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From the Editor
Hi
We've just had the Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio and SQL Server 2008 launch on 11 March at the Tripod in Dublin. It was a fantastic event with over 2,000 attendees so I'd like to thank everyone who attended and I hope you had a great day.
If you missed the event, you can still get a good sense of what went on by attending our Virtual Launch Experience. This has videos of our biggest launch event in Los Angeles and loads of material that you can put into your virtual backpack and download - well worth a visit! Beyond the launch itself, it's also survey time. We'd like to get your input and feedback on our products, services and most importantly, on our people who work with you. A number of you will shortly receive an email invitation to the upcoming Microsoft Customer and Partner Satisfaction Survey, and it would be extremely helpful to me and the company if you could please take the time to complete it. I appreciate that you are busy, so we've designed the survey to take only 15 minutes to complete.
We are listening to your feedback! In the last survey, you told us that we needed to make it easier for you to do business with Microsoft. As a result, this year we have more people working with the developer and IT professional communities than ever before. Through our local programmes, community events, newsletters and blogs, we've been working to get you the technical information you need when you need it. We've also provided a new local blog dedicated to help answer any licensing queries you may have. Find more information about the local programmes. How the survey is carried out: The survey will be conducted in March and April. During this time some of you will receive an email invitation from IPSOS, our certified research company, to complete a customer satisfaction online survey. If you use a spam filter, please adjust the settings to allow email from domain feedback.en@satisfaction.ipsos.com; this is a valid Microsoft survey. Please be assured that Microsoft and IPSOS will keep your information and responses to this survey strictly confidential, in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Please watch out for your invitation.
Supporting local communities: As part of our ongoing support of local communities, we're committed to making a contribution to local charities based on the number of responses received to the survey. The three charities we are supporting this year are Enable Ireland, ISPCC and the Northern Ireland Leukaemia Research Fund.
If you have any queries regarding this survey please contact us. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of TechNet Flash; see you in two weeks.
Colm Torris, IT Professional Audience Manager, Microsoft Ireland
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Your Featured Content
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The Windows Server 2008 test drive allows you to try the latest release from Microsoft instantly. By simply logging onto our test-drive environment and using your web browser, you will be able to experience Windows Server 2008 first hand through a collection of short virtual labs and video walk-throughs.
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This new solution accelerator provides software and guidance you need to collaborate more securely with team members from organisations outside your firewall. It's easy to customise, deploy and use. Plus, it's free.
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Learn how Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 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.
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March 10, 9:30 AM Pacific Time
Microsoft System Center Wave 2 brings a collection of new and enhanced capabilities for application management. In this session, we highlight the new capabilities for application management from packaging and delivery to configuration and performance management.
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To be successful, IT projects must take into account the specific IT environment. To help you determine your customers' readiness for Windows Server 2008, the Microsoft Assessment and Planning tool quickly assesses existing computers in just a few hours or less. Download the free Microsoft Assessment and Planning Tool.
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Are your customers ready to migrate to Windows Server 2008 and virtualise their IT infrastructure with Windows Server Hyper-V, Terminal Services, or Microsoft Application Virtualization? New tools and guidance include Microsoft Assessment and Planning, Infrastructure Planning and Design, Windows Server 2008 Security Guide and Microsoft Deployment.
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Learn about the new features in SQL Server 2008 that provide a high-performance data warehouse and the new technologies that will allow you to manage large-scale data warehouses and integrate growing volumes of data. In addition to webcasts, virtual labs and podcasts are also available.
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This lab is intended for IT professionals who are responsible for managing Windows Vista client computers in large enterprises. In this lab you'll learn to use the new Event Viewer and Task Scheduler to perform preventative maintenance and react to system events. By the end of this lab you'll be able to configure enterprise management of Windows Vista.
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The objective of this lab is to become familiar with the new 2007 Microsoft Office system user interface.
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After completing this lab you will have a better understanding of how Microsoft Office 2007 client and server applications allow organisations to use forms-based business solutions to collect and share information securely.
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March 13, 9:30 AM Pacific Time
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 includes an updated data provider and a new query designer that enable you to take advantage of the data in SAP BW (now called SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence). Join this webcast to learn how to set up, configure, deploy and use these new capabilities.
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Learn about some of the new benefits and features in Internet Information Services 7.0 on Windows Server 2008 as experienced during the deployment of IIS 7.0 as the web and application platform for Microsoft.com.
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Learn how to help protect your organisation's network from a variety of security threats. Watch webcasts and participate in virtual labs that can help you understand, prevent, detect and respond to security threats. Webcasts and virtual labs are available for every level, from basic to expert.
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This webcast series will cover in-depth why Windows Mobile for business, how to deliver advanced messaging and collaboration and take business applications and processes mobile, and how to effectively and centrally secure and manage mobile devices.
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Join Windows Mobile experts to learn the top features of Windows Mobile for business and how Windows Mobile with System Center Mobile Device Manager can help IT professionals decrease support time, simplify and centralise management, provide more secure access to corporate data, and extend line-of-business applications to mobile workers.
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So you want to learn how to script Windows? Or maybe you know how to script, but you'd like to improve your skills. The Script Center is the place to start.
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Evaluation Center Updates
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With built-in web and virtualisation technologies, Windows Server 2008 is one of the most robust and reliable foundations on which to develop, deliver and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a secure network infrastructure, and reduce costs while increasing technological flexibility and value within your organisation.
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This article describes how to extend, or re-arm, the Windows Server 2008 evaluation period up to 240 days.
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Try out a SQL Server 2008 Community Technology Preview (CTP). 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 and for an opportunity to share your feedback with the product team, check out the SQL Server 2008 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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MAP is the expanded version of the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Solution Accelerator tool that was released in early 2007. New features include Windows Server 2008 hardware compatibility assessment, virtualisation candidacy recommendation for Virtual Server 2005 R2 (this release) and Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V (future release), and infrastructure assessment for Microsoft Application Virtualization.
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Forefront Client Security Enterprise Manager is a new tool that extends a Forefront Client Security management console to enable centralised management and reporting across multiple Forefront Client Security deployments. Need Client Security? Download the free Forefront Client Security trial software and start your evaluation.
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Upcoming Webcasts
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Watch these 90-minute Windows Server 2008 webcasts and see subject matter experts break down what the enhancements mean for your environment and how to take advantage of them. Tune in for live webcasts and stream or download webcasts for on-demand viewing.
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Security
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Protect your organisation from attacks with the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide. You'll get comprehensive security guidance, preconfigured security settings, and automated tools that reduce security policy deployment times by up to 80 per cent.
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March 12, 11:00 AM Pacific Time
On 11 March 2008, Microsoft released the next monthly security bulletins. Join us for a brief overview of the technical details of the February security bulletins. The intent of this webcast is to address your concerns. Therefore, most of the webcast is devoted to attendees asking questions about the bulletins and getting answers from our security experts.
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On Demand
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View this webcast to learn how you can use the new tool called Microsoft Assessment and Planning. It offers networkwide, agentless inventory and readiness assessment for Windows Server 2008 migration and Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V virtualisation.
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Hear this radio show to learn more about the features and benefits of using Windows Server Virtualization and System Center working together, and look at competitive differentiators for the current virtualisation offerings.
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Virtual Labs
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Try Windows Server 2008 and experience how it will affect your daily routine. These virtual labs give you a chance to test drive the new features of Windows Server 2008, which include improvements to management, network protection and Terminal Services. Sign up for a free 90-minute block of time, download a manual and step through a lab today.
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This lab walks you through some key data mining scenarios that will enable predictive analysis across the enterprise.
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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 4  12 March 2008 |
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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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