Musings of an IT Pro Evangelist https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/feed.xml Random musings of a Microsoft IT Pro Evangelist in Redmond, WA. Tue, 16 Apr 2019 06:10:37 GMT en-US hourly 1 MMS 2010 https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/mms-2010 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 04:51:00 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2010/04/20/mms-2010/ As you may know the Microsoft Management Summit (MMS 2010) is in full swing over in Las Vegas starting today.  Unfortunatly, I've had to cancell my Instructor Led Lab sessions for the week since I'm caught up in the volcanic ash and am unable to make my way from London to Las Vegas.  For more information on the Windows Server Migration Tools that I was to present on you may visit the Windows Server Migration portal at http://www.microsoft.com/migration or catch this screencast series of the tools in action at http://edge.technet.com/Media/Migrating-DHCP-using-the-Windows-Server-2008-R2-Migration-Tools/.  For more information on using MDT 2010 for deployment of both Windows Server and Windows Server 2008 R2 we have some video resources on TechNet Edge (http://edge.technet.com/Tags/Deployment/) or  you can visit the official Deployment Center at: http://www.microsoft.com/deployment.  

Be sure to keep up with the latest announcements from MMSat the event by following my collegue Adam Carter who will be posting videos to http://edge.technet.com.  You can also get live streaming of both keynotes via http://www.mms-2010.com/. 

]]> Free Windows Server 2008 R2 E-Book https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/free-windows-server-2008-r2-e-book Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:46:37 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/11/03/free-windows-server-2008-r2-e-book/ Hey folks!  Just wanted to remind everyone you can download a FREE Windows Server 2008 R2 E-Book today!  This guide is a 200 page, 9 Chapter get up to speed guide on Windows Server 2008 R2.  If you are a Windows Server Administrator, this guide is something you should keep handy.

]]> Better Experience and Faster Response Times for Your Web Sites! https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/better-experience-and-faster-response-times-for-your-web-sites Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:34:35 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/10/14/better-experience-and-faster-response-times-for-your-web-sites/ Ever wanted to “warm-up” your IIS web site by pre-loading processes at the start of the web server in order to enable faster response times?  Well now you can have the easy-bake oven option! 

Today, Microsoft announced the beta release of IIS Application Warm-Up – an extension for IIS 7.5 that enables IT Professionals to improve the responsiveness of their Web sites by loading the Web applications before the first request arrives. By proactively loading and initializing all the dependencies such as database connections, compilation of ASP.NET code, and loading of modules, IT Professionals can ensure their Web sites are responsive at all times even if their Web sites use a custom request pipeline or if the Application Pool is recycled.

For more information or to download, please visit the IIS Application Warm-Up page.

]]> Choose Your Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Deployment Strategy https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/choose-your-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-deployment-strategy Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:24:03 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/06/11/choose-your-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-deployment-strategy/ Like any IT Pro, you have what appears to be million tools and strategies to get your desktops deployed.  A very well written guide was just posted to TechNet that gives in-depth guidance on how to get Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 deployed using just a few, targeted strategies for specific scenarios.  This guide outlines the four main deployment methods as well as the IT Skill level required, the infrastructure that helps determine your choice, as well as strategy and tools guidance.  This is an amazing guide that I feel every IT Pro needs to read.

]]> Microsoft Surface combined with Business Intelligence https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/microsoft-surface-combined-with-business-intelligence Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:40:00 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/06/10/microsoft-surface-combined-with-business-intelligence/ The Microsoft BI team showcased a very cool application known as Falcon Eye at TechEd which takes data navigation to a new level.  Falcon Eye integrates data with Virtual Earth so that you can investigate it hands on through a Microsoft Surface device.  When I did this interview I was so surprised by the WOW factor I really didin't ask may questions.  Have a look and see how you can take data navigation up a notch.

]]> Simplify configuration of Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Core using SConfig https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/simplify-configuration-of-windows-server-2008-r2-server-core-using-sconfig Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:13:00 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/06/08/simplify-configuration-of-windows-server-2008-r2-server-core-using-sconfig/ While at TechEd 2009 in Los Angeles, I was asked by a couple of different attendees if we had plans to simplify basic configuration of items like networking and machine naming on Server Core.  Well the answer to that is a big YES!  Take a look at this screencast on the new SConfig tool included with Windows Server 2008 R2.

]]> Changes to the backup utility in Windows Server 2008 R2 https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/changes-to-the-backup-utility-in-windows-server-2008-r2 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:55:00 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/06/05/changes-to-the-backup-utility-in-windows-server-2008-r2/ Windows Server Backup has some pretty sweet changes coming in Windows Server 2008 R2 including:

  • The ability to backup System State as a separate job as well as the ability to do incremental System State backups.
  • The ability to exclude specific file types, file folders, and specific files instead of having to backup an entire volume.
  • The ability to backup to a volume or a network share instead of requiring a dedicated disk for backups.

Gordon Ryan takes us through a demonstration of these changes in a recent video on TechNet Edge. 

For more information on Windows Server Backup in R2, take a hop over to the Windows Server 2008 R2 Tech Center on TechNet.

]]> Get your Windows 7 Application Compatibility Questions Answered! https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/get-your-windows-7-application-compatibility-questions-answered Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:48:00 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/06/05/get-your-windows-7-application-compatibility-questions-answered/

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Springboard Series Virtual Roundtable

Windows 7 Application Compatibility: Your Questions Answered (Part 1)

Date: Thursday, June 18

Time: 11:00am Pacific Time

https://ms.istreamplanet.com/springboard

Windows 7, is approaching fast and from the application standpoint is very similar to Windows Vista. We’re going to examine Windows 7 application compatibility not only from the perspective of moving from Windows Vista, but also for those coming from Windows XP. Join us to discuss the most common challenges around application compatibility when coming from a legacy operating system, why changes were made along the way, compatibility technologies inside the OS and methods for getting incompatible applications to run on Windows 7. Along the way we share tips and tricks, demonstrate free tools to analyze and fix applications and answer your specific questions about application compatibility live.

In Part 2 of this Virtual Round Table discussion (planned for later this Summer/Fall), we’ll discuss the options and approaches for using virtualization tools In depth to address application incompatibilities – including presentation virtualization, desktop virtualization and application virtualization. We’ll be sending out more details and posting information to www.microsoft.com/springboard for part 2 as the dates are finalized.

As part of the “virtual” experience, you may submit your questions about Windows 7 Application Compatibility to the panel live during the event—or submit questions in advance to vrtable@microsoft.com.

Springboard Series: The resource for Windows desktop IT professionals

 

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]]> Active Directory Recycle Bin https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/active-directory-recycle-bin Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:16:56 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/01/27/active-directory-recycle-bin/ Yesterday I posted a link to my Active Directory Recycle Bin demo over on Edge.  Today I thought I would follow that up that post with a few things about the recycle bin feature in R2.

The great thing about the AD Recycle Bin is that if you make the mistake of deleting say an entire OU (you know the one that contains the accounts of every high up executive), you will be able to restore those objects in their entirety to the same state they were in immediately before they were deleted.  Previously we had to rely on re-animation of objects in AD that didn't restore all attributes and group memberships or purchase third party solutions in order to recover from accidental deletions.

A few things to be aware of:

  • In order to use the AD Recycle Bin all of the domain controllers in your forest need to be running Windows Server 2008 R2 and your forest needs to be in the R2 forest functional mode.
  • You need to enable the Recycle Bin feature since by default it's disabled.  Once it's enabled, you cannot disable it so be aware before enabling the feature.
  • The default deleted item object lifetime is 180 days.  You can increase or decrease that value using Powershell.  You can also extend the ability to restore objects longer (via authoritative restore) by extending the tombstone lifetime.

For more information and details on how to execute a restore, take a look at the AD Recycle Bin step by step guide  on TechNet.

]]> RSAT for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/jsnow/rsat-for-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:39:37 GMT https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/jsnow/2009/01/26/rsat-for-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2/ Wow what a crazy winter!  I've been traveling around speaking to folks about Windows Server 2008 R2.  Let me tell you all Prague is an amazing city, but winter there is COLD!  *Shudder*.  When I was in Prague speaking to all of the great MCT's who took the time out of their busy schedules to listen to this guy talk, I was asked about the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.  Well folks they are available now.  If you want to get your hands on them simple head over to the download site and grab em while they are hot! 

In the coming days I will also answer several questions that came up during my sessions regarding some of the new features on Windows Server 2008 R2.  For those of you who are not MCT's and have not yet had a chance to learn about some of these features, head on over to TechNet Edge and check out my post on the beta release of Server 2008 R2 as well as my feature demo of the Active Directory Recycle bin.  More feature demos are coming soon so keep checking!

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