Microsoft TechNet Ireland Blog : beta releases

Windows 7 and Azure Take Main Stage @ PDC

ieitpro — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 14:32:00 GMT

I was away all last week in Barcelona at my first Tech Ed, and although PDC slightly stole its thunder the previous week with some major headlines around Windows 7 and Windows Azure, I was still very impressed by the Tech Ed experience! Before I give you the run-down on what went on in Barcelona, I first want to do a quick recap on the unveiling of Windows Azure and showcasing of a Pre-Beta Release of windows 7.

1. Windows7 was announced as the formal name of the next Microsoft Client Operating System. See a blog post on why it's called Windows 7.
2. Azure Services Platform and Windows Azure, offering unprecedented power of choice and open connections for developers.

So what are the key things in the many announcements surrounding Windows 7 Client and Windows Server 2008 R2 that are interesting for IT pros? Here is a view on the top 5:

1. Introduction of DirectAccess, a capability that allows IT to manage and update internet-connected remote PCs, even when they are off the corporate network.
2. There is a new Powershell v2 and its graphical editor helps to automate repetitive tasks with minimal scripting expertise required.
3. You have probably heard about BitLocker, with Windows 7 there will be BitLocker to Go - allowing USBs to be protected.
4. Windows 7 will allow IT to control access by specific users to specific applications.
5. Even more tools to help make deployment easier in your organisations, such as Dynamic Driver provisioning, the Deployment Image Service and Management tool, Multicast Multiple Stream Transfer, and improvements to user state migration.

What about Windows Azure? It has arrived and you may have seen previous stories about codename 'Red dog' but its formal name was announced during last week's PDC.

The Irish FACE of Windows Server 2008

ieitpro — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:36:00 GMT

Working together with the global launch team TechNet Ireland has launched the FACE OF WINDOWS SERVER 2008 Ireland. It’s quite cool really as it allows you (together with the rest of the Irish IT community) to download the WS 2008 RC0 evaluation software and share your views on the product. It is also a rich source of information on Windows Server 2008. However, the real funky thing is that you can also create a personal profile, search for people with similar experience, and upload your image to become part of The Face of Windows Server 2008 in Ireland. You can check this out and create you own profile at – www.microsoft.com/servers/faces.

Download - Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 Now!

ieitpro — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:44:00 GMT

You can register for and download the Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate o now from the TechNet Trial Software Center.

Windows Home Server - RC1 Available Now

ieitpro — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:18:00 GMT

I know a lot of you are itching to get your Home Server up and running. Windows Home Server edition will help you connect multiple PC's in your home. Everyone in your home will have a familiar way to store, access, share, automatically protect and back-up digital images, music, video, and personal documents. You can download RC1 from the Microsoft connect website.

To keep up to date with what's going on, sign up for our local TechNet Newsletter.

VHD Test Drive Program

ieitpro — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 18:01:00 GMT

Dave blogged about this earlier today and I wanted to put it up on the TechNet website. You can now download pre-configured, 30 day evaluation copies of Microsoft (and Partner) software from www.microsoft.com/vhd

You can now download:
• Windows Server 2003 R2
• Windows Vista
• Exchange Server 2007
• SQL Server 2005
• ISA Server 2006
• System Center Essentials 2007
• Visual; Studio 2005 Team Suite
• System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 (beta2)

All you need to evaluate any of these products is your free copy of Virtual PC or Virtual Server - and a PC with at least a GB of memory.

To keep up to date with what's going on, sign up for our local TechNet Newsletter.

Windows Vista Beta/Linux IPsec Interop Testing

ieitpro — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:22:00 GMT

This document provides an overview of Linux IPsec solutions as well as detailed discussions on configuring IPsec-Tools for interoperability scenarios between Red Hat Linux Enterprise 4

It describes the configuration and testing of IPsec interoperability scenarios performed between Linux and Windows Vista at the Microsoft OSS Labs. It provides an overview of the available IPsec solutions in Linux, detailed walkthroughs on the configuration of IPsec-Tools in Linux, and the results and insights obtained from the testing. The primary goal of the testing was to discover the level of IPsec interoperability between Linux and Microsoft's and Windows Vista Ultimate (all testing happened on the Beta).

Click here to read the full article on Port 25.

Where we're headed with Virtualization

ieitpro — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 20:43:00 GMT

More often I get asked what is Microsoft's virtualization strategy - I know Dave Northey covered it off very well in the Irish TechNet newsletter recently, but if you didn't get to read that I've just found this blog post from Mike Neil, GM for virtualization strategy at Microsoft where he succinctly describes our overall virtualization strategy.

System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 Beta 2 goes live!

ieitpro — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:54:00 GMT

This release is available here:

32bit Version: https://connect.microsoft.com/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?SiteID=205&DownloadID=6741

64bit Version: https://connect.microsoft.com/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?SiteID=205&DownloadID=6740

DPM 2007 Beta 2 is designed to provide a best-of-breed protection and the most robust, reliable recovery experience for Exchange Server, SQL Server, and SharePoint. Try out the new standard for Windows backup and recovery - DPM 2007 combines the best aspects of Continuous Data Protection (CDP) and traditional tape backup with a seamlessly integrated disk and tape platform. Learn how you can use DPM 2007 to perform better backups as well as rapid and reliable recoveries while significantly reducing the costs and complexities associated with data protection.

DPM 2007 is the first backup product engineered from the ground up with Longhorn server in mind. Leveraging the Windows VSS infrastructure as well as a brand new volume filter, DPM is able to efficiently track block level changes on a Longhorn server with significantly less disk or processor overhead than seen in previous solutions. It also includes support for advanced application configurations on Longhorn like Cluster Continuous and Local Continuous replication for Exchange.

Listed below are just some of the new features that DPM Beta 2 includes:

Ability to restore Exchange at the Mailbox, Database or Storage Group level.
Support for Microsoft Exchange (E2K3 and E2K7), including advanced configurations such as E2K7 Cluster Continuous Replication (CCR) and Local Continuous Replication (LCR) clusters.
Support for Microsoft SharePoint (WSS 3.0).
Support for Microsoft SQL (2K and 2K5), including advanced configurations such as SQL 2005 mirrored clusters. DPM 2007 also supports shortened SQL backup windows without the need for costly compression solutions.
Zero data loss recovery for Microsoft applications
Shorter backup windows and smaller full backups thanks to patented Express Full technology
Efficient use of existing infrastructure, including reduced space requirements for Backup to Disk thanks to innovative data De-Duplication technology.
Enables end users to do their own recoveries and integrates the End User Recovery experience into windows. Recoveries are as simple a right mouse click!
Archive/Tape Backup and Tape Data Encryption
Server system state
DPM Disaster Recovery (DPM Backing up DPM)
Protection of Virtual Server 2005 R2 guest OS's and Virtual Server host based backup support
Files on workstations running WindowsXP Professional SP2 and all Windows Vista Editions except the Home Edition

NoteDPM does not support file protection on laptops running Windows XP Professional SP2 and Windows Vista Editions

Command Line Interface based on Power Shell - DPMV2 Beta2 Windows PowerShell commands

DPMV2 Beta2 provides its own set of Windows PowerShell commands that can be used as an alternative to DPM Administrator Console.

Pre/Post Back-up Scripts
Network Bandwidth throttling Options

Your testing and feedback on System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 Beta 1 contributed to the quality of Beta 2 and is much appreciated. We are excited for you to see the great work our product team has done, and we very much look forward to your feedback on this build as we make a significant step toward the final release.

Important docs:

You may download the following important Beta 2 documents from Connect downloads (https://connect.microsoft.com/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?SiteID=205&DownloadID=6599&wa=wsignin1.0):

Getting Started Guide
Planning Guide
Operations Guide
Upgrade Guide
System Requirements
Deployment Guide
Known Issues/Release Notes
Troubleshooting Guide

Please also check out our beta FAQ

Our beta FAQ can be found here (https://connect.microsoft.com/content/content.aspx?ContentID=3467&SiteID=205)

Technical Support

For technical support, please join your fellow beta testers and the DPM Product team in the newsgroup (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/newsgroups/dgbrowser/en-us/default.mspx?dg=microsoft.public.dataprotectionmanager) to get questions answered and problems solved.

Download Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 Today

ieitpro — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:39:00 GMT

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (formerly code-named "Longhorn") helps you increase the flexibility of your server infrastructure while saving time and reducing costs. Download Beta 3 today.

Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" – Learning Portal

ieitpro — Wed, 02 May 2007 13:02:00 GMT

For any of you who are trying out the Longhorn Beta at the moment and/ just want to learn more you could check out the "Longhorn" – Learning Portal

There are some great e-Learning courses that have just been put up.

Collection 5934: Introducing Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" (Beta 3)—Free for a limited time!
This online learning collection of five clinics introduces the new features and functionality in Windows Server "Longhorn." The courses cover server virtualization, security and policy management, branch office management, centralized application access, and server management. You can take the entire collection or just the courses that interest you.

•	Clinic 5936: Introducing Security and Policy Management in Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" (Beta 3)
•	Clinic 5937: Introducing Branch Office Management in Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" (Beta 3)
•	Clinic 5938: Introducing Centralized Application Access in Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" (Beta 3)
•	Clinic 5939: Introducing Server Management in Windows Server Code Name "Longhorn" (Beta 3)

System Center Virtual Machine Manager Beta 2 is available!

ieitpro — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 13:12:00 GMT

System Center Virtual Machine Manager Beta 2 is available for free public download at http://connect.microsoft.com/vmm.

This latest version of Virtual Machine Manager Beta 2 – represents a major step forward in providing IT administrators with a fully featured, easy-to-use and integrated suite of management tools to tackle even the most distributed and complex virtualization migrations. While the improvements in Beta 2 are too long to list, here is a preview of the major upgrades in this release:

Completely new, easy-to-use and intuitive UI based on the System Center look-and-feel (same as System Center Operations Manager 2007, Service Desk and System Center Essentials)
Physical-to-Virtual (P2V) Conversions (Windows Server® 2000 or Windows Server 2003 are supported
Virtual-to-Virtual (V2V) Conversions – Using the Windows PowerShell® interface, converts a VMWare disk or a whole VM to the analogous VS vhd\vm representation
64-bit VMM server support
Every VMM component is now remotely installable, including the VMM server, library server, delegated provisioning portal, administrative console and data store
Full Windows PowerShell support with documentation – automate away!
Better overall performance and scalability
Every feature from Beta 1 with more functionality and enhancements

Microsoft virtualization offers an unparalleled opportunity for IT departments to maximize their hardware resources and become truly operational agile. We invite you to download and evaluate VMM - check out the website HERE.

Download Windows Server "Longhorn" Beta 3 Here

ieitpro — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:59:00 GMT

I'm delighted to announce that that Windows Server "Longhorn" Beta 3 is available to download HERE.

You can get a lot more technical detail about Longhorn on the TechCenter.

Also if you really want to roll up your sleeves you can check out some of the webcasts below:

TechNet Webcast: What Is New in Windows Server "Longhorn" (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Overview of Server Manager and PowerShell in Windows Server "Longhorn" (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Cluster Validation in Windows Server "Longhorn" (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Internet Information Services 7.0 in Windows Server "Longhorn" (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server "Longhorn": Advancing Network Security (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server "Longhorn": Server Virtualization Solution Scenario (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server "Longhorn": Branch Office Solution Scenario (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server "Longhorn": Centralizing Application Access with Terminal Services (Level 300)

Get READY - Windows Server "Longhorn" Beta 3

ieitpro — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:41:00 GMT

Prepare for the imminent launch of the Windows Server "Longhorn" Beta 3 with this webcast series:

TechNet Webcast: What Is New in Windows Server "Longhorn" (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Overview of Server Manager and PowerShell in Windows Server "Longhorn" (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Cluster Validation in Windows Server "Longhorn" (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Internet Information Services 7.0 in Windows Server "Longhorn" (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server "Longhorn": Advancing Network Security (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server "Longhorn": Server Virtualization Solution Scenario (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server "Longhorn": Branch Office Solution Scenario (Level 300)

TechNet Webcast: Windows Server "Longhorn": Centralizing Application Access with Terminal Services (Level 300)

Register to Be Notified of Windows Server “Longhorn” Beta Availability

ieitpro — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:18:00 GMT

Register to Be Notified of Windows Server “Longhorn” Beta Availability

Windows Server "Longhorn" beta is coming soon. To receive an e-mail notifying you about the availability of a beta version, pre-register now.

Download - Operations Manager 2007 RC2

ieitpro — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 17:01:00 GMT

System Center Operations Manager 2007 (OpsMgr) RC1 the successor product to Microsoft Operations Manger 2005 (MOM) has just been released. You can download it here.

Keep in touch with all the updates in our management products by signing up to our Management Newsletter.