Andrew, thanks. I am going to give this a try soon. I will let the list know how it works. Frank -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org on behalf of Andrew Hodgson Sent: Sat 10/17/2009 5:41 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi, I think that would work, though for some odd reason MS didn't used to support SBS installs in a Vmware environment, but I know a lot of people doing it. Vsphere 4.x does support SBS 2008, not sure about the workstation offering. Thanks. Andrew. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Frank Ventura Sent: 17 October 2009 03:09 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Andrew, could I merely create an empty virtual machine in VMWare (workstation or fusion) and then use the SBS sbsanswerfile.xml on a thumb drive, boot with the ISO SBS image in the virtual CD drive and have it go through a full install completely unattended, or am I missing something important? Frankie -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:37 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi, Yes you can combine the two files. I have some sight so just RDP the server with magnifier (though the 2008 magnifier is not grate). I will try installing the latest WE (I used the 7.0 version originally). Andrew. Andrew Hodgson Senior Systems Administrator/Projects Engineer Direct Line Tel: 01432 852332 Email: andrew.hodgson@allpay.net Please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Ryan Shugart Sent: 14 October 2009 00:22 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi Andrew: Out of curiosity, what version of Window-Eyes were you using with SBS? If you haven't, give 7.11 a try, if you're running into the issue I think you are it should work now. For now, do you just plug speakers into your server and admin it that way? When I did a test install of SBS 2008 in VMWare Workstation VMWare created an autounattend.xml file which got through the Server 2008 install, then I used Narrator to answer the prompts of the SBS specific setup. I've wondered if you could combine a regular autounattend.xml file and the SBS specific file (forget what its called) to complete setup in a fully automated fashion. Some of the info in the first part of setup and the SBS specific part (such as computer name and timezone) would seem to conflict so don't know how that'd be handled in the various unattended files. Ryan -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 9:31 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hi, I am using SBS at home because it is a good way of getting the various components in one box. In SBS there is an unattended install script maker, that allows you to answer all the questions and then if you put the file on the root of a USB drive, it will pick it up and go through the rest of the install, to the point where you log into the console. The only bit you need to do manually is the first stage which is like a Windows 2008 server install. There are issues with Windoweyes and RDP (well there was when I did this originally) on Windows 2008. The install will take a very long time to complete initially. Remember to also move the Exchange DB (and Sharepoint DB if you use it) off the c: drive. On my system I have 100GB to the c: drive and the rest is a data partition. I wouldn't want to give less than 100GB to the SBS partition. Thanks. Andrew. Andrew Hodgson Senior Systems Administrator/Projects Engineer Direct Line Tel: 01432 852332 Email: andrew.hodgson@allpay.net Please do not print this email unless absolutely necessary. -----Original Message----- From: blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Frank Ventura Sent: 13 October 2009 16:05 To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Installing SBS 2k8 without sighted help Hello all, I was wondering if Microsoft Small Business Server 2008 can be installed without any sighted help. I know once it is finished copying files to the3 HD it asks you a series of questions about your company, domain name, date, time and country etc. Can narrator somehow be run to complete these taks? Or is there some means of creating an unattended installation of SBS 2k8? If this is possible, at what point can Narrator be invoked and how so? I really appreciate3 any information. thanks Frank -- allpay achieved PCI DSS and ISO 27001 certification in 2008 Registered in England No. 02933191. UK VAT Reg. No. 666 9148 88. Telephone: 0844 225 5729, Fax: 0844 557 8350. Website: www.allpay.net Email: enquiries@allpay.net This email, and any files transmitted with it, is confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. 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