Editor's Note - December 1999

  • Article

Are you ready?

tim

You have your party hats and streamers and are stocked up on champagne. If you're lucky, you're not one of the IT Pros who will be babysitting the company computers "just in case." But if you are, be sure to visit the Microsoft Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure and Resource Center for a comprehensive checklist and up-to-the-minute bulletins. You'll find a wealth of resources to help you get prepared for technology's new twists at the turn of the century.

Windows 2000 Technology Center

Come see what's new with Windows 2000, including several chapters from well-known technical publishers and technical papers straight from the experts. For more information sharing on Windows, join a discussion with other IT Pros.

Also check out TechNet Presents: BackOffice Server 4.5 Training and Deployment Tour, which provides step-by-step information on how to deploy Microsoft BackOffice Server 4.5 and how to optimize it to make your organization hum efficiently.

Robichaux on Security

We're pleased to announce a new feature by noted author and security consultant Paul Robichaux. Our distinguished columnist is the principal of Robichaux & Associates, Inc., which provides programming, technical communications, and security services to customers ranging in size from local auto dealerships to Microsoft. His latest book, Managing Microsoft Exchange Server *(*O'Reilly & Associates, 1999) is a no-nonsense, practical guide to planning, installing, managing, maintaining, and troubleshooting Exchange networks. His first column discusses how a simple hacker attack was accomplished and how it could have been prevented.

TechNet Talks to Alistair Lowe-Norris

Everyplace you're going with Windows 2000 Active Directory, Microsoft Enterpise Program Manager Alistair Lowe-Norris has already been. As a member of the Windows 2000 Rapid Deployment Team, he oversaw rollout at Leicester University, UK. Now he's writing the book—a pragmatic system administrator's guide to deploying and managing AD.

Puzzler Round 5

Our popular Puzzler game has now kicked off round five. Successfully strut your stuff and you may win the grand prize: a vacation for two to Orlando, Florida, including round-trip airfare, three nights' accommodations and passes to the Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park and Disney-MGM Studios.

T-shirts for Tipsters

Congratulations to the now comfortably clad winners whose tips on IIS and Exchange grace our site. This month, we'll introduce our favorite SQL Server tips, and networking.

Microsoft Usability Program

Now's your chance to participate in Microsoft's usability studies for BackOffice and Windows NT related products and tools. Participating in these studies allows you to preview upcoming releases and provide feedback that results in changes to the products. As an added bonus, all individuals asked to participate in Microsoft product evaluations receive a gift of their choice from the Usability Gratuity List.

TechNet CD Subscriptions

This month's CD features a new search engine with many of the enhancements you've requested via feedback, focus groups, trade shows, and other forums—without sacrificing speed. For example, the beta CD enables you to:

  • Save searches

  • Search your query results list without losing previous results

  • Delete irrelevant topics from search results

  • View topic contents as you scroll through search results

  • Retain "favorites" (formerly called "bookmarks") as part of your user profile so they are kept from one month to the next

  • Quickly set up from month-to-month

  • Send topics and favorites to colleagues via e-mail

TechNet DVD-ROM Beta 2

You'll find significant enhancements in the 2nd DVD beta release:

  • Improved search across multiple CD's

  • Hot buttons for instantly accessing service packs and seminars

  • Reduced CD swapping

  • Faster, more efficient installation

Subscribers who signed up to test the DVD beta will receive Beta 2 in December in a separate shipment from their monthly TechNet issue. For details on the contents of the TechNet DVD Beta 2 and how to submit your feedback, read the FAQ.

Many more exciting changes are in store for the coming year. Until then, here's wishing you and yours a warm and wonderful holiday season.

Tim McBride
Group Manager
Microsoft TechNet

Illustrated portrait by Elizabeth Anderson, MSN Staff