Our Local SCCM MVP Kim Oppalfens is proud to announce the organization of an unique in depth Operations Manager 2007 training event in Belgium.

Are you interested to get trained by someone who is an industry expert and has received the MVP award and co-authored a book on this topic? Do you want to have a level 300-400 training that focuses on planning, migrating, installing and configuring Operations Manager 2007? Here is your chance.

What is being delivered?

The first two days consist of OpsMgr 2007 Installation and Configuration

The following two days consist of OpsMgr 2007 Fundamentals

Who is delivering this?

This course will be delivered by Rory McCaw, a multi-year Canadian MVP in the Operations Manager category. Rory co-authored "How to cheat at managing Microsoft Operations Manager 2005" published by Syngress publishing.

More info on Rory McCaw can be found here:

https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile=69F2E866-098F-45AB-ABF1-4CD18FD7077A

When will this take place?

This unique 4day training event will take place from Monday the 17th of September till Thursday the 20th of September 2007.

Class will from 9 AM till 5 PM, with a break before and after noon and a warm lunch at 12:00 AM.

Where Does it take place?

This event will take place at the training facilities of the "John Cordier Academy"

Where do I Sign up?

More info about the event, and details on how to signup for this event can be found here:

http://www.jcacademy.be/courses/_en/coursesheet.asp?language=EN&country=&course_id=697

Please be advised that seats are limited and that there are currently no plans for repeating this event!

Did you ever dreamed to speak at on of the biggest European Microsoft events? This is your chance at TechEd IT Forum there will be a speaker idol contest. This has been organized for the first time during last year's event and was so successful that it will run again during it this years event.

Andy Malone who was the winner of last years contest will deliver a security session about Windows Server 2008.

If like Andy Malone you want to be the next Speaker Idol go ahead and signup for the contest during this year's TechEd IT Forum and be sure to:

• Record yourself delivering a presentation of maximum 3 minutes;
• Submit that video before Friday 5 October

Only the 30 first submissions are eligible to participate.

Checkout the Speaker Idol 2007 page for more information about the rules and process.

There are great speakers in Belgium, we know that because some of them already present @ our local events. But I am sure that there is even more talent in Belgium we don't know them yet. Send me a mail if you want to participate (arlindo.alves@microsoft.com). Let me also know if this something you want to see at our annual Dev & IT Pro days.

Read what last year's winners had to say.

This won't be a surprise if you are a member of the Belgian VIP Technical Community. Because on the last meeting which was held a month ago I presented this already. So what's the big deal between Windows Vista and British Airways? In my flight back from Seattle to London I discovered that our marketing team from TechNet Unplugged delivered a video about Windows Vista onto the in flight on-demand Video system. I discovered this movie when I wanted to browse through the movie catalog. It's a 7-8 min video about some of the new features in Windows Vista. I thought this was cool and took some pictures to share this with you.

This kind of movie is part of a trial project where we wanted to showcase our products within the on-demand video systems of British Airways. At this moment it will only be available in flights from London to Seattle. What do you think about such kind of showcase demo's? Is it useful, should we do more of them or is it something to forget about it?

Going through the blogs I'm reading I wanted to share the following links with you.

Windows Mobile:

Version 2 of Windows Live Search for Mobile was released. There are versions for Windows Mobile 2003, Windows Mobile 5 and above, J2ME, and Blackberry.

Windows Vista:

According to Mary Jo Foley a preview of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 will be coming later this week, releasing to certain testers in just a few days. I personally can't confirm neither deny this, I just don't know when we will release SP1.

Jesper Johansson who used to work for Microsoft wrote a book about Windows Vista Security (which I ordered this week and I should arrive at my hotel tomorrow). Jesper also created some tools and I post the links to those tools hereunder because they don't come with the Book.

The tools are:

• A couple of Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) Scripts that demonstrate how to interact with the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. These scripts check if the firewall is on and which profile is active.

• A very long (200 pages) Word document detailing the default security parameters for every built-in service in Windows Vista Ultimate. It has the ACL on the service as well as the process security parameters.

• WMI script that dumps out all WMI data about the operating system

• The default Group Policy settings for User Account Control (UAC) leaves out one of the UAC settings: the one that controls whether a locally defined administrator gets a full or filtered token when connecting to the computer remotely. To enable that setting to be managed using Local Security Policy or Group Policy requires a new sceregvl.inf file. The UAC chapter discusses the setting and how to use this file to add it to the security policy tools.

• A tool that enables you to launch a process elevated from a command line. You run "elevate <program> [program arguments]" and it will give you the standard elevation prompt.

Read More

Networking:

Netmon 3.1 has been released to the web.

Network Monitor 3.1 has the following new features:

• Mechanism for detecting new versions of Network Monitor 3 released through Microsoft Update
• Ability to capture wireless 802.11 frames in monitor mode, and scan across 802.11 physical layers and channels on Windows Vista™.
• New Reassembly Engine
• Performance improvements.
• Ability to capture on the VPN/RAS interface
• New protocol parsers
• More intuitive filtering

Download

I am sitting on the plane from London to Seattle to attend our internal training called TechReady. I love TechReady, it's a huge opportunity to meet fellow MSFTies and talk to a lot of smart people, one downside it's a 10 hour flight. And this flight will be even longer once all boarded the captain told us their was a minor issue with the plane and that would have some delay. After a one hour delay we were finally in the air. Flying can be boring and if your are tall like me it can be painful too. But not today, I am lucky to have a seat at the exit row plenty of leg space. :)

Having said that I do have a lot of time while flying to Seattle, to pass the time I watched the movie 300 which was a great movie, lot of blood though. Beside watching movies I took the time to read my blogposts, I didn't had much time to read them earlier on because we where in a planning phase at Microsoft.  I will go through the blog's I read and will create a post with the links about the interesting items I discovered onto those blogs.

I just finished creating my presentation I have to deliver at an internal meeting in Seattle it's about the work I've done with UserGroups in Belgium.

I'll post more on that after I delivered this presentation.

I am reinstalling one of my work machines which is a small server with Dual Core CPU and 4GB of RAM. I have divided my 160GB SATA disk in 5 partitions, one for the Windows Server Core, one for Windows Home Server, one for Windows Server 2008 and one for the Windows Server Virtualization environment. My fifth partition is for storing data.

Now after installing the second Windows Server 2008 OS I get the same description into the bootloader. Because we are not using any boot.ini file anymore I need to change the boot order, description through a tool called bcdedit.exe.

The Bcdedit tool is good enough if you only have to make some minor changes to the bootloader. But if you have to make some more advanced changes I recommend you to use EasyBCD from Neosmart Technologies.

What do I want to do is change:

• the boot order
• the bootloader timeout from 30 to 15 seconds
• the Description of both Windows Server 2008 installations.

Let's do the items I want to change first by using the Bcdedit command. Open a cmd prompt and type bcdedit /? to have the help available.

First we need a list of all items into the bootloader:

bcdedit /enum

I have three entries here, one for the boot manager which is used to define the time before starting the default OS, which is the default OS, etc. The other two entries called {current} and {default} are my actual Windows Server installation both have the same description.

Note: Because I didn't boot the default OS I get those two entries if I had booted the default OS I would have a different output when running the bcdedit, my default would then be the current and the second entry with be a BCD ID guid which can actually is the resumeobject identifier.

Assume that the default bootloader item is my Windows Server 2008 Server core installation and that the current bootloader item is a normal Windows Server 2008 installation.

Now let's change the boot order first:

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} default {current}

Set the bootloader timeout to 15:

bcdedit /set {bootmgr} timeout 15

Finally change the descriptions of the bootloader items:

bcdedit /set {current} description "Windows Server 2008 Full Install"

bcdedit /set {BCDID} description " Windows Server Core Installation"

Before you can set the Windows Server core description you will need to run a bcdedit to find out the BCD ID for this bootloader item.

I did the same config changes with EasyBCD look at the screenshots how easy it is:

Back in June 5 Belgian User Groups held their first Community Day and it was a great event, why because at least for once I was an attendee and did not have to prepare any session neither working with speakers, reviewing content, etc .. . Just sit down and relax. I talked to a lot of people who came to the event. Sessions where good and food and socializing after the event was great.


I hope, no I am sure they will organize this event again next year and I am looking forward to it.

If you want to download the slide decks from the different sessions go ahead and check out the following link:

Community Day Resources

It has been announced yesterday the team had their Windows Home Server RTM signoff and the software is on it's way to the OEM Partners. It's a great piece of software I had the opportunity to play around with it and I will even further use at home.

Too bad we won't have a Dutch version any soon. I don't mind the English language but I know a lot of possible Home Server users would like to have their native language.

Check out the announcement on the Windows Home Server team blog, where you will find out which OEM partners signed in and where to find add-on's, etc...

Also during the Dev & IT Pro days we had the opportunity to host the Business Intelligence Tour 2007. And again this tour has been recorded onto ITs Showtime. Not that this has not been recorded during our event but somewhere else. Nevertheless it's interesting information.

Microsoft BI Overview

Creating high impact Data Warehouse - I

Creating a high impact Data Warehouse - II

Enterprise Reporting with SQL Server Reporting Services

Office 2007 BI capabilities: Excel, SharePoint/Excel Services

Designing and deploying Performance Management applications with Office OBA

We just launched the Microsoft Malware protection center where you will find different kind of information about malware like:

• The malware encyclopedia.
• The top detection: Most Active e-mail threats, to ad- and spyware, most detected MSRT items
• A download link to the latest Anti Spyware and Anti Virus definition files
• Links to different other resources like the Anti Malware Team Blog
• Forefront Resources
• Many More

Another interesting tool is the Malware Removal Starter Kit which is a toolkit that will help you to Combat Malware
This document will explain to you how you can build this kit. It uses the Windows Pre-installation Environment (Windows PE) in combination with free anti-malware scanning programs, the kit provides a lo-cost, effective strategy that you can use to vanquish Malware attacks.

As has been announced at the Partner Conference in Denver we will be launching Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 at the same event in LA on February 27 2008.

Later I will communicate when we Microsoft BeLux will organize our local Launch event.

There is also a countdown gadget available for download.

I just received this by mail and wanted to share it with you:

"Windows Live OneCare is an automatically self-updating PC care service that’s on whenever your PC is on, helping provide persistent protection against viruses, hackers, and other threats. It also performs regular tune-ups to help keep your PC running at top speed, and helps you back up important documents."

• Runs quietly in the background, providing anti-virus, anti-Spyware, online identity and scam protection (anti-phishing) and firewall protection
• Updates itself to help you keep ahead of the latest threats
• Runs regular PC tune-ups, even checking for ways to cut PC boot time
• Provides one-click solutions to most problems
• Makes backups a breeze
• Provides the option to store copies of your photos online
• Lets you see the status of all your computer systems at a glance

Interested to be a beta user for this product? Go ahead and Click here to install and use Windows Live OneCare Beta (v2.0) now!

It has been a while since the Dev & IT Pro Days have been delivered but today I found a link to the recorded sessions of Ronald Beekelaar about the Virtualization technology. Now this has not been recorded at our event, because the Pre Conference about Virtualization was a part of a bigger EMEA tour it has been posted onto the IT's Showtime site.

Microsoft Virtualization- Today and Tomorrow

Managing a Mixed Virtual/Physical environment: Tools & Techniques

Microsoft Virtualization Deep Dive

Practical Advice on adoption, deployment and Migration

Enjoy.

Like I mentioned in a previous post I would be playing around with Server Core and Virtual Server 2005 just to see how it works. So what I have done is I installed a new Windows Server 2008 Server Core onto my physical box. The installation is straight forward, just make sure you select Server Core, and after a reboot you have your machine. I also discovered that with the June CTP you need to change the admin password after the reboot. Now that we have a server core running we need to perform a few additional steps.

1. Change the name of the machine: after the initial setup you need to change the name into something more readable and easy to remember
   
   netdom Renamecomputer oldmachinename /NewName:newmachinename
   
2. Activate the server: Because my machine will not be connected to Internet all the time I activate my machines right away
   
   slmgr.vbs -ato
   
   This script will generate a msgbox to inform you if the activation was successful or not. (This tool can also be used onto a Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 box)
   
3. Set a fixed IP address: In my environment I don't have a DHCP server so I need to set a fixed IP Address:
   
   netsh int ipv4 set address "Local Area connection" static 192.168.0.1 255.255.255.0 192.168.0.254
   netsh int ipv4 set dnsserver "Local Area Connection" static 192.168.253
   
   Note you can use the "netsh int ipv4 sho int" to identify which interfaces you have. See the example below.
   
   
   
4. Add server to domain: Because I will use the VMRCplus tool to manage my server and with this tool you cannot remotely administrate Virtual Servers who are member of a workgroup
   
   netdom join servername /DOM:domainname /userd:user@domain /passwordd:*
   
   Reboot you server with the following command: shutdown /r /t 0
   
5. Install Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1: Just run setup and follow the wizard. Make sure you don't install the web admin tools.
   
6. Virtual Server configuration steps: Now you have your VS2005 R2 SP1 running but you need to enable VMRC and configure some security settings if you want to use the VMRCplus client to manage the environment:
   
   A) Enable the firewall exception for VMRC: netsh fi add all "c:\program files\Microsoft Virtual Server\vssrvc.exe" "Virtual Server" ENABLE
   
   B) Run a VB script to enable VMRC onto the VS box:
   
   set vs = wscript.createobject("VirtualServer.Application")
   vs.VMRCEnabled = True
   vs.VMRCAdminportNumber = 5900
   vs.VMRCIdleconnectionTimeOutEnabled= false
   vs.VMRCXResolution = 800
   vs.VMRCYResolution = 600
   
   Source: virtual_pc_guy
   
   C) Run another VB script to allow a particular group to have access onto the VS:
   
   Dim ace

set objVs = wscript.CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")
Set objSecurity = WScript.CreateObject("VirtualServer.VMSecurity")

set objSecurity = ObjVs.Security

Set ace = objSecurity.AddEntry("wds\Domain admins",vmAccessRights_Allowed)
    ace.WriteAccess = True
    ace.ReadAccess = True
    ace.ExecuteAccess = True
    ace.DeleteAccess = True
    ace.ReadPermissions = True
    ace.ChangePermissions = True

ObjVs.Security = objSecurity

Source: virtual_pc_guy

Now you have prepared you VS environment and you can start manage it from another domain joined machine with the VMRCplus tool.

Note: I want to inform you again that this is not supported by Microsoft and I only tested because of personal interest and to see how easy or difficult it was to configure and manage a server core environment. If you want to have Virtualization onto Windows Server Core you will have to wait until we release Windows Server Virtualization.

Going through my blogs that I read I encountered this blogpost about Paul’s Painless Process for Preparing a Presentation and it's so true. So what is it?

1. One month away: Blog about it, generate as much hype as possible, invite everyone I know to the talk.
2. Three weeks away: Promise myself to start preparing soon.
3. Two weeks away: Promise myself that I’ll get to it this weekend, as it’s the last weekend I will have before the presentation.
4. Weekend before the presentation: Convince myself that the talk is still days away, and I can prepare it on weeknights.
5. Two days before the presentation: Convince myself that it can wait until tomorrow night.
6. Night before the presentation: Stay up until at least 3AM the next morning preparing. Promise myself to start preparing sooner next time!

Most of the time I apply the same technique when I have to do a talk however if the topic is new I do take the time to prepare myself so that I know what I am talking about.

How about you is this something you do yourself or do you have a better technique? I am curious to know.

This week we announced the availability of the Forefront Client Security TechCenter. In this TechCenter you will find all kind of information about Forefront Client Security:

• Webcasts
• Virtual Labs
• Technical Documents, White Papers, etc
• Much more

These are all valuable resources if you want to learn more about Forefront Client Security.

I knew that Virtual Server 2005 was running on top of Windows Server 2008 without any problem because I am using this as a demo machine. Yes I know it's kind of tricky to use a beta Operating System as demo environment but I he I believe in our software :)

Now according to Ben Armstrong's (Virtual PC Guy) blog you can install Virtual Server 2005 on top of a Server Core installation. Although this is not a supported role neither it is a supported configuration but it is tempting to use it onto my laptop. I'll give it a try and post my experiences onto this blog. Note that if you try to install this you need to uncheck the "Web Administration" tool.

Here are some screenshots from Ben's blog:

It's obvious that you should never run this in a production  environment because we will have Windows Server Virtualization as part of the OS, so no need to install any additional Virtualization layer.