One of the things I really like about Microsoft is all the resources that are available too you. The trick is knowing where to find them them all. It never ceases to amaze how much is out there once you start looking.

I just came upon the place where you can get a SQL Server 2008 Systems View Map. A very useful thing for a SQL Server Database Administrator to have available to them.

This is straight from the Microsoft Web Site..

SQL Server 2008 System Views Map

Brief Description

Is SKYPE on the market to be sold that is the current rumor that is floating out there in the Market place.  For those of you that are not familiar with Skype it is a great Internet based phone system you can use from any computer. When I was writing this article I logged into my Skype account and could see over 15 million users where using SKYPE  at the time.

With SKYPE two people anywhere in the world that each have a computer can do free Video conferencing. The video and sound quality is excellent.

With SKYPE you can set up a local number in lets say Budapest, Hungary. Have your friend who lives in Budapest call the number and have it ring your cell phone in the U.S. The person in Budapest is only paying a local call and the person in the U.S.  is paying a local call.

These are just a few examples of how SKYPE works. There is a good reason why you see 15 million active users.

In September 12, 2005 EBAY aquired skype:

eBay to Acquire Skype

London, September 12, 2005 – eBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY; www.ebay.com) has agreed to acquire Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies SA, the global Internet communications company, for approximately $2.6 billion in up-front cash and eBay stock, plus potential performance-based consideration. The acquisition will strengthen eBay’s global marketplace and payments platform, while opening several new lines of business and creating significant new monetization opportunities for the company. The deal also represents a major opportunity for Skype to advance its leadership in Internet voice communications and offer people worldwide new ways to communicate in a global online era. Skype, eBay and PayPal will create an unparalleled ecommerce and communications engine for buyers and sellers around the world.
“Communications is at the heart of ecommerce and community,” said Meg Whitman, President and Chief Executive Officer of eBay. “By combining the two leading ecommerce franchises, eBay and PayPal, with the leader in Internet voice communications, we will create an extraordinarily powerful environment for business on the Net.”
Founded in 2002 by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, Skype offers high-quality voice communications to anyone with an Internet connection anywhere in the world. The Skype software is easy to download and install, and enables free calls between Skype users online. Skype’s premium services provide low-cost connectivity to traditional fixed and mobile telephones. Skype’s software also offers a robust set of features, including voicemail, instant messaging, call forwarding and conference calling. Upcoming product innovations include Skype video, expressive content such as avatars, and customized toolbars for Outlook and Internet Explorer.
One of the fastest growing companies on the Internet, Skype already has 54 million members in 225 countries and territories. Skype is currently adding approximately 150,000 users a day and has created a thriving ecosystem of products, services, developers, and affiliates. Skype is considered the market leader in virtually all countries in which it does business. In North America alone, Skype has more users and serves more voice minutes than any other Internet voice communications provider.

“Our vision for Skype has always been to build the world’s largest communications business and revolutionize the ease with which people can communicate through the Internet,” said Niklas Zennström, Skype CEO and co-founder. “We can’t think of any better platform to fulfill this vision to become the voice of the Internet than with eBay and PayPal.”

“We’re great admirers of how eBay and PayPal have simplified global ecommerce and payments,” said Janus Friis, Skype co-founder and senior vice president, strategy. “Together we feel we can really change the way that people communicate, shop and do business online.”
To read more of the official press release when skype was first purchased by EBAY

Official Press Release Ebay Purchase of SKYPE

So the question on the table, is skype now for sale three  years later.

From the TIMESONLINE January 26, 2009 in the U.K. came this article:

Speculation grows over eBay plan to sell Skype internet telephone division

Chief executive's descrition of internet telephony group as great standalone business fires speculation

Murad Ahmed

Speculation is mounting that eBay, the internet auction website, is preparing to sell Skype, its internet telephone company.

Industry insiders believe that eBay signalled its intent last week after John Donahue, its chief executive, described Skype as a “great stand-alone business”. This has led to suggestions that eBay would find it relatively easy to part with Skype, if a substantial bid was made.

Mr Donahue was speaking to analysts about eBay's disappointing fourth-quarter profits, which had been hit by slowing consumer spending.

When asked what was being done by eBay to add shareholder value in Skype, Mr Donahue admitted that “the synergies between Skype and the other parts of our portfolio are minimal. We're going to continue to run and operate the business. It's not a distraction currently. And at such time when we have further announcements on that, we'll let you know.”

To read the remainder of the article:

Speculation grows over eBay plan to sell Skype internet telephone division

Its interesting to note that if EBAY, did sell skype it would not get back it's initial investment. It would probably only get 1 Billion dollars, not the 2.6 Billion it paid. With that said. It would be an easy business to sell off raise a lot if cash and not negatively impact the core business. It makes a lot of sense to sell. 

Posted Michael Corey,

Founder & CEO, Ntirety

www.ntirety.com

It is Tuesday January 20, 2009. I am in London England. What is clear to me on my travels is just how important this Inauguration is to the United States and the world itself.  The upcoming Inauguration of Barack Obama is all around me everywhere.

 
I was not old enough to appreciate just what the Inauguration of John Fitzgerald Kennedy the 35th President of the United States meant. But throughout my life I had learned just what a special time it was, a time known as Camelot.

For years people have have been trying to stake a claim to the legacy of President John F. Kennedy ever since that day in Dallas many years ago.  Well for the first time in my life, I feel like my generation is having a chance to stake a claim to Camelot. We have a chance for a new beginning. This president has a big job in front of him, a job we all hope he is able to accomplish. Barack Obama will be given a chance to make change in a way that very few presidents ever will.  Never before will a Democratic president see the support he will from the Republicans. All Americans know we need change, we need to move on and get beyond the problems our country faces.

As I think back over previous presidential Inaugurations a few great speeches jump out in my memory.

President Abraham Lincoln Second Inaugural Speech

“With malice toward none, with charity for all”

President Franklin D. Roosevelt first Inaugural Speech

 “Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”

President John F. Kennedy Inaugural Speech

“My fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

As I watch the Inauguration of Barack Obama, I am struck by how many people are in Washington to be there.  This new President I am sure is feeling the weight of responsibility and hope this country is putting in him. Just how important a time it is for the country.

As I watch this on CNN, I am using a Facebook plugin. So I can see how many of my friends are watching. The majority of them are login and watching. This is the first Presidential Inauguration that I am sure the majorly of my friends stopped what they are doing to watch. It illustrates just how special a time this is.  

In a few minutes the United States will pass the Baton to the new President.  My Hopes and prayer go out to the new President.

Posted Michael Corey,

Founder & CEO, Ntirety

www.ntirety.com

At Ntirety our business is Database Administration As a Service "TM". People count on an Ntirety Database Administrators to be there when things go wrong. Within the Ntirety business processes we have built redundancy into everything we do.  Its one of the many ways we differentiate Ntirety from the many other competitors who claim to offer DAAS “TM” but really don’t.

When I saw this latest posting on Microsoft Technet  it caught my attention. Since at Ntirety we are always looking for ways to make sure we are there when our clients need us most.

Redundancy in our processes and systems is a key component in why Ntirety provides our clients a four nines “99.99%” Service Level Agreement (SLA) as part of our standard offering.

This article I found in Microsoft Technet shows how the average Microsoft SQL Server environment can make system generated notifications more redundant. This is one of those things that can only help you better support your database environment. 

To reach the original Microsoft Technet article...

How to Configure a Fail-SAFE Microsoft SQL Server Operator for Notifications

When things go wrong with notification, operators do not get notified and problems might not be corrected in a timely manner. To prevent this, you might want to designate a fail-safe operator. The fail-safe operator is notified in the following situations:

• SQL Server Agent cannot access system tables in the msdb database, which is where operator definitions and notification lists are stored.

• All pager notifications to designated operators have failed, or the designated operators are off duty (as defined in the pager schedule).

To configure a fail-safe operator:
1. Right-click the SQL Server Agent entry in SQL Server Management Studio, and then select Properties.
2. In the SQL Server Agent Properties dialog box, select the Alert System page.
3. Select Enable Fail-Safe Operator to define a fail-safe operator.
4. Use the Operator drop-down list to choose an operator to designate as the fail-safe operator. You can reassign the fail-safe duty by selecting a different operator, or you can disable the feature by clearing Enable Fail-Safe Operator.
5. Use the Notify Using check boxes to determine how the fail-safe operator is notified.
6. Click OK.

Using the fail-safe operator on pager notification failure might seem strange, but it is a good way to ensure that alerts are handled efficiently. E-mail and net send messages almost always reach their destination—but the people involved are not always watching their mail or sitting at their computer to receive net send messages, so the fail-safe operator is a way to guarantee notification.

Posted Michael Corey,

Founder & CEO, Ntirety

www.ntirety.com

Those of you, who know me, know I have spent a good part of my professional Career volunteering in User Groups.  I spent many years as President of the Independent Oracle Users Group and helped it become what it is today.  Along the way I met some great people and got to work closely with some of the most prominent people in the IT industry today. Along the way I also help found the Professional Association of SQL Server. I would encourage you if you have not become active with a professional association you should do it. You will look back on it as a very rewarding experience.

When I was approach to see if Ntirety would consider being  sponsor for the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Loadfest Ntirety was happy to do it. 

More About Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Loadfest

Join us for the SQL Server Installfest and do a hands-on installation of SQL Server 2008.

Recommended Audience: IT Professionals

Location: Micriosoft, 201 Jones Road; Waltham MA; 6th Floor MPR

Date/Time: Friday 3/27/2009 8:00am - 5:00pm

Registration 8:00am - 9:00am

Click To Register for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Loadfest

The Installfest session starts with a discussion of the different editions of SQL Server and where each might be appropriate. Before the installations there will be a discussion on preparation steps:

• Server sizing

• Preparing disks for SQL Server

• Security preparation



During the install process you’ll receive step-by-step instruction and live demonstration of the installation process. Several SQL Server experts will be on hand to help with any issues that might arise.



The session will follow up with post-install steps to prepare your SQL Server for production use. Tasks such as:

• Creating a backup strategy

• Database maintenance tasks like index-reorganization and DBCC

• Managing database growth



After the Loadfest session the day will continue with breakout sessions



Sponsored by:

New England SQL Server User Group

Boston Area Windows Server User Group

Novick Software, Inc.

Ntirety Database Administration As a Service "TM"

Microsoft

Breakout Sessions

• SQL Server Clinic – One-on-one help with installation or other SQL Server problems.

• Securing SQL Server – Configuration, encryption, auditing, and Defense Against the Dark Arts (hackers).

• Business Intelligence and Reporting

• Data in the Cloud – Moving data to the internet

• New features of T-SQL



So bring your laptop (or server if you like) and install SQL Server 2008. Plenty of power will be available but you will have to bring everything else (including media). There is limited capacity for people to bring computers so to reserve your spot send an email to Dan Stolts with "2009 SQL Loadfest" as the subject letting him know that you would like to bring a server for the load.  You can email him through his website at http://blogs.technet.com/danstolts/contact.aspx However, a computer is not required. There will be a demo install on a large screen for everyone to follow.  If you do want to participate, you should have the operating system already setup.  There will NOT be time to setup the OS before installing SQL.

Pizza and soda's supplied for lunch by www.ntirety.com

COST... FREE ... Thanks to the generous donations from www.ntirety.com.  If you get stuck with your server deployment afer all this great training or need help in maintaining any of your SQL servers, they will be happy to service you.



We may wrap up a little early but we will have some goodies to give out at the end of the day so plan on staying as long as you can.   Hope to see you there!

 

About Boston User Groups
Boston User Groups is a non-profit service organization established by community leaders for community leaders.  We are volunteers that want to give back to the community.  We want to share our many years of experience and develop community programs that truly make the New England Area a model for how the “technology community” can help the community.   We are committed to the success of the community leaders and their groups.  We will do anything and everything that we can to help these groups succeed.  We are mostly a collaboration mechanism to help user group leaders meet and exceed their group objectives. Boston User Groups known as BUG is a group that helps collaboration amoung technology groups and community leaders in the New England Region.  Vist online at http://www.bostonusergroup.org

About Ntirety
Ntirety - Database Administration As a Service “TM”.  Ntirety Database Administration service provides U.S. Based Database professionals leveraging best of breed technologies at an affordable monthly cost to Proactively Monitor, Manage, and Optimize, while providing additional bandwidth in the management of your Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server Database environments.

Posted Michael Corey,

Founder & CEO, Ntirety

www.ntirety.com

if you are interested in best practices with Microsoft Share point here is a free webinar coming up....