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This new paper from Microsoft details the Forefront Security for Exchange beta.
From the site:
Forefront Security for Exchange protects organizations against the latest threats by managing multiple antivirus scan engines at multiple layers throughout the e-mail infrastructure. This approach allows Forefront for Exchange to minimize the average window of exposure for emerging e-mail threats by providing continual signature updates from multiple antivirus labs around the world. Forefront also protects by scanning at multiple layers in the Exchange 2007 infrastructure, including the Edge, Hub Transport, and Mailbox server roles, while using scanning intelligence to avoid needless repeat scanning.
The Forefront Security for Exchange beta now includes support for SSC (Single Copy Cluster) multi-node active/passive Exchange clusters. It also includes support for 32-bit installations for evaluation with the Exchange 2007 32-bit beta. While not supported in production, the 32-bit environment provides full product functionality for evaluation purposes.
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Tentatively scheduled for 2007:
- January 11th in Dayton and
- February 2nd in Cincinnati.
There will be some more information on the website in the next day or so. Stay tuned as I am trying to get some great speakers in for these two meetings! And happy holidays to everyone!
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Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0) for Windows XP (KB925876)
Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0) provides a way to use any new Terminal Services features introduced in Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows Server Code Name “Longhorn” from a computer running Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1.
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A big thank you to the presenters at the November Southern Ohio Exchange User's Group meeting! Matt Hester from Microsoft presented on Exchange 2007 and Windows Vista. It was great to get some more information on unified messaging which is possibly the most requested topic where Exchange 2007 is concerned. We also heard from Tim Brunner on Symantec's Enterprise Vault product and how it helps medium to large organizations with compliance and retention.
Our next meeting will be in January and you can look here or the website for announcements as soon as I get all of the commitments in. I am hoping to get a couple of Exchange superstars in to speak to the group!
Also, as the RTM for Exchange 2007 draws near (the business launch is on November 30th) remember to sign up for a launch event in a location near you. Check out these links for Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio. RTM for Exchange 2007 is rumored to be the first half of December.
As I was writing this Matt also posted the Q&A from his Dayton, Ohio TechNet Event stop!
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I have been running Windows Vista RTM since it was released to MSDN a little under a week ago. So far, it has been bliss. Nothing major, or even close to major has made me want to switch back to XP. I have had to make some adjustments, but most have been the fault of those who have not made their software compatible (cough Zune) or who have compatible version coming out shortly. But I digress . . .
I filled up my 20 GB C: partition pretty quickly once I migrated all of my data over. And there sat my lonely D: partition with not much data on it. In the past I would have fired up Partition Magic or Acronis Disk Director and shrunk the D: partition and then expand the C: partition. As happens with new operating systems that introduce a new version of the NTFS file system, disk partitioning utilities are slow to update official support on their products. It might work, but push come to shove and you are not supported. My next thought was to use the cool new ImageX from the Windows Vista WAIK (also now RTM) and image the installation up, re-size the drives, and then image it back down. Of course, I was looking at an hour-plus to get that done.
I then decided to Live Search (it just doesn't roll off the tongue like Google does) for partitioning tools that were Windows Vista ready and my results led me to a post by Microsoft UK employee Matt McSpirit. He chronicles the new built-in ability for Windows Vista to re-size its own partitions. Built-in! Free! No reboot needed! Amazing! Its a good thing Symantec is diversifying as Windows Vista has now taken a large swipe at three product lines: Symantec Ghost (ImageX), Symantec Anti-Virus (OneCare or ForeFront Client Protection) and now Symantec Partition Magic (Computer Management -> Disk Management).
Did I mention I was able to shrink my D: volume and expand my C: (system no less) volume on the fly without a reboot? Rock on Vista, rock on!
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Microsoft has finally released the RC (release candidate - read still beta and not for production) of service pack two for Windows Server 2003.
From the website:
Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) delivers on Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing initiative and illustrates Microsoft's commitment to continually create software products with enhanced security, increased reliability, and simplified administration. Windows Server 2003 SP2 builds upon the impressive track record of the award-winning Windows Server 2003 operating system by introducing numerous refinements in addition to supplying cumulative system updates. Deploying SP2 will help enterprises across all industries and segments enhance security, increase reliability, and simplify administration through guided attack surface reduction.
SP2 update applies to:
• Windows Server 2003 All Editions (32-bit x86)
• Windows Server 2003 Itanium-based Editions
• Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions
• Windows Server 2003 R2 Editions
• Windows Server 2003 Storage Server R2 Edition
• Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition
• Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Servers R2 Edition
• Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
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Disclaimer: I am a die-hard Ohio State Buckeyes fan.
Everyone in the country who loves college football is talking about this and yet, I feel compelled to put my two cents in. It is most likely due to this being the day before Thanksgiving - who wants to actually work? I wont recount every argument I have heard on ESPN, ESPN Radio and in the press. There is a good summary of all the salient points here.
Plus, I really agree with his reasons for not having the rematch. If the unthinkable happened and OSU loses in the desert, who is the number one team? Your chocolate is in my peanut butter! No, your peanut butter is on my chocolate! I also agree with ESPN Radio's Mike Golic: it may be the right game, but it wont be the best game. USC or Florida would deliver the best game.
Hey Michigan: Congratulations on the Rose Bowl!
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Now that I have made the switch to Windows Vista full time I have had to re-think my RSS reader. I originally switched to RSS Bandit after being a long time FeedDemon user one day when FeedDemon pushed me over the edge with its activation. I work as a consultant and systems engineer and I love to beta test software and generally experiment. As such, I rebuild my laptop often. One to many times as far as FeedDemon was concerned. The first time it happened their support team was quick to clean it up. The next time it was weeks and in frustration I switched to a free RSS reader. I had heard good things about RSS Bandit and I wasn't disappointed. It is a fine reader and I loved it. Until I switched to Windows Vista. It has an annoying, and to its credit, documented bug that causes it to freeze every time you access a menu. Dare says it will be fixed in the next version code-named Jubilee. In the meantime, however, it is driving me nuts. If anyone has a meantime fix I would love to hear it! Otherwise, I am back to FeedDemon for now.
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Vista RTM is now available on MSDN downloads in x86 and x64. It should be on TechNet as well!
| File |
| en_windows_vista_x86_dvd_X12-34293.iso ISO-9660 DVD Image |
| File Size |
| 2555 MB |
| SHA-1 Hash |
| b71e04564ca22e4d9928e59298eff87cf62b382b |
| Description |
|
This single download includes the following Windows Vista editions:
The product key used to install Windows Vista will determine which edition will be installed. The product keys used to install Windows Vista Business N, Windows Vista Home Basic N, and Windows Vista Starter are not currently available. |
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I know, I ranted on the Zune already, but how the heck did the Zune team overlook building in some kick-butt pod\blogcast management and subscription tools in to the Zune player and software? It seems glaringly apparent to me that the only qualification for being on the team for this device was a love of obscure indie music and the color brown. Pod\blogcasts are no longer cutting edge, but a must-have, especially for an IT Pro looking for a device that can help him consume job-relevant content in his downtime or while traveling. Strike two Zune!
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Here is a list of the available editions and features, as well as CAL information for the next version of Exchange. To be released on November 30, 2007.
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Another virtual hard disk (.vhd) image from Microsoft which contains the following:
- A VPC hard disk image containing a pre-activated Windows XP SP2, IE6 and the IE7 Readiness Toolkit.
Personally I love this new approach and hope Microsoft keeps on going! I had to do some research and testing on ADAM (Active Directory Application Mode) yesterday and the canned Windows Server 2003 R2 image was the perfect pre-made environment in which to do this! Zero prep time was needed since I had already downloaded it. Granted, downloading a couple of gigabytes takes some time, but after that it is cake! Next I would love to see a Vista RTM image!
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From Paul Donnelly, part of the Microsoft Vista Product Team to Windows Vista beta testers:
I'm excited to announce that we have completed final testing and this
morning declared build 6000.16386 as Microsoft Windows Vista. The feedback
and collective voice of this community has helped shaped this version of
Windows like no other. We would like to extend our thanks to all of you
for your help is building the highest quality, most secure, most reliable
version of Windows yet!
Update: http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/11/08/it-s-time.aspx
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Microsoft Download has now posted a number of virtual hard drive (.VHD) images pre-installed with Windows Server products like Exchange 2007, SQL 2005, ISA Server 2006 and Windows Server 2003 R2. This is a brilliant move IMO as it removes one of the biggest barriers to testing software in a virtual environment: the time it takes to install and set up the environment. I am curious to see the licensing and expiry around these images, but again, IMO, this is clearly a move in the right direction and I applaud Microsoft for this offering. Keep it coming! For a while Microsoft has offered this to its partners to help accelerate a demo environment for showcasing its solutions. I would also love to see more "technical scenarios" added to these for the general public or enterprise customers. The web page itself is throwing up an error, but the images are on Microsoft downloads.
Update: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/try/vhd/default.mspx
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Office 2007 has gone golden. Read about it here.
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I didn't want to announce this previously as I wasn't sure if it was intended to be publicly unleashed yet. However, seeing as how it is advertised in the latest TechNet Flash email newsletter I am sure I can share now! Here is the blurb from the newsletter:
Are you interested in knowing what your peers are saying about Microsoft Office 2007? Do you want to see the feedback on the new Windows Vista license changes? Or maybe you have a new script you'd like to share with a larger group of IT pros. Even if you just want to spout off about something, we have great new place to get your voice heard: the new Aggreg8 online social network for IT pros. You can use Aggreg8 to build your network and influence in the IT community, collaborate with your peers in public working groups, or start your own private working group and collaborate with those you know.
I have created a working group for Exchange Server. Stop on by, pitch in and join the group!
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Exchange Server 2007: A Quick Hands-on Overview in an Online Virtual Lab Express
In this 30-minute Virtual Lab Express, you will familiarize yourself with the Exchange Management Console and Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access, and work with compliance and records management rules.