technical solutions and commentary

windows Live Search is accessible from your mobile phone via SMS texting. Just text your search words to "wlive" or "95483".

Microsoft released ForeFront Client Security (FCS) SP1 today (August 28, 2008). This adds support for:

• Server role support and protection for Windows Server 2008 (excluding Server Core)
• Agent protection on Windows Server 2008 (including Server Core)
• Agent protection and server roles on Hyper-V
• Agent protection on cluster servers
• Agent protection on Home editions of Windows Vista, Windows XP (at least SP2), Windows Server 2003 (at least SP1), Windows 2000 (SP4)
• Network Access Control (NAP) Integration

To get ForeFront Client Security Service PAck 1 - Install ForeFront CLient Security at which point you will be offered Service Pack 1 from Windows Update.

The release note for FCS SP1 are at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=126287. You can also read Microsoft KB Article 951951 for information on SP1.

Microsoft released SQL Server 2008 to RTM today, August 6, 2008. SQL 2008 Server provides powerful new capabilities such as:

• support for policy-based management
• auditing
• large-scale data warehousing
• geospatial data
• advanced reporting and analysis services

SQL Server 2008 is available in the following editions:

• SQL Server 2008 Enterprise. SQL Server 2008 Enterprise is a comprehensive data management and business intelligence platform that provides enterprise-class scalability, data warehousing, security, advanced analytics and reporting support for running business-critical applications. With this edition, it is possible to consolidate servers and perform large-scale online transactional processing.
• SQL Server 2008 Standard. SQL Server 2008 Standard is a complete data management and business intelligence platform that provides best-in-class ease of use and manageability for running departmental applications.
• SQL Server 2008 Workgroup. SQL Server 2008 Workgroup is a reliable data management and reporting platform that delivers secure, remote synchronization and management capabilities for running branch applications. This edition includes core database features and is easy to upgrade to the Standard or Enterprise edition.
• SQL Server 2008 Web. SQL Server 2008 Web is designed for highly available, Internet-facing Web-serving environments running on Windows Server. SQL Server 2008 Web provides the tools necessary to support low-cost, large-scale, highly available Web applications or hosting solutions for customers.
• SQL Server 2008 Developer. SQL Server 2008 Developer allows developers to build and test any type of application with SQL Server. This edition features all of the functionality of SQL Server Enterprise but is licensed only for development, test and demo use. Applications and databases developed on this edition can easily be upgraded to SQL Server 2008 Enterprise.
• SQL Server 2008 Express. SQL Server 2008 Express is a free edition of SQL Server that features core database functionality including all of the new SQL Server 2008 data types, in a small footprint. This edition is ideal for learning and building desktop and small server applications, and for redistribution by ISV’s.
• SQL Server Compact 3.5. SQL Server Compact is a free embedded database designed for developers and is ideal for building stand-alone and occasionally connected applications for mobile devices, desktops and Web clients. SQL Server Compact runs on all Microsoft Windows platforms, including the Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, and on Pocket PC and smartphone devices.

The Microsoft press release is here, and the SQL server web site is here.

Microsoft launched the "Evalu’08" promotion where you have the chance to win prizes for evaluating Microsoft professional software - either via download or virtual test drive.

Take a test drive for a change to win

Included in the paper:

• Performance Tuning for Server Hardware
• Performance Tuning for Networking Subsystem
• Performance Tuning for Storage Subsystem
• Performance Tuning for Web Servers
• Performance Tuning for File Servers
• Performance Tuning for Active Directory Servers
• Performance Tuning for Terminal Server
• Performance Tuning for Terminal Server Gateway
• Performance Tuning for Virtualization Servers
• Performance Tuning for File Server Workload (NetBench)
• Performance Tuning for Network Workload (NTttcp)
• Performance Tuning for Terminal Server Knowledge Worker Workload
• Performance Tuning for SAP Sales and Distribution Two-Tier Workload

download here: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/sysperf/Perf_tun_srv.mspx

Microsoft released Service Pack 1 for ISA 2006 Standard and Enterprise. highlights of the service pack changes:

• Configuration Change Tracking—Registers all configuration changes applied to ISA Server to help you assess issues that may occur as a result of these changes.
• Traffic Simulator—Simulates network traffic in accordance with specified request parameters
• Support for integrated NLB mode in all three modes, including unicast, multicast, and multicast with Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP).
• Support for Kerberos Constrained Delegation (KCD) cross-domain authentication. Credentials from users located in a different domain than the ISA Server, but in the same forest, can now be delegated to an internal published Web site by using KCD.

More information:

• ISA 2006 SP1 detailed information is at Microsoft Article 943462
• download ISA 2006 SP1 here.

For those considering migration to the next versions of Windows (client and server) there are a lot of free resources from Microsoft available to help you.

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Solution Accelerator (MAP)- allow you to scan the devices on your network (using agentless technology) to gather a detailed inventory of the computer. The resulting report will identify what computers can run Windows Vista, Office 2007, and Application virtualization technology. Hardware and driver updates are also recommended per machine in the report. Windows Server can also be assessed for compatibility with Windows Server 2008. If you are looking at data center consolidation, this toolkit will also provide guidance on what servers could be consolidated onto a Windows Hyper-V host.

Microsoft Deployment - is the fourth generation deployment accelerator. It provide a proven methodology, guidance, and tools to help you automate the deployment of Windows XP/Vista, and Office 2007, Windows Server. Using this toolkit you can create "lite-touch" or "zero-touch" deployments for your organization. this should be used after the assessment and planning is complete.

Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) - If you are migrating to Active Directory from another Directory Services, or you are consolidating domains in separate forests, you want to use this tool. ADMT simplifies the process of migrating objects in AD. you can migrate users, groups, computers among other features.

Password Export Server - this tool lets you migrate passwords, when performing accounts migrations between different Active Directory environments.

Application Compatibility resources for Windows vista - along with checking your hardware and drivers for vista compatibility using the MAP, you also need to test your applications to make sure they will run under vista. Here are the primary resources for application compatibility.

• TechNEt Application Compatibility and UAC - resource center tools for IT Pros.
• Microsoft Windows Vista Compatibility Center - centralized collection of resources
• MSDN Windows Vista Application Compatibility - for developers
• MSDN Application Compatibility Cookbook - for developers

Microsoft announced the acquisition of PowerSet,a natural language, contextual search company. the technology from Powerset will be incorporated into Live Search. The idea behind PowerSet is to understand the intent and meaning of a search phrase that a person enters in the search engine.

More on what this acquisition means:

• http://blogs.msdn.com/livesearch/
• http://www.powerset.com/blog/
• eWeek blogs: Will Microsoft Make Us Smarter?

Microsoft announced the release of "Microsoft Equipt" a yearly subscription for consumers that includes "Windows Live OneCare" and "Office Home and Student". Also Equipt makes it simple for consumers to install and take advantage of the other Windows Live and Office Live Services.

The estimated retail subscription price is under $70 a year for the entire suite and it can be installed on up to 3 PC’s. That price is nice considering some Consumer PC security suites, which are comparable to "OneCare" by itself cost nearly that much per PC.

I had the opportunity run the product and provide feedback during it’s last two private betas - the product them was code named "albany" - before the Release. I was impressed with the easy installation and configuration of the core products and also the optional Windows Live Add-on services. I ran the suite on Windows Vista and Windows XP SP2 and had great user experience on both platforms. As well, I have been running Onecare for the last two years - apart from the Albany beta - and have seen great new features and services added, and the product improves since the 1.0 release.

I would recommend Equipt to anyone that wants a solid PC security product and productivity suite. You don’t have to be connected to the Internet to use the suite, you get full featured office products, and price is right - especially if you have more than one PC.

The Microsoft Press Release is here: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/jul08/07-02EquiptPR.mspx

You can view the Keynotes from the RSA Conference 2008 online, free. Access the keynote list here: http://media.omediaweb.com/rsa2008/keynote_catalog.htm

The Session breakout recordings are not available free, but can be purchases for about $400 if you are interested. Not inexpensive, but cheaper than attending the conference in person. A link to purchase the session recording are on the same page as the keynote list.