1. EDITORS CORNER
* MYSTERY REVEALED ON MONDAY NIGHT
* 1999 TARGET AWARDS GIVEN AT EXCHANGE SHOW
2. NT RELATED NEWS
* NEWS FROM THE MICROSOFT EXCHANGE CONFERENCE ATLANTA
* WHICH NT SITES ARE RECOMMENDED BY MICROSOFT?
* NT 4.0 SERVICE PACK 6 IS GETTING VERY CLOSE
* ALL MCSE-CERTIFICATION HECK HAS BROKEN LOOSE
* NEED TO DISCUSS NT ADMIN PROBLEMS IN REAL-TIME?
* BIGGEST NT SHOW IN EUROPE
3. NT THIRD PARTY NEWS
* I FOUND AN EXCELLENT NETWORK MONITOR 
* LANEXPLORER SUCCESS AND SPECIAL Q4 OFFER
* NEW VERSION 1.05 TASK-XPLORER NOW AVAILABLE
* TARGET AWARD WINNER INSTALLSHIELD PRO 2000 RELEASED
4. HINTS AND TIPS
5. THE NT STOCK WATCH
6. HOW TO USE THE MAILING LIST
Instructions on how to subscribe, sign off or change your address.

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****************WHAT IS NTOOLS E-NEWS?******************************
Sunbelt Windows NTools E-News is the World's first and largest 
E-Newsletter designed for NT System Managers that have the job to 
get and keep NT up & running in a production environment. Sunbelt 
launched this electronic newsletter early 1996. Every two weeks we
keep the Windows NT community informed and aware of new developments
of NT and 3-rd party NT System Management Tools. You get hints and
tips that will enable you to better utilize and understand Windows 
NT/2000 and help you to pass your certification exams.

Via (separate) NTools E-NewsFlashes we will send you important 
breaking news like new service packs, killer viruses, etc. Sunbelt 
Software is the first and largest distributor worldwide of Third 
Party System Management Tools for Windows NT.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

1. "EDITORS CORNER" 

Hi NT-ers,

* MYSTERY REVEALED ON MONDAY NIGHT

Coming Monday night I will send you the special NewsFlash with
something really exciting I have been working on for the last 
year(!) It's been a special project, and it was very hard to keep 
quiet about it, let me tell you. When you see what it is, you'll
be surprised. The mystery will be revealed Monday night, read the
item about MCSE-certification and you might find a hint!
---------------

* 1999 TARGET AWARDS AT MICROSOFT EXCHANGE SHOW

The NTools E-News Target Awards were given to the happy winners
at Microsoft's Exchange Conference in Atlanta last week. Here is 
a page with some quick digital camera snapshots of some winners: 
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/targets.htm
And this is how the 2-pound, glass-like Award itself looks: 
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/images/awards_6.gif
Products that have won the award are indicated on the product 
download page: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/alpha_search.htm
---------------

And we always like to hear things like this:
"If you have any contact to Stu of the Lyris mailing list, please 
let him know that the NT mailing list is one of the most informative 
ones around. Best regards, Rasmus Watjen"
---------------

Let's have a look at all the news, there is a lot!

Warm regards,

Stu Sjouwerman

PS: All the back issues of NTools E-News are available with just 
your email address as the key to get in, searchable by keyword at:
http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=nt-list&text_mode=0
BOOK MARK THIS URL - YOU MAY NEED IT SOME TIME.


********************************************************************

2. "NT RELATED NEWS" 

* NEWS FROM THE MICROSOFT EXCHANGE CONFERENCE ATLANTA

Here are some fast newsbytes from the Exchange show I was Tuesday:

Microsoft announced the availability of Microsoft Exchange 2000 
Server Beta 3 previously code-named "Platinum." Beta 3, is for
for testing and evaluation by customers and partners. It was 
distributed to conference attendees and is now publicly available 
from the Microsoft Web site in English, German, French and 
Japanese versions. Check out the new features over here:
http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/prodinfo/2000/default.htm
--------------------------

"As Exchange becomes more prevalent in corporations, products 
like AutoPilot also become increasingly more important," said Dave 
Malcolm, group product manager for Exchange Server at Microsoft.
"Microsoft and the Exchange Server team is pleased to have strong 
support from Sunbelt Software, and looks forward to future products 
from them." http://www.sunbelt-software.com/autoplt.htm
(AutoPilot is a real-time tuner and NT Performance Booster)
--------------------------

They showed Exchange 2000 Enterprise Server active on an Win2K 
cluster of 4 nodes. They pulled the power plug out of one of the 
four nodes. Immediately the other three took over its workload. 
That was pretty cool and is a lot better than Exchange V5.5. The
problem of Disaster Recovery is not solved yet though, you still
need a product like Double-Take to get that done.
--------------------------

* WHICH NT SITES ARE RECOMMENDED BY MICROSOFT?

Finding the right drivers is usually a headache, getting Service 
Packs, the right FTP sites for downloading, where is the cool
Microsoft stuff, where are the ResKits, how do I find the FAQ's,
and where are the third party NT resource sites? This and much more
are at this well hidden page on the Microsoft website. And of course
your NTools E-News is in the list as well! I suggest you bookmark
this page. You'll need it sometime in the future for sure.

http://www.microsoft.com/NTServer/nts/exec/vendors/freeshare/Other.asp
--------------------------

* NT 4.0 SERVICE PACK 6 IS GETTING VERY CLOSE

There is already a space for it on the MS website, and believe it
or not there is already a HOTFIX for SP 6 while it has not even
been released. Would be nice if they can include that fix in the
final release. I'll tell you RIGHT AWAY when I hear. If you find
out first, let me know at [email protected]? Thanks!
--------------------------

* ALL MCSE-CERTIFICATION HECK HAS BROKEN LOOSE

Certification Guru Ed Tittel (some one I know very well, and you 
will read more about that Monday night) wrote the following: 
"All heck has broken loose, where Microsoft certification is 
concerned, since our last issue. In plain English, Microsoft has 
announced its Windows 2000 curriculum and exams, and announced 
the forthcoming retirement of Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0 exams, and 
the certifications that go with them, all in one fell swoop".

On the Sunbelt MCSE-list it was THE most discussed topic recently.
There are quite a few different opinions about what is required
and what not. Microsoft has not made it particularly easy to
understand, that is a thing that's for sure. The dust will clear
in a while though. If you want to discuss with almost 4,000 
colleagues studying for their MCSE-certification, Sunbelt sponsors
a free list server with about 10-20 messages per day. Join Here:
http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/scripts/lyris.pl?join=mcse-list
--------------------------

* NEED TO DISCUSS NT ADMIN PROBLEMS IN REAL-TIME?

I'm not sure if you knew, but Sunbelt also sponsors a free list
server called the NTSYSADMIN list. This is a real-time list server
with almost 5,000 of your colleagues on it that discuss day-to-day
problems in running NT domains. This is a high quality, low noise,
high volume (100-200 messages per day) unmoderated list that solves
a LOT of problems for everybody. If you want to join, please first
read the List Charter, and you are strongly suggested to KEEP ON
TOPIC. You can also join the list from this hotlink.

http://www.sunbelt-software.com/ntsysadmin_list_charter.htm
--------------------------

* BIGGEST NT SHOW IN EUROPE

The Windows NT Show '99 is the biggest NT show around, and you
can register early and save yourself 15 UK Pounds. How?

IT Events Ltd would like to offer you the opportunity to register 
FREE OF CHARGE for the UK's most popular technology exhibition 
and conference. The Windows NT Show '99 in Olympia between 26th 
and 28th October 1999. 

With more vendors launching innovative new products and a more 
developed service industry around Windows NT, there is only one 
event to attend this year. The Windows NT Show '99 is your 
opportunity to meet every major IT company including Microsoft, 
Compaq, IBM, Hewlett Packard, ICL, Hitachi, Intel and more than 
150 others. Of course Sunbelt (and I) will also be there.

Simply by registering on the website below, you will save the 
15 pounds entrance fee, and will receive your free visitor pack 
including show preview, priority conference prospectus and your 
VIP admission badge for FastTrack entry.

Please visit http://www.ntnow.co.uk/nt99reg.htm TODAY!

********************************************************************
3. NT THIRD PARTY NEWS

* I FOUND AN EXCELLENT NETWORK MONITOR 

No, we do not sell this tool, but I wish we would. We're running
it in-house for a while already and my tech guys tell me that this
is the best tool they know, and that it's still way under priced.
It's called Enterprise Monitor 5.2 and does a cool job of uptime
monitoring and other stuff. It's a great Quality Assurance tool for 
e-commerce, web and intranets. Check out http://www.mediahouse.com/ 
--------------------------

* LANEXPLORER SUCCESS AND SPECIAL Q4 OFFER

This is an actual success story received at Sunbelt Software:

"Yes, we were having random and brief network outages. Every so often 
the network would completely hang for about 10-15 seconds. Well, thanks
to LanExplorer I was able to witness a broadcast storm, capture the
packets and narrow it down to a particular machine. By examining the
packets themselves, I learned it was the Novell client that miscon-
figured. Very happy to say that the problem is now gone!

"Fortunately, the person whose computer was causing the problem was 
the CEO and I hope this will be all it takes to convince him to fork 
over the cash for the product. I was sold on it within 5 minutes.
Mark H " - (Network Admin, Dallas TX)

SPECIAL Q4 OFFER: The normal price for LanExplorer is $599 for one
license. This is an 'Administrator License' which monitors one segment.
if you want to monitor other segments you need a remote agent which
costs $199. But if you buy before the end of the year you get the
REMOTE AGENT FREE. Check out and download the full 30-day eval here:
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/LanTrace/lantrace.htm
--------------------------

* NEW VERSION 1.05 TASK-XPLORER NOW AVAILABLE

Task-Xplorer gives you more than Server Monitoring, it gives you in-
depth Server Performance Management. DCOM agents put you in the 
driver?s seat. If you find a process that is using to much memory, 
dynamically reduce its working set to bring your server back in 
line. Identify processor hogs, and limit their access to the CPU ? 
in real time! Stop and start any program on any NT machine in your 
domain safely and securely.

This new release now supports Demo DCOM agents. That means the 30-day
eval Console you can download includes a DCOM agent for the local 
machine. You now have 2 options when they want to test the agent: 
1) Just download the new console, and install it on several machines;
2) Download the DCOM files.

There are:
- Advanced setting in the preferences for DCOM security 
- DCOM licensing can now be managed from within Task-Xplorer. 
- DCOM agents can be installed without a licenses and will be 
considered demo agents. 

Get the new code at: http://www.sunbelt-software.com/taskx.htm
--------------------------

* TARGET AWARD WINNER INSTALLSHIELD PRO 2000 RELEASED

InstallShield Professional 6.0 and the latest version of InstallShield 
for Windows Installer 1.0.1, were released. This is a complete setup 
development solution for Windows 2000, logo-compliant packages. 
InstallShield Professional 2000 provides higher productivity, usability 
and control for professional Windows developers distributing software
applications with sophisticated installation requirements.

If you need a complete setup authoring solution for Windows 2000 
logo-compliant applications, check out InstallShield Pro 6.0, the 
newest version of InstallShield's industry standard setup authoring 
solution, and the latest version of InstallShield for Windows 
Installer (ISWI) over at http://www.installshield.com 


********************************************************************

4. "HINTS AND TIPS - TIME SAVERS AND OTHER GOODIES...

PC Magazine announced the Top 100 Most Influential Companies:
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2337304,00.html

The latest way to install your wiring closet (or bathroom) ;-)
http://www.iol25.com/mfreeland/wow.htm


********************************************************************

5. "THE NT STOCK WATCH" Closing Friday October 8, 1999

(00s)
SYMBL SECURITY CLOSE CHANGE VOL 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
AMD Advanced Micro Devices............. 18 9/16 - 1/16 13913
BMCS BMC Software....................... 59 57/64 -3 23/32 74088
CTXS Citrix Systems Inc................. 63 13/16 -2 3/8 6383
CPQ Compaq Computer.................... 21 3/4 - 1/4 137317
CA Computer Associates................ 58 -1 3/4 27707
DGN Data General Corp.................. 22 13/16 + 7/16 24903
DELL Dell Computer...................... 45 1/2 +1 1/8 284050
EDS Electronic Data Systems Corp....... 52 1/4 +1 1/4 9728
GTW Gateway Inc........................ 51 3/4 +1 1/2 18610
HWP Hewlett Packard Co................. 87 7/16 - 5/16 51081
INGR Intergraph Corp.................... 5 1/2 - 1/16 1637
IBM International Business Machines.... 113 1/2 -2 7/8 178679
LGTO Legato Systems Inc................. 47 1/2 + 1/16 7467
MUEI Micron Electronics Inc............. 10 5/16 - 5/16 6254
MSFT Microsoft Corp..................... 94 15/16 +1 3/16 178475
MCSW Mission Critical Software Inc...... 43 7/8 unch 116
NCR NCR Corp........................... 28 11/16 + 3/4 7856
NTIQ NetIQ Corporation.................. 29 15/16 + 15/16 340
NETA Network Associates Inc............. 18 1/8 - 5/8 31124
NOVL Novell Inc......................... 20 11/16 + 3/4 63396
ORCL Oracle Corp........................ 45 1/4 + 9/16 71378
QCOM Qualcomm Incorporated.............. 213 15/16 +13 3/8 52534
SEG Seagate Technology................. 29 15/16 - 1/2 12113
SGI Silicon Graphics................... 10 1/2 - 3/16 20669
SUNW Sun Microsystems Inc............... 92 9/16 -1 3/4 146328
SYBS Sybase Inc......................... 10 5/8 - 3/16 4437
SYMC Symantec Corp...................... 37 15/32 - 17/64 8594
UIS Unisys Corp........................ 43 11/16 -2 1/8 31326
VRTS Veritas Software Corp.............. 82 1/16 -1 13378
DJIA Dow Jones 30 Industrials........... 10,649.76 +112.71 


********************************************************************
6. "HOW TO USE THE MAILING LIST" Instructions on how to subscribe, 
sign off or change your email address

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE LIST (Tell your friends!) 
Click: 
http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/scripts/lyris.pl?join=nt-list
and fill out the form, simple & easy: 1 minute work.

Or by email, send a blank message to the following address:
[email protected]

_____________________________________________________

TO QUIT THE LIST

1) The Web Way:
http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/scripts/lyris.pl?
choose the NT-List, use your email address that is at 
the bottom of each newsletter and leave the list via 
the web interface.

2) The Email Way: Simply follow the personalized 
instructions at the very end of this newsletter.
_____________________________________________________

TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS

First unsubscribe and then resubscribe as per the
procedure above.

********************************************************************

FOR MORE INFORMATION

On the World Wide Web point your browser to:

For the newsletter and our website:
USA: http://www.sunbelt-software.com

For Tech Support on Sunbelt products mentioned:
http://www.sunbelt-software.com/scripts/rightnow.exe

Email for US sales information to:
[email protected]
Email for US Tech support to:
[email protected]
Email to the US Editor:
[email protected]

Email for European Sales to:
[email protected]
Email for European Tech support to:
[email protected]

At the time of this newsletter's release, all links were checked 
to verify their accuracy and validity. However, due to the ever-
changing pages of various sites, some links may later prove to be 
invalid. We regret any inconvenience should you be unable to open 
any of these links.
********************************************************************

Things Our Lawyers Make Us Say:

This document is provided for informational purposes only. 
The information contained in this document represents the

current view of Sunbelt Software Distribution on the issues
discussed as of the date of publication. Because Sunbelt
must respond to changes in market conditions, it should not
be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Sunbelt
and Sunbelt cannot guarantee the accuracy of any informa-
tion presented after the date of publication.

INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED "AS IS"
WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND
FREEDOM FROM INFRINGEMENT.

The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and the
use of this document. This document may be copied and
distributed subject to the following conditions: 1) All text
must be copied without modification and all pages must be
included; 2) All copies must contain Sunbelt's copyright
notice and any other notices provided therein; and 3) This
document may not be distributed for profit. All trademarks
acknowledged. Copyright Sunbelt Software Distribution, Inc.
1996-1999.

(email me with feedback: [email protected])