On Monday Microsoft and XenSource announced cooperation on the development of technology to provide interoperability between Xen-enabled Linux and the upcoming hypervisor-based virtualization technology in Windows Server “Longhorn.”
Additionally, Microsoft and XenSource will work collaboratively to deliver closely integrated solutions on top of Microsoft’s virtualization offerings, enabling customers with heterogeneous environments a more complete experience.
To achieve this, the companies will begin working together on a technical collaboration project to help their mutual customers take further advantage of the increased reliability and simplified administration available on the Windows platform.
If you've ever had to diagnose Windows problems, you know who Winternals are - they're the guys who develop Sysinternals (tools like Regmon & Filemon).
More info here: http://www.winternals.com/
As part of the deal, we're naming Winternals co-founder Mark Russinovich a technical fellow. "Mark is one of the top five or 10 people in the world when it comes to Windows internals." Russinovich will be focused on helping Microsoft further develop the Windows kernel in his role as technical fellow--the top technical position at Microsoft with less than two dozen people holding such title. Russinovich said in a statement that he is excited to join the company whose technologies are so critical to so many businesses.
Microsoft is still exploring how best to integrate Winternals' products. Winternals' Recovery Manager, for example, has some similarities to the System Center Data Protection Manager tool that Microsoft released in September 2005. "We're evaluating how those would meet together,"
Last week we anounced software that turns older PCs into more modern and secure systems.
The software, known as Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs, is designed as a stopgap measure for companies with a significant number of older Windows PCs that they aren't ready to replace and that can't be easily upgraded to Windows XP.
More info here: http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/programs/sa/benefits/fundamentals.mspx
Formerly known by its Eiger code name, Windows Fundamentals gives those PCs some of the security benefits of XP but essentially turns the machines into thin clients, able to run only a few programs locally, with most software needing to run remotely from a server.
Microsoft developed Windows Fundamentals because corporate customers were looking for a way to get more years out of their PCs. "This gave them a key tool for expanding those life spans."
There is a catch: Windows Fundamentals is only being made available as part of Microsoft's Software Assurance licensing program.
Whether Microsoft virtualization technology is an important component of your existing infrastructure or you're just a Virtual PC enthusiast, you can now download Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 absolutely free. Microsoft is also offering the free download of Virtual PC 2007, with support for Windows Vista in 2007.
Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 (SP1) is a powerful software virtualization solution that allows you to run multiple PC-based operating systems simultaneously on one workstation, providing a safety net to maintain compatibility with legacy applications while you migrate to a new operating system. It also saves reconfiguration time, so your support, development, and training staff can work more efficiently.
Download it here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx
Enjoy. Dave.
Big anouncement today at the World Wide Partner Conference in Boston - Andy Lees will announce changes to Windows Server 2003 R2 Datacenter Edition (DCE) making it the easiest and most cost-effective choice for large-scale virtualization of Windows Server. Microsoft can now offer our customers unlimited virtualization rights and easier purchase options through Volume Licensing.
Changes that come into effect October 1, 2006 include:
DCE will be available through Volume Licensing: For the first time, Microsoft customers will be able to purchase Windows Server Datacenter Edition through Volume Licensing.
Unlimited Virtualization Rights: Servers with Datacenter Edition will have license rights to run an unlimited number of virtualized Windows Server instances. By simply licensing the server’s processors with Windows Server Datacenter Edition, customers will be able to run Windows Server Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter Edition or a mix of the three editions without having to track the number of virtual machines or pay for additional Windows Server licenses.
More Options to License from OEMs: Customers will be able to purchase Windows Server Datacenter Edition preinstalled on servers with 2 to 64 processors with or without The Datacenter High Availability Program.
Business Desktop Deployment (BDD) has changed the face of scaled desktop deployments, providing true end-to-end guidance and automation for all required desktop deployment procedures. The beta of BDD 2007 is now available to enable Lite Touch deployment of Microsoft Windows Vista Beta 2 and the 2007 Microsoft Office system Beta 2 desktop images. To download BDD 2007 Beta 1, visit http://connect.microsoft.com
IT’s Showtime is a site that enables you to tune into Microsoft's best events in DVD quality video format. Check it out here.
I just wanted to highlight this video as I thought you would be interested in it: Optimize Your Core Infrastructure: Manage Complexity, Achieve Agility, Protect Information and Control Access, On IT’s Showtime!
Join Bob Kelly as he discusses the Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI), Microsoft's long term strategy that couples a model-driven approach with a complete, integrated set of technology solutions to enable IT to manage complexity and achieve agility. Kelly also outlines Microsoft's comprehensive set of security and access solutions, designed to enable IT to address the ever-changing landscape of technology threats so they can protect information and control access across their organization.
These type of management events have been a huge focus for us locally over the last 12 months and will continue to be over the coming year.
Register for TechEd IT Forum in Barcelona Now! .... and save €300.
I wanted to get this news out early! Previously there was TechEd during the summer (for IT professionals and developers) followed by IT Forum in Barcelona in November (tailored for IT Pros). However, seeing as we were so happy with Barcelona as a destination last year for IT Forum we’ve decided to have two conferences running back to back in November. The first week is for Developers and is called TechEd: Developers and the second week, which runs from 14th -17th November, is for IT professionals and is called TechEd: IT Forum. You can check out all the detail about these events on their respective websites. However, I would like to draw your attention to the Super Early Bird Offer, which gives you and your company a €300 discount plus some cool extra bonuses which includes:
These bonuses will include:
I attended the event last year and it was really good with so many 300-400 technical level sessions, interactive chalk and talks, self paced hands on labs etc. We always survey attendees to see whether they were satisfied with the event or not and the feedback was very positive. 92% of attendees said they would recommend the event to other people and 82% wanted to return again to the 2006 event, that speaks for itself. On a personal note I spoke with many Irish attendees (generally over tapas and refreshments) who found that it was a great opportunity for them to step back from their very busy routines and really get a clear view of where the technologies are at and where they are going. I remember many of them saying that they would be able to take the learning’s of that one week and use it as their ‘toolbox’ for the coming year.
Make sure you have all the latest June security updates from Microsoft.
Review and download them here.
The Windows Vista Customer Preview Program will close to new orders on the evening of Friday, June 30th June. For registered customers who have received a Product Key the download sites will remain open until Friday, July 14. This also includes all TechNet Beta Central registered users who did not yet get a Product Key as have reached our program capacity. We apologize for any inconvenience.
For those of yuo who have yet to register for the beta you can still do so here (for the moment): http://www.microsoft.com/emea/technet/beta/ireland/default.mspx