• Microsoft Visual Studio Team Explorer 2010 codename “Eaglestone”

    Brian Harry announced on his blog the beta release of Microsoft Visual Studio Team Explorer 2010 codename “Eaglestone”, the Eclipse plug-in and cross-platform command line assets that were acquired from Teamprise back in November.

    Eclipse and Visual Studio Team Explorer "Eaglestone"

  • Microsoft IT Case Study: Reducing Bandwidth Utilization with BranchCache

    Read the full Microsoft IT Technical Case Study: Reducing Bandwidth Utilization with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 BranchCache:

    Does the increasing cost of wide area network (WAN) access restrict you from providing your branch offices with the data center services they need? Learn how Microsoft IT uses the BranchCache™ feature available in the Windows® 7 operating system and the Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating system to improve performance and availability to branch offices. Services at the branch office level include file and print management, offline folder redirection, operating system and application distribution, and patch management. By implementing BranchCache, Microsoft IT significantly improved service availability while maintaining network traffic encryption including HTTPS and IPsec and reducing WAN usage and server demand. Using BranchCache, Microsoft IT expects to save money while increasing branch user productivity.

  • System Center’s Datacenter Management and Virtualization Enablement Kit

    The first version of Microsoft’s Datacenter Management and Virtualization Enablement Kit for System Integrators is now available.

    The System Center Enablement Kit is a new initiative that brings all the components together for Services Integration consulting partners to deliver high-quality, repeatable Proof-of-Concept engagements on System Center Products. It contains resources for SI partners to build datacenter practices deploying Microsoft products.

    This toolkit contains everything a system integrator needs to perform a 5-day Proof-of-Concept:

    • Virtual machines
    • Scenario documentation
    • Presentations
    • Planning templates
  • Get discount for SQL PASS via SQLUG.BE

    SQL Server and BI professionals will gather from 21 till 23 April 2010 in Neuss (Germany) for the SQL PASS European Conference.

    PASS European Conference 2010 is Europe's premier conference for SQL Server technical education and business networking. Meet top SQL Server experts from Europe and around the world. Learn about best practices, effective troubleshooting, how to prevent issues, save money, and build a better SQL Server environment for your company or clients. Roll up your sleeves and get hands-on. Get face-to-face answers and advice from Microsoft CSS experts.

    The Belgian SQL Server User Group offers up to 35% discount on the regular registration price for SQL PASS. Be sure to check out their blog!

  • Forefront Identity Manager 2010 is now RTM

    Announced at the RSA Conference 2010, Forefront Identity Manager - the successor to Identity Lifecycle Manager 2007 - dramatically simplifies enterprise identity management through end-user self service capabilities and IT administrator tools to automate tasks.

    Screencast about Identity & Access Management

    This video describes the capabilities and business drivers behind the solution. Beginning at [6:08], you’ll see a demo including automated AD group management and access through Forefront Identity Manager (FIM), FIM password reset, and managing group membership via Outlook.

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