Saturday, July 28, 2007

Tons of New SharePoint Content Now Live on MSDN

From the official blog of the SharePoint Product Group

Interesting read: Enterprise Powershell: Creating Mailboxes in Exchange 2003

Summary:
This articles focus on the increasingly popular Powershell command line shell and scripting language that runs on existing and future Microsoft infrastructure environments. We'll presume you are familiar with Powershell and have it installed and tested on your systems. If not, we encourage you to read an introductory article that will get you up to speed quickly.

A post on Scaling to Extremely Large Lists and Performant Access Methods

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Reskit Tools for Ops Mgr

In the next couple of week, TechCenter download site will be releasing Reskit tools in a series of reskit tool for OpsManager

1. AD Integration sample. This is a sample script that can be used to automate the process of periodically querying a customer CMDB SQL DB and populating/updating a security group that can be used to assign agents to Management Groups and Management Servers via AD Integration. This simplifies the AD integration configuration in MOM since it is just a simple LDAP query for each Management Server to include all members of the security group.

2. Data Warehouse grooming policy adjustment tool. This is a command line utility that can be used to adjust the data retention settings for individual datasets in the Data Warehouse (there’s currently no UI for this in the product).

3. Effective Configuration Viewer. This is a basic GUI tool that allows the user to select an ME and view rules and monitors being implemented after all overrides have been applied.

4. MOMClean. Command line tool to remove MOM components for servers and clients when they can’t be removed in the normal ways.

5. Ops Mgr Inventory tool. This is primarily intended for use by CSS to capture customer MOM configuration when diagnosing problems.

6. Sample Ops Mgr Vista Gadget.
7. AEM Validation tool. This is a command line tool that injects a specific fault into a process in order to test end-to-end functionality of AEM.

8. AEM Reporting MP. This MP will map known generic errors to specific applications for more meaningful AEM reporting.

9. PowerShell script to set action account on groups of agents.

Monday, July 23, 2007

Make sure customers know about and read this document below.

Do What every it takes, but stress the importance of having ready the doc and implemented a backup of the root management servers encryption key.

Operations Manager 2007 Backup and Recover Guide.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/opsmgr/default.aspx

Root Management Server
The Root Management Server is the central point of configuration management and overall health monitoring of the entire managed environment. This is the first Management Server installed for a Management Group. The most important component of the Root Management Server that must be backed up is the Root Management Server encryption key, which holds all the Run As Account information defined in the Management Group.

Note: Without a backup of this key, you would need to re-enter your entire Run As Accounts if you need to rebuild the Root Management Server.

From: Marten

Thursday, July 19, 2007

My Speaker IDOL Video from TechEd USA 2007, Orlando is online

The video clips from the Speaker Idol finals to the http://www.virtualteched.com/ web site – you’ll find a link to your clip at the top of the left News & Happenings column (the videos are also posted on the Video Highlights page).

Scroll down look for me as one of the finalist.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Announcing System Center Remote Operations Manager 2007

System Center Remote Operations Manager 2007 is the final name for the managed service solution that uses Operations Manager 2007 to provide remote managed services to many SMB customers who each have a System Center Essentials 2007 server installed at their premises.

Friday, July 13, 2007

Must-have Windows utilities for 20 essential tasks

From file management to encryption to system maintenance tools, these handy applications will help you do your job and keep your PC humming happily

Monday, July 09, 2007

TechEd Video: IIS7 Hosting and Server Core

A new video has been posted up on the Virtual TechEd site called the IIS7 Customer Experience, featuring Mario Juarez, Eric Woersching, Jess Coburn and Carlos Caneja. WMV Video: IIS7 Customer Experience ...
http://blogs.iis.net/bills/archive/2007/06/15/teched-video-iis7-hosting-and-server-core.aspx

Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Microsoft SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008, the next release of Microsoft SQL Server, provides a comprehensive data platform that is more secure, reliable, manageable and scalable for your mission critical applications, while enabling developers to create new applications that can store and consume any type of data on any device, and enabling all your users to make informed decisions with relevant insights.
http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinfo/futureversion/default.mspx
http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/F/2/BF24C54E-5635-4C79-AFB4-0C3F840E79F4/SQLServer2008_Datasheet_Final.pdf

Using SQL Server Table-Valued User-defined Functions with Exchange Web Services
The SQL Server Tables and Exchange Web Services sample takes advantage of two powerful new features in SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange: table-valued user-defined functions, and Exchange Web Services. Table-valued user-defined functions in SQL Server return a table, much like a SQL Server view, but provide for much more powerful logic. Exchange Web Services in Exchange 2007 provides access to Exchange store items and information, such as message, contact, task, and calendar items and availability information. When you combine these technologies, you have a formidable new way to integrate, search, and analyze your Microsoft Exchange messaging data by using the full power of SQL Server, and to combine that messaging data with virtually any other data managed by, or available from, SQL Server.
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/bb483139.aspx

I Know What You Did Last Logon: Monitoring Software, Spyware, and Privacy

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6951838
This white paper from the Microsoft Antimalware Team explores the technical methods used by both hardware- and software-based key loggers, how keystroke loggers are integrated with specific malware threats, the user experience associated with various key loggers installed, and the social and legal appropriateness of various use scenarios.

Password Checker

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6951842
Online accounts, computer files, personal information, and company information are more secure when you use strong passwords to help protect them. Offer this tool to your co-workers to help them gauge the strength of their passwords.

Understand the Server Core Option for Installing Windows Server 2008

The Server Core installation option of the Windows Server 2008 operating system is a new option for installing Windows Server 2008. A Server Core installation provides a minimal environment for running specific server roles that reduces the maintenance and management requirements and the attack surface for those server roles. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=7004421

Windows Server 2008: A Technical Overview

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6951833
Learn about the new features and functionality of Windows Server 2008. Windows Server 2008 provides powerful improvements to networking, advanced security features, remote application access, centralized server role management, performance and reliability monitoring tools, failover clustering, deployment, and the file system.
News

The Operations Manager 2007 Design Guide Is Now Available
Download this guide here...
Operations Manager 2007 Design Guide

Watch & Download Podcasts and Videos from Microsoft Management Summit 2007
http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/casestudy.aspx?casestudyid=201533

Downloads
Try the new System Centre Operational Manager 2007 Virtual Labs
See how Operations Manager 2007 helps you ease operations and improve your planning capabilities.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/traincert/virtuallab/systemcenter.mspx
System Center Operations Manager 2007 Technical Walkthrough
Want to get a better understanding of how to architect, deploy, administer, and operate Operations Manager 2007? Walk through this online course designed to help you get ramped up on using Operations Manager 2007.
http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/opsmgr/evaluation/techwalk/index.html

Planning a MOM 2005 Deployment? Read the Core Infrastructure Optimization Implementer Resource Guide
Find out how server monitoring and control practices using MOM 2005 fit in the all-up Infrastructure Optimization Model to help optimize your core infrastructure and service management.
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=87113&clcid=0x409


Events/WebCasts
Deploying System Center Configuration Manager 2007 (Level 200)
Monday, July 2, 2007 1:00 P.M.–2:30 P.M. Pacific Time
While Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 is very similar to Microsoft Systems Management Server in many regards, there are a few new issues you need to take into consideration when planning for and deploying System Center Configuration Manager 2007 effectively. In this session, we cover the prerequisites, in addition to the new setup process, site systems, and client deployment methods that you need to know about to execute a successful deployment. Presenter: Wally Mead, Senior Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation
Register Here

TechNet Webcast: Deploying System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Clients (Level 300)
Friday, July 6, 2007 1:00 P.M.–2:30 P.M. Pacific Time
Successfully implementing Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager requires detailed planning, and it is important to understand that planning process. While System Center Configuration Manager 2007 is very similar to Microsoft Systems Management Server, there are a few new issues you need to take into consideration when planning for and deploying System Center Configuration Manager 2007 clients effectively. Once deployment of the System Center Configuration Manager 2007 site is complete, it is necessary to prepare the infrastructure for deploying and upgrading clients. In this session, we cover the various methods of deploying clients in System Center Configuration Manager 2007. We discuss the prerequisites, in addition to the new client deployment methods that you need to know about to execute a successful deployment. Presenter: Wally Mead, Program Manager, Microsoft Corporation
Register Here

TechNet Webcast: Monitoring with System Center Operations Manager 2007 (Level 200)
Monday, July 9, 2007 1:00 P.M.–2:30 P.M. Pacific Time
In this session, we discuss the new features and benefits of monitoring in Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007. We begin by reviewing how monitoring is done in Microsoft Operations Manager 2005, and then we look at some monitoring fundamentals in System Center Operations Manager 2007. We also explore the new diagnostic and recovery functionality included in System Center Operations Manager 2007. We conclude this session by describing how groups and overrides work in System Center Operations Manager 2007.Presenter: John Weston, IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
Register Here

TechNet Webcast: Security and Enterprise Features of System Center Operations Manager 2007 (Level 200)
Monday, July 16, 2007 11:30 A.M.–1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
In this session, we provide an overview of the new features in Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007 and describe how they can help satisfy key security and enterprise scenarios. Join us as we explore the following topics in System Center Operations Manager 2007:
· Core infrastructure optimization (IO).
· Upfront, built-in security design.
· Your security monitoring tool.
· Advances in enterprise capabilities.
Presenter: John Baker, IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
Register Here

TechNet Webcast: System Center Operations Manager 2007 Technical Overview (Level 200)
Monday, July 23, 2007 11:30 A.M.–1:00 P.M. Pacific Time
In this webcast, we look at the next version of the Microsoft management product, Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007. There are a number of the enhancements from Microsoft Operations Manager 2005; we cover many of these, including a basic description of the installation process. We follow that up with a look at some of the new monitoring features. We also describe the new security and enterprise features, before exploring the new client monitoring and reporting functionalities. This session is designed to provide a high-level overview of each of the new functional areas and the enhanced feature set in System Center Operations Manager 2007. Our intent is not to dive into great depth for any one feature area, but rather to introduce each feature and refer you to a more in-depth presentation on each area.Presenter: John Baker, IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
Register Here