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Partnerships and Software

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First, thanks for all the well wishes folks.  Life has been good.  My daughter is doing great and we’re getting a LITTLE more sleep now.  Anyway, it’s been a week really devoid of tech for me.  It’s kinda been like tech rehab for me!  But, recently I’ve been working on something that makes me wonder about some things about PartnerWorld for Software at Lotus.

You see, in addition to working as the Manager of Groupware Services for a global telecom company, I have my own side business.  I’m sure many of you do as well.  Basically I’m a consultant that helps with internet technologies for small businesses.  I don’t do a lot of work, but it’s nice for the extra money and experience each year.

Well a couple of weeks ago a got an email to see if I wanted to become a Microsoft partner.  I know what you’re thinking.  Why would I consider becoming a Microsoft partner?  Well, the answer simply is that I think Microsoft makes some good software, and when I’m consulting I deal with MS software all the time.  Granted, I hate some MS Software such as Exchange, or their messy HTML conversion, but for the most part, MS is a good company if you ignore their FUD.

That being said, there was another reason to become a partner.  The software package.  What I’m speaking of is a package of software including licenses for most all of the latest Windows products.  XP, Office, W2K3 Server, the whole lot.  Most of these included 10 CAL’s as well.  The software is for internal use only to run your business and demo products.  The cost, $299.  Yes, three hundred dollars.

After seeing this, I started to wonder about PartnerWorld for Software.  That subscription is $2000, and doesn’t seem to cover as much other than quick access to the software.  I would think that IBM would be able to match those prices if not do it cheaper.  Hell, I’d love to be able to partner as a very small business without the 2K outlay.  All I know is that what Microsoft is doing is going to work.  I’m going to see a lot of the MS products installed at my business soon…

Like an STD, Exchange surfaces again

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[SIGH] That’s all I could do.  Last week I was given back the task of running Exchange for our company, and completing the project of integration amongst all of our offices and our parent.   To give you some background, we used to be a Notes mail shop.  Then our parent (who runs Exchange primarily) bought us.  As such we now had 4 major offices in North America.  3 legacy Exchange 5.5 shops and one Notes shop.  As such, Notes (for email anyway) would have to go away.  So about a year ago, I ran a project and migrated our office off of Notes and to Exchange 2000 running in a clustered environment. The project was a success, and we now had 3 offices on 5.5 yet, and ours on 2000.

What was supposed to happen was that our European parent company was going to be rolling out a global Exchange 2000 system.  Well it got pushed back so far that they decided to go to Exchange 2003.   So, what needs to happen now is that our parent will create a global Active Directory structure.  And then all 4 offices will become a part of this AD with a branch specifically for North America.  That means that I’m in charge of the project that will require all of us to migrate off of NT domains to AD domains, as well as converting three offices from Exchange 5.5 to 2003 and one office from 2000 to 2003.  Needless to say, this is really going to be a nightmare.  A nightmare that I had given up 6 months ago when email was given to a different department.

Back then I was thrilled as I no longer had to manage Exchange.  I thought I would never have to manage it again, but like a persistent STD, Exchange returned.  We re-orgged again, and now I’m again afflicted.  In my own mind i’m calling this Project Herpes.  Catchy ain’t it?hank god I still have Domino around here for applications or I might have to find a bell-tower.