Alan's World of IT

The Power of Software-based Communication

2009-10-30T19:43:14Z

Today, the means for communicating with one another anytime, anywhere, and from a variety of devices has become limitless with the use of Instant Messaging, VoIP, webcams, text, and email. Could an Enterprise provide these communication tools to its employees and benefit from this culture change? Unified Communications (UC) provides the capabilities that enable employees to communicate quickly and effectively using software they are familiar with. UC integrates e-mail, telephony, instant messaging,...(read more)

New TechNet Windows 7 Content Released

2009-10-21T13:28:11Z

Just in time for the release of Windows 7, the TechNet Windows 7 video content has now been posted. There are 10 session to choose from in 4 different media formats, plus a web page with lots more links and resources to help you get a head start with Windows 7. Windows 7 Feature Overview This session will explore Windows 7 platform capabilities that provides enhanced security and control, secure anywhere access and how this makes it easier for IT Professionals and users to manage the desktop. ZUNE...(read more)

Download your free e-book of Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2

2009-10-20T09:49:38Z

Available today is the recently released Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2 e-book. Download your free copy today....(read more)

Want to Reduce Desktop Costs (Part 3 or 3)

2009-09-22T16:11:59Z

The question posed in the first part of this series was “Is the cost of ownership of your Microsoft client systems rising?" Are you looking for ways to reduce the costs associated with deploying Windows and managing it thereafter? “ There are two solutions available to help combat these costs. The first post covered deploying an actual client and the issues that need to be addressed there, the second post cover Desktop virtualization options:- Remote Desktop Services. VDI MED-V This final...(read more)

Want to Reduce Desktop Costs? (Part 2 or 3) Supplemental

2009-09-21T13:20:19Z

In the main part two of this post I covered Desktop virtualization. As you’ve read it, and I trust found it useful, you may ask about Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) . What wasn’t it included? It wasn’t in the main post mainly because of it’s potential for cost savings. Microsoft’s documentation about VDI is very much pitched more these days as “Flexible business” rather than cost savings. So why? Well, VDI is an alternative desktop delivery model that allows users to access desktops running...(read more)

SQLBits 5 Registration Now open

2009-09-18T14:53:27Z

Registration is Now Open The registration for SQLBits goes West , the 5th instalment of SQLBits conferences, is not open. It is now even bigger and better than last time, now spanning 3 days, and still keeping everything that has worked so well at previous events. The event will be held at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport South Wales, United Kingdom, just off the M4 motorway. This is the biggest event yet, with 3 days of top quality SQL Server content. It starts with the pre-conference training...(read more)

Want to Reduce Desktop Costs? (Part 2 or 3)

2009-09-16T14:13:21Z

The question posed in part 1 was Is the cost of ownership of your Microsoft client systems rising? Are you looking for ways to reduce the costs associated with deploying Windows and managing it thereafter? There are two solutions available to help combat these costs. The first post covered deploying an actual client and the issues that need to be addressed there, this post and the next will cover the potential cost savings using the virtualization options. So if deploying a Windows 7 client is not...(read more)

Want to Reduce Desktop Costs? (Part 1 or 3)

2009-09-07T13:09:52Z

Is the cost of ownership of your Microsoft client systems rising? Are you looking for ways to reduce the costs associated with deploying Windows and managing it thereafter? There are two solutions available to help combat these costs. In this 3 part post I’ll cover these two solutions, provide links to the relevant resources to help dive more deeply into the solutions. This first post covers deploying an actual client and the issues that need to be addressed there, then in the subsequent posts will...(read more)

Springboard Virtual Roundtable - Sept 24 - Windows 7 AppCompat Part 2: Virtualization

2009-09-01T20:04:41Z

On Thursday, September 24, Mark Russinovich will host a virtual roundtable for IT Pros worldwide to discuss Windows 7 Application Compatibility Part 2: Virtualization. This is a chance for IT Pros to learn all about Windows 7 Application Compatibility, Virtualization and answer any deployment and management questions that they may have. As part of the “virtual” experience, IT pros will be able to submit their questions about Windows 7 Application Compatibility, Virtualization to the panel live during...(read more)

New Content from SQLServerFAQ

2009-08-28T16:00:46Z

The SQLServerFAQ site has some new content posted on SQL Server Certification, Data Mining, Analysis Services and SQL Server toolset. LiveMeeting recording of the An Evening with the Microsoft Learning Team - Understanding SQL Server Certification and Learning Technologies from Microsoft Learning. LiveMeeting recording of the Manchester user group meeting on 16th July 2009 - Data Mining (Allan Mitchell), Optimising Analysis Services (SQL Sentry), SSAS - Getting Dimensional with data (Chris Testa-O'Neill)...(read more)

Why Do I have So Many Boxes?

2009-08-26T13:32:07Z

Do you find yourself looking at your machine room and wondering “Why are there so many machines in there?” Often it’s just a question of having to run legacy applications or applications that are just too time consuming and expensive to consolidate onto other machines. One possible solution to this is the use of Virtualization. Virtualization is the hot topic at the moment, everyone is talking about it, but what virtualization technology should you use and when? Microsoft has some helpful information...(read more)

Register for Beta Exam 71-662: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring

2009-08-25T17:08:47Z

You are invited to take beta exam 71-662: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration. By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program...(read more)

Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Resource Kit Reviewed

2009-08-24T13:22:43Z

After what seemed an age of waiting the Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Resource Kit is here. Now, is it worth the wait? Actually it is. Until now the best publication on Hyper-V was SAMS Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Unleashed, but this guide now takes that position. It’s a typical resource kit, lots of technical information and a CD with scripts – both VBScript and PowerShell - to assist in the management of the Hyper-V. At over 700 pages it’s coverage is extensive, including the new R2 release, Virtual...(read more)

Exchange Server 2010 Release Candidate Available

2009-08-21T14:11:17Z

Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 RC helps you achieve new levels of reliability and performance by delivering features that simplify your administration, protect your communications, and delight your users by meeting their demands for greater business mobility. Useful Links: • Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 TechCenter • Technical Library • Exchange Server 2010 Product Overview To Register for the download and get additional resources information emailed to you visit Exchange Server 2010 RC TechNet...(read more)

How to Share a Parent Disc with child discs on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V

2009-08-14T19:11:46Z

One problem I have using Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V that I didn’t using VPC was the ability to point the differencing discs to one parent. This is a trick I use to share one Parent disc with multiple child discs within Hyper-V is to use a Hardlink. On an NTFS fiel system all files have one Hardlink, which is the one you see when a file is created. NTFS allows a single file to have multiple Hardlinks in different directories. A using FSUTIL HARDLINK CREATE, you create an entry in adirectory that...(read more)