Day: January 2, 2007

Windows PowerShell SendMail / MailStorm script

by ucinfo, posted in Flaphead, MsExchange, Powershell

Okay here it is. Yes yet another send mail powershell script, but this is different!

Oh yeah, it has loads of options and yet this a GUI! yeah a GUI!  Also you can send email to members listed on a CSV file and send more than one.  I suppose its actually more like a mailstorm program

So copy it down, start up powershell and run .send-mail.ps1 -gui

Now fill in all the bits you like, check the verbose button and click send Mail.  In the powershell console, it will show you the command line to use ;-)

Give it a go and let me know what you think.  Get it from here: http://files.flaphead.dns2go.com/send-mail.rar https://ucinfo.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/send-mail.zip

Allowing application servers to relay off Exchange Server 2007

by ucinfo, posted in Flaphead, MsExchange

Damm handy article to have in your back pocket!

Source: http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/12/28/432013.aspx

From time to time, you need to allow an application server to relay off of your Exchange server. You might need to do this if you have a SharePoint, a CRM application like Dynamics, or a web site that sends emails to your employees or customers.

You might need to do this if you are getting the SMTP error message “550 5.7.1 Unable to relay”

The top rule is that you want to keep relay restricted as tightly as possible, even on servers that are not connected to the Internet. Usually this is done with authentication and/or restricting by IP address.

Ford US cars to get bluetooth, Microsoft operating system

by ucinfo, posted in Flaphead

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ford-us-cars-get-bluetooth/story.aspx?guid=%7B6C3FE6F3-1F4A-4FD1-891F-DEA98F5CE876%7D

DETROIT (MarketWatch) — Ford Motor Co. (F) will unveil next month a hands-free Bluetooth wireless system and in-vehicle operating system developed by Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) as an option for its entire Ford brand lineup. The system will integrate some of the features of a personal computer into a car’s cockpit, according to sources familiar with the auto maker’s plans.

The move is Ford’s latest attempt to spruce up its U.S. product portfolio and follows the company’s recent decisions to expand satellite radio offerings and introduce features such as connection jacks for Apple Computer Inc.’s (AAPL) iPod music player. The new system, to be dubbed “Sync,” will allow for hands-free cellphone communication and other wireless information transfers inside the car, including the ability to receive email.

Microsoft and McLaren Electronic Systems Win Race to Provide Electronic Technology to the FIA Formula One World Championship for 2008 to 2010

by ucinfo, posted in !News, Flaphead

Nice but I bet I won’t get a ticket to any races!

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/dec06/12-11FIAPR.mspx?source=rss&WT.dl=0

PARIS — Dec. 11, 2006 — Microsoft Corp. and McLaren Electronic Systems (MES) today formally announced that they are to be the official suppliers of engine control units (ECUs) to the Fédèration Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) Formula One World Championship for the 2008, 2009 and 2010 racing seasons.

As part of the FIA’s commitment to reduce costs, increase competition, and support fuel efficiency and energy recovery initiatives in Formula One, it tendered the contract for the appointment of a supplier of standard ECUs and associated software. The winning bid, jointly presented by MES and Microsoft, was confirmed by the FIA on July 5, 2006, following a meeting of the World Motorsport Council. The three parties have now finalized the contracts.

MES will work with Microsoft to develop the ECU systems and will then manufacture and supply the units to all competing Formula One teams for installation on their vehicles. The ECUs will monitor all aspects of the power train and gather data from over 100 sensors located on each car. Generating on average 100 KB to 500 KB of data per second, one car’s ECU will potentially gather more than 1 GB of information from the sensors during a grand prix race. This data will be continuously broadcast in real time back to systems located in the pit-side garage of each Formula One team for detailed analysis.

These systems will provide enhanced capabilities to process high-fidelity health and performance information; the ability to store and compare historical data from tests drives, previous races and dyno runs; and the verification of car setup and race strategy simulations. As a result, faster vehicle setup and race strategy decisions may be made.

Real-World Passwords

by ucinfo, posted in Flaphead, Security

Be afraid, very afraid

Source: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/12/realworld_passw.html and http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,72300-0.html

… The attack was pretty basic. The attackers created a fake MySpace login page, and collected login information when users thought they were accessing their own account on the site. The data was forwarded to various compromised web servers, where the attackers would harvest it later.

MySpace estimates that more than 100,000 people fell for the attack before it was shut down. The data I have is from two different collection points, and was cleaned of the small percentage of people who realized they were responding to a phishing attack. I analyzed the data, and this is what I learned.

… Common Passwords: The top 20 passwords are (in order): password1, abc123, myspace1, password, blink182, qwerty1, fuckyou, 123abc, baseball1, football1, 123456, soccer, monkey1, liverpool1, princess1, jordan23, slipknot1, superman1, iloveyou1 and monkey. (Different analysis here.)

The most common password, “password1,” was used in 0.22 percent of all accounts. The frequency drops off pretty fast after that: “abc123” and “myspace1” were only used in 0.11 percent of all accounts, “soccer” in 0.04 percent and “monkey” in 0.02 percent

HP, Microsoft to Develop “People Ready” Services Portfolio

by , posted in Flaphead

Interesting!

Source: http://www.channelinsider.com/article/HP+Microsoft+to+Develop+People+Ready+Services+Portfolio/196343_1.aspx and http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/business_applications/what_the_hpmicrosoft_deal_really_means.html?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535

 Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard announced Dec. 13 a joint, three-year, $300 million commitment to develop services around Microsoft’s “People Ready Business” initiative.

HP’s Technology Solutions Group and Microsoft will jointly develop, test, validate, deploy, sell and market a new solutions portfolio, “HP & Microsoft Solutions for the People-Ready Business,” around five technologies:

  • messaging and unified communications
  • collaboration and content management
  • business intelligence
  • business process integration
  • Microsoft core infrastructure

Part of the initiative includes new and updated offerings for the next-generation data center around those five areas.

The solutions, in line with Microsoft’s “People Ready” mission, will be designed to help employees at customer sites “derive more value from the use of IT assets,” said Ann Livermore, executive vice president of HP’s TSG organization.

…

Microsoft needs this deal, in some ways much more than HP. Except for a few large, key accounts (where the likes of Bill Gates is account manager), Microsoft has no dedicated sales force–and certainly no real services. The company depends on the channel for the bulk of sales and services. Microsoft’s 2007 release cycle is all about the enterprise and business processes, from communications to intelligence. The solutions, software licensing and support will be more complex than any other Microsoft release cycle. So, services will be essential to Microsoft and its customers. Competitively, Microsoft’s push into IBM’s space comes without supporting services–for which Big Blue provides its customers–unless another company pitches in. The only real choice is HP.

HP, Microsoft to Develop "People Ready" Services Portfolio

by ucinfo, posted in Flaphead

Interesting!

Source: http://www.channelinsider.com/article/HP+Microsoft+to+Develop+People+Ready+Services+Portfolio/196343_1.aspx and http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/business_applications/what_the_hpmicrosoft_deal_really_means.html?kc=MWRSS02129TX1K0000535

 Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard announced Dec. 13 a joint, three-year, $300 million commitment to develop services around Microsoft’s “People Ready Business” initiative.

HP’s Technology Solutions Group and Microsoft will jointly develop, test, validate, deploy, sell and market a new solutions portfolio, “HP & Microsoft Solutions for the People-Ready Business,” around five technologies:

  • messaging and unified communications
  • collaboration and content management
  • business intelligence
  • business process integration
  • Microsoft core infrastructure

Part of the initiative includes new and updated offerings for the next-generation data center around those five areas.

The solutions, in line with Microsoft’s “People Ready” mission, will be designed to help employees at customer sites “derive more value from the use of IT assets,” said Ann Livermore, executive vice president of HP’s TSG organization.

…

Microsoft needs this deal, in some ways much more than HP. Except for a few large, key accounts (where the likes of Bill Gates is account manager), Microsoft has no dedicated sales force–and certainly no real services. The company depends on the channel for the bulk of sales and services. Microsoft’s 2007 release cycle is all about the enterprise and business processes, from communications to intelligence. The solutions, software licensing and support will be more complex than any other Microsoft release cycle. So, services will be essential to Microsoft and its customers. Competitively, Microsoft’s push into IBM’s space comes without supporting services–for which Big Blue provides its customers–unless another company pitches in. The only real choice is HP.