News of a leak about Microsoft’s Windows 8 sure has stirred something over the Internet. Some say Windows 8 won't happen until Windows 7 is perfected and others say that Microsoft has already begun recruiting employees to help build Windows 8. Read more
I have written the past about portable applications that Admins can carry with them.
I came across a new 'suite' of portable applications that are being touted as the Admins Swiss Army Knife, and for good reason.
The CodySafe Admin pack hosts 75 portable administrative tools into a single suite that installs onto a portable device and takes up less than 63MB of space. Within this tiny package are tools for handling all of the most common Admin tasks such as:
• Data Recovery Read more
• Password Recovery
• Disk tools
• File & FTP managers
• Network Tools
• Security
One of the things that have become a reality of our current economy is that IT needs to more with less. In some cases that means taking on more tasks within the network as well. IT departments that once were once extremely segmented are now finding that they have been contracted to minuscule sizes in some cases. Of course, some IT shops have always had that chief, cook and bottle washer scenario. In either case the only way to effectively manage a network (whether an SMB or Enterprise) is to have effective tools that help you to get the job done. Read more
To ensure that SQL Server continues to live up to the promised hype. Micorsoft has released the Novemebr CTP feature pack. The feature pack is a collection of packages that will help to expand and improve SQL Server 2008 R2. Some useful packages that I saw in the CTP are: Read more
Way back in August I blogged about installing Windows 7 on my Dell X1. Well the long overdue task is now complete. I have to say that the inital results are pretty impresive. Read more
For our last installment in the Windows Server 2008 R2 security changes and updates, we have a slew of new features in the Identity and Authentication areas. Most of these changes are geared toward enhancing client that is running Windows 7; in fact many of these enhancements will only be seen if you have Windows 7 as a client.
Some of the new features and changes include:
Online Identity Integration Read more
Another great set of changes and additions to Windows Server 2008 R2 security comes in the Authorization and Access Control areas. Some of the biggest (and most welcome) changes are to User Account Control (UAC)
User Account Control (UAC) Read more
In Windows Server 2008 R2, UAC has reduced the number of prompts for standard users. Some common Admin tasks that do not require UAC prompts are:
• Install updates from Windows Update
• Install drivers (via Windows Update or the operating systems)
• View (but not change) Windows settings
• Pair Bluetooth devices to the computer
With the release of Windows Server 2008 R2 there have been some major overhauls such as: Read more
Remote Desktop Services and File Classification Infrastructure to mention a few, some of the lesser known but yet no less important changes have come from additions or changes to security.
I have to admit that since Windows Mobile 2003, I have had a Windows mobile device/Smartphone. Call me a creature of habit but there has been something comforting about having a scaled back Windows OS in my hand. Read more
Just when I believe it cannot get better than it is...it does. For the second year running "A Better Windows World" has made the Top 200 Tech Blogs: The Datamation 2009 List. Read more
As IT pros we love installing a Beta and putting it through the motions to make sure it will meet our needs in a production environment, the Exchange Server 2010 Beta is no exception. Often though, we might overlook an important part of evaluating a product like Exchange Server 2010. The question of is our physical environment sufficient to handle this new product? Read more
With the release of Windows 7 coming October 22, enterprises need to at least begin looking at deploying Windows 7 in their environments. Whether you are excited about Windows 7 or hate the fact that XP will not be around forever, the fact is that you will probably be rolling out Microsoft's next-generation operating system to your Windows users at some point in the not-too-distant future. Read more
As an IT professional working for a small to mid-sized organization you are not only in charge of the servers, desktops, firewalls, routers, switches and mobile devices… you’re the chief, cook and bottle washer. One of the tasks that threw me for a loop when I first started was working with databases, NOT MY REALM, way out of my comfort zone. In time though I got proficient enough to manage databases and I have been able to write and teach about SQL Server from the Network Administrators perspective. Read more
I don’t often write about hardware in my blog but occasionally there is a hardware solution that catches my eye. The Adesso wireless mini keyboard, the WKB-3000, is one of those solutions. The WKB-3000 is a 2.4 GHz keyboard that offers wireless connectivity. The keyboard has a built in trackball and the keyboard works up to 100 feet from the USB receiver connected to their computer. Read more
In our new era of cloud computing and SaaS offerings some solutions that are being offered just make great sense. Such is the case with a SaaS cloud solution I found recently called SlideRocket. Now SlideRocket as I found out has been around since 2006, this seems to be one of those that got away from me at first. Read more
So with all the changes to Terminal Services (including a new name) that R2 will bring. I thought it would be helpful to take a page out of my book(almost literally) and provide my readers with a quick guide to the name changes and what each of these new services will now be responsible for in Windows Server 2008 R2.
Let's begin with the name changes first this first table provides the former and new names for each: Read more
Exchange Server 2007 offers a wealth of many different connectivity options for the end user. The problem is that if a user cannot connect to the Exchange Server all those available options do no good. In Exchange 2007 client access is handled by, of course the Client Access Server (CAS). Once this server role is deployed we generally would test to make sure it is working properly. And once the tests come back looking good we think we're ok. Read more
Its funny how things work out, as a child I was always told keep my head out of the clouds, hence I took up a career in operations management and later technology instead of becoming an actor or musician. Oh how things come full circle, since these days I constantly have my head in the clouds…cloud computing, but nevertheless. Read more
With all the talk we do about Virtualization and how efficent and cost effective it is for organizations. I guess it makes good sense to have a virtual conference. IT Virtualization Live is an online conference that will be presented this Tuesday Sept. 15th at 11am EST. Read more
So yesterday I went with a good friend of mine to the city to help him with an issue with Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2008. Some readers out there may have already experienced the Windows SBS 2008 IPv6 dilemma and you know what I am talking about. For those of you who have not let me give a little background. Read more
Ron Barrett, Director of e-Strategy for ClipTraining , is an independent trainer, author and consultant. He has been a technology professional for over 12 years, working for several major financial services firms and dotcoms. Ron is a specialist in network infrastructure, security, and IT management. He is the author of Office Communications Server 2007 R2: How-To , as well as co-author of Windows Server 2008: How-To and The Administrator’s Guide to Microsoft Office 2007 Servers. Ron has been a co-author or technical editor for several other books on Windows administration. Along with book writing, Ron has contributed to several industry magazines such as Redmond, Datamation and Windows IT Pro. Beyond writing, Ron has spoken at several technology conferences for CPAmerica, AICPA and MCP’s TECHMENTOR. Recently Ron has joined ClipTraining as the Director of e-Strategy in an effort to further the company’s presence via the Internet and social networking channels.
Ron's latest book, Windows Server 2008 How-To has been selected as the September 2009 book giveaway on Microsoft Subnet. To enter the monthly book giveaway, visit the Microsoft Subnet home page.
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