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,
The excitement is mounting here at Microsoft as
the launch countdown begins for Windows Vista.
But as we shift our processes from development
to manufacturing, many of you have started your
own processes of
evaluation, testing, and deployment. And as
tempting as it is to revel in the hard-won
accomplishment, we understand that your journey
has just begun. Let’s face it; much has changed
in the five years since you went through the
try/test/deploy process with Windows XP.
|
Today’s security, connectivity, and compliance issues
add new layers of complexity when rolling out a new
platform. And your business requirements, not mention
your users’ expectations for features and functionality,
have evolved to such a degree that new bells and
whistles mean much less than compatibility, reliability,
and empowerment.
Words like empowerment and enablement are overused in
marketing circles but empowering users and organizations
is really what a new desktop and application platform is
supposed to do. And the extent to which it accomplishes
that goal is primary in your decision to deploy. But
Windows Vista also empowers the IT organization.
Security enhancements, new control and admin functions,
and improved networking features really do take
manageability to a higher level. There is so much that
is new and different that discovering it all on your own
takes time. From more flexible image handling to a new
boot loader, Windows Vista introduces some important
changes for desktop deployment. To get started, make
sure you read
“10 Things You Need to Know about Deploying Windows
Vista” in the November issue of
TechNet Magazine.
Also check out a host of
Step-by-Step Guides for IT professionals, covering
everything from managing group policy to the Trusted
Platform Module Services. You also might refer to
Windows Vista Hardware Guidance to understand your
hardware requirements, and explore how Windows Vista can
simplify the management of users with
Planning Your Preferred Client Configuration.
When you don’t know what it is that you don’t know, it’s
important to know where to go to get in the know. For
Windows Vista knowledge, there is no better place to
start than
TechNet’s resource page on everything Windows
Vista.
Thanks for reading.
Mitch Irsfeld
Editor, TechNet Flash
Beta Updates
|
|
Microsoft Forefront Client Security provides unified virus and spyware
protection for business desktops, laptops, and server operating systems. Through
simplified administration and integration with existing infrastructure,
Forefront Client Security helps you protect your business.
Learn more about the product and watch the
video demo to see it in action.
|
Top Stories and Featured Content
|
|
The official release of Microsoft Internet
Explorer 7 is now available. Upgrade with
confidence knowing that the new browser provides
a greater level of security, is easier to
manage, and improves the end-user experience.
Download from the Microsoft Download Center or
the
Internet Explorer site.
|
|
|
Although limiting user privileges is a good way
to help protect your systems, non-admin accounts
can be inconvenient, introducing problems such
as application compatibility issues. Read this
article from TechNet Magazine to learn
about the new features that Windows Vista offers
to make it easier for you to manage and support
standard user accounts.
|
|
|
...or see samples of the new Sysinternals Video
Library, a set of six DVDs that cover essential
Windows troubleshooting topics presented by Mark
Russinovich and David Solomon, authors of the
official Microsoft Press book on the Windows
operating system,
Windows Internals. The Video Library can be
ordered at a discounted price until October 31.
|
|
|
Q&A: How businesses can incrementally leverage
Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA) and Web
services to address business challenges.
|
|
|
Microsoft just released an Open Specification
Promise for 38 Web service specifications,
effectively releasing those technologies to the
community for implementation at no risk of
infringing on Microsoft patents.
|
Security
|
|
Included in this advisory are updates for newly
discovered vulnerabilities.
|
|
|
On October 10, 2006, Microsoft released its monthly security bulletins. Join us
for a brief overview of the technical details of the October security bulletins.
|
|
|
The Microsoft Software Protection Platform is a new set of technologies in
Windows Vista and Windows Server “Longhorn” that help reduce the risk of piracy
and software tampering while improving software licensing.
|
|
|
With branch office connectivity, employees can quickly share and act on
information, but such connections also carry with them the risk of spreading
dangerous exploits and attacks. Use these resources on Learning Paths for
Security to learn how you can help increase your efficiency, reliability, and
security when connecting to remote-site branch offices.
|
|
|
Microsoft security solutions for messaging and collaboration provide layered
defenses for your IT infrastructure through hosted services, on-premise
software, and appliances. Read this white paper to learn more about the
Microsoft solutions and their benefits.
|
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 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
|
|
Experience the fastest way to try out new features and functionality today.
|
|
|
Find trial versions of Microsoft software, including Microsoft Windows Server
2003 R2, SQL Server 2005, Exchange Server 2003, and more.
|
What's New in TechNet Plus Subscription
Take Advantage of Managed Newsgroups
TechNet Plus provides access to more than 100 Managed
Newsgroups. Subscribers can exchange ideas with other IT
pros and get expert answers to their technical questions
within the next business day -- guaranteed.
Sign-in to get started today.
Upcoming Webcasts
|
|
Join this webcast Thursday, October 26, 2006,
1:00 PM Pacific Time.
Solutions Architect David Wang delivers insight
on the components, applications, and services
that make Windows Compute Cluster Server so
powerful and shares his experience with
high-performance applications.
|
|
|
Join this webcast Friday, October 27, 2006, 9:30
AM Pacific Time.
Learn how Data Protection Manager version 2
(DPMv2) enables better backups, in addition to
rapid and reliable recoveries, for both IT
professionals and users. We show you how DPM
significantly reduces the costs and complexities
associated with data protection through advanced
technology.
|
|
|
These webcasts happen November 6–10, 2006.
Tune in for a week of webcasts where the
Scripting Guys introduce you to Windows
PowerShell.
|
|
|
Join any of the IT Manager Connections webcasts in the
IT Manager Connections webcast series specifically designed for IT Managers.
Get an overview of Exchange Server 2007, the next generation messaging platform
from Microsoft.
|
On Demand
|
|
Available October 24 on demand.
|
|
|
Now available on demand.
Reed Wilson, a global infrastructure architect
for Nu Skin, speaks with Chris Avis about how
and why Nu Skin, a leading global direct-selling
company, chose Microsoft Exchange Server as a
solution. Learn what kind of testing Nu Skin
performed in a lab environment to compare
products prior to the successful migration.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Listen to Microsoft webcast and media content whenever and wherever you want.
You can stream or download these audio podcasts in your favorite podcast
software or mobile device, and quickly and easily access content with RSS feeds.
Microsoft podcasts are free and do not require registration--just click and
listen.
|
|
|
Tune in and see how Windows Vista advancements in security and reliability,
along with its operational efficiencies, give you and your users confidence in
your organization's PCs. During these free webcasts, we introduce you to key
Windows Vista product features and explore deployment, security, management, and
productivity. Live webcasts also include a question and answer session.
|
|
|
High-performance computing (HPC) and Beowulf-style clusters are evolving from
their roots in academia and government computing into new areas of computing
such as genomics and finance. As these systems become easier to program and
manage, a broader range of companies can use powerful HPC systems to solve
complex computational problems. Join this webcast to hear how Windows Compute
Cluster Server 2003 brings HPC into the mainstream.
|
|
|
In this webcast, discover how easy it is to deploy and manage Windows Compute
Cluster Server 2003. Join us to learn more about this powerful high-performance
computing platform, and find out how Windows Compute Cluster Server can be a
cost-effective solution for solving scaled-out business, engineering, and
scientific computational problems.
|
|
|
Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003 brings high-performance computing to
industry standard, low-cost servers. Jobs, discrete activities scheduled to
perform on the compute cluster, are the key to Windows Compute Cluster Server
operation. Join this webcast to learn about the benefits of Job Scheduler
features, the Job Scheduler stack, as well as the credentials-handling and
submission processes.
|
|
|
Discover the capabilities Microsoft Windows
Compute Cluster Server 2003 and Microsoft
Message Passing Interface (MS-MPI) bring to
users and independent software vendors. We
discuss the parallel architecture required to
build scalable applications that can span
execution across many nodes, walk through the
MS-MPI architecture, and we demonstrate how you
can develop a simple parallel-based application
using MS-MPI.
|
Virtual Labs
|
|
Experiment with the new features and components of 2007 Microsoft Office system
client applications.
|
|
|
In this 30-minute Virtual Lab Express, you will familiarize yourself with the
Exchange Management Console, OWA, and work with compliance and records
management rules.
|
|
|
In these labs you’ll test security features of products such as Antigen Server,
Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server, Exchange Server, and Windows
Server, and tools including Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) and
Software Update Services (SUS).
|
|
|
Welcome to Microsoft Virtual Lab Express, a
30-minute hands-on overview of the features of
Internet Explorer 7. In this lab you will learn
to configure new security features in Internet
Explorer 7 and configure Internet Explorer 7
security features using Group Policy.
|
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
|
|
What difference does it make how I go about
starting a script?
|
Hey, Scripting Guy!
|
|
|
Volume 8, Issue 21 
October 18, 2006 |
|
Tell Us Your IT Interests and Get News to Match
|
|
How Microsoft Does IT
How
Microsoft IT Designs Its 64-Bit Exchange Server
2007Tuesday, November 7, 9:30 AM
Pacific Time
Learn how Microsoft used 64-bit platform for it
Exchange Server 2007 deployment to improve
performance, optimize mail storage, and improve
the scalability of its messaging infrastructure.
How Microsoft Does IT on TechNet Radio
Starting this month, Microsoft IT and TechNet
Radio are partnering to deliver monthly IT
topics in dynamic, 20-minute dialogs on various
IT topics. Be sure to subscribe via the RSS feed
and let the shows come to you!
Insight Workshops from Microsoft IT Showcase
Engage in peer-to-peer technology sharing in a
multiple-day workshop environment, offering a
unique inside view into the process of
developing, deploying, and managing Microsoft
enterprise solutions.
|
|
Events
|
• |
TechNet
Event: Active Directory and Microsoft
Exchange Server 2007
Thursday, November 2, 2006, 8:00
AM-12:00 PM
Topics include Harnessing the Power of
Active Directory and Message Security,
Compliance, and Message
Protection with Exchange Server 2007. |
|
• |
Pull In for an IT Tune-Up with TechNet
Events
Admission is free and you’ll receive a
complimentary DVD. These sessions are
delivered live in the following local
areas: |
|
|
|
•
|
October 24:
Albany, NY
Spokane, WA
Greensboro, NC
Wichita, KS |
|
•
|
October 26:
Lakewood, WA
El Paso, TX
Greenville, SC
Swansea, MA |
|
•
|
October 31:
Livonia, MI
Richmond, VA
Merriam, KS
Pensacola, FL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
• |
North
Texas PC Users Group, Inc. (NTPCUG)
Join NTPCUG on October 21 for its “Third
Saturday” meeting, where Ernesto
Martinez will present on Intel’s Active
Management Technology.
|
|
• |
Kansas
City Regional Systems Management Users
Group (KCRSMUG)
Join KCRSMUG on October 25 for its
monthly meeting.
|
|
• |
West
Sound Technology Professionals
Association (WSTPA)
Join WSTPA on October 25 at the Norm
Dicks Government Center in Bremerton,
WA, for its breakfast and technology
business briefing entitled “Fall Update:
Prosperity Partnership.” |
|
• |
DFW
Small Business Server User's Group (DFW
SBS)
Join DFW SBS on October 26 for its
monthly meeting. |
|
• |
Axapta
User's Group (AXUG)
Join AXUG on October 25 for a webinar
called “Purchasing Process and
Reconciliation.” Details for the webinar
are available only to members. |
|
• |
Delaware
Valley SharePoint User Group (DVSUG)
Join DVSUG on October 25 for a
presentation by Ken Choyce on his
experience deploying SharePoint with a
large enterprise.
|
|
• |
Information
Technology Professional Association
(ITPA)
Join ITPA on October 26 and register for
the Ukrainian Outsourcing Forum. |
|
• |
How
To Vs.Net (HTV)
Join HTV on October 26 for its weekly
meeting. |
|
• |
Navision
User Group (NUG)
Join NUG on October 26 for it monthly
meeting for all to attend. |
|
• |
BDPA
- Richmond Chapter (BDPA-RMAC)
Join BDPA-RMAC on October 27 for its
2006 membership drive. |
|
• |
Lower
Alabama .Net User Group (LANUG)
Join LANUG on October 28 in Montgomery
for Alabama .NET CodeCamp #3. |
|
• |
Central
Florida Computer Society (CFCS)
Join CFCS on October 29 at the Bahia
Shrine Temple for its general meeting. |
|
• |
San
Luis Obispo Society for Technical
Communication (SLO STC)
Join SLO STC on October 30 for Stephanie
Cottrell Bryant’s presentation entitled
“Introduction to Videoblogging.” |
|
• |
Alabama
Small and Medium Business User Group
(ASMBUG)
Join ASMBUG on October 31 for its
monthly meeting. |
|
• |
Information
Technology Professional Association
(ITPA)
Join ITPA on November 1 for its meeting. |
|
• |
New
England Area SMS User Group (NEASMSUG)
Join NEASMSUG on November 1 for its
regular meeting. |
|
• |
Windows
Networking Solutions Users Group
(WiNSUG)
Join WiNSUG on November 2 for John
Bisaillon’s presentation on advanced
malware detection and remove. |
|
• |
Information
Technology Professional Association
(ITPA)
Join ITPA on November 2 for the Oracle
conference on the James 2006 at the
Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Training/Books
|
• |
Preview the New Exchange Server 2007
Architecture for Free
See the updates to the message store,
changes in the communication between
server roles, and more in this free
clinic. |
|
• |
Free E-Learning: Get Started with Office
2007
Learn about the new functionality and
the business value of deploying the 2007
Microsoft Office system in your
organization. |
|
• |
Free
E-Learning Course: Programming Microsoft
SQL Server 2005
Are you experienced in SQL Server
2000/7.0 and Analysis Services? Take
this free Microsoft E-Learning course to
upgrade your skills to SQL Server 2005. |
|
• |
Design
High-Availability Database Solutions
Using SQL Server 2005
Gain a broad understanding of designing
database solutions that meet your
organization’s availability needs, and
of documenting and testing your
solutions. |
|
• |
Save on Windows Server E-Learning
In this self-paced course that includes
virtual labs, you’ll learn to manage a
Windows Server 2003 environment and
prepare for Microsoft Certification.
During purchase, enter promo code WS10
for 10 percent off. |
|
• |
Get
Certified in Microsoft SQL Server
Demonstrate that you have the skills
necessary to design, implement, and
administer SQL databases with the MCDBA
credential.
|
|
• |
Save on Exchange Server E-Learning
with the Following Courses:
Implementing a Microsoft Exchange Server
2003 Messaging Environment
Managing a Microsoft Exchange Server
2003 Environment
Prepare for certification exams and
learn how to install, secure, configure,
and maintain Exchange Server 2003 in
this collection of self-paced courses.
During purchase, enter promo code EX10
for 10 percent off. |
|
• |
Download Free Sample Chapters:
Introducing Windows Vista
What’s new and improved in Windows
Vista? Learn how it can help improve
security, productivity, and deployment
in your organization. |
|
• |
Find Exchange 2007 Training Near You
Find great deals on Exchange 2007 and
2007 Office system training by Learning
Solution Partners in a city near you. |
|
• |
Find
SQL Server 2005 Classroom Training
Work toward certification or update your
skills with these great deals on SQL
Server 2005 training from Learning
Solutions Partners. |
|
• |
Hot
off the Press: New Books from Microsoft
Press
Get Ready For Exam 70-444
Prepare yourself with MCITP Self-Paced
Training Kit (Exam 70-444): Optimizing
and Maintaining a Database
Administration Solution Using Microsoft
SQL Server™ 2005.
Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2005: The
Storage Engine
Gain a thorough understanding of the SQL
Server 2005 Storage Engine. This book
features extensive code samples and
table examples. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved Microsoft,
Forefront, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Press, Windows,
Windows Server, and Windows Vista are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or other countries. The names of actual
companies and products mentioned herein may be the
trademarks 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 |
|
|
|
|
