Thanks for your ongoing interest and participation in the MDT beta review program. We hope you’ll take the time to preview and provide feedback on MDT 2012 Beta 1.

Download the beta materials on Connect:https://connect.microsoft.com/site14/Downloads/DownloadDetails.aspx?DownloadID=8689

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012 Beta 1 rides the next wave of System Center releases with support for System Center Configuration Manager 2012. For Lite Touch installations, MDT 2012 improves the overall client-side user experience, while also providing behind-the-scenes enhancements for partitioning, UEFI, and user state migration. These features, combined with many small enhancements, bug fixes, and a smooth and simple upgrade process, make MDT 2012 Beta 1 more reliable and flexible than ever.

Key Benefits:

• Fully leverages the capabilities provided by System Center Configuration Manager 2012 for OS deployment.
• Improved Lite Touch user experience and functionality.
• A smooth and simple upgrade process for all existing MDT users.

If you’re making the move to Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and/or Office 2010, you need tools and guidance to help you through the process.  Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010, a free Solution Accelerator, is designed to fill that need.

The latest MDT 2010 Update 1 release, now available for download, offers something for everyone:

For System Center Configuration Manager 2007 customers:

• New “User Driven Installation” deployment method. An easy-to-use UDI Wizard allows users to initiate and customize an OS deployment on their PCs that’s tailored to their individual needs.
• Support for Configuration Manager R3 “Prestaged Media.” For those deploying Windows 7 and Office 2010 along with new PCs, a custom OS image can easily be loaded in the factory and then customized once deployed. 

 

For Lite Touch Installation:

• Support for Office 2010. Easily configure Office 2010 installation and deployment settings through the Deployment Workbench and integration with the Office Customization Tool.
• Improved driver importing. All drivers are inspected during the import process to accurately determine what platforms they really support, avoiding common inaccuracies that can cause deployment issues.

 More info at source

 Download the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 Update 1 here.

Deploying Virtual Desktop Pools by Using Remote Desktop Web Access Step-by-Step Guide

Deploying Personal Virtual Desktops by Using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection Step-by-Step Guide

Deploying Virtual Desktop Pools by Using RemoteApp and Desktop Connection Step-by-Step Guide

This Microsoft Update Standalone Package (MSU) file installs the latest version of Windows Media Services for the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system.

This software is an optional supplement to the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system. In Windows Server 2008 R2, the Streaming Media Services role (which includes the latest version of Windows Media Services) is not included in Server Manager. To obtain Windows Media Services for Windows Server 2008 R2, you must run the Streaming Media Services role installer file on the platform.

Download details Windows Media Services for Windows Server 2008 R2

The Microsoft Common Engineering Criteria (CEC) program establishes a set of engineering requirements across all Microsoft server products. The goal of the CEC program is to reduce the overall total cost of ownership (TCO) through improved integration, manageability, security, reliability, and other critical infrastructure attributes that are expected by our customers.

What is the vision for common engineering criteria?

Our vision is that all Microsoft server software follows a consistent set of engineering and quality standards with the goal of reducing the TCO for our customers. The CEC program provides a set of standards to enable the “Better Together” experience for Microsoft server products.

All server products are evaluated against common engineering criteria. The process includes integrating the CEC program into the product development life cycles, incorporating executive reviews at major milestones, and publishing progress reports before each product launch.

Since the start of this initiative in 2003, the list of compliant products has grown every year. As of January 2010, all Microsoft server products comply with the common engineering criteria.

What are our customers’ highest priorities?

Customers tell us that they want server products to minimize IT costs and complexity, maximize uptime, deliver new business value, and allow them to be confident in their Microsoft investment. The CEC program addresses these needs.

What are the common engineering criteria, and which products meet them?

For more information, you can read an overview about the common engineering criteria or download a document that explains the CEC program in detail. You can view the CEC scorecards and filter them by product or by technical area.

CEC Overview Read a description of the common engineering criteria and the technical areas that they apply to.

CEC Program Details Read a detailed description of the Microsoft Common Engineering Criteria program.

CEC Scorecards by Product Look up scorecards for the Microsoft server products that you own or are planning to deploy.

CEC Scorecards by Technical Area Look up scorecards for an individual criterion that extends across all Microsoft server products.

Microsoft Servers Common Engineering Criteria Home

I just got back from the Intel Nehalem EX (now known as the Xeon 7500) launch event in Boston. I still can’t believe the benchmarks coming out on Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server and the Xeon 7500. Performance increases are HUGE when compared to the previous Xeon 7400 and earlier Xeons. The specs are phenomenal - a test system I recently used was a 4-socket system with 8 cores per socket and 2 threads per core (for a total of 64 logical processors). Several OEM’s have announced 8-socket systems (including Fujitsu) - that means you can get 128 logical processors in a single system! That many procs is no problem for Windows Server 2008 R2 and SQL 2008 R2 which can scale to 256 logical processors and address 2TB of RAM.

Continue at source:

Windows Server Division WebLog Windows Server 2008 R2 + Xeon 7500 = Lightning Fast Performance w

Windows Server 2008 R2 will be the last version of Windows Server to support the Intel Itanium architecture.  SQL Server 2008 R2 and Visual Studio 2010 are also the last versions to support Itanium. 

Current support for Itanium remains unchanged.  Each of these products represent the state of the art of their respective product lines.  Each fully support Itanium, support the recently-released Itanium 9300 (“Tukwila”) processor, and Microsoft’s support for these products will continue – following the Microsoft Support Lifecycle Policy.  Mainstream support for Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-Based Systems (and R2) will end, in accordance with that policy, on July 9, 2013, while extended support will continue until July 10, 2018.  That’s 8 more years of support.

Why the change?  The natural evolution of the x86 64-bit (“x64”) architecture has led to the creation of processors and servers which deliver the scalability and reliability needed for today’s “mission-critical” workloads.  Just this week, both Intel and AMD have released new high core-count processors, and servers with 8 or more x64 processors have now been announced by a full dozen server manufacturers.  Such servers contain 64 to 96 processor cores, with more on the horizon.

Windows Server 2008 R2 was designed to support the business-critical capabilities these processors and servers make available.  It supports up to 256 logical processors (cores or hyper-threading units), so it’s ready for the ever-increasing number of cores.  It supports technologies such as Intel’s Machine Check Architecture, which allow for the detection and correction of bit-level hardware errors.  And NEC just published a new world record TPC-E benchmark for online transaction processing of 3,141.76 tpsE on a system with 8 x64 processors – a result more than 50% higher than the previous record.

Microsoft will continue to focus on the x64 architecture, and it’s new business-critical role, while we continue to support Itanium customers for the next 8 years as this transition is completed.

 

Windows Server Division WebLog  Windows Server 2008 R2 to Phase Out Itanium

The Volume Activation Management Tool, or VAMT, is a free Microsoft tool to help administrators perform many tasks related to Windows product activation, using a single tool.

VAMT can be an important tool to help you centrally manage and automate a range of activities related to Windows activation. Core benefits of VAMT include: • The ability to protect product keys by retaining them only in the VAMT console, vs. including a key in an image or distributing it in plain text • Perform activations without each system having to connect and activate with Microsoft activation services • Inventory and monitor systems in the environment from an activation and licensing standpoint VAMT enables you to remotely activate managed systems. You can perform MAK, KMS host, KMS client, and retail activations. VAMT uses WMI to remotely manage activations and other related tasks on managed systems. VAMT also can assist with license compliance, letting you monitor license state for the systems under management

 

Download details Manage Activation Using VAMT 2.0

This download package is intended for Microsoft Premier Customers Only. This package includes all of the scoping tools necessary to prepare and qualify your environment to receive a Risk and Health Assessment Program for Active Directory (ADRAP).

Download details Risk and Health Assessment Program for Active Directory – Scoping Tool v1.4

Step By Step Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess in a Test Lab

This paper contains an introduction to DirectAccess and instructions for setting up a test lab to demonstrate DirectAccess with a simulated Internet, intranet, and home network.

DirectAccess is a new feature in the Windows® 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating systems that enables remote users to securely access intranet shared folders, Web sites, and applications without connecting to a virtual private network (VPN). This paper contains an introduction to DirectAccess and instructions for setting up a test lab to demonstrate DirectAccess with a simulated Internet, intranet, and home network.

Download details Step By Step Guide Demonstrate DirectAccess in a Test Lab

 

Step By Step Guide: Troubleshoot DirectAccess in a Test Lab

This white paper describes DirectAccess troubleshooting tools, the results of the tools in a working DirectAccess test lab, and how to troubleshoot common problems in the DirectAccess test lab.

Download details Step By Step Guide Troubleshoot DirectAccess in a Test Lab

 Although Windows 7 SP1 will not contain any new enhancements or features,Server 2008 R2 will add couple of new features thats been announce. Here they are.

Jeff Woolsey: I’ve had the pleasure of talking with customers in the last few months and the Hyper-V R2 reception has been nothing but unequivocally positive. Whether it’s been folks in small, medium or the enterprise, they appreciate the new capabilities in Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and the free Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2. At the same time, we’re always listening to our customers to better understand their business requirements and requests so we know know what to build for subsequent releases. Today, we’re pleased to announce new capabilities that will enhance both virtualized server and virtualized desktop deployments:

• Remote FX: With Microsoft RemoteFX, users will be able to work remotely in a Windows Aero desktop environment, watch full-motion video, enjoy Silverlight animations, and run 3D applications within a Hyper-V VM – all with the fidelity of a local-like performance. For more info, check out Max’s blog here.
• Hyper-V Dynamic Memory: With Hyper-V Dynamic Memory, Hyper-V will enable greater virtual machine density suitable for servers and VDI deployments.

Via (HyperVoria)

Outlines supported and unsupported upgrade paths for Windows Server 2008 R2 SKUs.

Download details Windows Server 2008 R2 Upgrade Paths

Windows 7 Upgrade Paths

URL Rewrite Module 2.0 provides a rule-based rewriting mechanism for changing requested URL’s before they get processed by web server and for modifying response content before it gets served to HTTP clients.

Microsoft URL Rewrite Module 2.0 for IIS 7 RC is an incremental release that includes all the features from version 1.1, and adds support for rewriting of request and response headers as well as response content. More specifically, it can be used to:

• Replace the URLs generated by a web application in the response HTML with a more user friendly and search engine friendly equivalent.
• Modify the links in the HTML markup generated by a web application behind a reverse proxy.
• Fix up the content of any HTTP response by using regular expression pattern matching.
• Modify HTTP request headers and IIS server variables.
• Modify HTTP response headers

The installation package includes several additional components and hotfixes required by URL Rewrite Module 2.0 Beta. Refer to the KB articles for the hotfixes to get more details. In order to apply the hotfixes correctly without restarting the server, it is recommended that the WAS service is stopped before installing URL Rewrite Module 2.0 Beta. The following hotfixes will be installed with URL Rewrite Module 2.0 Beta:

• Update for IIS 7.0 FastCGI module (KB 954946);
• Hotfix for IIS 7.0 SetUri function (KB 949172)
• Hotfix for ASP.NET System.Web.dll (KB 957660

 

Download details URL Rewrite Module 2.0 for IIS 7 - RC (x64)

Microsoft URL Rewrite Module 2.0 for IIS 7 - RC (x86)

This design guide provides information about BranchCache in both distributed cache mode and hosted cache mode that assists you in determining the best way to deploy BranchCache on your network.

BranchCache is a wide area network (WAN) bandwidth optimization technology that is included in some editions of the Windows Server® 2008 R2 and Windows® 7 operating systems. To optimize WAN bandwidth, BranchCache copies content from your main office content servers and caches the content at branch office locations, allowing client computers at branch offices to access the content locally rather than over the WAN. This design guide provides information about BranchCache in both distributed cache mode and hosted cache mode that assists you in determining the best way to deploy BranchCache on your network.

 

Download details BranchCache Design Guide

Infrastructure Planning and Design guides share a common structure, including:

• Definition of the technical decision flow through the planning process.
• Listing of decisions to be made and the commonly available options and considerations.
• Relating the decisions and options to the business in terms of cost, complexity, and other characteristics.
• Framing decisions in terms of additional questions to the business to ensure a comprehensive alignment with the appropriate business landscape.

These guides complement product documentation by focusing on infrastructure design options.
Each guide leads the reader through critical infrastructure design decisions, in the appropriate order, evaluating the available options for each decision against its impact on critical characteristics of the infrastructure. The IPD Series highlights when service and infrastructure goals should be validated with the organization and provides additional questions that should be asked of service stakeholders and decision makers.
IPD consists of the following downloadable packages:

• Updated! Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6
• Updated! IPD Series Introduction – guide version 2.1
• Forefront Unified Access Gateway
• Selecting the Right Virtualization Technology – guide version 2.0
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services – in Windows Server 2008 R2 Terminal Services becomes Remote Desktop Services
• DirectAccess – guide version 1.2
• System Center Operations Manager 2007 – guide version 2.0 updated for System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2
• Windows Deployment Services – guide version 2.0 updated for Windows Server 2008 R2
• System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 – guide version 2.0 updated for SCVMM 2008 R2
• Windows Server Virtualization (for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1) – guide version 2.0 updated for Windows Server 2008 R2
• Active Directory Domain Services – guide version 2.0 updated for Windows Server 2008 R2
• File Services – guide version 2.0 includes Windows Server 2008 R2
• Internet Information Services – guide version 2.0 includes IIS 7.5
• Print Services – guide version 2.0 includes Windows Server 2008 R2
• Exchange Online—Evaluating Software-plus-Services – guide version 1.3
• Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V)
• Selecting the Right NAP Architecture
• SharePoint Online—Evaluating Software-plus-Services
• SQL Server 2008

 

Download details Infrastructure Planning and Design