Let us know
what interests you, and we'll customize your
TechNet Flash newsletter with additional reports on
topics such as desktop operating systems, server
technologies, or security. And please let us know
what you think of TechNet Flash.
|
From the Editor
|
|
|
Greetings New TechNet Flash Subscriber,
There’s a beer commercial from a few years back
that I found wistfully amusing. It’s the one
where a guy on a tropical beach is skipping
stones and when he runs out of stones, the only
thing left is his pager which, it turns out,
skips quite well. I know you can relate, but I
do hope you had some time to catch your breath
and relax over the summer (well, at least a
little), because the intensity always seems to
build in the fall. You’re preparing budgets for
new projects and migration plans, shepherding
current rollouts and updates, on top of the
day-to-day fire-fighting and hand-holding.
Moreover, you have to keep current on upcoming
technology because you never know what’s going
to emerge from the buzz as a potential winner
for your organization. Finding those gems means
job security and we’re here to help.
|
We’re not claiming to have your silver bullets all
loaded for you, but TechNet can assist in several ways.
For evaluations, you can be first in line for betas or
-- as we get closer to product launches -- release
candidates like
Windows Vista RC 1 and the
Windows Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate. Same
thing for updates, and that becomes especially important
for security updates, such as the
update for the Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1 security
vulnerability. And to find all the beta evaluation
resources, visit
Beta Central.
There is also a wealth of instructional, how-to
information throughout the extended TechNet family of
delivery vehicles. For instance, in the current issue of
TechNet Magazine, you’ll find out how tools like the
Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) can help automate
much of the tedious systems and security event
management work and learn how to
integrate MOM into your existing infrastructure.
Through TechNet, you also can access a host of learning
resources from
events and webcasts to
training courses and
virtual labs.
Fall is shaping up to be another hectic quarter, and
we’re in place to help in your information gathering and
knowledge acquisition activities. If you’re not finding
what you need, don’t hesitate to let us know.
Thanks for reading.
Mitch Irsfeld
Editor, TechNet Flash
Beta Updates
|
|
Windows Vista Release Candidate 1 (RC1) has been
released and will be publicly available in the
coming days. For updates, please visit the
Web site.
|
|
|
Windows Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate
(IE7 RC) is now available in English. The
Arabic, Finnish, French, German, Japanese, and
Spanish versions will be available on September
7, 2006. If you've previously installed a beta
of IE7, you should uninstall it before
installing this release. Internet Explorer
Administration Kit 7 (IEAK 7) Release Candidate
will be available shortly after IE7 RC is
released and can be downloaded at the
Web site.
|
|
|
Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 Desired Configuration Monitoring (DCM)
Version 2.0 Beta is now available. DCM provides users with tools to define
desired system configurations and audit those against real configurations.
Version 2.0 adds a dramatically improved UI along with desktop and x64 support.
DCM allows you to monitor configurations in the Active Directory, Windows
Management Instrumentation (WMI), registry, file system, metabase, and SQL
Server data sources. Register now
for the public beta. On the Microsoft Connect site, click My Participation,
sign in, and then click Available Connections to view and apply for the
SMS 2003 DCM Version 2.0 Beta program.
|
Top Stories and Featured Content
|
|
The revised Custom Support Agreement program offers more flexibility in product
migrations and supports customers’ individual budgetary and IT requirements by
providing longer support timelines.
|
|
• |
Essential Tools for MOM Administration
The MOM 2005 Resource Kit was recently refreshed
and some handy new tools were added. Here’s a
quick overview of some of the best utilities
that will help you get a lot more out of MOM.
|
|
• |
Unlocking the Mystery of WMI Events in MOM
Virtually every noteworthy Windows event
generates a WMI event. Find out how you can
monitor WMI events with MOM to provide an even
more powerful solution for systems management.
|
|
• |
Integrating MOM into Your Existing
Infrastructure
A solid monitoring solution must be highly
available and it must integrate with existing
systems. From fault tolerance to connectors,
here’s what you need to know for planning a MOM
deployment that meets both of these
requirements.
|
|
• |
Monitoring Security Events with MOM
Looking for ways to maintain regulatory
compliance? Learn how you can use MOM Management
Packs to monitor security events and report data
as required by HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley.
|
|
|
Find out how Windows Vista eliminates the need for administrator privileges when
performing many common tasks, such as installing a printer driver or connecting
to a secure wireless network.
|
|
|
The new Learning Manager allows you to find, save, and access all your learning
resources in one centralized location. Find out why you should use it and how to
access it.
|
|
|
You may have noticed a new item in the left navigation menu on the TechNet home
page this week: "Infrastructure Optimization." Find out what it means and why
it's important.
|
|
|
The latest version of MSN Search Toolbar is optimized with features that help
you deploy and manage the installation of MSN Search Toolbar across all users
and computers in your organization. Learn how with this administration guide.
|
IT Solutions Updates
|
|
To improve application access and address branch
office complexity, the companies are
collaborating to develop and market a new Citrix
WANScaler branch office appliance based on
Microsoft Windows Server and Microsoft Internet
Security and Acceleration Server.
|
Security
|
|
System managers are faced with the challenges of delivering enhanced features to
keep their work forces competitive while protecting their networks and
intellectual capital.
|
|
|
An updated version of the security update originally released as MS06-042 is now
available, addressing the recently discovered vulnerability that affects
Internet Explorer 6.0 Service Pack 1.
|
|
|
You can help find and remove viruses, spyware, and obsolete files for free with
the Windows Live OneCare safety scanner.
|
|
|
Take the either/or scenario out of asset
accessibility and security. By automating
management, IT departments can reduce
operational costs while increasing security. Use
these resources to get in-depth information
about identity and access management -- the
simplified, secure sharing of digital identities
across security boundaries. Find out how to
provide a secure environment for managing user
identities, authentication methods, and access
rights across an organization's internal and
external users.
|
Support and Troubleshooting
How-to Articles
Hotfixes
Knowledge Base Articles
See a selection of
new Knowledge Base articles on the TechNet Web site.
KB articles now 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
|
|
Take advantage of increased hardware utilization
and the ability to rapidly configure and deploy
new servers with Microsoft Virtual Server 2005
R2 SP1 Beta 2. You can increase physical server
use and boost efficiency through rapid
provisioning of new virtual machines, as well as
centralize management of your virtual
infrastructure, with System Center Virtual
Machine Manager Beta 1.
|
Webcasts
|
|
Wednesday, September 13, 2006, 11:00 AM Pacific
Time
On September 12, 2006, Microsoft releases its
monthly security bulletins. Join us for a brief
overview of the technical details with our focus
on addressing your concerns.
|
|
|
Thursday, September 14, 9:30 AM Pacific Time
Presenter: Bob Beauchemin
This webcast discusses, in technical terms, how
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 brings technologies
that were once only available to big businesses
to every business, while increasing database
value for businesses of any size. Midsized
businesses can benefit because SQL Server 2005
makes solutions affordable that were previously
only available to high-end shops. Small
businesses can benefit from inclusion of
cost-effective, highly productive enterprise
reporting capabilities and the increased scope
of SQL Express.
|
|
|
Thursday, September 14, 11:00 AM Pacific Time
Get an overview of the
compliance planning guide for IT managers
from its authors. New content is posted monthly,
so check back often for industry trends,
Microsoft product roadmaps, and best practices
to help IT managers build their businesses and
their careers on the Microsoft platform.
|
|
|
Tuesday, September 19, 9:30 AM Pacific Time
Find out how Microsoft IT manages the large
quantities of unsolicited commercial e-mail
(spam) and malicious software-infected messages
(malware) in its inbound Internet e-mail
traffic. We describe how Microsoft IT reduces
the quantity of spam routed through the
corporate messaging infrastructure by filtering
at the gateway layer, and how it cleans the
remaining messages.
|
On Demand
|
|
Kevin Remde interviews a Program Manager and Dev
Lead from the Exchange team working on
PowerShell (also known as Monad), a command-line
shell and task-based scripting technology. They
explain how PowerShell dramatically simplifies
command-line management and why PowerShell
provides a greater experience for the
administrator.
|
|
|
Tune in to these webcasts to learn steps you can take to grow your IT
organization into a more integrated and flexible system. Hear from subject
matter experts as they provide scenario-based solutions for management, identity
and access management, data protection, and client consistency, and answer your
questions about improving your organization’s infrastructure.
|
|
|
Whether you are just getting started with Group Policy or are currently using
Group Policy and want to get more out of it, join us for this free series of
webcasts. Get a comprehensive view of Group Policy from the basics of “What Is
Group Policy?” to more advanced topics such as “Troubleshooting and Maintenance
with the GPMC.”
|
|
|
The next version of Windows Server may still be
using its code name, but this episode helps
explain some of the ways it will help you run
your systems and services better.
|
Virtual Labs
|
|
Try out Microsoft Virtual Lab Express, the new addition to the Microsoft Virtual
Labs family. With a 30-minute, hands-on overview, you can test drive your
favorite Microsoft product. It’s safe, easy, and no downloads are necessary. So
go ahead and take us for a test drive.
|
|
|
New Windows Vista Virtual Labs are here! In these labs you'll learn to deploy
operating system images using Windows Deployment Services, configure User
Account Control for standard and administrative users via group policy, and
more.
|
|
|
New Exchange Server 2007 Virtual Labs are here!
These labs will walk you through the basics of
administration in Exchange Server 2007, new
features in Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access
2007, enforcing compliance and retention
policies in Exchange Server 2007, and more.
|
|
|
In these labs, you'll experiment with the new user interface improvements in
Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, including enhanced views and menus
that simplify navigation within and among SharePoint sites. Integration with
familiar productivity tools, including programs in the 2007 Microsoft Office
system, makes it easy for you to get up to speed quickly.
|
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 e-mail and would like to
receive the free TechNet Flash newsletter
biweekly, all you have to do is
register.
Scripting for IT Pros
|
|
Anthony DiGiorgio figures he saved the Howard
Hughes Medical Institute at least $50,000 by
writing a script rather than buying an
off-the-shelf application. Learn how he did this
by checking out our first-ever scripter profile.
|
|
|
This week’s postings not only include
new scripts submitted by members of the
scripting community, but also the first three
Tips and Tricks From the Real World. Kind of
makes you glad you came to work, doesn’t it?
(Hey, we said kind of.)
|
|
|
Do you ever feel like you’re wandering around
aimlessly, with no idea where you are or how you
got there? The Scripting Guys understand (we’ve
been there – many times) and we want to help.
Download the Script Center Audio Tour and
receive a guided tour through the Script Center.
Never lose your way again!
|
Hey, Scripting Guy!
|
|
|
Volume 8, Issue 18 
September 6, 2006 |
|
Tell Us Your IT Interests and Get News to Match
|
|
How Microsoft Does IT
 Infrastructure
Management at Microsoft
This case study outlines how Microsoft IT
centralized its management of IT infrastructure
to increase efficiency, reduce operating costs,
and provide high-quality service to its
customers. Microsoft IT embraces centralized
management through Microsoft System Center
technologies, application of the Microsoft
Operations Framework (MOF), and use of the
Microsoft Infrastructure Optimization Model.
Deploying
Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server as an
Enterprisewide Service
By deploying Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team
Foundation Server as an enterprisewide service,
Microsoft is standardizing methodologies for
project management, software development, and
software testing. This standardization provides
a much more transparent management view into
projects and makes complying with statutory
reporting requirements much easier.
IT
Security: Learn from Microsoft IT Experiences
and Best Practices
Microsoft IT shares the
processes and
solutions it uses to secure the Microsoft
global network.
7x24
Initiative: Driving Productivity at Microsoft
This presentation broadly documents the
Microsoft IT 7x24 initiative (7 million hours of
user productivity over 24 months) and strategy
to date. It conveys how technology and IT
operations can promote productivity and time
savings back to an internal end user population.
Infrastructure Management at Microsoft
|
|
Events
|
• |
Join Your Colleagues at the Exchange
Connections Event in Las Vegas
November 6-9, 2006
Choose from more than 200 in-depth
sessions on Exchange Server, Windows
Vista, Office, and SharePoint. |
|
• |
Microsoft
Tech-Ed: IT Forum
November
14-17, 2006, Barcelona, Spain
Discover more at Microsoft’s premier
EMEA conference, providing IT
professionals with deep technical
training, information, and community
resources. |
|
• |
Glimpse the Future with TechNet Events:
Free Admission, Complimentary DVD
Experience the next generation of IT
solutions, including Windows Vista and
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. Join us
live for the free TechNet Events near
you. |
|
• |
Executive
Chat: Network Access Protection in
Windows Vista and Windows Server
"Longhorn"
September 14, 2006,
2:30 PM Pacific Time
Join Mark Ashida, General Manager of
Enterprise Networking Servers at
Microsoft, and the NAP engineering team
for an open discussion on Network Access
Protection in Windows Server "Longhorn."
|
|
• |
West
Sound Technology Professionals
Association (WSTPA)
Join WSTPA on September 21 for its next
meeting titled, “Navy Battle Force
Interoperability -- Complex Systems
Engineering.”
|
|
• |
Technology
Wizards (TW-SBS)
Learn about the future of SBS with
TW-SBS on September 11 at the 2006 SBS
User Group Tour, taking place at the
Portland Microsoft office.
|
|
• |
Technology
Wizards (TW-SBS)
Take part in the TW-SBS monthly user
group meeting on September 12. |
|
• |
Technology
Wizards (TW-SBS)
Join the TW-SBS on September 13 for its
CRM 3.0 SBE meeting with Anne Stanton
from the Norwich Group. |
|
• |
Technology
Wizards (TW-SBS)
Join TW-SBS on September 14 for its
first Microsoft PacWest Q1 Quarterly
Partner Briefing for FY06, being held at
the Microsoft Portland office. |
|
• |
Navision
User Group (NUG)
Join NUG for its next user group meeting
on September 12.
|
|
• |
Sacramento
SBS Technology Group (sacsbug)
Join sacsbug on September 12 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Sacramento
SBS Technology Group (sacsbug)
Get updated on SBS 2003 R2, Windows
Vista, and 2007 Microsoft Office system
at the Small Business Server (SBS) 2003
Partner Group Tour on September 12. |
|
• |
Information
Systems Security Association (ISSA)
Take part in an open forum to discuss
the state of technology at Tech Tuesday
Nite with the ISSA on September 12. |
|
• |
Information
Systems Security Association (ISSA)
Join ISSA on September 21 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
San
Diego NPA (SDNPA)
Join SDNPA on September 13 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Windows
Networking Solutions User Group (WiNSUG)
Join WiNSUG on September 8-10 for the
SMB Nation 2006 Annual Conference in
Redmond, WA. |
|
• |
Windows
Networking Solutions User Group (WiNSUG)
Gain insight into the SBS/SMB products
at the Microsoft Small Business Server
2003 Partner Group Tour on September 13
at the San Diego Microsoft office. |
|
• |
Mile
High Chapter AITP
Join the Mile High Chapter of the
Association of Information Technology
Professionals (AITP) on September 21 for
its next event, titled, “Stop Networking
and Start Connecting,” presented by
Julia Hubbel from the Hubbel Group. |
|
• |
AS
SQL Server User Group (AZSSUG)
Join AZSSUG on September 13 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Greater
Omaha Small Business Server Partner
Group (GOSBS)
Join GOSBS on September 8-10 at the SMB
Nation 2006 Annual Conference in
Redmond, WA. |
|
• |
North
Texas PC User Group, Inc. (NTPCUG)
Join NTPCUG on September 16 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Microsoft
IT Pros of Tulsa
Join Microsoft IT Pros of Tulsa on
September 19 for its monthly user group
meeting. |
|
• |
How
To Vs .Net (HTV)
Join HTV on September 14 and 21 for its
weekly user group meetings. |
|
• |
Huntsville
New Technology Users Group (HuNTUG)
Join HuNTUG on September 12 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Axapta
User’s Group (AUG)
Attend the second annual Axapta Summit
on September 11-13 in Redmond, WA. |
|
• |
Axapta
User’s Group (AUG)
Join AUG on September 20 for its next
webinar. |
|
• |
PalmBeachIT
Association (PB IT)
Join PB IT on September 12 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Information
Technology Professionals of South
Carolina (ITPSC)
Join ITPSC on September 19 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Carolina
IT Professionals Group (CITPG)
Join CITPG on September 12 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Triangle
SBS User Group (TriSBS)
Join TriSBS on September 19 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Enterprise
Developers Guild (DevGuild)
Get to know your local developer
community and take part in the South
Carolina Code Camp 2.0 on September 16
and 17. |
|
• |
Capital
DotNetNuke Users Group (C-DUG)
Join C-DUG on September 21 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
BDPA
- National Black Data Processing
Associates (BDPA HQ)
Join BDPA HQ on September 14 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Kentucky
Small Business Server User Group
(KYSBSUG)
Join KYSBSUG on September 18 for the
Microsoft SBS Partner Tour taking place
at Indiana University Southeast. |
|
• |
Southern
Ohio Exchange User’s Group (SOEUG)
Join SOEUG on September 12 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Michiana
Information Technology Professional
Users Group (MITPUG)
Join MITPUG on September 13 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Southern
Ohio Exchange User’s Group (SOEUG)
Join SOEUG on September 13 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Detroit
SQL User Group (DSUG)
Join DSUG on September 14 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Michigan
Small Business Server User Group (MISBS)
Join MISBS on September 19 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
West
Michigan NT Users Group (WMNTUG)
Join WMNTUG on September 20 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
New
York Exchange Users Group (NYEXUG)
Join NYEXUG on September 12 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
BDPA
- Philadelphia (BDPA-Philly)
Join BDPA-Philly on September 20 for an
informative presentation on "The
execution of large/complex programs
within Information Technology.” |
|
• |
New
England SQL Server Users Group (NESQL)
Join NESQL on September 14 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
Southern
New England Network Users Group (SNENUG)
Join SNENUG on September 20 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
• |
New
Hampshire SQL Server Users Group
(NHSSUG)
Join NHSSUG on September 13 for its
monthly user group meeting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Microsoft, Active Directory, Internet Explorer, MSN,
OneCare, Outlook, SharePoint, Visual Studio, Windows,
Windows Live, Windows Server, and Windows Vista are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation
in the United States and/or other countries. All other
trademarks are property of their respective owners.
To cancel your subscription to this newsletter, reply to
this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line.
You can also unsubscribe at
the Microsoft.com Web site. You can manage all your
Microsoft.com communication preferences at this site.
Legal Information. This newsletter was sent by
the Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond,
Washington, USA 98052 |
|
|
|
|
