Podcast: System Center and Windows Server 2008
By Mitchell Ashley on Tue, 02/12/08 - 11:28pm.
This week's podcast guest is a special one as we have our first guest from Microsoft. Jeff Wettlaufer is the Sr. Technical Product Manager for Microsoft's System Center products. I was first introduced to Jeff via the System Center team blog, Nexus, where he and other System Center team members talk about their products. During the interview we focus on new capabilities in System Center products that support the upcoming release of Windows Server 2008.
SPECIAL NEWS SCOOP: On the podcast, Jeff gave us an exclusive on the announcement that Configuration Manager SP1 is now in beta and available for download.
One topic of special interest to is System Center's role in Microsoft NAP (Network Access Production), Microsoft's answer to what most of the industry refers to as network access control (NAC). It turns out that Microsoft NAP doesn't require System Center to do basic end point checks, things such as whether AV is installed or if automatic updates are enabled, but System Center is needed to include update, patch and service pack information in NAP testing polices. The integration of all the various NAP policy information is managed through active directory. I've asked another representative from the Microsoft NAP team to come on a future podcast and talk to us more about NAP.
Another interesting tidbit that Jeff talked about is Microsoft now has available something virtual hard disks, or VHD's. VHD's are virtual appliances with Microsoft products preinstalled on them for you to use and evaluate for extended periods of time. I'd highly recommend check them out at http://www.microsoft.com/vhd.
Enjoy the podcast and feel free to email me your comments, questions and guest suggestions.
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- About Converging on Microsoft
- Mitchell Ashley has a diverse background in software development, network engineering, information security, mobility, collaborative technologies, and IT management and operations. An early adopter of social media in business, he began blogging about security and information technologies in 2006 at theconvergingnetwork.com. Mitchell is VP of Information Technology at CableLabs in Louisville, CO, and previously held positions as CIO, CTO and VP Engineering at prior companies.
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