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Archive for February, 2010

Desktop Virtualization Hour. What are my virtualization options?

February 22, 2010 Leave a comment

 

What are my virtualization options?

Looking at virtualization but unsure about your options? Thinking about migrating to Windows 7? Interested in VDI and Server Virtualization? Want to save on costs but wondering about ROI? How to improve IT flexibility? Have more questions than answers?

Ready, Set, Virtualize.

Join Microsoft, industry experts and IT leaders online for a Desktop Virtualization Hour on March 18th at 9am PST. Save the date on your calendar.

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Categories: Virtualization

Virtualization Summit 2010 in Australia. Ready, Set, Virtualize

February 22, 2010 Leave a comment
 
Yes, that’s exactly what you read on the title : your chance to get all your answers about virtualization, learn how Microsoft can help you discover choices, preserve & extend your existing investments. Interact with Microsoft personnel, industry experts, IT leaders and get your questions answered.
 
 
Looking at virtualization but unsure about your options?
Thinking about migrating to Windows 7? Interested in VDI and Server Virtualization? Want to save on costs but wondering about ROI? How to improve IT flexibility? Have more questions than answers?
 

Learn how server & desktop virtualization can help you:

  • Build a desktop virtualization management strategy that helps you manage your applications, data, mobile workers and multiple physical and virtual form factors.
  • Reduce desktop costs.
  • Enable flexible and agile IT through virtualization.
  • Increase desktop security and compliance.
  • Improve business continuity and end user productivity.
  • Understand how Microsoft is building a solid foundation for a private cloud.
  • Increase end user productivity and streamline your IT management with Windows 7.
Where/When : Canberra, May 6, 2010 ,   (Venue and Registration Links Coming Soon!)
 
See you there!!!
 
 
Categories: Virtualization

MVP 2010 : Powering our Skills

February 18, 2010 Leave a comment
 
I am at Redmond right now, writing this article.
I just would like to express some feelings that I found here this year:

So far this year is the best ever experience I ever had. It’s really amazing what’s going on here : We are sharing experiences, LEARNING A LOT, improving our skills, having feedback for our suggestions from the program managers/engineers and developers, and so far so good, knowing what’s coming next releases, making new friends and meeting old ones from all world.

 
Guys this is the best experience ever.
 
As soon as the NDA allow, I will start blogging about what’s comming and why you should consider Hyper-V as your Virtualization Plataform and also System Center as the Managment Solution ( including VMM, MOM and of course DPM )
 
Categories: Microsoft

SCVMM 2008 R2 : User cannot connect to the virtual machine by using the Self-Service Portal

February 10, 2010 Leave a comment
 
If the user cannot connect to the virtual machine by using the Self-Service Portal and youa re using SCVMM 2008 R2, check if :
  • A user is a member of the Self-Service User role.
  • A new virtual machine is created, and the user is assigned the owner of the virtual machine.

    • or if the user is not added or removed from the Self-Service User role because the create virtual machine job is running, check if :

    • A new virtual machine was created, and the owner of the virtual machine is a member of the Self-Service User role.
    • While the create virtual machine job is running, a user is added or removed from the Self-Service User role.

    If you are experincing these, you shoud install the : Update for System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 (KB978560). This update is available on Microsoft Update but also, you can  manually download the hotfix rollup from the Microsoft Update Catalog, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

     
    Note The Microsoft Update Catalog has different versions of the update package. These different versions have the EVAL, OEM, RETAIL, and WORKGRP labels. Download the appropriate version for your installation.

    If the rollup was downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog, do the following to install the hotfix rollup package on the Virtual Machine Manager server:

    1. Extract the VmmServer64Update-RETAIL.cab to a temporary directory.
    2. Open an elevated command prompt, and then run the following command to install the update:
      msiexec /update vmmServer64Update-RETAIL.msp BOOTSTRAPPED=1

      Note The name of the package varies based on the version that was downloaded.

    3. After the hotfix rollup package is installed on the Virtual Machine Manager server, update the VMM agent on the Hyper-V and Virtual Server hosts

    Note : A restart is required if the Virtual Machine Manager or Virtual Machine Manager Agent service is running when the hotfix rollup package is installed on the Virtual Machine Manager server.

     

    Categories: Virtualization

    Security update for Vulnerability in Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V that could Allow Denial of Service

    February 10, 2010 Leave a comment
    Vulnerability in Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Could Allow Denial of Service

     
    The vulnerability could allow denial of service if a malformed sequence of machine instructions is run by an authenticated user in one of the guest virtual machines hosted by the Hyper-V server. An attacker must have valid logon credentials and be able to log on locally into a guest virtual machine to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability could not be exploited remotely or by anonymous users.
     
    This security update is rated Important for all supported x64-based editions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

    Security updates are available from Microsoft Update and Windows Update. Security updates are also available from the Microsoft Download Center. You can find them most easily by doing a keyword search for "security update."

    Recommendation. The majority of customers have automatic updating enabled and will not need to take any action because this security update will be downloaded and installed automatically. Customers who have not enabled automatic updating need to check for updates and install this update manually. For information about specific configuration options in automatic updating, see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 294871.
     
    Important : *Server Core installation affected.
     
    Downloads :

    Windows Server 2008 (all editions)  : Download here
    Installing without user intervention :
    Windows6.0-KB977894-x64 /quiet

    Windows Server 2008 R2:  Download here
    Installing without user intervention :
    Windows6.1-KB977894-x64 /quiet

     

    You must restart your system after you apply this security update.

     

     

     

    Microsoft provides detection and deployment guidance for security updates. Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA) allows administrators to scan local and remote systems for missing security updates as well as common security misconfigurations.
    The latest version of MBSA has been released:     Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.1.1. For more information, see Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 2.1.

    Categories: Virtualization

    Still running Windows 7 Release Candidate? make plans to move to a RTM ASAP

    February 9, 2010 Leave a comment
     
    Important Reminder Regarding Expiration of the Windows 7 RC
    For those of you out there using the Windows 7 Release Candidate will be receiving a notification that starting 1 March, 2010 your PC will experience bi-hourly shutdowns. These shutdowns will continue through June 1st, 2010.
     

    On June 1st, 2010, a non-genuine experience is triggered where your wallpaper is removed and “This copy of Windows is not genuine” will be displayed in the lower right corner above the taskbar. This means your PC will no longer be able to obtain optional updates or downloads that require genuine Windows validation.

    To avoid any data loss, I suggest making plans to move to a released version of Windows 7 before the automatic shutdowns start. During these shutdowns, your work will not be saved.

    Remember, pre-release versions of Windows are unsupported. For more information on the expiration of the Windows 7 RC, see this KB article.

    If you would like to keep on testing make sure you download the Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day trial.

     

    Categories: Microsoft

    Microsoft Certified Professional : Second Shot Returns

    February 4, 2010 Leave a comment

    Second Shot, the most popular certification offer in Microsoft history, has returned to help you pass your next certification exam and further your career. Second Shot gives you a free retake offer if you do not pass a Microsoft Certification Exam on the first attempt.

    But don’t wait–to get a Second Shot you must take both the first exam and (if necessary) the retake exam before June 30, 2010. This offer applies to all Microsoft Learning IT professional, developer, project management, and Microsoft Dynamics exams, including academic exams.

     

     Offer details:

    • Dates: January 13, 2010 – June 30, 2010.
    • Details: You must register, obtain a voucher code, schedule, pay, and take the first and (if necessary) the retake exam before June 30, 2010.
    • Applicable exams: This offer applies to all Microsoft Learning IT professional, developer, project management, and Microsoft Dynamics exams, including academic exams.

    Note Only one Second Shot voucher is available per purchased exam.

    Where to find more information about this offer

    Best luck!!!

    Categories: Microsoft

    How can to increase the network throughput to guest VMs

    February 4, 2010 Leave a comment
     
    Under load, the default buffer size used the by the virtual switch may provide inadequate buffer and result in packet loss. We recommend increasing the VM bus receive buffer from 1Mb to 2Mb.
     
    Virtualized networking can be complicated, what with the root and child partitions relaying packets across the VM bus to reach the physical NIC. The VM bus, anticipating contention, uses buffers to queue data while the recipient VM is swapped out or otherwise not keeping up with the traffic. The default buffer size for WS08 R2 is 1Mb, which provides 655 packet buffers (1,600 bytes per buffer).
     
    Want to know more about ? read the article by Tom Basham, Virtualization Performance PM, Windows Fundamentals Team
    Categories: Virtualization

    IIS : Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Just Got Easy

    February 2, 2010 Leave a comment
     
    The free IIS SEO Toolkit gives you an easy way to improve discoverability and user experience for your Web sites. Using the robots exclusion, sitemaps and site analysis tools in the Toolkit, you can increase Web site traffic and revenue by optimizing your site for search engine discoverability and enhancing the quality of your site.
     

    Increase Website Traffic and Revenue
    Analyze your website and find ways to boost your number of hits. Use SEO recommendations to improve traffic and increase your revenue stream.

    Influence and Update Search Engines
    Control the access and display of your content in search results. Keep search engines current with the latest information from your website.

    Improve Customer Experience
    Discover and solve common problems in your website content and design to enhance your end user experience. Make it easy for your customers to find what they’re looking for.

    Download it here : http://www.microsoft.com/web/gallery/install.aspx?appid=seotoolkit

     

    Categories: Microsoft

    Build a great Windows 7 application : You could win a fully loaded HP Touchsmart tx2z Notebook!

    February 2, 2010 Leave a comment

     

    Use Visual Studio 2008 and/or Visual Studio 2010 Beta 2 to build a great Windows 7 application, and then post an article on The Code Project. You could win a fully loaded HP Touchsmart tx2z Notebook!

    Submit a great article explaining how you built an app for Windows 7 – complete with code – and if yours is the highest rated article by both The Code Project community and our judges, you could win a fully loaded HP Touchsmart tx2z Notebook!

    Requirements

    • Write a great article using the regular Code Project submission guidelines  
    • Your article should include screen shots and code samples
    • Your article must use Visual Studio 2008 and/or Visual Studio 2010 Beta
    • The app should run as a Windows client, and should take advantage of Windows-specific technologies/features found in Windows 7 (such as jumplists, thumbnails, etc.)
    • You’ll need to tag your article with the key words "Windows 7”
    • Post your article on The Code Project to automatically be entered in the contest

    What You Can Win

    Codeproject.com members can vote on your article. The articles that are highest-rated by members will be rated by our judges to determine the final winner.  If your article wins, in addition to receiving one of our three great prizes, you’ll be highlighted in The Code Project’s weekly newsletter and on our contest page.

     
    Good luck!!!
    Categories: Microsoft