Thanks, Pieter!

Recently I helped out on an ILM setup with SAP.

The connection was using a SAP router.

This is not the same a SAP Message server.

Except for the important difference in functionality, the ILM ERPMA help is not completely clear on the method to connect to these type of SAP Servers.

The ERPMA in ILM (and its configuration tool) needs a connection string to communicate with the SAP server.

Below you’ll find some interesting links with information on the SAP connection string:

• The Data Provider for the SAP Connection String
• Possible Parameters
• Router Strings

The last link provides an interesting insight on the connection string for connecting to a SAP Router.

This document discusses a similar issue.

The ILM ERPMA help and different SAP related documents offer 2 types of structure for the SAP connection string.

1. (/H/.../S/.../W/...)
2. ASHOST=XXXXX R3NAME=XXX GROUP="xxxx" CLIENT=NNN SYSNR=NN

But after some research, tt became clear, that you also can use a mix of them, like

ASHOST="/H/saprouter/H/sapapplicationserver" R3NAME=XXX GROUP="xxxx" CLIENT=NNN SYSNR=NN

If no group available, it is defaulted to public. No need to put it in the connection string.

This document confirms this setting

http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E12825_01/epm.111/pr_developer_vol3.pdf

More specific, check the section: single hop SAPRouter connection

Additionally you might need to create a file (in c:\Windows) with the name sapmsg.ini

In this sample they’ve put the following entry in the file (where XYZ is the ini of the system):

Message Server

XYZ=/H/100.200.300.400/H/100.200.300.401

Also , if you need more detailed information while troubleshooting the ERPMA, enable verbose logging:

-> Enabling and Disabling SAP RFC and CPIC Trace

When you plan to upgrade your ILM server to another version, carefully check the supported upgrade paths on the ILM 2007 FAQ at MS: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver/ilm2007/faq.mspx#EJCAC

A while ago I was updating a ILM 2007 server, used for a proof-of-concept, to a test & development server.

I used the setup files to reinstall the new version on top of the old (eval) software.

Then I got this message:

I didn’t know ILM 2007 had a “developer edition”…

After a check with PSS: It doesn’t.

But it’s just a strange way to tell you that you’re not following the right upgrade path

Technet Live Meetings (Dutch / Nederlands)

*   Secure Web Access with TMG - 8 september 2009 (NL – register here)

*   Transitioning from Exchange 2003-Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2010 - 17 september 2009 (NL – register here)
*   What's new in System Center Configuration Manager SP2? - 29 september 2009 (NL – register here)
*   Unified Communications - 6 oktober 2009 (NL register here)
*   What's new in Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory - 20 oktober 2009 (register here)
*   Data Integration using SQL Server 2008 Integration Services: Overview - 29 oktober 2009 (Register here)
*   What's new in System Center Configuration Managers SP2? - 19 november 2009 (register here)
*   TechNet event: Meer informatie over Windows 2008 R2 en Windows 7 Remote Desktop Services - 21 september 2009 (NL – register here)

For the French Speaking

*   Transitioning from Exchange 2003-Exchange 2007 to Exchange 2010 - Septembre 17, 2009 (register here)
*   What's new in System Center Configuration Manager SP2? - Septembre 29, 2009 (register here)
*   Unified Communications - Octobre 6, 2009 (register here)
*   What's new in Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory - Octobre 20, 2009 (register here)
*   Data Integration using SQL Server 2008 Integration Services: Overview - Octobre 29, 2009 (register here)
*   What's new in System Center Configuration Managers SP2? - Novembre 19, 2009 (register here)
*   En savoir plus sur Windows 2008 R2 et Windows 7 Remote Desktop Services - 21 septembre 2009 (register here)<>

Watch TechDays'09 video's & experts interviews on www.techdays.be

Securing Hyper-V (joint event of MVUG with the Winsec User Group)

Date and time: THURSDAY 1st October 2009, start at 18u30 until around 21u00.
Event Location: Microsoft BELUX - Corporate Village - Leonardo Da Vincilaan 3 - B-1935 Zaventem
Entry: Free
Focus: with the rising popularity of virtualization, it is time to start thinking about how you secure your virtual environment. During this presentation, best practices for securing a virtual environment based on Microsoft’s Hyper-V are discussed, both from the angle of the Hyper-V host as from the angle of the guests. Further it will be shown how you can use Authorization Manager (AzMan) to provide role-based access control for Hyper-V, separating host administrators from guest administrators and precisely delegating control to them, which will also be shown using System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SC VMM).

To subscribe: send an e-mail to winsec[at]winsec.be.

More info : http://www.winsec.be or http://www.mvug.be

A while ago Quest posted some of the TEC 2009 presentations on YouTube.

In the ILM space, the ones below are certainly to bookmark.

YouTube - Human Behavior: the Other 90% of the Problem
     

YouTube - ILM 2 from IT Pro Perspective
    

YouTube - Provision OTP through ILM 2 or Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager 2010
   

Direct link Part 2: http://www.microsoft.com/belux/technet/nl/chopsticks/default.aspx?id=1180

Direct link: http://www.microsoft.com/belux/technet/nl/chopsticks/default.aspx?id=1196

(Sorry, can't get the embedded link posted on Live Spaces)

Brucon is an annual two-day conference by and for the security and hacker community. The conference offers lectures and workshops on a multitude of topics like computer security, privacy, information technology and its implications on society. It takes place at the Surfhouse in Brussels, Belgium on September 18 and 19.

Besides presentations on IPv6 security, MPLS hacking, Cyberwarfare, Social engineer techniques, Cloud Computing Security, Open source Information gathering, Dangers of Social networks, and much more, there will be interesting workshops and other events. More information about the program is available on www.brucon.org. The content will be updated as time progresses so keep an eye on our website.

Visitors are welcome to actively contribute to the conference. Do you have a topic to discuss like a tool, a website, your blog or any project that could be interesting to others, please submit it as a lightning talk on our wiki. Do you any suggestions or questions about our event? Feel free to contact us at crew_at_brucon.org.

Normal registration fees (including VAT) for BruCON are:

• 180 Euro early bird (prior to July 1st 2009)
• 250 Euro 1st of July - 31st of August 2009
• 300 Euro afterwards and at doors

 Students fees²:

• 50 Euro early bird (prior to July 1st 2009)
• 90 Euro afterwards and at doors

1 Early birds can win a security course, check www.brucon.org for more info. Early bird payments must be received before 1st of  July to be applicable.

² Only applies to the first 50 students. After this, normal conference prices will apply.

WINSEC members get a 10% discount on conference tickets using promo-code.

(Request the promocode at info(at)winsec.be).

Additionally, BruCON is offering the following three courses from renowned trainers:

• Crash course in Penetration Testing by Joe McCray, and Chris Gates
• Web 2.0 Hacking: Attacks and defenses by Shreeraj Shah
• Social engineering techniques for IT Security professionals by Sharon Conheady

See the Brucon website for more information.

Source: MS Identity Lifecycle Manager forum

"This forum is a great repository for valuable information that enables you to learn about and troubleshoot ILM.
In an effort to provide you with a faster, easier, and more valuable forum experience, we have created the Greatest Hits Collection.
The Greatest Hits Collection is a set of technical articles that are developed to address the following three key areas:

• Discoverability – For common questions, you should be able to find your answer quickly and easily without the need to read several related posts to find authoritative information.
• In-Depth Content - There are questions that require more than just a one- or two-liner as response.
• Dependability - Strategic questions require a single authoritative response, which must be technically relevant and accurate, not an individual’s opinion.

Each Greatest Hit Article is a result of a collaborative effort to develop helpful technical information.
While written by an ILM expert, each article has been reviewed (prior to its release) by a group of identity management specialists from Microsoft and thought leaders from this community to ensure technical accuracy and relevancy of the content.
The content of the Greatest Hit Articles spans a broad range of areas from general information about how to approach an identity management related problem to technical descriptions of features.
Greatest Hits articles are filling a gap between a typical forum post and Microsoft’s official core documentation."

I'm proud to announce that I've added a Greatest Hits Article to the list: How to get the maximum return on your forum question.

Thanks to all the people who supported me and who provided valuable feedback.

The new Community Day website is alive and kicking!

Do not miss out on the biggest joint event of this year: Community Day 2009!

Eleven Belgian Microsoft User Groups combine their efforts to organize this unique networking and knowledge sharing event. A unique opportunity to learn about Microsofts latest developments and technologies like Exchange 2010, Silverlight 3, Visual Studio 2010, SQL Server 2008, Windows 2008R2, Powershell V2, Forefront Identity Manager 2010, XNA 3.1. and OCS R2.

The Community Day 2009 will take place on Thursday 25th June 2009 in Utopolis, Mechelen, where we will bring together 300 IT Pros and developers.

The Community Day 2009 is supported by BESUG, BIWUG, IT-Talks, MVUG, Pro-Exchange, SCUG, SQLUG, VBIB, Visug, WinSec, XNA-BUG.

Register now for free for this all day event on our website!

Yours sincerely,
on behalf of The Community Day team

On Tuesday 19^th of May 2009 Winsec organizes an event on the next generation identity lifecycle manager.

Lately there has been a lot of news and lots of changes concerning MS Identity Lifecycle Manager. In a short presentation and in a practical, interactive, demo we will show you around, guided by some practical scenarios.

What has changed since MIIS 2003 and ILM 2007? What are the new ILM components? Which resources are available to get started? How to implement out-of-the box scenarios?

All presented to you by the only 2 Belgian MVPs on ILM.

You’re invited to join us for the event and for the drink afterwards.

Seats are limited.

This exclusive event is sponsored by Traxion Belgium (http://www.traxion.com)

• Date: 19/05/2009
• Doors open: 18h30
• Start: 19h00
• End: 21h30
• Food & beverage provided.

Location: Battenbroek Clubhouse, Battenbroekstraat 1, 2800 MECHELEN.

Route description: http://www.brasserie-battenbroek.be/route.php

To register, send an e-mail to: info(at)winsec.be. (Important: You need to remove the brackets in the address before sending the mail)

Be there!