SUS End of Life

I didn’t post anything earlier today because I wanted this one to be pretty clear and mistake free.  I read some contradicting articles online about the fate of good old Software Update Services.  The first post I read state it’s end of life had been extended.  I was then fluting about on microsoft.com and noticed an article about imminent end of life for SUS.  I’d tend to believe a MS source before an independant one, especially on MS support issues, so I was confused.

Before I go any further, lets get SUS/WSUS versions out of the way.  SUS was the first of the Microsoft solution for updating Microsoft products.  It only updated Windows operating systems, 2000, XP and 2003.  Internally, it is known as SUS 1.0.  It’s successor was Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and internally it is known as WSUS 2.0.  WSUS 2.0 supported an extendible catalogue and thus is capable of supporting Windows, Office, SQL Server, Exchange, Forefront Client Security, etc.  WSUS 2.0 also feature better reporting, group targetting and granular control of updates.  WSUS 3.0 is currently in beta.  It supports the extendible catalogue but adds other features such as delegated reporting, even more granualr control of updates, multiple group membership for targetting and a more flixible download architecture.  I’ve documented the current beta release of WSUS 3.0.

This evening I checked the WSUS team blog.  They’ve cleared up the end of life issue of SUS 1.0.  It was due to end but due to customer demand, support for SUS 1.0 has been extended until July 10th, 2007.

It should be noted that SUS 1.0 can only be upgraded via a migration process to WSUS 2.0.  WSUS 2.0 can be "inplace upgraded" to WSUS 3.0.  So, anyone holding on to SUS 1.0 will litely need to consider either going through a 2 step upgrade to get to the latest release next year or just do a rip and replace.

Virtual IT Forum

This might be an alternative for anyone who couldn’t make it to IT Forum Barcelona 2006.  Microsoft has a website with some streamed sessions on it called The Virtual Side.  I only had a very quick look last night and settled into to watch one fo the EMEA IT Directors talk about driving change in IT, a subject that seems to be discussed ev-ery year.  Some, if not most, of the videos are brief highlights.  There are some full length videos as well. 

MCP Exam Insurance

I’ve just gotten the MCP newsletter in my inbox.  MS has launched a new program for anyone sitting exams called Exam Insurance.  For a fee you can insure the exam you are baout to sit.  If you fail, you get to sit the resit for free.  If you pass on your first attempt, you get a 25% discount on your next exam.  There’s no details yet on the cost of this program or on the availability from Pearson VUE or Prometric.  The price will be key.  If it’s cheaper than the cost of 25% of your next exam then it will be a worthwhile purchase for anyone on a determined exam track.

Office 2003 Upgraded to Office 2007

I’ve just done a manual upgrade of my Office 2003 installation to Office 2007 RTM, the first thing I downloaded from my TechNet subscription.  It was painless.  I’m a little wary of downloading the Desktop Search functionality that Outlook 2007 wants me to download.  Maybe I’ll get around to that at some point … after taking a system restore point 🙂  So far, so good.  Rumour is that Vista will be out tomorrow, probably later in the day.  That’ll be next on the upgrade agenda.

Microsoft Updates: November 2006

The following updates will be available from Microsoft Update in the following few hours.  As usual, you should test them before deploying onto a production environment.

Critical

  • MS06-067: This update resolves vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer that could allow remote code execution – Internet Explorer
  • MS06-068: This update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft Agent that could allow remote code execution – Windows
  • MS06-069: This update resolves vulnerabilities in Macromedia Flash Player, from Adobe, that could allow remote code execution – Windows
  • MS06-070: This update resolves a vulnerability in Workstation Service that could allow remote code execution Windows
  • MS06-071: This update resolves a vulnerability in Microsoft XML Core Services that could allow remote code execution – Windows

Important

  • MS06-066: This update resolves vulnerabilities in the Client Service for NetWare that could allow remote code execution. The Client Service for NetWare is not installed by default on any affected operating system version – Windows

Intel Launch Quad Core Processors

As you may know, CPU manufacturers reached the limits of known physics by making CPU’s faster and faster.  They couldn’t scale up any more so it was time to scale out.  The result of hitting this wall was to add an extra core to the CPU, giving us dual core processors that have been shipping in PC’s and servers for a while now.  Today, Intel launched their first quad core CPU.  That’s basically 4 processing engines in one CPU.  Intel has posted loads on information on this new technology on their website.

A quad core will appear to your operating system as 4 CPU’s.  Microsoft don’t license per core so that won’t be a problem.  Where you will have licensing issues is where vendors license per core.  I’m fairly sure IBM do this with Lotus Domino … but hey … Notes Sucks!

I can’t claim to be a CPU guru.  Where I see this CPU really being useful is in systems where number crunching is vital, e.g. VM hypervisors, hefty simultation systems, etc.

MOM 2005 Mananagement Pack RSS Feed

I was googling about for a decent blog with IT Forum updates.  Note: I’m really ticked off I’m not at it this year after two years straight but it had sold out before I was in a position to book.
 
During my search I found a decent looking blog by Stefan Stranger.  He’s posted a link for a new Microsoft RSS feed for updates to the MOM 2005 management pack catalogue.  Oh yeah, the lucky bugger is actually at IT Forum.  Grrr!

ADMX Migrator

The ADMX Migrator is an MMC snap in for converting existing group policy ADM templates to ADMX which is the XML equivilent for Windows Vista and Windows "Longhorn".  It’s available for download now.

ADMX offers:

  • Multilanguage support.
  • An optional centralised data store (maybe the one in the Desktop Opimisation Pack?).
  • Version Control.

You can find out more about ADMX on the Microsoft website.

Some IT Forum News

IT Fourm (the big MS conference in Europe) kicked off with it’s keynote presentation in Barcelona this morning.  Some announcements as reported by Bink:

  • Windows 2003 SP2 RC1 was released.
  • Windows "Longhorn" Hypervisor public beta will be released in Q1 2007 and will RTM within 180 days of the Windows "Longhorn" RTM.
  • Windows Powershell has RTM’d and will likely be available for download today.
  • Forefront Client Security is available as a public beta.

TechNet

Up to now I’ve been using beta releases and evaluation copies for all of my test and lab work.  That’s about to change.  Products only stay in beta for so long.  Evals are fine but they timebomb.  Microsoft TechNet gives you a range of products where you can get a very wide range of the Microsoft products for testing and evaluation purpose, without the timebomb!  The products are not meant to be used for production systems.  Also in the package is a lot of documentation and beta products.

I’ve just subscribed to TechNet Direct, a single user subscription that allows me to download whatever I want.  I’ve had CD subscriptions at workplaces before and I used to fear those CD packages coming in.  Not any longer.  I can download ISO images and burn them as I require them … or seeing as I use virtualisation I’ll just mount them in my VM’s … you gotta love virtualisation!

A big perk will be early access to RTM products.  Vista and Office 2007 are both supposed to be available for download within 7 days of RTM and that was just this week.