What’s Next for MMS

Excerpts from Brad Anderson's comments on the future of MMS:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/in_the_cloud/archive/2013/10/01/what-s-next-for-mms.aspx


Starting this year we are merging MMS with TechEd.

objective is simple: Provide attendees a better opportunity for knowledge gathering and technical growth. By drawing together a larger community to this combined event, every attendee will have a dramatically wider range of experts and luminaries (both from the industry and within Microsoft) to learn from and engage.

TechEd 2014 will be your single best source for the latest news, trends, resources and deep technical education. Also, the System Center team is already preparing to teach the deep 300- and 400-level content you’ve come to expect at MMS. There will also be expanded Early Bird pricing options, dedicated Management Meet & Geek opportunities, dedicated Management Instructor-Led Labs and Hands-on Labs, structured and unstructured networking opportunities tuned to the Management community and broader communities, and other unique MMS experiences.

The next step is to mark your calendars for May 12-15, 2014 for TechEd 2014 in Houston, Texas. Registration opens on November 5, 2013, and if you register by December 31, 2013, you’ll get the aforementioned early bird pricing.
If you haven’t already, take a minute to sign up for the TechEd Insiders newsletter to get the latest TechEd information.
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Houston.

Something new for MMS 2012: MVP Labs

This year like many past MMS experiences, Microsoft is adding new items. This year in particular is very cool in deed. For the first time MVPs are allowed to create Self-paced labs. I am creating a 15 min lab on an introduction to Console Extensions in 2012. This compliments my session on Console Extensions. The labs are listed on the Speakers bio and soon should be listed for the attendees to sign up. The MVPs just need to get everything done and working. My Lab: MV-L306 Creating Console Extensions for ConfigMgr 2012

MMS 2012 Registration is now open!

Book your spot now for MMS 2012 in Las Vegas, hosted at the Venteian.

http://www.mms-2012.com/

This is a great time to learn as well as network with your fellow ConfigMgr peers!

space is limited so act now!

MMS 2011 session Listing

MMS session listing is up and running:
http://www.mms-2011.com/Topic/List

This morning they had 73, tonight they have 86. There are more sessions added all the time. Look for the list to be complete by the end of the month. Keep checking back for your favorite presenter or topic. You will notice that v.Next is now Configuration Manager 2012 so you might see both titles in the session listing. This is because it was given a formal name after the sessions had been submited.

MMS 2011 Prediction

Well based on the schedule for MMS 2011, I would expect to see the session list in the next 2 weeks. I am always excited to see who is presenting and the topics. There is always something new to learn. This time around there should be even more information on ConfigMgr 2011.

MMS 2011 Call for Sessions

Call for Session topics is now public. If you ever wanted to present at MMS here is your chance! There is no telling what might be selected or not so make your topic interesting that could fill a room. Maybe it is an introduction to a topic or a deep dive. Everything is needed. "Real World" experiences are the greatest draws because the audience can relate to you.

If you are selected then you will recieve the following accomodations:

Free speaker registration for the event
4 nights’ hotel accommodation during the event
Access to the on-site speaker lounge at the event
An opportunity to take Speaker Training on-site with top professional speaker coach Richard Klees


Content Goals
We are seeking session topics from Industry speakers which cover:

Real-world experience in the Windows management space
Best practices developed through actual deployments
Tips and tricks developed from real life experience

Session Format & Content
All Session slots will be 75 minutes, and should be pitched at a 300-400 (technical to deep technical) level for this audience. Live demonstrations are strongly encouraged.

The “Call for Sessions” entry page is located here https://www.mms-2011.com/CFT
The closing date for topic proposals from all speakers is midnight PST on November 24th 2010.

If you have a colleague or Industry contact who is interested in speaking at the event, please ask them to send email to mmsqs@microsoft.com. They will be sent a New Industry Speaker Access Code.

You can register for the event and if you are selected to be a speaker there is a process by which you can go through to receive a refund of your registration fee.

MMS 2011 Content Survey

The Content survey for MMS 2011 is live. http://www.mms-2011.com/default.aspx
This is your chance to choose what kind of topics will appear at MMS and how it will be focused.

This year you could win a prize for filling out the survey

"When the survey closes on Wednesday, November 24th, 2010, we will draw two entries from amongst the responses and will send a Portable Media Player to those respondents. If you would like to be entered for this draw, simply enter your email address in the text box below. Supplied email addresses will only be used for the purposes of winner notification and will not be stored or used in any other way."

Blog about Configuration Manager VNext and win!

Microsoft is offering prizes for blogging about ConfigMgr Vnext.

"Each month, you will have a chance to win an exclusive System Center branded high-def Flip-Mino 2nd Generation camcorder, which will enable you to easily create and post videos to any website. In addition, each monthly winner will be entered into a drawing at the end of the competition for a pass to the Microsoft Management Summit for 2011."


http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/en/us/configuration-manager/cm-contest.aspx

MMS 2011 call for sessions

Based on the previous years I would hope to see the call for sessions soon. Because the event will be one month earlier I would expect the call for sessions to be as well. Generally they are open around thanks giving and closed mid December. Then early January you would hear about the results. With MMS in March I would expect that we will hear between the middle of October to the first week in November. I will update this post and my blog as soon as the call goes out. If you have presented before you should receive a private invitation and code that will allow you to re-register. This code is for you and not the general public. Much like the alum registration code, it is strictly for that person and selected group.

I would expect to see many seasons on V.Next and I hope to many familiar faces presenting again. I liked the presentations presented by the Microsoft Product team. It puts a real face with a "group" or "product." Microsoft personnel, while, very busy, are people and approachable. I think the Configuration Manager product group feels like open family. I can't say much about the other product groups because I don't attend other kinds of conferences nor do I interface with them.

Keep up the good work!

MMS 2011

It occured to me that we should be hearing about MMS 2011 and such.

Well if you attended last year you hear that is going to Mandalay bay. Well every week since June 1st, I started doing DNS lookups to see if Microsoft has the site up. They do!!!


Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas
March 21 - 25 2011

http://www.mms-2011.com/

Start making plans and if you want to present stay tuned for the public call for sessions.

MMS 2010 DVDs

Well I received my MMS 2010 DVD in the mail today. Ironically tonight I recieved the email that notified me that they were shipped. Microsoft gets faster and faster. Maybe I live near the distribution center. Hope every receives their DVDs and enjoys them!

MMS 2010 Success

Well all the glitz and glamor of MMS 2010 is over. The MMS will be March 21st - 25th at Mandalay bay. At this last installment we learned about InTune, the cloud computing aspect of Configuration Manager. It will offer a slimmed down version of the popular patching and software distributed model. It will allow admins to pay MS to host the hardware and infrastructure. This is going to make it easy for firms that might be too spread out to leverage infrastructure or better yet, firms that small like 1o to 50 machines in which System Center Essentials is still a bit of an over kill. We saw the next Road Map for the System Center products (ConfigMgr V.Next will come out in H2 2011). Users in the lab were able to play and learn on the beta version of the application. With the quality expressed in the beta I know we have good product for the masses in the next year.

Last year we saw that V.Next will be all 64 bit. This year we learned about the hierarchy changes (the CAS) and other changes Role Based Access Control(RBAC) There are too many new things to discuss it here. I am grateful for MMS. The MVPs have been privy to some of the information for almost 2 years. I have never been on the side of Software Engineering at the Enterprise level as with Configuration Manager. We see the dedication of the product team and what decisions they must make. We saw many changes taken and some delayed. There are 1,000s of requirements and design changes and not everything can make it into the product at the intial release. That is why we must wait for Service Packs and Revisions. Speaking of which they debuted more information about Configuration Manager's R3 and the power management that it will introduce. We should hope to see some cost savings here.

Well my presenation went ok. I didn't have the change to practice as much as I usually do. The car wreck took time and work away from it. There were points I wanted to cover like Collection structure of small to large companies as well as some complex Collections. While many people enjoyed it there were the few that wished I would have slowed down a bit and the demo wasn't as polished as it should have been. To those I say, sorry. Jumping a hill at 70MPH and crashing into ground while unconscience doesn't put a dent into the prep of things. While that was bad some people where able to present or presented late due to the ash cloud so there were some surprises with MMS. Even the weather became so cold that the closing party was moved indoors. I think I will remember this MMS as the one that was a half bubble off plumb but stood the test of time.

MMS 2010 Full

It should come as no surprise that MMS is sold out. See the Microsoft note here about ways to still register.
http://www.mms-2010.com/public/registrationoverview.aspx

It will be a packed croud. I think my first time has close to 4,000 participants. Even with the large venue like the Venitian it can be cramped between sessions. I have been practicing my session. Let's hope it lives up to everything. With 3 kids, a bad car wreck, medication and just everything else happening I hope it comes out well.

MMS 2010

MMS 2010 is just around the corner. We expect to see the latest version of ConfigMgr, chat with community experts, attend too many sessions and maybe a few parties. In less than a week it will be in full swing. I am already on edge. My presentation is one of the first for the week. I will land and have about 5 hours to get settled, practice one time, do my tech check and present. I have several other community based chats that I will be involved it.

As a reminder it is always good to step outside your comfort zone so you can meet people and network. While I know many people now through the MVP program, myITforum, the Microsoft forums and simply attending these events I like to find a table that has maybe 1 to 3 people and strike up a conversation. Last year at lunch I sat at a table with 3 french men. Only 1 spoke excellent English so he translated most of the time. I always say "Howdy", I am from the south and graduate of Texas A&M University so it fits right in. Of course I also always wear cowboy boots (even got married in them). Well when you sit down and say Howdy you get some looks. They had a good time asking me about Texas and I had a good time asking them how they were doing. If your going to MMS 2010 hope to see you there.

Ask the MVPS and MS Product group

Do you want to get a head start on ConfigMgr V.Next? Well if you attend MMS 2010 you might get to do just that! In the Session you will be able to interact with some of the MVPs as well as parts of the ConfigMgr team. This is the same team that we, the MVPs interact with. Get the info from the source! I recommend that you take a look at this if you want the jump on the next version.


Session Info:
Configuration Manager v.Next - Ask the Panel of Experts Thursday, April 22 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM, Veronese 2404-2506
OK - so, you've attended all the breakouts on ConfigMgr v.Next and completed all the hands-labs. Now you know the "what" of ConfigMgr v.Next. How about getting a chance to learn the "how" and "why" of ConfigMgr? We've assembled a panel of engineering leadership from the ConfigMgr team, along with a few key MVP's, to really answer your questions about the "how's" and "why's" of ConfigMgr. To help tee it up we are using some social avenues to hear from you. Either email a question to the session moderator (jeffwe@microsoft.com) or simply tweet a question using the hashtag #MMSEA01. Even if you don't have a question - come join us to hear these so-called "experts" answer the tough questions and provide insights into the product and strategies for ConfigMgr.

MMS 2010 Sesions list has been posted

For those looking at attenting MMS 2010 the sessions have now been posted. This list might change as more speakers accept or decline the offer. Expect to see dates/times by mid Feburary. You may use the drop down menu or simply download the latest PDF file to see all the sessions.

http://www.mms-2010.com/public/sessions.aspx

MMS 2010 Call for Sessions

Well MMS is a month earlier this year, it usually falls on my wedding anniversary :(

Well call for sessions is now open!!!

https://www.mms-2010.com/CFT/default.aspx

So not only was I wrong about the day....I was wrong about the month!!!

MMs 2010 Registration

Registration opens for MMS 2010 on November 3, 2009.

If you want to stay in the Venetian Hotel or with the Palazzo Hotel you need to book early!
If you think you want to present but you still want to attend if you don't then go ahead and register. If you become a presenter then they will credit your registration and hotel fees.

Nov 20th might be close to when the Call for Sessions opens, that is my guess. Just keep watching the mms site: http://www.mms-2010.com/ or the www.myitforum.com pages for more information.

MMS 2010 call for sessions coming soon

If you are thinking about presenting at MMS 2010 (http://www.mms-2010.com/) you need to start thinking of topics. My prediction is that they will open between the 12 and 19 of November with the cut off date around December 17th. This is only a prediction but should be pretty close. Once they open I will post the link. "Many will enter, few will be chosen" Think about a topic in ConfigMgr that a large group would be interested in and has a high value. It could be a simple or complex topic. Isn't necessary to have a demo during the presentation but it is always nice to break it up.
If you don't feel comfortable about being on stage by yourself then find a partner. They do have a coach there that you can take classes and hopefully improve your stage presence. I speak from personal experience that it can be a bit overwhelming to stand there and see hundreds of your peers staring back. Good luck and happy thinking!!!

MMS 2009 Hands on Lab

Seems the MS is sending out the Hands on Lab (HOL) DVD again. I just recieved notification that it had been shipped. Much like last year, they can't put the entire HOL session on the DVD because they require Virtual PC but they do have many of the walk thrus so you can do it yourself at home or at work. Very nice work. They don't have to pass this on to us but it is a nice jesture, not to mention nice for those that couldn't or didn't have time to get in to the Lab.