It’s IT Time and in this Blain Barton exclusive, we’re going over the basics of Hyper-V and showing how you can get started with Microsoft Virtualization solutions. Tune in as he previews his “Fab 14 for Hyper-V” screencast series, a short step-by-step video series filled with tips and tricks for the virtualization newbie.
Click here to watch the “Fab14 for Hyper-V” screencast series.
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Join in for the talk about public and private cloud services and how each can better IT Operations. Tune in to watch discussion on various issues to consider like infrastructure and capacity management, security, and budgeting.
To download a Window Server 2012 Evaluation, visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/hh670538.aspx?ocid=&wt.mc_id=TEC_108_1_33
Watch it here TechNet Radio: Inside Microsoft IT - Using Public and Private Cloud Services to Better IT Operations | TechNet Video
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Microsoft IT implemented their first Private Cloud for hosting the development and test environments internally for Microsoft. Their Private Cloud infrastructure supports their internal businesses, giving them the flexibility, scale and cutting edge technology to serve some of the most important product teams.
Watch it here How Microsoft Runs a Highly Scalable and Environmentally Friendly R&D Facility | TechNet Video
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Related resources
Hyper-V labs in here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/hh968267.aspx.
System Center 2012 labs in here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh913622.aspx.
More self-guided learning resources are here https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/
To download a Windows Server 2012 Evaluation, go to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh670538.aspx
To download System Center 2012 SP1 Beta, goto http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34607
Ken Sim, MCT, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation -SEA
Virtualization is a key technology underpinning and enabling both private- and public-cloud deployments. In this session, we will discuss the technical details surrounding domain controller virtualization safeguards in Windows Server 2012 that prevent certain Hypervisor capabilities (when used with virtualized domain controllers) from disrupting the Active Directory system and potentially introducing a permanently divergent state. Beyond simply making virtualized domain controllers safer, Windows Server 2012 also more fully exploits the capabilities of Hypervisors by enabling the rapid deployment of replica DCs through virtual disk cloning—cloning largely requiring only a simple fi le-copy of the virtual domain controller’s virtual disk fi le (VHD) and the creation of basic confi guration instructions. The ability to clone virtual domain controllers takes Active Directory’s support for virtualization to the next level enabling rapid deployment of greenfi eld Active Directory environments and signifi cantly reducing scale-out and disaster recovery time.
Watch it here Windows Server 2012 ADDS Virtualization Safeguards | TechNet Video
Many people are now taking the Microsoft Leaning exams 70-246 (Monitoring and Operating a Private Cloud with System Center 2012) and 70-247 (Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud with System Center 2012) for the MCSE Private Cloud Certification.
Here are list of resources that may be helpful:
Ken Sim, MCT, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation - SEA
In this module you will learn how System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) supports Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012. You will see improvements around the configuration and deployment of the fabric, compute resources, storage, networking components and clusters. Specifically you will learn about automated bare-metal Hyper-V deployments, storage allocation and management, software defined networking (SDN), network virtualization, and cluster manageability enhancements. Next you will discover the new Hyper-V virtualization improvements for Windows Server 2012, including support for VHDX file types, SMB 3.0 storage, synthetic fibre channel HBAs in the guest, and live storage migration. Finally you will see the improvements in private cloud concepts of new user roles, App Controller self-service integration, and simplified VM service template deployments.
This video is part of the Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA). The MVA is a free program delivering structured learning paths for IT Professionals on various Microsoft products and solutions.
Watch it here Microsoft Virtual Academy: Virtual Machine Manager in System Center 2012 SP1 | TechNet Video
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This video showcases software update management in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. In this video, let see how to setup a software update point.
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video series-Software Update Management- SUP setup
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This video shows the end user experience when deploying software updates through System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
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This video showcases software update management in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. Jason Githens shows how to set up autmatic software update deployment.
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video - Automatic deployment of software updates
The Endpoint Protection role is a new role in Configuration Manager 2012 required to start using System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection. This video provides an overview of setting up this role, and explaining how it works.
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video - Getting started with Endpoint Protection
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This video showcases software update management in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. This is the second part of the video showing monitoring and reporting for software update management in ConfigMgr 2012.
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video - Software Update Management- monitoring and reporting part 2
This video showcases software update management in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager. This is the first part of the video on monitoring and reporting for SUM in ConfigMgr 2012.
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video - Software Update Management- monitoring and reporting part 1
The dashboard and monitoring experience for System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection have been fully integrated into the Configuration Manager console, and the list of assets to provide a portal to monitoring and remediating malware, without having to leave the management console. This video walks you through the dashboard and console views that are new in System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection.
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video - Endpoint Protection dashboard and monitoring
Antimalware policy in System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection delivers desired client configurations for antimalware. AM policy is now delivered through Configuration Manager policy, and this video walks you through setting up policy, and explaining how deployment, import, export, and merge work.
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video series - Antimalware (Endpoint Protection) policy management
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Auto deployment rules are a new feature in Configuration Manager 2012, built in part to optimize the deployments of definition and engine updates in Configuration Manager 2012, while limiting the network impact of those deployments. This video walks you through configuring Auto Deployment Rules for System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection.
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video - Auto deployment rules and SUM
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Alerts and notifications in System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection provides admins with in-console and email when malware is impacting clients. This video walks you through setting up alerts and notifications
Watch it here System Center 2012 Configuration Manager How Do I Video series-Endpoint Protections alerts and notifications
See how System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1) Endpoint Protection (SCEP) now supports Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012. See the single administrator experience for simplified endpoint protection and management, real time Endpoint Protection information, and the new and improved Endpoint Protection client. Then you will find out how SCEP can use malware-driven operations, uses client-side merging for antimalware policies, and has integrated optimizations for Windows Embedded clients. Finally you will see the improved operations and reporting, new architectural changes to simplify Software Update Point setup, and faster delivery of definitions through software updates.
Watch it here Microsoft Virtual Academy: Endpoint Protection in System Center 2012 SP1 | TechNet Video
Many organizations are exploring the use of virtualization to optimize their IT environment and streamline their IT management practices. Microsoft provides several products and technologies that will enable organizations to implement virtualization solutions in many different ways.
With Microsoft Desktop Virtualization, you can
You can manage a MED-V deployment, create reports, and perform basic MED-V troubleshooting. The MED-V Workspace is an important concept and you can now configure Workspace Policy and deploy it to the client.
You can administer the App-V infrastructure by providing an overview of the App-V Management Console, its deployment on the administrative workstation, and the required permissions for administering the App-V Management server. Additionally, you can publish and modify virtualized applications, configure version upgrades, enforce license compliance, and manage server groups and server objects.
In this context, Microsoft Virtualization administrators can manage App-V administrators and system options by using the Application Virtualization Management Console.
Administrators can sequence applications for deployment by using the App-V infrastructure or a standalone installation. It is simple and easy to install and configure the App-V Sequencer. Processes such as packaging options, and the procedures for upgrading existing packages, and creating standalone packages are essential here. Advanced sequencing is configurable.
You can now configure and use Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and RemoteApp programs. The overview of the main RDS role services and the services that are required for implementing RemoteApp is essential. You can configure RD Connection Broker and also integrate published RemoteApp programs with Windows 7 clients.
We know the importance of the user state such as folder redirection and this is supported and configurable using Microsoft Desktop Virtualization.
You can now configure and use Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). The overview of Hyper-V server role and the integration of VDI with RDS and Hyper-V is essentiallly important and this is technically feasible wit Microsoft Desktop Virtualization. There are procedures for configuring different types of virtual desktops and to configure a virtual machine for use as a virtual desktop. You can now deploying VDI to Windows 7 client desktops effortlessly and seamlessly.
Microsoft Desktop Virtualization technologies such as MED-V, Windows XP Mode for Windows 7, App-V, Remote Desktop Services, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Windows Server 2008 R2 environments, and Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 as well as the latest Hyper-V in the current Windows Server 2012 release can do a lot of wonders!
Administrators working with desktop virtualization technologies such as Windows Virtual PC, MED-V, Windows XP Mode for Windows 7, App-V, Remote Desktop Services, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Windows Server 2008 R2 and Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, Windows PowerShell 2.0, and System Center Configuration Manager 2012 can certainly benefit considerably, and this happens to be not only technically feasible, but operationally feasible and most importantly, Microsoft makes it financially feasible for many Virtualization customers, be it from SMB (Small Medium Business-es) to Large Enterprises.
Administrators can install Microsoft Desktop Virtualization on various platforms (32-bit, 64-bit), creating and managing virtual hard disks, configuring virtual machine resources including network resources, preparing host machines and support various application thereon. Microsoft Desktop Virtualization allows administrators to:
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While we seldom manually do it, there may be time where one needs to do some fixes during troubleshoots of AD database file - The C:\Windows\NTDS\ntds.dit. DIT stands for Directory Information Tree. Here are some scenarios that one may see:
Common question (Which doesn't need NTDSutil tool): How do you undefined the AD domain password policy i.e. Maximum password length, Minimum password age, Enforce password history? Set the threshold to 0 for each of these i.e. Maximum password length, Minimum password age, Enforce password history undefines them.
Ken Sim, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation, MCT
Many administrators find it laborious to build scripts from scratch, while many can download existing scriptlets and cmdlets in the web and then modify it, there are more DOS commands that are available since NT 4 / Windows 2000. Here are some examples:
Just open start, type Run, and then at the command windows, type the following commands with the /? switch.
The Virtualization scenarios are getting more and more excited everyday as more hypervisor enthusiasts are joining the conversation. That said, Microsoft System Center 2012's capability of supporting 3rd party hypervisors in terms of Virtualization platform definitely gives System Center 2012 a thumbs-up.
In this context, Microsoft has done a couple of great and strong improvements in its latest Hyper-V release in Windows Server 2012:
Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012 supports Live Storage Migration, where it allows the moving of just the virtual hard disk (VHDX being the new file format introduced) itself during migration and this could happen in the live scenarios.
Hyper-V over SMB. SMB 3 is in there in Windows Server 2012. The first step to enable Hyper-V over SMB is to enable delegation on the computer account of the Hyper-V server and then reboot the computer. The Hyper-V computer accounts must be given permission to shares, and this is made easier by adding them to a group. A file share which is normally set up as a scale out file server share for holding server data such as Hyper-V virtual machines. The Hyper-V-Servers group has full control, which is a requirement for Hyper-V over SMB. In Windows Server 2012's Hyper-V, you can create new virtual machines from a VHD running on an SMB file share, and this share can even be clustered. This is what makes Hyper-V in its 2012 release a strong edge overs its counterparts.
Moving onto disaster recovery, Microsoft has made Windows Server 2012's Hyper-V readily supporting Hyper-V replica. To support this, the Hyper-V hosts need to be replication-enabled. The replication can take place via LAN and WAN, using HTTP as well as HTTPS authentication. WAN replication would use alternate settings such as certificate authentication and perhaps sending the initial replica via media (This is just a few minutes process given on a typical WAN speed).
You can configure an alternate IP to be injected into the replica VM. IP address injection allows you to replicate a VM to a separate subnet or site and pre-configure the replica server to start under a different IP address, local to that subnet or site. This is done using IP Address Virtualization in Windows Server 2012. Hyper-V replica supports both planned failover as well as unplanned failover. Note that the replica direction is reversed after it has taken place. An unplanned failover allows you to start the replica server from the last replication point.
In terms if storage and migration, what impossible in existing Virtualization world is made possible through the use of Shared Nothing Live Migration. Prior to this, we need a shared infrastructure in between 2 hosts in order to perform live migration. This shared infrastructure can be costly on a typical SAN storage. Through the use of Windows Server 2012's new SMB share and storage technology, we can live migrate VMs without any dedicated shared infrastructure in between, eliminating the use of expensive SAN hardware and storage, making the live migration a much less expensive and more financially feasible over more supported scenarios.
You can also setup clustering without an expensive SAN hardware storage now, but instead, you can just use JBOD (Just-a-Bunch-of-Disks) to set up your SMB 3 cluster. This significantly lower down the expensive cluster SAN hardware storage costs and making clustering a much more financially feasible availability and deployment for more customers and businesses, ranging from SMB (Small Medium Business-es) to large business-es. In doing this, you would need to first, install the Failover Clustering on each cluster node followed by creating clusters on it.
The cluster will have no local storage since all storage will be provided by scale-out File Servers. This allows the creation of a cluster using only traditional Ethernet, and without SAN based shared storage, making clustering a financially feasible technology to more customers, supporting a wider range of storage users in this perspective. SMB clusters use file shares as the witness disk. Setting a custom quorum to a file share provides the appropriate configuration for this cluster. This can also be done in PowerShell as well as via the graphical UI (User interface). You can now move any running VMs which need to be clustered to an SMB share that is accessible by both cluster nodes. In Windows Server 2012, you can cluster any running VMs without needing to power off the VM, which is an improvement from its predecessor version. This enables running VMs to e joined to clusters, or moved between clusters for ease of management and maintenance.
Last but not least, in terms of QoS (Quality of Service), Microsoft has also improved on its Hyper-V in the Windows Server 2012. You can define limits on the Bandwidth Management section in Hyper-V Manager in Windows Server 2012 by supplying a minimum guaranteed bandwidth and a maximum total bandwidth. During the transfer of any large file in this case, during live migration or live storage migration for examples, you can define your own bandwidth consumption in a VM which you can throttle with QoS. You can set the maximum bandwidth according to your bandwidth availability, and this can be done via graphical UI as well as PowerShell. With the availability of PowerShell, you can even build more robust automation scripts which can be used in conjunction with System Center 2012 Orchestrator for the most optimized bandwidth consumption in terms of QoS. With more bandwidth slowly becomes available, you can then throttle again to remove any bandwidth restriction.
To try this live in action, you can look at the Hyper-V labs in here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/hh968267.aspx.
For System Center 2012 labs, go to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh913622.aspx.
For more self-guided learning resources, visit https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/
Ken Sim, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation - Windows Server 2012, System Center 2012 and Hyper-V
What is a “Jump Start” course?
A “Jump Start” course is “team-taught” by two expert instructors in an engaging radio talk show style format. The idea is to deliver readiness training on strategic and emerging technologies that drive awareness at scale before Microsoft Learning develops mainstream Microsoft Official Courses (MOC) that map to certifications. All sessions are professionally recorded and distributed through MS Showcase, Channel 9, Zune Marketplace and iTunes for broader reach.
There is a very impressive jump start course which showcases the topic on Virtualization for VMware Professionals, visit http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/showcase/details.aspx?uuid=ffec8a0d-bf7f-4374-b033-216f47278bde
Tags: Zune, iPod, Symon Perriman, Media, Articles, Hyper-V, Windows Server, Virtualization, System Center, Private Cloud, Training, TechNet Edge
For self-guided labs on Windows Server 2012, goto http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/hh968267.aspx
For Private Cloud guided labs using System Center 2012, they are available at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh913622.aspx.
For more self-guided learning resources, you can visit https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/
To download a Windows Server 2012 Evaluation in ISO or VHD, go to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh670538.aspx
There is an advanced level course which provides students with the in-depth knowledge and skills needed to design a complex data center architecture using Microsoft virtualization and management technologies, including Microsoft Windows Serverw ith Hyper-V and the System Center Suite. It is intended for IT architects with extensive VMware experience who have the responsibility for designing and deploying virtualization data centers based on Microsoft technology with potential VMware integration.
If you have Windows Server, Hyper-V, VMware deployment and administration experience, this course may be good for you Microsoft Server Virtualization and Management for the Experienced ...
With Microsoft System Center 2012, datacenter administrators can
You can integrate features provided by Windows Deployment Services (WDS) and Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) to help extend and manage the VMM private cloud infrastructure resources. With this, you can integrate VMM with WDS and WSUS to provide PXE and Update server roles, deploy bare-metal Hyper-V host servers, maintain updates within the VMM infrastructure, configure the Update server role and finally, create and use a software update compliance baseline.
You can use the Microsoft Web Deployment Tool and Server App-V to dynamically deploy applications in the private cloud. The process involves configuring the Server App-V Sequencer, configuring the Server App-V Agent, sequencing an application and finally, testing the Server App-V package deployment.
In creating the Private Cloud building blocks, you need to prepare and deploy the underlying infrastructure components that are used as building blocks for delivering private cloud services. The process involves configuring a Guest operating system profile, configuring hardware profiles, configuring your SQL Server, configuring application profiles, configuring virtual machine templates and configuring the self-service user role.
You can monitor the private cloud infrastructure by using System Center 2012Operations Manager. The process involves deploying agents, deploying and configuring monitoring Management Packs (MP), configuring notifications, configuring VMM Integration and configuring DPM integration. You may consider upgrading from Operations Manager 2007 R2 to System Center 2012 Operations Manager so as to benefit from the various new capabilities in this new release. There are various notification options available in Operations Manager.
When it comes to Extending and Customizing Monitoring of the Private Cloud Infrastructure, you can use Operations Manager templates to monitor various applications and implement distributed application monitoring in your environment. This involves creating custom monitoring, creating a distributed application, configuring Service Level management, creating views for Private Cloud infrastructure and configuring SharePoint integration.
In terms of service management for the Private Cloud, you can integrate the core components of System Center 2012 Service Manager into your private cloud infrastructure. The process involves configuring Service Manager basic settings, configuring Service Manager connectors, configuring the Self-Service Portal and configuring Notifications. For existing Service Manager 2010 R2 users, you can consider upgrading to System Center 2012 Service Manager so as to benefit from the various upgraded capabilities in this new release.
In the context of protecting your Private Cloud infrastructure, it is a process which consists of the following steps – Configuring the storage pool, deploying DPM protection agents, creating and configuring protection groups, configuring SQL Server self-service recovery, restoring data from a SQL Server protection group and performing self-service recovery to recover your SQL Server data.
There is a video which showcases more details on Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 in here http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/video/Video/hh851735.