David Mackies Blue Brain

SMB Focus Early Bird extended to 30th September 2007

News just in since Yesterday

Wayne has extended the Early Bird registration for SMB Focus 2007 Until 30th September 2007.

So remember 30 Days until you pay Full Price.

Don't leave it too long I think Wayne is really saying 30 Days or while stocks last, this event is filling up fast so don't wait for the end of September cause you might miss out.

I know I will be forgetful during September because I will be up at stupid O'clock many days watching our beloved Wallabies "bring back Bill" (The Rugby World Cup), first game September 8th 04:00 Canberra Time for Opening Ceremony then 05:00 for France v Argentina WooHoo.

Last Chance for SMB Focus Early Bird Tickets

Looking over at the SMB Focus site I suddenly realized that there is almost no time before the early bird runs out!!!! Now if you are like me and always leave everything until the very last second let me help you with a trick to get every possible opportunity to get the discount.

I can't see anything that lets me know what August 31 means so let me define it as Midnight on the 31st August 2007, there is also no time zone information so here are the registration details for you he says VERY Tongue in cheek.

Go to the registration page and sign up now not later right now click here

Now you could say that you live in Suite 666 (so evil) International Dateline Hotel
P.O.Box 39, Vuna Road, Nuku’alofa, The Kingdom of Tonga

so what time will that be where you live???

Nahhh way to hard and smacks of effort I'm sure that if you are West of Sydney but and East of Tonga when it is Midnight tomorrow night in Sydney Wayne will probably let you scrape by ....

That said I don't speak for Wayne I just want to see more of you in Sydney in November and if you save $200 at the same time the more beer you can buy me J

BTW the Date Line Hotel is very cool I remember spending a LOT of time sitting at the bar when I was visiting while I was in the Navy a life time ago.

PS... I was talking to Robert Crane the other day and he is coming so there is one person for your dance card.

How to check your IP, with a difference! - Nick Whittome - "The Naked MVP"

I recently started checking out SBS Community blogs that I've just found out about or revisiting those that are pure gold. Nick has gone to the top of my read list pure gold AND a tool I will use all the time. 

How to check your IP, with a difference!

For ages I have used whatismyip.com and dnsstuff.com to check the IP I am presenting to the world.  

I was getting bored of this, but now thanks to www.moanmyip.com I can hear the IP read out by a sexy girl.

Horrah!

How to check your IP, with a difference! - Nick Whittome - "The Naked MVP"

Team NEWBlood - Robert Crane

Robert is an SBSer, and a long term participant in the Sydney SBS Group, he will go out of his way to help the up and coming, and over the years I have nothing but good things to say.

I have been quite impressed by some of the things he has done in the community including the inclusion of charity fundraising in his marketing (he ran seminars for marketing but attendees, made a donation to that months nominated charity). Other great SBS related things he has done can be found on Youtube. Robert blogs on lots of SMB topics so check him out. **Update Roberts SBS Blog **

Robert Crane is a Director of Saturn Alliance. He has been involved in the IT industry now for over 20 years and brings with him an extensive range of experience, including working on Wall St on Y2K projects.

In this blog Robert shares his thoughts on technology, especially Microsoft Small Business Server as well as providing information about his upcoming courses and seminars.

Yesterday Vlad blogged about various things and compiled a list that contained some of the SMB blogging elite. Since then I have spent some time surfing around some of these blogs  and found some very interesting stuff, I was interested in the Team NEWBLOOD stuff that Chris and Vijay have been embracing and I think I'll call out some of the not so well known Australian Community folk. So check out the Team NEWBlood entries from Chris and Vijay

There you go Robert I'm calling you out as a future SMB Leader, and some one new community members can turn to for sound, well thought advice and assistance.

Vlad Mazek - Riff Raff, just say no..

Some times I feel sorry for Vlad only from the perspective of the amount of pressure he must get from people wanting him to attend, support, whatever... events that others consider his duty as a community leader. Oh the joy of being an SMB Rockstar.

Today he blogged further about the SMB Nation Conference and how better spent some peoples resources could be.

I am not paid off to tell you to give my friends money after they screwed you, I do not have an alterior motive, I do not have a competing event/conference. I just believe in truth and value and if you think you’re riff raff there are better places to spend your money:

Now about the Riff Raff thing, every time I read this, the thing that pops into my mind is "Ta da ta da touch me, I want to be dirty" (oh Columbia, purr). While I understand that people don't like to feel like they may be the "Riff Raff", in its most derogatory sense but I'm happy that some of the things Vlad says causes me to evaluate what it is that I do.

Vlad is saying this more and more...

Either way, disclaimers up first: Yes, I am talking about you, and this is how I single out people I don’t want to do business with. Is this your setup?

I'm interested in the commentary of how dealing with the SMB Reseller community effects a provider of services to so many small business service providers (Approaching 3000 I assume). Now when I read some of the things Vlad has to say, I find it enlightening to evaluate what I do and if I fit into the group being referred to. Have I ever asked Vlad if that is about me? Are you insane? If you asked me if what I say is about you I'd have to say "Welcome to Loserville population 1, you!!"

Has Vlad caused me to think if I am

• an SPF? You bet. In our SMB Services Practice I am the only one, and I'm not sure that we won't abandon that in favor of other services works just slightly up the head count ladder
• a low value VAR? sometimes I want a benefit before investing in Vendor Partnerships
• am I a sponge and not much of a contributor in some of the SMB forums? Yep. Sometimes running a company as a startup in a new business area, running a family and keeping the other business things ticking, it is tough to keep focus on community

but do I think Vlad needs to spend time making me feel better, does he need to give me a leg up into a community that HAS evolved over the last 5 years into something much more self seeking and commercial? NO

Vlad HAS made me feel more motivated to do things I formerly made priority 5 in things I do, I think that is more than enough.

So as I start to build on ideas on how to give back, will some of the credit for that belong to Vlad? yeah probably, so when you read about folk who talk a big game and deliver too slowly I hope it will be about me cause that will give me a little prod forward.

So why the Vlad fanboy post? Today I was called out in a group that I'm not too sure I belong in

Spend it to send a thank you postcard from your vacation to the SMB blogging elite that calls it like it is and never asks for a damn thing in return: Susan Bradley, Susanne Dansey, Chris Rue, Tim Barrett, Eriq Neale, Andy Goodman Blog, Andy Goodman Chat, Dana Epp, Vijay Riyaait, Chad Gross, Dean Calvert, Andy Parkes, David Mackie, David Schrag,  Steve Wright, Jeff Altman, Bill Leeman, Anne Stanton, Richard Tubb, Bill Waters, Jason Lieb, Karl Palachuk, Mark Crall, Larry Lentz, Nick Whittome, Kevin Weilbacher, Amy Babinchak and the TS2 community guys who although Microsoft employees probably spend more than anyone outside of 9–5 to locally support the SMB community.

Some of these folk I don't know but will now check out some of their stuff, and of course only one of the them I have ever met in person. When I think of the SMB Community many of these names have built what I only occasionally poke with a stick, but it really does motivate me to more involved. Do I care what Vlad Mazek thinks about me or what I do? Do I even care about what the others in that group of folk think? No not really, that's not what I'm about, but do I think that there is need for community resources for people coming through and do I think Vlad brings out what many folk are thinking but are way to PC to say, and there needs to be more than just these folk contributing, and of course how am I going to live up to inclusion in that group? I guess we will have to see.

So Yes, you are talking about me, and this is an interesting way to single out people you don’t want to do business with and perhaps it should include me. Will this move me forward in examining what I do? and make it more compelling for me to do more? yep. I have been motivated to start smemanaged.com but the slowness of content might highlight my SPF and commitment void so keep the shocky stick charged  and poke me with it some more.

I don't know who is flogging the dead horse of "come to SMB Nation Vlad" but I think it is just that a dead horse.

Vlad Mazek - Vladville Blog » Blog Archive » Riff Raff, just say no..

Did you know User Group Members get discounts on O'Reilly Books?

This sounds like a deal to me especially since our local IT Book Store is Temorarily closed. Now to be fair Bookware is offering free shipping while closed.

So when you need your next Nerd Book look at both O'Reilly and Bookware to see what works out the best

[CBRWINUG] First month with Athena at the Helm

Have you ever wondered how the Microsoft Security Response Center works? I hear all sorts of speculation about how things really work, and must say most of it is based on, well I don’t know what.

This month we are Lucky enough to have Scott Deacon, a former MSRC Manager (now returned to Canberra after a couple of years in Redmond) speak on the “MSRC process front to back end”. I’m really looking forward to the session and am sure everyone who looks forward to patch Wednesday morning with some trepidation will leave these sessions with a new understanding of the process and maybe hear some war stories as Scott talks about in my opinion one of the most important System Administration processes.

Also come along to meet the new group leader Athena Pawlowski, she is taking over from me so I can participate differently. So come along and introduce yourself, we are going to have great times ahead.

Canberra Windows (Infrastructure) user group

11th September 2007

Lunch meeting: King O'Malley's Irish Pub
131 City Walk, Canberra City
2^nd Tuesday every month
12:30 - 1:30 — Finger food and presentation
http://cbrwinug.blogdns.org/ (to become a member)
http://www.aususergroups.org/cbrwinug (sign up for meetings)

Eventing meeting: Microsoft Canberra Office
Level 2, 44 Sydney Avenue, Barton
2^nd Tuesday every month
17:30 — Pizza and networking
18:00 - 19:30 — Presentations

As usual Email to David@Mackie.dropbear.id.au no later than 12PM Monday 10th

Oh My this is getting a bit past where I wanted to go with it...

Last night Jeff Wharton blogged thusly...

 It's a sad day for the Canberra user group community with David Mackie resigning as the leader of the Canberra Windows (Infrastructure) User Group. Just want to say thanks Dave for all the hard work and effort you've put in over the years and wish you well for the future. Don't be a stranger!

http://blog.wharton.com.au/2007/08/canberra-windows-user-group-times-are.html
 

Kind of sounds like I'm leaving doesn't it? Well here is where I was going with it, I won't re hash what I said about .dotNET Solutions coming to the rescue you can go read that yourself.

Here is what I am doing and how that will make it better for me and better for the ITPro and Developer Communities in Canberra...

• I'm transitioning leadership to Athena and her team
• I'm showing up to all CBRWINUG Meetings unless I'm out of town or dying
  
• I'm actively supporting Athena, in anyway she needs and will step in to run things in tough times (if asked)
• I'm looking forward to presenting next year (maybe two sessions not nine)
  
• I'm going to keep coming to the Developer Group adhoc to have my regular sit down with Athena
• I'm going to start coming to SQL as a punter (depending on Topic)
• I'm making myself available to both Athena and Jeff for what ever they need (Wife Permitting)
• I will provide open and honest feedback, help plan speakers and sessions and say what I would like to see. (believe it or not this is the hardest part, getting the punters to say what they want)
• Actively encourage all punters to get involved and make their group what they want it to be.

So yeah I am going to do more not less and I am definitely not leaving, so there is no risk of being a stranger. I hope I can go from trying to be all things for all people in my old group leader role, to being a positive force in all the groups (you may even see me with a forced smile, but not Vice President for Smiling).

I really do think IT Communities in Canberra need nurturing and now that I don't run one, I can help build up a rank and file resurgence of active participation (I hope) 

dotNET solutions Australia to the rescue

 During TechEd AU I had a crisis of faith in my ability to continue with the Canberra Windows (Infrastructure) User Group and pulled the plug. I have been talking with Athena and John Pawlowski from dotNET Solutions since I announced and have an update that I did not expect to be making. Let me address what I said and how it is now:-

1. After almost three years I have not grown this to a group, it is still my mouth piece for things I think are cool;
• While I still will want things I think are cool out there I have a team of folk who just accept I’m a Server Nerd and will make sure we have a broader representation of topics.
2. If I'm not around the group does not go on;
• We now have a Community focused company that are willing to support groups because there is a need out there and they can help, truly altruistic, I’m blown away.
3. For the most part all the content is delivered by me;
• When you are doing everything and get down that burnout path, you tend to not even see where help can come from, fresh eyes, fresh contacts and experience with another group has already begun to show freshness I could have never provided.
4. Only sessions I think are interesting get delivered see point 3;
• You will see greater balance and a widening of content to include areas I thought were not really our bailiwick, standby for some great things ahead
5. I constantly get requests to run sessions we have already run and sometimes as early as the very next month;
• We are looking at a much extended audience so this may bring some duplicated content from the previous year but there may also be a different perspective with new presenters
6. I'm not a people person but wanted Windows Infrastructure content delivered in Canberra, regularly so here we are;
• If you have ever spent time with the Pawlowski’s you may have a similar experience to this one, I have known John and Athena for a couple of years, and more recently Helen. To say that this relationship has been one of my most easy, is to understate, they are very easy to get to know and always make people very welcome and at ease. These folk cannot help but build community around them
7. If attendees need to be hugged and stroked to have them feel welcome and build the community, then we need a Vice President for smiling as I'm sure I could only name 5 people who come regularly, given that I am not really built for making everyone I meet my lifelong friend.
• Hmmmm what can I say I’m not nice, John and his family are Nuff said
8. I was talking to someone at TechEd about some of my comically failed sessions recently, and they related that someone was having problems with some of their TechEd sessions, the difference being that TechEd is a paid event. I think this is a little off the mark; either you do a good job or you don't, and recently I have not done as well as I had in the past.
• OK fewer sessions per person to prepare and do = Better Sessions I guarantee it
9.  I have spoken to members of the group while at TechEd and asked the very specific question if I stopped running the group would it effect You? Would you help run it and help find presenters and new members? The universal answer is I would be upset to have no group and no I don't want to help.
• dotNET solutions Australia to the rescue – Glad that Athena couldn’t let it go because I was ready to
10.  I don't work for Microsoft but seem to be expected by the punters to conduct monthly product briefings. I do love Microsoft technologies but am starting to dislike talking about them. Not good to develop a technical readiness specialization within Synergistic.
• Talk to me about what I like talking about it might be surprising …

So what does all this mean? Athena has stepped up to do all the things I can't (run a group) I will not leave her to do it alone, I will also try to help promote a community where leaders are developed out of the main group. I will provide my Personal and Company resources to help in any way required.

This photo was taken while at TechEd while I was contemplating pulling the pin funny how things work out. So change number 1 you will notice an added session and venue

Events & user groups

Canberra Windows (Infrastructure) user group

Lunch meeting: King O'Malley's Irish Pub
131 City Walk, Canberra City
2^nd Tuesday every month
12:30 - 1:30 — Finger food and presentation
http://cbrwinug.blogdns.org/ (to become a member)
http://www.aususergroups.org/cbrwinug (sign up for meetings)

Eventing meeting: Microsoft Canberra Office
Level 2, 44 Sydney Avenue, Barton
2^nd Tuesday every month
17:30 — Pizza and networking
18:00 - 19:30 — Presentations
http://cbrwinug.blogdns.org/ (to become a member)
http://www.aususergroups.org/cbrwinug (sign up for meetings)

dotNET solutions Australia

Quick Notes from Steve Riley - It's 11pm Do you know where your Data is?

These notes are intended for me to have memory jogs to sort some of the thinking into talking points for future discussions for client briefs.

This session had bits for everyone, as usual held in the biggest Room. with a Good turnout as expected so what provoked thought for me?

A General Discussion about threats from whom & what motivates them. The idea of "For Gain Attackers" writing nice stable tools filter down to script kiddies & the like.

Conversation quickly changes to what really costs. Data Loss due to Laptop theft

Data classification, Discussion (perhaps we need to Discuss Document Classification Grading Documents) David Note

DR / Retention conversation, AND the very interesting concept of short retention to reduce Legal Discovery Opportunity.

Confidentiality Controls

Turns to an encryption of data in flight and at rest Efs & Bitlocker = Managed clients data encryption tool kit for mobile PC's

A little Deeper into EFS

opinion; Like most of steves sessions many things to provoke thought and may well have created an EFS resurgence

David note: Time to examine TPM: Ask Hugo about TPM supported umpc's

Bitlocker options for non TPM supported devices discussed

* check for SD card support for use with Q1 ultra

consider changing PCR's 1-4 to unchecked in GPO

There is no Bitlocker Backdoor you may want to consider storing keys in AD (machine account)

DPM 2007 session with Peter Niven

Good News Perhaps... Peter said that RTM may have better Exchange restore down to a mail item. I think this will make the Exchange admin's very happy

I wonder about plans for leaf object Restore for AD??? I think this would make the product truly a platform leader, in the past we have used other products to restore users and OU's but with mixed results, so a tool from Microsoft would to my mind be a must have.

Now of course I always want more so here goes! can I get a Linux / Solaris Agent or a third party client.

What is the Partner ecosystem around the product? I don't know but am keen to find out. Watch this space I'll try to find out and report back..

Late Note: After the AD in Server 2008 session this afternoon I learned about the Prevent Accidental Deletion attribute so perhaps there is less risk of a cleanup being required - Very cool info thanks Martin and Astrid

I'm no longer a Community Leader, but looking to finding someone I can provide support to moving forward.

During TechEd I had a focus changing epiphany, I was challenged to ask myself why I run a user group. I have thought about many aspects of what I do and why here is my summation as to why I would be best to let it go.

1. After almost three years I have not grown this to a group, it is still my mouth piece for things I think are cool;
2. If I'm not around the group does not go on;
3. For the most part all the content is delivered by me;
4. Only sessions I think are interesting get delivered see point 3;
5. I constantly get requests to run sessions we have already run and sometimes as early as the very next month;
6. I'm not a people person but wanted Windows Infrastructure content delivered in Canberra, regularly so here we are;
7. If attendees need to be hugged and stroked to have them feel welcome and build the community, then we need a Vice President for smiling as I'm sure I could only name 5 people who come regularly, given that I am not really built for making everyone I meet my life long friend.
8. I was talking to someone at TechEd about some of my comically failed sessions recently, and they related that someone was having problems with some of their TechEd sessions, the difference being that TechEd is a paid event. I think this is a little off the mark; either you do a good job or you don't, and recently I have not done as well as I had in the past.
9.  I have spoken to members of the group while at TechEd and asked the very specific question if I stopped running the group would it effect You? Would you help run it and help find presenters and new members? The universal answer is I would be upset to have no group and no I don't want to help.
10.  I don't work for Microsoft but seem to be expected by the punters to conduct monthly product briefings. I do love Microsoft technologies but am starting to dislike talking about them. Not good to develop a technical readiness specialization within Synergistic.

So what does this mean?

Until another group of individuals stand up and organize meetings and content the activities of the Canberra Windows (Infrastructure) User Group are suspended. I will actively seek to find & support a new leader, I am happy to present occasionally and produce content to assist others if needed, but I am no longer interested in being to only community contributor and single point of failure.

Does this mean I will be a hermit until someone else starts doing what I did? Maybe? I am looking at doing some more globally reaching things online around one of my special interest areas Small and Mid Market technologies so lookout for new content on SMEMANAGED.COM.

Thought provoking session number two -Teched Au 2007

So the second session today that really made me think. Not sure that it was the thought process Greg Lowe intended to provoke but I can't really control that.

Some of the things Greg had to say centred around motivations or leading a group. This afternoon I have had a good hard think and I've spoken with other Group Leads and of course I need to let it simmer.

I am considering handing off organistional responsibility of my user group to someone else. So why does this occur to me as a course of action?

• MY User Group!
• There is no management team and if I choose to not do anything that is pretty much it. I run sessions because I wanted them, I run sessions that I think are interesting and this leads to unpredictable attendance
• and of course If you don't enjoy what you are doing then don't do it

and I have feel aspects of all these things so not sure where this will lead, and of course handing of to a new Leader who will at least have one strong supporter would be ideal.

So not quite nurturing a group but let's see if anyone wants to take on the role because a community group can't be "David's Group". It needs to be bigger than that and for 34 months it has been David's SBS / Windows Infrastructure Group.

***Heavily edited because I got bagged for the free flowing ramble ***

Teched AU Bloggers Lunch

Hmmm I must be strange, I'm hearing folk say they use Blogging as Profile, resume. Profit, connection to Influencers in web 2.0

Seams I soap box about what burns me at the time or ways to quickly Document things as I go but too many times I become the angry Dude then the appologetic Dude.

I might Need to refocus.

How do I keep a blog with all content?

Great session to make me think didn't expect to be provoked more internally

Worth my time you bet.

Kai Axford plugs Bitzie Blog