I just recently discovered that Ryan McCutchen, a colleague of mine here at Statera, started blogging last month.  In this past month he has already put together a number of excellent posts discussing MOSS from an information worker, architect, and end-user perspective.

Two posts that jumped out at me:

• Starting the WSS Search Service - I encountered this problem myself, recently.  Too bad I hadn't read this post first.
• Architecture of MOSS Web Application Separation - Ryan discusses the separation of web applications in MOSS (e.g. separating out team sites).

This is definitely another blog to add to the blogroll!

A neat trick to help you diagnose troublesome security problems.  Modify your the audit settings for process tracking, so that successes and failures are logged in your Security log.

1. Go to Start -> Run.
2. Type: gpedit.msc
3. Expand Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Local Policies -> Audit Policy.
   
   
   
4. Review the "Audit process tracking" policy.
5. Right-click the "Audit process tracking" policy, and select Properties.
6. On the Local Security Setting folder, check the "Success" and "Failure" checkboxes under "Audit these attempts".

   

7. Click OK to continue.

If you define this policy setting, you can specify whether to audit successes, audit failures, or not audit the event type at all. Success audits generate an audit entry when the process being tracked succeeds. Failure audits generate an audit entry when the process being tracked fails.

These audits are now tracked in the Security log in the Event Viewer.  Here's an example of a "Detailed Tracking" event.

Some additional details can be found on TechNet.

Pretty easy to configure, and very useful when you're trying to figure out why applications are not running appropriately and you think it might be related to security issues.

Joe Shirey, an Architect Evangelist for Microsoft, has posted an eight-part series that discusses the Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) program.  If you're like me and have spent time reviewing the Microsoft Certified Architect Programs web site, and wanted a more in-depth, personal understanding of the process, you should take the time to read Joe's posts in their entirety.  Joe is one of the original participants of the MCA program, and offers a lot of insight into the process.

MCA Part I - Intro - Joe talks about his initial introduction to the MCA program when it was in the beta stage, and explains his purpose for reaching out to potential candidates.

MCA Part II - Why do you want to get the MCA? - Joe points out that the MCA is only "one way to measure an architect."  He recommends that candidates take a close look at their reasons for pursuing the MCA certification.  Take a look at some of the more common reasons he has heard when talking to customers, and his responses.

MCA Part III - Preparing the documentation - To be considered for the MCA program, you have to provide a significant amount of documentation.  Joe provides recommendations on preparing this documentation, as well as choosing a project to present.  Additionally, Joe provides some suggestions on how to present yourself to the board.

MCA Part IV - Putting together your presentation - The presentation is an important part of the process, and Joe provides some thoughts and tips on how to approach it.  Additionally, he provides some insight into what will occur during the presentation, which I found useful and illuminating.  Make sure to look at his "rough set of topics" he proposes you use to pull together your presentation, and his suggestions that follow.

MCA Part V - Other things to prepare before going in front of the board - Joe points out that you either "possess or don't posses" the skills and experience required for the program, and it isn't something you can cram for at the last minute.  That said, take the time to review and brush up on your strengths and skill sets you haven't used recently.  Also, Joe suggests asking an MCA you know to perform a mock board review for you.  Joe, are you volunteering? <grin>

MCA Part VI - The Competencies - This is a fantastic post, and really goes into what the core requirements of the MCA program are all about, as well as Joe's thoughts on the official statements.  Take the time to thoroughly review this post.  Also, note that Joe focuses on the "Solutions Architect" competency, instead of the Infrastructure or product specific competencies.

MCA Part VII - Going in front of the board - The board will grill you for two straight hours.  Joe outlines the process from a board member's perspective and also provides suggestions on things you can do to help yourself out during the review.  This is a great post, and provides a lot more insight into the process the board goes through in formulating and making their decisions.

MCA Part VIII - Getting your results - The elation of passing or the disappointment of not.  Joe shares his thoughts on the potential outcomes.  Regardless of the outcome, Joe suggests that you take a look at the feedback and better yourself.

Personally, I have been interested in the MCA program since I heard about it six months (or so) ago, and having read Joe's posts I find myself even more interested.  If nothing else, I am impressed by the amount of thought and effort put into the process by the board, and how they try to drill down into the candidate to see how they truly measure up to the "straw man".  Additionally, I was struck by the fact that the board wants to see candidates succeed, and that the rigor of the process is to reinforce that the program is a premier certification that is much more than an effort by Microsoft to push their product stack and solutions.

Again, if you're interested in the MCA program, take a look at this posts as well as Joe's blog.

I learned about the FreeRice program from James McGovern's blog post.  Not only does it appear to be a worthwhile program, but the it was fun to test my vocabulary.

I stopped after providing 500 grains of rice.  I realized that my 500 grains wouldn't make a difference unless I also spread the word.  So please, dear reader, take a moment and test your own vocabulary!

There has been some excellent activity by some heavy-weights in the Commerce Server world.  Sadly, I haven't been contributing very much on my blog, as I am desperately trying to complete my book.

It started with Søren Spelling Lund's two-part series (and maybe more?) on what it's like developing with Commerce Server 2007.

• Developing with Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 Part 1: Secure By Default

In this post, Søren highlights the high-level of security that has gone into Commerce Server 2007, calling it "both a blessing and a curse."  He attributes this to the flexibility and granularity of the security system, in addition to the complexity that comes with it.  Commerce Server 2007 makes use of the Windows Authorization Manager for security.  See the following links for more information: Developing Applications Using Windows Authorization Manager, and Managing Authorization Policies.

Søren also highlights the Distributed Transaction Manager and use of MSDTC and System.Transaction in the .NET Framework 2.0.

• Developing with Microsoft Commerce Server 2007 Part 2: Three-Way Data Access

Søren discusses three different data access systems for Commerce Server 2007, based on the subsystem with which you're working (i.e. the Profile system, the Catalog system, and the Order system).  Take a look at his post for the specifics.  I would also suggest you take a look at MSDN for some additional information on developing with Commerce Server 2007.

Not to be out-done by Søren, Max Akbar took some time out of his busy schedule to post a great article on caching and Commerce Server 2007.

• A Few Things You Didn't Know About Commerce Server's Catalog Cache

Max highlights a number of important topics, including: the Catalog cache, Web.Config settings, refreshing the cache, the cache size, the cache location, how to use your own caching.

As always, Max's post is a great blend of information and code snippets.

Last, but certainly not least, Tom Schultz contributed to the discussion of caching by highlighting a mixed-authentication solution for the SiteCacheRefresh HTTP handler.

• SiteCacheRefresh - Mixed Authentication Solution

Tom shows how the SiteCacheRefresh HTTP handler provides Commerce Server with caching capabilities.  He goes beyond this, however, when he points out that by default the ASP.NET site uses forms authentication.  Since the web site can support either forms or windows authentication, a mixed authentication model is required.  Tom shows you how to construct this by taking aspects of the Starter Site

All in all, great stuff!

Just noticed these two gems (again from the MSDN Architecture Center):

Guide to Migrating from Oracle to SQL Server 2005

Summary: "This white paper explores challenges that arise when you migrate from an Oracle 7.3 database or later to SQL Server 2005. It describes the implementation differences of database objects, SQL dialects, and procedural code between the two platforms. The entire migration process using SQL Server Migration Assistant for Oracle (SSMA Oracle) is explained in depth, with a special focus on converting database objects and PL/SQL code."

Guide to Migrating from Sybase ASE to SQL Server 2005

Summary: "This white paper covers known issues for migrating Sybase Adaptive Server Enterprise database to SQL Server 2005. Instructions for handling the differences between the two platforms are included. The paper describes how SQL Server Migration Assistant, the best tool for this type of migration, can help resolve various migration issues."

I definitely could have used these two documents a few months ago!

I hope this helps!

I have recently been scouring MSFT resources for information related to architecture and the role of enterprise architects, and I have found two resources that I wanted to highlight:

MSDN Architecture Center

This is a great central hub for architectural information related to MSFT technologies, platforms, and products.  There are also a number of excellent architects that deal with topics such as service oriented architecture (SOA), Software + Services (S+S, SaaS), security, enterprise architecture, agile development, and more.  Additionally, it is tied into a number of great blog feeds by various architects in the MSFT community.

The Microsoft Architecture Journal

As an example, Journal 13 is focused on Software + Services (S+S).  As such, topics include: The Internet Service Bus, Project Astoria, Implications of Software + Services Consumption for Enterprise IT, Enterprise Mashups, Microsoft Office as a Platform for Software + Services, and A Planet Ruled by Software Architectures.  Additionally, it features profiles, such as the profile on Ray Ozzie this month.

And the best part of it is that, after you register, you can get a free subscription to the MSFT architecture journal.

You can also subscribe to the RSS feed.  Good stuff!

As a side note, I'll admit that I need to find more resources like this that are not MSFT specific.  While I believe MSFT does a great job of addressing architectural issues that are agnostic of platform and technology, I need to continue to diversify the helpings on my plate!

If any one has suggestions, please send them my way!

I only recently noticed a four-part series of MSFT webcasts focused on aspiring architects, hosted by Mohammad Akif and Dave Remmer.  I found these links after visiting the blog of Hanu Kommalapati, an MSFT architect evangelist.  He links to the aspiring architects webcasts himself, as well as Mohammad's blog.

Here are links to the webcasts, as well as some high-level notes on the various topics discussed.

Note: you may think that these webcasts would focus on architecture from the MSFT perspective, but really the presenters do a great job of staying mostly agnostic to technology and platform.

Part 1 - Aspiring Architects - Architecture 101

• What is architecture?
• Why worry about architecture?
• Types of architecture?
• Types of architects?
• What does an architect do?
• Experience level for an architect?
• Key characteristics?
• What are architects expected to know?
• Governance challenges and solutions strategies
• How to be an effective architect

Part 2 - Aspiring Architects - Software development lifecycle and methodologies

• SDLC approaches
  • Waterfall
  • Rational Unified Process (RUP)
  • Agile Methodologies
• SDLC Tools
• Methodology context

Part 3 - Aspiring Architects - Services orientation and other architectural paradigms

• Solution types (e.g. rich clients, n-tiered, web-based, SOA)
• Solution construction models
  • Object-oriented
  • Component-based
  • Service-oriented
• Service oriented architecture (SOA)
• SOA maturity models

Part 4 - Aspiring Architects - Transitioning from a developer to an architect

• Skills of an architect
• Things to develop
  • Leadership
  • Organizational dynamics
  • Technology depth
  • Technology breadth
• Strategy for infrastructure architects
• Strategy for solution architects
• Process and tactics
• How to be effective
• Activities and experiences
• Next steps

Will you feel empowered to confidently act as an architect after watching these webcasts?  Maybe not.  Will you get a good, high-level overview of what it means to be an architect, along with tips on making the transition from a developer/IT professional to an architect role?  You bet!

I hope this helps!

It only took me two or three months, but I finally updated my Silverlight Hangman application.  It was originally written an earlier version of Silverlight 1.1 alpha, and I hadn't taken the time to update it.

The only things I had to do was switch out the Silverlight.js file and change the value of "Hidden" to "Collapsed" for the "Visibility" property of objects.  Otherwise I was able to use the same files in the Beta 2 version of Visual Studio 2008.

(Darn, I bet when Visual Studio 2008 is released soon I'll have to update it again!  Oh well!)

Enjoy!