For an IT Pro, Internet Explorer is often as important as Microsoft Office. It’s a critical tool that’s used for business applications, more so now with the emergence of Software-as-a-Service based on .NET and Silverlight applications.
Microsoft published a bunch of articles last night on how to manage, configure and deploy Internet Explorer 8:
- Windows Internet Explorer 8 Technology Overview for Enterprise and IT Pros: Learn more about the new technology and developer features in Windows Internet Explorer 8
- Windows Internet Explorer 8 FAQ for Business: This FAQ answers common enterprise customer questions about Windows Internet Explorer 8
- Internet Explorer Administration Kit 8: The Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) 8 simplifies the creation, deployment and management of customized Internet Explorer 8 packages. IEAK 8 can be used to configure the out-of-box Internet Explorer 8 experience or to manage user settings after Internet Explorer 8 deployment.
- Internet Explorer 8 Compatibility View List: This download consists of a list of sites that are most likely to be displayed better in Compatibility View in Windows Internet Explorer 8.
- Techniques for Pre-Installing Internet Explorer 8: This document provides information and instructions necessary for IT Professionals to preinstall Internet Explorer 8, as well as any additional Internet components on earlier supported operating systems.
- Internet Explorer 8 Language Packs for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008: Download the latest version of Internet Explorer 8 Language Packs.
Of these, the compatibility view list seems to be the most important:
“Windows Internet Explorer 8 is Microsoft’s latest web browser. Unlike previous versions, Internet Explorer 8 renders content in the most standards-compliant way possible. This means that web pages will be displayed in Internet Explorer 8’s standards mode by default. Through product feedback channels, our users have indicated that, during the beta period, some websites may not have been compatible with Internet Explorer 8 in its default, standards-based mode. As a result, these domains have been added to a list of sites that, for the short-term, are most likely to be displayed better in Compatibility View. All Internet Explorer 8 users are given the choice to use this list, and the subset that chooses to do so will see each listed domain automatically displayed in Compatibility View, without additional user interaction or notice. The sites on this list have high traffic volume (in their regions), and having a compatible website ensures a significant number of Internet Explorer 8 users will have a great experience. This list will be periodically updated and automatically downloaded to Internet Explorer 8 users who have opted-in to use Compatibility View updates from Microsoft. For more information on Compatibility View list updates, please see here”.
I haven’t found any specifics on how the compatibility update list gets onto computers. It appears like it will be a definition update that will be distributed via Automatic Updates/WSUS/ConfigMgr. I don’t see anything specific in the WSUS product categories relating to definition updates for IE8 yet.