The Irish IT Professional

One of Windows Server 2012's secret weapons: Hyper-V Replica

ieitpro — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:54:23 GMT

Mary-Jo Foley recruits Aidan Finn!

Mary-Jo is on holidays and recruits Aidan Finn to replace her?

"I’ve asked a few illustrious members of the worldwide Microsoft community to share their insights via guest posts on a variety of topics — from Windows Phone, to Hyper-V. Today’s entry is all about Hyper-V Replica and is authored by Aidan Finn”

Aidan Finn is a Microsoft Valuable Professional (MVP) with an expertise in Virtual Machine. He works for MicroWarehouse Ltd, an Irish Value Added Distributor, as a Technical Sales Lead, working closely with Microsoft and VARs in Ireland. He blogs on aidanfinn.com, tweets as @joe_elway, and has written or contributed to books such as Mastering Hyper-V Deployment (Sybex, 2010) and Microsoft Private Cloud Computing (Sybex, 2012).

This guest post by Aidan explains Hyper-V Replica, a new feature in Windows Server 2012. The up and coming new version of Windows Server includes loads of new features that will see Microsoft leapfrogging VMware for all your virtualisation requirements. Hyper-V replica is just one of them.

Well done Aidan for being considered one of a few illustrious members of the worldwide Microsoft community

Here’s his post: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/microsoft/one-of-windows-server-2012s-secret-weapons-hyper-v-replica/12707?tag=mantle_skin;content

Enjoy

Summer is (finally) here – this is you last MVA Challenge..

ieitpro — Tue, 22 May 2012 07:35:12 GMT

Learn along with Dave is ending

Let me open with a big congratulations to last week’s winners (Damian Niezgoda, Michael Maher and Anthony McCarville) all of whom are getting a 32GB USB drive as their prize for completing my Microsoft Virtual Academy challenge - to pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro - Lync Online, SharePoint Online & Deployment exam.

I started this little initiative back in February as a way to get you excited about learning (again?) and to give you an extra incentive and some guidance. I’ve been kicked off of my top spot on the Top Ten list for Ireland and have given away loads of TechNet Subscriptions and weekly prizes. I did promise to keep this going until the Summer, which officially was the 1st May. I still had a few prizes left and it’s been colder in the last few weeks than it was at Christmas! Summer is finally here (it was 23 degrees in Belfast yesterday) and the forecast is looking good. This will be your last MVA Challenge

So, get your version of this screenshot into my inbox by the end of May (by close of play on Thursday May 31st). Your challenge is to pass the Understanding Microsoft’s High-Availability Solutions test.

I hope I have been successful, that you’ve enjoyed playing along and that you’ll continue learning without my little incentives.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

And the prizes just keep on coming..

ieitpro — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:25:45 GMT

The Microsoft Virtual Academy – Prizes just for learning!

This week’s winners were Brian O’Hanlon, Jonathan Flack and Joe Glynn. They each won their choice of either an Umbrella, a Rain Jacket, a Mini-Toolkit or a 32GB USB memory stick – and all they had to do was learn!

This week’s Microsoft Virtual Academy challenge is to pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro - Lync Online, SharePoint Online & Deployment exam.

Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on Monday 21st May to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

SQL Server 2012 Always-On Deep Dive

ieitpro — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:17:45 GMT

SQL Server User Group meeting in Dublin on the 23rd May @ 18:30

Always On offers a huge leap forward in terms of High Availability. This session is a demo-based introduction to the high availability changes in SQL 2012 emphasising key features and benefits.

The event is free to all. However, registration is mandatory for safety and security reasons.

Register here: http://www.mtug.ie/Home/tabid/38/ctl/Details/Mid/369/ItemID/100/Default.aspx

“VMware Cloud Infrastructure Suite is really more of a marketing term” – did he really say that?

ieitpro — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:07:38 GMT

VMware’s CTO, Dr. Stephen Herrod says “a lot of individual products that don’t work well enough together yet”

And it’s on a YouTube video!

scroll to the YouTube video at 3:12

“VMware Cloud Infrastructure Suite is really more of a marketing term. Those of you know our products deeply know that they don’t fit this well together as they need to. Some of them have multiple databases, some don’t look the same, some install differently, and what I can’t stand that is Site Recovery Manager doesn’t currently work with vCloud Director. So, what we are basically able to say is that we created and acquired companies that led to a lot of individual products that don’t work well enough together yet.”

Enjoy

Oh, and if you’re in the market for a “real” Private cloud – here’s your solution:

Happy Tuesday – This weeks MVA challenge and last week’s winners!

ieitpro — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:50:27 GMT

I’m still giving away prizes just for learning!

Last week’s Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) challenge was to pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro – Platform course. The three winners are: Jonathan Flack, Paul Mateer and Brian Milton. Well done guys, your prize is on its way to you (either an Umbrella, a Rain Jacket, a Mini-Toolkit or a 32BG USB memory stick).

This week, we’re going to continue learning about Office 365.

So, to be in with a chance of winning a prize, login to the Microsoft Virtual Academy and pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro – Exchange Online course.

Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on Monday 14h May to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Microsoft Virtual Academy – Your Challenge for this week

ieitpro — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:40:30 GMT

Win Prizes just for learning!

A quick call out to last week’s winners. Congratulations to John Healy, Eoin Bailey and John Freeney, all of whom have won a prize of their choosing (either an Umbrella, a Rain Jacket, a Mini-Toolkit or a 32BG USB memory stick).

This week, we’re going to learn all about Office 365.

So, to be in with a chance of winning a prize, login to the Microsoft Virtual Academy and pass the Office 365 for the IT Pro – Platform course.

Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on Tuesday 8th May (the Monday is a public holiday) to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Ready. Steady. Go! TheAppBuilder Lets Every Business Win The Race To Have A Mobile App

ieitpro — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:38:01 GMT

“Pretty soon every individual and firm will be in the App business” – John Kennedy, Silicon Republic

Featured Irish Bizspark Startup of the Month:

“Pretty Soon Every Individual and Firm Will be in the App Business” – John Kennedy Silicon Republic.

Jampot Techologies know how to make this happen and have recently being featured on Engadget, Fast Company, BBC and Intels AppUp show (skip to 3.40). Jampot’s App Builder tool allows any person or company with no technical skills create and publish a mobile app for Windows Phone, Android and iOS for $29 a month. These apps can be created in minutes and the content updated in real time. Jampot see themselves as the WordPress of app development, democratizing who can have an app. To find our more go to www.theappbuilder.com

The mobile app market is set for major growth in the next few years – Gartner anticipates that in 2015 over one billion smart phones will be sold worldwide. This is quite simply a phenomenal statistic and if we thought the burgeoning mobile app market was substantial now, its going to radically accelerate from this point on.

Well, what does this mean for Irish businesses? Fundamentally they need to sit up and take notice. This is only the beginning – companies and organisations are starting to realise that they need to stand out from their competition and need to evolve their communication strategy to interact with mobile users via engaging apps.

Thinking about it quite literally, a mobile app enables a business to be on a person’s body, right in their pocket, purse or bag. You can’t get closer to their decision making than being on the device they often care for more fondly than their children and spend more time with than their partner!

The problem is that many small companies can’t afford to have an app built on one platform, never mind the three major platforms (Windows Phone, iOS, Android). The technical and publishing requirements also often leave business owners baffled, resulting in a barrier that is stopping organisations from communicating effectively with their customers and taking advantage of this massive opportunity.

Microsoft Ireland has recognised these issues and is providing businesses with the tool to build their own app by recommending TheAppBuilder. TheAppBuilder revolutionises the industry, where literally any person or company can create an app in minutes and preview it on their phone for free. Once ready to publish to the Windows, Apple and Google stores a $29 a month subscription allows publication on all three, plus unlimited updates to the app.

Anyone, no matter what their level of technical expertise can build a mobile app quickly and easily – restaurants, photographers, beauty spas, churches, sports clubs, e-learning companies, race car drivers and thousands of other organisations have built an app using TheAppBuilder. Agencies are finding it particularly useful as they can quickly turn-around inexpensive client apps for events, conferences and campaigns.

Businesses can build and preview their app for free before selecting a no contract, no hassle subscription at www.theappbuilder.com. Go Build!

Windows Phone Apps – Made in Ireland

ieitpro — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:50:31 GMT

How do you fancy a free Nokia Lumia 800? App Me Up

Microsoft Ireland has been running an App Me Up initiative for the last few months – and will continue for the foreseeable future. We’re offering a free Nokia Lumia 800 to any Irish (North and South) developer who publishes four Apps.

We’re giving you the free tools you’ll need to develop your Apps. Advice and Guidance on how to build and publish it. The ability to have your App promoted widely and if you publish four Apps, your free Nokia Lumia 800. So far we have given away close to 30 phones – and there’s more where they came from!

If you’re new to App development, have a quick look at this short (two minute) video of Finn Krewer talking about his experience so far.

Here’s a few examples of great locally developed Apps:

Solar Sprint:

Solar Sprint from Tipperary’s NeverMind Game studio has just launched exclusive to Windows Phone. Guide a planet from one solar system to another in order to grow and create new life. Dodge asteroids while collecting space dust to make your planet bigger. Be careful not to fly too close to the sun! See a video of the game in action at http://youtu.be/XBGlqIupbFU

Marketplace Link: http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/97eea42e-56c8-4baa-bf07-9fd79cbf7679

1^st4 Live Manchester United Scores:

You can’t take your eyes off the premiership title race this season. For Man United fans on the go get 1^st4 Live Manchester United Scores developed by Irish developer Ranyart. The app has live commentary, match reports, live scores, league table and team news and live tile support. With only three games left in the season you don’t want to miss a second of it. Get the free app at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/ce84b47a-9b9d-4206-ac5f-9dc03d081e5e Not a Man United fan, don’t worry other team will be available for next season.

iSpeak:

Winner of Microsoft’s March App of the Month, Irish made iSpeak is an instant text and speech translator. Simply choose the language to translate to, speak your phrase and the app will read it in a local language and accent. Just in time for the summer holidays, there is a generous free trial and the full app is only 99c get it at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/0ed197e0-d9c5-40d9-9845-570bf121094d Please note this app uses your data connection to translate so when abroad we recommending using on wifi.

BusFinder:

Winner of Microsoft’s February App of the Month, Irish made BusFinder gives you access to live updates on the latest Dublin bus departures by searching for a bus stop or route. You can create a Live Tile of the bus stops you use most on your phone home screen so you can instantly see when your next bus is due without needing to open the app. You can try the full version of BusFinder for free for one week, the full cost is only 99c. get it at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/b30deeff-6dec-4717-bb2b-212982375795

Incredible Circus:

Produced by the Nokia Institute of Technology, this is a windows phone must have with its gorgeous visuals and its free price tag. Blast through cannons on 32 levels as a bodysuited daredevil. Use elastic bands and trampolines to jump above obstacles or through fire rings, remembering to avoid falling and cracking your helmet. Be on the lookout for fire breathers as you bounce walls on multiple combos in the pursuit of cheers and trophies. Get it now at http://www.windowsphone.com/en-IE/apps/ae7684da-8cf8-4173-8c69-00e39aaa06c6

Microsoft Virtual Academy – This week’s challenge

ieitpro — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:41:42 GMT

I’m still offering the chance to win weekly prizes simply for learning

A quick call out to last week’s winners. Congratulations to Paraic Nolan, Anthony McCarville and DJ Wilson all of whom have won a prize of their choosing (either an Umbrella, a Rain Jacket, a Mini-Toolkit or a 32BG USB memory stick).

This week’s challenge on the Microsoft Virtual Academy is to pass the Windows Azure Security Overview test.

Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on the 30th April to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Just launched! The new SkyDrive preview app for Windows Desktop (and updated SkyDrive app for Phone)

ieitpro — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:45:46 GMT

SkyDrive now becomes an integral part of Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista (and Mac OS X)! Read on….

· SkyDrive for the Windows desktop - View and manage SkyDrive files & folder directly from Windows Explorer with this new preview app. Drag-and-drop to/ from SkyDrive using Windows Explorer. Files stored in your SkyDrive are in a plain folder on your PC, which means any app that works with local folders and files can now work with SkyDrive.

· Fetch files remotely - Easily access files from your internet-connected PC – from anywhere in the world via SkyDrive.com.

· Windows Phone and iPhone - Better management features and sharing options in the SkyDrive App. Now available for iPad too. Not that we have any of those.

· Single file upload limit increased to 2GB.

· New preview client for Mac OS X Lion, letting you manage your SkyDrive right from the Finder. (70% of Mac users regularly use a PC).

· SkyDrive storage updates. 7GB free for all new SkyDrive users. This is down from 25GB previously L BUT 99.4% of SkyDrive customers today use 7GB or less. Paid storage plans (+20GB, +50GB, +100GB) available at competitive prices (€8/year, €19/year, €37/year).

Note that any registered SkyDrive user who has uploaded files to SkyDrive as of April 22nd can opt in to keep 25GB of free storage. (Users already 4GB or more as of April 1 are automatically given 25GB).

More details on the blog here.

Calls to action

Get SkyDrive for Windows (preview)
Get SkyDrive for Windows Phone
Existing users - claim your 25GB
Spread the good word! Tell your friends and family… Post a link to the Building Windows 8 Blog…. Re-tweet the announcement from @BuildWindows8.

One Month of Learning with Microsoft and all I got was this Lousy Phone! Guest post by Aaron Rolph

ieitpro — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:25:35 GMT

One IT Professionals thoughts on the Microsoft Virtual Academy

I have to admit, I was sceptical when I first came across Microsoft's Virtual Academy and ultimately, like so many other things despite the good intentions, it got pushed to the "I have too many other things to do right now" pile. Some time passed and low and behold I see an email from Microsoft stating some new hot shot called Dave Northey was on the scene for Microsoft Ireland. I wonder what this guy will do I found myself asking. Well one of the things Dave got up to was that night in Dublin half starkers near... (sorry, wrong Dave) ...was re-introducing the MVA but this time with a competitive element so now I'm thinking wait a minute... I get learning for free on the up and coming exciting industry topics and..... you'll give me the chance to win kit ranging from branded goods and 32GB USB sticks to a TechNet subscription? Nice! So now I'm all over it and its paid off. I now have an idea of how I can leverage Microsoft's products for private cloud deployment and can bring this to my peers in the workplace. Oh and just the small fact of, I won the monthly competition for a sweet as Nokia Lumia 800 Windows smart phone. Pfft, who needs an iPhone, this is one serious piece of kit!? Anyway folks, get involved if you haven't already and get learning. You increase your own knowledge, get to look smart in work and may even get to show off your shiny new Windows phone. Especially fun when you work with UNIX and Mac geeks :-)

Happy learning and good luck in the draw!

Cheers,
Aaron

This week’s MVA challenge – Introduction to Windows Azure

ieitpro — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:09:09 GMT

Prove to me you’ve passed this test before Monday 23rd April @ 09:00

This week’s challenge on the Microsoft Virtual Academy is to pass the Introduction to Windows Azure test.

Send me your version of this screenshot before 09:00 on the 23rd April to be in with a chance of winning.

Prizes are currently your choice from a Microsoft branded Rain Jacket, Umbrella, Mini-Toolkit or a 32GB USB 3.0 memory key.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

p.s. Well done to everyone who passed the Windows Server “8” First Look test, And a Big well done to our three winners: John McDonald, Aidan Dennehy and Michael McCabe

Prizes for learning – this week’s MVA challenge is..

ieitpro — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:24:34 GMT

If you live in Ireland you can win prizes just for learning

Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Virtual Academy a while ago. It’s a one stop shop for online training, with more and more content coming on line all the time. It offers you short exams/tests to let you demonstrate to yourself that you understand the topic just covered. It also introduces a bit of “gamification” by letting you earn points as you progress (and points make prizes)!

I’ve been offering a free TechNet Subscription to anyone who can get themselves into the Top Ten list for Ireland – I’ve given away close to 30 so far!

I have also introduced my “Learn Along With Dave” initiative, where I set a weekly challenge and pull three names out of a hat from all the entries. So far I have given away fifteen weekly prizes and a Nokia Lumia 800.

This week’s challenge is to have a first look at Windows Server “8” and to pass the associated exam.

I’m taking next week off work (well deserved holiday), so won’t be around until Monday 16th April, so you have two weeks to send me a screenshot (similar to mine) before then and you’ll be in the hat to win one of three prizes.

Prizes are currently your choice from a Microsoft branded Rain Jacket, Umbrella, Mini-Toolkit or a 32GB USB 3.0 memory key.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Good luck

Monday morning’s prize draw – prizes for learning..

ieitpro — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:01:02 GMT

And the winner of the Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone is..

Aaron Rolph

Last week’s challenge was the last one on Private Cloud: Application Services Management

The three winners are:

John McDonald, Anthony Mc Neice and Ian McAleer

Well done everyone for learning along with me – and congratulations to everyone who won a prize (or two)!

Give me a while and I’ll announce this week’s challenge…

Diploma in Cloud Strategy - part-time course beginning in April 2012 at the IMI’s National Management Campus in Sandyford

ieitpro — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:12:03 GMT

The IMI Diploma in Cloud Strategy is based on three themes: Strategy Processes and Frameworks, Business Model Innovation and Cloud Computing Fundamentals.

The new Diploma in Cloud Strategy is a catalyst for IT professionals to build a strategic level understanding of cloud based business models, and in the process gain recognition for their experience in the field.

Aimed at both technical and non-technical managers, the IMI Diploma in Cloud Strategy will enable participants to identify and evaluate cloud-related strategies for their organisations, and develop a sound business case for moving to the cloud. As part of the programme, every participant will develop a comprehensive “cloud strategy blueprint” for their organisation.

The IMI Diploma in Cloud Strategy is based on three themes: Strategy Processes and Frameworks, Business Model Innovation and Cloud Computing Fundamentals. The teaching emphasis will be intensely interactive and focused on action-learning, drawing upon the professional experiences of participants to bring the concepts, theories and frameworks to life.

This part-time course, which will begin in April 2012 at the IMI’s National Management Campus in Sandyford, Dublin, is part of the IMI/UCC Master of Business framework. Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive an IMI Diploma and a 30 credit certificate accredited at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The Diploma can also act as a stepping stone to a full Master of Business qualification.

For further information, please see the following link:

http://www.imi.ie/programmes/programmes-for-individuals/diploma-programmes/diploma-in-cloud-strategy/

FREE Prizes on Monday (26th March) – Learn Along With Dave

ieitpro — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 07:48:11 GMT

This week’s winners are..

Last week’s challenge was to pass the Service Delivery and Automation test. The three names pulled out of a hat were:

Michael Grace

Brian O’Hanlon

Pawel Bogucki

Well done guys! Prizes are on their way.

This week’s challenge will be the last on Private Cloud: Application Services Management

In addition to the three winners pulled out of a hat, I’ll be pulling a name out from everyone who has passed all of this month’s tests – and that lucky winner will be getting a Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone!

So, to be in with a chance of winning, get your screenshot that proves you’ve passed into my inbox before 09:00 on Monday 2nd April.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Good luck everyone.

FREE Prizes on Monday (Tuesday) – Learn Along With Dave

ieitpro — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:27:31 GMT

This week’s winners are..

Last week’s challenge was to pass the Preparing the Datacentre for a private cloud with Windows Server 2008 R2 test. The three names pulled out of a hat were:

Aidan Dennehy, Paraic Nolan and Nassir Hussain

Well done guys! Prizes are on their way.

This week’s challenge is yet another Private Cloud topic: Service Delivery and Automation

So, to be in with a chance of winning, get your screenshot that proves you’ve passed into my inbox before Monday 26th March ay 09:00

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Good luck everyone.

Creating and Managing a Private Cloud with System Centre 2012 Jump Start

ieitpro — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:00:02 GMT

Great online training if you can’t sleep!

Microsoft Learning, IT Pro Evangelism & Server & Cloud Product Marketing recently delivered a 2-day virtual training event to help the world learn about the upcoming enhancements with the Creating & Managing a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 Jump Start. The event sold out and received a record satisfaction score, so a replay will be offered on April 3 & 4. Presenters include Symon Perriman, Kenon Owens, Sean Christensen, Adam Hall & Anant Sundaram and there will be a live Q&A.

This accelerated Jump Start is tailored for IT professionals familiar with Windows Server technologies, Hyper-V virtualization, and the System Center management solutions

Call to Action:

It is 100% free and open to the public, so register now

Free Prizes on Monday 12th March – Learn Along With Dave

ieitpro — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:08:23 GMT

This Monday’s Winners are:

Last week’s Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) challenge was to pass the Private Cloud: Infrastructure Management test.

From all the entries, the three names picked out of a hat were: Paraic Nolan, Geoff Alderdice and GerryR. Well done guys – your prizes will be sent out this week.

And the challenge for this week is:

This week’s challenge is to pass another Private Cloud topic: Preparing the Datacentre for a private cloud with Windows Server 2008 R2

To be in with a chance of winning a prize, please send me a screenshot that proves you’ve passed this week’s test.

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Hyper-V Replica – Made For Irish Business – Guest post from Aidan Finn

ieitpro — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:04:24 GMT

One of the best features of Windows Server “8” Hyper-V

Aidan Finn is a Microsoft MVP specialising in Virtual Machine and Systems Administration. He works for MicroWarehouse, can be contacted on email at aidan@aidanfinn.com or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joe_elway

The following is a summary of a more detailed blog post http://www.aidanfinn.com/?p=12147

Typically when we read about new Microsoft technologies we read figures such as 1TB RAM, supports X million users, and scales out to thousands of machines. For the majority of us operating in the Irish market, these are fantastic but irrelevant numbers. The majority of us work in the small and medium enterprise (SME) and most of these techs or whitepapers appear to be written for the Fortune 1000 companies.

One of the very best features of Windows Server “8” is written for the SME. Hyper-V Replica is a mechanism that allows disaster recovery (DR) of virtual machines between remote sites. Typical of Hyper-V, it is built-in and requires no additional licensing.

Hyper-V Replica is easy to configure. In the DR site, you enable Hyper-V on the hosts or cluster of hosts, and can create different replication policies. In the production site, you configure each virtual machine to replicate to a destination host or cluster, using either HTTP (Kerberos for inside an Active Directory forest) or HTTP (SSL – for secured inter-company replication). And that’s it; replication just works.

The mechanism is designed to work on high latency, commercially available broadband links that SMEs are able to afford. It is log based, and the mechanism only transmits the required changes over the wire. This is normally done every 5 minutes, meaning that you would normally only lose between 1 second and 10 minutes of data during an unplanned failover.

Microsoft considered everything, including that first painfully big synchronization. You can just copy the VMs over the wire, you can schedule that copy, you can do it using offline storage (preferably encrypted using BitLocker-To-Go), or restore the VM from backup in the DR site, before replication starts up.

Working for a Microsoft Value Added Distributor (MicroWarehouse), one of the things I love about Hyper-V Replica is how achievable it is as a solution. A business with two sites could link them and replicate VMs between the two sites. A Microsoft Partner (either a hosting company or a system integrator) could build a multi-tenant Windows Server “8” cluster and sell a service to provide hosted DR with the Internet friendly HTTPS mechanism. Using two machines you can test this great business solution now using the Windows Server 8 beta.

Couple of good links here:

· TechNet: Hyper-V Replica Technical Preview: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831716.aspx Good image on there.

· Understand and Troubleshoot Hyper-V Replica in Windows Server "8" Beta: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=29016

Windows 8 – Installing the .NET Framework 3.5

ieitpro — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:58:00 GMT

If you’ve experienced this error message: “The following feature couldn’t be installed: .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)

Then this is your solution (at the moment):

dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:NetFX3 /Source:g:\sources\sxs

from an administrative CMD. “g” is the drive where you have your win8 installation files.

Free Prizes on Monday 5th March – Learn Along With Dave

ieitpro — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:28:01 GMT

And the Winners are.. And this week’s challenge is…

The three lucky winners pulled out of a hat this morning were: GerryR, Gerard Luiten and Jerry Lane. As promised, they didn’t win much (a MS Press book and an 8GB memory key)!

I’ve ordered up a load of (debatably) better prizes – jackets, umbrellas, toolkits and 32GB USB 3.0 drives (you can boot and run Windows 8 from one of those).

Last week our challenge was the Infrastructure Components of the Private Cloud. This week’s challenge is more on the Private Cloud. - we’re going to learn about what you need to manage it.

So, to be in with a chance of winning, please email me your screenshot that proves you have passed this exam: https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/private-cloud-infrastructure-management

Good luck

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Free Prizes on Mondays – Learn along with Dave

ieitpro — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:28:54 GMT

This week we’re going to start learning about the Private Cloud

Thank you to everyone who is playing along and thank you for your words of support and encouragement (a guided tour of the Microsoft Virtual Academy is going down very well).

Congratulations to everyone who passed last week’s exam; especially to Fergal Storan, Sean Stack and Pawel Bogucki who won today’s prizes (an MS Press book and a 8GB memory key).

This week my challenge it to pass the Private Cloud: Infrastructure Components test.

To be in with a chance to in a prize, send me a screenshot similar to this one before 09:00 next Monday (5th March):

In answer to your questions: this month will all be about Private Cloud and my prizes will get a little better (I’ve ordered some jackets, umbrellas, mini-toolkits and some 32GB USB 3.0 memory sticks).

Have you all downloaded the Release Candidates of our Private Cloud solution? If not, please download then now from here (you’ll be helping me, as I’m measured on how many people download).

For everyone who enters ALL of the weekly draws in March, I’ll be pulling a name out of the hat and giving away a Nokia Lumia 800

Happy learning!

Unfortunately I can’t open this up to the world – you’ll have to give me an Irish address to claim your prize (North or South).

Monday Morning’s Free Prizes – and the winners are..

ieitpro — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 09:51:32 GMT

From all the entries from last week’s Microsoft Virtual Academy challenge, the three winners are:

Fergal Storan, Sean Stack and Pawel Bogucki.

As promised, their prizes were nothing special (an MS Press book and an 8GB memory key).

I’m ordering up some better prizes in March (jackets, umbrellas, etc).

I’ll be announcing this week’s challenge in a while.

The Irish IT Professional

One of Windows Server 2012's secret weapons: Hyper-V Replica

Mary-Jo Foley recruits Aidan Finn!

Summer is (finally) here – this is you last MVA Challenge..

Learn along with Dave is ending

And the prizes just keep on coming..

The Microsoft Virtual Academy – Prizes just for learning!

SQL Server 2012 Always-On Deep Dive

SQL Server User Group meeting in Dublin on the 23rd May @ 18:30

“VMware Cloud Infrastructure Suite is really more of a marketing term” – did he really say that?

VMware’s CTO, Dr. Stephen Herrod says “a lot of individual products that don’t work well enough together yet”

Happy Tuesday – This weeks MVA challenge and last week’s winners!

I’m still giving away prizes just for learning!

Microsoft Virtual Academy – Your Challenge for this week

Win Prizes just for learning!

Ready. Steady. Go! TheAppBuilder Lets Every Business Win The Race To Have A Mobile App

“Pretty soon every individual and firm will be in the App business” – John Kennedy, Silicon Republic

Featured Irish Bizspark Startup of the Month:

Windows Phone Apps – Made in Ireland

How do you fancy a free Nokia Lumia 800? App Me Up

Here’s a few examples of great locally developed Apps:

Solar Sprint:

1st4 Live Manchester United Scores:

iSpeak:

BusFinder:

Incredible Circus:

Microsoft Virtual Academy – This week’s challenge

I’m still offering the chance to win weekly prizes simply for learning

Just launched! The new SkyDrive preview app for Windows Desktop (and updated SkyDrive app for Phone)

SkyDrive now becomes an integral part of Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista (and Mac OS X)! Read on….

One Month of Learning with Microsoft and all I got was this Lousy Phone! Guest post by Aaron Rolph

One IT Professionals thoughts on the Microsoft Virtual Academy

This week’s MVA challenge – Introduction to Windows Azure

Prove to me you’ve passed this test before Monday 23rd April @ 09:00

Prizes for learning – this week’s MVA challenge is..

If you live in Ireland you can win prizes just for learning

Monday morning’s prize draw – prizes for learning..

And the winner of the Nokia Lumia 800 Windows Phone is..

The three winners are:

Diploma in Cloud Strategy - part-time course beginning in April 2012 at the IMI’s National Management Campus in Sandyford

The IMI Diploma in Cloud Strategy is based on three themes: Strategy Processes and Frameworks, Business Model Innovation and Cloud Computing Fundamentals.

FREE Prizes on Monday (26th March) – Learn Along With Dave

This week’s winners are..

FREE Prizes on Monday (Tuesday) – Learn Along With Dave

This week’s winners are..

Creating and Managing a Private Cloud with System Centre 2012 Jump Start

Great online training if you can’t sleep!

Free Prizes on Monday 12th March – Learn Along With Dave

This Monday’s Winners are:

And the challenge for this week is:

Hyper-V Replica – Made For Irish Business – Guest post from Aidan Finn

One of the best features of Windows Server “8” Hyper-V

Windows 8 – Installing the .NET Framework 3.5

Free Prizes on Monday 5th March – Learn Along With Dave

And the Winners are.. And this week’s challenge is…

Free Prizes on Mondays – Learn along with Dave

This week we’re going to start learning about the Private Cloud

Monday Morning’s Free Prizes – and the winners are..

From all the entries from last week’s Microsoft Virtual Academy challenge, the three winners are:

1^st4 Live Manchester United Scores: