Month: July 2010

Help Wanted: What was your Experience with SBS 2008 on Hyper-V?

I am writing the last of my chapters for Mastering Hyper-V deployment at the moment.  This one is going to focus on the role that Hyper-V can play in the small and medium business.  The first half of the chapter covers SBS 2008 (with a nod to BPOS, etc) and the second half covers SCE 2010.  The I’ve got the licesning and deployment side of things covered.  But I’d really like to hear from you if you deployed SBS 2008 on Hyper-V.

  • What were your concerns?
  • What unexpected advantages were there?
  • What unexpected disadvantages were there?
  • Were there any hiccups along the way?
  • Anything else that might be useful?

W2008 R2 Hyper-V Advanced Networking

I was looking for some official documentation on VMQ and TCP chimney for Windows Server 2008 R2 Hype-V this morning.  All I was finding were incomplete 3rd party blog posts.  My last gasp searches eventually brought me to a Microsoft document called "Networking Deployment Guide: Deploying High-Speed Networking Features" which goes into a good bit of detail.  It looks pretty good at first glance.

Lots of Virtualization Stuff Happening

MS is sure making it hard to write a “current” book on Hyper-V virtualization.

VMMSSP 2.0 RC

A release candidate has appeared for a V2.0 VMM Self-Service Portal.

“VMMSSP (also referred to as the self-service portal) is a fully supported, partner-extensible solution built on top of Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper-V, and System Center VMM. You can use it to pool, allocate, and manage resources to offer infrastructure as a service and to deliver the foundation for a private cloud platform inside your datacenter. VMMSSP includes a pre-built web-based user interface that has sections for both the datacenter managers and the business unit IT consumers, with role-based access control. VMMSSP also includes a dynamic provisioning engine. VMMSSP reduces the time needed to provision infrastructures and their components by offering business unit “on-boarding,” infrastructure request and change management. The VMMSSP package also includes detailed guidance on how to implement VMMSSP inside your environment.

Important: VMMSSP is not an upgrade to the existing VMM 2008 R2 self-service portal. You can choose to deploy and use one or both self-service portals depending on your requirements”.

My chapter on VMM was completed a while ago.  *sigh*

Service Pack 1 Beta

A public beta for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 was launched today.  This includes RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory.

Ben Armstrong has blogged to confirm the supported guest operating systems for Dynamic Memory (as I posted here a while back based on the TechEd announcement and Ben’s TechEd presentation). 

Windows Azure Appliance

We also have had the announcement of Windows Azure Appliance coming at some point in the future.  This will be supported on specific hardware.  It’s hardly surprising that Dell was on the stage; Azure runs on Dell hardware, at least in Dublin.  EBay and Fujitsu were on stage. 

This product has been uber-secret, with nary a whisper.  Some of us expected a different announcement – a traditional VM hosting solution based on Azure.  I missed everything after the appliance announcement – the keynote was waaaay too long and I was well hammered cos I was playing the “Bob Muglia cloud drinking game” (I’m kidding – I didn’t have any booze with me).  I’m left wondering a few things:

  • Where does this leave Hyper-V?  MS’s pitch for hosting is that Azure is the only thing to develop on.  Is that true of the private cloud now?  Is MS killing Windows Server?
  • Has MS muddied up their offering, making it confusing for the purchaser?  Have they just frozen Hyper-V sales with the promise of something “better”?
  • Azure Appliance sounds like it might have a limited HCL.  Without knowing the architecture, are we straying into VMware territory?

Yeah, I’m being a bit cynical.  But I tend to approach new things from a critical point of view.  You can pretty much take it that I am then genuine if I claim to like something.

BTW, Steve Ballmer said that if you’re not interested in “The Cloud” then MS wants nothing to do with you.  Oh-Kay then!  I wonder if the shareholders are comfortable with him adlibbing?

MDT 2010 Update 1 Released

This came in the mail overnight:

“Deploy Windows 7 and Office 2010 quickly and reliably—while boosting user satisfaction

Microsoft® Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Update 1 is now available! Download MDT 2010 Update 1 at: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=159061

As you prepare to deploy Windows® 7, Office 2010, and Windows Server® 2008 R2, get a jump start with MDT 2010 Update 1. Use this Solution Accelerator to achieve efficient, cost-effective deployment of Windows 7, Office 2010, and Windows Server 2008 R2.

This latest release offers something for everyone. Benefits include:

For System Center Configuration Manager 2007 customers:

New “User Driven Installation” deployment method. An easy-to-use UDI Wizard allows users to initiate and customize operating system and application deployments to their PCs that are tailored to their individual needs.

Support for Configuration Manager R3 “Prestaged Media.” For those deploying Windows 7 and Office 2010 along with new PCs, a custom operating system image can easily be preloaded and then customized once deployed.

For Lite Touch Installation:

Support for Office 2010. Easily configure Office 2010 installation and deployment settings through the Deployment Workbench and integration with the Office Customization Tool.

Improved driver import process. All drivers are inspected during the import process to accurately determine what platforms they really support, avoiding common inaccuracies that can cause deployment issues.

For all existing customers:

A smooth and simple upgrade process. Installing MDT 2010 Update 1 will preserve your existing MDT configuration, with simple wizards to upgrade existing deployment shares and Configuration Manager installations.

Many small enhancements and bug fixes. Made in direct response to feedback received from customers and partners all around the world, MDT 2010 Update 1 is an indispensible upgrade for those currently using MDT (as well as a great starting point for those just starting).

Continued support for older products. MDT 2010 Update 1 still supports deployment of Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista®, Windows Server 2008, and Office 2007, for those customers who need to be able to support these products during the deployment of Windows 7 and Office 2010.

Next steps:

Download Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=159061.

Learn more by visiting the MDT site on Microsoft TechNet: www.microsoft.com/mdt.

Get the latest news by visiting the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Team blog: http://blogs.technet.com/msdeployment/default.aspx.

Provide us with feedback at satfdbk@microsoft.com.

If you have used a Solution Accelerator within your organization, please share your experience with us by completing this short survey: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=132579.

Sincerely,

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Team”

Started a New Job Today

I started a new job today as a team lead with Ireland’s largest native consultancy company, System Dynamics.  It looks to be a busy, challenging, and hopefully fun role. 

One of the struggles of starting a new job is feeling like an idiot.  Every company has its own processes, infrastructure, etc.  Arriving on day 1 and being met with all that can be daunting.  I’m slowly being immersed … but I still feel like an idiot 🙂

The hardest bit is getting up in the morning.  I’ve mostly been working from home for the last 2 years and I was getting lazier and lazier when it came to getting up early.  The train/tram journey in isn’t too bad.  I’m bringing my netbook so I’m getting some work done on the train.  It’s a pity that Irish Rail doesn’t have a production wifi network that its customers can use (see Stena Ferries).

So if you’re in Ireland and you need help with some of the MS infrastructure that I’ve been talking about in this blog, come check us out at System Dynamics.  We’ll be happy to help … and honest, I’m not an idiot!

2010 MVP: Virtual Machine

I just got the official word that I am renewed as an MVP with the virtual machine (aka virtualisation)expertise.  Too many to thank but there’s lots of fellow MVP’s, current and former MS people (Ireland and Redmond), and some of your out there who have helped and contributed over the last year.  It is greatly appreciated.  Hopefully you get something out of this blog like I have received from you.

– Aidan.

Warehouse Express

Steer clear of Warehouse Express in Norwich if you are purchasing camera gear in Europe. Based on my experience over the last 24 hours, they are a bunch of *********. These *******’s took money from my credit card after saying that they could not accept a credit card payment. Now, they’re refusing to return the money, claiming they aren’t responsible. I’m escalating and they won’t like it.

EDIT:

It only took 60 minutes for the Google effect of my SEO war to get a result.  I googled Warehouse Express and posted a comment about what they’ were trying to do to me.  Pretty quickly, things were happening to Google searches.

It would have been much cheaper for Warehouse Express to call their bank and authorise a refund (which they originally pretended that they couldn’t do) than pay an SEO consultant to repair the damage.  But sure, by then the damage was done. 

They sent me an email saying that maybe there was something that could be done.  The manager in my bank’s credit card services was already talking to me when that email came in.  Now she had the contact details and she informed Lee Flynn (Contact Centre Manager Tel: 01603 486413 Fax: 01603 481837) of what the actual legal processes were, not what they would like them to be, i.e. it was Warehouse Express’s responsibility to call their bank to authorise a refund to me, and not the responsibility (nor within the ability or legal right) of me or my bank.

Next time Warehouse Express (and I know you’ve read this, sonny boy), why don’t you be more honest with your customer and do what you should; don’t try messing with someone who’s angry and skilled.