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From the Editor
Welcome to TechNet Flash,
Well, we're just about one month away from the Ireland Windows Server 2008 Launch Event in Dublin on 11 March. We had a massive response to the last edition of TechNet Flash and registration for the three Launch Event sessions is almost full.
There are, however, a very few places left so if you want to attend, avoid disappointment by registering now at the Launch Event in Dublin. Remember, every attendee will leave with a full version of Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.
Tell us what you'd like to see from us here at Microsoft Ireland by completing a very quick and simple online survey that will feature on the site and in the next edition of TechNet Flash.
Everyone who gives us feedback will be entered into a draw to win one of two top-of-the-line laptops. It's that simple to win!
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On 12 February 2008 we released the Windows Internet Explorer 7 Installation and Availability Update worldwide to Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) marked as an Update Rollup package. This complete installation package will upgrade machines running Internet Explorer 6 to Windows Internet Explorer 7.
The release has an updated 'first-run' experience and no longer requires Windows Genuine validation. Because the installation package has been updated, it has a different WSUS package ID to the original Windows Internet Explorer 7 package.
If you use WSUS, you may need to take action even if you've previously declined Windows Internet Explorer 7. If you've configured WSUS to 'auto-approve' packages marked as an Update Rollup for installation, Windows Internet Explorer 7 will be automatically approved for installation.
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You will need to take action if you:
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Use WSUS to manage updates in your environment
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Have Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) based computers or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1) based computers that currently have Internet Explorer 6 installed
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Don't want to upgrade Internet Explorer 6 machines to Windows Internet Explorer 7 at this time
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Have configured WSUS to auto-approve Update Rollups for installation
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Note: As previously communicated, the Internet Explorer 7 Blocker Toolkit is designed for Automatic Updates only and therefore will not block WSUS updates (see Internet Explorer 7 Blocker FAQ).
Additional Information
The following links provide additional information you may find useful.
Internet Explorer 7 via WSUS
Update Management Solutions
Have a happy St Valentine's Day and look out for the feedback edition in two weeks!
Colm Torris
TechNet Manager
Microsoft Ireland
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Your Featured Content
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Ensure that the content most relevant to you is presented in this section.
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We all know that what we do is way cooler than having a real job. Do you think those guys in accounting have their own Comic Series? - HECK NO! The HHH Comic series launches today: Sign up for the RSS feed and hang on for the ride.
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Take a sneak peek at the Virtual Launch Experience and get a taste of what's to come. Although we're not quite finished yet, we'd like to invite you in to check out the Partner Hall, where our Platinum sponsors have provided us with a little taste of their upcoming content.
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When you visit the Springboard Series this month, you'll find a familiar face: Microsoft Technical Fellow and IT guru Mark Russinovich. Each month, Mark will introduce new straight-talk articles and provide details about new resources available in the series. If you've been waiting to adopt Windows Vista, check out this month's feature article, 'Still on the Fence with Windows Vista?' to learn about the top things to consider with Windows Vista SP1 and what this latest milestone brings.
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Take advantage of free online training tools and resources to make the 2007 Microsoft Office system deployment straightforward. Check out webcasts, virtual labs, case studies and even live events, and learn how you may qualify for up to 15 days of free consulting services.
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Check out the new improvements made to Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 and Microsoft Office Communicator, with new features that help streamline communications, lay the foundation for software-powered VoIP, and integrate seamlessly into your existing telephony infrastructure.
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Find out which update management solution best meets your needs: Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer, Microsoft Update, Windows Server Update Services, System Center Essentials 2007 or Systems Management Server 2003.
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Download the complimentary Forrester Best Practices Report, 'Defining a Mobile Enterprise Policy,' for essential insight on how to define and implement an effective enterprise-wide mobile policy. This report covers the three main elements of a mobile policy: mobility framework, security policies and device management.
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To ensure long-term success and maximise return of the mobility investment, organisations need to provide a set of services focused on delivering fully configured devices to users. Watch this webcast to learn how a well-planned and executed solution can maximise the mobility return on investment (ROI) and drive user satisfaction.
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We'd like you to be the first to know when Windows Server 2008 exams are available, helping you to be among the first to certify. Register with us to receive same-day notification of exams and a 40 per cent savings voucher to use on select exams in your Windows Server 2008 track. Learn about Windows Server 2008 certifications.
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Read the Harvard Research Group Assessment on Microsoft's HPC solution.
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One of the design goals of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is to manage not only relational data, but also non-relational data. Find out about the various new feature sets and enhancements. And find other useful tips at IT Pro Tips.
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After completing this lab, you'll be able to launch the Report Designer Preview, create a data source and a data set, design a new report using the Report Designer of SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services (in Community Technology Preview 4 called Report Designer Preview), preview your report, enhance your report layout by working with Tablix functionality, and enrich your report using charts.
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Gain a better understanding of the Microsoft Worldwide Security Operations and how they protect Microsoft assets in a manner consistent with corporate culture. Through the strategic deployment of security systems, the Microsoft Corporate Security group is improving the way it protects Microsoft assets, information and employees.
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February 7, 11:30 AM Pacific Time
We'll take a look at two web servers, comparing the architectures and process models. We cover common management scenarios and tools, and talk about managing Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0 with Windows PowerShell compared with Apache's management process.
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After completing this lab, you'll be better able to create a Microsoft Intelligent Application Gateway (IAG) portal website, add Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access to the IAG portal website, configure Endpoint policies, add a non-web application to the SSL-based portal website, and configure an SSL VPN (Secure Sockets Layer virtual private network) connection using an IAG network connector.
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Tune in to this six-part series on demand and learn how you can use Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 to support your intranet, extranet and web applications while managing and sharing business processes and information. Our TechNet presenters discuss Office SharePoint Server 2007 deployment, records management, disaster recovery and security.
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See how Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 can help corporations improve their business performance process by integrating monitoring, analysis and planning capabilities into one application. Learn how to deliver performance management capabilities broadly by providing an application that's easy to use and less costly to deploy than traditional solutions.
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Learn about using Windows PowerShell for administration and customisation of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007. You'll create a web application and provision a new Site Collection. Additionally, during this lab, walk through adding users, creating a site structure, working with lists and document libraries, and collecting site information.
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Microsoft IT partnered with Microsoft Research to create a Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2005 extension that counts lines of code and predicts system defects. In the software development environment, insight into the volume of code being produced, and the changes applied to that code, provide measurements of productivity and quality.
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Learn how to effectively use the power of Microsoft Office Project in three instructor-led live webcasts: Planning, Tracking and Analysing, and Communicating.
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Evaluation Center Updates
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The new capabilities of Exchange Server 2007 SP1 deliver the advanced protection that your company demands, the anywhere access people throughout your organisation want, and the operational efficiency you need.
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Forefront Security for Exchange Server integrates multiple scan engines from industry-leading security firms integrated in a single solution to help protect your Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 messaging environments from viruses, worms, spam and inappropriate content.
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Try out a SQL Server 2008 Community Technology Preview (CTP) and provide your feedback directly to the SQL Server development team. The team uses your feedback from CTPs to help refine and enhance product features. This release offers many new product enhancements, including Transparent Data Encryption, Plan Freezing, Backup Compression, Spatial Data Support, Install/Uninstall capabilities, and much more. For more information on SQL Server 2008, check out the SQL Server 2008 product overview, webcasts and resources page.
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Scripting for IT Pros
Hey, Scripting Guy!
Support and Troubleshooting
How-to Articles
Hotfixes
Knowledge Base Articles
See a selection of new Knowledge Base (KB) articles on the TechNet website. 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. Also available via RSS 
Featured Downloads
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By exploring this demo, you can learn how Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 offers continuous data protection for Windows application and file servers, rapid and reliable data recovery, and advanced technology for enterprises of all sizes. We'll also tell you about the new features in Data Protection Manager 2007 and how you can start enjoying its benefits today.
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Upcoming Webcasts
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Tune in to this series of podcasts, sponsored by Microsoft, to get information and advice on a range of virtualisation topics from industry experts. Topics include: Virtualisation Licensing: Myth Busters; Using Virtualisation and Security Issues; Desktop and Application Virtualisation; IT Managers Speak Out on the Top Ten Things You Can Do to Improve Your Virtualisation Strategy; and Top Virtualisation Myths.
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February 13, 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Learn how your organisation can get ahead of the curve by taking advantage of the opportunities and resources available to Microsoft customers and how to think about the end-to-end life cycle of server virtualisation deployment in your organisation.
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Security
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Find out how to help protect your Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 and Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 collaboration environments with Forefront Security for SharePoint with SP1, and download free trial software.
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The Forefront edge security and access products provide enhanced network edge protection and application-centric, policy-based access to corporate IT infrastructure. Find out more by visiting the Forefront edge security website.
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On Demand
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In this webcast, we show you how the Business Data Catalogue, a new feature in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, enables you to index and present business data securely from a variety of sources and applications throughout your organisation, without the need for complex coding.
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Learn about the tools and technologies that enhance the security and interoperability of Windows and make it a reliable, cost-efficient and easy-to-manage computer platform for your business. We explore interoperability between Windows and Linux, compare Internet Information Services (IIS) with Apache, and Windows high-performance computing (HPC) with a Linux solution, and discuss Windows open source software.
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Virtual Labs
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After completing this lab, you'll be able to configure Exchange Server 2007 Unified Messaging and Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007.
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After completing this lab, you'll know how to pre-configure Windows Server 2008 for installing Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1), install Exchange Server 2007 SP1, verify installation and explore new enhancements in Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access.
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See how Windows Vista Sync Center helps you keep information automatically in sync between different locations, such as your computer and mobile devices/phones, and your computer and files stored in folders on network servers. Microsoft Virtual Lab Express provides a 30-minute hands-on overview of some of the features of Windows Vista.
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Received TechNet Flash from a Friend?
TechNet Flash is full of pointers to in-depth technical information that we encourage subscribers to forward to friends and co-workers. If you've received this issue from someone by email and would like to receive the freeTechNet Flash newsletter biweekly, all you have to do is register.
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Volume 10, Issue 2  14 February 2008 |
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National and Global Events
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TechNet Plus Direct
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Full library of Microsoft software for evaluation without limits
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Immediate access through subscriber downloads
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Two Professional Support incidents
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Access to beta software before public beta releases
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Exclusive tools and utilities
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Personalise Your Flash
Let us know your technology interests. When you personalise your Flash experience, additional content for your selected topics can be found in every edition in Your Featured Content. |
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