Peer Power Blog

Level Platforms has made a couple important announcements that are important to note if you are using their platform or considering an MSP solution. The first is the announcement of full virtualization support for their Managed Workplace solution. We all know that virtualization is a pervasive technology that is just getting its feet wet but will soon be as common as the cold. So it is important to have solutions to manage those environments and now you can. Check out the details at http://www.htgmembers.com/2008-11-05%20Virtualization.pdf. Equally important, the folks at LPI announced at launch last week the ability to have comprehensive remote monitoring, management and reporting for SBS ... Continue reading

Things have been way too quiet around the upcoming launch of SBS2008 and EBS. Time for all of us to let people in our patch know about the upcoming Launch. There hasn't been nearly enough hoopla or air cover. So it is up to us as partners to set off some rockets and fireworks in our own cities and towns. And it is time to do it NOW. In less than a week, the Dream Server Launch will happen. http://www.thedreamserver.com/ Know what I am talking about? The new kid in the Windows Server Family becomes public on November 12. That is also the day that SBS2008 makes its public debut. Our own Erik Thorsell from HTG3 will be part of that launch with his great work for Robby Gordon Motor Sports. We a... Continue reading

HP has just released details on a new promotion you need to let your customers know about. Check out the details at www.pimpmyinfrastructure.com. This contest has some serious prizes, and a couple of businesses are going to win a bunch of really cool HP gear and they did it right - if your customer wins the reseller gets 5K in stuff too. For once we don't get forgotten if things go our way. The contest is designed to drive awareness and interest in SBS2008 and EBS2008 with one lucky business getting a makeover for each segment. This is a great reason to send out some marketing info that will open the door to discuss these great new products as well as the supporting cast of gear from HP... Continue reading

We continue to move closer to the coming release of Windows EBS (Essential Business Server) - the new release targeting the midmarket customer base from 50-300 users. Part of the misconception about EBS has been the fact that Forefront Threat Management Gateway (TMG formerly ISA) is required as part of the solution and it seems many partners are afraid of this being in the product. One of the industry's foremost experts on ISA, Tom Shinder, wrote a great article on this on his blog. You need to take time to read his post on ISAServer.org at this link:http://blogs.isaserver.org/shinder/2008/09/02/why-the-forefront-tmg-is-a-cornerstone-of-essential-business-server-ebs-network-security/Also ... Continue reading

Live and in living color (Microsoft orange), the new EBS Jumpstart site has been brought to life and is now ready to help begin preparing you for the pending release of Microsoft Windows Essential Business Server 2008. That is a mouthful for sure. Here is the URL: http://www.ebsjumpstartkit.com/index.aspx.This interactive site has been designed to help partners evaluate where they are in relationship to the needed skill sets required to be successful selling EBS into the mid market. It deals with issues related to technical, sales and marketing and also addresses the real issue - that of ownership. At the end of the day, a decision to add something new to a company's product offering is no s... Continue reading