leedesmond’s blog

New in Communications Server 14 is the ability to manage, administer and automate the Unified Communications infrastructure with the CS PowerShell Management Console.

In earlier implementations of OCS 2007 RTM and R2, administration using PowerShell can be achieved by calling into the WMI repository via the Get-WmiObject cmdlet. This can target local and remote machines.

With CS 14, the WMI model is no longer available. Instead, you can now use native cmdlets exposed via the CS 14 PowerShell Module (not PSSnapin). In fact, the CS 14 management interface and Communications Server Control Panel (CSCSP) are all built to run on PowerShell*.

To help you get up-to-speed, the all new Communications Server 14 Powershell Blog is now open for business. To quote - “this blog is going to be your one-stop shop for all things Communications Server 14 PowerShell”. Go check it out today!

PS: I am typing away at the just concluded “WSV401: Advanced Automation Using Windows PowerShell 2.0″ breakout session at Auditorium B (New Orleans Morial Convention Center).

* see UI-to-PowerShell Mapping

Technorati tags: LCS/OCS, OCS 2007 R2, TechEd, PowerShell

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News Flash 2 - Due to the overwhelming turnout and popularity of the “(ILL016) Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 High Availability and Storage Scenarios” Instructor-Led Lab yesterday, many of you did not have the chance to secure a seat equipped with computers to work on the lab in the overflowed room.

The good news is that we have heard your feedback, suggestions and comments. Today Tue 2 Mar 2010, an extra ILL session has been scheduled. It will take place in the Abu Dhabi B room from 1715 to 1815 hrs local time. After the session, you will still have sufficient time to get onto the bus and head to the party.

Don’t miss out on this special extra session. My fellow MVP, MCT and Technical Exchange experts will be on-site to support this lab. Thanks all in advance!

Technorati tags: TechEd, Events

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Calling all Swiss IT Professionals - join your fellow peers, colleagues, Microsoft, partners and vendors at the upcoming Swiss Country Night. This will take place on Wed 5 Nov 2008 at the Mondo Club in Barcelona starting at 1900 hrs.

The Swiss IT Pro User Group and SQL PASS (Swiss Chapter) core team members will be out in full force and hope to meet and greet you in person. Free feel to grab this opportunity to talk with us to find out how you can contribute as volunteers and speakers to our non-profit organization focusing on Microsoft and related technologies for IT Pros by IT Pros.

Technorati tags: Community/User Group

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This whole week I shall be at the annual TechEd IT Forum 2008 event taking place for the last time in Barcelona. I am contributing as a MCT proctor (Hands-on Lab) and Ask-the-Expert covering various hot topics around Windows Server 2008, security and Hyper-V host based virtualization.

Come by and say hello! As always, it would be great to catch up with familiar faces, fellow MCTs, friends and make great new acquaintances.

Technorati tags: Virtualization, Windows Server 2008, Community/User Group

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One common question that I constantly get as part of my Windows Server 2008 roadshow tour for IT Decision Makers as well as IT Pros in the gulf region is: “Can I have a copy of the slide deck(s)?” or “Where / How can I get a copy of the PowerPoint presentation?”. The simple answer is - approach your Microsoft Account Manager responsible for your organization.

Do not hesitate to contact me per email or just post a comment here with your contact details should I be of any help.

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Sat 17 Nov 2007, Shangri la Hotel, Oman - a small selection for your viewing pleasure ( thanks to Pooya for sharing the pictures ).

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Taking place tomorrow Thu 29 Nov 2007 in Abu Dhabi, I shall be representing Microsoft Gulf (Dubai) in the delivery of the highly anticipated session on “Driving a Virtualized Datacenter with Microsoft Hyper-V (Windows Server Virtualization)” at the Intel Data Center Summit.

More information and registration can be found here.

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Attention IT Professionals in Bahrain! Are you an outgoing individual that takes initiatives, likes to socialize, network and interact with your peers locally based in the country? Do you like to learn, share and exchange real world technical knowledge around Microsoft and related technologies, inside and outside of your work space?

If you answer Yes to any of the above, please response to this blog by posting your comments with your email address and contact details (will not be published publicly) or write to me directly.

Do not miss this exciting opportunity to help start a new local IT Pro user group charter and work with some of the best minds in Microsoft Bahrain and the gulf region. Take the lead to volunteer, drive and contribute to the IT Pro community in the Kingdom of Bahrain today!

Success stories in the region: UAE IT Pro User Group, ProRangers IT Pro (Kuwait)

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The TechNet & MSDN Roadshow team just started today’s event in Bahrain at the Sheraton Hotel, Mon 19 Nov 2007.

Time permit, I shall post some updates on the Oman event that took place Sat 17 Nov 2007 (Shangri la Hotel some 45 min drive from the airport) in addition to this one in Bahrain.

Current time zone: UTC + 3 Kuwait, AST

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The TechNet & MSDN Gulf Roadshow team colleagues are delivering the final sessions of the day for both the IT Pro and Developers tracks here in the Movenpick Hotel and Resort Al Bidaa, Kuwait. Nice cool weather that hovers around 25 degree C and great hospitality all round. A very successful event made possible because of you, partners and the organizing team (full house for both tracks with over 300 registrations!).

Many thanks for the round of excellent questions, compliments, feedback and comments for the two Windows Server 2008 sessions I delivered - Server Management Made Easy and Dive into Microsoft Hyper-V. I really appreciate it and had great fun. So much to speak about, so little time!

Sincere apologies as I ran out of business cards but you can sign-in and post a contact with your business contact e-mail address* so that I can get back to you if you have any follow-up questions or feedback (good/bad/ulgy …).

In the meantime, here is a short list of links that I find useful and requested by you at the event. Some other links are located on this very blog you are now reading

Windows Server 2008 Technical Library
Windows Server Division Weblog
Windows Virtualization Team Blog
Server Core Blog
Windows PowerShell Blog
iis.net
TechNet Forums Windows Server 2008

IT Pro Community:

Pro Rangers Kuwait
UAE IT Pro User Group
DotNetBoom Blog
Swiss IT Pro User Group

Keep a look out for the slide decks of the day’s event that should be posted in due course. Hope to see and speak with you soon.

* will be recorded and not posted publicly

Current time zone: UTC + 3 Kuwait, AST

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