MAria posted this.
I would like to share this with all interested ppl in hyper-v.
Microsoft is offering some free Hyper-V training. You will need to enter a specific access code 9350-Y2W6-3676 and sign in with your Live ID. The course “Collection 6319 - Configuring Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008” includes the following modules:
1. An overview of the Hyper-V technology
2. Creating a virtual environment
3. Deploying systems in a virtual environment
4. Configuring high availability in a virtual environment
5. Administering a virtual environment with SCVMM
To sign up go to https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/enterCode.aspx
free Hyper-V training
Grow your business with confidence: Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics GP enables you to run your business the way you want to
Microsoft Dynamics GP is a richly featured business management solution that allows you to use familiar, powerful software to operate and grow your business.
Microsoft Dynamics GP removes needless obstacles to the productivity and effectiveness of the people and processes in your business. Connecting all your business processes in one streamlined, flexible management infrastructure, Microsoft Dynamics GP allows your people to do their jobs in the way they like, at outstanding levels of productivity. The solution also provides you with ways to build stronger, more productive relationships with your key stakeholders—customers and trading partners. The extensive reporting and collaborative capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics GP give you the information you need to make informed business decisions. Microsoft Dynamics partners can also help you implement and fine-tune the solution to ensure that you reap the best possible results from it.
Empower people with familiar software
Microsoft Dynamics GP presents the feel and functionality of familiar software your people use every day—Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Office Word, and Microsoft Office Excel. If your employees are comfortable with the Microsoft Office system programs, they will find their way with Microsoft Dynamics GP rapidly—they can perform their jobs with greater productivity and satisfaction, and achieve the business results you need with optimal efficiency.
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Microsoft Dynamics GP not only presents the same user interface as Microsoft Office applications, but also lets you work with information from the business management solution directly within these Microsoft Office system programs.
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Microsoft Dynamics GP is designed to work the way people work, with personalized views to get the data they want when they need it.
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Time needed for training and familiarization is minimized—people can start working efficiently with Microsoft Dynamics GP quickly.
Generate optimal value from all of your systems
Working with and like the software systems you already own, Microsoft Dynamics GP can quickly become a core element of a seamless business management infrastructure. The latest version of Microsoft Dynamics GP works with Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 to facilitate collaboration and communication among your employees and with trading partners and customers. There are many aspects of what makes Microsoft Dynamics GP a great fit with your other technologies—and many ways to benefit from them.
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Microsoft Dynamics GP gives you an excellent return on your technology investment by integrating with Microsoft Office system applications, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Microsoft Retail Management Systems (RMS), Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Express Edition, Microsoft FRx, Windows Server, and Small Business Server.
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Customization tools assist your information technology (IT) staff or Authorized Microsoft Dynamics GP partner in adapting the business management solution to your specific requirements.
Drive business productivity
In your business, Microsoft Dynamics GP can help you realize the productivity goals you have for people and processes. Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 takes automation to a new level, freeing people to focus on the most critical tasks. The solution also offers many avenues to boost the business value of information and key relationships with partners and customers.
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Microsoft Dynamics GP lets you automate and standardize many recurring tasks, so they can take place more consistently and reliably, and with a minimal drain on your resources.
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Employees, trading partners, vendors, and customers can collaborate amongst themselves or engage with your business, transcending departmental, organizational, and geographic boundaries to exchange insight and access business functions at any time, from any location.
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The vast Microsoft Dynamics partner community offers the expertise and resources to extend Microsoft Dynamics GP with solutions that address challenges in your industry and market.
Enable confident decision-making
Decisions—strategic, tactical, and granular—drive and define both the direction of your business and the activities that take place within it every day. Microsoft Dynamics GP gives decision-makers at every level and in all areas of your business the means to gain practical, relevant insight and determine the best course of action. With Microsoft Dynamics GP, you can devise a rapid and successful response to changing business conditions and emerging market trends.
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Current, complete information from all areas of your business is available for comprehensive reporting and analysis, so you can make sound decisions based on all pertinent factors.
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Microsoft Dynamics GP includes a large number of pre-formatted reports, supports reporting with Office Excel and SQL Server analytical capabilities, and lets you efficiently publish and broadcast reports to your audiences anywhere in the most practical and compelling format.
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You can use familiar, efficient Microsoft Dynamics GP reporting tools to monitor and drive business performance and ensure consistent compliance with regulation or corporate quality standards.
Windows 7 Pre-Order Offer - It's pretty simple.
Windows 7 is coming on October 22, 2009. Here's an easy way to get it fast and save a bunch: Pre-order a Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49** or a Windows 7 Professional Upgrade for $99.** That's about half off the estimated retail prices. This offer is available through participating retailers. Pick one below and pre-order today. They'll tell you how to get your copy when Windows 7 is available.
Then sit back and smile. You scored.
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-652): Configuring Windows Server Virtualization
Server virtualization is one of the hottest technologies today, despite a very tough economy. According to a recent IDC study, spending on virtualization is expected to approach $15 billion worldwide this year. The study estimates that over three-quarters of all companies with more than 500 employees are deploying virtual servers.
A strong growth in virtualization means more and better IT jobs for those skilled in the technology. And getting certified is a great way to validate those skills to your current and prospective employers.
for MCTS Study Guide (Exam 70-652): Configuring Windows Server Virtualization
Google Voice invites on their way
A couple of months ago we announced Google Voice, a service that gives you one phone number to link all your phones and makes voicemail as easy as email. We are happy to share that Google Voice is beginning to open up beyond former GrandCentral users. If you requested an invitation on the Google Voice site or previously on GrandCentral, keep your eye out for an invite email.
Once you receive your invitation, just click on the link and follow the instructions to setup your new Voice account. To help you find a Google number that is personalized to you, we've added a number picker that lets you search by area code and text. See if you can find a number that contains your name, a specific word or a number combination.
Even IT People Don't Know What Cloud Computing Is: Report
Version One reportedly announced that its latest market research survey regarding cloud computing is ready, and its main finding is that more than 40 percent of senior IT professionals have confessed that they do not have a clue about the real meaning and definition of cloud computing.
One of the main reasons is that there are so many differing opinions and definitions floating around like whimsical clouds that even CIOs are having a tough time catching one definition and pinning it down.
“It is clear from the survey results that there are a number of contrasting views as to what cloud computing really is, which is hardly surprising in light of the many different cloud computing definitions in the public arena,” said Julian Buck, general manager of Version One. “For instance, Wikipedia defines it as ‘Internet-based computing’ whileGartner ( News - Alert) refers to it ‘as a service’ using Internet technologies. IT expert, John Willis, writing in his cloud blog says that ‘virtualisation is the secret sauce of a cloud’ and provides different levels of cloud computing. With so many definitions circulating, clarity is urgently needed.”
On a lighter note, the situation reminds me of a familiar musical lilt from the epic film, “The Sound of Music.” Does anyone out there remember, “How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? How do you solve a problem like....? When I’m with .... I’m confused, out of focus and bemused, and I’ll never know exactly where I am....”? (It’s a good thing there is no such thing as “moon computing,” or else the lyrics would start with, “How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?”
Meanwhile, Version One, a company dealing in document management software, claims that they carried out the research with 60 senior IT professionals, including IT directors and managers, across a range of U.K. public and private sector organizations, and comes very close on the heels of their earlier survey, which showed that more than 66 percent of U.K. senior finance professionals, including finance directors and managers, are confused about cloud computing definitions and uses.
“If organizations are going to embrace cloud computing in the future it’s essential that a single, simplified explanation is adopted by everyone,” said Buck. “Failure to cut through the confusion could result in organizations rejecting this technology and missing out on the benefits it provides.”
The company says the research revealed that 17 percent, of the nearly 60 percent that claim to know what cloud computing is, understand cloud computing to be internet based computing, while 11 percent believe it is a combination of internet based computing, software as a service (SAAS), software on demand, an outsourced or managed service and a hosted software service, and the balance respondents understand cloud computing to be a mixture of the all of the above ingredients.
More interesting facts emerged from the clouded scenario: 5 percent of respondents say they use it a lot; 19 percent use it sparingly; 47 percent say their company does not use it; 29 percent are unaware whether their organization uses it or not; 2 percent are certain that their company is going to invest in cloud computing within the next twelve months; 30 percent are undecided about possible investments; 47 percent just do not know if there will any investment at all; and, 23 percent declared that their companies will be absolutely not invest in cloud computing.
“Although this is only a small survey of IT professionals, the results are nonetheless very alarming, especially as IT professionals are the very people that need to understand cloud computing so that they can explain its benefits to management,” Buck said.
Cloud technology leverages of the computing prowess of tens of thousands of servers and millions of computers all across the globe to deliver solutions and data that need not reside in the end users own desktop computer or mobile computing device. It can handle rapidly increasing simultaneous data inputs and queries without any perceptible alteration in performance, gives the impression that the most of the applications reside in the end users’ systems when these actually reside elsewhere and function over the Internet, and is available as a service. Some agencies offer free unlimited usage and others charge as per consumption. Either way, the cost of buying, learning and maintaining software and data storage is completely neutralized.
Version One says that there are significant benefits to be derived from cloud computing, such as the reduction in overheads and paper, ease of use, cost savings and the ability to provide collaborative tools for teaching and learning.
Another example is that of information technology start-up companies facing easier initiation and break-in periods than before since new cloud related solutions and newer, leaner and more agile planned programming computer languages are significantly and constantly reducing costs.
Another contributing factor is that the rapidly deteriorating economic condition is driving investors away and this is forcing people and companies to search for, innovate and come up triumphantly with a clutch of low cost or freely available solutions to establish and bolster start-ups and survive any which way they can. Venture capital investment has taken a 70-plus percent free-falling death spiral in January 2009 itself and reports claim that the situation is not likely to improve till the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2009.
Remote data storage, Web-based programs and the growing popularity of broadband technologies all contribute to drastic cost reduction by neutralizing the need to buy, hire or contract servers, storage silos, network administrators, and annual maintenance contracts.
A few illustrative futuristic examples demonstrate this concept clearly. One, a salesman delivers a major sales pitch in a client’s meeting room by accessing media rich content from a remote location via the internet and displaying it on the client’s choice of visual display such as laptop screens, stand alone monitors, projector screens, or connected high definition TV’s.
Two, teachers in third world countries could possibly access UNICEF hosted class-room lectures without having to carry heavy text-books and notes, or storing info on the schools’ server and network. In fact why have computing infrastructure of any sort? Stand alone trolley mounted computer systems with low cost projectors that can access Internet connections in each class room should suffice.
A few contemporary examples of cloud computing are: Users of Facebook share mega bytes of personal information such as photos, poems, stories and personal details via remote and connected Facebook (News - Alert) servers spread worldwide; People store data in XLS, DOC, PPT and PDF compatible formats on Google Documents and not on their own systems. In all four cases the end user requires only internet connectivity and comparatively low grade compatible systems that can access, edit if required, and display the information.
Components of Network Access Protection (NAP)
Components of a NAP-Enabled Infrastructure.
The components of a NAP-enabled network infrastructure consist of the following:
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NAP clients - Computers that support the NAP platform and include computers running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, or Windows XP SP3.
NAP enforcement points - Computers or network access devices that use NAP or can be used with NAP to require the evaluation of a NAP client’s health state and provide restricted network access or communication. NAP enforcement points use a Network Policy Server (NPS) that is acting as a NAP health policy server to evaluate the health state of NAP clients, whether network access or communication is allowed, and the set of remediation actions that a noncompliant NAP client must perform. Examples of NAP enforcement points are the following:
* Health Registration Authority (HRA) -A computer running Windows Server 2008 and Internet Information Services (IIS) that obtains health certificates from a certification authority (CA) for compliant NAP clients
* Network access devices -Ethernet switches or wireless access points (APs) that support IEEE 802.1X authentication
* VPN server -A computer running Windows Server 2008 and Routing and Remote Access that allows remote access VPN connections to an intranet
* DHCP server -A computer running Windows Server 2008 and the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Server service that provides automatic Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) address configuration to intranet clients
NAP health policy servers -Computers running Windows Server 2008 and the NPS service that store health requirement policies and provide health state validation for NAP. NPS is the replacement for the Internet Authentication Service (IAS), the Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server and proxy provided with Windows Server 2003. NPS can also act as an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server for network access. When acting as a AAA server or NAP health policy server, NPS is typically run on a separate server for centralized configuration of network access and health requirement policies, as Figure 1 shows. The NPS service is also run on Windows Server 2008–based NAP enforcement points, such as an HRA or DHCP server. However, in these configurations, the NPS service is acting as a RADIUS proxy to exchange RADIUS messages with a NAP health policy server.
Health requirement servers -Computers that provide current system health state for NAP health policy servers. For example, a health requirement server for an antivirus program tracks the latest version of the antivirus signature file.
Active Directory Domain Services -The Windows directory service that stores account credentials and properties and Group Policy settings. Although not required for health state validation, Active Directory is 3 required for Internet Protocol Security (IPsec)–protected communications, 802.1X-authenticated connections, and remote access VPN connections.
Restricted network -A separate logical or physical network that contains:
* Remediation servers -Network infrastructure servers and health update servers that NAP clients can access to remediate their noncompliant state. Examples of network infrastructure servers include Domain Name System (DNS) servers and Active Directory domain controllers. Examples of health update servers include antivirus signature distribution servers and software update servers.
* NAP clients with limited access -Computers that are placed on the restricted network when they do not comply with health requirement policies.
* Non-NAP-capable computers -Optionally, computers that do not support NAP can be placed on the restricted network (not shown in Figure 1).
System Health Agents and System Health Validators
Components of the NAP infrastructure known as system health agents (SHAs) on NAP clients and system health validators (SHVs) on NAP health policy servers provide health state tracking and validation for attributes of system health. Windows Vista and Windows XP SP3 include a Windows Security Health Validator SHV that monitors the settings of the Windows Security Center. Windows Server 2008 includes the corresponding Windows Security Health Validator SHV. NAP is designed to be flexible and extensible. It can interoperate with any vendor who provides SHAs and SHVs that use the NAP API.
An SHA creates a statement of health (SoH) that contains the current status information about the attribute of health being monitored by the SHA. For example, an SHA for an antivirus program might contain the state of the program (installed and running) and the version of the current antivirus signature file. Whenever an SHA updates its status, it creates a new SoH. To indicate its overall health state, a NAP client uses a System Statement of Health (SSoH), which includes version information for the NAP client and the set of SoHs for the installed SHAs.
When the NAP client validates its system health, it passes its SSoH to the NAP health policy server for evaluation through a NAP enforcement point. The NAP health policy server uses the SSoH, its installed SHVs, and its health requirement policies to determine whether the NAP client is compliant with system health requirements, and if it is not, the remediation actions that must be taken to achieve compliance. Each SHV produces a statement of health response (SoHR), which can contain remediation instructions. For example, the SoHR for an antivirus program might contain the current version number of the antivirus signature file and the name or IP address of the antivirus signature file server on the intranet.
Based on the SoHRs from the SHVs and the configured health requirement policies, the NAP health policy server creates a System Statement of Health Response (SSoHR), 4 which indicates whether the NAP client is compliant or noncompliant and includes the set of SoHRs from the SHVs. The NAP health policy server passes the SSoHR back to the NAP client through a NAP enforcement point. The NAP client passes the SoHRs to its SHAs. The noncompliant SHAs automatically remediate their health state and create updated SoHs, and the health validation process begins again.
Enforcement Clients and Servers
A NAP Enforcement Client (EC) is a component on a NAP client that requests some level of access to a network, passes the computer’s health status to a NAP enforcement point that is providing the network access, and indicates health evaluation information to other components of the NAP client architecture. The NAP ECs for the NAP platform supplied in Windows Vista, Windows XP SP3, and Windows Server 2008 are the following:
* An IPsec EC for IPsec-protected communications
* An EAPHost EC for 802.1X-authenticated connections
* A VPN EC for remote access VPN connections
* A DHCP EC for DHCP-based IPv4 address configuration
* A TS Gateway EC for connections to a TS Gateway server
A NAP Enforcement Server (ES) is a component on a NAP enforcement point running Windows Server 2008 that allows some level of network access or communication, can pass a NAP client’s health status to NPS for evaluation, and, based on the response from NPS, can provide the enforcement of limited network access. The NAP ESs included with Windows Server 2008 are the following:
* An IPsec ES for IPsec-protected communications
* A DHCP ES for DHCP-based IPv4 address configuration
* A TS Gateway ES for TS Gateway server connections
For 802.1X-authenticated and remote access VPN connections, there is no separate ES component running on the 802.1X switch or wireless AP or VPN server.
Together, ECs and ESs require health state validation and enforce limited network access for noncompliant computers for specific types of network access or communication.
NPS
NPS is a RADIUS server and proxy in Windows Server 2008. As a RADIUS server, NPS provides AAA services for various types of network access. For authentication and authorization, NPS uses Active Directory to verify user or computer credentials and obtain user or computer account properties when a computer attempts an 802.1Xauthenticated connection or a VPN connection.
NPS also acts as a NAP health policy server. Administrators set system health requirements in the form of health requirement policies on the NAP health policy server.
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NAP health policy servers evaluate health state information provided by NAP clients to determine health compliance, and for noncompliance, the set of remediation actions that must be taken by the NAP client to become compliant.
The role of NPS as an AAA server is independent from its role as a NAP health policy server. These roles can be used separately or combined as needed. For example:
* NPS can be an AAA server on an intranet that has not yet deployed NAP.
* NPS can be a combination of AAA server and health policy server for 802.1Xauthenticated connections on an intranet that has deployed NAP for 802.1Xauthenticated connections.
* NPS can be a health policy server for DHCP configuration on an intranet that has deployed NAP for DHCP configuration.
Exchange Server 2010 Beta available
Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 brings a new and rich set of technologies, features, and services to the Exchange Server product line. This topic lists many of the new features and functionality that are included in Exchange 2010. The list isn't comprehensive; however, it provides important information to use when you're planning, deploying, and administering your Exchange 2010 organization:
* New Rights-Protected E-Mail Functionality with Active Directory RMS
* New Transport and Routing Functionality
* New Permissions Functionality
* New High Availability Functionality
* New Messaging Policy and Compliance Features
* New Outlook Web Access Features
* New Unified Messaging Features
* Web Management Interface
* New Exchange Core Store Functionality
* New Administration Functionality in the Exchange Management Console
* New Administration Functionality in the Exchange Management Shell
The first Beta version of Exchange Server 2010 is now available for download. Go ahead, download now!!
Free Windows 7 IT Pro beta class offered
Microsoft Learning has recently completed the beta version of a Windows 7 Instructor-led training course for IT Professionals entitled “Installing and Configuring Windows® 7 Client”
In an attempt to attain feedback on the course prior to the RTM release of Windows 7 we are offering the three-day course to IT Pros who would like to attend and give feedback on the course.
· When: July 7th to 9th (9:00AM to 5:00PM)
· Where: Microsoft Campus, Redmond WA
This beta class is being offered for free only once and class size is limited. If you are interested in attending the course send an email to trblog@microsoft.com. In the email explain your interest in the course as an IT Professional. Students will be chosen based on how well they match the audience profile listed in the syllabus link above. You will receive an email response within 48 hours if you have been selected to attend the course.
Microsoft’s Virtual Lab Exams: Going Inside the Black Box
Microsoft recently announced the release of virtual labs in 83-640. Virtual labs allow you to perform tasks using the software technology rather than performing them in a simulated environment or answering multiple choices questions about how you would solve the specified problem. With virtual labs, you solve the problem by doing something. I found this totally cool video that shows off the virtual lab technology and item type and thought it would be great to share it with you.
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