Microsoft just announced the Windows Cache Extension for PHP Beta, a PHP accelerator that is used to increase the speed of PHP applications running on Windows and Windows Server. Once the Windows Cache Extension for PHP is enabled and loaded by the PHP engine, PHP applications can take advantage of the functionality without any code modifications. Windows Cache Extension for PHP Beta can be installed with the Microsoft Web Platform Installer 2.0 RC and works with IIS 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, and 5.1. Download the New Windows Cache Extension for PHP Beta and check out Using Windows Cache Extension for PHP for more information.

More to come,

Mitch

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The System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 and 2008 R2 Microsoft Product Support Reporting Tool is now available to gather critical system and logging information used in troubleshooting support issues. Download the MPS Reporting Tool here.

Use the MPS Reporting Tool to gather detailed system status and configuration information from the Virtual Machine Manager server of Virtual Machine Manager 2008 or 2008 R2 server as well as from all managed virtual machine hosts, library servers, and physical to virtual conversion (P2V) source computers. This version of the MPS Reporting Tool collects gathers data to help Microsoft Support Professionals diagnose error conditions experienced in Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2.

The Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) version of the MPS Reporting Tool gathers the following diagnostic data for the VMM server, the virtual machine hosts and library servers that the VMM server manages, and physical to virtual conversion (P2V) source computers:

• Virtual Machine Manager traces
• Virtual Machine Manager database
• Windows event logs and virtual server event logs
• IP address
• Virtual Machine Manager setup logs
• SQL Server setup logs
• Registry information
• Open ports information
• System Information (msinfo)

More to come,

Mitch

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Extended Support for Windows 2000 Server will end on July 13, 2010. At this time, Windows 2000 Server will no longer be publicly supported. You will be able to continue using Self-Help Online Support.

Also on July 13, 2010, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2003 R2 (at a supported service pack level) will move from Mainstream Support to Extended Support. That means Microsoft will continue to provide security updates and paid support and customers will continue to have access to all security updates and Self-Help Online Support options. Non-security hot fixes developed during the Extended Support phase will be provided only to customers who enroll in Extended Hotfix Support.

Microsoft will not have a SP3 release for Windows Server 2003. 

For more on the Microsoft Support Lifecycle, see the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy page.

More to come,

Mitch

The Solution Accelerators team has announced the availability of the Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide for Virtualization updated for Windows Server 2008 R2, which can help customers start their planning and deployment process for virtualization using the Microsoft portfolio. Find detailed documentation and simple flowcharts. Detailed guides are available for designing virtual deployments.

In addition, the Infrastructure and Planning Guide for System Center has been updated for System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2.

More to come,

Mitch

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Microsoft has rolled out updates to six Internet Information Services (IIS) Extensions. Three are still in beta while three are released to the Web (RTW). Here’s the rundown:

• IIS Application Request Routing 2.0 RC adds support to enhance disk based cache and cache proxy for content delivery networks while increasing Web application reliability and scalability through rule-based routing and load balancing of HTTP server requests.
• IIS Search Engine Optimization Toolkit Beta2 helps Web developers, hosting providers, and Web server administrators to improve their Web site’s relevance in search results by recommending how to make the site content more search engine-friendly.
• IIS URL Rewriter 2.0 RC adds support for outbound response rewriting while enabling Web administrators to create powerful rules to implement URLs that are easier for users to remember and easier for search engines to find.
• IIS Web Deployment Tool RTW simplifies the migration, management, and deployment of IIS Web servers, Web applications, and Web sites.
• IIS Database Manager RTW allows you to easily manage your local and remote databases from within IIS Manager.
• IIS Media Services 3.0 RTW, an integrated HTTP-based media delivery platform, combines all IIS media extensions - including IIS Live Smooth Streaming - and delivers true HD (720p+) streaming for users and real-time logging to measure media investments.

And in addition to the WebsiteSpark announcement, which we covered yesterday, We added other enhancements to the overall Microsoft Web Platform, including the Microsoft Web Platform Installer 2.0 RTW, which provides developers with a simplified, ‘one click’ installation of technologies in the Web stack – including IIS Extensions.

Also, the Windows Web Application Gallery provides access to more than 20 popular, free, and ready to install Web apps to build Web sites and Web applications that run on Windows.

More to come,

Mitch

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