SharePoint Best Practices and Beyond
October 12, 2011
No matter the extent of your search implementation challenges, our team at Search Technologies has the processes and technologies to deliver results.
A series of Best Practices articles for SharePoint Server 2010 by Microsoft TechNet includes an article on the best practices for enterprise search, “Best Practices for Search in SharePoint Server 2010.” The article also applies to Microsoft Search Server and covers everything from the deployment to antivirus policies.
Some useful information is covered; one learns to test the crawling and querying subsystems after changing any configuration or applying updates:
We recommend that you test the crawling and querying functionality of the server farm after you make configuration changes or apply updates. An easy way to do this is to create a temporary content source that is used only for this purpose. To test, we recommend that you crawl ten items — for example .txt files on a file share — and then perform search queries for those files. Make sure that the test items are currently not in the index.
Management also needs to be aware of planning the search topology, planning for capacity and performance, and planning for findability. Users must be able to easily find what they are looking for, and managed properties and scopes will enhance the end-user search experience. You must start with a well-configured infrastructure. Defragmenting the search database after a series of crawls and queries can help with content management.
Overall, it is important to test the subsystems, be prepared, and review the anti-virus policy to avoid any unexpected problems.
For more articles in the series, see Best practices (SharePoint Server 2010).
You will want to tap into the expertise garnered in more than 100 Fast search deployments by our team at Search Technologies. That’s where Search Technologies comes into the spot light. We have more experience than any other firm in implementing search best practices for SharePoint licensees. Contact us at www.searchtechnologies.com.
Iain Fletcher, Vice President, Search Technologies October 12, 2011
Search Technologies is the world’s largest independent provider of search engine expertise, consulting and implementation services.
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Tibbr 3: Findability Vendors, Be Aware
October 5, 2011
Tibco recently announced its new version of software, Tibbr 3.0, which provides all the same amenities as before but adds a component of social networking into the mix. Realizing that social networking is now a necessity in the workplace, version 3.0 enables users ease of access to documents and other data all while still interacting within Tibbr.
In a release Tibco broke Tibbr 3.0’s features into five categories: Unifying Communications in the Workplace, Beyond Follow Act on Activity Streams from Enterprise Applications, Adding a Social Layer to Existing Legacy Applications in Context, Document Management, and Beyond the Workplace.
Perhaps the most interesting of it’s new features is the social networking applications in Beyond the Workplace. As the release explains,
Version 3.0 incorporates tibbr Communities, a function that helps an enterprise to create, manage and monitor stakeholders on one platform, thereby enabling seamless engagement with internal and external contacts, as and when needed, with a single login and URL.
This newest version of Tibco software validates the overwhelming cry from every industry that social networking is not simply a fad and is here to stay. Google is trying their hand at it, as is several others. Companies must begin looking at how social networking can strengthen their business and unite employees for a more fluid and efficient workplace. Worth a look.
Catherine Lamsfuss, October 5, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Azure Chip Consultant Blames Users for Lousy Search Systems
October 5, 2011
I was fascinated by a write up that perhaps incorrectly covers the recent Forrester research study “Market Overview Enterprise Search. I think the finding from the uptown consulting firm was based on independent research group and an evaluation of 12 enterprise search vendors. The vendors represented a broad spectrum of a market which is dominated by five or six firms. I admired the catholic approach and appreciated the inclusion of some systems that are likely to face tough financial challenges in the months ahead.
In the article Forrester: Enterprise Search Software Limited By User Strategy the writer breaks down the report to explain the differences in the various search providers and also provides us with some advice from Forrester for search consumers. The article states:
The report has a handful of recommendations for enterprises looking for an enterprise search product: Be firm in search requirements, conduct a proof of concept, hammer out a support and services agreement, meet with the vendor semiannually to update the organization’s plan and understand that technology is just one piece of the search puzzle. It explains that the quality of the search experience reflects the discipline with which a group manages its information assets.
Maybe it’s just me, but it seems crazy to blame search weaknesses on the discipline of the users. But intellectually it is much easier than tackling the innards, requirements, and customization of information retrieval systems. Isn’t it wonderful that search experts are so darned on the ball.
Jasmine Ashton, October 5, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
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HP Acquires Autonomy. Investors Put on a Happy Face
October 4, 2011
A news release whizzed by on October 3, 2011, bearing happy tidings to Autonomy stakeholders. The deal with Hewlett Packard has been consummated. The news release asserted:
The acquisition positions HP as a leader in the large and growing enterprise information management space. Autonomy’s software offerings power more than 25,000 customer accounts worldwide and, as part of HP, will provide high-value business solutions to help customers manage the explosion of unstructured and structured information. Autonomy offers solutions that are complementary across HP’s enterprise offerings and strengthens the company’s data analytics, cloud, industry and workflow management capabilities.
Now with Ms. Whitman at the helm and Autonomy in the HP flotilla, will the company be able to generate the revenue required to pay for the “meaning based computing company.” I don’t have a clue. HP has some interesting challenges, but it has some big money units, including the ink business. I also think the print on demand unit has some potential, and the company desperately needs an improved findability solution for that unit as well as the HP Web site.
Fascinating to consider what HP can do. Microsoft paid $1.2 billion for Fast Search & Transfer. After three years, Fast Search is more or less a freebie for customers who buy oodles of client access licenses and jump on the SharePoint bandwagon. What will HP do with Autonomy? Make lots of money quickly is presumably one goal. We will monitor the trajectory of the deal because we think Mike Lynch could be the person to push out Ms. Whitman and get Autonomy managed effectively. Mr. Lynch is associated with search, but I think he is a much under-rated senior manager. HP could be the platform he needs to allow his skills to be showcased on a larger stage. Some “real” consultants who failed at being Web masters, home economics majors, and students of 18th century poetry will doubt my confidence in Mr. Lynch. Well, that’s why I am a big wheel in rural Kentucky and the “real” experts hang out in the world’s watering holes, not a pond filled with mine run off. Oh, the real consultants are not counting their billions as is Mr. Lynch I surmise.
Stephen E Arnold, October 4, 2011
Sponsored by Pandia.com
Protected: Key Issues for SharePoint Tomorrow
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