It's great to see the rapid progress being made with Windows Vista.  I'm sure it has been all hands on deck in CORP (internal speak for MS Corportate HQ) to get this one out the door.  But I'm delighted to say that Windows Vista RC2 (build 5744) is now available to Technical Beta Testers, TAP Testers, and MSDN/TechNet subscribers. Go for it try it out!  I can't wait to upgrade myself when I'm back in the office next week.

NOTE: This build (5744) has a number of improvements and updates from previous builds, and has been through daily testing processes to refine quality and performance. We are making this release available for a limited time only (and only by download) in order to get broad distribution and testing in a variety of PC configurations.

You can download it here.

Keep up-to-date with local happenings with the Irish TechNet newsletter by signing up here.

Get the latest security bulletin for September here.

Check out Microsoft's best practices recommendations for applying security updates here.

 Sign up for monthly security bulletin notification here!

IT@Galway in conjunction with Microsoft is hosting an ICT conference in Galway on Thursday 12 October 2006, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.  There will be parallel tracks running on the day including a Developer Track, an IT Pro track and a CEO Forum and an Architect Forum.  For full conference details you can click here.

I particularly wanted highlight the the content in the IT Professional Track.  It will provide IT Pros with a first look at Vista, Office 2007, Exchange 2007 from a technical perspective so should be very interesting.

If you would like to register or get more information check out the website here.

Seminar 1  9.30 - 11.00
Getting ready for Exchange 2007?
Come and find out how Exchange 2007 will ensure that your e-mail system stays up and running and is protected from security, technology and business threats.  See how it will satisfy the needs of your users who are demanding access to their information from anywhere and from any device.  Find out how it will make your lives easier with its simplified management console and the ability to script every management function.

What will be covered:

• Features of Exchange 2007.
• 64-bit only version of Exchange - availability and security.
• Information access: Outlook 2007, New Outlook Web Access, New Outlook Voice Access, Windows Mobile and Outlook Mobile Access
• Exchange Management Console and the new Exchange Management Shell

Break 11.00 - 11.15

Seminar 2 11.15 - 12.30
Business Intelligence in the 2007 Microsoft Office system
You already know how SQL Server 2005's Integration Services and Reporting Services make the task of manipulating your data into useful information easy.  Now find out how to surface your Key Performance Indicators and Line Of Business data using the 2007 Microsoft Office system without a single line of code.

What will be covered:

How Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007 can be a BI platform by leveraging the new Excel Services, SQL Server 2005 KPI's (via Analysis Services) and the new Business Data Catalog of MOSS 2007.

Lunch 12.30 - 13.30

Seminar 3 13.15 - 15.15
How Windows Vista will Improve the Manageability of your IT Infrastructure?
Want more insight into how to drive down operational costs? This session will provide an overview of how Windows Vista is easier to deploy, and less expensive to maintain, than any other version of Windows.   How it will simplify system administration and significantly reduce the cost of monitoring and troubleshooting desktops in your organization?.

What will be covered:

• Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK)
• Entire deployment process - based on Microsoft's Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) Demonstrate the new levels of management granularity in Group Policy.
• Windows Vista's new management tools such as the Reliability Monitor and a new Event Viewer.

Launch 16.00 - 17.00
Pre-Launch Vista and Office 2007  - A FIRST look at the future
Demo of how Microsoft Windows Vista, the 2007 Office system, and Exchange 2007.

• In this whistle-stop tour, learn how all three product lines, separately and together, work to simplify the challenges of today's workplace and empower people in the following ways:
• Simplify how people work together. Wherever people work in your organization, it's now easier for them to communicate and work together in teams and with customers and partners.
• Help protect and manage content. Streamline the everyday business processes and content compliance procedures that are slowing your people down.
• Find information and improve business insight. People across your organization now have faster, easier access to the information they need, and the tools to make sense of that information.

Reduce security risks and deployment costs. Reduce security risks and simplify both desktop and server deployment and management, reducing cost and complexity.

Champagne Reception & Dinner 17.00 - 18.00

Thanks again to Bob Duffy and Gary Melvin who presented at our SQL Server 2005 events last week in Dublin and Belfast.  All the presentations are available to download here:

Advanced SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services

Advanced SQL Server 2005 Integration Services

SQL 2005 Upgrade and Migration processes

To manage expectations as per the technical level of the events that I host for IT Professionals around Ireland I use the Microsoft's standard level definitions.  To ensure that there is no confusion out there I wanted to clarify what each level means ... So here goes:

Level 100 Description:

Introductory and overview material. Assumes little or no expertise with topic and covers topic concepts, functions, features, and benefits.

Level 200 Description:

Intermediate material. Assumes 100-level knowledge and provides specific details about the topic.

Level 300 Description:

Advanced material. Assumes 200-level knowledge, in-depth understanding of features in a real-world environment, and strong coding skills. Provides a detailed technical overview of a subset of product/technology features, covering architecture, performance, migration, deployment, and development.

Level 400 Description:

Expert material. Assumes a deep level of technical knowledge and experience and a detailed, thorough understanding of topic. Provides expert-to-expert interaction and coverage of specialized topics.

Finally I have an answer to a question that I get quite regularly.  That is:  "How can I find out which are the patches that I'm missing"... now there is a Security Bulletin Search Engine on TechNet that will answer that question and will show you exactly what patches you need to ensure that your systems are up-to-date.

We are hosting the Microsoft Management Summit Event (MMS) in the Guinness Storehouse on 20 October.  The focus of all content is on managing the dynamic IT environment using products, technologies and solutions from Microsoft. The solutions explored during the event will include the management of services running on Microsoft and non-Microsoft platforms, as well as best practices in managing the Windows IT environment.

This TechNet event will be a very technical covering the following topics:
 

• Optimising your infrastructure with Microsoft System Centre
• MOM 2005 and System Centre Operations Manager 2007 technical drilldown
• SMS 2003 R2 and System Centre Configuration Manager 2007 technical drilldown
• Operations Management with System Centre Products
• Protecting your data with Systems Centre Data Protection Manager

Sessions will cover one ore more of the following scopes on a specific topic:

• Deep drill technical drilldown into current or future of the products and technologies
• Best practices for common real-world scenarios covering the lifecycle of solutions
• Comparisons between different solutions available – such as SMS and WSUS patch management
• Real-world experience ('Tips and Tricks') from Microsoft and non-Microsoft consultants and customers

We’re very lucky to have such quality high profile speakers for the event:

Martin Dey, Director in the Windows and Enterprise Management Division at Microsoft Corporation, has worked in Network and Systems Management for over 17 years. Prior to holding his current role at Microsoft, Martin was Development Manager of the Systems Management Server product for six years where he helped to plan and develop the SMS 1.2 and 2.0 product releases and lay the groundwork for the SMS 2003 release.

Omar Kouatly, a senior program manager in the Operations and Service Management group responsible for driving customer-focused design and development efforts across the entire group. His product responsibilities include and System Centre Operations Manager (a.k.a. MOM), System Centre Essentials and the recently announced Microsoft Service Desk.

After the event there will be a drinks reception & an optional storehouse Tour to help you relax and network with your peers.

Also every attendee will receive an MMS DVD with all the content from the event and a datasheet.  In addition, everyone who hands in their feedback form will get an MMS t-shirt!

Register for the Best of MMS event by clicking here.

As places are limited, I’d advise you to register sooner rather than later. You are also quite welcome to forward this on to colleagues or friends who may be interested in attending.

I've heard from my TechNet colleagues that these Vista Guides have been very popular with IT Pros across Europe so I wanted to make them available to you here in Ireland.

All the guides available for download at:http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=311f4be8-9983-4ab0-9685-f1bfec1e7d62&DisplayLang=en

Here's what's available:

* Deploying Vista Step by Step Guide.doc (195 KB)

* Managing Group Policy ADMX Files Step by Step Guide.doc ( 150 KB)

* Managing Roaming User Data Deployment Guide.doc (414 KB)

* Performance Monitoring and Tuning Step by Step Guide.doc (209 KB)

* Print Management Step by Step Guide.doc (260 KB)

* Step by Step Guide to Controlling Device Installation and Usage with Group Policy.doc (640 KB)

* Step by Step Guide to Device Driver Signing and Staging.doc (748 KB)

* Step by Step Guide to Managing Multiple Local Group Policy.doc (274 KB)

* User Account Control Step by Step Guide.doc (146 KB)

* Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption Step-by-Step Guide (September 2006).doc (169 KB)

* Windows Vista Beta 2 Migration Step by Step Guide.doc (152 KB)

* Windows Vista Beta 2 Trusted Platform Module Services Step by Step Guide (May 2006).doc (157 KB)

* Windows Vista Mobile Device Center Step by Step.doc (134 KB)

* Windows Vista Multilingual User Interface Step by Step Guide.doc (158 KB)

* Windows Vista Speech Recognition Step by Step.doc (118 KB)

* Windows Vista Windows Meeting Space Step by Step Guide.doc (388 KB)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server 2003 R2 Technical Overview (Level 200)
Monday, October 02, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Chris Henley, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309138&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Exchange Server 2007 Client Access Services and Web Services (Level 200)
Monday, October 02, 2006 - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific Time
Chris Avis, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309156&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Exchange Server 2007 Client Access Services and Web Services (Level 200)
Monday, October 02, 2006 - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific Time
Chris Avis, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309568&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Introduction to SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (Level 200)
Monday, October 02, 2006 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Pacific Time
John Weston, Technology Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309582&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Agility Now (Part 05 of 10): Refining the Desktop Environment and Planning for Future Operating System Deployment (Level 200)
Wednesday, October 04, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Keith Combs, TechNet Speaker, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032306324&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 Job Scheduler (Level 200)
Thursday, October 05, 2006 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Pacific Time
Ming Xu, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309070&Culture=en-US

 
TechNet Webcast: Windows Vista Deployment Overview (Level 200)
Friday, October 06, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Chris Henley, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309075&Culture=en-US

 
TechNet Webcast: Storage Management Features in Windows Server 2003 R2 (Level 200)
Monday, October 09, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Bryan Von Axelson, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309140&Culture=en-US

 
TechNet Webcast: Message Security, Compliance, and Message Protection with Exchange Server 2007 (Level 200)
Monday, October 09, 2006 - 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
Kevin Remde, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309158&Culture=en-US

 
TechNet Webcast: Agility Now (Part 06 of 10): Secure, Manageable Messaging (Level 200)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Harold Wong, Senior Technology Specialist, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032306321&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Information About Microsoft October Security Bulletins (Level 200)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time
Christopher Budd, CISA, CISM, CISSP, ISSMP Security Program Manager, PSS Security, Microsoft Corporation
Mike Reavey, Lead Security Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032308775&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Real-Time Business Intelligence with SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services (Level 300)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006 - 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Pacific Time
Matt Hester, Technology Specialist, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309311&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Deploying and Managing Wireless Networks with Windows Vista (Level 200)
Thursday, October 12, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Drew Baron, LEAD PROGRAM MANAGER, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032308695&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Imaging Windows Vista (Level 200)
Friday, October 13, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Chris Henley, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309101&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 Technical Overview (Level 200)
Monday, October 16, 2006 - 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
Chris Avis, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309105&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Deploying Windows Vista Using BDD 2007 (Level 200)
Tuesday, October 17, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Michael Niehaus, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032308695&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Agility Now (Part 07 of 10): Painless Data Protection (Level 200)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Matt Hester, Technology Specialist, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032306327&Culture=en-UShttps://www.livemeeting.com/cc/mseventsbmo/join?id=1032306327&role=present&pw=1A4B7A5E

TechNet Webcast: Secure Collaboration with Microsoft Antigen (Level 200)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Pacific Time
Bryan Von Axelson, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309145&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Protecting Your Exchange Server 2007 Network from Viruses and Spam (Level 300)
Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Scott Schnoll, TECHNICAL WRITING LEAD, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032307240&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Windows Deployment Services: Setup and Deployment (Level 200)
Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time
Bryan Von Axelson, EVANGELIST - IT PRO, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309096&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (Level 200)
Monday, October 23, 2006 - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
John Weston, Technology Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309315&Culture=en-US

 
TechNet Webcast: How Microsoft IT Secures Access to Corporate Resources Using Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 (Level 300)
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Pacific Time
John Wohlfert, Systems Engineer, Microsoft IT, Microsoft Corporation
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=73447

TechNet Webcast: Windows Preinstallation Environment 2.0 for Windows Vista Deployment (Level 200)
Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
Andy Zeigler, PROGRAM MANAGER, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309081&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Agility Now (Part 08 of 10): Managing the Environment from Microsoft Operations Manager (Level 200)
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific Time
John Baker, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032306329&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Secure Application Publishing with Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 (Level 200)
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
Chris Avis, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309133&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Overview of Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 (Level 200)
Wednesday, October 25, 2006 - 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Pacific Time
Jean-Francois LeSaux, EPM LEAD ARCHITECT, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309358&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Managing Network Bandwidth with Windows Vista (Level 200)
Thursday, October 26, 2006 - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
Eric Han, PROGRAM MANAGER, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309084&Culture=en-US

TechNet Webcast: Windows Deployment Services Overview (Level 200)
Monday, October 30, 2006 - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM Pacific Time
Michael Murphy, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309317&Culture=en-US
 

TechNet Webcast: Secure Messaging with Microsoft Antigen (Level 200)
Monday, October 30, 2006 - 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Pacific Time
Bryan Von Axelson, TechNet Presenter, Microsoft Corporation
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032309149&Culture=en-US