Version 2 of the free-as-in-beer Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool is online.
V2 replaces version 1 gives you new support for Hyper-V, Virtual Machine Manager 2008, and Windows Server 2008. In addition, version 2 of the tool supports System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1, System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2, and Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP1.
When you install this Solution Accelerator, the installer determines which version of System Center Virtual Machine Manager resides on the target computer, and configures the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool 2.0 accordingly. Note: Certain features of the tool are only available when it is installed with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008.
Download the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool 2.0 now, includes:
The Hyper-V Planning and Deployment Guide has just been updated with information about security best practices (including AzMan) and backup:
Planning for Hyper-V Security
Planning for Backup
Using Authorization Manager for Hyper-V Security
Configure Hyper-V for Role-based Access Control
Did we miss anything for these topics? What is the next topic you need? Leave comments.
Additional Resources:
Hyper-V Attack Surface Reference Workbook The Windows Server 2008 Security Guide includes a spreadsheet you can download that lists all the attack surfaces for Windows Server 2008. This guide was initially published before Hyper-V role RTM. When the Security Guide is updated, a new worksheet in the Attack Surface Reference Workbook will be added that lists the attack surfaces for Hyper-V. Until then, you can find the same information in the Hyper-V Attack Surface Reference Workbook, available for download at http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/2/9/829bee7b-821b-4c4c-8297-13762aa5c3e4/Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Attack Surface Reference.xlsx
Virtualization Security Best Practices Podcast: http://download.microsoft.com/download/5/c/b/5cb1943c-751d-4fd4-a897-38926e90a86f/BrandonBakerHyperVSecurity2Podcast.wma
Windows Server Virtualization and Windows Hypervisor: https://www.blackhat.com/presentations/bh-usa-07/Baker/Presentation/BH07_Baker_WSV_Hypervisor_Security.pdf
"Security in a Virtual World": http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc974514.aspx
Hyper-V Help on the Web
The on-the-box Help files for the Hyper-V role in Windows Server 2008 are also online.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732493.aspx
Ever changed your mind about a VMM PRO Tip that you let go by? Ever wanted to find them all again? Courtesy of Francisco - Here’s how:
On the VMM server open an elevated PowerShell command prompt and type the following:
Get-protip | sort createdtime | format-table Name,source,severity,status,createdtime
TechNet recently launched free-as-in-beer "learning" snacks. Learning Snacks are short, interactive presentations about popular topics created by Microsoft Learning experts. Each Snack is delivered by using innovative Microsoft Silverlight technology and includes various media, such as animations and recorded demos. At the end of each free-as-in-beer presentation, you can view more Snacks, learn more about the topic, or visit a related Web site.
Video: Implementing Windows Server 2008 Security Snack
TN learning snack on Ws2K8 Server Security. Including how to use gpmc to edit GPOs.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack05/Default.html
Video: Microsoft Virtualization Snack
5 minute TN learning snack overview of Microsoft virtualization.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/virtualization/snack01/Default.html
Video: Intro to Windows Server 2008 Virtualization Snack
5 min TN learning snack on WS2K8 virtualization.
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/_silverlight/learningsnacks/ws08/snack06/Default.html
Want to see more like these? Leave comments.
Hyper-V How to: Configure Hyper-V Remote Management in seconds
John's blog post describes his HVRemote tool that "automagically" configures Hyper-V Remote Management. Awesomely useful. If you want to see more like this, be sure to leave comments on his blog to encourage him and others ;-)
http://blogs.technet.com/jhoward/archive/2008/11/14/configure-hyper-v-remote-management-in-seconds.aspx
Back in the day, we use to sing "I Want My MTV". Hyper-V TV is here:
Video: All Hyper-V Video
This search brings you all the video tagged Hyper-V across: MSN, AOL, MTV, Hulu, ESPN, YouTube, MySpace, Dailymotion, Metacafe.
To search other video use http://search.live.com/video
Rock on.
I'm reading Super Crunchers, and one of the cases quoted therein is that when you install a lojack in your car, you are benefiting me, even though I haven't installed one. Because the car thieves don't know which cars are 'jacked and which are not, the presence of a certain percentage of cars in the market drives down the overall car theft metric ("the marginal social benefit of the additional unit of Lojack has been fifteen times greater that the marginal social cost in high crime areas" Ayres says in his paper).
Interesting.
How much will crime fall when all of us begin to use our cellphones to anonymously report crime? Here's how:
Text-a-Tip is nationwide computer program. You text the tip, your phone number is anonymized.
1. In the Puget sound area type in CRIMES (274637)
... yes, it is a 6 digit number
2. NEXT: Type in Message: TIP486...( and then continue with your message)
(Example: TIP486 Group of males in a fight at corner of Š.Jackson St)3. SEND
When the text message is received, you receive a pin number, confirming receipt.
Seattle police need some help with with "the lingo" but they are getting in touch with high-schoolers.
In Seattle you can also submit a crime tip anonymously by calling the tipline at 206-343-2020.
Splogbane: If you are reading this on a blog other than http://blogs.technet.com/tonyso, why not stop patronizing a splog and come over to the original?
I continue to marvel at the great graphics and (usually) good taste displayed on the search page over at http://www.live.com/. The great photo today of the Korean War Veterans Memorial really makes me stop for a moment and remember the sacrifice of our nation's service members. And then I get distracted and disappointed by the little ad in the corner:
Dear Live Search gurus - please keep up the good work, and lean into your inclination to use this page for social good - especially on days like today. I encourage you to go all the way and...radical notion I know... LEAVE OFF THE ADS on holidays.
The latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (SIR) - Version 5 - is live. Good video (The Bret and Vinny Show - SIR Volume 5 ) on that page that walks you through the findings.
Or, you could just read the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report volume 5 Executive Summary.
Hyper-V automatically configures your pagefile settings, but if, for some troubleshooting purposes, you may want to change them manually. Here's how:
1. To check current pagefile stats, from the command line type:
wmic pagefile get /format:list
2. To disable automatic system pagefile management, from the command line type:
wmic computersystem set AutomaticManagedPagefile=False
3. To set the desired pagfile location and size (i.e. Initial size = 1000MB, Maximum size = 5000MB):
wmic pagefileset where name=”c:\\pagefile.sys” set InitialSize=1000,MaximumSize=5000
4. Restart the server.
5. To check the results view the PagingFiles value in HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management.