An HTML version of this document is available at:
http://www.sbs-rocks.com/netiquette.htm (Who's computer is this?)
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The following tips are designed to help you get the fastest
and most appropriate answer to your questions.

They suggest which newsgroup to use,what basic research to do
before posting, information to include in your posting, newsgroup
etiquette, and alternate sources of useful information.

Following them will help us to help you.

===================================================
Microsoft Guaranteed (48 Hour) Newsgroup response for registered users:

http://www.microsoft.com//windowsserver2003/sbs/community/newsgroup.mspx (Who's computer is this?)

Microsoft is offering support through a monitored newsgroup.
To guarantee replies within 48 hours, register your e-mail address.

---
Microsoft Guaranteed (48 Hour) Newsgroup response for Technet
Subscribers:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/abouttn/subscriptions/default.mspx (Who's computer is this?)

Unlimited Managed Newsgroup Support: Get reliable answers by next
business day from Microsoft Support Professionals and community experts
in over 100 Managed Newsgroups (English only).

===================================================

- Post to the appropriate Newsgroup:

For SBS 4/4.5: microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz
Note: Non Paid Support for NT4 and related products like SBS 4/4.5
ceased on 31 Dec 2004 - You should be migrating / upgrading these ASAP

For SBS 2000 : microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000
For SBS 2003 : microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs

Microsoft News Server: news.microsoft.com

The SBS Newsgroups provide a free forum for threaded discussion
and peer support on issues related to Small Business Server by
users, service providers and interested parties.

Please remember when posting that non Microsoft people don't get
paid to be here, and MVPs are -not- Microsoft employees.

{ Who are the Microsoft MVPs ?
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;mvpfaqs (Who's computer is this?) }

Everyone here is giving generously and freely of their time, experience
and expertise to enhance the Small Business Server Community.

Join it, support it, respect it and enjoy it. - SBS Rocks !

===================================================

A Web interface to the SBS 2003 newsgroup is at:
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups/?pr=newsgsbs2003 (Who's computer is this?)

You'll find the Rules of conduct on the MS Website at:

Welcome to Microsoft Discussion Groups
http://communities2.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx (Who's computer is this?)

===================================================
- Do some basic researches for previously posted solutions.
( It's most likely been posted and solved before. )

Advanced Google Search:
http://www.google.com/advanced_search (Who's computer is this?)
Domain: microsoft.com
experts-exchange.com

Advanced Google Groups Search of the Usenet archives:
http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search (Who's computer is this?)

Advanced Microsoft Search:
http://search.microsoft.com/search/search.aspx?st=a&View=en-us (Who's computer is this?)
(Note that you can also just enter a KB, Q or Error Number)

Event Log Entries associated with your issue or setup:
http://www.eventid.net (Who's computer is this?)
(Enter the Event number from the Event Log)

http://search.microsoft.com (Who's computer is this?)
(Enter '1001' (for example) or 'error 1001')

Your Public Interface:
http://www.dnsreport.com (Who's computer is this?)
http://www.dnsstuff.com (Who's computer is this?)

Your network Settings on Servers and workstations:
Start > Run > cmd : ipconfig /all

Ports Status
Start > Run > cmd : netstat -an

===================================================
- Post with a meaningful subject line so those with expertise or
interest in the topic can find it quickly. - Posting with a purely
attention seeking topic such as "DISASTER" or "No-One Ever Responds
to Me" may get you noticed -once- but is likely to get you ignored
or dropped in future. Remember -everyone's- issue is important to
them, so que jumping won't enhance anyone's opinion of you within
the newsgroup.

Mentioning the SBS component, Exchange, ISA, SQL Server, RAS, Pop
Connector etc.in the heading will be a big help in catching the eye
of experts in that field.

===================================================
- If posting a question, post with sufficient information for a complete
stranger to understand your SBS version, environment; your issue, what
you have tried and what failed. You're not cutting down on the typing
as you'll be asked anyway, and it can only enhance the speed to
diagnosis and resolution.

A secondary benefit to this is that in correctly framing the question,
the resolution often presents itself.

Note:
Stating your SBS version ( 4, 4.5, 2000, 2003 ) is particularly
important as is whether your SBS 2003 is Standard or Premium and whether
you have ISA installed.

Please state all messages and IDs in failure notices and/or in the event
viewers. Also what may have been installed/changed/updated prior to or
during the issue.

===================================================
- Posting In capitals on is considered SHOUTING! ...Please don't.

===================================================
- Don't overlook or discount Paid Support.

If the Issue is urgent or complex, the time you spend searching for a
"free" solution. ...and cost factors such as Worker Downtime, Customer
Irritation, Lost Productivity, and Hair Replacement costs will likely
far outweigh the cost of a Support Call to Microsoft PSS (Product
Support Services ) or a Support Professional.

Note: Hotfixes are free of charge. Just ask for the specific Hotfix.

===================================================
- It's difficult to convey human emotions on Usenet (Humour, Pathos,
Sarcasm, Tongue-In-Cheek ) so use of emoticons and/or acronym tags is
advised.

.... and no; you -don't- have to be serious all the time. It's a
community. Enjoy !

===================================================
- There are many paths to a solution and as many experiences in getting
there as there are posters. Sometimes the paths are well worn, tried and
true. Sometimes paths diverge, sometimes converge, and sometimes new
trails are blazed. Understand and respect that, and use what suits you
and your situation.

===================================================
- People are different, but people are people. You should be nice to
them.

This is a technical newsgroup and not a place for Egos or Flame Wars.
As a community we try to leave them at the door and respect each other.
What you post here is archived and available to anyone, anytime.
Remember ...."Please don't feed the Trolls!"

===================================================
- Newsgroups are not your only source of Information / Help.

Many of the members of the SBS Community provide support via Websites,
Lists and Blogs such as:

http://www.sbslinks.com/ (Who's computer is this?) ( Susan's Links to all things SBS)
http://www.smallbizserver.net/ (Who's computer is this?) ( Mariette's Website and Forum )
http://www.sbs-rocks.com/articles.htm (Who's computer is this?) ( Andy's SBS Articles)
http://www.sbsfaq.com/ (Who's computer is this?) ( Wayne's Website )

sbs2k@yahoogroups.com ( SBS Forum on Yahoo )

Blogs by: Chad, Charlie, Kevin, Susan
http://www.msmvps.com/cgross/ (Who's computer is this?)
http://blogs.msdn.com/canthe (Who's computer is this?)
http://www.msmvps.com/kwsupport/ (Who's computer is this?)
http://www.msmvps.com/bradley/ (Who's computer is this?)

The Microsoft SBS Websites:
Small Business Server Homepage for all sorts of Information,
Demos, Whitepapers Upgrades, Migrations Events and Training
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/default.mspx (Who's computer is this?)

Small Business Community Sharepoint Site:
http://sbcomm.sts.winisp.net/default.aspx (Who's computer is this?)

Downloads for Windows Small Business Server 2003
- Keep Your Server Up to Date -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/sbs/downloads/default.mspx (Who's computer is this?)

===================================================
- Don't be shy to post a Question ....or an Answer.

SBS encompasses a lot and has been known to make even corporate
SysAdmins Cringe and MCSEs cry. None of us knows -all- the answers.

We were all "Newbies" once and none of us has experience with every
permutation, combination, setup and environment SBS is deployed in,
so there are -no- stupid or dumb questions. That's the domain of
answers that imply that there are.

If you're asking a question and know the answer to another one on the
page, muck in and post it. The poster may get a faster resolution than
they would have, and an additional member may get a response
they wouldn't have otherwise

Your solution may be a something that we can all learn from.
- What goes around, comes around.-

===================================================
- It's not only Break/Fix. Anecdotes, Wishlists, Insights and Brickbats
are all grist to the mill of SBS Topics and all on-topic for the
community.

===================================================
- Don't Multi-post*. ( *the Same Posting within different newsgroups
or within the same thread.)

If you must post to several newsgroups, Cross-post to just the relevant
ones. A response in one will then show up in the others and all can
follow the thread.

===================================================
- Be patient.

Newsgroups are not Instant Messaging, and people aren't on-line just
waiting for you to post. If the situation -is- that urgent, then
Paid Support will pay for itself.
Remember: No-one -owes- you a response.

===================================================
- Things get missed.

Things do get lost or missed, or someone with the appropriate skills
or experience may not be available, so if you haven't had a response
after 3 Days or so, post again, perhaps with more detail and things
you've tried in the interim.

============================================
- Lastly, -enjoy - and remember, SBS Rocks !

For and on behalf of the SBS Community.

SBS FAQ Poster

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