Nathan Mercer's blog

December NZ TechNet UNPLUGGED sessions for IT Pros

nmercer — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:50:33 GMT

Join us around New Zealand (Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga, Auckland), in December 2009 for the latest Microsoft UNPLUGGED Update. Come to TechNet morning for IT Pros and/or afternoon MSDN sessions for Developers. Microsoft NZ UNPLUGGED brings you a series of technical updates which provide in-depth coverage of Microsoft software and technologies.

Next month we will take IT Pros through the process of migrating Windows XP to Windows 7, and provide a Microsoft Infrastructure Update showcasing the latest Microsoft technologies for IT Pros. Level 300.
Full information and details. Please remember to register!

TechNet Sessions for IT Pros: 9am - 12:30pm

1: Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7: Get it done with Microsoft Deployment Tools

You've been asked to upgrade your desktops from Windows XP to Windows 7 and you know there isn't a direct upgrade path, so what’s the best strategy? This session will give you the answers and tools that will make your migration from Windows XP to Windows 7 easy. First we’ll discuss standalone migrations using standard methodologies. Then we’ll explore large scale migrations with the Microsoft Deployment Tool Kit 2010 technologies, covering the "Lite-Touch” Installation (LTI) method leveraging User State Hard-Link Migration which will minimise network traffic and get the migration done in a timelier manner. What tools will we use? The User State Migration Tool (USMT) in the Automated Installation Toolkit (AIK) has everything you need to kick off the migration and deploy Windows 7.

2: Microsoft Infrastructure Update

So many things happening in the Microsoft Infrastructure space, and we have just one session - so we decided to do a special end of year update on Microsoft Infrastructure topics for IT Professionals including:
• Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack (MDOP) 2009 R2
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
• Web Platform Installer
• Sysinternals Disk2VHD
• What’s new in Office 2010 client beta
• Microsoft Online Services including Business Productivity Online Suite
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Foundation
• Sneak peak at Microsoft System Centre Essentials 2010
• Sneak peak at Microsoft System Centre Data Protection Manager 2010

TechNet Sessions for IT Pros: 9am - 12:30pm

Dates and Registration Links:

WELLINGTON Tue 1 December
CHRISTCHURCH Wed 2 December
DUNEDIN Thu 3 December
TAURANGA Tue 8 December
AUCKLAND Wed 9 December

Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2 Microsoft e-book download

nmercer — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:47:12 GMT

download Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2

Learn about the new features of Windows Server 2008 R2 in the areas of virtualisation, management, the Web application platform, scalability and reliability, and interoperability with Windows 7.

Free e-book offer that features Windows Server 2008 R2 (XPS file, 28MB)
Free e-book offer that features Windows Server 2008 R2 (PDF file, 11MB)

written by industry experts Charlie Russel and Craig Zacker along with the Windows Server team at Microsoft.

Wellington - Wake up and Win Windows 7 on October 22nd

nmercer — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:04:09 GMT

Wake up and Win - Windows 7 on October 22^nd

Microsoft and Hewlett Packard invite you to help celebrate the launch of Windows 7 and HP’s all new range of Windows 7 PC’s.

Be part of the moment when Windows 7 becomes available in NZ and have a chance to win a new Hewlett Packard Windows 7 PC.

Help Microsoft mark the day and put Wellington on the map by participating in a large-scale group photograph next Thursday morning. One person will win an HP Notebook and there are also chances to win copies of Windows 7.

Thursday, 22nd October 2009, 8am – 8.40am

Civic Square (or if it’s raining we will be under the sails on Queens Wharf)

RSVP: not required, but available via Facebook...
http://www.facebook.com/windowsnz?v=app_2344061033

Auckland - Wake up and Win - Windows 7 PC's on October 22nd

nmercer — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:45:59 GMT

Wake up and Win - Windows 7 PC's on October 22^nd

Microsoft, Hewlett Packard and New Zealand’s most famous Number 7 – Richie McCaw, invite you to help celebrate the launch of Windows 7 and HP’s all new range of Windows 7 PC’s.

Be part of the moment when Windows 7 becomes available in NZ and have a chance to win a new Hewlett Packard Windows 7 PC, one will be given away every 10 minutes between 7 and 8:15am.

Queen Elizabeth Square, Britomart

22nd October 2009, 7am – 8.15am

MC Frankie Stevens and music by the Auckland Samba Band.

System Centre Essentials 2010 Public Beta is here

nmercer — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:02:45 GMT

Time to check out the next full release of System Centre Essentials. SCE 2010 is designed specifically for medium-sized organisations and delivers a unified physical and virtual IT management experience.

It enables you to better secure, update, monitor, and troubleshoot from a single console, so you can efficiently and proactively manage your IT environment:

Integrated server virtualisation management support, built on VMM 2008 R2 technology, including easy template-based creation of new virtual servers and live migration
Adjusted licensing limits to allow for management of virtual servers
Rewritten setup for an easier, intuitive installation
Built-in automatic Microsoft Update subscription maintenance
Provided flexible computer grouping
Added additional software distribution target criteria
A unified solution with a single console for managing your physical and virtual servers, client computers, hardware, software, and IT services
Smart alert notifications of IT issues, providing expert diagnostic information to accelerate problem diagnosis and quickly resolve issues before they cause downtime
Simplify complex management tasks, like creation of virtual servers, software deployment, update management, and inventory collection
And designed to be easy to deploy and maintain, exclusively for mid-sized organizations

Read more on the SCE Blog or download here.

Need some free Antivirus for home?

nmercer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:02:57 GMT

Microsoft just launched Microsoft Security Essentials…

Microsoft Security Essentials provides real-time protection for your home PC that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a free download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and always kept up to date so you can be assured your PC is protected by the latest technology. It’s easy to tell if your PC is secure — when you’re green, you’re good. It’s that simple.

Microsoft Security Essentials runs quietly and efficiently in the background so that you are free to use your Windows-based PC the way you want—without interruptions or long computer wait times.

Official site: http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials

http://blogs.technet.com/mmpc/archive/2009/09/29/introducing-microsoft-security-essentials.aspx

Security Essentials engine and updates are backed up by the Microsoft Malware Protection Centre (MMPC) which provides world class antimalware research and response capabilities that support Microsoft’s range of security products and services. With laboratories in multiple locations around the globe including Melbourne – Australia, Redmond - USA, Dublin - Ireland, with additional researchers in Japan, California, New York and other locations the MMPC is able to respond quickly and effectively to new malicious and potentially unwanted software threats wherever and whenever they arise.
Learn more about the Microsoft Malware Protection Centre (MMPC)

Microsoft security products

Get and stay protected with Microsoft security products

Enterprise protection

Learn more about Microsoft Forefront
Consumer protection

Learn more about Microsoft Security Essentials

final release of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 available for download

nmercer — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:39:06 GMT

Get ready to deploy Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with the final release of Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010

Click here to download MDT now. (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=159061)

As you prepare to deploy Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, get a jump start with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010. Leverage this Solution Accelerator to achieve efficient, cost-effective deployment of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

MDT is the recommended process and toolset to automate desktop and server deployment. MDT provides you with the following benefits:

Unified tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment in a common deployment console and collection of guidance.
Reduced deployment time and standardised desktop and server images, along with improved security and ongoing configuration management.
Fully automated Zero Touch Installation deployments by leveraging System Centre Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 2 Release Candidate and Windows deployment tools. For those without a System Centre Configuration Manager 2007 infrastructure, MDT leverages Windows deployment tools for Lite Touch Installation deployments.

MDT 2010 includes new features such as flexible driver management, optimised user interface workflow, and Windows PowerShell command line interface to help simplify deployment and make your job easier. Deploy faster and more easily with MDT 2010.

New in MDT 2010

Improvements in MDT 2010 allow you to:

Access deployment shares from anywhere on the network and replicate files and settings across organisational boundaries or sites.
Organise and manage drivers, operating systems, applications, packages, and task sequences with an improved UI.
Automate UI functionality using the new Windows PowerShell command line interface.

Next steps

Download Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010. (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=159061)
Learn more about MDT by visiting the MDT site on TechNet. (www.microsoft.com/mdt)
Get the latest news by visiting Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Team blog. (http://blogs.technet.com/msdeployment/default.aspx )
Provide us with feedback at satfdbk@microsoft.com.

If you have used a Solution Accelerator within your organisation, please share your experience with us by completing this short survey (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=132579).

Wellington Novell Users International meeting this week – Windows 7 Technical Overview

nmercer — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:02:26 GMT

I will be presenting at the Novell Users International meeting (aka Novell User Group) in Wellington this week, on Weds 2nd September @ 530PM.

The NUI organising committee kindly asked me to present on something relevant, so with the upcoming launch of Windows 7 I offered to give a technical overview of the new operating system. We will have free Windows 7 32bit and 64bit Windows 7 RC DVDs available on the night too.

Windows 7 Technical Overview

In designing Windows 7, the engineering team had a clear focus on what we call ‘the fundamentals': performance, application and device compatibility, reliability, security and battery life. Feedback from beta users and reviewers of Windows 7 indicate that the attention on fundamentals is resonating well with many users and professionals.

This session will explore the new Windows 7 release, with enhanced security and control, secure anywhere access that makes users more productive, and seamless desktop management tools. We will discuss networking features such as DirectAccess and BranchCache and management improvements such as PowerShell V2.0, Group Policy enhancement, deployment features including virtual desktop infrastructure improvements, and Troubleshooting Packs.

Next we will discuss data protection features such as BitLocker and BitLocker to go, and core security improvements including UAC and AppLocker to ensure a secure desktop platform. Finally, the session will explore Windows 7 power efficiency improvements to reduce energy costs and improve battery life. Come see firsthand what all the buzz is about in this demo-intensive session.

The venue for this event will be:

Microsoft New Zealand

Level 12

Vodafone on the Quay

157 Lambton Quay

Wednesday 2nd September 2009

Time: 5:30pm - 7pm

next Wellington Infrastructure User Group meeting announced – Active Directory in R2

nmercer — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:19:16 GMT

What’s new in Windows Server 2008 R2 Active Directory

Presented by: Tony Murray
When: Tuesday 8th Sept 2009 5pm
Where: Microsoft HQ Wellington

With R2 just out, there are some new AD features thrown into the mix. Tony will introduce and demo these features and, with time permitting, open a discussion about how best to approach the upgrade.

The new features covered are:

•        PowerShell Cmdlets
•        Active Directory Administrative Centre
•        Best Practice Analyser
•        Recycle Bin for AD
•        Managed Service accounts
•        Offline Domain Join

As a reminder a link to the Wellington Infrastructure User Group

Hope to see you there… with any luck there will be beer and pizza at the end of the session!

Exchange 2007 SP2 ready for download

nmercer — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:49:31 GMT

Exchange 2007 SP2 is now ready for download, (version 08.02.0176.002). As announced in May Exchange 2007 SP2 has in-box backup when running on Windows Server 2008 with Volume Snapshot, new enhanced auditing capabilities, improved public folder quota management, and heaps of new PowerShell cmdlets.

For an overview of the new features that are available in Exchange Server 2007 SP2, see "What's New in Exchange Server 2007 SP2"

SP2 is an important service pack for Exchange 2007 and is required to interoperate with Exchange Server 2010.

It can be installed in 3 ways:

fresh install with Exchange Server 2007 SP2
in-place upgrade from Exchange Server 2007 to SP2
or an in-place upgrade from Exchange Server 2007 SP1 to SP2

Download SP2 here.
Before installing, read the release notes here.
Questions? Ask at the Exchange Software update forums

There are some special install instructions to be aware of installing Exchange 2007 SP2 onto EBS 2008 and SBS 2008 - please read these for the in-depth info:

SP2 will upgrade the AD schema and Windows Installer 4.5 is required to install Exchange 2007 SP2. This is a requirement for upgrade scenarios as well as for new installations of Exchange 2007 SP2. Install Windows Installer before you install Exchange 2007 SP2. When you install Windows Installer 4.5, you may have to restart the computer. To install this software, see Windows Installer 4.5

For reference the Active Directory Schema Changes Reference, September 2009 details the changes that Exchange makes to the AD schema when it is installed including Exchange Server 2010, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007, and Exchange Server 2003.

final version of VMM 2008 R2 evaluation available for download

nmercer — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:19:52 GMT

We’re pleased to announce the RTM of System Centre Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2. VMM 2008 R2 RTM is the latest upgrade to VMM 2008, Microsoft’s comprehensive management solution for the virtualised datacentre which enables consolidation of physical servers, rapid provisioning of new virtual machines and unified management of physical and virtual infrastructure through one console. VMM 2008 R2 now manages many of the great new features of Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V including:

Live Migration -- for moving virtual machines between hosts with no downtime
Additional enhanced migration support for SAN migration in and out of clusters
Multiple virtual machines per LUN using Clustered Share Volumes
Hot add of virtual machine storage

Additional features:

Functionality to migrate storage for running VMs
iSCSI target and SAN-based migration across clusters
Template-based rapid provisioning
Maintenance mode to automate the evacuation of VMs off host machines,
Live Migration host compatibility checks

More information about VMM 2008 R2:

What’s new in VMM 2008 R2?
Key benefits of VMM 2008 R2
System requirements
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
To read the announcement about the release of VMM 2008 R2, please visit the VMM Management Blog

Downloading VMM 2008 R2 Evaluation:

The VMM 2008 R2 RTM 180-day evaluation download is located in the Download Centre site.

TechNet Training

September 10, 5am NZ time

To learn more about the new features and capabilities of VMM2008 R2, please attend our upcoming TechNet session ‘Technical Overview of System Centre Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2’.

Presented by our Technical Product Manager Kenon Owens, it will be chock full of new and cool VMM 2008 R2 items. Go here to register for this Thursday, September 10, 2009 (5:00 AM NZ) event.

Links

Link to TechNet Session:

http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032423216&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode=Us

Link to VMM 2008 R2 Evaluation Download:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=292de23c-845c-4d08-8d65-b4b8cbc8397b

Exchange Server 2010 Ignite Training NZ 3 day deep dive technical session

nmercer — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 04:46:00 GMT

We are pleased to announce the availability of Exchange 2010 IGNITE training for NZ IT Professionals. This training workshop is focused on the soon-to-release Exchange Server 2010 and is a 3 day deep-dive technical session aimed at all those who are proactively looking to stay ahead of the market using this new mail platform.

With Exchange Server 2010 being the cornerstone of Microsoft’s Unified Communications solution, this workshop will cover a wide variety of topics and use hands-on labs to provide first-hand experience on the technology (i.e. architecture, setup, deployment, tools, migration, security, transport, unified messaging, governance, archiving, storage and high availability).

Details:
We will be running these workshops in two locations (Auckland and Wellington) with a repeat session running in Auckland based on market demand. We’ve managed to reduce the cost considerably to $999 (excl. GST) per attendee and provide catering for lunch, mid-morning/afternoon breaks.

See below for available sessions:

Date                            Location      Call to Register
06.10.09 – 08.10.09    Auckland     0800 2 REPLY (273 759)
20.10.09 – 22.10.09    Auckland     0800 2 REPLY (273 759)
28.10.09 – 30.10.09    Wellington 0800 2 REPLY (273 759)

Important: This training will be based on pre-released information and will require all attendees to have a current non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in effect. Those without a current NDA will be sent one once they have successfully registered. These forms must be signed and received by Microsoft the week prior to the selected session.

For more information, contact 0800 2 REPLY or email.

Proposed agenda is attached below.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 RC - now available for download

nmercer — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:03:17 GMT

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit is the recommended process and toolset to automate desktop and server deployment. MDT benefits you by providing:

Unified tools and processes required for desktop and server deployment in a common deployment console and collection of guidance.
Reduced deployment time, standardised desktop and server images, along with improved security and ongoing configuration management.

MDT 2010 includes new features like flexible driver management, optimised user interface workflow, and access to distribution shares from any location to simplify deployment and make your job easier. Deploy faster and easier with MDT 2010.

Improvements to MDT 2010 RC allow you to:

Access deployment shares from anywhere on the network and replicate files and settings across organisational boundaries or sites.
Organise and manage drivers, operating systems, applications, packages and task sequences with an improved UI.
Automate all UI functionality utilising Windows PowerShell.

MDT supports the deployment of Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

For more information, see http://blogs.technet.com/msdeployment/archive/2009/08/19/mdt-2010-release-candidate-is-now-available-for-download.aspx.

To download the RC bits, head to https://connect.microsoft.com/site/sitehome.aspx?SiteID=14.

Exchange Server 2010 RC is feature complete and available for download today

nmercer — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:15:00 GMT

Exchange Server 2010 RC is now feature complete and available for download today. Download this 120-day free release candidate version and try the new features in your own environment. More detail's on the Exchange Team's blog article.

TechNet Edge has some cool new videos on Exchange 2010 including this one talking about Exchange over the last 14 years, and the favourite new features in 2010.

Some interesting new things in the Release Candidate:

· Exchange 2010 is currently being tested as a service by more than 10 million people worldwide, in the broadest server beta in Microsoft history.

· Exchange Server 2010 RC is now supported on the 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

· In place upgrade from Exchange Server 2010 RC to Exchange Server 2010 RTM: You can start planning and deploying your Exchange Server 2010 environment today knowing that it will be possible to perform an in place upgrade with the final version expected to be available later this year. You won't need to reinstall your servers or reconfigure your Exchange settings once you have deployed the RC. This will save you time while allowing you to start evaluating the latest product capabilities now.

· Co-existence with Exchange Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2003: If your current environment is Exchange Server 2007 or Exchange Server 2003, Exchange Server 2010 RC is able co-exist with either of the two versions. This will enable you/your company to start planning your upgrade, test critical scenarios and experience the benefits of the latest version of the product. For Exchange Server 2007 co-existence, Service Pack 2 (SP2) is required, and will be available later this month.

For additional technical details, please visit "What's new in Exchange 2010" on TechNet.

We will have some exciting news on Exchange Server 2010 training opportunities for NZ IT Pro’s shortly. In the mean time Download this 120-day free release candidate version and try the new features in your own environment

Remote Server Administration Tools RSAT for Windows 7 released

nmercer — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 09:15:29 GMT

Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) for Windows 7 enables Windows Server administrators to manage roles and features that are installed on servers running Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2003, from a remote computer that is running Windows 7.

We are pleased to have these available for download immediately - in synch with the releases of Windows Server and Windows Client RTM. Feedback from early adopters has been positive, easing early deployments.

Download here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7d2f6ad7-656b-4313-a005-4e344e43997d&displaylang=en

Once downloaded and installed the MSU package, enable the RSAT tools under Control Panel, Programs, Programs and Features, Turn Windows features on or off. Expand Remote Server Administration Tools and select the remote management tools that you want to install.

What is included in RSAT?

Server Administration Tools:
• Server Manager

Role Administration Tools:
•    Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) Tools
•    Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Tools
•    Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) Tools
•    DHCP Server Tools
•    DNS Server Tools
•    File Services Tools
•    Hyper-V Tools
•    Terminal Services Tools

Feature Administration Tools:
•    BitLocker Password Recovery Viewer
•    Failover Clustering Tools
•    Group Policy Management Tools
•    Network Load Balancing Tools
•    SMTP Server Tools
•    Storage Explorer Tools
•    Storage Manager for SANs Tools
•    Windows System Resource Manager Tools

For more information about Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7, see the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 Help on the Windows Server TechCentre.

For information about how to run Server Manager targeted at remote computers, see Remote Management with Server Manager in the Server Manager Help.