TechNet Flash - Volume 11, Issue 20: September 9, 2009
Note from the Editor
Greetings, and welcome to TechNet Flash.
With just over a month till the official release of Windows 7, it’s time to momentarily divert attention away from the features, usability and performance of the new client OS – the user community is already touting that for you – and focus more on the set of resources that will help you rationalize the desktop and do more with less. Yes, a well-planned migration can help you reduce costs.
It all starts with a good evaluation, and then using the best practices for configuration and deployment. The Springboard team has put together a special trial just for IT pros. If you haven’t yet got your hands on the Windows 7 RTM, download the new 90-day Trial of Windows 7 Enterprise to test and evaluate the final version of Windows 7 Enterprise.
Then the Springboard Series for Windows 7 enables you to test your hardware, software, and deployment strategies and get deployment guidance, step-by-step tutorials, and more. We recently covered these, but it’s worth mentioning again these key resources: the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator, the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 RC, and the IPD guide for Windows Deployment Services.
OK, I can’t resist a little nod to the great features. Quickly check them out with the TechNet Video: Windows 7 Feature Overview.
And here are some new deployment webcasts and videos:
" Thrive Live! Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 Using Windows Easy Transfer and USMT
" Windows 7 Deployment Enhancements
" Windows 7 Planning and Deployment Tools
Then the fun begins with the run-up to the official launch. We’ll kick it off with the New Efficiency Virtual Event. On September 29 in San Francisco, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer and top technology leaders across industries will debate the role of IT in helping companies drive business growth during these tough economic times. Catch it live online starting at 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time. Increasing productivity and innovation could ultimately put a company in better stead to capture market share and rebound faster than cost-cutting alone. Get a close look at how real companies are justifying IT investments across the desktop, server, the network, and beyond.
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Now Available
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 is the stand-alone hypervisor that enables organizations to improve server utilization and reduce costs. Download the Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 and test out the new features such as live migration and expanded processor and memory support for host systems. If your organization is looking to consolidate workloads onto a single physical server, or consolidate servers in general, this might be the solution. The learning curve is minimal since it allows IT professionals to leverage existing patching, provisioning, management and support tools and processes, plus their individual skills and the collective knowledge of Microsoft tools.
Thanks for reading,
Mitch Irsfeld
Editor, TechNet Flash
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Your Featured Content
Ensure that the content most relevant to you is presented in this section.
IT Pro at Home: Tips and Tricks
The IT Pro at Home zone is dedicated to you – the IT pro who understands that the line between work and play is sometimes hard to draw. From building your own search connections to streaming television over multiple PCs in your home group, learn cool tips, tricks, and secrets to help you become an expert on Microsoft’s newest operating system. New this month are videos, walkthroughs, and FAQs on:
" Organizing with Windows 7 Libraries
Windows 7 Application Compatibility Part 2: Virtualization
September 24, 2009, 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time
In this Springboard Series Virtual Roundtable, Mark Russinovich will host a panel of experts to help IT pros with application compatibility concerns and discuss how presentation virtualization, desktop virtualization, and application virtualization can reduce testing times, expedite deployment, and ultimately help you streamline PC management. Submit questions in advance to vrtable@microsoft.com.
Download the Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization Guide
This guide outlines the critical infrastructure design elements that are crucial to a successful implementation of Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V). It guides you through the four-step process of designing components, layout, and connectivity in a logical, sequential order.
Download the New Windows Cache Extension for PHP Beta and Optimize Your PHP Web Sites
The Windows Cache Extension for PHP Beta is a PHP accelerator that increases the speed of PHP applications running on Windows and Windows Server. 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.
Video: Lake Washington School District’s Open Platform for Cloud and On-Premise Security
The Lake Washington School District (LWSD) connected its on-premise Microsoft Geneva identity Server and a PHP application running on the cloud (SaaS), demonstrating a great federated identity scenario. Watch this video to learn more about what Microsoft is doing to enable interoperability.
Read the Report: Information Sharing and a Safer Internet
In the 20-page report “Building a Safer, More Trusted Internet through Information Sharing,” the Microsoft Security Response Center summarizes the progress on three security-related programs: Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP), Microsoft Exploitability Index, and Microsoft Vulnerability Research (MSVR).
TechNet Edge Video: FPE vs. FOPE and Exchange 2010 – Secure Messaging with Forefront
Mike Chan, PM for the Forefront team, breaks down the differences between security protection for Forefront Protection for Exchange (FPE), Forefront Online Protection for Exchange (FOPE), and the built-in protection which exists in Exchange 2010.
September 22, 2009, 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time
New Videos for IT Pros
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ee410767.aspx
Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration Using MDT 2010 – Part 1: Building the Deployment Environment
9 minutes, 56 seconds
Learn how to build media that will automatically migrate computers from Windows XP to Windows 7 with user data, custom applications, and drivers. This demonstration will walk you through the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) Deployment Workbench and how it works.
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/ee410769.aspx
9 minutes, 33 seconds
Explore the user experience for migrating the Windows XP computer to Windows 7 and how brief – or “lite touch” – interaction is required up front to automate the entire process of data migration, OS installation, driver and application customization, and domain join.
Featured Downloads
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 2 (SP2)
This is important because once all of the client access servers in your organization have been upgrade to Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 2, you can deploy Exchange Server 2010. Enhancements include a VSS plug-in for Windows Server Backup to support Exchange backups, new Exchange auditing events and audit log repository, the dynamic AD schema update and validation feature, a more efficient way to manage public folder quotas, and several new cmdlet parameters.
Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Service Pack 2
Windows Server Update Services 3.0 Service Pack 2 (WSUS 3.0 SP2) delivers updates to corporate environments from Microsoft Update. Some of the features and improvements include integration with Windows Server 2008 R2, support for the BranchCache feature in Windows Server 2008 R2, support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 clients, and Compliance Report. Additionally, Windows Update Agent (WUA) offers a collection of performance enhancements, user experience improvements, and bug fixes.
Scripting for IT Pros
Hey Scripting Guy...
" How Can I Figure Out Which Version of Microsoft Office Word Is on a Bunch of Computers?
" Can I Read a Text File and Use It to Query Servers?
" Can You Translate This VBScript to Windows PowerShell?
Support and Troubleshooting
How-tos
Hotfixes
" Office 2007 Cumulative Update for August 2009
" Description of the Forms Server 2007 hotfix package (Ifswfe-x-none.msp): August 25, 2009
Knowledge Base Articles
" Windows Server Update Services 3.0 SP2 Dynamic Installer for Server Manager
" An update for GDI+ for Windows operating systems
IT Management
Midmarket Offering: Essentials 2007 and VMM 2008 Now up to 37% Off
For a limited time, get Microsoft System Center Essentials 2007 and System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) 2008 Workgroup Edition (with Software Assurance and upgrade to Essentials 2010) at 37% off when purchasing through an Open License with Software Assurance or Open Value Agreement.
The Microsoft Capital Planning and Investment Control Solution (Virtual Lab)
After completing this lab, you will be better able to build a balanced and optimized portfolio, focus resources on projects that further the most important organizational goals, and ensure investment effectiveness and business value through close investment oversight.
To stay updated on the next installment for IT Managers, visit the IT Management Hub.
Upcoming Webcasts
Using Windows PowerShell with Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Manager (Level 300)
September 10, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
In this webcast, we provide examples of Windows PowerShell being used to perform common administration tasks in Hyper-V and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager.
Identity and Access Management
October 1, 2009, 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
Attend this webcast to learn how Microsoft Forefront provides a strong identity and access solution that can give your business the tools it needs to ensure that internal and external regulations and mandates are being followed while providing a secure and efficient collaboration experience for people.
Identity and Security
Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange Server Release Candidate Now Available
This version of Forefront Security for Exchange Server provides fast and effective detection of malware and spam, blocks out-of-policy content, and integrates with Forefront Online Protection for Exchange to offer the defense-in-depth benefits of hosted and on-premise filtering in a single solution. Download the release candidate today.
Webcast: Microsoft Secure Collaboration Solution (Level 200)
September 29, 2009, 1:00 PM Pacific Time
In this webcast, we walk you through the best practices and technologies that are available to secure Microsoft Office SharePoint Server and Windows SharePoint Services and to extend access to employees on the go, partners, vendors, and even customers.
On Demand
Optimize Windows 7 with the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (Level 300)
Attend this webcast to lean how using the Microsoft Desktop Optimization pack with the Windows 7 operating system can simplify application deployment and desktop management while reducing IT costs.
Deploying, Administering, and Managing Office Communications Server 2007 R2 (Level 200)
Register for this webcast and learn about Office Communications Server 2007 (OCS) R2 architecture, supported deployment topologies, and deployment best practices.
Virtual Labs
What’s New in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 for DBAs
After completing this lab, you will be better able to use policy-based management, data collector, resource governor, plan freezing, and transparent data encryption in SQL Server 2008.
Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Performance Data Collector to Protect Performance
After completing this lab, you will be better able to add disks to DPM using the DPM Management Shell, use the DPM Console to create protection groups, use the DPM Management Shell to create protection groups, and recover SQL databases in a variety of ways.
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