From the EditorNow What?

Joshua Hoffman

We've spent a lot of time over the past year talking about Windows Server 2008—what's new, what's interesting, how to get started. We've covered Active Directory, kernel changes, virtualization, and more, and we'll continue to do so. But you might ask, Now what?

Once you're finished deploying Windows Server 2008, is that it? Job well done? Can you just pack up your things and go home? If so, can you please drop me a note with the contact info for your HR department? I'd like to know where to send my resume.

No, chances are you don't get to just go home. Chances are you move right into answering the next questions: How do we monitor everything? How do we manage it? How do we roll out changes? How do we get alerted to problems (or more important, issues that have the potential to become problems)? And you need to be able to answer these questions. After all, one of the biggest mistakes we can make when implementing new technology is to give all the attention to deployment and forget the follow-through.

This month we aim to address that problem with some great content from Pete Zerger and Cameron Fuller who discuss how to use System Center to manage and monitor Windows Server 2008. Have a look, and make sure you're prepared to answer that all-important question—Now what?

Also in this issue, we have a follow-up to our special issue on virtualization last month. Joshua Schnoll writes about presentation virtualization—virtualizing the presentation layer with technologies such as Terminal Services and Remote­App. And, just in case you missed our virtualization coverage last month, you can find it all at technet.microsoft.com/magazine/cc135968.

And, finally, I'd like to extend a special note of gratitude to David Gordon on behalf of the entire TechNet Magazine staff. For the past year, David has been the director of the Subscription and Software Services team at Microsoft, which is responsible not only for TechNet Magazine and MSDN Magazine but also for the Flash newsletters and the MSDN and TechNet software subscription programs. David has been a great leader for the magazine staff these past several months, and as he is now moving on to new, exciting challenges, we'd like to express our thanks to him.

Enjoy the issue, and don't forget to drop us a line with your feedback at tnmag@microsoft.com.

—Joshua Hoffman

Thanks to the following Microsoft technical experts: Gopal Ashok, Alex Balcanquall, Nino Bilic, Eric Charran, Baelson Duque, Brad Huges, Jeff Lilleskare, Corbin Meek, Michael Murgolo, Sanjeev Nair, Jim Truher, Dean Tsaltsas, Jason Tyler, and Manlio Vecchiet.