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I received an e-mail from Microsoft today presenting me with the 2009 Microsoft MVP Award for the work I’ve done with Commerce Server.
It’s a great honor for me, and I would like to thank all my colleagues at Altima who work with me and the customers, I have worked for.
Let’s this new MVP year begin!
Tags: Commerce Server, MVP
What makes a successful system architecture is the proper initial design and planning. It is very easy to have an unstable, unreliable, non-scalable platform if the initial design was flawed. And personally I come across flawed architectures pretty often…
The importance of the design is particularly true when it comes to SharePoint. This is very complex product with a lot of requirements. And only a carefully prepared architecture will be translated into a fast, secure, reliable and scalable platform.
So I wrote a simple document, it is a little helper to give a hand to architects/system admins. It might not be perfect, you might want to add some extra information, but I believe it will help you as a base worksheet for all your future SharePoint deployments. This document alone does not replace your design document of course, but it is going to compliment it.
As always, feel free to comment 
HTH
Michael Riva
Download document (Microsoft Word – 250Kb)
Tags: design, planning, sharepoint, worksheet
The Commerce Server team has released a new site template for SharePoint. You can download it at: Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 Template Pack (Contemporary Site).
Usual task: next, next, … finish!
Run this script to set the permission against the different databases: CSScriptUserInSQL.sql
Open the created web site
That’s it, that’s all, the gorgeous Commerce Site is up and running!
Tags: Commerce Server, sharepoint, Template
In this article, I will try to explain the way to install and configure all the software stuffs for a SharePoint & Commerce Server virtual dev environment.
First, I created two virtual machines, one for my domain controller and the other one for my web front end. Here are the details:
I’m not explaining the way to setup a domain controller because there are plenty of good articles about it. But I can recommend you an excellent one on Server Core Installation Option of Windows Server 2008 Step-By-Step Guide.
MOSSfarm (Execute the SharePoint Service – Must be a domain administrator)
MOSSRunTimeUser (Application Pool for the SharePoint Commerce Application)
MOSSsspPool (Application Pool for the Shared Service Provider)
MOSSsearchService (Execute the MOSS search service)
WSSsearchService (Execute the WSS search service)
WSScontentAccess (Get the content outside of the farm)
MOSSsspService (Execute the Shared Services Provider (SSP))
MOSSprofile (Get the profile information in the active directory)
MOSSsspMySite (Execute the SSP My Site)
SQLservice (Execute the SQL services)
CatalogWebSvc (Application Pool for the catalog web service)
CSDMSvc (Execute the Direct Mailer service)
CSHealthMonitorSvc (Execute the Health Monitor service)
CSStageSvc (Execute the Staging service)
CSStagingUser (staging user)
MarketingWebSvc (Application pool for the marketing web service)
OrdersWebSvc (Application pool for the order web service)
ProfilesWebSvc (Application pool for the profile web service)
In order to install SQL Server 2008, you have to check if the required components are installed. For that, you just have to click on the verification tool:
Once the prerequisites are validated, you can run the install:
In my case, I selected all the features, because I would like to use the Commerce Server Data Warehouse (an article about it will coming soon).
For all of my SQL Services accounts, I’m just using one. It’s not best practice, but for a development environment it’s acceptable 
.
Beware, it’s important here to use the SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS collation
Here we go, our SQL Server 2008 is up and running. We just need to enable the « Named pipes » for SQL Server.
You can install the service pack 1 for SQL as well (next, next,… finish 
).
First, install the Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 with the SP1 slipstreamed :
Once MOSS is installed, we can configure the central administration for SharePoint. For that, just follow the wizard steps:
On a first installation, we have to create the SharePoint farm. So, just click “no, I want to create a new farm”:
The service account to use is the one I called “MOSSfarm”. This service account will run my SharePoint farm.
For the authentication, we can select either NTLM or Kerberos for our dev environment. Kerberos is more secure as we know, but I went with NTLM because it is faster to set up 
.
Before configuring SharePoint, we need to install those patches in the following order:
Nothing special to do here, just the “Next, next,… finish”. After each patch installation, it’s very important to run the SharePoint configuration wizard (no screenie here, nothing special to do, just wait ).
We are now configuring the SharePoint features.
Open the SharePoint Central Administration and click on the tab « Operations » and then « Outgoing e-mail settings ».
In the page « Outgoing E-Mail settings », fill out the fields and click on « OK ».
For information, the pop3 service is no longer available in Windows 2008, to work around it, you can use the ArGoSoft Mail Server tool (it’s a freeware).
Go to the SharePoint Central Administration and click on the tab « Operations » and then « Services on server ».
On the Services list, click on « Start » for the « Windows SharePoint Services Search » row:
Fill out the fields:
On the services list, click on « Start » for the « Office SharePoint Server Search » row:
Fill out the fields:
Search is now configured, we can now install the Shared Service. For that, in the left navigation pane click on « Shared Services Administration » :
click on « New SSP » :
In the next page, we have to create 2 different web applications. One for the SSP itself and one for the « My Site » application. First, click on “Create a new web application”:
Let’s create the first web application for the SSP. Just fill out the fields.
Now, same procedure than the SPP for the « My Site » web application:
The 2 web applications are now created, we just have to fill out the last fields:
The SSP is now up and running.
In order to install Commerce Server 2009, you have to install first… Commerce Server 2007 ! Commerce Server 2009, will bring you new APIs oriented .Net 3.5 (Linq, Entities,.. ), but no change in the databases structure. If you want to know what is inside the new Commerce Server, have a look at: What’s New in Commerce Server 2009?
The Commerce Server team has released an excellent article on the installation and configuration: Microsoft Commerce Server 2009 RC Installation and Configuration Guide
The Commerce Server installation is now finished, let’s configure it:
You can now install the Service Pack 2. Pay attention if you want to use the Commerce Server rich client applications. You have to install them before to apply any Commerce Server service pack.
Once Commerce Server 2009 is configured, you can now set up the MOSSRunTimeUser Service Account permissions for SQL:
To finish the Commerce Site configuration, you have to provide the catalog name and the default channel. For that, open the web application -> site actions -> view all site content. Then click on the list « Channel configuration », Expand the menu on the « Channel » row and click on the « Edit item » then, fill out the value: "Default". Do the same for the « DefaultCatalog » item with the value: "Adventure Works Catalog".
Your commerce site is now ready
Tags: Add new tag, Commerce Server, Setup, sharepoint, SQL Server, Windows 2008
One of the biggest issue I run pretty often into, is the lack of proper planning of MOSS implementations.
One of the main thing to know about MOSS when implementing it, is that is has been designed to use several system accounts aimed at running different services. And if you do not use them, you will run into issues.
Many similar documents are available out there, but often it turned to be a problem to use them for many different reasons.
So I hope mine will help you out as it is based on real life experience.
Michael
Tags: 2007, account, moss, service, sharepoint
Windows Toolbox Factory (WTF)
There you go guys, a nice (Well we hope so) set of tools on a single CD.
There is a few set of tools for Windows available out there but I have never been really satisfied with what I could find. So we made our own at ITCREME.COM and we are planning of adding new tools regularly based on comments and suggestions.
HTH
The Windows Toolbox Factory (WTF) is a collection of useful tools for Microsoft Windows operating systems.
It has been designed with System Administrators and Information Technology/computer enthusiasts in mind.
Having them on a single location help you saving time.
This kit is especially useful to those who have to work on different Windows based PC regularly, perform PC repairs etc.
Download link (270MB)
CD image name: wtf1.0.uif
Can be burned with any good burning software.
Alternatively can be mounted using MagicDisc
Tags: compilation, Tools, windows, Windows Toolbox Factory, Windows tools
Guys,
Just wanted to share this little trick that I am using to backup my USB when inserted, if I want to, still have the choice because it pops up.
1. Create an Autorun.inf on the root of the key/drive
Add the following code in the file
[autorun]
ICON=fcw.ico
ACTION=Backup this USB key
OPEN=BACKUP.BAT
LABEL=Joe Blog Key
includeRuntimeComponents=True
2. Add an icon of your choice
So your key comes up with a good looking icon when browsing, mine is called fcw.ico (Copy at the root or any subfolder , but path reference must be in the Autorun.inf)
3. Create a batch file called “BACKUP.BAT”. Create at the root (Or anywhere else, but path reference must be in the Autorun.inf
Add the following in this file.
@echo off
cls
echo ========================================
echo AUTOMATED USB KEY/DRIVE BACKUP
echo.
echo THIS WILL CREATE A DUMP OF YOUR DATA TO:
echo C:\USBBACKUP
echo.
echo DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE?
echo ========================================
pause>nul
cls
xcopy "*" "c:\usbbackup" /E /R
echo.
echo Your data has been backed up
echo Thank you
echo.
echo Press any key to continue
pause>nul
That’s it, enjoy
HTH
This only applies to file-system anti-virus type. This does not apply to Forefront Security for SharePoint since this application only scans for malware on download/upload operations at the HTTP level
The following list is based on the following Microsoft article: KB952167 plus some additions of mine.
List of exclusions:
Program Files folder
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\Logs
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\Data\Applications
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office Servers\12.0\Bin
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\12\Data\
(This is for the index server. If the index is handled on another partition, please exlude this location too)
Documents and Settings folder
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\SharePoint\Config
C:\Documents and Settings\the account that the search service is running as\Local Settings\Temp\
C:\Documents and Settings\ServiceAccount\Local Settings\Application Data
(ServiceAccount = Account for SharePoint services or application pool identities)
C:\Documents and Settings\ServiceAccount\Local Settings\Temp
(ServiceAccount = Account for SharePoint services and application pool identities and SharePoint Search service account)
Windows folder
C:\Windows\Temp\WebTempDir
C:\Windows\system32\LogFiles
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\Temporary ASP.NET Files\
C:\Windows\Temp
(Disable real-time anti-virus scanning on this folder when performing a SharePoint 2007 installation or upgrade)
HTH
Michael Riva
Tags: anti-virus, exclusion, forefront, moss, sharepoint
In a Enterprise type MOSS architecture it is good practice not to have the Central Admnistration installed on the Frontend servers because it reduces the attack window by having lesser ports and services available.
However in some situations you might need it to be installed on all the MOSS servers. Recently for example I came across Symantec AV for MOSS and an issue arose immediately after its installation. As a requirement, this AV product from Symantec requires the Central Admin to be installed on all the servers. And as a matter of fact Symantec was unable to proceed with documents scan if the Central Admin was not deployed in the Farm on all servers.
It took me some time to figure out how to install the Central Admin afterwards once MOSS is installed. As far as I have seen, there is no way to use the Setup wizard to install it. The option is unavailable.
So there you go, here is the command and options you need to use if you want to install it on a MOSS server without affecting the current configuration.
psconfig.exe -cmd adminvs -provision -port 8080 -windowsauthprovider onlyusentlm
There you go, the new Central Admin site installed output from the command line console on your existing MOSS server (Frontend or Application server)
if you have an issue after that and the site is unable to start, use the following command
stsadm -o provisionservice -action start -servicename WSS_Administration -servicetype Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPWebService
HTH
Michael Riva
Tags: 2007, administration, afterwards, central, moss, sharepoint, site
Interresting security event where Eugene Kaspersky will be speaking.
Join Kaspersky Lab on the 17th September 2008 for its 5th Cybercrime Forum. Supported by guest of honour Eugene Kaspersky, Co-Founder and CEO of Kaspersky Lab, this half day informative and interactive forum on cybercrime will deliver an in-depth view of the issues and challenges businesses face today and the steps to take to protect business IT systems and workforces. The event includes a complimentary networking lunch…
Eugene Kaspersky
Tags: cybercrime, event, kaspersky, london, september
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