I installed a virtual machine last week for testing BCM 2010. I used Windows
Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition (Database with
Tools-version). I made a backup of a standalone BCM 2007 database and used
the now released RTM-version of the BCM 2010 Database Tool to create a new
database and restored (which also upgrades) the BCM 2007 database backup to
the new database.
If you install SQL Server 2008 R2 for the sole purpose of running a shared
BCM database I recommend that you name the instance MSSMLBIZ since that is
the default instance name that BCM looks for when connecting.
Remember to run the BCM for Outlook 2010 Database Tool as a user which is a
local administrator. The tool will then automatically configure SQL Server
and the firewall to accept traffic on the standard BCM port 5356.
The entire setup was very smooth.
Regards,
Andreas Erson
SWEDEN
"Neal" wrote:
> Gayle, the lack of a statement or clear policy or from Microsoft about its
> intentions for customers of BCM is disappointing and frustrating. The
> software has gone gold, partners have the code, yet it seems the company's
> greatest potential advocates " early adopters, IT consultants, and solution
> providers—have limited or no ability to test the final code prior to
> deployment.
> You can find dozens of Technet posts from people like me who have tried to
> learn the product inside out, but without Certified Partner Status or a
> volume license, we cannot test or deploy BCM as part of Office 2010.
> Further, the RTM database management tool seems to be MIA, and this is an
> important part of the picture as well. With fresh memories of Office
> Accounting 2009's early demise we are left with more questions than answers.
> The end policy comes across as social engineering. To get the full benefit
> of your relationship with Microsoft, join a large company. WSS 3 works fine
> for my SBS clients- what are their choices now, SharePoint 2010? Smaller
> clients could never justify its cost or complexity, and SharePoint Workspace
> 2010 has a very limited application range outside of personal users-we need
> more than document management. There is an under-served market segment
> between end-users and the very large company,
> I build and deploy Windows Home Server and SBS for business. This market
> segment is surely under intense review at Microsoft right now. One supported
> configuration of Office 2007 is to install BCM databases on home server with
> the Database Tool. This is significant for those of us with customized
> data-Outlook can't do much CRM without this essential add-on. Why is this not
> part of the regular build anyway? Why do BCM users have no equivalent to
> SharePoint to centralize data, or why doesn't BCM work with hosted exchange
> or SharePoint services? If BCM is to be more than a test bed or showcase
> product, the established base of users needs a roadmap to know that their
> trusted product won't become the next Office Accounting Professional.
> Please listen to your customer feedback on this one, Microsoft Business
> Division. I suspect these are marketing decisions, not developer
> shortcomings that give rise to the impression that no one is listening.
> What do we want? Consider your existing market segments. Make a place in
> your roadmap for small business, especially for the huge base of workgroups
> or domains under 10.
> I need to know if I can or cannot run BCM 2010 against sql express 2008 R2.
> I've hammered the beta trying to share contacts on the Server Vail Preview,
> and for those of us running Home Server for business, one question is, do we
> need a 64-bit database tool? I want to continue using BCM on WHS or WHS
> Premium, but in the absence of information, I can only draw on my own testing
> experience.
> Most customers simply want to configure their products in ways that support
> their specific business needs. If Microsoft's response is silence or mixed
> messages, customers are likely to consider other platforms with clearer
> roadmaps. Goldmine and ACT come to mind.
> Currently the answers range from ‘I heard it will be a free download in
> June' to ‘it will only be for Volume Licenses, small business need not
> apply'. I guess we'll know by June 15. Until then, BCM is like the ‘Fredo'
> of the Office family…obedient, dutiful, but taken for granted.
> If there was ever a time for the company to listen to customer feedback,
> this is it. Microsoft, please get your ACT together about serving the needs
> of businesses under 10, or someone else will. Bring BCM into closer
> integration with future offerings like Vail and Aurora as well as the current
> base of Office and WHS/SBS users. Again, this is not so much software
> engineering as the underlying strategies of social engineering.
> This is a product designed to make Customer Relationship Management
> work...how's that working for the company right now? Microsoft has the
> software and tools…is the medium the message? In the absence of a message,
> are we supposed to conform ourselves to an undefined future…or will the
> company appear to exclusively serve the needs of large corporations while the
> under-served market segment of workgroups under 10 continues to grow rapidly?
> Respectfully,
> Neal
> Kirkland, WA
>