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Today at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference 2008, the Server Tools and Business group is unveiling increased investments in security and identity partner channels.
To support channel partners of Microsoft’s recently merged Identity & Security Division, the company is making a $75 million investment in marketing, training, support for and expansion of its Security Software Advisory (SSA) program to include identity products. The SSA program has grown 500%, from 4,000 partners a year ago to over 23,000 today. Microsoft is also offering a new rewards program for resellers and a new “SSA Jumpstart” program that gives new partners an extra 50 percent bonus on top of their first SSA claim.
More information about Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference event, including the full text of the press release, can be found at the Virtual Press Room site (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/wwpc/default.mspx).
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On the heels of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V’s release last month, customers who have already deployed the x64 versions of Windows Server 2008 can receive Hyper-V from Windows Update beginning today. For new Windows Server 2008 customers, Hyper-V can be downloaded from http://www.microsoft.com/Hyper-V. Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V contains everything needed to support customers’ server consolidation, business continuity and virtualized desktop infrastructure projects, and easily plugs into customers’ existing IT infrastructure.
For more information, check out the Windows Virtualization Team blog to read more about Hyper-V and revisit the countdown to Windows Update.
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Today Microsoft announced that the official launch date for Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008 will be November 12, 2008. In addition, pre-release versions (Release Candidate 1s) of Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008 will become available for download and evaluation next week through www.multiplyyourpower.com. Microsoft is also introducing a new online tool called Solution Pathway; with this tool, partners can easily assess customers’ current investments in Microsoft server technologies and then apply them for savings of approximately 25%-45% on upgrades or migrations to the solutions.
For more information, please visit: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2008/jul08/07-07QAvanroekel.mspx
Click here to watch a short interview with Steven VanRoekel, Senior Director Windows Server Solutions Group, on Windows Essential Server Solutions and the partner opportunity in the small and medium business space.
TechNet Edge interviews Joel Sider, Senior Product Manager in the Windows Server Solutions Group, about the SBS and EBS news.
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Today Microsoft announced the release to manufacturing of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 for Hyper-V. Hyper-V, the hypervisor-based virtualization feature included in select versions of Windows Server 2008, was released last week. The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 (or MAP) is a network-wide agent-less tool to help quickly identify the locations of desktops and servers as well as auto-generate upgrade recommendations for multiple products and technologies including server, desktop and virtualization migration scenarios covering:
· Hyper-V virtualization candidates assessment (New in MAP 3.1)
· SQL server discovery and assessment (New in MAP 3.1)
· Desktop Security Center assessment (New in MAP 3.1)
· Windows Server 2008 hardware and device compatibility assessment including server discovery
· Windows Vista hardware and device compatibility assessment including PC discovery
· Office 2007 hardware compatibility assessment
· Microsoft Application Virtualization hardware compatibility assessment
· SNMP inventory reporting
For more on this announcement, visit the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Team Blog and the Windows Virtualization Team Blog.
To download the MAP 3.1 Toolkit, please click here.
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Today at International Supercomputing in Dresden, Germany Microsoft debuted in the top 25 of the world’s top 500 largest supercomputers with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), which ranked at No. 23 with 68.5 teraflops.
The company also announced that the release candidate version of Windows HPC Server 2008 will be available for download in the last week of June.
Key features of Windows HPC Server 2008 include:
- high-speed networking,
- efficient and scalable cluster management tools,
- advanced failover capabilities,
- a service-oriented architecture (SOA) job scheduler, and
- support for clustered file systems from some of Microsoft partners.
Microsoft’s high-performance computing vision goes beyond tackling traditional HPC workloads. By focusing on productivity for users, developers and administrators, Microsoft is positioned to lead the growth of HPC. According to IDC, over the next five years the HPC server market is projected to show healthy, steady growth. IDC expects revenue for the total HPC server market to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 9.2 percent to reach $18 billion by 2012.
More information on today’s announcements can be found here:
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Today at Tech Ed 2008 IT Pros in Orlando, FL Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Server and Tools business at Microsoft, delivered a keynote address about how Microsoft is delivering against the Dynamic IT initiative. To read the press release, view the keynote, and get more information about the event, visit the Tech Ed 2008 Virtual Press Room at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/teched/default.mspx or check out TechEd Online.
Other areas Muglia outlined where Microsoft is making progress across Dynamic IT include the following:
· Identity Lifecycle Manager “2”. Delivering on comprehensive identity and access management in the enterprise, ILM “2” changes the current state of the art of identity management. The availability of ILM “2” beta 3, announced today at TechEd, brings powerful self-service capabilities for the end-user through integration in Office as well as rich administrative tools and enhanced automation for IT professionals in addition to .NET and WS-* based extensibility for developers. This Q&A with Microsoft’s Doug Leland offers additional details about the release. http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2008/jun08/06-10QAleland.mspx
· Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Release Candidate. The availability of the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Release Candidate, the data platform which provides the highest levels of scalability, reliability and security for business-critical applications, helps reduce time and cost of development and management of applications, and delivers actionable insights.
· .NET Configuration Service 2.0. The availability of .NET Configuration Service 2.0, a freely downloadable and reusable set of code libraries available to help develop new composite application services across both .NET and Java. As part of Muglia’s keynote address, a demo of the Configuration Service showed how a composite application, running across Windows-, IBM WebSphere- and Apache-distributed components, could be dynamically virtualized against on-premises, physical resources and across the cloud.
· Forefront Security for Office Communications Server Beta 1. The availability of the Forefront Security for Office Communications Server Beta 1 helps provide fast and effective protection against IM-based malware by including multiple scanning engines and helps reduce corporate liability by blocking IM messages containing inappropriate content.
· Forefront Client Security. Forefront Client Security now supports Windows Server 2008, including native integration for Network Access Protection, providing granular access control over network access and maintain compliance
Microsoft disclosed several updates to help ready customers and partners to use virtualization in their infrastructure, including:
· Server Virtualization Validation Program. The Server Virtualization Validation Program is now operational and open to any software vendor to test and validate their virtualization software to run Windows Server 2008 and previous versions of Windows Server. The program enables Microsoft to offer cooperative technical support to customers running Windows Server on validated, non-Microsoft server virtualization software.
· Certifications. Four new virtualization certifications are being introduced for desktop support technicians, database administrators and Web developers who will work with virtualization technologies. Training resources also include eight instructor-led courses, five e-Learning courses, traditional academic learning courseware, and Microsoft Press training kits.
· Microsoft Application Virtualization. Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 release candidate one (RC1) will be available within the month for customers.
· Forefront security. Microsoft today outlined support for virtualization with the Forefront line of security products, which includes Forefront Client Security support for Hyper-V upon its release, and support within the next-generation Forefront security solution, code-named “Stirling,” with its release in the first half of 2009.
More information on today’s announcements can be found on these blogs:
· Windows Server Division Blog- http://blogs.technet.com/windowsserver/archive/2008/06/10/lone-server-a-new-man.aspx
· Windows Virtualization Team Blog- http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/default.aspx
· The System Center Team Blog- http://blogs.technet.com/systemcenter/
· Microsoft Assessment and Planning Team Blog – http://blogs.technet.com/mapblog
· Data Platform Insider Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/dataplatforminsider/default.aspx
· Forefront Team Blog- http://blogs.technet.com/forefront/
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See Gartner’s newly released Magic Quadrant for B2B Gateway Providers (Gartner, June 3, 2008). The report outlines how service-oriented architecture, cloud computing, international e-commerce, proliferating business-to-business projects and changing user requirements are driving vendor innovation and consolidation in the B2B gateway software market.
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Microsoft has posted the sample download for the .NET StockTrader 2.0 and Configuration Services 2.0, which includes new benchmarks, tutorials and a full white paper. The .NET StockTrader 2.0 is the updated version of the sample reference application .NET StockTrader 1.0 and based on Windows Server 2008 with .NET Framework 3.5. More details can be found on the .NET StockTrader site on MSDN or Greg’s blog.
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Today, at Tech Ed 2008 Developers in Orlando, FL Bill Gates delivered a keynote address in which he reflected on the company’s 33-year history with developers and shared his predictions for the future of application development. He also made several product-related announcements that build on Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5, and demonstrate how the company’s integrated toolset and platform help developers build rich, interactive applications from the Web to the desktop, work in heterogeneous environments and much more. The announcements include the following:
· Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) beta 2 will be available this August in 20 languages worldwide.
· Availability this week of Silverlight 2 beta 2, with a commercial Go Live license
· IBM and Microsoft have agreed to work together to integrate IBM DB2 database access with Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition.
· Multiple partner wins and the latest community technology preview (CTP) of the Microsoft Sync Framework.
· The first CTP of the Microsoft project code-named “Velocity,” a distributed, in-memory application cache platform.
· Ongoing momentum for Microsoft code-name “Oslo.”
· A new version of Visual Studio 2008 extensions for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 v1.2.
To read the press release, view the full Bill Gates keynote, and get more information about the event, visit the Tech Ed 2008 Virtual Press Room at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/events/teched/default.mspx
More information on today’s announcements can be found on these blogs:
S. Somasegar, Senior Vice President, Developer Division, Microsoft: http://blogs.msdn.com/somasegar/
Scott Guthrie, Corporate Vice President, Developer Division, Microsoft: http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/
The Data Platform Insider: http://blogs.technet.com/dataplatforminsider/
Steven Martin, Director of Product Management, Connected Systems Division: http://blogs.msdn.com/stevemar/default.aspx
Visit TechEd Online for more on the 2008 Developers Conference.
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Today Microsoft announced a preview of new social bookmarking capabilities for MSDN, TechNet and Expression as part of an expanded effort to open these sites up to the technical community. Social Bookmarks allow members of the community to bookmark any URL on the web, apply tags, and save bookmarks in the new My Bookmarks tool. All bookmarks, bookmarkers, and tags are enabled as links and can be “surfed” to discover new content and people. Social bookmarks are also integrated into the new Profile page and give every member of the community a new way to increase their visibility, impact, and influence.
New features include:
· Social Bookmarks Preview: With Social Bookmarks, users can save all their favorites online, see what others are bookmarking, find experts, and even get their bookmarks published on the website.
http://msdnbookmarks.com
http://technetbookmarks.com
http://expressionbookmarks.com
· All-new Forums: The new Forums site is easier to use, has a new UX, and new features like Live Update.
http://forums.msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/Forums/
http://forums.technet.microsoft.com/en-us/Forums/
http://forums.expression.microsoft.com/en-US/forums
· New Profile Page: A person’s profile is a key part of the new site experience and now features a large avatar image and feeds of contributions from key applications like Forums and Social Bookmarks.
· New Site Design: The MSDN and TechNet home pages and home pages for top Developer and TechCenters have been updated with a new design that increases the visibility of people and content from the community and other important resources.
· Improved Search: Improved auto-complete provides more search matches faster. Thirty-one languages are now supported.
http://search.msdn.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?locale=en-US
http://search.technet.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?locale=en-US
http://search.expression.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?locale=en-US
For more information on these announcements, please visit these blogs:
http://blogs.msdn.com/dantr/ Dan Truax, GM for the global MSDN, TechNet, CodePlex, and Expression sites
http://blogs.technet.com/johmar/ John Martin, Lead Evangelist for Server & Tools Online at Microsoft
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On Wednesday Microsoft announced Public Preview availability of Windows Small Business Server 2008, part of the new Windows Essential Server Solutions product family. Customers and partners can now download and evaluate SBS 2008 Release Candidate 0. Due out later this year, SBS 2008 offers a range of new benefits to small business owners and the technology consultants that serve them. Windows Essential Business Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 was made available through Public Preview earlier this month. New features of SBS 2008 include:
· Greater security and data protection: Built-in anti-virus and anti-spam with 120-day subscriptions to Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server and Windows Live OneCare for Server will help small businesses protect data.
· Simple, easy online marketing presence: SBS 2008 integrates with Microsoft Office Live Small Business to simplify set up and management of professional web sites and private work spaces.
· Better productivity: A streamlined, customizable Remote Web Workplace, integration of the new SharePoint and support for the newest Windows mobile devices will help employees more effectively work remotely and collaborate.
· IT made easy: Deployment, setup and administration is dramatically simplified and improved. New single CALs make SBS 2008 licensing more flexible and cost-effective.
· Manageability: A streamlined administration console; monitoring across servers and client PCs; customizable, remotely-accessible reports.
· Microsoft’s newest server technologies: Overall, SBS 2008 delivers powerful and more secure infrastructure that was rebuilt from the ground up, including the new Windows Server 2008, Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition, SQL Server 2008 (in Premium Edition) and the new Windows Server Update Services.
· SBS 2008 Premium Edition is an ideal platform for critical business applications, via SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 on a second hardware server.
The Public Preview of SBS 2008 is available here. For more information and video demos of EBS and SBS , please check out the Windows Essential Server Solutions Press Room.
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The Microsoft Professional Developers Conference is set for October 27-30, 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and registration is now open. The PDC is the definitive Microsoft event for software developers and strategic architects focused on the future of the Microsoft platform. It is where the next wave of computing is unveiled, providing the developer tools and technologies that lead to a better end user experience.
Registration is open and since PDC sells out quickly, early registration is encouraged. Please visit http://www.microsoftpdc.com/ to learn more about the PDC.
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If Windows Server 2008 is the brisket, as previously described by group product manager Alex Hinrichs, Hyper-V is the special sauce. And today, the brisket gets even tastier with Hyper-V release candidate 1 (RC 1), which is available for download.
Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V contains everything needed to support customers’ server consolidation, business continuity and virtualized desktop infrastructure projects, and easily plugs into customers’ existing IT infrastructure. From reducing operating costs, increasing hardware utilization, optimizing infrastructure and improving server availability, Hyper-V enables customers to gain more control of their IT environment.
For new Windows Server customers, Hyper-V RC 1 can be downloaded today from http://www.microsoft.com/Hyper-V. Customers who have deployed the existing beta or earlier RC of Hyper-V (as a part of the x64 versions Windows Server 2008) can receive RC1 from the latest Windows Update as an optional update beginning May 27th.
Hyper-V RC1 is an optional upgrade for customers and partners, providing the latest code for those who want to continue testing the technology within their infrastructure environment. The current beta of System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 (SCVMM) is not compatible with Hyper-V RC1. Customers who are simultaneously testing the recently-released SCVMM 2008 Beta should continue evaluating it with Hyper-V RC0.
For customers who need to evaluate support for Windows Server 2000 as a guest operating system, we recommend upgrading to RC1, but not manage those systems with SCVMM 2008 Beta. Because Hyper-V and SCVMM 2008 are on separate development schedules, an update for SCVMM 2008 Beta to enable support for Hyper-V RC1 will be made available at a later date.
While Hyper-V RC1 is feature complete, RC1 includes the following added support and functionality:
Additional Guest OS support: Hyper-V RC1 adds guest operating system support for Windows 2000 Server SP4 (1-way, emulated only) and Windows 2000 Advanced Server with Service Pack 4 (1-way, emulated only).
Simplified install for Windows Server 2008 ICs: With RC1, Hyper-V provides a simplified and consistent process to install the integration components for Windows Server 2008 guests.
Mouse integration support for Linux Integration components: Integration components for supported Novell SUSE 10 Linux operating systems will also include mouse integration support, released simultaneously with Hyper-V RC1. The integration components can be downloaded from http://connect.microsoft.com.
In addition to the several RDP and TAP customers who have deployed Hyper-V into full production, both MSDN and TechNet have been successfully running on Hyper-V for several weeks. For more information on Microsoft’s deployment and results with Hyper-V, check out Rob Emanuel’s guest blog on the Windows Virtualization Team blog.
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