TechNet Flash - Volume 11, Issue 23: October 22, 2009
Note from the Editor
We’re celebrating today’s general availability of Windows 7 with some special offers and special content just for IT pros and TechNet Flash readers. We know that two of your biggest concerns are application compatibility and deployment, so here’s something just for you: the new eBook from Microsoft Press, Deploying Windows 7, offering essential guidance from the Windows 7 Resource Kit and TechNet Magazine . You’ll find selected chapters from the Windows 7 Resource Kit on deployment platforms, planning, and testing application compatibility, to name a few. You'll also get six new articles on Windows 7 from industry experts on migration, running Windows 7 in mixed environments, certification and more. The eBook is free for a limited time.
For testing your software and hardware on the final version of Windows 7, download the Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day Trial.
If you feel like celebrating with us and learning more from the experts and the community, visit TalkingAboutWindows.com to attend the events and join the conversation with other IT professionals.
Now for the special offers: First up is the Microsoft Action Pack for TechNet Flash subscribers. For US$299 the Microsoft Action Pack subscription includes internal-use, full-version software including: RTM versions of Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Web Server 2008 R2, plus resources to help you grow. Visit Action Pack Online or call 1-866-668-1215 to get your Action Pack subscription. The Action Pack is not available for everyone, so see if you qualify for this special opportunity.
If you sign up or renew your Action Pack subscription between October 15, 2009 and June 15, 2010, you’ll be automatically entered into “The Great Office Technology Makeover Sweepstakes” for five new laptops, HP multi-function color laser printer and Web evaluation to refresh your business.
And if you are in the market for upgrading your home PCs, we have a special deal for you. Check out 7 Days of Windows 7 for great offers on hot PCs running Windows 7. There'll never be a better time to buy. The offers are updated daily and available while supplies last. Program ends October 28.
New TechCenter for SharePoint 2010 (Beta) Products
Visit the new SharePoint 2010 Beta TechCenter and learn how to get started with the new tools and resources to help you install and deploy Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010, including a series of video learning modules for IT pros.
Thanks for reading,
Mitch Irsfeld
Editor, TechNet Flash
Subscribe to the TechNet FlashFeed blog for news updates as they happen, often several times a day. Or, to get the TechNet Flash Feed, plus news of new webcasts, videos and new TechNet Magazine content, all in one place, get the TechNet Widget for your desktop.
Your Featured Content
Ensure that the content most relevant to you is presented in this section.
New Video Demo – Assess PC Hardware Compatibility for Windows 7 with MAP Toolkit
The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit makes it easier to determine if existing Windows PCs are compatible for Windows 7 upgrade. View this demo and learn how you can use this free toolkit to conduct a quick network-wide assessment.
Podcast: Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 Using Windows Easy Transfer and USMT
You have been tasked with upgrading your desktops from Windows XP to Windows 7, and you know there is not a direct upgrade path. In this podcast, we give you the answers and tools that can make your migration rather straightforward using a workgroup.
Webcast: Migration Planning Tools for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V
Are your data center servers ready for migration to Windows Server 2008 R2? Which of your existing servers are good candidates for Hyper-V virtualization? View this webcast to see how the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit and Infrastructure Planning and Design Guides can help you accelerate your migration planning.
Webcast: Microsoft Virtualization Best Practices for SQL Server (Level 300)
October 29, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
In this webcast, we focus on virtualizing Microsoft Exchange Server using Microsoft solutions, discuss the benefits of using Microsoft virtualization technologies, and provide technical guidance and best practices for virtualizing Exchange Server in various production scenarios.
Free Copy of SQL Server 2008 with Select Training Courses
Attend any of the eight available Microsoft SQL Server 2008 courses, and you'll get a fully licensed copy of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Standard Edition with one client access license. Due to popular demand, this offer has been extended to December 31, 2009 (while supplies last).
Download an Enterprise-Level Network Monitoring Solution for Free
autoMonitor is a partner product that can help you automatically map, monitor and troubleshoot IT networks with visualization directly in Visio. This offer is valued at US$2,000, but for a limited time, it’s free.
Download the Service-Level Dashboard 2.0 for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2
The Service-Level Dashboard 2.0 for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 automatically displays application or system availability and performance in near-real time. Using the dashboard, you can track performance trends, and head off problems before they occur.
Data Security Standards: Payment Card Industry Audit Results
Certified audit firm, Parente Randolph, evaluated SQL Server for PCI compliance and provides guidance to customers on passing PCI audits in a detailed whitepaper. You can also view the webcast.
Webcast: Microsoft Secure Collaboration Solution (Level 200)
October 27, 2009, 1:00 P.M. 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.
Using Microsoft Office Project to Manage Your Project Communications (Level 200)
November 24, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
In this webcast, we walk you through important communication tools in Microsoft Office Project that help you generate reports the reports you need in a format your various stakeholders want to see. Microsoft Office Project can help you generate custom reports to deliver the right data to the right people with a click of a button.
November 10, 2009, 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Learn how to harness the power of Multicore, using your current Visual Studio programming experience with Visual Studio and Allinea DDTLite running on Windows HPC Server. Learn how Microsoft Visual Studio 2008, combined with Allinea DDTLite, allows you to migrate to your Windows applications to threaded and MPI without disruption.
Webcast: What's New with System Center Essentials 2010? (Level 300)
October 28, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Attend this webcast for a first look at the beta version of System Center Essentials 2010, and discover how System Center Essentials 2010 is easy to deploy and maintain, while simplifying complex management tasks and providing expert diagnostic information for faster problem diagnosis and resolution.
Webcast: Ten Reasons for Hosting Web Sites on SharePoint Server 2007 for Internet Sites (Level 200)
November 4, 2009, 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
In this webcast, we review ten areas in which SharePoint Server 2007 for Internet Sites is delivering concrete value to organizations that have deployed the technology.
Download the Windows Mobile Business Value Calculator
Understand the impact of deploying mobile business solutions on the Windows Mobile platform with the Windows Mobile Business Value Calculator.
New Videos for IT Pros
Windows 7 Deployment Saves Money
Microsoft’s Blain Barton interviews PowerShell MVP and IT pro Max Trinidad about his work in rolling out Windows 7. Max cites savings in the fact that Windows 7 installs cleanly and runs on three-year-old hardware running Windows XP. He reports strong productivity using PowerShell and the IT Pro Momentum program.
TechNet Presents: Real-World Azure
The DPE U.S. Central Region team just wrapped up an Azure tour and we recorded one of the final events of the tour. This webcast video discusses some of the real-world aspects of using Azure. This is the IT pro-focused portion of the event.
Featured Downloads
Simplify Deployment with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
MDT unifies tools and best practices into a common deployment console and collection of guidance. New features such as flexible driver management, optimized user interface workflow, and Windows PowerShell can simplify deployment and make your job easier.
Download System Center Service Manager 2010 Beta 2 Trial Software
With built-in processes and workflow for incident, problem resolution, and change control, and its configuration management database, Service Manager orchestrates activities and connects knowledge from System Center Operations Manager, System Center Configuration Manager, and Active Directory. Register to download your evaluation copy.
Upcoming Webcasts
Using Project 2007 to Manage Small IT Projects (Level 100)
October 27, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Learn some key tips and tricks to set up small IT project plans and manage the projects using the new tools in Project 2007. We walk you through a proven planning process using project management best practices for planning your scope, timeline (schedule), and costs (resources) in Project 2007.
Thrive Live! A Technical Framework for Data Governance
October 28, 2009, 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Find out how you can employ your knowledge of your own organization’s data flows and data privacy and security policies to identify threats to data resources, manage risk, and select technical controls to improve the privacy and security of your sensitive information.
On Demand
IT Manager Community Chat: Windows 7 – What's in It for You?
In this webcast, Kevin Remde and his guests discuss the improvements in Windows 7 that can reduce the total cost of ownership by helping to increase automation, improve user productivity, and provide flexible administrative control to meet compliance requirements.