John Weston Stories, Information, and random thoughts.

New Horizons SpecTECHular

jweston — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 20:34:29 GMT

Join New Horizons Computer Learning Centers at SpecTECHular, and learn about the latest products and trends in IT.

Designed for IT Pros, Developers, and Executives, SpecTECHular has benefited the technical community in Austin, Dallas, Denver and beyond for five years, and we are excited to include Killeen in 2012!

Build your own schedule of educational breakout sessions that are relevant to your specific needs. Also enjoy a complimentary lunch and enter to win terrific prizes!

Don't miss the keynote session, IT Megatrends: Addressing Human Capital Needs in the New Normal of Constant Change, with CompTIA's Director of R&D, Rick Bauer.

Build your own schedule of educational breakout sessions that are relevant to your specific needs. Topics covered include:

- Certified Ethical Hacking

- PowerShell

- Network Security

- IT Management with ITIL

- Exchange 2010

- SharePoint 2013

- Windows Server 8

http://spectechular.com/centraltx/

TechNet Radio Community Corner: Deploying Windows Server 2012 with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

jweston — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:49:00 GMT

John Weston and Michael Niehaus join us for today’s show as
they discuss the latest version of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit and how this free tool can
help enterprises deploy Windows Server 2012as well as earlier versions of Windows
Server and Windows operating systems to their environment.

Download
Windows Server 2012 RC

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed
in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth
information:

Resources:

Websites & Blogs:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio

Become a Fan @facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio

Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes,
Zune,
Stitcher, or RSS

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Please Donate American Heart Association I am doing Heart Walk

jweston — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:25:46 GMT

Become a Lifesaver Today! Please support me.

I am walking in the Heart Walk for the American Heart Association in Dallas on September 9^th.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support American Heart Association - Dallas, TX

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matching gifts program by visiting http://www.matchinggifts.com/aha.

TechNet Radio Community Corner: What’s New in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012

jweston — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 15:00:04 GMT

Microsoft MVP Mitch Garvis is back for today’s show as he and John Weston dissect what’s new in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012 and how it compares to VMware. Tune in for another “just the facts” no holds barred discussion on how Microsoft’s private cloud solutions stack up against the competition.

Download Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate (RC)

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

Websites & Blogs:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

Follow @technetradio
Become a Fan @ facebook.com/MicrosoftTechNetRadio
Subscribe to our podcast via iTunes, Zune, or RSS

Download

MP3 (Audio only)
MP4 (iPod, Zune HD)
Mid Quality WMV (Lo-band, Mobile)
High Quality MP4 (iPad, PC)
Mid Quality MP4 (WP7, HTML5)
High Quality WMV (PC, Xbox, MCE)

Houston System Management User Group July 26th

jweston — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:02:59 GMT

HASMUG July 2012

Join us on Thursday, July 26^th 2012 for an exciting and informative half-day event!

HASMUG welcomes you to join us on Thursday, July 26^th for sessions presented by Microsoft, RES Software/Pileus, FyrSoft, and members of the HASMUG community.
Hosted by:

One Briar Lake Plaza
2000 W. Sam Houston Pkwy, #350
Houston, TX 77042
Visitor parking is available in the garage.
(Lunch will be provided, mixer to follow )

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY!

*FyrSoft will be raffling off an XBOX 360 Star Wars bundle!*

Agenda – Thursday, July 26^th 9:30AM - 3:00PM

9:30 – 10:15	Registration/Snack Sponsored by FyrSoft
10:15 – 11:00	The Path to the Dynamic Desktop Brian Marranzini (RES Software)
11:00 – 11:45	Introducing System Center Webtop 2.0 RC Ryan Brennan (FyrSoft)
11:45 – 12:30	Lunch Sponsored by (RES Software & Pileus)
12:30 – 2:30	Community Session! · 12:30 – 1:15 Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Overview (Matthew Hudson) · 1:15 – 1:30 Break · 1:30 – 2:15 The TOP 10 New and Improved Features of Windows Server 2012 (Lee Hall)
2:30 – 2:45	Raffle give-away – XBOX 360 Starwars Bundle and swag provided by our sponsors. Sponsored by (FyrSoft)
2:45 – 3:00	Open discussion / Conclusion
3:00 – 5:00	Community Mixer (Sherlock’s Baker Street - 10001 Westheimer Rd) Sponsored by RES Software & Pileus

Session 1: The Path to the Dynamic Desktop

Content Level: 200
Maintaining security, increasing compliancy and reducing costs while supporting the growing trends of consumerization of IT and BYOPC has become increasingly complex with the modern workforce. As organizations deploy Windows 7, adopt Client Virtualization and deploy Citrix or HVD the need to deliver true ‘Self Service Provisioned’ services that are context aware (Identity, Location, Time, Device Mapping and Security) is essential for a User Centric Management infrastructure. In this session attendees will learn how the RES Dynamic Desktop Studio suite of solutions enhance, accelerate and ease Microsoft System Center environment for desktop solutions.

Presenter Bio: Brian Marranzini is a Solution Architect for RES Software focused on helping customers succeed in their hybrid computing environment implementations, implementing IT as a service, consumerization, and virtualization strategies. Prior to RES Brian worked for Microsoft for 11.5 years most recently as a Technology Architect at the Microsoft Technology Center in Malvern, PA responsible for a building out a $10M+ Showcase Data Center and implemented one of the first public clouds for Microsoft utilizing the Hyper-V, and the entire System Center Suite as well as integrating it with a VMware V-Sphere 4 environment. Most of his career has focused on core infrastructure, security, virtualization, Windows Server and desktop management and networking technologies. Brian has been published in numerous technology magazines, is an accomplished speaker, delivering many sessions at large conferences and Microsoft internal trainings and has developed and delivered numerous technology trainings delivered worldwide.

Session 2: Introducing System Center Webtop 2.0 RC

Content Level: 200
The System Center Webtop solution is an easy to use extensible solution designed for any business looking to unify information across System Center and other data sources into user friendly rich interactive dashboards. With System Center Webtop businesses now have a solution that can unify the sharing of IT management information quickly and on any platform. System Center Webtop provides dashboard support for any version of System Center solution in use and can also connect with other management tools providing a centralized dashboard for the technologies of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Presenter Bio: Ryan Brennan is a managing partner and co-founder of the largest System Center consulting firm in the US, FyrSoft, based in Houston Texas. Ryan has worked in the IT and Systems Management space over 15 years as consultant and commercial software architect, including co-founding Secure Vantage Technologies a commercial security software firm as well as working successfully across most industry verticals and with many fortune 100 companies. Ryan has developed numerous solution accelerators for the community and is the primary architect for System Center Webtop. Ryan has unmatched expertise across the System Center suite and was recently a Microsoft virtual team member on the System Center 2012 release team.

Session 3: Community Session

A session of user group content! Everyone from the user group is invited to present on topics related to systems management that they've come across at in the trenches.

- Time saving solutions

- Demonstrations

- Workarounds

Scheduled Sessions:

Microsoft System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Overview

Content Level: 200
Service Pack 1 for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager and Endpoint Protection Clients for Mac and Linux extends proven System Center management and security capabilities to new platforms and helps streamline your management infrastructure with a single console for managing heterogeneous operating systems. Some key changes with SP1 are Windows 8 support, Mac/Linux support, Windows to Go support for OSD, Application Delivery improvements, as well as improvements in ConfigMgr 2012 hierarchy flexibility. Be the admiration of all your peers and managers with your deep knowledge of how SP1 will improve System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. Don’t miss out!

Presenter Bio: Matthew Hudson is an SCCM Systems Engineer at Schlumberger where he supports their SCCM infrastructure. He has been working professional in IT for more than 20 years and has been working with SMS/SCCM since 2005. Matthew has been a Microsoft MVP in Configuration Manager for the last three years.

The TOP 10 New and Improved Features of Windows Server 2012

Content Level: 200
The soon to be released of Windows Server represents the quite possibly the most significant release of Windows Server. It features next general capabilities to power the world’s largest datacenters and most demanding workloads. There are hundreds of new features and enhancements spanning virtualization, networking, storage, user experience, cloud computing, automation, and more but today you will learn the top 10 features and how to leverage them in your organization.

Presenter Bio: Lee Hall has been an architect at Microsoft for 7 years and has 25 years of Infrastructure and Operations experience starting with US Navy’s Bayan Vines. He is TOGAF enterprise architect, ITIL and CISSP certified along with numerous Cisco, Citrix, Novell and Microsoft certifications. Lee is passionate about uncovering IT efficiencies and enhance operations to make IT a strategic asset to business, moving from a cost center to business partner.

DFW Systems Management User Group

jweston — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:57:31 GMT

All – please use this link to register: https://app.e2ma.net/app2/survey/1404047/213004648/3225e03a04/

Dallas Cloud Summit Slides

jweston — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:51:35 GMT

Yesterday in Dallas we did a great Cloud Summit. I did the session on What is new in Windows Server 2012 and Hyper-V.

Here are my slides:

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 7.0 Now Available

jweston — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 19:44:41 GMT

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 7.0 Now Available

Get ready for Windows Server 2012 with MAP 7.0!

The Solution Accelerators team is pleased to announce the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 7.0 is now available for download.

Download MAP 7.0 now.

Get ready for Windows Server 2012 with the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 7.0. The latest version of the MAP Toolkit adds several new planning scenarios that help you build for the future with agility and focus while lowering the cost of delivering IT. Download MAP 7.0 and begin planning your server deployments today!

New capabilities allow you to:

· Understand your readiness to deploy Windows Server 2012 in your environment

· Determine Windows 8 readiness

· Investigate how Windows Server and System Center can manage your heterogeneous environment through VMware migration and Linux server virtualization assessments

· Size your desktop virtualization needs for both Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and session-based virtualization using Remote Desktop Services

· Ready your information platform for the cloud with the SQL Server 2012 discovery and migration assessment

· Evaluate your licensing needs with usage tracking for Lync 2010, active users and devices, SQL Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012

For a comprehensive list of features and benefits, click here.

Assess Windows Server 2012 readiness

MAP 7.0 assesses the readiness of your IT infrastructure for a Windows Server 2012 deployment. This feature includes detailed and actionable recommendations indicating the machines that meet Windows Server 2012 system requirements and which may require hardware updates. A comprehensive inventory of servers, operating systems, workloads, devices, and server roles is included to help in your planning efforts.

Determine Windows 8 desktop readiness

MAP 7.0 assesses the readiness of your IT environment for your Windows 8 desktop deployment. This feature evaluates your existing hardware against the recommended system requirements for Windows. It provides recommendations detailing which machines meet the requirements and which machines may require hardware upgrades.

Key benefits include:

· Assessment report and summary proposal to help you to understand the scope and benefits of a Windows desktop deployment.

· Inventory of desktop computers, deployed operating systems, and applications.

Virtualize your Linux servers on Hyper-V

MAP 7.0 extends its server virtualization scenario to include Linux operating systems. Now, MAP enables you to gather performance data for Linux-based physical and virtual machines and use that information to perform virtualization and private cloud planning analysis for both Windows and Linux-based machines within both the Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track scenario, as well as the traditional Server Virtualization and Consolidation scenario.

Key features allow you to:

· Incorporate non-Windows machines into your virtualization planning.

· View consolidation guidance and validated configurations with preconfigured Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track infrastructures, including computing power, network, and storage architectures.

· Get a quick analysis of server consolidation on Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track infrastructures to help accelerate your planning of physical to virtual (P2V) migration to Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track.

· Review recommended guidance and next steps using Microsoft Private Cloud Fast Track.

More features and benefits.

microsoft.com/MAP

Want to learn more about MAP?

Visit the MAP home page, and check out all the free content the MAP team has to offer!

Want more MAP?

Team Blog

TechNet Forum

Check out our other Solution Accelerators:

View our full catalog of Solution Accelerators.

Already using MAP?

Tell us your story. Please send your experiences to mapfdbk@microsoft.com.

Follow us on Twitter!

@MSSolutionAccel

Windows 8 and Server 2012 RTM and General availability dates announced

jweston — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 18:39:42 GMT

This morning at the Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto the Windows Product group announced Release to Manufacturing (RTM) and General Availability of Windows 8 the 1st week of August and Late October respectively.

Check out the post:

Windows 8

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/07/09/upcoming-windows-milestones-shared-with-partners-at-wpc.aspx

Windows Server 2012

http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/07/09/windows-server-2012-final-release-timing.aspx

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – How Integration Services work in SQL Server 2012

jweston — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 13:00:00 GMT

About This Video

In this Virtual Lab Insider, John Weston previews for us the latest TechNet Virtual lab on how the integration services work in SQL Server 2012. In this lab you’ll walk through a series of exercises where you’ll explore, deploy and manage an existing integration services project.

TechNet Virtual Labs allow you to quickly and easily try out Microsoft’s newest products for free in 90 minutes or less. No complex setup or installation required.

Click here to check out TechNet Virtual Lab: Exploring SQL Server 2012 Integration Services.

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

Blogs:

Videos:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: SQL Server 2012

Downloads

Video: WMV | MP4 | WMV (ZIP) | PSP
Audio: WMA | MP3

Microsoft to Acquire Yammer

jweston — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:26:08 GMT

Microsoft to Acquire Yammer

June 25, 2012 We released this press release on our Acquiring of Yammer.

Microsoft extends cloud services with best-in-class enterprise social networking.

REDMOND, Wash., and SAN FRANCISCO — June 25, 2012 — Microsoft Corp. and Yammer Inc. today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Yammer, a leading provider of enterprise social networks, for $1.2 billion in cash. Yammer will join the Microsoft Office Division, led by division President Kurt DelBene, and the team will continue to report to current CEO David Sacks.

“The acquisition of Yammer underscores our commitment to deliver technology that businesses need and people love,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft. “Yammer adds a best-in-class enterprise social networking service to Microsoft’s growing portfolio of complementary cloud services.”

Launched in 2008, Yammer now has more than 5 million corporate users, including employees at 85 percent of the Fortune 500. The service allows employees to join a secure, private social network for free and then makes it easy for companies to convert a grassroots movement into companywide strategic initiative.

Yammer will continue to develop its standalone service and maintain its commitment to simplicity, innovation and cross-platform experiences. Moving forward, Microsoft plans to accelerate Yammer’s adoption alongside complementary offerings from Microsoft SharePoint, Office 365, Microsoft Dynamics and Skype.

“When we started Yammer four years ago, we set out to do something big,” Sacks said. “We had a vision for how social networking could change the way we work. Joining Microsoft will accelerate that vision and give us access to the technologies, expertise and resources we’ll need to scale and innovate.”

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

Yammer Infographic

June 25, 2012

The infographic provides background and data about Yammer and SharePoint today, and the opportunities that collaboration and enterprise social networking have to help people work more effectively in today's workplace.

Download: Web

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

About Yammer

Yammer (www.yammer.com) is a leading provider of enterprise social networks with over 5 million verified corporate users including employees of more than 85 percent of the Fortune 500. The basic version of Yammer is free, and customers can pay to upgrade their network to receive advanced administrative and security controls, integrations with enterprise applications, priority customer service and a designated customer success manager.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are any predictions, projections or other statements about future events. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements because of a variety of risks and uncertainties about our business, which we describe in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Forms 10-K and 10-Q. We do not undertake any duty to update any forward-looking statement.

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – New T-SQL Improvements in SQL Server 2012

jweston — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:00:00 GMT

About This Video

In this Virtual Lab Insider, John Weston previews for us the latest TechNet Virtual lab on T-SQL improvements made in SQL Server 2012. In this lab you’ll walk through a series of exercises where you’ll learn how to create sequence numbers, query data, and simplify T-SQL query statements. TechNet Virtual Labs allow you to quickly and easily try out Microsoft’s newest products for free in 90 minutes or less. No complex setup or installation required.

Click here to check out TechNet Virtual Lab: Exploring Transact-SQL Improvements in SQL Server 2012.

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

Blogs:

Videos:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: SQL Server 2012

Downloads

Video: WMV | MP4 | WMV (ZIP) | PSP
Audio: WMA | MP3

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – Creating SQL Server 2012 Tabular BI Models with PowerPivot

jweston — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 13:00:00 GMT

About This Video

In today’s Virtual Lab Insider, Sr. IT Pro Evangelist John Weston previews for us the latest TechNet Virtual lab on SQL Server 2012 and how you can create a tabular BI model with PowerPivot. TechNet Virtual Labs allow you to quickly and easily try out Microsoft’s newest products for free in 90 minutes or less. No complex setup or installation required.

Click here to check out TechNet Virtual Lab: SQL Server 2012: Creating SQL Server 2012 Tabular BI Semantic Model with PowerPivot.

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

Blogs:

Videos:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: SQL Server 2012

Downloads

Video: WMV | MP4 | WMV (ZIP) | PSP
Audio: WMA | MP3

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – Developing a SQL Server 2012 Tabular BI Model using Visual Studio

jweston — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:00:00 GMT

About This Video

In this Virtual Lab Insider, John Weston previews for us the latest TechNet Virtual lab on how to develop a SQL Server 2012 tabular BI model using Visual Studio. In this lab you’ll walk through a series of exercises where you’ll learn how to create the tabular model project, import the data and create relationships, enhance the BI model interface, define and analyze KPIs and finally deploy and manage the model.

TechNet Virtual Labs allow you to quickly and easily try out Microsoft’s newest products for free in 90 minutes or less. No complex setup or installation required.

Click here to check out TechNet Virtual Lab: SQL Server 2012: Developing a SQL Server 2012 Tabular BI Semantic Model with Visual Studio 2010

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

Blogs:

Videos:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: SQL Server 2012

Downloads

Video: WMV | MP4 | WMV (ZIP) | PSP
Audio: WMA | MP3

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – How to Manage Unstructured Data in SQL Server 2012

jweston — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 13:00:00 GMT

About This Video

In this Virtual Lab Insider, John Weston previews for us the latest TechNet Virtual lab on how to manage rich unstructured data in SQL Server 2012. In this lab you’ll walk through two exercises where you’ll learn how to use SQL Server 2012 File Table and Search capabilities as well as Semantic Search. TechNet Virtual Labs allow you to quickly and easily try out Microsoft’s newest products for free in 90 minutes or less. No complex setup or installation required.

Click here to check out TechNet Virtual Lab: SQL Server 2012: Managing Rich Unstructured Data in SQL Server 2012

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

Blogs:

Videos:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: SQL Server 2012

Downloads

Video: WMV | MP4 | WMV (ZIP) | PSP
Audio: WMA | MP3

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – How to work with Availability Groups in SQL Server 2012

jweston — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 03:00:00 GMT

About This Video

In this Virtual Lab Insider, John Weston previews for us the latest TechNet Virtual lab on how to work with availability groups in SQL Server 2012. In this lab you’ll learn how to configure a Windows Failover cluster, configure and manage multiple availability groups, as well perform backups and perform a failover of an availability group. TechNet Virtual Labs allow you to quickly and easily try out Microsoft’s newest products for free in 90 minutes or less. No complex setup or installation required.

Click here to check out TechNet Virtual Lab: SQL Server 2012: Working with the SQL Server 2012 Availability Groups

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

Blogs:

Videos:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: SQL Server 2012

Downloads

Video: WMV | MP4 | WMV (ZIP) | PSP
Audio: WMA | MP3

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – How PowerView and Reporting Services work in SQL Server 2012

jweston — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:58:38 GMT

About This Video

In this Virtual Lab Insider, John Weston previews for us the latest TechNet Virtual lab on how reporting services, specifically PowerView works in SQL Server 2012. In this lab you’ll walk through a series of exercises where you’ll learn how to create and manage a PowerView report.

TechNet Virtual Labs allow you to quickly and easily try out Microsoft’s newest products for free in 90 minutes or less. No complex setup or installation required.

Click here to check out TechNet Virtual Lab: Exploring SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services PowerView

If you're interested in learning more about the products or solutions discussed in this episode, click on any of the below links for free, in-depth information:

Resources:

Blogs:

Videos:

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: SQL Server 2012

Downloads

Video: WMV | MP4 | WMV (ZIP) | PSP
Audio: WMA | MP3

Dallas Texas July 10th Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012 FREE IT Pro and Devs

jweston — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:24:47 GMT

Irving, TX
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
8:00AM – 5:00PM

Irving Convention Center
500 W Las Colinas Blvd
Irving, TX 75039

FREE EVENT
Seating is limited,
so register today.

NOTE: To participate in the Hands-on sessions during the day, please plan to bring your own Hyper-V capable laptop. You’ll build a dual-boot lab environment that you can take back to your shop after the event to continue your learning experience! Minimum recommended specifications include:

· x64 processor with
Intel-VT or AMD-V technology

· 4GB RAM

40 GB of free disk space

Join us for the Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012

Windows Server 2012, System Center 2012 and Windows Azure are some of the most exciting new product offerings this year for transforming your datacenter into private, public and hybrid clouds. Together, these products provide you with the unprecedented ability to easily provision, manage, scale and delegate IT resources in a manner that directly supports current and evolving business requirements – are you ready for What's Next in IT?

Join Microsoft's team of cloud experts as we share with you the tools, techniques and technologies you'll need to take your datacenter to the next level! At the Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012 you will learn how to:

· The latest services and features as part of our Windows Azure IaaS offerings

· Install Hyper-V 3.0 in Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate

· Configure virtual machines to support even the most demanding application workloads

· Live migrate running virtual machines and storage with zero downtime

· Use System Center 2012 Virtual Machine Manager to build private clouds to manage pools of datacenter resources across Hyper-V, VMware and Xen

· Define profiles and templates to standardize and accelerate provisioning of new resources

· Delegate access to securely manage IT resources within private clouds

· Use System Center 2012 App Controller to provide a common self-service experience to application owners across private and public clouds

· … and MUCH MORE!

· x64 compatible processor with Intel-VT or AMD-V technology

· 4 GB RAM

· 40 GB of free disk space

Seating is limited, so reserve your space today and join us for the most important technical training sessions you'll attend all year - the Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012.

Microsoft Cloud Camp 2012 – IT Pro Track Agenda **

8:00am   Check-in Opens (bring your confirmation!)
8:45am   Welcome and Kick-Off
9:00am   Introducing the Windows Azure Spring Release by Scott Guthrie, Microsoft CVP for Windows Azure, Developer Platform
10:30am   Break
10:45am   Session 1: Windows Azure Virtual Machines (IaaS)
11:45am   Lunch
1:15pm   Session 2: What’s New in Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate and Hyper-V v3
2:15pm   Break
2:30pm   Session 3: Building and Managing Private Clouds with System Center 2012
3:30pm   Break
3:45pm   Session 4: Hands-on Lab: Configuring Hyper-V 3.0 in Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate
4:45pm   Prizes and Wrap-up
** This agenda is subject to change – please check back often for new and updated information.

All I want for Christmas…..

jweston — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:15:25 GMT

I can’t wait to get my hands on one of these. More info on http://surface.com

Breaking News: Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate Datacenter now available

jweston — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:17:29 GMT

Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate DataCenter is now available get it here: http://aka.ms/win8server Enjoy!

TechNet Webcast: Running a Small Business on Office 365

jweston — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:02:04 GMT

TechNet Webcast: Running a Small Business on Office 365

Download:

WMV | WMA

Learn how your business can be more efficient and save costs with Microsoft Office 365 and the cloud. In this webcast, you hear about Office 365 and how you can use it for your business. You also see how Tom Werner moved a real estate business to Office 365 and how it's using Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Lync, and Microsoft Office together.

TechNet Webcast: Bare Metal to Private Cloud (Part 1 of 8): Beginning with the End in Mind

jweston — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:00:03 GMT

Download:

WMV | WMA

In this session, we take a look at the end state of managing a private cloud with Microsoft System Center, including the Cloud Services management pack. The sessions that follow this session describe how to go from bare metal to a private cloud managed by System Center.

Windows Server 2012 Community Roadshow

jweston — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:13:50 GMT

Announcing the Windows Server 2012 Community Roadshow

We’ve put a lot of work into Windows Server 2012, and are happy to see the positive feedback from press and those who’ve downloaded the beta. We look forward to presenting Windows Server 2012 at our June TechEd events in Orlando and Amsterdam. In this blog, Christa Anderson, a Program Manager in our Partner and Customer Ecosystem team, talks about an opportunity for those that can’t make it to those events.

-Cheers! Jeffrey

Not everyone who wants to learn in-depth about Windows Server 2012 can make it to TechEd. Therefore, in cooperation with our co-sponsors Dell and HP, we’re sponsoring the Windows Server 2012 Community Roadshow, a complimentary series of events held around the world to present on some of the key infrastructure improvements we’ve made in Windows Server 2012, including:

· Server Virtualization

· Networking

· Storage

· Server Management and Automation

Even better, this road show will be presented by Microsoft MVPs: independent technology experts and experienced presenters. MVPs speak regularly at third-party and Microsoft industry conferences such as TechEd, so we’re thrilled to have so many MVPs presenting in this road show.
You can sign up at no cost for technical sessions in your area from the Windows Server 2012 Community Roadshow web site. Some events are already full, but you can get on the wait list by clicking the SOLD OUT link and following the instructions.
This is a great opportunity to learn about core infrastructure improvements in Windows Server 2012 from independent technical experts. Go register!

Where to see John in June 2012

jweston — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:20:00 GMT

Here is my schedule for June, looks like fun!

June 7th Dallas New Horizons SpecTechular free event. http://spectechular.com/dallas/index.html I will be doing several sessions, come check them out.

June 7th DFW IT professionals User Group 6PM at MSFT office www.dfwitprofessionals.com I am just attending, but should be fun night!

June 8th DFW VMware User Group VMUG http://www.vmug.com/e/in/eid=464 10 AM. I know, but I am certified in VMware, I want to participate in this community. Community is community.

June 11th-14th TechEd North America Orlando http://northamerica.msteched.com Look for me at the Community Sessions

June 21st. Fort Worth IT Pro User Group I am presenting on Windows 8 and System Center Hosted by New Horizon Forth Worth http://www.newhorizons.com/localweb/default.aspx?groupid=424

June 28th Abilene Association of Information Technology Professionals lunch meeting. I will be talking about Win 8,Cloud, Our Data Centers, System Center, Future of computing. http://aitpabilene.org/

TechNet Virtual Lab Insider: System Center 2012 Infrastructure and Application Performance Monitoring

jweston — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:38:43 GMT

Deploying the infrastructure for a private cloud is just the first step. In today’s episode Sr. IT Pro Evangelist, John Baker previews for us the “Infrastructure and Application Performance Monitoring” Virtual lab. Learn how you can use System Center 2012 Operations Manager and Virtual Machine Manager to ensure that infrastructure SLAs are met which means less downtime, better user experiences and lower overall costs. TechNet Virtual Labs allow you to quickly and easily try out Microsoft’s newest products for free in 90 minutes or less. No complex setup or installation required.

Click here to check out TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Operations Manager: Infrastructure and Application Performance Monitoring

Virtual Labs:

TechNet Virtual Labs: System Center 2012

John Weston Stories, Information, and random thoughts.

New Horizons SpecTECHular

Join New Horizons Computer Learning Centers at SpecTECHular, and learn about the latest products and trends in IT.

TechNet Radio Community Corner: Deploying Windows Server 2012 with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit

Please Donate American Heart Association I am doing Heart Walk

TechNet Radio Community Corner: What’s New in Hyper-V for Windows Server 2012

Houston System Management User Group July 26th

Join us on Thursday, July 26th 2012 for an exciting and informative half-day event!

Agenda – Thursday, July 26th 9:30AM - 3:00PM

Session 1: The Path to the Dynamic Desktop

Session 2: Introducing System Center Webtop 2.0 RC

Session 3: Community Session

DFW Systems Management User Group

Dallas Cloud Summit Slides

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 7.0 Now Available

Windows 8 and Server 2012 RTM and General availability dates announced

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – How Integration Services work in SQL Server 2012

Microsoft to Acquire Yammer

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – New T-SQL Improvements in SQL Server 2012

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – Creating SQL Server 2012 Tabular BI Models with PowerPivot

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – Developing a SQL Server 2012 Tabular BI Model using Visual Studio

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – How to Manage Unstructured Data in SQL Server 2012

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – How to work with Availability Groups in SQL Server 2012

TechNet Radio: Virtual Lab Insider – How PowerView and Reporting Services work in SQL Server 2012

Dallas Texas July 10th Microsoft Cloud Summit 2012 FREE IT Pro and Devs

All I want for Christmas…..

Breaking News: Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate Datacenter now available

TechNet Webcast: Running a Small Business on Office 365

TechNet Webcast: Bare Metal to Private Cloud (Part 1 of 8): Beginning with the End in Mind

Windows Server 2012 Community Roadshow

Where to see John in June 2012

TechNet Virtual Lab Insider: System Center 2012 Infrastructure and Application Performance Monitoring

Virtual Labs:

Join us on Thursday, July 26^th 2012 for an exciting and informative half-day event!

Agenda – Thursday, July 26^th 9:30AM - 3:00PM