Is this thing on? : General

Cool Video: Flying with the Space Shuttle

Scott Schnoll — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:21:00 GMT

Check out this cool video which shows a couple folks sky diving with wing suits on during the recent space shuttle lift-off.

The Website is Down...

Scott Schnoll — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:23:00 GMT

This is too funny (and too close to real life) to not share. Check out the video at http://www.thewebsiteisdown.com/salesguy.html.

Warning: NSFW :-)

Spend 6:20 with Bill Gates

Scott Schnoll — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:25:00 GMT

I just finished watching a slide show narrated by Bill Gates that displays images from his and Microsoft's past. It's well worth watching.

TechNet and MSDN Site Changes

Scott Schnoll — Fri, 23 May 2008 19:40:00 GMT

Many cool changes were made this week to both the TechNet and MSDN Web sites. These changes include a slick new look to the Exchange Server TechCenter, as well.

What's also extremely cool, are the changes you can't see - both the TechNet (1 million hits a day) and the MSDN (3 million hits a day) Web sites are running inside of Hyper-V (and actually have been for weeks, without any issues)! Check out http://www.virtualization.info/2008/05/microsoft-migrates-msdn-and-technet-on.html for more information.

Microsoft Office, Amy Sedaris, and Rabbits

Scott Schnoll — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:16:00 GMT

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

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

Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) Client Released

Scott Schnoll — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:09:00 GMT

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:

· Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista with SP1 (x86): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=9FF6E897-23CE-4A36-B7FC-D52065DE9960

· Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows Vista with SP1(x64): http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=D647A60B-63FD-4AC5-9243-BD3C497D2BC5

System Center Capacity Planner 2007 has RTM'd!

Scott Schnoll — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:46:00 GMT

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!

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 RTMs!

Scott Schnoll — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:14:00 GMT

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.

Windows Server 2008 RTMs!

Scott Schnoll — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:11:00 GMT

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.

Video: Bill Gates' Last Day at Microsoft

Scott Schnoll — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:46:00 GMT

This is extremely funny!!

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

Upcoming MVP Expert Chats

Scott Schnoll — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:12:00 GMT

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

Live Meetings on Microsoft Certification

Scott Schnoll — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:05:00 GMT

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)

•	New Benefits for MCPs: Program Update (October 2007) System Center Certifications (October 2007)
•	Microsoft Office Project Certifications (August 2007)
•	One Year In: An Update on Microsoft Certified Architect (June 2007)
•	Windows Server 2008 Certifications (June 2007)
•	Protecting The Integrity of Microsoft Certification (May 2007)
•	Windows Vista and Microsoft Exchange 2007: Certification Review (May 2007)
•	2007 Office System Certifications for IT Professionals and Developers (April 2007)

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:

Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 RTMs!

Scott Schnoll — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:22:00 GMT

Ted Kummert, Microsoft Corporate VP for Data and Storage Platforms, announced the release to manufacturing of System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) 2007 at Storage Networking World on Oct. 17. The product will have general availability in November through all of the traditional channels, including Microsoft Partners, Volume Licenses, and OEM appliances running DPM 2007 which will be announced at our launch.

DPM 2007 is scheduled to officially launch in November at Microsoft Tech-Ed IT Forum, in Barcelona, Spain – along with other components of the System Center family of management products.

In the meantime, check out the new DPM website for updated product information and download the evaluation software. Also check out my buddy Jason’s blog on the release.

BTW, did you know you can use DPM to backup the passive copies of storage groups enabled for local continuous replication and cluster continuous replication in Exchange Server 2007? Well, you do now!

Windows Vista has RTM'd!

Scott Schnoll — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 23:53:00 GMT

As the press release at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2006/nov06/11-08VistaRTM.mspx states, Windows Vista has been released to manufacturing. w00t!

Windows Vista becomes available to volume license customers this month, and to consumers on January 30, 2007.

After reading the press release, head on over to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/ and start getting ready for Windows Vista.

It's time. :-)

2007 Microsoft Office has RTM'd!

Scott Schnoll — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 21:43:00 GMT

As the press release at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/nov06/11-062007OfficeRTMPR.mspx states, the 2007 Microsoft Office system has released to manufacturing! w00t!

If you've not had a chance to use the 2007 Microsoft Office system, check out the video at http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?AssetID=XT101752491033&CTT=5&Origin=HA101752721033. Note that this video requires Windows Media Player. And for even more information, check out the new Office Online site at http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/HA101752721033.aspx.

For you IT Pros out there looking for technical information on the 2007 Microsoft Office system, check out the Office TechCenter at http://office.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?AssetID=XT101642801033&Origin=HH101662121033&CTT=5.