Module 1: FAST Search Architecture

Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint is an add-on to Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 which, when applied, can increase your organization’s capability to implement enterprise-grade search-driven applications.  To help you evaluate the value of FAST Search for SharePoint for your organization, this module provides an introduction to the product from the perspective of both features and system architecture.

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Product Differentiators
• Lesson 2: Search Architecture

Lab : Architecture Walk Through

• Exercise 1: Architecture Walk Through

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Articulate differences in the capabilities offered by both enterprise search products, from how source data is crawled to how the search results are rendered.
• Complete a search architecture diagram which illustrates how FAST Search for SharePoint components interact.

Module 2: FAST Specific Connectors

Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint provides additional specialty connectors for processing content from databases, Lotus Notes, and Web sites. This module will examine when these additional connectors should be used and what processing advantages they provide. Configuring and troubleshooting the FAST Search Web Crawler will be covered in detail.

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Capabilities and Usage
• Lesson 2: FAST Specific Connectors

Lab : FAST Search Web Crawler

• Exercise 1: FAST Web Crawler

After completing this module, you should be able to:

• Identify and explain usage cases for the additional connectors provided by FAST Search for SharePoint.
• Configure and troubleshoot the FAST Search Web Crawler.

Module 3: FAST Query Language

Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint product supports two query languages: Keyword Query Syntax and the FAST Query Language (FQL).  FQL provides extended search capabilities to increase both recall and accuracy of your searches. This module will cover the enhanced search capabilities, FQL operators, and offer usage examples.

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Query Languages Overview
• Lesson 2: FQL Operators and Usage

Lab : FAST Query Language

• Exercise: FAST Query Language

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Explain the different query language options available with FAST Search for SharePoint.
• Write queries using FAST Query Language (FQL) using FQL operators.

Module 4: Refiners and Scopes

During this module you will explore two topics which can greatly improve your search center. Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint provides a variety of display options for numeric managed properties in the refinement panel. Additionally, FAST Search Scopes can implement complex queries with the FAST Query Language.

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Extending Refiners
• Lesson 2: FAST Search Scopes

Lab : Refiners and Scopes

• Exercise 1: Refiners
• Exercise 2: Scopes

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Configure managed property refinement and configure numeric managed properties in the Refinement Web part.
• Explain how FAST Search scopes are different from Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 search scopes and configure FAST Search scopes using Microsoft Windows PowerShell.

Module 5: FAST Search Linguistics

Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint has many linguistic features that can improve search relevancy. Some features can be tuned, and other features are configured without additional configuration. This module will cover Keywords and Synonyms, Stemming, Spell Checking, and Offensive Content Filtering. These capabilities are in addition to the Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 linguistic features.

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Keywords, Synonyms, and Stemming
• Lesson 2: Spell Checking and Offensive Content Filtering

Lab : Working with Linguistics

• Exercise 1: Manage Keywords
• Exercise 2: Stemming

After completing this module, you should be able to:

• Implement keywords and synonyms capabilities.
• Implement stemming capabilities.
• Implement spell checking capabilities.
• Implement offensive content filtering.

Module 6: Processing Data Content

One of the most important features of Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint is the ability to control how content is processed. This module will cover the basics of content processing as well as more advanced topics. These advanced topics include configuring additional property extractors and integrating external processing applications.

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Content Processing
• Lesson 2: Property Extraction
• Lesson 3: Extend the Pipeline

Lab : Content Processing

• Exercise 1: Create and Use a Managed Property
• Exercise 2A: Configure Property Extraction
• Exercise 2B: Create a Product Extractor
• Exercise 3: Extend the Pipeline to perform Sentiment Analysis

After completing this module, you should be able to:

• Implement crawled properties and managed properties using Central Administration or Microsoft Windows PowerShell.
• Define inclusions and exclusions for property extractors and create a new custom property extractor.
• Extend the content processing pipeline by integrating external processing applications.

Module 7: Relevancy and Ranking

In this module you will learn about Business-based Ranking and Rank Profiles. Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint provides many ways to customize and influence how content is ranked in the search results. Therefore, it is important to understand why, when and how to use each one of the customization options. Tuning your relevancy model will greatly improve the end user experience by providing the most relevant items in your search results.

Lessons

• Lesson 1: Business Based Ranking
• Lesson 2: Working with Rank Profiles

Lab : Relevancy and Ranking

• Exercise 1: Business Based Ranking
• Exercise 2: Rank Profiles

After completing this module, you will be able to:

• Implement document promotions/demotions and site promotions/demotions.
• Identify the ranking components, and create a custom rank profile based on your organization’s needs.