on the Team Blog. I may wait on that one a bit.
More Posts
Next page »