technical solutions and commentary

Microsoft has a Solution Accelerator in the form of “Business Desktop Deployment (BDD)” 2007 which is a set of best practice guidance and toll set developed to help you deploy Windows to client desktops.  BDD 2007 contains a new MMC and a task sequencer that originates from System Center Configuration Manager 2007. BDD tools and end-to-end guidance reduce deployment time, standardize desktop and server images, limit service disruptions, reduce post-deployment help desk costs, and improve security and ongoing configuration management.

One of the less understood features of BDD 2007 is its ability to function as a full deployment solution.  BDD can help you create and maintain desktop images in a manageable and repeatable way, and gives you the capability to build a scalable deployment solution by combining BDD with Windows Deployment Services (WDS), SQL Server, and the Windows Server 2003 Distributed File System Replication (DFS-R). The November 2007 issue of TechNet Magazine addresses this scenario. You can read the complete article on Microsoft’s TechNet Magazine website at:  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/technetmag/issues/2007/11/ExtendingBDD/default.aspx The fourth generation BDD deployment accelerator, renamed “Microsoft Deployment”, adds integration with recently released deployment technologies to create a single path for image creation and automated installation. Download the latest version of “Microsoft Deployment” from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3bd8561f-77ac-4400-a0c1-fe871c461a89&displaylang=en&tm 

If you already have an SMS 2003 or Configuration Manager 2007 infrastructure, work towards using Microsoft Deployment, SMS 2003 or ConfigMan 2007, and the OSD Feature Pack for deployment. This is currently the most comprehensive way to achieve zero-touch deployment, and it can really drive down the costs of configuring, installing, and managing Windows in your organization.

On November 19^th Microsoft released Visual Studio 2008 to Manufacturing. Visual Studio contains over 250 new features and has major enhancements in every Visual Studio edition including the Express for hobbyist and Visual Studio Team System for shops with a more controlled architect/build/test/release environment. Developers of all skill levels now have a secure, reliable and consistent solution for building applications for the Web, Windows Platform, and the Office System. With the integration of Silverlight into Visual Studio, developers can build rich cross-platform web applications including HD quality video.

Visual Studio 2008 is available for download for MSDN Subscribers at http://msdn.microsoft.com. The VS 2008 Training Kit is downloadable from http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7602397.

Released in parallel with VS 2008, the .NET Framework 3.5 builds on top of previous versions of the .NET Framework and brings improvements in areas such as the Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace. Other improvements include: 

• Deep integration of LINQ and data awareness. This lets you write code written in LINQ-enabled languages to filter, enumerate, and create projections of several types of SQL data, collections, XML, and DataSets by using the same syntax.
• ASP.NET AJAX lets you create efficient, interactive, personalized cross-platform Web applications.
• New Web protocol support for building WCF services including AJAX, JSON, REST, POX, RSS, ATOM, and several new WS-* standards.
• Full support for WF, WCF, and WPF, including the new workflow-enabled services technology.

The .NET 3.5 Framework is available for download from http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7755937

UVNTV.com co-founded buy ICE CUBE, has selected Silverlight over Adobe Flash for rich interactive content and streaming video. UVNTV.com has multiple channels of high quality music videos and other entertainment content streaming over the internet.

Embeded below is a HD quality video that was recorded and encoded by a Microsoft employee, who features short interviews with ICE TEA, and other members UVNTV.com. The full size is 800×600, but I changed the size to 400×300 for embedding into this post.

The Microsoft Channel9 team, which also runs Channel10 and Channel8, launched the lastet addition to the family… TechNet Edge. TechNet Edge is going to focus around the IT Professional with interviews and discussions with Microsoft teams.

Channel9 has become a popular resource for behind the scenes interviews with Microsoft teams and has focused mainly around software development. Channel10 has been around for a couple of years and has short interviews and posts with people in the oftware industry. Topic include new technology and web services, and focus on how these can impact you personally. Channel8 was launched in 2007 and focuses on college students.

The Microsoft MIX 08 conference is going to be at the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas on March 5 – 7, 2008. MIX08 is an intimate opportunity for cutting-edge technical, creative and business strategists to engage Microsoft in a conversation about the future of the web. Steve Ballmer is scheduled to speak. Topics at the conference include the latest wave of opportunities to help redefine the boundaries between content and commerce, PC and TV, Windows and the Web. 

If you register at  by January 15, 2008 there is a discounted admision ($200.00 off). The regular price of admision price is $1295.00. LAst year MIX sold out in advance last year, so if you are interested in going sign up soon. You can register at http://visitmix.com/2008.  

Subscribe to the MIX RSS feed to start receiving goodies long before the show kics off.

If you have wondered how many bots, worms, tojans, and viruses are attacking PC’s and what countries they are coming from, the Microsoft Security Intelligence Report can show you the answers. In addition to trends, the report also provides some insight into what soaftware attackers are now targeting and how you can better protect your machines.

This report is published twice a year by the Microsoft Threat Research and Response team. From their public web site yu can download the key findings report and also access free wecasts.

Microsoft is nearing release of Enterprise Search Server 2008 Express software. The Release Canidate is a FREE download that is a available now. The RTM version will be a free download as well. 

Windows Server 2003 is the required platform for installation of Search Server 2008 Express. The Express edition has limited scalability - where it supports only one “search application server” but support an unlimited number of “web front-end servers”.

You can see a complete list of the extensive features on the Microsoft.com/EnterpriseSearch site. Try it out.

Diagnose audio issues within your Office Communications Server 2007 environment using the Office Communications Server 2007 Deployment Validation Tool.

A common issue in VoIP deployments is that administrators find out about problems with audio quality only after a user reports a problem. The Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 Deployment Validation Tool simulates audio traffic so that you can proactively identify and resolve audio issues.

 Download the Tool from Microsoft Downloads.

Microsoft has finally released the Exchange Server 2007 Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007. There has been an Exchange Server 2007 Management Pack for MOM 2005 since nearly the release of Exchange 2007. This will make the decision much easier when deciding on deploying SCOM 2007 or MOM 2005.

Download the Management Pack from Microsoft Downloads.

Microsoft is preparing to release an addition to its System Center suite of managment product. The new Systems Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 (has to be one of the longest product names ever) or SCMDM, it aimed at providing IT admins more control over users mobile devices.

In the past Exchange Server has been used to push policies to Windows Mobile devices. This method of mobile device maangement has worked, but has not provided the same degree of control and management that admins have become accustom to with desktops and server managment. Slated for release in 2Q 2008, this new product will change that.

Microsoft already has a lot of information out on the product:

• http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/mobiledevicemanager/
• http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/mobile
• Overview document (pdf)

 http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/mobiledevicemanager/default.mspx