ChoirulAmri.org

After several years absence of doing sport exercises, I started again. I do wall climbing now, and hopefully become a certified climber someday . In the past, I was practicing Silat, and still dreaming become a Pencak Silat master until now. But I couldn’t make it. Like a software developer, Silat requires a lot of passions, commitment, and time. I’m happy searching my soul in the developer path now. Let’s climb!

 

Following several posts from Indonesian blogger such as Indra, Harry, and Eko, I’d like to do the same thing. Open up google.co.id, and type “choirul” as a search keyword. Yaw, my blog is listed at the first row . The same thing happen when I tried at google.com. I think there are several reasons that make it happen:

First, because my name is not common in Indonesia, to be more specific: in Indonesia online activities. There are several variations that similar with my name such as khoirul, khairil, chairul, chaerul, choiril, …. . But again, currently only a few people wich has choirul on his name do online activities and specially blogging.

Second, I wrote alot of free articles in IlmuKomputer.Com. This is the biggest free e-learning portal in Indonesian, and I’m humbled being one of the cofounder. This site is very popular, linked by many other sites, as well as has good ranking in google too. Links and indexes to my writings there contribute alot of traffics to my blog. IlmuKomputer.Com is down several times in a day now because overloaded by extremely high traffic.

Minggu lalu, Google meluncurkan Google Apps. Seperti biasa, ini sebuah kejutan. Setelah sebelumnya meluncurkan GMail, Spreadsheet, Docs, Calendar, dan Reader, sekarang semua fasilitas tersebut bisa dibundel dalam satu portal: Google Apps.

Anda dapat menulis dokumen di Docs, menganalisis data di Spreadsheet, menyimpan jadwal di Calendar, dan kemudian melakukan sharing dengan rekan atau kolega lain. Dengan Google Apps, fasilitas tersebut ditambah dengan web space, web hosting, dan web template dimana semua fitur diakses dalam satu portal menggunakan domain milik Anda sendiri.

Tampaknya Google Apps tidak saja akan mengurangi kue Yahoo atau Microsoft MSN, tetapi juga segera mematikan pebisnis hosting menengah dan kecil. Berikut beberapa analisisnya:

Gratis. Jika Anda menggunakan account personal atau pendidikan maka bisa diperoleh gratis. Space tidak masalah, minimal sama dengan account GMail yang 2 GB. Untuk keperluan bisnis, bisa didapat $50/user/tahun dengan berbagai fasilitas tambahan seperti Single SignOn atau Integration API. Seperti biasa, related ads akan tampil pada account gratisan.

Dapat menggunakan domain anda sendiri. Malu menggunakan GMail.Com? Maka Anda dapat membeli domain dengan harga $7-$10 per tahun dan Google Apps akan menjadi web hosting Anda. Ini jelas bahaya besar buat para pemain hosting menengah dan kecil.

Reliability dan uptime. Pebisnis hosting biasanya mengandalkan server yang disewa di AS atau IIX, tanpa fasilitas backup dan redundancy kelas enterprise seperti Google. Server hosting Anda mungkin down 5-10 menit dalam 1 bulan, sedangkan Google cuma down 15 menit per tahun .

Google juga menyediakan layanan registrasi domain! Perlu diketahui bahwa Google Apps mengharuskan Anda memiliki domain sendiri. Jika Anda belum memiliki domain, dapat langsung mendaftar di Google dengan biaya $10/tahun. Bayangkan jika ada 1000 user per hari yang mendaftar di Google Apps?

Integrasi dengan layanan Google lain. Anda sudah memiliki email di GMail, maka bisa langsung diintegrasikan. Sudah memiliki mailing list di Googlegroups? Atau mungkin sudah menggunakan calendar, Docs, dan Spreadsheet.

Kolaborasi. Bayangkan skenario berikut: Anda menggunakan Google Apps untuk menghosting situs sekolah atau user group. Semua kolaborasi bisa dilakukan di sana. Tersedia web template untuk membangun website, dan bisa melakukan sharing file atau dokumen. Semuanya dilengkapi dengan versioning dan historical changes. Layanan ini sangat penting untuk perusahaan yang menginginkan solusi manajemen dokumen, penjadwalan, dan kolaborasi.

SEARCH, ini adalah kekuatan utama Google. Semua konten diindex dan bisa dicari dengan mudah. Googling saja…

Referal, Anda akan mendapat $5 jika merekomendasikan pengguna lain.

Bagaimana prospek Google Apps ke depan?

Berdasarkan daftar fitur yang dipublikasikan Google, saat ini mereka sedang bekerja untuk menyelesaikan beberapa fitur integrasi dan migrasi. Ini sangat penting jika Google Apps ingin menembus pasar korporat dan enterprise. Antara lain:

Single SignOn, ya single signon!. Bisa diintegrasikan dengan Active Directory Windows atau LDAP, maupun sistem Authentikasi lain.

Email Gateway, mampu melakukan parsing dan redirect email. Ini penting jika sebuah perusahaan sudah memiliki mail server (Exchange, Lotus Notes, Exim, dll) tetapi ingin menggunakan Google Apps. Bahkan antar muka GMail dengan segala kemudahan search bisa dimanfaatkan dengan tetap menggunakan mail server Anda sendiri.

Email migration, jika pelanggan ingin berpindah ke mail engine Gmail.

Dibandingkan dengan SharePoint Server 2007, fitur-fitur kolaborasi dan dokumen manajemen Google Apps jelas belum ada apa-apanya saat ini. SharePoint 2007 mampu melakukan routing dokumen, workflow, versioning, dan integrasi dengan MS Office. Tetapi bukan tidak mungkin Google Apps akan menjadi pilihan alternatif. Mengapa? Karena tidak perlu menginstall apapun untuk membuat sebuah portal kolaborasi. Tinggal register, bayar $50/user/tahun (account korporat) dan siap dimainkan. Dengan SharePoint 2007, pengguna harus menginstall server, menyediakan hardware, dan tentu saja membayar lisensi server windows.

Tampaknya Microsoft perlu benar-benar mewaspadai perkembangan Google Apps. Dengan kekuatan search dan sistem internet based, layanan baru ini bukan tidak mungkin sedikit demi sedikit mulai menggerus pasar SharePoint Server, dan dalam jangka panjang : Microsof Office, produk yang menyumbangan lebih dari 50% revenue ke Microsoft.

Pesan untuk pebisnis hosting: waspadalah .

Untuk sekolah, user group, atau komunitas, ini adalah alternatif hosting murah, meriah, dan reliabel. Anda bisa menyediakan email untuk para anggota dengan gratis, dan mendapat memanfaat dari semua fitur Google Apps. Tentu saja jika menginginkan fitur-fitur portal yang lebih spesific, tetap lebih baik menyewa space hosting, dan bukan Google Apps .

I am often asked by many people and community members, what’s Microsoft MVP? This is a typical question, they know that MVP stands for “Most Valuable Professional”, but they do not really know what actually MVP is. This post tries to give brief explanation about this award, and also some misunderstandings about it.

Please note that all of my explanation about this program are based on my personal experiences, and not represent the official Microsoft definition.

According to official Microsoft website, they describe MVP as follows:
Microsofts Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) are recognized, credible and accessible individuals with expertise in one or more Microsoft products who actively participate in online and offline communities to share their knowledge and expertise with other Microsoft customers. Customers want an enriched pool of knowledge and real-life experience to tap for advice and feedback. MVPs are helping to satisfy this need by independently enabling customers in both online and offline technical communities. Customer feedback is vital to product development and R&D. The MVPs represent an important part of this feedback loop by providing another link for Microsoft to listen to the customer.

Please give attention to 3 keywords: recognized, credible and accessible.

Recognized: the candidate should be a member of either online or offline communities, that to be known by the member. The term “communities” can be an official Microsoft newsgroup, a local mailing list or web forum, an academic or student study club, or any IT professional gathering clubs.

Credible: a candidate shoud be proficient in one or more Microsoft technologies. This can be spanned from MS word, ASP.NET, or enterprise level tool like Biztalk Server. The candidate proves the credibility by helping others in the community. This can be write articles, tutorials, book, speaking for seminar or user group meeting, or answering question in public forum.

Accessible : this person should be accessible, and can be reached by email or any other common communication medium. An expert that never participate in community activity (online or offline) is not accessible. Volunteering, helping other, write free tutorials or sharing source code is a common typical rule to become an MVP.

Some of my fellow MVPs wrote another view of MVP definition:
Jonathan Goodyear in ASPNETPRO Magazine
Robert McLaws in his Blog

OK, now you know what MVP is.
Then here are some misunderstandings about MVP:

1. MVP is a designation. No, MVP is an award. This is not a designation like the thing that you have after pass certification exam. However, it’s very common somebody puts MVP after their name, but this is not a certification credential nor an academic designation.
2. What exam is needed to become an MVP? Nothing, MVP is not a certification. It’s an award, this is a way Microsoft says thank you to its outstanding community members.
3. MVP is a technical or developer guru. Maybe yes, maybe no. Nobody can be a superman that knows everything about the technical stuffs. MVP usually has a better knowledge than average developers or IT Pro, but you do not necessarry to become a coder guru or network hacker to become an MVP. Willingness to help other and volunteering activities are credited more. That’s why usually an MVP is a very nice person to discuss with, able to give you real world and wise answer in technolgy assessment.
4. MVP is paid by Microsoft. No, neither salary or financial incentive is received by an MVP. Microsoft gives them an MSDN subscription (a collection of most Microsoft software), and yearly voucher (usually $150) that can be redeemed with some merchandizes in Microsoft store. Another benefits are free elearning, private discussion forums to build relationship with worldwide fellow MVPs, and the opportunity to get direct contact with Microsoft Product Group. With these kind of services, usually an MVP is the first person knows about new and future Microsoft products.
5. MVP is a Linux and open source opponents. No, MVP is an independent individual. Because the nature of an MVP is a real world professional, most of them are also familiar (not mention a lot of them also experts) in another products such as Linux, PHP, Java and other open source technologies. I myself is familiar with PHP and MySQL, and still maintain some ecommerce projects based on this platform. Some of my fellow MVPs are Linux geeks, and running real *nix servers in their daily jobs.
6. MVP is a lifetime award. No, MVP is awarded every year, based on past year activities. If an MVP does not meet certain activity limit, than he/she will be retired next year

Another question I often have is, How do I become an MVP?
Please read my next post .

Pada saat menuliskan ini, saya sedang menggunakan koneksi hotspot di Universitas Mercu Buana. Kenceng juga, mungkin karena jarang yang pakai . Saya sedang melihat-lihat situasi dan mencari info, karena Universitas ini membuka program MM baik reguler maupun akhir pekan. Saat ini saya memang sedang mencari sekolah pasca sarjana untuk Magister Manajemen. Sudah saatnya back to school, refresh knowledge dan menambah jejaring.
Kriteria yang saya gunakan antara lain:

1. Akreditasi dari BAN kategori A
2. Biaya maks berkisar 40jt
3. Pengajaran menitikberatkan pada kasus, bukan teori
4. Waktu belajar after office atau weekend.

Dari segi harga, Mercubuana sangat bersaing, biaya tidak sampai 25 juta. Untuk mutu, itu yang sedang saya observasi . Sekolah MM favorit umumnya memasang biaya diatas 50 juta. Sebut saja PPM, IPMI, UI, BINUS, dan Prasetya Mulya. Banyak sekolah lain memasang biaya dibawah 30 juta, hanya saja mutunya masih menjadi tanda tanya.

Orientasi utama saya memilih program MM adalah untuk memperdalam pengetahuan manajemen keuangan dan akutansi, sehingga bisa melengkapi skill teknis IT saat ini. Dalam implementasi ERP dan software lain, parameter keuangan selalu menjadi hal paling menarik bagi stakeholder. Selain itu juga untuk menambah networking. Tentu saja peran lingkungan dan ekosistem mahasiswa akan sangat menentukan.

Jika Anda punya info menarik tentang program-program MM yang berlokasi di Jakarta, let me know

In the past, I was a network admin. I played with Windows Server flavours, Linux, mail server (mdaemon, exchange), proxy (wingate, winroute, ISA Server, Smoothwall). The culmination point of my admin career is my first commercial book, that has been published by ElexMedia. It talked about detail configuration and management of Mdaemon mail server. I created Indoadmin.Net, a small community portal and official support of my book.

But the destiny is coming. I’m not network guy anymore. I love to be a developer and database person. I do not have enough time to update Indoadmin.Net anymore. I should decide, with a broken heart, that Indoadmin.Net is dead.

I make it. So I move this site from separate domain to my personal site subdomain. It is http://netadmin.choirulamri.org now. Anybody who buy my book still able to access any tips and tutorial in this site. But I can not promise to update it in regular manner.

Every questions about networking stuff should be posted at ilmukomputer-networking@yahoogroups.com. See you there . Please do not ask about detail technical question in my private email. I receive hundreds of email in a day, so If do not reply to a mail, it does not mean I ignore them. Please ask the question to mailing lists, that’s better.

When I was jumping around between spam mail in my Inbox last morning, there
was something interesting. I’ve got a mail form Microsoft guys, clearly stated
that I received MVP award this year.

=========================================
Dear Muhammad Amri,

Congratulations and Welcome to the Microsoft MVP Program!
As a recipient of this year’s Most Valuable Professional award, you join an elite group of individuals in online and offline technical communities around the world who share their passion for Microsoft products and technologies with others.
Microsoft salutes all MVPs for promoting the spirit of community by helping other people realize their potential through technology.  To learn more about the MVP Program, visit: www.microsoft.com/mvp.

Your extraordinary efforts guiding your peers in Visual Developer – ASP/ASP.NET technical communities during the past year are greatly appreciated. The benefits you will enjoy as part of the MVP Program are outlined below.
=======================================

I’m very happy with it, but it’s also raise a big responsibility to myself and the community. Thanks to all folks at IlmuKomputer.Com and INDC, for a nice cooperation during the struggle of building a learning based community.

I start a new community project again. This is free ASP.NET hosting for Indonesian .Net community. So many student developers do not have real life server to host their project on the Net. Also, many professionals need to try their web application in the real connected server.
Commercial ASP.NET hosting is not affordable for most students and learner professionals. This is the main idea why I established this project. I name it ServerDotNet.Com, the place that anyone who learn ASP.NET can register and obtain a free space.

My daughter Alisha starts walking now. Sometimes she run and laugh loudly. Her new habit is wake up early in the morning (about 5 am), and start crying. She want to walking around in the yard, and do some morning exercise overthere.
She also likes helping her Mom washing some clothes and her dress.