I am currently working on a set of checklists to guide the creation of virtual machines ( or stand alone installs I suppose ) for working with or developing content for SharePoint.

Be aware, SharePoint is huge. It is hoary. It is frightening. So, it will be a bit of work, actually a lot of work, but I will get this done.

Since the product is SO big I have decided to split the images into different ones for different tasks.

First will be a straightforward Windows SharePoint Services version.
Second will be a Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 version.
Third will be a mess though, I am going to try and do a full active directory, kerberos, farmed MOSS 2007 install with everything but the kitchen sink. Don’t know if I will succeed however as it is beyond hard. Serious. If you thought installing anything ( even hand done linux ) was bad get ready for an experience so convoluted, so fraught with peril, that even hardened admins and developers will cringe in fright.

If SharePoint could be any more difficult to set up and keep running I don’t know how I would do it. Seriously, I like SharePoint a whole lot. I do. But, it is seems that Microsoft actually planned how to make this as difficult as possible.

Don’t even get me started on the issues with getting all the developer resources. ARGH!

This is about as opposite to the Apple way of doing things as you will ever experience.

Oh well, I hope to get the first checklist out in a day or so…but be patient I want to test it and do it a couple times just to make sure it works. Yes, I care about quality. :)

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