Evolution of SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is not a new technology it is among us since 2001. Microsoft's continues enhancements each and every year make it more scalable, robust and powerful. Now in 2012 this product is on its full boom and popular everywhere. But Microsoft is still enhancing this product and makes more changes; you might have heard Microsoft is releasing SharePoint 15. I am not going to that path now :) I am new student of SharePoint and I have to dig it from scratch.

In this post I am going to explain history of SharePoint when it was started and where it is standing now.
I have referenced this article from book [SharePoint 2010 User's Guide by Seth Bates and Tony Smith]

Microsoft’s SharePoint technology was initially introduced in 2001 with the release of SharePoint Portal Server 2001. This product provided some fundamental tools made to allow users to publish and find documents. It allowed for the creation and management of document taxonomies and represented the first step in providing a way to catalogue and search for documents across an enterprise.

SharePoint Assessment Test

Hi Guys Quiz time now to test our SharePoint knowledge so far :)  This Quiz is based on first chapter of book MCT Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Configuration Study Guide. This quiz covers question about what's new in SharePoint 2010, Hardware and Software Requirments for SharePoint 2010 Server. Please try and check your answers in the end.

1.       You are a SharePoint administrator of a Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 environment, and you have been tasked by your CIO to investigate the viability of upgrading your production system to SharePoint Server 2010. Which of the following options are true?(Choose all that apply.)

A. SharePoint Server 2010 is a 64-bit only application.

B. SharePoint Server 2010 can run only on 64-bit Windows Server 2003, 64-bit Windows Server 2008, and 64-bit Windows Server 2008 R2.

C. SharePoint Server 2010 can only use 64-bit SQL Server 2008 for database services.

D. SharePoint Server 2010 deployed as a single server can use SQL Server 2008 Express Service Pack 1 as an integrated database.

SharePoint 2010 Environment Requirements

This article is referenced from book MCTS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Configuration Study Guide. This entire book is related to SharePoint exam 667. I extracted few important bits from first chapter of this book and I am explaining about hardware and software requirements for SharePoint 2010:

1.       SharePoint Server 2010 is a 64-bit only application.

2.       SharePoint Server 2010 will be able to run only on 64-bit Windows Server 2008 or 64-bit Windows Server 2008 R2.

3.       SharePoint Server 2010 will be able to use only 64-bit SQL Server 2008 or 64-bit SQL Server 2005 for database services.

SharePoint 2010 Single Server farm deployment guide

To learn any IT technology you need to be familiar with environment and it is the best way to learn things and practice. Books and reading material can only give you theoretical knowledge but to get practical knowledge you must have hands on technology. Especially students like me who wants to pass Microsoft certifications must have setup practical environment, so that they could understand things better.

In this post I am going to explain how we can setup SharePoint 2010 demo environment and do practice.

I am going to do Single Server farm deployment which is a complete all-in-one installation of SharePoint 2010 and the infrastructure components on a single server. The AD (active directory) and DNS are installed on separate servers.

We are going to setup SharePoint environment with two servers. One server is for our Active Directory, Domain Controller and DNS server, other server is for SharePoint and Database Server.

	SharePoint Server Database Server
	Active Directory DNS

SharePoint Exam Guide From Microsoft

In this post i am trying to explain about all possible exam paths for SharePoint.

Basically there are two tracks

1. SharePoint Administration Track
2. SharePoint Development Track

To complete SharePoint Administration track you need to pass two Exams

1. 667 - TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Configuring
2. 668 - PRO: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Administrator

For Development track you need to pass these two exams

1.573 - TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development
2. 576 - PRO: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Applications

If you will pass any above mentioned SharePoint Microsoft exams you will be MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional)

If you want to gain the title MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) you need to complete either Administration track or Development track.

Guys i will suggest you go through above mentioned links and check what are exam requirements. Main think is to make you mind, which track you want to choose first.

My programming skills are not very good, i will try to choose track A first (SharePoint Administration)

Please post you comments, ideas and suggestions thanks

What is SharePoint

This my first post about SharePoint. I am going to explain what is SharePoint? According to my understanding SharePoint is website build engine, it builds website for every purpose. SharePoint helps to share and collaborate your work with your team members. You can share your work not only within the organisation but also outside the organisation.

I studied different definitions from different sources, i am quoting these definitions, it will give you a better idea and understanding of SharePoint. 

1. SharePoint provides business users with the tools they need to effectively manage and share information, automate business process, collaborate, and interact with others. [SharePoint 2010 Users Guide by Seth Bates and Tony Smith]
2. A SharePoint site is a Web site that provides a central storage and collaboration space for documents, information, and ideas. A SharePoint site is a tool for collaboration, just like a telephone is a tool for communication, or a meeting is a tool for decision making. A SharePoint site helps groups of people (whether work teams or social groups) share information and work together. For example, a SharePoint site can help you:
   * Coordinate projects, calendars, and schedules.
   * Discuss ideas and review documents or proposals.
   * Share information and keep in touch with other people.
   SharePoint sites are dynamic and interactive — members of the site can contribute their own ideas and content as well as comment on or contribute to other people’s.[Office.Microsoft.com]

I must share this video, these guys explain SharePoint in plain English. Please have a look thanks

Please don't forget to contribute i am waiting for your comments. Please add your valuable thoughts thanks very much!

Introduction

Hi All,

My name is Raheel , i am final year student of MSC Computer Science. As you all might know these days everybody as is praising Microsoft SharePoint technology either it is an education, finance, government sector or any other business. From small business to large organisation everybody is adopting this technology so rapidly.

Being an IT student apart from earning good salary i also want to learn IT technology which is hot in the market. So i decided to learn Microsoft SharePoint by myself and pass few SharePoint exams before i finish my degree. So guys why not you all join me and learn together!. I have a request to all seniors who might see this blog please correct me if i am explaining something wrong. All valuable suggestions are welcome thanks :)

 “The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” - Bill Copeland

Best Regards

Raheel