Announcements from LPI

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 2008 and EBS 2008 in minutes by downloading and applying the new integrated suite of Policy Modules. This is great news for those who are deploying the fantastic new SBS and EBS products from Microsoft. Again good stuff as you can monitor and manage these new products out of the gate. You can get their details at http://www.htgmembers.com/2008-11-13_SBS_EBS.pdf on this release.

Are you on the MSP bandwagon yet? Great products that continue to get better from LPI and all the tool providers. There is huge opportunity to help end users take cost out of their businesses during these difficult economic times using managed service tools. It is a great way to gain market and increase value for your customers. Get in the game now, while the opportunity is still there.

Can you Spell Virtualization?

HTG member and virtualization guru Dave Sobel has announced his upcoming book on the subject is now available for pre-order. "Virtualization: Defined. A Primer for the SMB Consultant". This first book in a series walks a SMB consultant through the basics of getting up and running with virtualization.

The book covers:
What are the kinds of virtualization?
What can you do with them?
Why should a SMB consider virtualization?
What are the technology platforms available to virtualize on?
How do you sell virtualization solutions?

There is also a coming DVD and Audio program set where Dave and Karl Palachuk present and can train your staff, or you can listen to the presentation in your car or on your iPod.

You can get details and buy or preorder here:
http://www.evolvetech.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Book-Available-for-Pre-Order-Virtualization-Defined.-A-Primer-for-the-SMB-Consultant.html&Itemid=87

Stuart Crawford also did a blogtalk radio show with Dave - catch it at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/smb/2008/09/30/Living-in-a-virtual-world.

Can you spell virtualize?

Our good friend Dave Sobel is trying to address the world of virtualization. Once something only for the enterprise, it is now definitely something that fits SMB and we need to learn it and embrace it as fast as we can. He has offered to help drive information to the community through his blog. He writes about what a consultant wants to know about virtualization. Check it out, learn and most of all provide feedback. Dave is a great partner in HTG5 and will be leading HTG11 for Great Britain.

http://www.evolvetech.com/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=269&Itemid=1

The best way to learn is to leverage community. Read it and give him some feedback. He is looking for something to do. :-)