Alan's World of IT

Managing your Microsoft World

The old adage “A watched pot never boils” could be applied to your servers. “A watched server never goes wrong”, that server always decides to doing something right before those critical moments, just as you are leaving for the day, just before the game starts, just as your food arrives, it never does it when you have the console open on the server. The answer to this is to use some form of “early warning system”, something that monitors what’s going on and lets you know when conditions you deem critical occur. So what “early warning systems” are there and when do you use them?

The one thing Microsoft Servers and the applications that run on them do well is that they expose a significant amount of information through event logs and performance logs. This is a double edged sword, while the information is detailed; it’s also isolated to that particular server. To get a full picture of what is going on across all your servers you have to be able to analyse all this information. So a basic “early warning system” can use this built in-functionality for Windows Server 2008 and above (this also includes Windows Vista and Windows 7 and while strictly not Data Center products it could be useful to know). The Event viewer in Windows Server 2008 has the ability to run a task when a specific event occurs, this task could be a script that addresses the event or informs you about the event. This is a simple solution for a small number of servers, and I do mean small number. Remember if you decide to change the task later, you have to modify every server it’s on. The next step up is to use the same task idea, but have it run on one machine only. What makes this machine special is that it is the target in an Event Subscription setup. Here, all the servers can be configured to send events to one machine; this machine in turn can monitor the events and alert you when specific events occur. This is a little more centralized than running tasks on each server.

The above is not really a system management solution; the purpose of the information is to highlight the basics of a system management solution. True solutions, like I’ll come onto next, process the information in the event logs and in performance counters in a way that makes it easy to digest from the outset and they also apply “knowledge” to issues to correct them for you. The “early warning system” should deliver a view of your servers and clients in one console and allow you to correct issues with a few clicks. So let’s look at the two System Center solutions you can use.

If your data center is up to around 30 servers – physical and/or virtual – you can use System Center Essentials 2007. Essentials 2007 is a mid-sized organization solution; it can work in a single Domain environment or a workgroup environment. It provides a single console view that allows you to manage your Windows-based servers, Windows-based clients, applications, services and SNMP-capable network devices.

What if your Data Center is beyond 30 servers? If you are then there is no reason you should expect a less experience than Essentials 2007 provides. You have much the same requirements as a mid-size organization, just bigger. For a job this big, then you need Essentials 2007’s bigger brother, System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2. There are a lot of features that both Essentials 2007 and SCOM 2007 R2 share to deliver a management experience and cost saving experience.

In both products you have a single console that is designed to deliver information clearly and quickly. When there is a problem, the console clearly identifies the issue and can suggest remediation actions. The way the system decides what actions can be take is based on information that is contained in Management Packs. These “packs” contain monitoring settings for applications and services. Once imported, Operations Manager or Essentials 2007 immediately begin to monitor objects based on default configurations and thresholds that are set in the management pack. What makes these powerful are the parts contained within the pack, for example, Packs can contain Tasks, which define activities that can be executed by either the agent or the console. (As a side note, there are over 50 management packs for various Microsoft products.)

Operations Manager 2007 R2 also allows you to track service levels, which is becoming increasingly important for IT Operations as they are pressured to provide the services they are providing are available and performing. This also leads to a need for reports; you can create custom reports with Operations Manager 2007 R2 to meet whatever reporting requirement you may need.

Operations Manager 2007 R2 is a power tool, some thought should be given into how exactly to deploy it. To help there is a Solution Accelerator called the Infrastructure Planning and Deployment (IPD) Guide, if the guide seems a bit much to start with, the is also a Deployment Webcast that can provide some useful insights into what worked, as well as what didn't, when deploying Operations Manager 2007 into different environments. Likewise if you are under the 30 server limit that allows you to use Essentials 2007, there is a Deployment Webcast that will walk you through the processes for deploying Essentials 2007 in different network environments.

In the next post I’ll cover how to specifically manage Hyper-V and your virtual machine infrastructure.

Appendix.

Books that support this post

The Power of Software-based Communication

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, voice mail, calendaring, and audio/video/Web conferencing, and delivers them to different clients securely. For example, employees located across offices in Europe, Asia, and the United States can communicate with one another instantly using Instant Message, video conference, or by initiating a VoIP call.

The Microsoft UC solution is cornered around Exchange Server and Office Communications Server 2007 R2 at the backend; and Office Communicator 2007 R2, Office Live Meeting, and Outlook on the front-end client. So what do these products provide?

Office Communications Server 2007 R2 provides a number of communication services for the clients, such as:

• Software-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
• Audio, Video, and Web Conferencing functionality
• IM and Presence
• Group Chat
• Public IM Connectivity
• Mobility

These services can be accessed using Office Communicator 2007 R2, which can be installed on a PC and a Windows Mobile Device. Office Communicator provides a web client for use in places like airports and internet cafes, as well as an IP phone version for those who prefer the traditional handset form factor. On the PC, phone or web client, Office Communicator allows you to send an instant message within your own organization or over the public IM network; whereas, the PC client allows you to communicate in-person with VoIP calls and video conference. Communicator supports a wide range of devices for making audio and video calls, either as a one-to-one connection or as group meetings.

This communication goes beyond voice and video. With unified conferencing you can share and collaborate with people located in the next office, on a different floor, in another building, or even in other countries. By using unified conferencing, colleagues can meet and share information such as files and presentations quickly and regularly, regardless of their location.

UC integration goes beyond Communicator with integration into Microsoft Outlook. With Exchange 2010 at the backend, you can integrate e-mail, fax, and voice mail into a single inbox. This integration goes beyond voice mail as it allows you to initiate communication from an e-mail and view presence information about the intended receiver.

Mobility is a key requirement of a truly unified communication solution. Both desktop clients, Office Communicator 2007 R2 and Outlook 2007, are completely mobile and only require an Internet connection to access the backend and thus provide the full capabilities mentioned above while away from the office. With Office Communicator Mobile 2007 R2 you get the familiar Communicator interface on your mobile device, and while not the rich experience of its desktop equivalent, you are still able access to your contact lists, see presence information and Instant Message contact over both public and private IM networks.

By implementing this simplified communications solution, an organization can realize both cost savings and environmental benefits. These resources provide additional details on these benefits:

• Reduce Travel and Travel related Expenses.
• Reduce Telephone costs and Mobile Phone Charges.
• Lower Real Estate and Facility costs.
• Reduce Conferencing Services Charges.

Communication technology has advanced greatly over recent years and the organizations who have embraced these advances are now finding that they have a number of different systems to manage and maintain, and often from different interfaces. A Unified Communication solution based on OCS 2007 R2 and Exchange Server can integrate with or replace existing systems, providing a single point of management and reducing the communication complexity in your organization.

New TechNet Windows 7 Content Released

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 | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Windows 7 Deployment Enhancements
This session will focus on Windows 7 enhanced deployment capabilities.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Microsoft Windows 7 Improved Network Access
This session will explore how Windows 7 networking reduce IT costs, improve productivity, and make it easier to manage.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Connect Remotely Using Windows 7 Direct Access
The session will focus on Windows 7 Direct Access to provide secure anywhere access on the network.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Windows 7 Manageability Solutions
This session will explore Windows 7 manageability features for increased automation, reducing help desk calls, and flexible administrator control.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Windows 7 Enhanced Security and Control
This session will explore Windows 7 core platform security improvements, securing anywhere access, data protection, and protecting desktop users.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Automating Desktop Management with Windows Powershell V2.0 and Group Policy Management
This session will explore the new Windows Powershell v2.0 features and how to automate administrative tasks in Windows 7.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Windows 7 Planning and Deployment Tools
The session will focus on Windows 7 deployment planning and deployment tools that customize operating system packages and automate deployment planning and network deployments seamlessly.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Protecting Your Data with Windows 7 BitLocker and BitLocker to Go
The session will explore how to protect your data on Windows 7 systems using BitLocker and BitLocker to Go.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

Optimize Windows 7 with Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack
The session will focus on the Microsoft Desktop Optimization pack for management and deployment.
ZUNE | MP3 | WMA | MP4

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

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

Want to Reduce Desktop Costs (Part 3 or 3)

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

Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V), which is a core component of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack for Software Assurance, transforms applications into centrally managed virtual services that are never installed and don’t conflict with other applications

In the webcast Optimize Windows 7 with Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack, you will see how the technologies to assist in the virtualization of legacy applications work.

App-V basically works by “pulling” applications instead of the tradition paradigm of "software push" to install the entire applications. The first time end users request an application, the App-V client rapidly responds and "pulls" only the code necessary to start the program from a central Virtual Application Server—typically 20 to 40 percent of the total application. When the session terminates, the application and its user preferences are saved in a file-based cache location. Subsequent application launches are loaded from this local cache, resulting in faster launches with little impact on network bandwidth while ensuring that the user’s applications are also preserved, even in the case of unexpected computer shutdown.

The following two additional webcasts combined go into more details about the above description on how App-V works and how System Center can also assist with built in management of App-V.

• Running Legacy Applications with Virtualization Part 1
• Running Legacy Applications with Virtualization Part 2

How does App-V changes the game when it comes to software distribution? First there is the deployment model. Packages are created using a wizard, the packages are loaded onto a central server and the application is ready for use. Using this you also have much more granular control on who can install an application. Using the security model you simply add the application to the user profile or security group in Active Directory and that user is now authorised to install and run the application. Using this packaging process to get an application ready could reduce IT Department labour by 81%, plus the reduction in support calls for application deployment could be 89%. 

The case for using App-V as the method of choice for deploying applications in an organization is compelling, the latest Cost Reduction Study covers the potential savings of this solution in greater depth, with some very interesting case studies.

So what have we covered in this series?

• The first thing is that the range of options and tools available to provide users with the latest tools to do their job, whether that is Windows 7 on their PC or Office 2007 as their productivity suite, is wide and varied.
• Centralized Management options offer the best form of cost saving, whether that be by providing a desktop through Remote Desktop Services or Applications via App-V.
• Application Virtualization (App-V) is going to change the way you think about and deploy applications to users.

Deploying the latest desktops to users and cost savings are not mutually exclusive. However, cost savings are not achieved with the click of button. The best solutions are a combination of technologies well planned. For example, Windows 7 on the desktop with applications delivered by App-V, these are the two most effective technologies, but you do have to plan your implementation. When you do the research and planning up front you can easily prove the cost effectiveness of IT Solutions.

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

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 in the data Center.

Unlike RDS / Terminal Services, in VDI each user gets access to a personal desktop from any authorized device, thereby improving desktop flexibility.

However, there is a “but”, strictly speaking VDI does not reduce desktop costs because it can represent a significant up-front investment in infrastructure, including hardware, software, storage, and network. The key statement about is “each user gets access to a personal desktop” this is effectively a VHD you sort centrally. Which means you are storing all the hard drives of all your clients in one place. Storage wise this is not a small investment.

Do read and understand the details covered on the VDI site. The solution does provide flexibly, but before going down this path talk with your Microsoft technical account managers or your Microsoft Partner. You may find that RDS and APP-V combined provide a better solution or App-V along provides a better solution. 

So the bottom line is, VDI is a desktop virtualization solution, but not the first one you would be offered by Microsoft.

SQLBits 5 Registration Now open

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 day on Thursday 19th, more details coming soon. We have had a lot of feedback about weekday versus weekend during previous events so this time we have added a paid conference day on the Friday 20th, with a SQL 2008 and R2 theme. Finally we have the free Saturday community day, with speakers from around the world covering all manner of SQL Server topics.

SQLBits goes West
November 2009

Thursday 19th
Pre-conference Training Day

Friday 20th
SQL 2008 & R2 Conference Day

Saturday 21st
Free Community Conference Day

If you are not a member already join SQLBits and we will send you updates about this event as and when they happen.

Registration is Now Open

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

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 an option, then an alternative solution is to virtualize. There are two core options to this. Each has different cost saving benefits. The two options are:-

• A complete desktop virtualization
• Virtualization of just the applications.

These are in no particular order. The potential cost saving depends on your current environment and what you obviously need to add or change to implement them.

This post looks at the desktop virtualization option and within this concept the first virtualization option is what is often called “Presentation Virtualization”. Microsoft’s technologies for this option is Remote Desktop Services.

Remote Desktop Services, formerly known as Terminal Services, provides technologies that enable users to access Windows-based programs that are installed locally on a Remote Desktop Session Host server, or to access the full Windows desktop.

So what are the advantages and therefore cost saving of this? Basically Remote Desktop Services lets you deploy and maintain software from a central location. Because you install the programs on the RD Session Host server and not on the client computer, programs are easier to upgrade and to maintain, which in turn helps to reduce maintenance costs. Before going into the potential cost saving of this solution, it’s worth looking at these 3 webcasts to expand on the technologies more.

• Using Presentation Virtualization (Level 300)
• Scaling Terminal Services Out (Part 1 of 2) (Level 300)
• Scaling Terminal Services Out (Part 2 of 2) (Level 300)

If you’ve watched these webcasts you now know that clients connect to a central resource to gain access to applications or a desktop. Clients do not have to be all local to these servers, the service can be made available beyond the corporate network with services such as TS Gateway and TS Broker service. There is an IPD guide for Terminal Services and a detailed web page that leads you step-by-step through the process of planning a Remote Desktop Service infrastructure. If webcasts above are a bit long there is also a video series on TechNet Edge, this also takes you through 5 steps to install and configure RDS.

So where do the saving come in?

• The centralization of software, the applications are installed in one place, makes maintenance and updating easier. It also helps radically simplify the burden of regulatory compliance.
• The specification of clients needed to run the software via RDS is lower than clients that have the software installed locally.
• You can ensure all clients have access to a consistent suite software regardless of location, thus reducing calls to help desks to install software and the potential lengthy install process of low bandwidth links.
• Your data has an extra level of security. RDS can help eliminate data theft if a laptop is stolen or lost.

Before we go further, one last point on RDS. If you’ve read the additional information above and the idea of making applications available via RDS sounds like something that you want to investigate further, then I’d suggest reading the next post in this series on Application Virtualization. For pure application deliver App-V is a better choice – also see the diagram at the bottom of this post.

Next on the Desktop Virtualization front is Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V). MED-V basically enables deployment and management of Microsoft Virtual PC Windows desktops, this is designed to help organizations upgrade to the latest version of Windows even when some applications are not yet functional or supported on this version. The diagram opposite shows the difference between MED-V and APP-V – which I will cover in the next post.

The bottom line to remember about these two solutions is that MED-V resolves conflicts between operating system and Application, App-V at a minimum resolves conflict between Applications running on the same operating system, however it’s potential use is much wider and potential for cost savings much greater.

There is a lot more to MED-V, more than I can cover in this post, plus article linked to the diagram above does a great job going through it in detail.

This post was about desktop virtualization using technologies like RDS, VDI and MED-V. Each solves a different business problem and so in that respect do represent a cost saving to your organization in respect of how you operate today. How you measure the saving depends on how fast a return you are looking for. VDI will potentially save you money, but the saving is offset by the initial outlay. In all the solutions above there is the potential for initial outlay in infrastructure, the level of outlay will obviously lengthen the time before you see potential cost savings.

Next up I’ll cover App-V, and this technology will certainly make you think hard about how you deliver applications in the future and the cost savings that entails.

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

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 cover virtualization options.

When thinking about what client that can help bring down desktop costs while still being familiar to the majority of the clients in your organization, Windows 7 is the version that you should be deploying. So let’s ignore the fact this is the latest version of Windows we have shipped for a moment and look at a few of the technologies included that are there to make post deployment management easier.

• The inclusion of Windows PowerShell allows for easy remote administration, from your machine you can manage a client remotely, run scripts and view information as if you were at the client machine.
• Next up, there is Problem Steps Recorder, when clients call up for help some problems are just difficult to fathom based on the information the client is providing. With PSR, the client can now record the steps they followed that lead to that issue. The output is a file, with screenshots that documents what was pressed and what was returned on the screen.
• One more before we go back to the deployment story, BitLocker has been improved in Windows 7, BitLocker was in Vista, , but the Windows 7 improvement is BitLocker to Go. Now you can encrypt those USB storage devices that end user use to move information around. This can reduce the security issues that can arise if PII or other sensitive data goes missing on one of these devices.

Granted Windows 7 has many more features that are designed to help reduce costs, many of them talked about in the overview webcast, but this post is about deployment.

Since Windows XP, through Windows Vista and now into Windows 7 a lot of work has gone into deployment technologies. This investment and the best practices for configuration and deployment of Windows 7 is going to help rationalize your desktop operating systems and reduce your costs. Microsoft has a lot of resources that can help with this, but it’s often hard to wade through every item to figure out what is useful.

The first step to getting a handle on you client costs is to work out what you have and what you need. Before doing any rationalization in your environment, it pays to understand what is there. The tool of choice for both Microsoft engineers and Microsoft partners is the the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator, this tool that can help you identity what is in your environment, to speed you up using the tool, the webcast Infrastructure Optimisation with MAP looks at how to use  to make it easier for you to assess your current IT infrastructure and determine the right Microsoft technologies for your IT needs.

As this post covers actual client deployment, what investments in deployment of Windows 7 has Microsoft made? Two webcasts Windows 7 Deployment Enhancements and Windows 7 Planning and Deployment Tools will help you understand the enhancement for planning and deployment of this new client operating system. These two webcasts will cover all the technologies, from Virtual Hard Disk Image Management and Deployment, Dynamic Driver Provisioning through the use of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) and up to Windows Deployment Services (WDS) and image deployment. To compliment WDS there is a IPD guide for Windows Deployment Services that provides a clear and concise workflow of the decisions and tasks required in the infrastructure planning process for WDS.

Of course the above is all fine and dandy if you are just ignoring the fact the client may already have an OS installed and would like to keep their existing files. If you are currently on Windows Vista  and the hardware is not going to be replace, the upgrade steps are straight forward. But what if you are changing Hardware or worse moving from XP?

Let’s take scenario 1 as a few users running Windows Vista or Windows XP, moving to new machines. This also is relatively straightforward. The first step is to migrate the users files using one of the methods described in previous link. Once saved, the new machine can deployed using the deployment methods mentioned above and the user files restored back to the machine.

What about scenario 2 which is a few hundred users moving from Windows Vista or Windows XP to new machines and you don’t have the resources to do them one at a time with the Windows Easy Transfer Wizard? The answer to mass migration is the User State Migration Tool. The guide just mentioned goes into the details, the basics are:-

1. Make the changes to the config XML files.
2. Run ScanState on the clients.
3. Run LoadState on the new clients. The control USMT provides is very granular and quicker than running Windows Easy Transfer Wizard individually.

If you don’t fancy the guide, then this video Walkthrough demonstrates how to do this.

Finally, Scenario 3. clients running Windows XP that have applications that may not run on Windows Vista or Windows 7. How do you migrate these users? Well there are a number of options open to you. First thing is to look at the applications, the simplest remediation is to get upgraded versions, if that is not possible then the Application Compatibility Tool kit can help show you how to make some, not all, but some applications work on Windows 7. Finally if none of the above work, then virtualization is the answer. I’ll cover virtualization in the later posts, but for now what I will cover is XP Mode for Windows 7. Basically Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 uses virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC to provide a Virtual Windows XP environment for Windows 7 applications directly from a Windows 7 PC.

What this article has tried to cover is the Deployment story as a step towards reducing your client costs. There is lots of information, this article has tried to consolidate it down to some key links to help you understand the deployment options.

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

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 the event—or submit questions in advance to vrtable@microsoft.com.

Save the date and join Mark by Adding to your calendar

New Content from SQLServerFAQ

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)

LiveMeeting recording of the Introduction to using the product "The SQL Server toolset" 30 minute presentation

Why Do I have So Many Boxes?

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 to enable you to make informed decisions about this technology.

In the Virtualization in a Nutshell webcast and the IPD guide for Selecting the Right Virtualization Technology, we will explain each virtualization solution that Microsoft offers, from our server virtualization, presentation virtualization, storage virtualization through to our application virtualization solution, we will explain what they are and when to use them. In the Data centre by using Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper V, the IT Department can reduce the total number of physical servers running both Windows and Linux operating systems. Once the decision is made to virtualize servers what next? The one thing you can’t just do is virtualize it all at will, Selecting the Right Candidates for Virtualization will help you decide on what servers and workloads can be virtualized by using the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) tool. Having used MAP you are now at the point where you can start to make decisions on what to virtualize. The first step is to pilot the process on not critical servers, Virtualizing Test and Development Environments for a Quick Return on Investment takes you through virtualizing servers that are easy candidates and can provide a quick result in terms of server reduction and improved service.  With the knowledge and experience of how to virtualize servers we are at a stage where we can start to expand out and virtualization  more servers and make virtualization a service provided by IT. Consolidation and Rapid Provisioning looks at how to use System Center Virtual Machine Manager to achieve this final objective.

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

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 with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.

71-662: TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuring counts as credit towards the following certification(s).

· MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Configuration

Availability

Public Registration begins: August 24, 2009

Beta exam period runs: August 31, 2009– September 14, 2009

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China

Registration Information

You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.
Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: E14J
Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately.

To register in North America, please call:

• Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)

Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:

• Prometric: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

Test Information and Support

You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-662

Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Resource Kit Reviewed

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 Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (SCVMM) 2 and PowerShell Management.

The guide is divided in four sections, starting with a 100 pages dedicated to the ins and outs of Virtualization and particularly Hyper-V. Here you’ll find the details about the processors from Intel and AMD and basic features of Hyper-V such as using and managing Hyper-V. From there the guide moves into a section dedicated to understanding Hyper-V. If you have used Hyper-V for any period of time a lot of the first part of this section is likely to be basic revision. The last 3 chapters of the section are the ones that may grab your attention first where best practices are covered, moving from Virtual Server 2005 R2 to Hyper-V and final a chapter on R2.

Section 3 moves onto the management of a Hyper-V environment, look out for information coving how to manage either a single Server or a Farm. The single server details are again revision for most people who’ve used Hyper-V, the Farm management introduces the tool recommended to manage Hyper-V farms, SCVMM. SCVMM appears later in this section as the migration tool, after a discussion on Back up and Restore. The last chapter in this section is one of the more interesting as it covers the use of PowerShell as a management tool.

The final section is the good old Resource Kit favourite of Planning. This is where VDI is covered and the various virtulalization scenarios, plus some good information on the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Tool (MAP). The MAP tool is pretty much a must use if you plan to introduce virtualization into your environment and from that point of view this last section is a real aid in that process.

I first asked my Microsoft Press contacts about this guide when Windows Server 2008 was released, the initial dates for availability started in around November 2008, so it’s been a while coming and now includes more information than maybe would have been available in late 2008.

My view is that this is a good solid resource kit and definitely worth having in you are currently or plan to use any version of Hyper-V. The companion CD with all the scripts on is a valuable add-on, even if you don’t use these scripts directly they are good examples of how to use PowerShell for managing Hyper-V.

Exchange Server 2010 Release Candidate Available

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 Download Page

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