TechNet Webcast Weblog

The one thing constant at Microsoft is change and this past year has seen a lot of change on the Webcast/Virtual Lab team. After many years of stability managing the TechNet Webcast program, Dean Andrews moved to a new emerging media position and Katheryn Baker took the helm. After just a few months Katheryn moved over to MSDN and I took over as the TechNet Webcast/Podcast/Virtual Lab guy. Well, after four short months we're shaking things up again and I'll be moving over the take over the MSDN online media program and Anthony Tsim will be taking over my role in TechNet.

When I took over this blog in May, I laid down a manifesto to help revamp how users consume our media. I wanted to help improve our programs' discoverability, usability and ease of getting into our resources (ie. registration). I'm happy to report we're making advances on all fronts, although they may not be visible quite yet. On discoverability, we added keyword search capability to the "Find Events and Webcasts" link at the top of the left column of our landing pages. That was a no brainer but if you only knew what it took just to get that. The other two are high on our priority list and hope to have some tangible results within the next few months including a wider a variety of online media.

So I'll be picking things up on the developer side of things. Thanks for tuning in.

Scott Lum

I'm not sure when the converted over, but I noticed that IT Showcase is now called TechNet Spotlight: www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/. With a new design and Silverlight video player, the site is a much improved way to view Microsoft videos. TechNet Spotlight focuses on videotaping demos and presentations at various live events (do you still call it videotaping if it's all digital?). The result is a video of the presenter in action and you can download the PPT or view it in the sidebar. By using a high res Silverlight you can see a much larger image of the video than the small viewer that IT Showcase featured, which makes it much easier to view the content and more pleasant to watch.

Check it out - there's a bunch of good content that will be of interest to IT Pros and Managers. There's video from TechEd, IT Forum, WinHec, OCS Ignite Tour and many more.

TechNet Spotlight: www.microsoft.com/emea/spotlight/

Scott Lum

A new episode of TechNet Radio Podcasts has been posted: Managing Virtualization with Virtual Machine Manager 2007. Chris Avis and Edwin Yuen will describe how the System Center products are used to manage the virtualized datacenter. We will cover the features and benefits of using System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007 and System Center Operations Manager 2007 with Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 environment. The Microsoft Virtualization Management strategy will be covered, along with various usage scenarios for VMM and SCOM. Length: 0:31:49

Participants:

Chris Avis, Microsoft IT Pro Evangelist

Edwin Yuen, Microsoft Technical Product Manager in the Windows Enterprise Mgt. division for System Center Virtual Machine Manager.

Related Resources:

·          System Center Virtual Machine Manager Home: http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/scvmm/default.mspx

·          TechNet Webcast: Overview of System Center Virtual Machine Manager

·          TechNet Webcast: Overview and Road Map of the Microsoft Virtualization Strategy  

TechNet Radio Home

TechNet Radio Archive

Scott Lum

Try out the Microsoft Dynamics NAV in an easy to navigate Test Drive environment which includes mini-Webcasts and Virtual Labs: www.dynamicsnavtestdrive.com. The Virtual Labs allow you to play around with Dynamics NAV without having to download trial bits or installing it on your computer.

 Microsoft Dynamics NAV is a enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for mid-size and small businesses.

·         Microsoft Dynamics NAV Home: www.microsoft.com/dynamics/nav

·         What’s New w/ Dynamics NAV 5.0: http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/nav/product/50whatsnew.mspx

Dynamics NAV Test Drive

We’re experimenting with the new Test Drive format to make it easier to find content regardless of the online vehicle we use to deliver it – Webcast video, Podcast audio or hands-on Virtual Lab. We’ve also reduced the registration process so that you don’t have to register every time you want to try out the video or lab which will make it easier to experiment and learn about the software we’re highlighting. Check it out and let me know what you think about this form factor.

Scott Lum

For all you scripting guys out there, Channel 9 has posted a series of three Powershell videos for IT Pros.

The Value of Windows PowerShell for IT Professionals - Don Jones, author, trainer and scripting guru discusses the value of PowerShell for IT Administrators and Enterprise IT Management with Jeffrey Snover, Architect for Windows PowerShell and Microsoft Management Console.

Learn and Master Windows PowerShell with Quest Software’s PowerGUI - Join Jeffrey and Dmitry as they demonstrate the free graphical user interface for running Windows PowerShell cmdlets (commands) and writing scripts. PowerGUI consists of a GUI that allows you to easily inspect and execute Windows PowerShell cmdlets as well as a “click-through macro” for writing Windows PowerShell scripts. 

Using Windows PowerShell to manage Windows Server 2008 Active Directory and Read-Only Domain Controllers - Windows PowerShell is included as part of Windows Server 2008. Join Dmitry Sotnikov from Quest Software and Scott Ottaway from Microsoft as they demonstrate the use of Windows PowerShell to manage new features in Server 2008 including new Active Directory features and Read-Only Domain Controllers.

Additional Resources:

·         Powershell Webcasts

·         Powershell Virtual Lab

·         Script Center: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/default.mspx

·         Powershell Week: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/webcasts/ps.mspx

Scott Lum

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/tnradio/archive/aug212007.mspx

Matt Hester talks with Patrick Hevesi about Windows Branch Office. They discuss the five main scenarios all branch offices face, and how Microsoft's Branch Office offerings address these challenges. Windows Server Virtualizaion, Componentization and Security are all discussed.

Participants:

Chat: Windows Server 2008: Management, Security and Improved Performance for Your Remote Infrastructure

Add to Calendar | Join the Chat Room

August 28, 2007, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Pacific Time

Join us for a Q&A on the new features in Windows Server 2008 that will help you manage and secure your remote infrastructure as well as WAN performance improvements included in the new TCP and SMB protocols. Ask our experts about Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption, improvements in Active Directory, Server Core, the Next Generation TCP stack and SMB 2.0.

The latest TechNet Radio featuring the Microsoft August Security Bulletin is now available for Podcast download: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/tnradio/archive/aug142007.mspx. This week's edition also features Caleb Sima of SPI Dynamics about the importance of secure code. They cover how secure code is the backbone of a secure environment, and also discuss ways we can check to verify that code we are using, especially in our online applications, is secure.

Participants

·          Mark Griesi, Security Program Manager

·          Christopher Budd, Security Program Manager

·          Bryan Von Axelson, IT Pro Evangelist

·          Caleb Sima, Chief Technology Officer, SPI Dynamics

 TechNet Radio Home:  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/tnradio/default.mspx 

TechNet Radio Archives: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/tnradio/archive/default.mspx

Scott Lum

Imagine Cup, the world’s premier competition for technology students, gives students the chance to unlock their creative genius and build solutions that tackle real-world issues facing society today.This year's Imagine Cup had 100,000 students from 100 countries participating in this software design competition. The 55 software design finalist teams created applications using the Microsoft platform and Microsoft tools based on the Imagine Cup competition theme: “Imagine a world where technology enables a better education for all.”

“Imagine Cup provides a forum for university students around the world to explore new ways to use the power of software to help address some of the world’s toughest problems,” said Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft. “The high caliber of the students and their projects is an indication of their potential to become great business and technology leaders, and a hint at how a new generation of innovations can have a lasting and transformative impact on education and beyond.”

Next year's Imagine Cup will be in France. Imagine Cup home: http://imaginecup.com/Default.aspx

Microsoft Press Pass: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/aug07/08-10ImagineCupWinnersPR.mspx

Imagine Cup Promotional Video - Soapbox: http://soapbox.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=fde1c7fa-59c8-4cba-ba4b-10e3d87190a5

Scott Lum

A new TechNet Radio Podcast show has been posted this today: Karl Levinson talks about intrusion detection and incident response. Karl Levinson has fourteen years of experience in the IT field, including work in security operations and engineering, intrusion detection, incident response, vulnerability management, and firewall and system hardening. Karl helped build and lead the Computer Security Incident Response Center at the US Department of Homeland Security. Length: 0:28:35

Participants:

• Kevin Remde, IT Pro Evangelist
• Karl Levinson (CISSP, CCSA, MCSE, TNCP) works in Washington DC for an IT consulting firm (Apogen Technologies), supporting federal government and commercial clients, both large and small. He has fourteen years of experience in the IT field, including work in security operations and engineering, intrusion detection, incident response, vulnerability management, and firewall and system hardening. Karl helped build and lead the DHS CSIRC (the Computer Security Incident Response Center at the US Department of Homeland Security).

Microsoft just announced a collaborative work with NASA to create a 3-D photo experience using a product under development called Photosynth: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/326453_software06.html. Photosynth takes a collection of photographs and stitches them together for a rich, immersive environment. Check out the Space World site which is created in conjunction with NASA, Microsoft Live Labs and MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20098402/

There are a bunch of other Photosynch collections worth checking out including a Britain in Pictures: BBC Collection, Gyeongbokgung - a South Korean Temple, Piazza San Marco, Venice, Grassi Lakes in the Canadian Rockies, Gary Faigin Art Studio and Piazza San Pietro, Rome.  

As a photographer, I love this stuff! The engaging experience that Photosynth brings to the site is almost as good as being there live - and in many cases it's even better. I've always preferred a good photograph to video because of how it freezes time and tells a story of how the photographer interpreted the moment. Photosynth brings all of these moments together and tells a story and the high resolution images let me explore details that I might otherwise have missed if I was there in person.

I could go on and on about all of the cool things you can discover on with Photosynth but it’s something you’ve just got to check out for yourself.

Happy exploring.

Scott Lum

Several months ago, our team launched the Vista Test Drive (www.vistatestdrive.com) in time for the Office Vista Launch. The Vista Test Drive is a great way to try out some of the features of Vista without having to download or install the trial software on your computer using a guided hands-on Virtual Lab. You can also see the features demonstrated in a mini-screencast demo.

So, why is the Vista Test Drive format important? When I was at TechEd, the top two feedback comments I heard from you was make it easier to get into the Webcasts and Virtual Labs and make them easier to find. With Vista Test Drive the registration is much easier - you enter your e-mail just once up front and once you're in the Vista Test Drive you can try out the videos and the Virtual Labs without having to re-register. I realize that it can be a pain to get into our Webcasts and Virtual Labs right now - you need to navigate several pages before you get to watch the Webcast or evaluate the product online. We don't have a silver bullet yet, but we're getting better.

Also, we made it easier to find the content based on the important product features and the audience (Small Business and Mid-Size Business for this version). I think this drives users through the content much more seamlessly and we don't just drop you into a landing page with a laundry list of resources. How we tackle the 6000 Webcasts in our archive will be a different matter, but for now, I think this is a step in the right direction.

The response has been hugely successful. The number of people watching the videos and trying out the Virtual Labs has exceeded our expectations. Try it out, let me know what you think and look for new versions of Test Drive for some of our other products in the near future. (Requires IE6  - available in US and Canada only).

 Scott Lum

The IT Manager Webcast series provides a high level look at how Microsoft technologies can impact your infrastructure. Topics for August include SharePoint Server 2007, Windows Server 2008, SQL Analysis Services in Visio and Project Portfolio Server.

1.       Visualizing SQL and SQL Server Analysis Services Data in Visio 2007 (Level 200)

Tuesday, August 7, 2007, 11:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. Pacific Time

2.       Windows Server 2008 Security Enhancements (Level 200)

Thursday, August 9, 2007, 11:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. Pacific Time

3.       Creating a Global Human Resources System Foundation with SharePoint Server 2007 (Level 100)

Wednesday, August 15, 2007, 11:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. Pacific Time

4.       How Microsoft IT Improved Project Portfolio Selection to Drive Business Value (Level 100)

Tuesday, August 28, 2007, 11:00 A.M.–12:00 P.M. Pacific Time

If you miss the live Webcast you can view these and other on-demand IT Manager Webcasts at: http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/itmanagerconnections.aspx?tab=webcasts

Scott Lum

Here are a number of live Webcasts coming up in August. The Momentum Webcast series are high level content targeted to mid-size Business Executives and IT Managers.

Here's a couple of upcoming live Technical Overview Webcasts on Windows Server 2008: http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/windowsserver2008.aspx?tab=webcasts

1.       TechNet Webcast: Windows Server 2008 Technical Overview (Part 1 of 2) (Level 300)

Friday, August 3, 2007, 11:30 A.M.–1:00 P.M. Pacific Time

In this webcast, we take a look at the new Windows Server 2008 operating system. Right now this product is in the beta phase, with many of the final features and components present and functional. Join us as we explore some of the new core operating system features and see how they enhance productivity and performance. In the next session, we take a look at the new security and networking features of Windows Server 2008.

Presenter: John Baker, IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation. John Baker started in Microsoft Consulting Services as an infrastructure consultant.

2.       TechNet Webcast: Windows Server 2008 Technical Overview (Part 2 of 2) (Level 200)

Friday, August 10, 2007, 11:30 A.M.–1:00 P.M. Pacific Time

In the second half of this webcast series, we continue exploring the new Windows Server 2008 operating system. This product is now in the beta phase, with many of the final features and components present and functional. Join us as we look at some of the new security improvements, and also discuss a new feature called Network Access Protection (NAP). Finally, we explain in detail the significant changes and improvements Terminal Services has undergone since the previous version of Windows.

Presenter: Michael Murphy, IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation. As a Microsoft TechNet presenter and IT pro evangelist,

3.       TechNet Webcast: A Technical Overview of Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services (Level 200)

Friday, August 17, 2007, 9:30 A.M.–11:00 A.M. Pacific Time

In this session, we examine Terminal Services in Windows Server 2008. For organizations that have remote users, Windows Server 2008 adds improvements and innovations to Terminal Services that facilitate better integration of remote and local applications on client computers, access to these same remote programs via a Web browser, and a means to access remote terminals and applications across firewalls. Because Windows Server 2008 will ship on x64, it has the ability to use the additional processors and RAM that x64 offers, which increases the number of users that a Terminal Services server can support by 3.4.

Presenter: Blain Barton, IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation. In his 12 years at Microsoft, Blain Barton has organized and delivered a wide array of educational programs.

If you miss it live, you can also catch them on-demand at - Windows Server 2008 Webcasts:  http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/windowsserver2008.aspx?tab=webcasts

Windows Server 2008 Hands-on Virtual Labs: http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/windowsserver2008.aspx?tab=virtuallabs Try the Beta 3 labs now! 

Scott Lum