Networking TechCenter Blog

Five step-by-step guides added to the DHCP page (Networking TechCenter)

Scott Somohano — Thu, 05 May 2011 22:23:00 GMT

If you want to try out DHCP on Windows Server 2008 R2 in a test lab, wow, this is your lucky day! We've added links to five step-by-step guides on the DHCP page of the Networking TechCenter.

All five can be found in the TechNet Technical Library:

Demonstrate DHCP Link Layer-based Filtering in a Test Lab: This DHCP step-by-step guide shows how to deploy link layer-based filtering in a test lab so that you can better understand how this configuration works.
Demonstrate DHCP Name Protection in a Test Lab: This DHCP step-by-step guide contains an introduction to name protection and instructions for setting up a test lab using one DHCP server and three client computers.
Demonstrate DHCP Split Scope with Delay on a Secondary Server in a Test Lab: This DHCP step-by-step guide contains an introduction to using DHCP with a split scope on a secondary server, with delay, and instructions for setting up a test lab using two DHCP servers and one DHCP client.
Migrating DHCP to a Cluster Running Windows Server 2008 R2: This DHCP step-by-step guide describes the steps that are necessary when migrating a clustered DHCP server to a cluster running Windows Server 2008 R2, beyond the standard steps required for migrating clustered services and applications in general.
Demonstrate DHCP Failover Clustering in a Test Lab: Introduces quorum-based clustering and instructions for setting up a test lab using two DHCP servers running Windows Server 2008 R2, one Windows Storage Server, and two Windows DHCP clients.

Thanks,
Scott, your Network TC editor

Support and Library nodes overhauled for Networking and Access TechCenter

Scott Somohano — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:27:52 GMT

Two more significant updates to announce today on the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter (Network TC, for short). A month ago, the Downloads page, one of the 'global' navigation pages in the Network TC, was updated.

Today two more of these 'global' pages have also been updated:

Support page: This page was previously matched to the TechNet Support page, which is to say, much too broadly for networking content. So I've updated to focus it on networking technologies.
It also includes several feeds for KB articles about each of the four most current Windows operating systems (Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista).
Library page: This is the link that takes you to the networking section of the Technical Library, and it was desperately in need of update. The library is deep -- tens of thousands of pages -- and the networking content is somewhat scattered. Previously, this link took you to a page in the library that had limited scope and no real text.
With the help of writer Joseph Davies (of Cable Guy fame), I've enriched this page to provide a much broader range of content within the library -- and some content beyond.

Next up: Updating the Learn page on the Network TC. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share them here.

Have a great weekend,
Scott, your Network TC editor

Networking TechCenter update (4/14/11): NPS, Windows Firewall, IPsec, RRAS, BranchCache

Scott Somohano — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 00:01:32 GMT

Here are today's updates on the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter (Network TC, for short):

Network Policy Server: Added a link to the IAS to NPS MIgration Problems thread on the Network Infrastructure Servers forum.
Routing and Remote Access: Added a link to the popular VPN Client Compatibility with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 topic in the Technical Library.
Windows Firewall and IPsec: Added two new items, Windows Firewall with Advanced Security Learning Roadmap and a new Test Lab Guide to protect traffic to domain controllers with IPsec.
BranchCache: Added a link to the new BranchCache Learning Roadmap in the Technical Library. Also available as a download.

Thanks,
Scott, your Network TC editor

Networking TechCenter update (4/12/11): Home page, DNS, DHCP

Scott Somohano — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:53:00 GMT

A few more updates on the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter (aka the Networking TC) late last week:

Home page: Improved some cosmetic stuff, but also added new links to the new Base Configuration Test Lab Guide, the Test Lab Guide blog, and the BranchCache Learning Roadmap.
Domain Name System (DNS): Added links to the popular DCDiag tool, its DCDiag reference, and to a timely TechNet Forum thread, DNS - IPv6 registering but not IPv4.
DHCP: Added a link to a TechNet Forum thread, DHCP Not Updating DNS 2008 Server. Also, fixed a bunch of broken links, especially for Windows Server 2003 content.

And in case you noticed, some pages on the Networking TC disappeared from Google search results about two weeks ago. This affected many of our core technologies, such as DHCP, but the good news is that many of them have regained their previous search rank. So far, the last pages to re-surface in search results are DirectAccess and Virtual Private Networks. We are working to restore their search rank too.

Thanks,
Scott, your Networking TC editor

Networking TechCenter update (3/25/11): Wired 802.1X, Peer-to-Peer, Downloads

Scott Somohano — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:32:28 GMT

A few more updates on the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter (aka the Networking TC) this week:

Wired networking with 802.1X authentication: This update added an 802.1X authentication overview topic to the Featured Content section, because this technology suffers a bit of an identity crisis. Also moved few other items around on the page based on their popularity and better organization.
Peer-to-peer networking: Added Introduction to Windows Peer-to-Peer Networking (for Windows XP) to the Featured Content section.
Downloads: Completely re-organized and updated the page. This was so overdue, and this week's update emphasizes networking tools. The next update will add more of the documentation available as downloads. We have a lot of those. If you have suggestions for the Downloads page, please reply to this blog post.

Finally, we are thinking about merging this blog into the WSiX Network Connection blog, which is updated by my counterparts -- the technical writers for networking content on the Windows Server iX team.

Have a great weekend,
Scott, your Networking TC editor

Networking TechCenter update (3/17/11): IAS, VPN

Scott Somohano — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 00:48:16 GMT

A few more updates on the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter (Networking TC, for short) today:

Internet Authentication Server (IAS): IAS is the Windows Server 2003 fore-runner to Network Policy Server in Windows Server 2008. Added the the Deploying IAS chapter of the Windows Server 2003 Deployment Guide to the Featured Content section. As a bonus, I fixed its broken link, and the broken link to the IAS Technical Reference. These things might be a bit more helpful if you can find them. ;-P
Virtual Private Networks (VPN): Added SSTP Remote Access Step-by-Step Guide: Deployment to the Featured Content section.
Networking TechCenter home page: Added feeds from this blog and the Microsoft Enterprise Networking Team blog. I wish I found their blog before I started this one. :-)

Thanks, Scott, your Networking TC editor

Networking TechCenter update (3/16/11): Windows Firewall, IPsec, NAP

Scott Somohano — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:40:00 GMT

A few more updates on the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter (Networking TC, for short) today:

Network Access Protection (NAP): Completely re-organized and updated the page, with the most poplar links collected into a "Featured Content" section.
Windows Firewall: Added a link to Windows Firewall and IPsec Policy Deployment Step-by-Step Guide for Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7.
IPsec: This is mostly a Windows Server 2003 technology. (Since Windows Server 2008, IPsec is hidden inside Windows Firewall.) Added a link to the popular intro white paper Internet Protocol Security for Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

Thanks, Scott, your Networking TC editor

Networking TechCenter update (3/11/11): Wireless

Scott Somohano — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:12:17 GMT

Just one update today:

Wireless Networking: Highlighted the Netsh Commands for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) topic in the Featured Content section.

Have a great weekend, Scott, your Networking TC editor

Networking TechCenter updates (3/10/11): BranchCache, NPS, Print and Fax

Scott Somohano — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 01:44:32 GMT

I updated a few pages on the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter (Network TC, for short) yesterday and today:

Network Policy Server: Added a link to the NPS Migration Guide in the Windows Server Tech Library.
Networking TC home: Added a link to DNS for Small Networks Step-by-Step Guide on the Download Center.
BranchCache: Added a link to the brand new BranchCache settings topic in the (fairly) new TechNet Wiki.

I also updated a couple pages on the Windows Server Tech Center:

Print Services: Added a link to Set Permissions for Print Servers, part of the Installed Help for Windows Server 2008 R2.
Fax Server: Added a link to Install and Share a Fax Printer for Network Users, which is also part of the Installed Help for Windows Server 2008 R2.

Thanks, Scott, your Network TC editor

Welcome to the launch of the Networking TechCenter blog!

Scott Somohano — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 01:24:00 GMT

Hello and welcome! This blog is a companion to the Networking and Access Technologies TechCenter found elsewhere on TechNet.

At this point, the Networking TC (as I like to call it), is mostly centered on networking technologies found in the Windows Server operating system. As such, we have a portal page there for each of the major networking technologies. The goal is to help you -- customers and IT pros -- find specific networking content deep in the Windows Server Technical Library and across Microsoft.com.

This blog will be used to highlight updates made on the Networking TechCenter -- and serve as an RSS feed of those updates.

Updates will typically occur anywhere from weekly to daily. You know how blogging is...we'll see how it goes. :)

Thanks, Scott, your Networking TC editor

P.S. I recommend is the WSiX Network Connection blog. It is updated by my counterparts -- the technical writers for networking content on the Windows Server iX team.