Month: February 2009

GMail Web Interface Down

GMail’s web interface has down for some time this morning (no idea for how long).  The IMAP interface was OK and I would assume the POP was too.  Maybe I should get our sales guys to call them about running in our Tier IV data centre 😉

Seriously, if you want a mail service with an SLA then have a look at Microsoft’s soon-to-be_available-in-Europe Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) or talk to a Microsoft hosting partner about dedicated hosted Exchange servers.  This will allow you to take advantage of the SaaS use what you need & pay for what you use model.

Just Deployed Windows Server Cluster Management Pack for Operations Manager 2007

I just downloaded and deployed the management pack for clustering.  It covers Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.  It was pretty painless.  Our W2008 cluster is a clean configuration and tightly controlled.  The only pre-requisite for me was to enable proxying on the agent – and to make sure all the W2008 patch pre-requisites were installed (which they were).

Bink.nu | Online Windows 7 event: MSDN Unleashed – Bink.nu

Bink reported that there will be an online “deep dive” even on Windows 7.  The agenda is as follows:

“Welcome to Windows 7

This session will be an overview of the GUI and Feature improvements in Windows 7. This will include

  • Task Bar/System Tray Improvements
  • Aero Features
  • System Improvements
  • Control Panels and Features
  • Desktop Improvements
  • IE 8
  • Under The Hood

Windows 7 Deep Dive

Deep Dive One and Two will dig into Windows 7 and the new or redesigned under the hood features in the product.
The topics covered will be:

  • Microsoft’s understanding of the needs of IT Pros when designing Windows 7
  • Hardware Readiness
  • Improved Applications
  • Application Compatibility
  • AIK
  • VHD Images and Imaging
  • DISM
  • Dynamic Driver Provisioning
  • Multicast Multiple Stream Transfer
  • Streamlined Installation and File Migration
  • USMT
  • DHCP Hint
  • Enterprise Application Compatibility
  • Windows Troubleshooting Platform”

It takes place on February 28th at 16:00-21:30GMT.  You can register and keep up to date with details.

Citrix XenServer Is Now FREE

Scott Lowe is reporting that Citrix have officially changed their pricing plan.  It was rumoured last week.  They haven’t even crippled it.  Everything that’s in their full product is now free.

“Core features of XenServer include the following:

  • Powerful Centralized Management enables full multi-node management for an unlimited number of servers and virtual machines; includes easy physical-to-virtual and virtual-to-virtual conversion tools, centralized configuration management and a resilient distributed management architecture
  • Live Motion and Multi-Server Resource Sharing incorporates powerful XenMotion™ technology that allows virtual machines to be moved from server to server without service interruption for zero downtime; also includes optimal initial virtual machine placement and intelligent maintenance mode 
  • Proven Hypervisor Engine powered by the 64-bit industry standard Xen open source hypervisor developed jointly by more than 50 leading technology vendors, enabling users take full advantage of the latest performance, security and scalability enhancements in next-generation servers, operating systems and microprocessors
    Fast Bare Metal Performance supports an unlimited number of servers and virtual machines with industry-leading consolidation ratios, near native performance on the most challenging application workloads, and virtually zero overhead in both Microsoft Windows® and Linux environments
  • Easy Setup and Administration features familiar interface with easy wizard-driven configuration, intuitive Web 2.0 style search, and built-in auto-help that makes the learning curve for new administrators a snap
  • Integrated Storage Management that supports any existing storage system; includes built-in storage management features such as host-based logical volume management, and dynamic multi-pathing capabilities.”

It will be available from the end March 2009.  You can get a sneak peek with a preview release.  It appears that Citrix’s strategy is that this will be an entry point to other products that Citrix will charge for, e.g. their VDI solution, their virtualisation management solution, etc.

Windows 7, Live and Photography

I’ve re-installed my personal laptop with the x86 edition of Windows 7 Beta 1.  As before, it’s running well.  I’ve reloaded all the Live Essentials stuff, some of the additional (free) MS photography software and the Canon codecs so I can read the CR2 RAW files from by DSLR cameras.  I’ll be doing some presentations on this stuff at 2 of the upcoming MS Community TechDays for IT Pros 2009 events.

Honestly, I won’t be dumping my copy of Adobe Photohop CS.  But I am very impressed with what MS is giving people.  The vast majority of digital camera owners want to be able to:

  • Quickly get photos from their camera to their computer
  • Store them in a way they can be easily found
  • Maybe rate and tag the photos to make it easier to search and prune the bad ones
  • Browse and look at old photos
  • Print photos on their PC or online
  • Share photos online
  • Maybe do some blogging with their photos
  • Do some simple editing

MS appears to have made that very easy for home users … and for free.  There’s even some more advanced tools that do a very nice job.  I’m mucking around with the tools and Windows 7 now and posting some quick stuff on a blog.

Mount An ISO Image in Windows 7

I mount a lot of ISO images at work and at home instead of burning them.  My usual preferred tool is Daemon Tools.  Unfortunately they’ve no interest in Windows 7 while it’s a beta.  I went to Virtual CloneDrive instead.  A reboot after the install seemed to sort it out.  I’ve just mounted my Office ISO and it’s installing.  I haven’t used the Virtual CloneDrive ISO mount utility in years but it works well on Win7.

BTW, the ALP mouse driver for my Vaio causes mayhem.  3 EXE’s don’t have signatures and need to be approved when I log in.  One of them leaves trash on the desktop after a graphics glitch.  A restore point was reloaded to unload that mess.