|
|
|
From the Editor
Hi,
Everyone is talking about virtualisation. It's touted as IT's holy grail. However, most people - enterprise companies and technology vendors - equate virtualisation with machine virtualisation: running multiple virtual operating systems on a server. But machine virtualisation is not a one-size-fits-all solution, nor is it the whole story. Virtualisation is much bigger than that and has much more impact. Virtualisation - the act of isolating or unbinding one computing resource from others - should be applied to all layers of a computing stack, from the data centre to the desktop. We recently refreshed our virtualisation website. It's a great resource to enable you to fully understand Microsoft's virtualisation offering as well as our vision and plans for the area.
This week I just wanted to touch on Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager which is an ideal solution for managing Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 servers running in the virtualised data centre that some of you may be looking to ramp up quickly. Here are a couple ways to do that: First, download the 120-day Virtual Machine Manager evaluation. Then check out the series of Virtual Machine Manager how-to videos and walk through the product's specific features, including how to manage with Windows PowerShell. It's ideal when you use it together with the rest of the System Center family of products as it allows you to really capitalise on existing IT administrative skills and processes for managing the virtual and physical environment.
And speaking of other System Center family products, the current issue of TechNet Magazine discusses how Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 takes a completely different approach to update management operations. See the article New Software Update Management Tools. With System Center Configuration Manager 2007, you'll find a new mechanism for dealing with update management that ensures better compliance and enforcement on each client. Learn how this improved approach can help you get all of your machines up to date.
Last but not least Microsoft is offering a growing collection of Windows Vista driver resources. Check back often because this collection is updated as drivers become available.
Thanks for reading,
Colm Torris
TechNet Ireland Manager
|
Your Featured Content
|
|
Ensure that the content most relevant to you is presented first in the section.
|
|
|
Ramp up quickly with these brief how-to video walkthroughs of specific features in System Center Virtual Machine Manager. Product experts from the Virtual Machine Manager team demonstrate basic tasks within the product. Video topics include a getting started tour of the user interface, setup and managing with Windows PowerShell.
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 6, 1:00 PM Pacific Time
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 brings a new set of capabilities to the deployment and management of server configurations. From centralised deployment automation to software distribution to state and update management, the data centre will benefit from new features and capabilities previously only available across a collection of solution accelerators and feature packs, if at all.
|
|
|
Visit the ultimate IT pro resource for Unified Communications which features the 'best of UC' webcasts, podcasts, virtual labs and more from TechNet and elsewhere - all in one place.
|
|
|
oin this IT manager on-demand webcast to learn about the new and improved storage features in Windows Server 2008, including failover clustering, disk management, server backup and storage explorer.
|
|
|
In this session, we examine the Microsoft virtualisation ecosystem and how to implement it with Windows Server 2008. Taking an overall view of virtualisation, we cover topics including: presentation, application and server virtualisation scenarios and technologies.
|
|
|
This guide provides best practices and procedures for implementing a mobile messaging system with Windows Mobile 6 powered devices and Microsoft Exchange Server 2007.
|
|
|
This article provides information about a sample Microsoft Visual Basic script that administrators can use to view the settings stored in Office Customisation Tool (OCT) Setup customisation files (MSP files).
|
|
|
This article provides a collection of resources to help you understand potential issues around the performance of Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 messaging and collaboration client and to assist you in configuring features for best performance in your organisation.
|
|
|
Tuesday, October 23, 10:30 AM Pacific Time
Securing and managing mobile devices/smartphones across an enterprise poses many challenges for IT professionals. Learn how the Windows Mobile security and device management solution can help you to deliver enterprise control, improve secure access to corporate data and line-of-business (LOB) applications and simplify management of Windows Mobile powered devices across your business.
|
|
|
Do you have passion for technology? Do you want to make a difference? Then try out a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Community Technology Preview (CTP). The SQL Server development team uses your feedback from CTPs to help refine and enhance product features.
|
|
|
Thursday, November 1, 8:00 AM Pacific Time
In this webcast, we lead you through the first steps to success for your data mining projects. We look at the overall architecture of data mining, the kinds of problems that can be solved and important points for your first project such as choosing the right algorithms and testing your mining models.
|
|
|
Microsoft Dynamics GP offers a wide range of reporting and analysis tools that enhance business intelligence capabilities and help people at all levels of the organisation transform data into actionable insight. Here is a summary of all the business intelligence capabilities available in Microsoft Dynamics GP.
|
|
|
Ready for a helping hand? Three new Starter Kits will help you create applications that make the most of new Ink features, DirectDraw and Home Screen plug-in architecture.
|
|
|
Monday, October 22, 9:30 - 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Learn how to move existing applications and infrastructure servers into a virtualised environment. We also look at the impact of virtualizing test and development environments and some of the tools available that make this process easily manageable.
|
|
|
Our newest workshop shows how Microsoft planned for and executed the migration from Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Microsoft Office 2003 to Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007.
|
|
|
Friday, October 19, 11:30 AM Pacific Time
In this webcast, we take a detailed look at the new feature options, deployment scenarios and configuration best practices of Microsoft Forefront Server Security Management Console. We also explore how the Forefront Security Management Console integrates with Microsoft Operations Manager to ensure the health of your messaging and collaboration server.
|
|
|
Wednesday, October 24, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time
See the new features in Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0 which allow for agility and efficiency with built-in troubleshooting and diagnostics and delegated administration control to non-administrators. We also break down security improvements and changes to the IIS core.
|
Evaluation Center Updates
|
|
Try out Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007; it brings continuous data protection for Windows Application and file servers and allows for rapid and reliable recovery for enterprises of all sizes.
|
Scripting for IT Pros
|
|
Windows Remote Management (WinRM) is now available for installation on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. And this news note explains why that's a good thing. While you're at it, read the Windows Script 5.7 Update to get the inside scoop on Windows Script Host 5.7.
|
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
|
|
Are you evaluating application or operating system virtualisation technologies? The Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualisation guide describes when to use the standalone and connected modes for application distribution. It helps architects planning for SoftGrid by providing a concise workflow of architectural decisions. The Windows Server Virtualisation guide introduces virtualisation options using Windows Server 2008 and Microsoft Virtual Server 2005. Visit Microsoft Connect, log in, click Invitations and enter PDSG-XTXV-RKG9 as the Invitation ID.
|
|
|
SQL Server 2005 SP2 includes significant enhancements to maintenance plans, including an enhancement that lets users specify the cleanup interval in hours. SQL Server 2005 service packs are cumulative and this service pack upgrades all service levels of SQL Server 2005 to SP2.
|
Upcoming Webcasts
|
|
Thursday, October 18, 8:00 AM Pacific Time
This webcast will focus on advanced features delivered in Data Protection Manager 2007, including: Command line control of Data Protection Manager using Windows PowerShell; enterprise monitoring of Data Protection Manager with Systems Center Operations Manager 2007 (and MOM 2005); enterprise deployment methods for distributing the Data Protection Manager agent; and Data Protection Manager System Recovery Tool (SRT), which provides bare-metal recovery of Windows servers and desktops.
|
|
|
Thursday, October 18, 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Separate fact from fiction and see how server operating systems really compare when it comes to key IT and business requirements such as cost, reliability, security and interoperability. More Webcasts
|
Security
|
|
Microsoft Senior Product Manager Pat Edmonds explains how the differences in how Windows Server and Linux are developed to translate into real-world security differences for customers.
|
|
|
Forefront Security for SharePoint First in Market to Get ICSA Labs ECM Certification
Forefront Security for SharePoint is the first product to receive the new Enterprise Content Management certification from ICSA Labs. The ECM certification requires the anti-virus solution to detect viruses on demand and on access, report no false positives, perform administration functions and log all the results of virus detections and provides a benchmark for virus detection in products that are designed to protect portal, collaboration and/or content management servers of an organisation. Download the Forefront Security for SharePoint trial. Security Center
|
On Demand
|
|
With Configuration Manager 2007 Desired Configuration Management you can monitor the environment for an array of configuration and settings and report centrally. In this session, we will introduce Desired Configuration Management key concepts and capabilities, as well as explore setting up Configuration Manager to provide baseline monitoring.
|
|
|
Microsoft has made some huge investments in its web platform starting with Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0. Bill Staples has been the driving force behind the remarkable changes in IIS 7.0. Listen in to what it takes to redesign a world-class web server. More On-Demand Sessions
|
Virtual Labs
|
|
In this virtual lab, you will allow authorised users on an Internet-connected computer running Windows Vista to easily and securely connect to remote computers on the corporate network through a Terminal Services Gateway. In addition, you will provide access to standard Windows programs.
|
|
|
After completing this virtual lab, you will be better able to deploy an agent, import a management pack, create and use views and tasks, monitor and override, use the web console and use Management Pack Templates. More Virtual Labs
|
What's New Online in TechNet Plus
Windows Server 2008 RC Now Available
Windows Server 2008, with built-in web and virtualisation technologies, can help you to increase the reliability and flexibility of your server infrastructure. New virtualisation tools, web resources and security enhancements help you save time, reduce costs and provide a platform for a dynamic and optimised data centre. To try it today without time limits, visit the benefits portal and go to Subscriber Downloads.
Received TechNet Flash from a Friend?
The 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 via email and would like to receive the free TechNet Flash newsletter biweekly, all you have to do is register.
|
|
|
|
|
|
National and Global Events
| • |
Microsoft Office Sharepoint Conference 2008
March 3 - 6, 2008:
Seattle, WA
Learn from the experts at the Washington State Tade and Convention Center. Select from more than 100 SharePoint technical sessions and hands-on labs, plus a keynote address by Bill Gates.
|
| • |
Microsoft Office Visio Conference
February 5 - 6, 2008:
Microsoft Conference Center, Redmond, WA
Keynote speakers Jeff Raikes and Richard Wolf will kick off the event and leaders from the Visio team will share best practices and preview what's to come in Visio 14. Early Bird Registration rates are available now until November 30.
|
| • |
More Events
|
| • |
Find a TechNet Event in Your Local Area
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tell Us Your IT Interests and Get News to Match
|
|
TechNet Plus Direct
| • |
Full library of Microsoft software for evaluation without limits |
| • |
Immediate access through subscriber downloads |
| • |
Two Professional Support incidents |
| • |
Access to beta software before public beta releases |
| • |
Exclusive tools and utilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
