Is this thing on?

The Windows Server Failover Clustering Product Group has released the first ever Windows Server 2008 Microsoft Official Curriculum course, which will be available on May 15^th, 2008. In the meantime, check out the syllabus for the course at Course 6423A: Implementing and Managing Windows Server 2008 Clustering.

Yes, that's right...rabbits.  The video speaks for itself:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vC9taroEsI

Today, Microsoft released the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) to the web.  RSAT is the collection of Windows Server 2008 management tools which enable IT professionals to manage their Windows Server infrastructure from their PCs running Windows Vista with Service Pack 1.

The list of Windows Server 2008 administration tools which are included in RSAT are:

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 Service Tools

·               DNS Server Service Tools

·               Shared Folders Tools

·               Network Policy and Access Services Tools

·               Terminal Services Tools

·               Uniiversal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) Services Tools

Feature Administration Tools:

·               BitLocker Drive Encryption Tools

·               Failover Clustering Tools (yay!)

·               Group Policy Management Tools

·               Network Load Balancing Tools

·               SMTP Server Tools

·               Storage Manager for SANs Tools

·               Windows System Resource Manager Tools

The tools in the following list are can be used to manage Windows Server 2003 servers:

·               Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) Tools

·               Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS) Tools

·               Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) Tools

·               DHCP Server Tools

·               DNS Server Tools

·               Group Policy Management Tools

·               Network Load Balancing Tools

·               Terminal Services Tools

·               Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) Services Tools

Download RSAT today from:

SCCP 2007 just RTM’d and is now freely available for all to download.  Previously, this tool was available only for TechNet Plus and MSDN Premium subscribers, but now it’s available for all.

See http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/sccp/default.mspx for more information, and a link to the download.

The new version adds the following new capabilities:

•        Application model for Exchange Server 2007

•        Extensibility with new models from Microsoft, including Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0.  A model for System Center Operations Manager 2007 will be available soon.

•        New, more powerful deployment wizards deliver unprecedented ease of use

•        Support for 64-bit processor architectures

•        Comprehensive reporting of disk IO and storage utilizations

•        Increased flexibility in customizing server usage profiles

Enjoy!

Today marks another milestone for partners and customers, with the release of Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista.  Service Pack 1 is a very important milestone because it addresses many of the key issues that our customers have identified with Windows Vista over the last year both, directly and through programs like the Customer Experience Improvement Program.

For more information on Windows Vista Service Pack 1, see http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2008/02/04/announcing-the-rtm-of-windows-vista-sp1.aspx.

Today marks a milestone for customers and partners with the release to manufacture of Windows Server 2008, the most advanced Server operating system Microsoft has developed to date!

 Windows Server 2008 builds on the success and strengths of its Windows Server predecessors while delivering valuable new functionality and powerful improvements to the base operating system. For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/default.mspx.

Microsoft.com has some new pages with Windows 2008 certification information:

·         Get Certified on Windows Server 2008

·         Transition your Windows Server 2003 MCSA/MCSE to Windows Server 2008

·         Frequently asked questions about Windows Server 2008 certifications

See also, Get exam notification and 40% off, which is not new, but worthwhile nonetheless.

Enjoy!

Configuration, rule, and help updates for the Exchange Best Practices Analyzer were released today.  This update is for ExBPA version 2.8, and it includes the latest XML and ExBPA.CHM files.

Enjoy!

With the release of Exchange 2007 SP1, you can deploy cluster continuous replication (CCR) on Windows Server 2008, and enjoy the benefits of Windows 2008 failover cluster improvements.  But did you know the deployment of CCR on Windows 2008, including the formation and configuration of the cluster, can be done via the command-line, without using any graphical user interface (GUI) interfaces, such as the Failover Cluster Management tool, or the Exchange 2007 SP1 Setup Wizard.  Here's a series of commented commands you can use to do the deployment.  You can even add the commands into a script, and automate the deployment.

Note that these commands assume that you have the following:

• Two servers that will be the nodes in the failover cluster
• Each server has Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition installed
• Each server has the Exchange 2007 SP1 pre-reqs installed (see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354.aspx)
• A third server that will host a file share for the file share witness

# Install Windows Failover Clustering
# Run this on each server that will be a cluster node
ServerManagerCmd -i Failover-Clustering

# Create failover cluster
# Run this on one of the intended nodes
cluster /cluster:<ClusterName> /create /nodes:"<NodeName> <NodeName>" /ipaddress:ClusterIPAddress/SubnetMask

Note that if you want a two-subnet failover cluster, the last parameter would be: /ipaddress:"ClusterIPAddress/SubnetMask ClusterIPAddress2/SubnetMask2"

# Configure cluster tolerance for missed heartbeats
# Run on either cluster node
# Use this for single-subnet clusters
cluster <ClusterName> /prop SameSubnetThreshold=10
# Use this for two-subnet clusters
cluster <ClusterName> /prop CrossSubnetThreshold=10

# Create and secure the file share that will be used by the FSM quorum
# Run this on the server that will host the share (e.g., a Hub Transport server)
# In the second command, VCO (virtual computer object) is the cluster computer account (e.g., cluster name)
mkdir <Directory>
net share <shareName>=<Directory> /GRANT:VCO,FULL
cacls <Directory> /G BUILTIN\Administrators:F <VCO>:F

# Configure the cluster to use the Node and File Share Majority Quorum
# Run this on either node in the cluster
Cluster /cluster:<ClusterName> res "File Share Witness (UNCPath)" /create /group:"Cluster Group" /type:"File Share Witness" /priv SharePath=<UNCPath>
Cluster res "File Share Witness (UNCPath)" /online
Cluster <ClusterName> /quorum:"File Share Witness (UNCPath)"

# Configure cluster network roles and priorities
# Run this on either node in the cluster
Cluster <ClusterName> network "NameofPrivateNetwork" /prop Role=1
Cluster <ClusterName> /setnetpri:NameofPrivateNetwork,NameofPublicNetwork

# Install Exchange and create a clustered mailbox server (CMS)
# Run this only on the node that will initially be the active node
Setup.com /roles:Mailbox /newcms /CMSname:<NameofClusteredMailboxServer> /CMSIPAddress:<ClusteredMailboxServerIPAddress>

Note that in a two-subnet environment, the above command will use the /CMSIPV4Addresses parameter instead of /CMSIPAddress

# Stop the CMS after Setup has completed
# Run this on the active node
Stop-ClusteredMailboxServer <CMSName> -StopReason Setup -Confirm:$false

# Restart the active node
# You can use the Shutdown.exe tool to automate this (I might add a sample command later)

# Install Exchange on the passive node
# Run this only on the passive node
Setup.com /roles:Mailbox

# Restart the passive node

# Configure CMS NetName DNS TTL value
# Run this on either node in the cluster
cluster.exe res <CMSNetworkNameResource> /priv HostRecordTTL=300

At this point, what's left is to test handoffs and failovers, configure mount and failover settings, and configure the transport dumpster.

Visit here for more information on installing CCR on Windows 2008.

This is extremely funny!!

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080107/bill-gates-last-day-microsoft-video/

The folks on the Windows Cluster team are restarting their blog very soon, which covers failover clustering and network load balancing.  According to a post back in Nov, "5 developers have volunteered to contribute to this blog, so we expect to have at least one post each week, so check back often!"

 Cool!

Q&A With the Exchange MVP Experts
We invite you to attend a free Q&A chat session with Exchange Server MVPs who will answer your questions about Exchange Server, Outlook and Exchange for Small Business Server. So if you are thinking of upgrading to Exchange Server 2007 or have questions about Exchange Server 2003 we hope you can join us for this informative online chat!  There are two sessions to choose from, and you can attend one or both!

Chat 1: December 5th at 10am PDT
Chat 2: December 12 at 5pm PDT
Where: TechNet Chat Room
www.microsoft.com/technet/community/chats/chatroom.aspx
Password: Public Chat no password required

Q&A With the Security MVP Experts
We invite you to attend a free Q&A chat session with Microsoft Security MVPs who will answer your questions regarding online safety issues, such as phishing, spyware, rootkits as well as server related topics. If you have questions on how to protect PCs and servers, please bring them to this informative chat.

When:  December 11th at 4pm PDT
Where: TechNet Chat Room
www.microsoft.com/technet/community/chats/chatroom.aspx
Password: Public Chat no password required

As with local continuous replication (LCR) and cluster continuous replication (CCR), standby continuous replication (SCR) in Exchange 2007 Service Pack 1 uses the concept of storage group copies. Because SCR introduces the ability to have multiple copies of your data, we use slightly different terms to describe the replication endpoints.

The starting point for a storage group that is enabled for SCR is called the SCR source. This can be any storage group, except a recovery storage group, on any of the following:

• Stand-alone Mailbox server
• Clustered mailbox server (CMS) in a single copy cluster (SCC)
• CMS in a CCR environment

The source must be running Exchange 2007 SP1.  When using a standalone Mailbox server as the SCR source, you can also have LCR enabled for one or more storage groups, including storage groups enabled for SCR.  You can have other roles (Client Access, Hub Transport, and/or Unified Messaging) installed, as well.

The endpoint for SCR is called the target, and the target can be either of the following:

• Stand-alone Mailbox server that does not have LCR enabled for any storage groups
• Passive node in a failover cluster where the Mailbox role is installed, but no CMS has been installed in the cluster

The target must also be running Exchange 2007 SP1.  There are other requirements, as well. See Standby Continuous Replication for more information on SCR.  In the case of both sources and targets, you can see the basic requirement for each: the Exchange 2007 SP1 Mailbox server role must be installed on both the source and target computers.

The last bullet for the SCR target is the reason for this blog post.  There seems to be some confusion as to what we mean by a "Passive node in a failover cluster where the Mailbox role is installed, but no CMS has been installed in the cluster".

To help explain what we mean, let me describe how Exchange is installed into a failover cluster.  You're probably familiar with the five server roles (Client Access, Hub Transport, Mailbox, Unified Messaging, and Edge Transport), but you might not realize there are two additional roles that can be installed, as well.  These "roles" are not Exchange server roles, but rather CMS roles: specifically, the active clustered mailbox role and the passive clustered mailbox role.

The terms are used to tell Exchange Setup whether to install an active node or a passive node.  For Exchange Setup, installing an active node means installing the Mailbox server role, and then installing a CMS.  Installing a passive node means installing only the Mailbox server role.  You do not create or install a CMS when you install the passive clustered mailbox role.

These roles are only expressed in the GUI version of Exchange Setup, so if you've installed your Exchange 2007 CMS' using only the command line version of Setup, you won't see these terms.  In the command line, you'll simply see Mailbox server and Clustered Mailbox Server.  It is the /newcms Setup option (and accompanying options) that dictate whether the active or passive clustered mailbox role is installed. If you include /newcms, the active clustered mailbox role is installed; if you do not use /newcms, the passive clustered mailbox role is installed.

When we say you can use a "Passive node in a failover cluster where the Mailbox role is installed, but no CMS has been installed in the cluster" we mean a Windows failover cluster in which one or more nodes exist, but only the passive clustered mailbox role is installed.  You cannot have the active clustered mailbox role installed on any of the nodes in the failover cluster containing the SCR target(s).  You can see a picture of what this looks like here.

Upcoming Meetings (details and registration links below)

§  December 5: Windows Server 2008 Certification

§  December 12: SQL Server 2008 Certification

§  January 23: Visual Studio 2008 certification

§  January 30: Getting Started as a Technical Author

Recent Live Meetings (recordings)

Transition to Windows Server 2008 Certifications (WW)

Target audience: customers interested in Windows Server certification; customers who will be early adopters of WS2008; MCSA and MCSE 2003.

In this meeting we will review plans for upcoming Windows Server 2008 certifications; hear about the transition paths specific to MCSA and MCSE 2003; provide links to the live exams and study resources; and participate in a Q&A with the certification and exam team.

· December 5 at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time (What time is this in my region?)

· December 5 at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time (What time is this in my region?)

SQL Server 2008 and Your Microsoft Certifications

Target audience: Customers considering SQL2008 or currently on SQL2005; MCDBAs.

Join the Microsoft Certification team for guidance on your certification path for SQL Server. In this meeting, we will introduce our plans for SQL Server 2008 training and certification, review the SQL Server 2005 certifications, and answer your individual questions about the path that is right for you, in Business Intelligence, Database Development, or Database Administration. Click to register for:

·         December 12, 2007, at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time:

·         December 12, 2007, at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time:

Microsoft Certification for Developers

Target audience: Developers with or without a certification today (MCAD, MCSD, MCTS/MCPD on VS2005; or new to certification)

Join the Microsoft Certification team to find out what is new, and what you need to know, for your next step in developer certification. In this meeting, we will introduce our plans for Visual Studio 2008 training and certification, review the Visual Studio 2005 certifications, and have plenty of time to answer questions about your individual path or scenario. Click to register for:

• January 23, 2008, at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time (What time is this in my region?)
• January 23, 2008, at 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time (What time is this in my region?).

Microsoft Press Presents: Getting Started as a Technical Author

Target audience: IT pros and developers, internal and external

Are you interested in sharing your technical knowledge with others? Ever wonder what it takes to become a published technical author? Please join the Microsoft Press and Microsoft Certified Professional team for tips and recommendations on how to begin or further a career as a technical author. We will discuss tactics for getting started and answer your individual questions.

This meeting will be offered twice to accommodate worldwide calendars:

• 7:30 AM PST (What time is this in my region?) and
• 5:00 PM PST (What time is this in my region?).