Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting

Over on the NextHop Blog, Steven van Houttum posts an excellent overview of the Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting

- Posted 8 Aug 2012 - This article gives an overview of the Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Hosting Pack, including what it is, who it is for, and how its functionality and deployment compares to the on-premises edition of Lync Server 2010.

In Summary - Service Providers should add Lync Server as an effective new service offering for their targeted customer(s) and strategic vertical markets.  Adding Lync Server offers extended functionality including an integrated End User experience across Hosted Exchange Communications, SharePoint Collaboration and  from third–parties  such as SMS to SIP trunks, audio conferencing providers (ACP) and video conferencing gateways. With such new features and services, PA Service Providers can deliver a complete Unified Communications and Collaboration solution to their customers.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/nexthop/archive/2012/08/08/lync-server-2010-multitenant-pack-for-partner-hosting-overview.aspx

Service Providers will have  concern over the different functionality and feature sets The Lync Server Multitenant Hosting Pack provides compared to Lync Server 2010 on–premises and Lync Online such as - The Lync Server Multitenant Hosting Pack does not include support for Public IM, XMPP, Lync Mobile, and Group Chat. The Lync Server Multitenant Hosting Pack does not support advanced calling features, such as Team Call, Response Groups, Delegation, Private Line, Call Park, and Caller ID manipulation. In addition, not all IP Phones are qualified for the Lync Server Multitenant Hosting Pack yet.

Although the deployment process is similar to a Lync Server 2010 on-premises deployment, the Lync Server Multitenant Hosting Pack installation media is different, and there are some specific post-deployment steps that must be performed to configure the deployment. These steps are included in the Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting Deployment Guide, which provides guidance for a 5,000 and a 50,000 tenant user environment. Additional post deployment steps consist of deploying Active Directory extensions, installing the Lync Server Multitenant Hosting Pack specific PowerShell cmdlets, and running the LyncServerUpdateInstaller tool. Virtualization is supported for all server roles, as is the case for Lync Server 2010 on–premises deployments.

There are multiple resources available for the Lync Server Multitenant Hosting Pack, including a deployment guide and a reference architecture whitepaper that includes best practices.

Parallels Automation Provides a Lync Package for Service Providers to consider - Details are at
http://download.pa.parallels.com/poa/Lync/1.2/


To learn more, check out the following articles:

• Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting Resources
• Features of the Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting
• Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting Deployment Guide
• Reference Architecture for the Microsoft Lync Server 2010 Multitenant Pack for Partner Hosting
• Microsoft Volume Licensing

Lync Server Resources

• Lync Server 2010 Documentation Library
• DrRez blog
• NextHop blog
• Lync Server and Communications Server resources

Managed Service Providers and VAR's adding Cloud Services / Business Apps

Managed Service Providers and VAR's are adding new Cloud Services and Business Applications to provide complete solutions for their clients - Parallels Business Automation Standard is the most proven and the industry's preferred, billing and hosting automation solution for managing and scaling small and medium web hosting businesses. Service providers use PBAS to build their resale channels and maximize revenue.

PBAS 4.2 Administration. Short Video Tutorial and Live Demo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daDiEMf8sXM

This short video tutorial covers the following topics:

• Configure IP Pool
• Register Virtuozzo Node, Sync OS and Application Templates
• Register Dedicated Plesk Node
• Configure Managed Nameserver Set
• Configure Domain Registrar Plug-in and TDLs
• Configure Secure Key and Payment Plug-in
• Configure Demo Hosting Plan
• Open Online Store

Office 365: Staged Exchange Online Migration

Office 365: Staged Exchange Online Migration

Watch the video to keep up with the series:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/video/office-365-jump-start-08-microsoft-staged-exchange-online-migration

Next class will cover Hybrid Options with Exchange Server & Exchange Online:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/video/office-365-jump-start-09-hybrid-options-with-exchange-server-exchange-online

Exchange Server 2010 Hosting and Multi-Tenancy Solutions and Guidance

Microsoft has posted their latest guidance regarding Exchange Server 2010 Hosting and Multi-Tenancy Solutions. Details are available HERE

IaaS success blueprint with Parallels and Intel

Parallels Summit 2012 - Chart Your Future: Parallels Roadmap
IaaS success blueprint with Parallels and Intel
Mike Chevalier, Senior Technical Marketing Engineer, Intel

The buzz around cloud computing is reaching new heights, but the discussion rarely covers the practical elements of the challenges and techniques to build cloud solutions. This session will cover solutions for securing your virtual environment, saving power and providing services for small business using Parallels products. In this session, you will learn how Intel can help accelerate your cloud business using reference architectures.

http://youtu.be/ZB73r1l1DKA

BroadSoft Info and Links

BroadSoft  - enable's telecommunications service providers to deliver real-time communications services voice, video, unified communications - over their broadband, IP-based networks. Listen to how BroadSoft delivers innovative communication applications to help meet market demands.
http://youtu.be/h1zyNtTjVac

BroadSoft BroadWorks + Microsoft Office Communicator Demo
http://youtu.be/prX4go3D3sw

New @IDC report: Parallels is a “Company to Watch” reveals insights into growth:

New @IDC report: Parallels is a “Company to Watch” reveals insights into growth of @ParallelsCloud @ParallelsMac - http://t.co/AOSXUxu5

  &

Parallels Service Provider Summit 2012: Going to Market With Your Services Portfolio Track: - There was a plethora of great content at Summit 2012, and it was impossible to attend it all.  Fortunately, we have all of our talks on YouTube!  For this series of posts, we have consolidated the talks by tracks from Parallels Summit 2012.

Object-based storage, cloud gateways best suited for archiving/backup

Service Providers are evaluating Cloud Storage options as they prepare to become the "Storage Utility" to the ever connected consumer.

Here is a great view into this future:

Object-based storage, cloud gateways best suited for archiving/backup

Hosted Exchange 2010 SP2 Info

With new guidance provided by Microsoft, Hosting companies and Service Providers must reassess their options for deploying Hosted Exchange 2010.  Parallels Automation for Messaging and Collaboration provides the solution.

To learn more, check out the following links:

Parallels Automation for Messaging and Collaboration

Exchange Server 2010 SP2 and Support for Hosting Exchange

Released: Migrating Exchange from HMC 4.5 to Exchange Server 2010 SP2 whitepaper

Exchange 2010 Service Pack 2 and Hosting

Released: Exchange Server 2010 SP2

The following links provide additional details:

http://www.parallels.com/products/automation/operations/modules/exchange/

http://www.parallels.com/products/automation/operations/modules/office365/

The following PDFs provide additional details:

http://www.parallels.com/r/pdf/ds/parallels_automation_saas_module.pdf

http://www.parallels.com/r/pdf/wp/automation/Microsoft_Office_365_WP_EN_LTR.pdf

http://www.parallels.com/r/pdf/ds/Parallels_Operations_Automation.pdf

...

Best Practices for Sales Engineering

Throughout my career I have practiced the art of the Sales Engineer from both sides.  As both an SE and as a manager.  From UNIX mini-computer deployments and migrations as an engineer to break-fix operations as a Compaq Authorized Service Center Manger.  From Systems Engineering Consultant, Network Systems Engineer, Infrastructure Services Manger, Product Manger and Principal Systems Engineer to Director of Sales Engineering.

A few key resources that have traveled with me and serve me well include the following:











Working with bright, insightful people at innovative technology companies is an exciting career path!

PS. Another great resource for Sales Engineers and Technical Sales Specialists is the Great Demo blog.  You can check it out here

New Cloud Infrastructure Option for Service Providers

New Cloud Infrastructure Option for Service Providers:

Parallels Automation for Cloud Infrastructure Launches; Provides the Industry’s First Turn-Key Solution to Deliver Cloud Infrastructure Services to Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs)

September 23, 2011
New, scalable Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) module of Parallels Automation is complete with integrated provisioning, billing, and self-service management

Cloud-ready virtualization solution – Parallels Server Bare Metal – is fully integrated into PACI, combining maximum density Cloud Infrastructure using Parallels Virtuozzo Containers with world-class hypervisor technology
- http://www.parallels.com/news/id,29042

Parallels to leverage Scality RING technology in its “Parallels Automation for Cloud Infrastructure” – February 23rd 2011
- Scality and Parallels Automation Announcement

vSphere storage changes bring opportunities for VARs
- vSphere storage changes bring opportunities for VARs


 
The Open Data Center Alliance is an independent IT consortium comprised of leading global organizations from a wide array of industries who have come together to provide a unified vision for long-term data center requirements.
- www.opendatacenteralliance.org

Parallels - Solution Provider Member:
“Parallels looks forward to advancing Open Data Center Alliance Service Catalog Usage Model in the public cloud, contributing our expertise in powering 5,000 Parallels Hosting Partners globally serving more than 10 million SMBs with a wide-range of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS offerings. Parallels enables cloud service providers to shorten their time to revenue, raise average revenue per user, and lower customer churn. Open standards and interoperability across key cloud data center elements will help all parties optimize to Profit from the Cloud.”

John Zanni, Vice President, Parallels Service Provider Marketing and Alliances- http://www.opendatacenteralliance.org./membership/membervoice

How do I size Exchange 2010?

Great Video Posted over on the Exchange 2010 TechCenter @
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/exchange/ff727932.aspx

How do I size Exchange 2010?
- About This VideoExchange 2010 introduces new functionality in server roles, including new high availability features. Join Nicolas Blank as he discusses how to size critical Exchange 2010 server roles using tools and calculators to establish the disks, IOPS, replication bandwidth, CPU cores, and memory requirement for each role.