The SharePoint Upgrade Trap

SharePoint 2007 migrations are simple enough, but beware of hidden dangers. Here's a look at some of the more common upgrade and migration problems.

When I think about the process of migrating from SharePoint 2003 to SharePoint 2007, the phrase "deceptively simple" comes to mind. Microsoft gives you the option of either performing an in-place upgrade or a migration. If you choose the in-place upgrade option, all you have to do is insert an installation disk, answer a basic question or two, click Next a few times, and you're good to go.

Simple, right? So why qualify the process as deceptively simple? Well, there's a lot that can go wrong. Let's look a bit more closely at some of the caveats to the upgrade or migration process and what you can do to avoid some common problems.

Upgrade Paths
The first thing that you need to know about the upgrade process is that not every version of SharePoint can be directly upgraded. SharePoint 2007 supports in-place upgrades from SharePoint 2003 and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.

If you are running Windows SharePoint Services 2.0, then the easiest way to upgrade is to upgrade to Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, and then to SharePoint 2007. Microsoft offers a full upgrade toolkit that can help you to upgrade from Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 to 3.0. You can download this toolkit here.

If you happen to be running Microsoft Content Management Server 2002, then you will not be able to do an in-place upgrade, but you can migrate the server's content.

What Could Go Wrong?
So if an upgrade or migration is so easy, what could possibly go wrong? Even though Microsoft has thoroughly tested the upgrade and migration features, they have no way of knowing about any custom code that you might be running. The migration or upgrade process works really well if you are using only stock Web parts, but things become a bit sketchy when you start introducing customizations.

One classic example of this is that if you use a tool such as Microsoft FrontPage to customize a SharePoint site, that site is said to be unghosted. What this means is that when the migration completes, the site will still retain some of the look and feel of the SharePoint 2003 site, because Setup doesn't know how to convert Web parts that do not comply with some default parameters. Fortunately, Microsoft does provide administrators with a way to return a site to a ghosted status once the migration is complete.

Path of Most Resistance
As you can see, the upgrade or migration process is not always as easy as you might at first be lead to believe. That being the case, I strongly recommend performing a trial upgrade or a trial migration. That way, you can find out about any potential issues ahead of time, without affecting your production servers.

The easiest way of performing a trial upgrade or a trial migration is to get a couple of high-end PCs that you can temporarily configure as servers. Once you have these PCs in place, you can place them on an isolated network and then restore your SharePoint backups to them.

Using an isolated network is important -- you don't want your trial migration to impact your production network in any way. The down side to using an isolated network segment is that you will need to set up at least one domain controller and at least one DNS server on it.

One of the easiest ways to bring an infrastructure server onto your isolated network segment is to install a trial version of Windows Server onto a PC and then use DCPROMO to promote it to a domain controller. Once you have done that, then you can physically remove the new domain controller from your production network, and then attach it to your isolated segment. You will then need to seize the operations master roles and configure the domain controller to act as a DNS server.

Keep in mind that because you have seized the operations master roles, you won't be able to plug the domain controller back into your production network. That being the case, you will need to use the Active Directory Users and Computers console to remove the references to your new domain controller from your Active Directory.

It's a lot of work to get the SharePoint server and the domain controller in place for a trial migration or upgrade. The nice thing about using this method though, is that it allows you to get an accurate feel for how the transitioning process will go when you eventually try it on your production network.

Keep in mind that even if it appears that your trial migration or upgrade was successful, you need to have some of your power users log into your isolated network and interact with your SharePoint site in the same way that they do on the production network. Having experienced users to thoroughly test the post-migration lab network is the only way that you will be able to tell for sure whether or not there were problems with the migration process.

A Simple Plan
Unfortunately, if you have created any custom Web parts, made customizations to existing Web parts, or purchased any third party SharePoint add-ons, then there is no way of knowing exactly what is going to happen during the upgrade or migration process. That's why it is so important to thoroughly test your migration plan before you attempt to upgrade or migrate your production servers.

Source:- rcpmag.com/

Small Business Server 2008 Hits Metal

Microsoft released Windows Small Business Server 2008 (SBS 2008) to hardware manufacturers, with an eye toward achieving a full product launch on November 12. The release was slightly ahead of the September RTM date predicted at the July Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Houston.

The new server offering is part of the Microsoft Windows Essential Business Server 2008 product line. It's an integrated server offering that encompasses a number of Microsoft technologies, including Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007 and SharePoint Services 3.0. It also includes security and online apps.

SBS 2008 will be sold in two editions, Standard and Premium. The Premium Edition adds a second Windows Server 2008 to the mix, plus a copy of SQL Server 2008.

Microsoft produced the Premium Edition to meet the line-of-business demands of customers and partners, explained Joel Sider, senior product manager of Microsoft's Windows Essential Server Solutions, in a July interview.

SBS 2008 is designed for businesses with up to 75 users and perhaps little to no internal IT support. Microsoft's large community of partners will play a big role in providing support for the product.

SBS 2008, formerly code-named "Cougar," is essentially new technology. It was "rebuilt from the ground up," according to Microsoft's official blog. Microsoft's earlier product, SBS 2003 R2, is about six years old and based on 32-bit technology.

When released in the fall, SBS 2008 will be available only as 64-bit technology. Microsoft is claiming a number of improvements in the product, including easier setup and administration, faster backups, improved remote access, and more flexible licensing. Each edition of SBS will include five Client Access Licenses (CALs). Customers can buy additional CALs, as needed, when they add users or device connections to SBS 2008.

Source:- redmondmag.com/

Tzunami Announces a New Version of Tzunami Deployer for Sharepoint 2003 Migration

The Latest Version Offers Enhanced Features for Migrating Content From SharePoint 2003 to Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS)

Tzunami Inc., the pioneers and one of the leading providers of content migration technologies announced today the release of the latest version of its Tzunami Deployer for SharePoint 2003 Migration. Version 2.3 provides enhanced features for migrating content from SharePoint 2003 to Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 (MOSS) at a lower, fixed-price than alternative systems. Added benefits include full support for Site Templates and lists, maintaining list views, an improved Rule Engine to automate the migration process and overall user interaction.

"Our latest version of Tzunami Deployer for SharePoint 2003 Migration has been developed in response to the current demands in the marketplace for an economically viable solution that meets all content migration needs," said Nimrod Berger VP Global Sales and Marketing of Tzunami. "With our vast industry experience, Tzunami has created a solution that is not only technologically sophisticated, offering a rich-user experience, but which provides a strong return on SharePoint technology investment."

Tzunami Deployer for SharePoint 2003 Migration is a stand-alone application enabling rapid content migration to advanced SharePoint 2007 structures. Key features include property and value mapping which allows users to manage the migration of metadata while retaining vital enterprise information. Furthermore, the solution fully supports and preserves security settings and handles all types of items, documents and site collections. Whether it is required to maintain the current structure during migration or completely remodel, the solution enables users to model, customize or redefine the structure of the migrated content.

Tzunami Deployer for SharePoint 2003 is part of the Tzunami Deployer Family of Products. A simple, multi-source tool, Tzunami Deployer seamlessly transfers data from all major legacy Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems as well as customized solutions. Features such as a powerful graphic user interface with easy-to-use drag and drop features, streamline business-critical processes simply and efficiently. Furthermore, Tzunami Deployer automates the entire process of migrating unstructured content and provides remote access to sites, including those behind firewalls. Tzunami Deployer saves time and easily transfers content from multiple sources including: File\Network Shares; SharePoint Portal Server 2001; SharePoint 2003/WSS 2.0; MOSS/WSS 3.0; Exchange Public Folders; LiveLink; DocuShare; EMC Documentum; EMC eRoom; Hummingbird DM; Hyperwave; Plumtree/AquaLogic; Lotus Notes; custom repositories and others.

Source:- marketwatch.com/

MultiFactor SecureAuth(R) for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server

MultiFactor Corporation, an innovator in 2-factor authentication, Microsoft web application security and VPN Authentication solutions, today announced the availability of SecureAuth 4.5 for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, a secure access solution for enterprise portals.

Office SharePoint Server 2007 is Microsoft's industry-leading platform for document management, enterprise content search and data aggregation. Office SharePoint Server 2007 is increasingly utilized as the offering of choice for scalable portals to both internal users, extranet partners and customers. The ability of Office SharePoint Server 2007 to expose content, previously only available to intranet users, is unparalleled in portal products.

MultiFactor's SecureAuth, a Microsoft Certified solution is specifically designed for integration into the ASP.NET application framework. SecureAuth offers a deployable, non-phishable, authentication solution that requires no extra servers or infrastructure.

"Office SharePoint Server is a robust platform designed to meet the business needs and resource constraints faced by the enterprise today," said Deb Bannon, SharePoint Senior Product Manager. "The integration of Office SharePoint Server with products like MultiFactor SecureAuth enables the enterprise to further secure content shared across the intranet and with extranet partners."

"SecureAuth utilizes native ASP.NET authentication and data integration features to seamlessly integrate into an Office SharePoint Server 2007 deployment. SecureAuth takes advantage of the new forms based authentication features in SharePoint Server 2007 to redirect the user to the SecureAuth solution and then conduct a secure, non-phishable validation," said Garret Grajek, COO of MultiFactor Corporation. "Upon authentication the user is redirected back to SharePoint Server 2007 to obtain the roles and permissions set up by the SharePoint Server 2007 administrative console."

In conjunction with the Office SharePoint Server platform, SecureAuth is able to deliver a secure credential, mapped directly to the individual user. SecureAuth utilizes the existing data store shared by the Office SharePoint Server 2007 platform, thus eliminating the need to create or replicate an additional data store.

About MultiFactor Corporation

MultiFactor Corporation delivers proven two factor authentication, web application security, and VPN security methodologies. SecureAuth is a tokenless authentication solution generates and validates client and server side certificates without PKI. MultiFactor Corporation's real-world security solutions draws from a diversified team of cryptographers, network and Web application specialists and certified security engineers to provide inexpensive and easily deployed security solutions.

source:- marketwatch.com/

MultiFactor SecureAuth(R) for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Delivers Efficient, Inexpensive Solution for Secure Portals

MultiFactor Corporation, an innovator in 2-factor authentication, Microsoft web application security and VPN Authentication solutions, today announced the availability of SecureAuth 4.5 for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, a secure access solution for enterprise portals.

Office SharePoint Server 2007 is Microsoft's industry-leading platform for document management, enterprise content search and data aggregation. Office SharePoint Server 2007 is increasingly utilized as the offering of choice for scalable portals to both internal users, extranet partners and customers. The ability of Office SharePoint Server 2007 to expose content, previously only available to intranet users, is unparalleled in portal products.

MultiFactor's SecureAuth, a Microsoft Certified solution is specifically designed for integration into the ASP.NET application framework. SecureAuth offers a deployable, non-phishable, authentication solution that requires no extra servers or infrastructure.

"Office SharePoint Server is a robust platform designed to meet the business needs and resource constraints faced by the enterprise today," said Deb Bannon, SharePoint Senior Product Manager. "The integration of Office SharePoint Server with products like MultiFactor SecureAuth enables the enterprise to further secure content shared across the intranet and with extranet partners."

"SecureAuth utilizes native ASP.NET authentication and data integration features to seamlessly integrate into an Office SharePoint Server 2007 deployment. SecureAuth takes advantage of the new forms based authentication features in SharePoint Server 2007 to redirect the user to the SecureAuth solution and then conduct a secure, non-phishable validation," said Garret Grajek, COO of MultiFactor Corporation. "Upon authentication the user is redirected back to SharePoint Server 2007 to obtain the roles and permissions set up by the SharePoint Server 2007 administrative console."

In conjunction with the Office SharePoint Server platform, SecureAuth is able to deliver a secure credential, mapped directly to the individual user. SecureAuth utilizes the existing data store shared by the Office SharePoint Server 2007 platform, thus eliminating the need to create or replicate an additional data store.

About MultiFactor Corporation

MultiFactor Corporation delivers proven two factor authentication, web application security, and VPN security methodologies. SecureAuth is a tokenless authentication solution generates and validates client and server side certificates without PKI. MultiFactor Corporation's real-world security solutions draws from a diversified team of cryptographers, network and Web application specialists and certified security engineers to provide inexpensive and easily deployed security solutions.

source:- marketwatch.com/

Microsoft Share Point Server Solutions by Offshore Software Development India

“Offshore Software Development India is a software solution provider based in Ahmedabad, India Offers Microsoft Share point server solutions, moss site creation, web parts and workflow development, programmatically implementation of Project server"

Offshore software development India has added one more technology in its work profile. OSDI has successfully delivered site definition using Microsoft Share Point Server 2007 and Share point services 3.0. This site definition is for the job portal uses Master pages, Page Layouts, lists, web parts, site template, site columns, content types, customize search solution for the portal and many other share point features. All the development is done programmatically and solution of site definition is totally customizable with the features. Solution is easily installed and deployed in share point farm using installer.

The second part of the development was for the project server 2007. New site template has been created for the project server using FBA authentication. All the site definition and site templates are installable in the server farm using their installer or using manual installation.

Apart from the above site definition and site templates there are readily available web parts for the MOSS 2007 custom calendar, tree view control for the document library, people picker for Active directory users. All the web parts are available with installation package.

Team at OSDI is Please contact info@offshoresoftwaredevelopmentindia.com for the inquiry and development using share point server and project server.

About Share Point Server:

Office SharePoint Server 2007 provides integrated enterprise-class capabilities that can help improve organizational effectiveness by connecting people, processes, and information across boundaries. This helps in Manage content and streamline processes, Improve business insight, Find and share information more simply, Empower IT to make a strategic impact.

Benefits:

• Provide a simple, familiar, and consistent user experience.
• Boost employee productivity by simplifying everyday business activities.
• Help meet regulatory requirements through comprehensive control over content.
• Effectively manage and repurpose content to gain increased business value.
• Simplify organization-wide access to both structured and unstructured information across disparate systems.
• Connect people with information and expertise.
• Accelerate shared business processes across organizational boundaries.
• Share business data without divulging sensitive information.
• Enable people to make better-informed decisions by presenting
• Provide a single, integrated platform to manage intranet, extranet, and Internet applications across the enterprise.

For more information please refer http://office.microsoft.com/sharepoint/.

About Project Server:

With Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 and its clients, your organization can more effectively manage and coordinate work ranging from one-time projects to complex programs across the entire project life cycle. Office Project Server 2007 is designed to be accessible by its clients, Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007 and Microsoft Office Project Web Access.

Benefits:

• Budget Tracking and Cost Resources permit better financial insight and tracking.
• The Proposals capability in Office Project Web Access manages plans and activities prior to project approval.
• The Activity Plan capability of Office Project Web Access helps manage ongoing operations activities after project completion.
• The Reporting Data Service permits easy user reporting with common business reporting tools such as Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007.
• With the Cube Building Service, users can easily select data to build portfolio analyzer cubes, for sophisticated analysis and reporting.
• About Offshore Software Development India:

For more information please refer http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/projectserver/.

About Offshore Software Development India:

OSDI offering a wide range of skills in IT Services, Mainly focusing in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Software Development, IT Consultancy, Web Designing / Web Development, Offshore Outsourcing, Multimedia, Customized Software Applications and Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

OSDI offers following services

• B2B, B2C portal development, CMS, E accounting solution,
• Web development of full-scale enterprise applications using Asp.NET. PHP, Flash
• Customization of Drupal, Joomla, Magento Commerce, Oscommerce
• Php Development using Zend framework, Symphony framework.
• Enterprise solutions using share point server and project server
• Solutions, administrations and maintenance for the Microsoft Commerce Server.
• Development using Microsoft BizTalk Server

For more information please refer http://www.offshoresoftwaredevelopmentindia.com

Address:

Offshore Software Development India
406, Shiromani complex
Nr Nehrunagar cross road
Nehrunagar
Ahmedabad 380015
India
Ph: 91-79-65457841
info@offshoresoftwaredevelopmentindia.com