From an IT standpoint, one of the great new capabilities of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 is the ability to securely connect clients to the corporate network without going through a VPN. This capability, called
DirectAccess, establishes bi-directional connectivity with a user's enterprise network every time a user's DirectAccess-enabled portable computer connects to the Internet, even before the user logs on. You can now download the
Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) Guide for DirectAccess to help you design a DirectAccess infrastructure.
In the past, we've pointed you to the
Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 4.0, and
TechNet Magazine just published an in-depth article on
how to use the MAP Toolkit 4.0 to plan your migration to Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2. From inventorying your hardware devices to providing customized hardware assessments, you'll learn how to assess your current IT infrastructure, and you'll also discover how MAP can help you plan server virtualization and consolidation.
TechNet Magazine also provides detailed guidance on the next stage: migration. Using the Operating System Deployment feature in System Center Configuration Manager 2007, the author describes how the tool can simplify and accelerate your Windows 7 deployment project. Check out
Your Windows 7 Deployment Guide in this month's magazine.
At a higher level, see how to validate your organizational readiness for Windows 7 with the latest MOF Action Plan,
Release Readiness for Windows 7. It can help your organization evaluate its people-readiness to deploy the new operating system, including communications, processes, policies, compliance updates, and operations and support systems. Then learn how the combination of Windows 7, BitLocker Drive Encryption, and Windows Internet Explorer 8 can help meet security needs with the
updated Security Compliance Management Toolkit Series.
Strapped for time? Of course you are. That's why created series of new
free Learning Snacks on Windows 7. New
Windows 7 and
Exchange 2010 "snacks" have just been posted to the Learning Snack landing page. These are free, short, interactive presentations about popular topics that have been created by Microsoft Learning experts. You can learn something new in less than five minutes.
Thanks for reading,
Mitch Irsfeld
Editor,
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Windows 7 Deployment Tools Part 1: Preparing an Image using Sysprep and ImageX
This demonstration shows how to capture a custom Windows system image using the System Preparation Tool (sysprep) to generalize the installed image and ImageX to capture the contents of the generalized system image for re-deployment to other computers - including different hardware types.
Windows 7 Walkthroughs: Windows XP Mode
Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run older Windows XP productivity applications directly from your Windows 7-based PC. It utilizes virtualization technology such as Windows Virtual PC to provide a Windows XP Mode environment for Windows 7.
More "How Do I" VideosThe Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day Trial is designed specifically for IT Professionals, so that you can test your software and hardware on a final version of the product.
Download the New eBook: Deploying Windows 7 Essential Guidance from the Windows 7 Resource Kit and Microsoft TechNet Magazine. Check out what the industry's leading experts have to say in this free Microsoft Press eBook with selected chapters from the Windows 7 Resource Kit on Deployment.