SBUG

UK Connected Systems User Group - Update and next meeting

Michael Stephenson — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 05:58:00 GMT

For those in the UK Connected Systems User Group, the content from our last meeting is in the below linked skydrive folder:
http://cid-40015ea59a1307c8.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.Public/SBUG/SBUG%20Meetings/2010%20December

We are currently preparing the next event for Tuesday 15th Febuary to again be at EMC in London Bridge. We are still formalising the details of the event but it is now open for registration.
http://ukcsugfeb2011.eventbrite.com/

Connected Systems User Group Meeting tomorrow

Michael Stephenson — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:20:53 GMT

Just wanted to pass out a reminder about tomorrow nights user group meeting with Udi Dahan

Registration link:http://sbugmay2010.eventbrite.com/

User group link: http://ukconnectedsystemsusergroup.org

UK Connected Systems User Group - Udi Dahan Event Topic change

Michael Stephenson — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 05:52:26 GMT

Just wanted to get the word out about a change to the may user group event. Udi Dahan will present a new topic which he has not presented in the UK before. Details below.

To register for this event please refer to: http://ukconnectedsystemsusergroup.org/UpcomingEvents.aspx

Title: High Availability - A Contrarian View

Abstract: Many developers are aware of the importance of high availability, critically analyzing any single points of failure in the infrastructure. Those same developers rarely give a second thought to the periods of time when a system is being upgraded. Even if all the servers are running, most systems cannot function in-between versions. Yet with the increased pace of business, users are demanding ever more frequent releases. The poor maintenance programmers and system administrators are left holding the bag long after the architecture that sealed their fate was formulated. Join Udi for some different perspectives on high availability - architecture and methodology for the real world.

User Group Meeting Summary - April 2010

Michael Stephenson — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 03:35:02 GMT

Thanks to everyone who could make it to what turned out to be an excellent SBUG event. First some thanks to:

Speakers: Anthony Cooper and Elton Stoneman
Host: The various people at Hitachi who helped to organise and arrange the venue.

Session 1 - Getting up and running with Windows Mobile and the Windows Azure Service Bus

In this session Anthony discussed some considerations for using Windows Mobile and the Windows Azure Service Bus from a real-world project which Hitachi have been working on with EasyJet. Anthony also walked through a simplified demo of the concepts which applied on the project.

In addition to the slides and demo it was also very interesting to discuss with the guys involved on this project to hear about their real experiences developing with the Azure Service Bus and some of the limitations they have had to work around in Windows Mobiles ability to interact with the service bus.

On the back of this session we will look to do some further activities around this topic and the guys offered to share their wish list of features for both Windows Mobile and Windows Azure which we will look to share for user group discussion.

Another interesting point was the cost aspects of using the ISB which were very low.

Session 2 - The Enterprise Cache

In the second session Elton used a few slides which are based around one of his customer scenario's where they are looking into the concept of an Enterprise Cache within the organisation. Elton discusses this concept and also a codeplex project he is putting together which allows you to take advantage of a cache with various providers such as Memcached, AppFabric Caching and Ncache.

Following the presentation it was interesting to hear peoples thoughts on various aspects such as the enterprise cache versus an out of process application cache. Also there was interesting discussion around how people would like to search the cache in the future.

We will again look to put together some follow-up activity on this

Meeting Summary

Following the meeting all slide decks are saved in the skydrive location where we keep content from all meetings:

http://cid-40015ea59a1307c8.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/.Public/SBUG/SBUG%20Meetings/2010%20April

Remember that the details of all previous events are on the following page.

http://uksoabpm.org/Events.aspx

Competition

We had three copies of the Windows Identity Foundation Patterns and Practices book that were raffles on the night, it would be great to hear any feedback on the book from those who won it.

Recording

The user group meeting was recorded and we will look to make this available online sometime soon.

UG Business

The following things were discussed as general UG topics:
We will change the name of the user group to the UK Connected Systems User Group to we are more inline with other user groups who cover similar topics and we believe this will help us to attract more members. The content or focus of the user group is not expected to change.
The next meeting is 26th May and can be registered at the following link: http://sbugmay2010.eventbrite.com/

SBUG --> UK Connected Systems User Group

Michael Stephenson — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 03:29:43 GMT

Following a recent user group meeting we have decided that the UK SOA/BPM User Group will be renamed to the UK Connected Systems User Group. The reasons for this are as follows:

1. Other user groups who cover the same topics as us are all called something similar

2. We feel the name change will help to increase user group membership

The focus and topics of the user group will remain the same.

AppFabric Caching Feedback

Michael Stephenson — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:03:28 GMT

We are running a survey to collect feedback around scenarios where people were experimenting with velocity on windows 2003 in the CTP but are now in a position where the beta requires windows 2008.

We would like to understand how important this scenario is precieved to be.

If you are in the Connected Systems Community and would like to provide feedback please complete the following survey

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N3VKZWN

SBUG April 2010

Michael Stephenson — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:42:40 GMT

We are just putting together the details for the SBUG meeting in April, the registration page is already open on the following link

http://sbugapril2010.eventbrite.com/

SBUG May 2010

Michael Stephenson — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:41:18 GMT

We have an SBUG meeting in may planned where Udi Dahan (nServiceBus) will join us.

Check out the following for details:

http://sbugmay2010.eventbrite.com/

Advanced Distributed Systems Design with SOA Training in London

Michael Stephenson — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 02:09:55 GMT

Just wanted to forward this on to SBUG members that Udi Dahan has advised me theres still a couple of places available on his training course in Febuary

See the following link for details:

http://skillsmatter.com/course/open-source-dot-net/advanced-distributed-systems-design-with-soa/ps-510

SBUG Webcast Available for Download

Michael Stephenson — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 03:50:37 GMT

We recently had a webcast at SBUG where Hans Hanston from Agile Point demonstrated a little about their BPM product and how it could be used to create a composited solution integrating sharepoint and SAP.

This is available for offline viewing on the following link:

http://uksoabpm.org/OnlineMiniMeetings.aspx

Note one of the really interesting bits of the demo I thought was the upgrade and versioning of a process running in AgilePoints BPM platform. It was interesting to see how you could easily visualise the differences and opt to roll back in process instances to an earlier state so they could take advantage of the upgrade.