Windows Server 8 Beta Downloads and Documentation

Microsoft released a lot of documentation/downloads to go with the Windows Server 8 beta release of last week.  Here’s your chance to start learning and playing:

• Understand and Troubleshoot Virtualized Domain Controller (VDC) in Windows Server "8" Beta: Windows Server "8" Beta introduces the first specific virtualization capabilities to Active Directory Domain Services. Virtualized Domain Controller (VDC) takes lessons learned from twelve years of virtualizing Active Directory and makes a more supportable, more flexible, more intuitive administrative experience for architects and administrators.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Virtualized Domain Controller (VDC) in Windows Server "8" Beta: This document contains instructions for setting up the Virtualized Domain Controller test lab through: • Deploying a virtualized domain controller through cloning • Safely restoring a domain controller snapshot
• Test Lab Guide: Base Test Lab Guide for Windows Server "8" Beta: This Microsoft Test Lab Guide (TLG) provides you with step-by-step instructions to create the Windows Base Configuration test lab, using computers running Windows 8 Consumer Preview or Windows Server “8” Beta. With the resulting test lab environment, you can build test labs based on other Windows Server "8" Beta-based TLGs from Microsoft, TLG extensions in the TechNet Wiki, or a test lab of your own design that can include Microsoft or non-Microsoft products. For a test lab based on physical computers, you can image the drives for future test labs. For a test lab based on virtual machines, you can create snapshots of the base configuration virtual machines. This enables you to easily return to the base configuration test lab, where most of the routine infrastructure and networking services have already been configured, so that you can focus on building a test lab for the product, technology, or solution of interest.
• Creating Continuously Available File Shares with Windows Server “8” Beta: Windows Server “8” Beta contains a set of continuously available storage solutions that provide a cost effective alternative to an expensive storage area network (SAN) without sacrificing availability and performance. These solutions are targeted towards both traditional information worker workloads and application workloads, and they span the scalability and price point needs for different market segments, with systems going from entry-level sub-$10k solutions to scale-out solutions with up to 400 drives. These solutions are based on software developed by several teams at Microsoft, hardware that is already in the market and hardware that is being developed in cooperation with industry partners. This white paper introduces the reader to these new and enhanced features of Windows Server “8” Beta.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Scale-out File Servers in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understanding and Troubleshooting Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Scale-Out File Servers in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Storage Spaces in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understanding and Troubleshooting Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Storage Spaces in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Microsoft Online Backup Service in Windows Server "8" Beta (!?!?!?!?): This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Microsoft Online Backup Service in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in Windows Server "8" Beta: DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) is a suite of extensions that add security to the DNS protocol. RFCs 4033, 4034, 4035, and 5155 specify the core DNSSEC extensions and add origin authority, data integrity, and authenticated denial of existence to DNS. In addition to several new concepts and operations for both the DNS server and the DNS client, DNSSEC introduces new resource records (DNSKEY, RRSIG, NSEC, NSEC3, and DS) to DNS.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate IP Address Management (IPAM) in Windows Server "8" Beta: Internet Protocol Address Management (IPAM) is a framework for discovering, monitoring, auditing, and managing the Internet Protocol (IP) address space used in a network. IPAM in Windows Server "8" Beta provides components for IP address space management, audit of configuration changes, monitoring and management of DHCP and DNS services, and IP address usage tracking.
• Understand and Troubleshoot DHCP Failover in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for DHCP Failover in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrating DHCP Failover in Windows Server "8" Beta: Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) failover in Windows Server "8" Beta provides the ability for administrators to deploy a highly resilient DHCP service to support a large enterprise. The main goals of the feature are the following. • Provide DHCP service availability at all times on the enterprise network • If a DHCP server is no longer reachable, the DHCP client is able to extend the lease on its current IP address by contacting another DHCP server on the enterprise network.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Printing in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Printing in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Windows Server "8" Beta Print and Document Services:

  This paper contains an introduction to Windows Server "8" Beta Printing and step-by-step instructions for extending the Test Lab Guide Base Configuration to demonstrate Printing Services in Windows Server "8" Beta.

• Understand and Troubleshoot High Availability Printing in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for High Availability Printing in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Activation Technologies in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Activation Technologies in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot AD DS Simplified Administration in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for AD DS Simplified Administration in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate ADDS Simplified Administration in Windows Server "8" Beta: This document contains instructions for setting up the AD DS Simplified Administration test lab through: • Graphically upgrading an existing Active Directory forest by adding the first Windows Server "8" Beta GUI domain controller • Adding an additional Windows Server "8" Beta Core domain controller using Windows PowerShell • Adding an additional Windows Server "8" Beta Core domain controller using Windows RSAT from a Windows 8 Consumer Preview computer • Decommissioning the original legacy domain controller • Using new AD DS graphical and Windows PowerShell features for further configuration and administration
• Understand and Troubleshoot Dynamic Access Control in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Dynamic Access Control in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Cluster-Aware Updating (CAU) in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understanding and Troubleshooting Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Cluster-Aware Updating in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Hyper-V Replica in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understanding and Troubleshooting Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Hyper-V Replica in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Desktop Virtualization in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot IP Address Management (IPAM) in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for IP Address Management (IPAM) in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Access in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Remote Access in Windows Server "8" Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess Single Server Setup with Mixed IPv4 and IPv6 in Windows Server "8" Beta: DirectAccess provides users with the experience of being seamlessly connected to their intranet any time they have Internet access. When DirectAccess is enabled, requests for intranet resources (such as email servers, shared folders, or intranet websites) are securely directed to the intranet, without the need for users to connect to a VPN. DirectAccess enables increased productivity for a mobile workforce by offering the same connectivity experience both inside and outside of the office. The Windows Routing and Remote Access Server (RRAS) provides traditional VPN connectivity for legacy clients and non-domain members. RRAS also provides site-to-site connections between servers. RRAS in Windows Server 2008 R2 cannot coexist on the same edge server with DirectAccess, and must be deployed and managed separately from DirectAccess. Windows Server "8" Beta combines the DirectAccess feature and the RRAS role service into a new unified server role. This new Remote Access server role allows for centralized administration, configuration, and monitoring of both DirectAccess and VPN-based remote access services. Additionally, Windows Server "8" Beta DirectAccess provides multiple updates and improvements to address deployment blockers and provide simplified management. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for configuring DirectAccess in a single server deployment with mixed IPv4 and IPv6 resources in a test lab to demonstrate functionality of the deployment experience. You will set up and deploy DirectAccess based on the Windows Server "8" Beta Base Configuration using five server computers and two client computers. The resulting test lab simulates an intranet, the Internet, and a home network, and demonstrates DirectAccess in different Internet connection scenarios.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate High Availability Printing in Windows Server "8" Beta: This paper contains instructions for setting up a test lab based on the Test Lab Guide Base Configuration and deploying a highly available Windows Server "8" Beta Print Server using three server computers and one client computer. The resulting High Availability Printing test lab demonstrates Windows Server "8" Beta Print Server functionality.
• Understand and Troubleshoot BitLocker in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for BitLocker in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Servicing in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Servicing in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization in Windows Server "8" Beta: This paper contains instructions for setting up a test lab based on the Test Lab Guide Base Configuration and deploying Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization using four server computers and one client computer. The resulting Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization test lab demonstrates Desktop Virtualization functionality.
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server "8" Beta: This Understand and Troubleshoot Guide (UTG) enables you to learn technical concepts, functionality, and troubleshooting methods for Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server “8” Beta. This UTG provides you with: • A technical overview and functional description of this feature. • Technical concepts to help you successfully install, configure, and manage this feature. • User Interface options and settings for configuration and management. • Relevant architecture of this feature, with dependencies, and technical implementation. • Primary troubleshooting tools and methods for this feature.
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server "8" Beta: Remote Desktop Services (RDS) in Windows Server "8" Beta provides the ideal platform for companies to implement a centralized desktop strategy, helping organizations improve flexibility and compliance while improving data security and IT’s ability to manage desktops and applications. RDS is a centralized desktop and application platform solution that uses Desktop Virtualization and VDI technologies, offering powerful opportunities for IT to deliver and manage corporate desktops and to respond to users’ needs in a flexible way. Remote Desktop Services is the new name for Terminal Services, and reflects the expanded role in Windows Server "8" Beta so that you can run the desktop or applications in the datacenter while your users can be anywhere. This paper contains instructions for setting up a test lab based on the Test Lab Guide Base Configuration and deploying Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization using four server computers and one client computer. The resulting Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization test lab demonstrates Desktop Virtualization functionality.
• Test Lab Guide-Deploying RD Licensing: Use this test lab guide to install Remote Desktop Services client access licenses (RDS CALs) for Windows Server “8” Beta. This test lab guide uses the VDI standard deployment test lab as a starting place. Complete the steps in Test Lab Guide: Virtual Desktop Infrastructure standard deployment before you proceed with the remainder of the steps in this guide.