TechNet Flash - Volume 10, Issue 19: September 17, 2008
Note from the Editor
Greetings New TechNet Flash Subscriber,
Summer is in the rearview (except for here in the Puget Sound area, where it appears to just be starting) and that means a new season of local events, which are great opportunities to get your hands on new technology and network with your peers. First up, register for a getVIRTUALnow event in your area and find out how Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V, Microsoft System Center - including Virtual Machine Manager 2008 - and Microsoft Desktop and Application Virtualization can help you virtualize from the data center to the desktop. You’ll also take home an evaluation kit with versions of the latest virtualization products. With that in hand, take advantage of the free tools and guidance from Virtualization Solution Accelerators program, including Infrastructure Planning and Design Guides for App-V and SCVMM, Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 for Hyper-V, and the Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool.
Deliver Search Quickly for Free
Enterprise Search is now available as a free download. Access this quick, easy-to-procure, set up, and administer search tool, and help empower your customers to find the information they need today by:
" Checking out the product overview and many included features
" Downloading Microsoft Search Server 2008 Express for free
On the desktop platform front, learn about Microsoft’s plans for Windows XP, Windows Vista progress, and initial details about Windows 7 by downloading An Update on the Windows Roadmap from Bill Veghte. Also see the Windows Feature Comparison and compare security, management, deployment, mobility, and productivity features between Windows XP SP3 and Windows Vista SP1.
New from Sysinternals:
" Desktops 1.0
This new utility enables you to create up to four virtual desktops and to use a tray interface or hotkeys to preview what’s on each desktop and easily switch among them.
" Autoruns 9.34
This Autoruns update adds command-line options for automatically scanning and exporting scan results, as well as a number of bug fixes.
Also, check out the interview with Mark Russinovich on TechNet Edge where he covers a range of topics, including what’s going on at Sysinternals.
New Fun Stuff:
" BlueTrack - Check out the latest tracking technology from Microsoft, offered in the new Explorer Mouse and Explorer Mini Mouse. It allows you to mouse on virtually any surface.
" Arc Mouse - Sleek and stylish, this mouse folds in half for lighter traveling.
" LifeCam Show and LifeCam VX-5500 - Two stylish new webcams that move easily from notebook to desktop.
Finally, social bookmarking on TechNet is now live. You can save your favorites online, see what other IT professionals are bookmarking, and follow people who bookmark good stuff. Read up on all the new features of this release, see examples of how the community is already using bookmarking to collaborate on great lists of links, and check out our video that provides an overview of all the new applications now available on TechNet.
Mitch Irsfeld
Editor, TechNet Flash
Your Featured Content
Ensure that the content most relevant to you is presented in this section.
Internet Explorer Administration Kit 8 Beta
The Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) 8 Beta simplifies the creation, deployment, and management of customized Internet Explorer 8 packages. IEAK 8 can be used to configure the out-of-box Internet Explorer 8 experience or to manage user settings after Internet Explorer 8 deployment. You must have Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 installed on your computer in order for IEAK 8 Beta to run successfully.
Microsoft Virtualization Launch
Attend the Microsoft Virtualization Readiness Launch and take home the latest software. Find a launch event near you.
Video: Cisco and Microsoft Revolutionize Branch Optimization
Tune in to this video on demand, beginning September 30, to learn how Cisco and Microsoft have created a new branch office solution that combines Windows Server with Cisco WAN optimization to deliver a new solution, Windows Server on WAAS.
Webcast: Performance and Networking Gains with HPC Server 2008
October 15, 2008, 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time
October 16, 2008, 7:00 P.M. Pacific Time
This webcast will discuss several of the new features and performance enhancements designed to make Windows HPC Server 2008 ideal for the most demanding research, scientific, and engineering environments.
Kai Axford, CISSP and Senior Security Strategist, Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Group, dispels the top three virtual security myths and offers a few observations for those considering the virtual route.
Webcast: How to Overcome the Top 10 Mobile Device Security and Management Challenges (Level 200)
We explain how System Center Mobile Device Manager provides integration into Active Directory, rich inventory and reporting tools, secure virtual private network (VPN) access, and more.
Webcast: Planning for Microsoft Online Services Deployment and On-Boarding (Level 300)
September 30, 2008 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
In this webcast, we discuss preparations for the Business Productivity Online (BPO) Suite from Microsoft Online Services, including infrastructure requirements and desktop application deployment, and we provide a working checklist for IT professionals to reference as they on-board the services.
CIO Interview: Building High-Volume Web 2.0 Applications on Windows
Nick Wilson of Break.com: “That’s the thing that I don't think a lot of people on the LAMP stack realize... I think you’ll find that Microsoft technologies compare very well individually. But that misses the big picture: Microsoft has created a platform that simply lets me architect and build applications in a way that I can't on LAMP.”
How Microsoft does IT Webcast: Deployment Planning for BitLocker Drive Encryption for Windows Vista
October 9, 2008, 11:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Join this webcast to find out more about BitLocker. It is a new hardware-enhanced security feature in the Windows Vista Enterprise and Ultimate operating systems that provides better offline data protection.
Podcast: How Microsoft IT Upgraded a Multi-Terabyte Database to SQL Server 2008
Learn how Microsoft IT upgraded a 30-terabyte database from SQL Server 2005 to a pre-release version of SQL Server 2008. Hear how the multi-terabyte database upgrade was planned, tested, and implemented without a database backup by following a structured, organized, and methodical approach.
Webcast: Microsoft Online Services Setup, On-Boarding, and Administration (Level 200)
September 23, 2008, 11:30 A.M. Pacific Time
In this webcast, we introduce the Microsoft Online Administration Center and the process for setting up and bringing an organization on board the Business Productivity Online Suite, which includes Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Live Meeting, and Exchange Hosted Filtering - enterprise-class software delivered as a subscription service, hosted by Microsoft, and sold with partners.
Virtual Lab: Implementing Branch Distribution Points in System Center Configuration Manager 2007
After completing this lab, you will be better able to configure a standard distribution point to support BITS downloads, configure a branch distribution point, configure a protected site system, and distribute software to a client to access a branch distribution point.
Download the Infrastructure Update for Project 2007
The Infrastructure Update for Microsoft Office Project 2007 (KB951547) includes the latest performance updates and fixes for Microsoft Office Project 2007.
Accelerate Virtualization Planning with Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1
Are you ready to virtualize your datacenter but don’t know where to start? Download the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 to get a jump start. Also view the latest TechNet Magazine article on how to use the MAP Toolkit.
Jump Start Virtualization with Virtualization Solution Accelerators
Are you looking to virtualize your datacenters and desktop infrastructure? Look to the Virtualization Solution Accelerators to help you jump start the various phases of your IT projects. You will find the latest guidance and tools very useful in saving you time and money. Download the new Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide for App-V, the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for Hyper-V, and more.
Register Now for the SQL Server 2008 Roadshow
November 12 - Philadelphia, PA
November 20 - Lawrenceville, GA
Learn more about the new enhanced capabilities of SQL Server 2008. Explore security and database management, how to best manage your data, and what’s new in business intelligence. Don’t miss this half-day event that will give you a better understanding of what SQL 2008 has to offer and how you can best put it to use at your company. Roadshows run from 8:00 A.M. - 12:00 noon.
IT Management
Compliance Management Series Beta Now Available
The beta release of the Compliance Management Series (a MOF-based expansion of the Regulatory Compliance Planning Guide) is now available, and will be open through September 24, 2008 for your review. After you join the program, bookmark this link to the program site and get the latest information about upcoming events.
Scripting for IT Pros
Hey Scripting Guy...
" How Do I Use Windows PowerShell to Run the Same WMI Queries Against Multiple Computers?
" How Do I Track Server Downtime?
" How Can I Troubleshoot Drive-Mapping Issues?
See previous comics in the TechNet Flash Web-based archive.
Featured Downloads
Just Released: Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) 5.0.3
This update to ACT includes new tools to assess application compatibility with Internet Explorer 8, and extends the Update Compatibility Evaluator to Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 to detect potential application compatibility issues caused by security updates.
Support and Troubleshooting
How-to Articles
" Windows Server: How to find the current Schema Version
Hotfixes
" List of the MS DTC bugs that are fixed in Windows Server 2003 MS DTC Hotfix Rollup Package 14
" FIX: An ongoing MS DTC transaction is orphaned in SQL Server 2005
Knowledge Base Articles
See a selection of new Knowledge Base articles on the TechNet Web site. KB articles feature an Article Translations box in the right column. You can select a language from the drop-down list and read the article in the selected language.
Upcoming Webcasts
Protect SQL Server 2008 with Data Protection Manager 2007 (Level 300)
September 26, 2008, 9:30 A.M. Pacific Time
Are you deploying or migrating to Microsoft SQL Server 2008? Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 is designed for the database administrator or the IT generalist, with wizards and workflows to help ensure that you can protect your organization's data.
Project Budgeting: Drive Your Budgets at the Phase, Task, or Milestone Level
October 15, 2008, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Learn how to assign costs to project tasks with the new cost resources feature. The new budget tracking feature will be covered, which provides users with an efficient way to assign budgets to projects and programs, and to allocate funds and track costs, work, and materials against the budget quickly and easily.
Security
Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for September 2008
Download the September security updates, including updates for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office.
With data gathered from more than 450 million computers worldwide, the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report offers a unique insight into the IT threat landscape.
On Demand
Webcast: Managing Hyper-V Virtual Machines with WMI and Windows PowerShell (Level 300)
Learn how to automate the most common management tasks, how to create a delegation model using Windows Authorization Manager, and how the power of WMI can pick up where Virtual Machine Manager leaves off.
Radio: What's New in the Visual Studio Team System 2008 Database Edition GDR?
WMA | MP3 High | MP3 Low
This TechNet Radio session features an overview that highlights the new features and architectural changes in the VSTS 2008 Database Edition GDR. We also have our tip of the week.
Virtual Labs
Designing Anti-Spam Defenses Using Intelligent Message Filter
After completing this lab, you will be better able to configure the Exchange Intelligent Message Filter to filter spam. You will also configure the Junk E-mail folder settings in Outlook 2003, including the Safe Senders, Safe Recipients, and Blocked Senders lists.
Publishing Exchange Server and SharePoint Server with ISA Server 2006 (Refresh)
After completing this lab, you will be able to publish Exchange Web Access, use cross-site link translation to publish SharePoint Server, and publish a Web farm for load balancing.
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