Volume 10, Issue 21: October 15, 2008

Note from the Editor

Greetings 

First up, we’ll bring you up to speed on several of the new offerings around Windows Vista and the upcoming Windows Client. You’ll be hearing more about Windows 7 later this month, especially if you’re attending the Professional Developers Conference, where the pre-beta bits will be distributed. In the meantime, bookmark the Engineering Windows 7 Blog, where the engineering team discusses the thinking that went into a range of features.
For those of you interested in what’s ahead for Windows Vista speech recognition capabilities, sign up for the Windows Speech Recognition Macros Technical Preview 2 and see how you can create powerful macros that are triggered by voice command to interact with applications.
Also just released, the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.2 Beta Program is now open, with new assessment scenarios such as SQL Server 2008 migration inventory, Microsoft Online Services inventory and migration surveys, virtualization infrastructure reporting of host-guest relationship, and readiness assessment for Microsoft Forefront Client Security and Network Access Protection. The popular Windows Vista Hardware Assessment readiness tool has now been replaced by this platform.
And if you’re looking for tips on addressing Windows Vista performance issues, common misconfigurations and how to fix them, you won’t want to miss Mark Russinovich hosting the Springboard Series Virtual Roundtable: Windows Vista Performance... Need Answers?
Got BI?
Microsoft recently unveiled new managed self-service analysis capabilities (code-named “Project Gemini”) and self-service reporting in the next release of Microsoft SQL Server focused on BI — code-named “Kilimanjaro.” Read more about what’s coming up for pervasive business intelligence, and check out the Network World article “Next Version of SQL Server to Redefine BI.”
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Mitch Irsfeld
Editor, TechNet Flash

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Free Microsoft Virtualization Event Near You: Registration Now Open

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Become a System Center Data Protection Manager (DPM) Partner Hero

Take our partner assessment and get a free copy of DPM for your organization. Register today and learn how you can protect your SQL Server 2008 database and how to provide data protection in a virtualized environment. DPM 2007 is designed to provide disk-to-disk-to-tape protection for infrastructures that depend on Microsoft technology.

TechNet Magazine: Exchange Queue & A

This month, Henrik Walther looks at configuring Windows Server 2008 to work with Outlook Anywhere, testing remote connectivity, deploying standby continuous replication, and more.

TechNet Magazine: Windows Can but Won’t

Raymond Chen explains why Windows can but chooses not to replace a file that is currently in use.

Springboard Series Podcast: MAP Toolkit

Join Baldwin Ng, Senior Product Manager with Microsoft’s Solution Accelerators team, as he discusses the new version the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator.

Springboard Series Podcast: Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit

Listen as Jeremy Chapman, Senior Product Manager with the Windows Product Management Group, discusses the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT), and offers guidance and strategies for remediating application conflicts.

TechNet Edge: Video Introduction to System Center Essentials

If you are managing a mid-market-sized IT environment, and looking for a solution to using multiple tools and processes, watch this video with David Mills, Technical Product Manager at Microsoft, to find out how System Center Essentials can benefit your IT department.

IT Management

IT Manager Webcast: Introduction to Platform Solution Blueprints (Level 200)

November 6, 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
The goal of Platform Solution Blueprints is to help IT managers plan their technology investments by focusing on reusable capabilities such as next-generation Web, business intelligence (BI), service-oriented architecture (SOA), virtualization, security, and others that are critical to the success of their business.

Evaluation Center Updates

Evaluate SQL Server 2008 and Run the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit

SQL Server 2008 is here, and it’s time to download a free, fully functional 180-day trial version today. Download the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for SQL Server and it’ll find all the SQL instances and database servers for you in just a few hours.

Scripting for IT Pros

Hey Scripting Guy...

•How Can I Reuse Functions?

•How Can I Enable or Disable My Network Adapter?

•How Do I Write to Excel Without Using Excel?

See More Scripting Tips

See previous comics in the TechNet Flash Web-based archive.

Support and Troubleshooting

How-to Articles

•How to Configure Certificate Based Authentication for OWA - Part I

Hotfixes

•Description of the Outlook 2007 post-Service Pack 1 hotfix package: September 24, 2008

•Stop error message on a Windows Server 2008-based computer that has the Hyper-V role installed: "STOP 0x0000001A"

Knowledge Base Articles

•Windows Server System software not supported within a Microsoft Virtual Server environment

•Error message when you call the OpenCluster function against a Windows Server 2008 cluster from Windows XP or from Windows Server 2003: "The RPC Server is unavailable"

•After a user is deleted from a role in the Authorization Manager in an Active Directory domain environment, the user can still unexpectedly access that role from a Windows Vista-based or Windows Server 2008-based client computer

•You cannot perform NetSH commands by using a user account that belongs to the "Network Configuration Operators" security group on a Windows Vista-based computer or on a Windows Server 2008-based computer

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.
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What’s New for TechNet Plus Subscribers

TechNet Plus Single User subscribers receive SQL Server 2008 Enterprise, System Center Configuration Manager 2007 with Service Pack 1, and System Center Operations Manager 2007 with Service Pack 1 with October DVD shipment.
Get Windows Small Business Server 2008 RTM Today Windows Small Business Server 2008 and the new Essential Business Server 2008 are the solutions that work for small and medium-sized business. Both these solutions don’t officially launch until November, and until then only the public preview will be available. But TechNet Plus subscribers can find the RTM version of Small Business Server 2008 on TechNet Plus today through the subscriber-only downloads portal.
Not a subscriber yet? Check out what TechNet Plus can do for you.

Upcoming Webcasts

Microsoft Office Project Server 2007: Solution Elements and Data Flow (Level 300)

October 22, 11:00 A.M. Pacific Time
In this webcast, we describe the elements of the Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 solution (Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007, Application Server, and Microsoft SQL Server), and we cover data flow components and key areas for scalability.

IT Manager Webcast: Introduction to Platform Solution Blueprints (Level 200)

November 6, 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
The goal of Platform Solution Blueprints is to help IT managers plan their technology investments by focusing on reusable capabilities, such as next-generation Web, business intelligence (BI), service-oriented architecture (SOA), virtualization, and security. If you are taking a “best-of-breed” approach to your IT strategy, you do not want to miss the information presented in this introduction.

More Webcasts

Security

Conduct a Security Center Assessment of Your PCs with the New Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1

Are your PCs using Security Center? Do they have anti-virus or anti-malware software already installed? If not, wouldn’t you want to know? Download the free Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit and it will report the Security Center assessments to you in just hours.

Virtual Lab: Introduction to ISA Server 2006

After completing this lab, you will be able to explore the user interface of ISA Server, explore how ISA Server uses multiple networks and a single list of firewall rules, as well as how ISA Server uses monitoring.

Microsoft Security Bulletin Summary for October 2008

Download the October security updates, including updates for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office.

Security Center

On Demand

Springboard Series Podcast: Advanced Group Policy

Learn how to effectively use the new group policy objects in Windows Vista to improve manageability and strengthen security with this podcast by Derek Melber, author, IT consultant and Microsoft MVP for Group Policy.

Microsoft Office Project Server 2007: Solution Elements and Data Flow (Level 300)

In this webcast, we describe the elements of the Microsoft Office Project Server 2007 solution (Microsoft Office Project Professional 2007, Application Server, and Microsoft SQL Server), and we cover data flow components and key areas for scalability. This webcast is part of a webcast series targeted at IT professionals.

More On-Demand Webcasts

Virtual Labs

Microsoft Identity Lifecycle Manager 2007 2

After completing this lab you will be better able to provide hands-on experience with Identity Lifecycle Manager (ILM) “2,” provision new users within ILM “2” and see the user data flow out to Active Directory. Additionally, you will be able to use the ILM “2” self-service password reset facility, and use the ILM “2” self-service group management features integrated into Microsoft Office 2007.

Managing Active Directory – Directory Services

This lab has a laundry list of new features in Active Directory. It is intended to demonstrate some of the ways that Active Directory management and operations have been improved in Windows Server 2008. It addresses all scenarios that Active Directory is used in, including management, security, and remote infrastructure.

More Virtual Labs

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Monitoring Windows Server 2008 with Operations Manager 2007
Presentation Virtualization with Enhanced Terminal Services

Training & Books

•Second Shot Offer Gets Even Better
Second Shot allows you a free retake if you fail a Microsoft Certification exam. Now you will also be rewarded for passing the exam. From October 15 – December 31, 2008, get 25% off a future exam if you pass the first exam using the Second Shot offer voucher.

•Get Windows Server 2008 Skills – and Free Software
Don’t miss out on this offer; it won’t be available much longer. Take select instructor-led Windows Server 2008 courses and get the Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition free. Offer available through December 31, 2008 or while supplies last.

•More Training...

•Browse the Learning Catalog to find the training that works best for you.

•Manage your learning experience with the Microsoft Learning Manager.

•New & Upcoming Books

National and Global Events

WINCONNECTIONS: The Premier Event for IT Professionals
November 10 - 13
Las Vegas, NV
More than 250 in-depth sessions on Microsoft Exchange, Windows, SQL Server, SharePoint and .NET. Exciting content and panels delivered by 150 Microsoft architects and industry experts. Every attendee receives SQL Server 2008 standard with 1 CAL. This event sold out last fall; be sure to register today.
Register for PDC2008
October 27 - 30
Los Angeles Convention Center
Pre-cons October 26, 2008
This year’s Professional Developers Conference is the place to see the coolest new technology and get your hands on the latest pre-beta bits (including Windows 7). Attendees will also receive a 160-GB drive loaded with all PDC bits.
Microsoft Tech·Ed EMEA 2008 IT Professionals
November 3 - 7
Barcelona, Spain
An opportunity to learn the latest technologies, meet and connect with the best - get the edge.

•Find a TechNet Event in Your Local Area

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