Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate is now publicly available. We’re in the homestretch.

Windows Server Home Page:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/

Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh670538.aspx

Video Demos of Network Virtualization, Stroage Spaces, Live Migration, Server Management

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/new.aspx

Fresh on the press!

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/hh968267.aspx

Experience the beta release of Windows Server “8” firsthand in these virtual labs. You can test drive new and improved features and functionality, including server management and Windows PowerShell, networking, Hyper-V, and new storage solutions.

Getting Started

It's simple: no complex setup or installation is required to try out Windows Server “8” running in a full-featured virtual lab. You get a downloadable manual and a 90-minute block of time for each module. Before you start, read the minimum system requirements. Select a virtual lab from the list below. Then, you will see an application launch the lab.

Windows Server “8” Virtual Labs

• Active Directory Deployment and Management Enhancements
  In this lab, you will learn how to deploy Active Directory Domain Controllers with Windows Server "8". You will deploy domain controllers using the new Server Manager, as well as deploying remote domain controllers using Windows PowerShell. You will be able to explore the new Active Directory Management tool and use its PowerShell History Viewer.
• Configuring a Highly Available iSCSI Target
  In this lab, you will learn how Windows Server "8" can provide storage remotely to any machine. You will build clusters using shared storage and build iSCSI high-availability instances--observing highly available application communication during cluster failover.
• Configuring Hyper-V over Highly Available SMB Storage
  In this lab, you will learn how to configure a file server cluster to support running Hyper-V virtual machines from SMB file shares. You will create the file share, configure delegation, and then create a new VM on SMB storage.
• Implementing Storage Pools and Storage Spaces
  In this lab, you will work with the new storage spaces technology in Windows Server "8". You will first create new storage pools and virtual disks, and then you will work with those virtual disks in both Server Manager and Control Panel.
• Introduction to Windows PowerShell Fundamentals
  Windows PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting language that helps you achieve greater control and productivity. Using a new admin-focused scripting language, more than 230 standard command-line tools, and consistent syntax and utilities, Windows PowerShell enables you to more easily control system administration and accelerate automation.
• What’s New in Windows PowerShell 3.0
  In this lab, you will explore some of the new features and functionality in Windows PowerShell 3.0 to enable you to more easily control system administration and accelerate automation.
• Managing Branch Offices
  In this lab, you will learn how the branch office scenario has been improved in Windows Server "8" including new branch cache enhancements.
• Managing Network Infrastructure
  In this lab, you will explore new network management capabilities in Windows Server "8". You will learn how to implement Network Teaming as well as how to implement DHCP failover. Finally, explore new Windows PowerShell cmdlets for network management.
• Managing Your Network Infrastructure with IP Address Management
  Network management is core to running a business, yet the tools that IT professionals need can be too costly or not available from Microsoft. With Windows Server "8", we change that with the introduction of IP Address Management (IPAM).
• Managing Windows Server "8" with Server Manager and Windows PowerShell 3.0
  In this lab, you will learn how the Server Manager and Windows PowerShell framework in Windows Server "8" delivers an enhanced, multi-server management experience. You will learn to perform tasks such as multi-server management. You will also explore new Windows PowerShell capabilities including new cmdlets and the Windows PowerShell gateway.
• Online Backup Service
  In this lab, you will use Windows Server Backup to back up your critical data to Windows Azure. This lab will teach you the entire set of workflows around backing up and recovering your data to Windows Azure.
• Using Dynamic Access Control to Automatically and Centrally Secure Data
  In this lab, you will explore Dynamic Access Control in Windows Server "8". You will learn how to create Central Access Policies, explore the new Access Denied Remediation features, as well as learn how to use the audit capabilities built into Dynamic Access Control.

So, I’m mainly posting this so I remember it and don’t have to go look it up again the next time I run into this…but if you are here checking this out…maybe this helps you too. :)

Here’s my problem.  I have a lab I log into once I establish a VPN connection to the corporate network.  I made up a domain for my lab so it’s not part of the current domain my computer is joined to – or any trusted domain.  So, every time I log in I’m prompted for credentials even though I’ve checked the box to save credentials.

I just want to click on the RDP link and have it login without me typing the password every time…

Easy enough.

Start local group policy editor, start – run – gpedit.msc
Go to Local Computer Policy –> Computer Configuration –> Administrative Templates –> System –> Credentials Delegation

On every one of the policies that I have ‘enabled’ below, you’ll want to enter the following:

Once your finished – run ‘gupdate /force’ to refresh the policy.  You can now login…WITHOUT typing in the password every time!!

If you are a Microsoft Partner and your LiveID is registered with your companies MPN account, you can login here and get access to business decision maker, sales/account manager, tech pre-sales and implementation training on SC 2012.  This isn’t everything that we have in our coffers…if you are a Microsoft Partner looking to sharpen your knife around System Center 2012…feel free to drop me a line…but if you have access to this, I highly recommend you check it out.

http://assets.msleap365.com/content/lpguid/htmh/E2C728EDEEF742E48165790EF622ACC6.htm

PowerShell Web Access is a new feature in Windows Server 2012 (in this case, Windows 8 Beta).  The obvious advantage of this functionality is being able to easily run remote PS commands without making a direct connection (either console or RDP) or using long-hand PowerShell commands like ‘enter-pssession’ and ‘invoke-command’ required for remote PowerShell.

I’m certainly no PowerShell guru, but I’ve shown this a few times in my lab lately and had some folks ask a few questions…primarily, how do you install this?

It’s a pretty straightforward installation…there’s an even a switch to let PowerShell configure the certificate for you (a test cert, so lab usage only please).

In my lab, I started from scratch with a Windows 8 Beta VM.  I installed the IIS and PowerShell Web Access Role/Feature.

Next, you’ll want to run the ‘install-PswaWebApplication –UseTestCertificate’ command to install the application.  If you have an existing cert you can assign it with this switch as well or you more easily, you can just assign it while your in IIS Manager.  You won’t need the switch then (if you try to use it, the script will bark at you letting you know the site is already configured for SSL).  For production environments, you will obviously be using a CA cert of some kind.  The downside, as you can see from the yellow text below, is that this cert expires in 90 days.

Creating a self-signed cert is easy – go here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753127(v=WS.10).aspx and create a ‘personal’ cert on the server where you are hosting PSWA.  Edit bindings on the default web site (or wherever you installed PSWA) and select the cert you created and bind it to 443.  Easy enough.

Next, you’ll want to use the ‘Add-PswaAuthorizationRule * * *’ command:

From here, you can login to https://servername/pswa

You can login to both Windows 8 and Windows 2008 R2 hosts.  If you get an error, it’s usually because WinRM isn’t properly configured.  Issuing the command “winrm quickconfig’ on a host will usually fix the problem and you’ll be able to access it remotely.

Have fun!