Conrad Agramont's Blog

Webcasts: Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Forefront and more...

2008-04-04T07:05:28Z

In order to help customers get a better understanding of the value of some of our newly release products, we have created a series of webcasts to help bring some introductions to those products. Below is a list of the sessions. Click on the link to find out more about the session and to register for the event. Microsoft Virtualization Strategy and Roadmap 4/10/2008 4:00 PM (EST) http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/WebCastEventDetails.aspx?EventID=1032375021&EventCategory=4&culture=en-US&CountryCode...(read more)

DemoCorp Update: Musical Virtual Servers

2008-03-12T02:24:40Z

As noted in a previous post , I deployed a demo environment leveraging Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. While this worked pretty good, I wasn't able to run all of the virtual machines at the same time due to insufficient memory (yes, even 8 GB wasn't enough), so I decided to leverage some additional laptops that I had lying about. And even use another machine that's pretty decent and currently used as my home Windows Home Server machine (it has plenty of extra power). So here is what the...(read more)

Weekly Update: March 3, 2008

2008-03-11T06:21:29Z

Each week there are a number of interesting questions that I get from my own internal Microsoft team, our Microsoft Partners, and even our customers. Many of these responses I send through the tunnels of communication like Email, Instant Messaging, phone, and even (can you imagine) face-to-face conversations. While getting this time sensitive information out the people who are asking the questions is important to meet some end goal like closing a deal, kicking off a project, or just gathering data...(read more)

Webcast: Still undecided about Vista?

2008-03-04T19:47:52Z

This looks like a great webcast to attend. I have it on my radar to attend! Microsoft Technical Fellow and desktop guru Mark Russinovich will be hosting an interactive virtual roundtable—broadcast LIVE over the Internet on Wednesday, March 5 th . The subject? Windows Vista adoption and deployment. On the panel with Mark will be independent industry experts and IT pros from organizations that have already deployed Windows Vista—all openly discussing known challenges, solutions and...(read more)

DemoCorp: Building a Lab/Demo Environment

2007-12-14T22:50:00Z

One of the challenges of being a good technical sales resource for Microsoft is staying fresh with the technology. Many times we get some great resources (Hands On Labs, Demo VM's, and On Demand Live Meeting technical sessions) within Microsoft corporate by providing us in the sales field some pre-baked labs. But it doesn't always give you that "Getting your hands dirty" feeling. So I decided to bite the bullet and build my own lab. And not just a lab that focuses on a single group...(read more)

My first book: How to Cheat at IIS 7 Server Administration

2007-08-16T15:04:45Z

I was fortunate enough to be asked to contribute to a new book focused on IIS 7.0. I thought this would be a great way to dive deep into the product which would in turn help me sell the platform as Windows Server 2008 comes out (although the book focuses on Windows Vista). The final name of the book is “ How to Cheat at IIS 7 Server Administration “. The target audience for this book is the IT generalist that is looking to quickly learn IIS 7 and perform the standard operational and support function...(read more)

Now Available: Microsoft System Center Essentials 2007

2007-05-10T21:11:00Z

There has been much advertisement around the new System Center brand and all of the great things the suite of products will provide to customers, but one of those products has quietly shipped. System Center Essentials 2007 (SCE) is a new product focused on the small to mid-market customer who has 1-3 IT Generalists. Essentials 2007 is a new management solution in the System Center family of IT systems management products specifically designed for midsized businesses (up to 500 PCs and 30 Servers...(read more)

System Center Operations Manager 2007 Eval to RTM

2007-05-06T16:30:00Z

System Center Operations Manager 2007 will NOT be available via MSDN or TechNet download. An evaluation version of OpsMgr 2007 is a currently available for immediate download. If you're interested in purchasing the product, you can upgrade from evaluation to RTM using a tool that comes with the RTM version (on the DVD). The RTM bits are available for download on MVLS now, and will be in the May VL media kits. Upgrading from Eval to RTM should not have any impact on the client machines. Note that...(read more)

Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 Upgrade for T-Mobile Dash

2007-05-06T16:22:00Z

T-Mobile has now made Windows Mobile 6.0 available for upgrade for those of you who have a T-Mobile Dash device. http://www.t-mobile.com/wmupgrade/ Here is a great video on Channel 9 that shows off some of the new features of Windows Mobile 6 on the T-Mobile Dash! http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=303900 So far I'm in love with searching throught your email via "type searching" and the new UI for the Calendar. Here is a blog post that shows some screenshots of the updated...(read more)

Windows Server code-named “Longhorn” Beta 3

2007-04-26T03:52:00Z

Windows Server Longhorn Beta 3 is now publically available! You can download it directly via TechNet or MSDN . Both methods require you to logon within your Windows Live ID (formerly Passport) and register to download the beta. You can also request a DVD, but I think shipping charges may apply. You can also download Beta 3 via the online TechNet or MSDN Library subscription, but as of today (April 25, 2007) the final Beta 3 has yet to be published (right now only the Escrow build is available). Another...(read more)

Windows Vista Search and Preview Pane

2007-04-26T02:19:00Z

One of my favorite features within Windows Vista is the new built-in Search. Sure there has been "Search" in previous versions of Windows AND there were even some indexing features, but Windows Vista provides a much richer experience to the user AND it searches more than just the local files. First off, Windows Vista Search is now a built in feature of the operating system. There is a version of the search engine that's available to Windows XP users, but you won't have the same...(read more)

Microsoft Partners: Using that magical hidden resource, "Demo Showcase"

2007-03-16T06:00:00Z

For many Microsoft Certified and Gold Partners out there, they often overlook a very useful resource that is made available to them as part of their "Partner Box" which they should get each quarter. That resource is the " Demo Showcase ". The Demo Showcase is a collection of pre-created demos that could be used as part of a sales engagement. These demo's aren't just Flash or PowerPoint Demos, although those are available to partners as well, but are actual virtual machine...(read more)

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 is now available

2007-03-13T23:58:04Z

Microsoft has released Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003. This Service pack can be used for R2 and non-R2 versions of Windows Server 2003. Below are some items that I find quite interesting in this service pack: RIS out and WDS in – Remote Installation Services is now replaced by the Windows Deployment Service which was first found as part of the Windows Automated Installation Kit and used as part of the Business Desktop Deployment solution accelerator. WDS can still be used outside of SP2 and...(read more)

Microsoft Home Server

2007-03-05T02:26:00Z

Recently Microsoft announced a new consumer product called "Home Server" which, as its name implies, is a server for the home. Home Server isn't the typical server as one would use at an office or school. Instead it's more of a data and management hub for the multi-computer home. For newer homes that have a central network patch panel in the basement, this may be the new home for your "Home Server". Here are some of the very cool features of Home Server (this is not the...(read more)

Windows Server Virtualization Video

2007-03-03T20:22:00Z

There is some great innovation going on in Windows Server code-named Longhorn for Virtualization. There is now a video on MSN Soapbox that shows off some of the cool new features. In this demo you will see: Windows Server Virtualization running on a Server Core installation managed remotely from another Windows Server Longhorn box 64-bit and 32-bit virtual machines running concurrently SUSE Linux 10 running in a virtual machine An 8-core virtual machine System Center Virtual Machine Manager Interface...(read more)