Category Virtualization

For those of you in the ESX space who are religious about your installation and deployment of Host Utility Kits (I hope you are!) 5.1 has just been announced! Hooray!

ESX Host Utilities 5.1 contain the following new features:

• Support for ESX 4.0 hosts.
• Support for role-based access control (RBAC) user names so that root access to storage controllers is not required.
• The mbralign program that fixes misaligned VMDK partitions.
• New timeout values added to config_hba to support software iSCSI initiators on 10 Gb Ethernet. Check the Interoperability Matrix for supported 10 Gb configurations.
• Updated SNIA API libraries for Emulex and QLogic adapters.
• An -expert option for the Host Utilities install command that installs the Host Utilities components but does not set timeouts or paths

And lots of other cool stuff, but these are the major high-lights, so get out there and download today! Hooray!

Wow! Welcome to Exton, Pennsylvania! We drove tirelessly from Greensboro, NC all through the night to end up here in PA this amazing (rainy) day.    But What a day and what an event that lay before us as we arrived!   It started with a wonderful greeting in the rain!

Ken Rosen shakes hands here with Nadine Sievers and Certified Trainer, MCT, MCTS Project server and Project, Melanie Rosen (Oh, did I mention Professional Photographer?! :))

Bruce Cooper starts off Springhouse TechFest 2009 to a full room. Full crowd on a Sunday!

The whole crowd was great, they all seemed eager to learn, and learn they did!   The day ended with the whole Springhouse team taking a photo in front of the bus in the rain, and many conversations and connections were had by all!

I encourage you to check out Springhouse’s blog, and you can also follow them on Twitter @springhouseeduc and Facebook!

So, You notice I mentioned above that there were great conversations and learning to be had by all right? Well, allow me to share with you some insight of those conversations that I found

I was fortunate to get to know the type of character and culture which makes up not only the organization of Springhouse, but also how their mission around Education and Consulting is above all one of the best I’ve seen!   Their focus on full value solutions and ensuring that you are taken care of in the long run, whether consultatively or educationally is awe inspiring and not the type of behavior you see from other training organizations.

The relationship they have with their own internal staff has people coming back for more and more, and the things I heard about the types of training they offer and their educational guarantees left my speechless!

I definitely encourage you to check them out at their website, because these are seriously great folks and while they’re doing amazing things today, I know we can expect them to grow on that in the future.

Welcome to Thrive from Microsoft!

If you recall past posts about Microsoft and Social Responsibility, this is just another measure of ensuring that our technical future is secure, or if you’re looking for a career change that the resources are available to ensure you have a future in technology.

They have this broken up into several core areas

• Advance your career
• Career Development
• Get Started
• Explore Microsoft’s training overview
• Get your training with Microsoft Learning Plans
• Keep track of your learning plan with My Learning Tool
• Get Certified
• You may be a tech whiz…but ‘Are You Certifiable?!?’
• Find out the facts about certification
• Earn your Microsoft Certification!
• Hear what others have to say about Microsoft Learning and certifications
• Why Get Certified?
• Learn more about the value of certification
• Value of Certification: Team Certification and Organization Performance
• What are the industry’s 10 best IT certifications?
• Get a second chance to pass your Microsoft Certification exam—free offer!
• Career Guidance (Networking & Community)
• Learn more about the Microsoft Certification Membership
• Join Microsoft Technical Communities
• Career Change Management
• Industry Related
• Top 10 Jobs in Information Technology
• How to Job Search in 2009
• Unconventional Places to Expand your Network
• Stalled Career? 10 Tips
• Bulletproof Your Job: 4 Ways to Stay Employed
• Job Search Related
• Are You Using the Wrong Resume?
• 10 Interview Questions Decoded
• Body Language and the Interview
• Tools & Resources
• CareerPath Assessment Center
• CareerBuilder Salary Calculator
• cbResume
• Resume Direct
• Enhance your technical skills
• Virtualization
• Get Started
• Technical Competency Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• Windows Server Virtualization: Overview Video
• TechNet Radio: Managing a Virtualized Environment today and in the future
• Videos (5 – 15 min)
• Microsoft Virtualization
• Intro to Windows Server 2008 Virtualization
• Server Core Hyper-V Prerequisites
• Green IT and Virtualization
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• TechNet Webcast: High Availability with Hyper-V (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: Presentation Virtualization with Terminal Services RemoteApp (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: Assess Your Server IT Infrastructure for Windows Server 2008 Migration and Virtualization (Level 300)
• Tools & Resources
• Virtualization TCO Calculator
• Hyper-Green Calculator
• Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
• Windows Server Virtualization and Licensing Calculator
• White Papers
• How Customers Are Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Virtualization for Windows – A Technology Overview
• Microsoft.com Operations Virtualizes MSDN and TechNet on Hyper-V
• Case Studies
• Atlanta Journal Constitution: With Virtualization, Newspaper Reduces Costs, Gains Infrastructure Flexibility
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center: Medical Center Reduces Costs, Increases Application Availability with Virtualization
• Jackson Energy Authority: Public Utility Boosts Application Availability and Simplifies IT with Virtualization
• Continental Airlines: Leading Airline Moves to Virtual Environment, Sets Stage for Growth While Cutting Costs
• Desktop Optimization
• Get Started
• Technical Competency Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• TechNet Webcast: Agility Now: What Is Infrastructure Optimization, and Why Should You Care?
• National Aquarium in Baltimore: Aquarium Enhances Data Access, Security, and Productivity with New Operating System
• Video (5 – 15 min)
• Continental Airlines Bets on Operating System Upgrade for Reduced IT and Energy Costs
• Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• TechNet Webcast: Agile Desktops: Microsoft Application Virtualization and Intel vPro Technology (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: How Microsoft IT Uses the Automated Service Agent System to Deliver a Low-Cost, High-Value Service
• TechNet Webcast: Optimizing Desktop Management with System Center Configuration Manager and Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization
• Tools & Resources
• Microsoft Infrastructure Optimization ROI Tool
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
• White Papers
• Reducing TCO with Windows Vista: Quantified Savings for Mobile PCs
• The Road to Desktop Optimization: Five Best practices for Optimizing the Desktop Infrastructure
• The Enterprise PC Lifecycle: Seeing the big picture for PC fleet management
• Case Studies
• CDW: Technology Professionals Enjoy Productivity, Enhanced Security with System Upgrade
• Cerner Corporation: IT Provider Enhances Security and Meets Customer Needs with New Operating System
• Hoover City Schools: School District Upgrades PCs to Keep Students Current on the Latest Technology
• Align IT with Business
• Cost Savings
• Get Started
• Business and IT Alignment Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• IT Manager Webcast: Introduction to Platform Solution Blueprints (Level 200)
• Videos & Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• Windows Server Virtualization: Overview Video
• IT Manager Webcast: Platform Solution Blueprints: Virtualization and Infrastructure Management (Level 200)
• IT Manager Webcast: Protecting Legacy Assets Through Automated Conversion Reduces Licensing Costs and Increases Agility (Level 200)
• IT Manager Webcast: Infrastructure Optimization: Shifting Development from a Cost Center to a Strategic Business Asset
• Podcasts (30 – 90 min)
• IT Manager Dialog Series- Virtualization
• IT Manager Podcast: Introduction to Platform Solution Blueprints (Level 200)
• IT Manager Podcast: Platform Solution Blueprints: Virtualization and Infrastructure Management (Level 200)
• Analytics Reports / Whitepapers
• Information Week: Analytics Report – Unlocking Virtualization: Facing IT, Business Realities
• How Customers Are Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Virtualization Strategy Provides Tools, Processes, and Compliance Capabilities to Enhance Business Support and Drive Adoption
• Tools & Resources
• Simple to Save: ROI Calculator
• Microsoft Infrastructure Optimization – ROI Tool
• You Already Own It!
• IT Manager: Platform Solution Blueprint by Advaiya
• IT Manager: Platform Solution Blueprint – Virtualization
• Connect with your peers on the TechNet IT Management Community Hub!
• Case Studies
• Stewart: Information Services Firm Enhances Compliance and Optimizes Data Center
• Compliance & Governance
• Get Started
• Business and IT Alignment Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• Microsoft Security Assessment Tool
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• Microsoft Webcast: Better IT Management Through IT Governance (part 1)
• Microsoft Webcast: Better IT Management Through IT Governance (part 2)
• Tools & Resources
• Security Compliance Management Toolkit
• Security Intelligence Report
• Learning Path for Security
• FORUM: Configuration Manager – Desired Configuration Management
• Compliance Management Forum
• Connect with your peers on the TechNet IT Management Community Hub!
• White Papers
• White Paper-Branch Infrastructure
• Where Is My PII?
• IT Compliance Management Guide
• The Security Risk Management Guide
• Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) 4.0

Why yes.. I did go through the entire site, reviewed a lot of the material and even INCLUDED ALMOST ALL OF IT HERE! Yea, I know sometimes people will look at the post, but never visit the site – So here are the goods, visit the site if you’d like, but this is exactly what you’ll see (at this point in time :))  Good luck on there – whether you’re job hunting or retaining your job!

Wow! Today was quite a massive release of softwares!   So much so, here is a breakdown of what I saw announced for download today! (Hopefully this is all public downloads and I’m not saying something wrong… grin)

SnapDrive for Windows 6.1
Rapid Cloning Utility 2.0 (VMware) – See a Demo of it here on YouTube
SnapManager for Oracle Unix 3.0.1
SnapManager for Oracle Windows 3.0.1
SnapManager for SAP Unix 3.0.1
SnapManager for SAP Windows 3.0.1

These are all FCS releases, but if you’ve been waiting for some of them (like me – SD6.1, RCU) it is a wait well awaited :)

Wait, what’s this? I thought these tests were only available at the Prometric Testing Center!

Apparently I am wrong! and just by visiting this site, I’m able to take online tests at Prometric!

Infact, there’s even a whole list of other companies for online testing here as well :)

These exams (as far as I can tell) are Free so long as you pass it the first time! If you fail, it sits at $50.00 for the retake, so I suggest not failing :)