Kevin Remde's IT Pro Weblog
E-mail Technical Questions: Kevin Remde – Kevin.Remde@microsoft.com
Feedback e-mail to my boss: Brian Moore – BriMoore@microsoft.com
Follow Kevin on Twitter: http://twitter.com/KevinRemde
"WAG" = Windows Administrator Groups (on LinkedIn): With Subgroups for user groups by geography - http://tinyurl.com/y8u2z35
Future Live, In-Person Event Information: TechNet (for IT Pros): http://www.technetevents.com/kevinremde MSDN Events (for Software Developers): http://www.MSDNEvents.com
IT Managers Community Hub - http://technet.microsoft.com/itmanagement
IT Manager Community Forum - http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/itmanager
“15-for-12” TechNet Subscription Professional Promotion
UPDATE: This promotion has expired.Buy a new TechNet Professional 12 month subscription, Get 3 additional months for free! (It’s like a whole ‘nuther ¼ of of a year!)Use promotion code: TN3MNA04 (that’s zero-4)http://www.microsoft.com/technet/subscription
General Microsoft Virtualization Resources
Main Page - http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization
VMware Comparison - http://www.microsoft.com/vmwarecompare
* NEW * ESG Lab Report:: Microsoft Hyper-V R2: Scalable, Native Server Virtualization for the Enterprisehttp://www.enterprisestrategygroup.com/2010/07/microsoft-hyper-v-r2-scalable-native-server-virtualization-for-the-enterprise/http://www.infostor.com/index/articles/display/5976242552/articles/infostor/esg-lab-review/2010/july-2010/microsoft-hyper-v.html
Virtual Reality Check - http://www.virtualrealitycheck.net
Datacenter Virtualization and Management
Hyper-V – http://www.microsoft.com/hyper-v
System Center – http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter
System Center Virtual Machine Manager – http://www.microsoft.com/scvmm
Requirements and Limits for Virtual Machines and Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2 - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee405267(WS.10).aspx
Session Virtualization
Remote Desktop Services –
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/rds-product-home.aspx
Application and Desktop Virtualization
App-V - http://www.microsoft.com/appv
MED-V - http://www.microsoft.com/medv
Operating System Virtualization Page - http://www.microsoft.com/vdi
Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) - http://www.microsoft.com/mdop
“Cloud Computing”
Main Page - http://www.microsoft.com/cloud
The "Hyper-V Cloud" - http://www.microsoft.com/privatecloud
Windows Azure- http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure
Microsoft Online Services - http://www.microsoft.com/online
Citrix and Microsoft
Main Page - http://www.citrixandmicrosoft.com
Joint Promotions - http://www.citrixandmicrosoft.com/MCJointPromotions.aspx
Citrix and Microsoft Whitepaper http://citrixandmicrosoft.com/Docs/Top5Contents/Win7CitrixWhitepaper-usletter.pdf
This is a really exciting scenario: You want to get your user(s) upgraded to Windows 7, but they’ve got XP systems with applications that they just can’t do without. For some reason, the applications won’t work under Windows 7.
“Hey Kevin – Isn’t that what XP-Mode in Windows 7 is for?”
Exactly. For those of you who don’t know about it, “XP Mode” is the ability to run what under-the-hood is a copy of Windows XP as a virtual machine.. but giving users access to applications on their desktop as if they were running natively in Windows 7.
But let’s take the scenario a step further… they already have XP running on a physical box. Wouldn’t it be great if there were a tool that would simply migrate in a P2V (Physical-to-Virtual) fashion an existing XP computer into a virtual machine that then will run under Windows Virtual PC on Windows 7?
“Yes!”
Well.. we have a new “Beta 2” of a Solution Accelerator that allows you to do just that. It’s called the P2V Migration Solution Accelerator. And even better, this most recent beta also allows you to automate it in a grand fashion using System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Operating System Deployment if you so choose.
Here are some more resources:
Seems like just the other day the preview of the newest member of the family, Windows Small Business Server codename “Aurora” was available for download. I say “newest member of the family”, because “Aurora” is a server for small businesses of 25-or-fewer PCs. SBS 2008, the most recent released version of Small Business Server, allows up to 75.. and we’ve known for awhile that the next version – Windows Small Business Server 7 – was also on the way to be the next version of the 75-user product.
So today, the preview of Windows Small Business Server 7 is also available on the Connect site.
Look at the SBS Site for more details, and for links to the downloads. There are also good videos and write-ups of the new features of these next versions of Windows Small Business Server.
UPDATE: Also check out the announcement on The Official SBS Blog
IT joke forwarded to me by a good friend…
During a recent password audit, it was found that a user was using the following password: "MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento" When asked why she had such a long password, she said she was told that it had to be at least 8 characters long and include at least one capital.
During a recent password audit, it was found that a user was using the following password: "MickeyMinniePlutoHueyLouieDeweyDonaldGoofySacramento"
When asked why she had such a long password, she said she was told that it had to be at least 8 characters long and include at least one capital.
That’s right. We’re coming to a town near you.
“Or at least near me if I live near one of the cities listed below?”
Well, yeah.. But anyway, we know that there are a lot of you who are just starting or still wondering about deploying Windows 7 and Office 2010 to your businesses, so we’re very excited to be bringing you some free live events on those very important subjects.
Here’s what you can expect if you come to one (this text is from the registration page):
Join your Microsoft IT Evangelists for a free, half-day Firestarter event and hear firsthand how to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows® 7. See how to quickly get up and migrating both Windows 7 and Office 2010 with simple deployment tools, then exploring advanced deployment scenarios using the MDT 2010. Session 1: Can We Bust This Myth? "It’s impossible to upgrade a Windows XP computer to Windows 7" In this fun, interactive session, we'll outline the available methods for moving your Windows XP machine to Windows 7 – while maintaining user data and settings and ensuring required applications are installed in the process. Can we bust this myth in 75 minutes or less? Join us and see for yourself! Session 2: Free Quick and Dirty Deployment Tools If you’re a tech of action and want to move now this session will show you how to get your hand dirty with free Microsoft deployment tools. Planning: When planning your migration to Microsoft Windows 7 & Office 2010, specific knowledge about each PC on the network and its readiness for migration is essential. Here we will show you the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit which gathers essential infrastructure information to answer the question “Are my PCs ready for Windows 7 & Office 2010?” Office 2010 Customization: After you create a network installation point, but before you install Office 2010, you can use the Office Customization Tool (OCT) to create a Setup customization file which enables unattended custom installations. Quick and Dirty Imaging: In this section we detail how to create and use the ultimate technician deployment tool. That’s right the bootable USB drive with imaging tools. These tools enable you to sit at a machine and take or deploy an image at will. Session 3: Automate your Windows 7 deployment using the MDT 2010 You don't have a handful of machines to deploy, you have hundreds – and you want to automate the process. The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit offers a configuration database that enables methodological automation of deployment configurations, allowing you to automatically assign properties based on target computer locations, makes and models, plus computer values. Take a deeper look at this MDT 2010 capability
Join your Microsoft IT Evangelists for a free, half-day Firestarter event and hear firsthand how to upgrade from Windows XP to Windows® 7. See how to quickly get up and migrating both Windows 7 and Office 2010 with simple deployment tools, then exploring advanced deployment scenarios using the MDT 2010.
Session 1: Can We Bust This Myth? "It’s impossible to upgrade a Windows XP computer to Windows 7" In this fun, interactive session, we'll outline the available methods for moving your Windows XP machine to Windows 7 – while maintaining user data and settings and ensuring required applications are installed in the process. Can we bust this myth in 75 minutes or less? Join us and see for yourself!
Session 2: Free Quick and Dirty Deployment Tools If you’re a tech of action and want to move now this session will show you how to get your hand dirty with free Microsoft deployment tools.
Session 3: Automate your Windows 7 deployment using the MDT 2010 You don't have a handful of machines to deploy, you have hundreds – and you want to automate the process. The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit offers a configuration database that enables methodological automation of deployment configurations, allowing you to automatically assign properties based on target computer locations, makes and models, plus computer values. Take a deeper look at this MDT 2010 capability
All events start at 8:00am and go to 12:30pm local time. Brian, John, Matt and I will be delivering the following events. (Click on the links for the appropriate registration page):
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Will I see you there?
RTW = Released to the Web-Inter-tubes
Yes indeed.. the much anticipated beta of the next version of Internet Explorer, IE9, is available for download.
GET IT HERE: http://windows.microsoft.com/ie9
Here is some text from an e-mail I received just prior to the release:
With Internet Explorer 9, we’ve aimed to achieve four primary goals: Speed: creating a browser that takes full advantage of your PC with hardware acceleration across GPU and multi-core CPUs, enabling your code to deliver near-native performance without having to write it differently. Standards: supporting the HTML5 technologies that developers and standards bodies tell us are stable enough for vendor implementation, providing a complete implementation of those standards that enables developers to write the same markup for all standards-compliant browsers. Site-centric: in IE9, we have a new streamlined interface that allows the site experience to shine through. We’ve worked on enabling web developers to more fully integrate with Windows through “site mode”, which offers the ability to pin a site with dynamic jump lists, custom thumbnail previews, and notification icons. Secure: we’ve retained our efforts on ensuring that IE9 protects you from Internet threats, providing users with extra safeguards against malware and phishing sites.
With Internet Explorer 9, we’ve aimed to achieve four primary goals:
“Wow.. pretty geeky stuff.”
Yes, there is a lot to love in IE9 from a development and IT perspective. And the site http://www.beautyoftheweb.com now features links to many great examples of the amazing things that everyone can do (and enjoy) with IE9.
Here are just a few examples (again grabbed from the earlier e-mail):
A couple of examples that are particular favorites of mine (please don’t share them until 11am Pacific): The Killers (http://www.thekillersmusic.com/html5) – one of the biggest rock bands in the world go live with a full IE9-optimized HTML5 site today! Showcasing video, Canvas, WOFF fonts, SVG – this site is full of easter eggs and the band loves what IE9 provides. Jitterbugs (http://html5.cynergysystems.com) – a game that uses Canvas, SVG, WOFF and audio to deliver an experience that you’d have never been able to do in a browser before IE9. WebVizBench (http://www.webvizbench.com) – a benchmark for HTML5 built with data from KEXP that scales up to even high-end graphical hardware – with video, animations, WOFF and Canvas. Rough Guides (http://makethemost.roughguides.com/) – this blurs the lines between a web page and a full application, integrating data from Flickr and curated content into a beautiful, zoomable interface. Never Mind the Bullets (http://www.nevermindthebullets.com/) – a parallax comic built with HTML5. Agent 008 Ball (http://www.agent8ball.com) – a pool game with a spy theme that uses Canvas, audio, WOFF fonts. AP Timeline Reader (http://html5.labs.ap.org/) – a news reader with a difference – browse through the articles that you’re interested in reading and add them to a queue; then read them in a clutter-free environment with customizable fonts and high-res photos. I hope you’ll agree that these are pretty stunning. And of course, all of them can be pinned to the Windows 7 taskbar with hi-res icons.
A couple of examples that are particular favorites of mine (please don’t share them until 11am Pacific):
I hope you’ll agree that these are pretty stunning. And of course, all of them can be pinned to the Windows 7 taskbar with hi-res icons.
I agree, Tim. I agree.
Have you tried it yet? Tell me what you think!
On August 4 we released the fourth platform preview of IE9 for people to try out. As with other technology previews, the point was to give developers a first-look at what the compatibility and performance capabilities are going to be like.
“Yeah, I tried it. It is fast.”
Exactly. And on August 12, James Pratt wrote on the Windows Team Blog about an event coming up on September 15, 2010, where we’ll unveil the public beta of Internet Explorer 9. It’s the “Beauty of the Web” event.
“Hey.. that’s TODAY!”
You got it.
“Does that mean I can download it now?”
Not just yet… but very soon. Watch this space.
http://www.beautyoftheweb.com/
UPDATE: No download available yet, but check out these thorough reviews:
Today Microsoft announced the name of it’s upcoming next version of OCS (Office Communications Server). It’s Lync.
“Big deal. What’s in a name?”
Good point. I guess the bigger news announced today would be that you can now download a Release Candidate of Lync, too.
UPDATE: Be warned that if you simply want to try the new Lync client, it won't work well against your existing OCS installation. (Thanks to Jeff Schertz's Blog for the heads-up.)
For more details, check out the Microsoft New Center announcement.
This is a really great idea, and a very unique opportunity to participate. On September 22, 2010 there is a webcast happening entitled “TechNet Webcast: Windows PowerShell Basics for IT Professionals”. But that alone isn’t very exciting.
“It is to me, Kevin. I’d like a little help getting started with PowerShell!”
Certainly. But wouldn’t it be even better if we gave you the chance to submit an idea for a PowerShell script prior to the webcast?
“Yes! I have several things I would like to automate using PowerShell!”
Absolutely. So… E-mail your script ideas to aeshen@microsoft.com by September 15, 2010, and the webcasters may pick yours as one of the scripts they’re going to create right there on the live webcast.
Complete details about the event can be found HERE.
And CLICK HERE to register for the live event. (Also click there if it’s after September 22, 2010, and you’d like to view the webcast recording.)
You’re not alone! Sure, many people are making the switch to Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8, but some are actually being held back because of applications or company web-based tools that were built for and require IE 6. And that’s just not right!
“But what do we do about it, Kevin?”
Well, one thing I suggest is that you attend the Virtual Roundtable happening on September 30, 2010 at 9:00am Pacific Time. The Springboard Series is putting on the roundtable discussion, featuring product and industry experts, to discuss and answer your questions on how to go about making the transition; whether it’s migrating your web applications, or configuring IE 8 to work with your old applications.
Here is the link to the main page with the details. It also includes a handy “Save the Date” button to help you add it to your calendar.
And in addition, you can submit your questions NOW by e-mailing them to vrtable@microsoft.com. (Of course you could also wait and ask your questions live during the event.)