Here is the kicker: It has to be a SCSI hard drive. Why not IDE Disks? Your guess is as good as mine. However, dynamic storage having to be a SCSI drive won’t slow you down; when you create a VM with Hyper-V R2 you get a SCSI controller by default (this wasn’t true in Hyper-V non-R2).

This process really couldn’t be easier:

In the server manager under the Hyper-V node, bring up the settings for the VM you want to beef up.

Then just click on the SCSI Controller so that its properties show up in the right-hand pane. After that it is as easy as clicking Hard Drive and then the Add button.

Next a ridiculously easy wizard comes up and allows you to choose a disk type then give it a name, location, and size.

Now, the question is, can you do it from Starbucks on your iPhone?

When we first got the search bar from the start menu in Vista my computing life changed. It has allowed me to be blissfully lazy. I really have no idea where any of my programs and files are. Heck, I don’t even know their full names. And don’t get me started on OS tools and features.

If I want to do a backup, I don’t navigate to the Backup and Restore Center – I just type the letters “ba” and BOOM. There it is. Life is great!

In Server 2008 R2 they have added a GUI search tool to help you find Active Directory objects. You can find users, computers, OUs, groups, and more in a snap! You can even search in other domains you have established trusts with.  Network admins everywhere:  rejoice!

You can further refine your search (query) by adding criteria. You can even save queries. And you don’t have to search the entire domain. You could navigate to a particularly large OU then filter that OU’s objects with a query. The possibilities are endless.

In all seriousness, this is a great tool for the help desk professional or any other person the all-powerful admin has delegated responsibilities to. For example, that person does not have to know the ins and outs of the network structure to quickly find a user and reset their password.

The fact that the new Active Directory Administrative Center (and its Global Search) can be installed on a Windows 7 client makes this scenario all the more possible.

The Global Search tool is only one new feature in the new Active Directory Administrative Center, and there are plenty more new features in Server 2008 R2.

So if you want to learn all about it and more — keep an eye out for our new Server 2008 R2 Training that is coming soon. Love it!

Right now Coach and I are working on a new course that’s all about Windows Server 2008 R2.

I have to admit, Coach has me pumped about all the new goodies. But we’re not the only ones here at Train Signal who are digging R2. Did you read Gosia’s post on Recycle Bin in Active Directory?

The AD Recycling bin is covered in detail in the new course. Coach is even including his very own super easy PowerShell scripts for enabling and using the AD Recycling Bin. Very cool stuff!

So what else can you expect in the upcoming Server 2008 R2 training?

Here is a list of the hot topics that we plan to cover:

• New Active Directory Management Tools
• The Active Directory Recycling Bin
• New Group Policy Features
• Build an ASP.Net Application Server on Server Core
• Boot from a Virtual Hard Drive
• Hyper-V Dynamic Storage and Quick Switch Settings
• 8 Remote Desktop Services
• Live Migration
• AppLocker
• Branch Cache
• Direct Access

Sign up for our newsletter and keep an eye out for more details about when and how to get this super course when it is complete.

We started out the day with a few games of bags. I stink at this game!

Check out this neat shot of (U of Iowa alumni) Gary throwing a Hawkeye bag. Just so you know the shot did make it. Three points!

Then we had a yummy lunch and some funky cake for desert. I think the hotdog was yellow cake and the hamburger was chocolate.

I know you all love the giveaway contests we do for our customers. Well, this time it was our turn to try to win some fabulous prizes. Here is Eric with his brand new TV/DVD combo.

After lunch some people took a leisurely trip around the lake in the paddle boats.

Inevitably, a water balloon fight erupted. An out of the blue attack by one of the kids started it all.

After that craziness ensued.

Even after all of the balloons were used up the enterprising children threw a few glasses of cold water for good measure.

A Train Signal outing would not be complete without a marsupial in Scott’s pocket! The marsupial in question is Lulu, one of my pet sugar gliders.

Microsoft has been developing and testing a new virtual lab test experience for a while now. At first it was piloted as the 70-113 exam and then started rolling out officially as the 83-640 exam.  All of this might have flown under your radar until recently. We have been getting questions about this here at Train Signal so I thought I would clarify the situation.

Now (as of May 31st actually) the English version of 70-640 has been completely replaced by the 83-640 in the US and Canada.

So why the change in number? I think it is just an organization thing. Like all the beta exams start with 71, the academic versions 72, and now virtual lab exams start with 83.

What to Expect on the New 83-640 Exam

In this case change really is good. The test is more fun (yes I just said fun and test in the same sentence). I encountered some simulation questions when I took 70-620: TS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring. This, however, is an entirely different beast.

For the new 83-640 test you remotely access a virtual machine. You are given a problem or a list of tasks and need to actually solve it on Server 2008. It is a real VM! You could probably add Mickey Mouse as a user if you wanted to. Would this result in a fail? I don’t recommend trying it.

The Born to Learn Blog posted a neat little demo video so that you can get an idea of what this all looks like. I should also mention that there are still some multiple choice questions on the 83-640 exam as well.

Oh and make sure you show up on time for your exam because you have a virtual machine reserved for you at that certain time. Also, there have been some anecdotal reports of latency (not unexpected) and exams completely crashing. Be patient with the slowness but don’t be afraid to speak up if your exam goes kaput.  

What is it Worth?

Microsoft keeps saying that the 70-640 and the 83-640 have the same objectives and count the same. This is all true but have you thought about an additional intangible quality the new exam will bring you?

I think the certification holds more validity and prestige because it can’t be braindumped. You actually get to show that you know how to do configure AD not just the theory behind it. You can give yourself an extra spirited pat on the back after passing this exam.

I can’t wait to see what virtual lab test they decide to develop next. 642? Exchange 2010?

Good News!

Train Signal’s Server 2008 Active Directory Training course is completely able to prepare you for this new exam. Our training already shows you how and not just why. And … Drum roll please … we even include Transcender’s new one-of-a-kind virtual lab-based product. That way you can practice in the same environment that the test has.

Happy studying!

Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements

• 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB of RAM (32-bit)/2 GB of RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit)/20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model 1.0  or higher driver

These are the big 4 requirements but Microsoft has a list of additional feature based requirements also.  

Looking at this screenshot of my Toshiba Tecra M3 laptop’s hardware specifications you can see that I am in pretty good shape for general hardware requirements. There is also a tool called the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (only a Beta version is currently available) that will tell me if all my devises will work with Windows 7 as well.

The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

I downloaded and installed the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. This tool also requires .NET framework 2.0 or higher. I didn’t have it so I was automatically prompted to download and install it before continuing with the upgrade advisor install. 

The upgrade advisor told me to make sure I install all my devices before running the tool so that they can be checked for compatibility. That reminds me. What about my USB adaptor for my Play Station controller? I better still be able to use that.

Success! I am Windows 7 ready! Sort of. While there was no mention of my game controller this message was given for my wireless card:

I wonder why it wants me to download the driver upgrade first before installing Windows 7. If I download it now I would have to have an external device to save it to (I do have one but that’s not the point).  I decided to just ignore this advice and see it if bites me later.

There are several programs that the upgrade advisor is asking me to uninstall before upgrading to Windows 7. I will not be upgrading to 7 from XP as that is impossible. So I don’t need to bother uninstalling anything – everything will be wiped anyway. Did I mention that this tool is a beta?

File Backup

All I need to backup is My Documents, my browser favorites, and my Thunderbird profile. With those all safely copied and pasted onto a USB drive, I am ready to go.

Install Windows 7

I waited all morning on Thursday for the RTM downloads to show up on TechNet. Sometime around noon (CDT) I hit refresh and there they were – the  versions of Windows 7 in all their shining glory. I chose the 32 bit version of 7 Ultimate and started the download.

I also got a key from TechNet and made sure it was saved in a .txt file on my USB drive. What? Did you expect me physically to write it down? How barbaric.

After 3 hours and still no completed download I saw a tweet form Keith Combs with a tip to use the Akamai Technologies Download Manager Browser add-on at TechNet’s Top Downloads.  This was much faster!

My second attempt at downloading the ISO file finished in only 42 minutes. However, and this is a huge however – I simultaneously discovered that my DVD/CD-ROM drive on the Toshiba does not work. When was the last time I even tried to use it? I can’t be certain. This puts a damper on things.

Well, if I am going to embark on trying to make a bootable USB drive I might as well make it for my netbook instead and just get the Toshiba’s DVD/CD-ROM fixed/replaced. Now the focus switches to my Acer Aspire One A150X. This means a quick trip back to TechNet to get Windows 7 Home Premium instead of Ultimate (a new key too).

Create a Bootable USB to Install Windows 7 From

After some Googling I found a guide at IntoWindows.com for making a bootable USB drive.  This guide shows the steps for making the drive bootable using Vista so I used a different (yes a third) computer to actually create the bootable drive.

I was using a 400GB external HDD instead of a little USB key. Therefore the line in the instructions that says “Format process may take few seconds” was a wee bit of an understatement. After an hour and a half the format was only at 18%.

Instead, I just used the normal Windows GIU method to do a quick format after assigning the drive a letter. This time, after an actual few seconds passed I just went back to the command prompt and continued on to step number 6. This worked for me just fine, but I would suggest sticking to the written directions if possible.

At this point I was getting impatient. I didn’t bother with the Upgrade Advisor, I just checked to make sure the netbook had the minimum hardware requirements (it does), backed up my needed files, and went for it.

My first trip into the BIOS to change the boot order did not list USB as an option – not all computers can do this. However, after trying it again … with the USB drive actually plugged in to the computer, the option was available.

Custom Windows 7 Installation

I then followed the install wizard as it did its business:
A custom install is a clean install.

I left the XP restore partition on the netbook (hey you never know), and chose not to further partition the drive. The third drive you see here is actually the bootable USB hard drive.

Besides asking for a computer name, username, time zone, and other expected configurations — the custom install asked me for my network information.  You could always skip this step if you want, but why not set it up now.

Tada! Windows 7 on my netbook! That was easy.

All that is left is to get it configured just how I want. Sliding scale UAC controls here I come! Windows 7 sure has some wacky standard desktop backgrounds available.

So how many computers does it take for Lisa to install Windows 7?

The answer is 4. I know you probably only counted 3. In a momentary act of stupidity, I actually tried another ridiculously old machine I have that is running Windows ME. Needless to say it wouldn’t even open the Windows 7 install disk.  So the final tally is:

• 2 broken/obsolete computers that were nothing but distractions from my true quest (you can’t polish a turd)
• 1 current Vista machine on which to create the bootable USB drive
• 1 slick little Acer netbook that eventually did run 7

Oh and don’t forget the 400GB external hard drive and my trusty Nikon D200 for all the awesome photos of the install.

Well, I hope your upgrade/custom install journey goes significantly better than mine did. I guess it was worth it in the end.

Share Your Journey: How did your Windows 7 install turn out?

PowerShell is Microsoft’s newish extensible scripting language and corresponding command line shell. PowerShell was specifically made for IT professionals to achieve greater productivity and control system administration more easily. 

What PowerShell Can Help You Do

The thing is, PowerShell can do pretty much anything except walk your dog for you. You can even check the date and time if you really wanted to. I guess you could stop using the command line all together and do all your cmd tasks from within the PowerShell shell.

However, the real fun comes in when you can use PowerShell to make your sysadmin life easier. Here are a few random examples:

• Inventory your servers like what each has, the free memory, what service pack it is running, and so on.
• Add multiple users at once to your AD and then give them all a mailbox in Exchange.
• Back up and sync certain files then email yourself a corresponding log file…every night.
• Test out those scary commands before committing to them using the Whatif feature.
• And maybe the most compelling thing: You know how in Server 2008 R2 you can recover an AD object from the recycle bin after you have – oops – deleted it? Well you won’t find that option anywhere in the GUI. You need PowerShell to do it. If that isn’t a reason to give PowerShell a try then I don’t know what is!

For PowerShell Newbies

Good News! You don’t need any prior programming experience to use PowerShell — it is that intuitive. But, just so we are on the same page here is a short vocab lesson:

• Shell – What you the user actually interacts with. Either a command line or a GUI (graphical user interface).
• Extensible – The ability of a system to grow and change as needed.
• Scripting Language – Well, there are numerous debates going on all over creation about the difference between a programming language and a scripting language. You don’t really need to understand the specifics to understand that PowerShell is a language that you use to do administrative tasks. Who cares whether it is interpreted or compiled?
• cmdlets – Pronounced command-lets. Cmdlets are simple tools that can be used separately, but their power is realized when you combine these simple tools to perform complex tasks. Microsoft provides buckets of built-in cmdlets  but you can write your own if you see fit.

For the People with Programming or Unix Experience

Not surprisingly PowerShell has all the comforts of home: man pages, aliases, wildcards, and pipelines; if statements, recursion, and loops.

If you have worked with VB or WHS then you should be able to make the translation pretty easily. There is even help for translating your existing VB scripts to PowerShell.

Top 10 PowerShell Resources to Get You Started

1. Windows PowerShell Fundamentals Training by PowerShell MVP Jeff Hicks

Windows PowerShell Fundamentals Training by PowerShell MVP Jeff Hicks, is designed for PowerShell beginners who want to understand the scripting language and get a solid foundation in PowerShell.

2. PowerCLI 101: PoweShell Basics by PowerShell MVP Hal Rottenberg

PowerCLI 101: PowerShell Basics free video training by PowerShell MVP Hal Rottenberg geared towards virtualization professionals who want to get started with PowerShell and PowerCLI, VMware’s application of PowerShell.

3. Microsoft’s PowerShell FAQ

PowerShell FAQ provided by Microsoft.

4. Professor PowerShell Column by PowerShell MVP Jeff Hicks

Professor PowerShell Jeff Hick’s educational column on MCPmag.com

5. Windows PowerShell Owners Manual

Windows PowerShell Owners Manual a free guide to getting started with PowerShell.

6. Scripting with Windows PowerShell

Scripting with Windows PowerShell a list of resources for sysadmins interested in learning about PowerShell.

7. Windows PowerShell Blog

Windows PowerShell Blog with information about the latest advancements in PowerShell.

8. Windows PowerShell Cookbook

Windows PowerShell Cookbook providing you with recipes to do specific tasks with PowerShell.

9. Windows PowerShell 2.0

Windows PowerShell 2.0 will teach you just about everything you ever wanted to know about PowerShell (and more).

10. Take Command of Server 2008 with Windows PowerShell

Take Command of Server 2008 with PowerShell — a short series of articles that provide a good introduction to PowerShell.

Good luck!

I started gathering information for this article right after the Windows 7 and somewhat quieter Server 2008 R2  release to manufacturing (RTM) announcements on Wednesday. As the hours go by more and more people are starting to weigh in on what they think about the products.

Predictions and opinions are mixed and some facts are still unknown. But, I have gathered the most important facts for you and then I’ll chime in with my own two cents. Why not? Everyone else is doing it.

Time Table

There is a very intricate time table for whom can get their hands on what when. I made you some neat and tidy little charts to help you find out when you can first get Window 7. Please note that these dates are for the English version of the projects only. For info on other languages see the Windows Blog and the Windows Server Division Weblog.

Well at least it is cheaper then Vista… There are also talks of a family pack that lets you install Windows 7 on up to 3 computers, but the details are not confirmed at this time.

Windows 7 Versions and Prices

Here are the six, count-em six, versions of Windows 7:

So to buy or not to buy?

With Windows Server R2 the answer (money aside) comes down to whether or not you could use some of the many new features that R2 has to offer. Do you need the reduced power consumption, a ton of new PowerShell cmdlets, all the improvements in security and failover, and of course vitalization up the wazoo? You can even reinstate Active Directory objects from the “recycle bin” after you delete them – how cool is that!

Whether or not to hop right on the Windows 7 bandwagon is the hot questions that everyone is debating right now. Is 7 just a Vista Pig in lipstick? I say Vista already had lipstick but what it really needed to do is go on a diet. And I guess it did – most people agree that 7 is leaner and quicker than Vista.

Yes, it will be impossible to upgrade from XP to 7. Yes, 7 might not be able to run well on the underpowered old XP machines. I hate to say it, but if you have machines that are that old maybe it is time to replace them anyway.

And, please don’t keep whining about the lack of backward compatibility. People like my husband think it is a great injustice. He was correct – back in 2007 when Vista first sprang that problem on us. But if you haven’t done anything about it by now you only have yourself to blame. We need to move forward people. Only grandma can get away with refusing to embrace change.

What about usability? I think usability is all about what you are used to. I primarily use Vista now so when I get on an XP machine I don’t automatically remember where and how to do things. That doesn’t mean that XP is suddenly more cumbersome then I remember; it just means I am suddenly more cumbersome with XP. 7 will feel awkward at first, but you will get used to that funky task bar I promise.

As far as I am personally concerned, the only question that really needs answering is will Windows 7 work on my netbook? Microsoft’s Windows 7 Starter solution is just not a viable option. Limiting the user to three applications at once is just plain silly. Even if it will work, how will I get 7 onto the machine with no DVD drive?

The Windows 7 Challenge

So I issue a challenge to Gosia my fellow Train Signal Product Manager, known XP lover, and borderline Vista hater: Try out Windows 7 and see if you like it (after you get used to it).

Will the new UAC still bug you? Will you love the fact that 7 will know what network you are connected to (work or home) and change you default printer accordingly? Will the search box make you extremely lazy like Vista’s does for me?

Let me and the world know in an answer post in a month or so. Can’t Wait!

• 70-680, TS: Windows 7, Configuring
• 70-685, MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
• 70-686, MCITP: Windows 7, Desktop Administrator

Since then there have been some interesting developments.

First of all, the MCITP titles have a different word arrangement than the actual exam name. Is that less or more confusing? Actually, I think it is less. For example, what you see above lists the exam number 70-685 and the letters MCITP in the same line. This might lead you to believe that you would become an MCITP after taking just the 70-685 exam. That would be too easy!

Instead they have made the actual MCITP title:

     MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7

while the exam is being called:

     70-685, Pro: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician

Here is some more information about the two MCITP paths that will be available for Windows 7:

MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7

Like other Microsoft Certified IT Pro level titles this one has several exam requirements that need to be fulfilled before you get the beloved MCITP letters after your name.

• 70-680, TS: Windows 7, Configuring
• 70-685, Pro: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician
• And an HDI (Help Desk Institute) customer service exam:
  – HDI Support Center Analyst (HDI-SCA)
  or
  – HDI Desktop Support Technician (HDI-DST)

Who is HDI? They are the leading international association for technical support professionals. They offer training and certification in IT service and support.

The theory is a good one: a certification that shows you both understand the technical aspects and are actually human. But when push comes to shove, will an HR manager really know the difference between Enterprise Desktop Support Technician and Enterprise Desktop Administrator? Who knows.

MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7

There is still nothing official said about this path yet. I would guess it would include the 70-680, 70-686, and maybe one other exam. I do know it will not include the “soft skills” requirement from HDI. Ken Rosen from Born to Learn says:

“So for those of you who want a well-rounded technology+soft skills credential, there’s MCITP: EDST7, and for those of you just want the Win7 piece, there’s MCITP: EDA7″

So what about MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration?

Since my last Windows 7 certification post the 70-680: TS: Windows 7, Configuring exam has, thankfully, not changed names. It was removed from being in beta status last month. An objective list is available but Microsoft has no study materials available yet (and neither do many legitimate 3rd parties).

Microsoft has promised that the 70-680 exam can be used toward the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator title, but I have been hearing that people are having issues with this. They have completed 70-680 and all the other requirements for Enterprise Admin, but are still not receiving the Enterprise Admin title on their transcripts.

I hope MS gets their act together and gets this resolved or people are going to be more reluctant to be early certification adopters in the future. What would Microsoft do without their beta exam takers?

So there you go. That is the latest confirmed and unconfirmed information about Windows 7 certifications. Don’t shoot the messenger!

For something that is targeted at companies with no dedicated IT person/department SBS 2008 sure is complicated. Here is the long list of hardware requirements and network design restrictions:

• Only one machine in the domain can be running SBS 2008 – there can be other servers but they can’t be running SBS.
• The SBS 2008 server must be the root of the Active Directory forest
• It Cannot have any child domains
• The SBS Server cannot trust any other Active Directory forests or domains
• Can only have a total of 75 CALs (either user CALs or device CALs – see below)
• Tape based backup is not supported (Whoo hoo!)
• Must run on 64-bit hardware (blame exchange)
• Minimum of 60 GB of available disk space
• Minimum of 4 GB Ram
• At least a 2 GHz single core processor or 1.5 GHz or faster multi-core processor

So is Microsoft just trying to line the pockets of IT consultants? Maybe, but most instances of SBS 2008 will be pre-installed by the OEM so at lease you don’t need to worry about the hardware requirements.

CALs – Expansive Expensive Paperwork

Client Access Licenses for SBS 2008 are not actually installed anywhere. This means they only exist on paper, but we still must take care to become and stay compliant. I found a humorous but accurate article by the SBS Diva explaining what exactly to do with your CALs: Take your CALs and shove them…in a safe.

While SBS allows for up to 75 CALs, a business that needs stretching above 50 CALs should start thinking about a different server solution.  Here is a quick rundown of the many many different kinds of Client Access Licenses.

Device CAL – Picture a library or a school. They may have a lab with 10 machines but have thousands of users. In this case they would want to purchase licenses per device and not per user.

User CAL – This is for when a company has a set number of users, but the users can be accessing the server from many locations such as home, work, or a smartphone.

Premium User CAL– This is for use with the premium version of SBS. Not all CALs used with SBS 2008 Premium need to be premium CALs. Only users that access SQL need premium CALs.

Premium Device CALs  – Same as above but per device not per user.

Outlook CAL – I want to mention that Microsoft Outlook CALs are not included with SBS 2008 (they were in previous versions).

An organization does not need to choose only one type of CAL. They can pick and choose according to their needs. Note that CALS are sold is packs of 1, 5, and 20 so plan accordingly.

But Don’t Underestimate SBS 2008

I know that I have just been whining about SBS, but that doesn’t mean I think it is an inferior product. In fact I think that it is often undervalued. If you think that SBS 2008 is just a dumbed down version of Server 2008 you are mistaken. Here is what you get with SBS 2008:

SBS 2008 Standard Edition

• A full versions of Windows Server 2008 Standard (so most programs that run of Server 2008 will run on SBS 2008)
• A full version of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
• A full versions of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Forefront Security for Exchange Server
• Windows Server Updates Services
• Microsoft Office Live Small Business

SBS 2008 Premium Edition

• Everything in SBS 2008 Standard Edition
• An additional copy of Windows Server 2008
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 – Standard Edition (can be virtual)

It is arguable that SBS 2008 is so robust it might even be overkill for a “small business.” How is this possible when we all know that you aren’t supposed to put all those server roles on one machine? Well Microsoft has done the prep work to magically make them work together just fine.

And don’t start complaining about being confined and oppressed by all those wizards. Train Signal Instructor and Microsoft MVP Dave Shackelford put it this way:

If you are just trying to drive from point A to point B why would you go off roading when you can just follow the streets? They are well known, properly maintained, and cause less wear and tear on your vehicle. Sure a little rally riding is fun from time to time but you wouldn’t do it on your daily commute. Don’t worry thrill seekers – with SBS 2008 you have the option of going off road!

David Shackelford and I are working on some first class SBS 2008 training for you right now. Sign up for updates to find out more info as it becomes available.

System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 New Features

Application Virtualization Management – Now the machines you are managing don’t need to actually have the Configuration Manager client software installed on them. SCCM now supports running virtual application packages on clients with XP or above.  Here is some more information if you are interested. Get on board – application virtualization is the way of the future.

Forefront Client Security Integration – Use Configuration Manager to monitor Microsoft ForeFront Client Security configuration on the applicable clients. Here is a cute little scenario from Microsoft to give you an idea of how to use ForeFront with SCCM.

SQL Reporting Services Reporting – Seamlessly use the advanced reporting capabilities of SQL Reporting services from Configuration Manager. There are now exciting wealth of reports at your disposal! More info.

Client Status Reporting – Keep tabs on the health of your client machines. Get reports on clients who are not responding, are offline, and more.

Operating System Deployment – Create operating system images and deploy them out to systems. You can even deploy operating systems to several systems at once.

Upgrade Steps

First: Download and run the R2 upgrade file named SPLASH.HTA. See the link below to get your evaluation copy.

Start Screen: Click Configuration Manager 2007 R2 under the Install heading from the start screen. Remember this is an upgrade so you must already have Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 installed on this server.

Welcome Screen: Click Next on the welcome screen.

License Agreement: Read the lovely license, accept it, and click Next.

Registration Information: Enter your information and your product key. Then click Next.

Installation: What a pointless step!

Installation Process: Wait and watch as all the little blue guys fill up the line…

Setup Complete: When the Setup Complete screen displays – and I hope it does – click Finish.

That was possibly the most painless install ever. Now go play with all the new features!

Want to Play Along?

So if you want to give this a try here are links to the evaluation copies of Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 and the R2 up grade

• SCCM 2007 SP1 Evaluation Copy
• SCCM 2007 R2 Upgrade Evaluation Copy

Now that you have SCCM installed and upgraded take the next step: Learn how to manage updates, deploy software/operating systems, and more with System Center Configuration Manager Training.

Here is an outline of the small lab environment that was used for this SCCM install. Pay special attention to the listed components that are either prerequisites for installing SCCM or are needed later to use the different SCCM roles. (Please note that later versions of any element will work too) Here is a complete list of what roles use what components. I also found a neat installation checklist you may want to check out before getting started.

My Lab

SCCM1 – You guessed it. This is where we will install SCCM

Windows Server 2003 R2, 32bit

• .Net Framework 2.0
• Internet Information Services  6.0 (IIS)
• Active Server Pages
• Web-based Distributed Authoring and Versioning ( WebDAV)
• Background Intelligent Transfer Service 2.0 (BITS)
• Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (MMC)
• Windows Remote Management 1.1 (WinRM)
• Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) – Administrator Console Only

SQL Server 2005 SP2

• Database Services
• Workstation Components

DC1 – An active directory domain controller.

Windows Server 2003 R2, 32bit

System Center Configuration Manager Installation Steps

1. Extend the Active Directory Schema

Log on to your Domain Controller as  the all powerful admin and run the schema extension tool. If you are doing this in a production environment there are some additional precautions you should take before touching the schema.  You can see the suggested procedure here. But in my lab why not rush ahead and risk a catastrophe. Isn’t that half the fun? The tool is named ExtADSch.exe and can be found on the SCCM installation disc at \SMSSETUP\BIN\I386.

2. Run the Prerequisite Checker

Go to the server you want to install SCCM (SCCM1 in my case) and pop in the installation disc. Run SPLASH.HTA if it doesn’t start automatically.

Click Run the Prerequisite Checker.

This is the first installation of Configuration Manager on this network so choose the Primary site radio button. Enter the server name where your SQL Server lives in the first box. In the second box enter the server name that has WSUS SDK on it. The last box is for the name of the server that will be your management point. This time you will need the fully qualified domain name. Your environment may be different then mine so adjust accordingly. That’s it for this page. Click OK.

Now that you have told the prereq check where to look it will see what you are missing. Double click any item to get details about how to fix the problem. After you have fixed the issues run the prereq checker again to make sure they have cleared.

3. Configure the Active Directory System Container so that the SCCM site server has full control rights.

Back on the Domain Controller open up Active Directory Users and Computers. Make sure you have the advance view turned on. Right click on the System Container and go to Security tab in Properties. Click Add. Make a computers object with the name and location of your Configuration Manager  machine and click OK.

In the Advanced Settings make sure your SCCM object and all its child objects have full control.

4. Install!!

Run SPLASH.HTA again and click Configuration Manger 2007 SP1 under the Install heading. Click Next on the first induction screen.

Available Setup Options:   On the second screen choose Install a Confutation Manger site server. There are not very many options available if this is your first SCCM installation.

Microsoft Software License Terms:  Read every last word of the license terms. You can even print it and read it over and over just for fun. When you are done, mark the checkbox that says I accept these license terms. Don’t forget your friend the Next button.

Installation Settings: Choose Custom settings and then click Next. You could just choose Simple settings, but where is the fun in that?

Site Type: The next screen is asking if this is the primary site or a secondary site. This is the first instance of SCCM on this network so of course we go with Primary site.

Customer Experience Improvement Program Configuration: Yeah! You are invited…to let Microsoft watch your every move. Just kidding. I don’t think Microsoft will get anything useful from this temporary lab so I chose No this time.

Product Key:  Insert your product key and click Next.

Destination Folder: On the next screen provide a destination Folder where SCCM will be installed. Oh just leave the default and click Next.

Site Settings: Now you have to make an actual choice! It is an arbitrary one but a choice none the less. What will your Site code be? As it explains on the screen- a site code is a 3 character unique identifier for this SCCM site. You can’t change it so choose wisely! The second box is for an unofficial nickname for your site. Fill in these two boxes and…yawn…click Next.

Site Mode: As stated in the title of this article we are using Mixed Mode. Here is some more information about the scarier but more secure Native Mode.

Client Agent Selection: Next you get to choose which client agents you will be able to use.  The agent names are pretty self explanatory but if you want more information here is an article on client agents by Brian Tucker. The more of them you click the more you get to play with!

Database Server: On this screen you need to provide the server location of your SQL Server. The second box is the site database name. There is a naming convention you need to be aware of. Use the letters SMS then an underscore then your site code. Even though SCCM is not longer called SMS that is still the naming convention we use here.

SMS Provider Settings: The SMS Provider should live on the same server as your SQL Server.  It communicates with the database. So enter the name and then click Next.

Management Point: You have to have at least one Management Point to communication with clients so why not add it to the Configuration Manager Site System. This time you will need a fully qualified domain name.

Port Settings: just use the default unless your production environment requires different. HTTPS is grayed out because it only works with Native Mode.

Updated Prerequisite Components: Hasn’t you mama always told you to do your updates? Leave the Check for updates and download newer versions to an alternate path chosen then click Next.

Updated Prerequisite Component Path: Make a folder for your new updates and then enter its path here. The wizard will not accept a path that does not exist. After you click Next there may be some updates that download. This could take several minutes. When it is done a popup box will tell you, “Successfully downloaded all prerequisite components.” Click OK here and then it’s time for the next screen. 

Settings Summary: This is a review of everything you choose throughout the wizard. If you need to change something you need to click the back button until you get back to the corresponding screen. After you click Next the Prerequisite Checker will run itself one more time.

Resolve any errors and read any warnings to make sure they aren’t deal breakers. Then click the big button that says Begin Install!

Setup Action Status Monitoring: Here you will see actions go from Not Started to In Process to Competed. Yeah!

Eventually you will get a screen that informs you that the setup completes successfully (I hope). Click Finish and you’re done!

Join me next time for a step by step guide to upgrading this install to System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2. I will talk a little about the new features available in R2 as well.

Oh and if you want to learn more about System Center Configuration manager check out our training course that is now available.

System Center exams including Configuration Manager are an option for the IT-Pro who already has some Windows Server 2003 or 2008 certifications and wants to expand their knowledge and marketability.

Don’t forget that the 70-401 exam counts as credit toward the Server 2003 MCSA and MCSE certifications too.

Configuration Manager Exam Topics

Here is a breakdown of the exam objectives arranged from most tested to least tested. Go to the SCCM Microsoft Learning page for a more detailed breakdown of the topics.

• Configuring an SCCM Infrastructure – 19%
• Distributing Applications – 17%
• Managing and Maintaining an SCCM Infrastructure – 15%
• Managing Resources – 14%
• Deploying Operating Systems – 13%
• Securing a Network Infrastructure – 13%
• Deploying a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Server – 9%

Exam Details

The last I heard, this is how the 70-401 exam plays out. (Please let me know about any changes if you have taken the exam more recently.)

• 50 questions
• 1000 points possible
• Passing score of 700
• No simulation questions – boo hiss

Are you Ready to take the Exam?

The word on the street is that someone with Configuration Manager experience – maybe about 6 months or more – should be able to tackle this test easily. Even with experience I would never go into a test blind. I suggest going over the topic list and doing some quizzes at the least. Configuration Manager can do so much neat stuff so I am sure you will learn at least something new along the way.

Even without formal experience this test is still passable. In this case you will need something more robust like our Train Signal training course (not boring) or a big fat book (boring) to get you up to speed.

With or without System Center Configuration Manager experience you will defiantly need a familiarity with Active Directory and other basic Windows Server technologies.

Oh,  just in case you were wondering, the Operations Manager exam 70-400 is not a prerequisite to taking the 70-401 exam.

Study Resources

I have found several online resources below to help you learn and study. No brain dumps please!

• Virtual Labs
• Quizzes
• Technical Papers
• Webcasts

Good Luck!

Here at Train Signal I am working on a training course about Microsoft’s System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2. As Gosia mentioned in a previous article, Configuration Manager is just one part of System Center. The knowledge that I sap up while polishing instructor Scott Lowe’s Configuration Manager videos has been my first taste of the System Center line. Let me tell you I am really liking it. I can see its potential to make life easier for IT pros at medium to large sized businesses.

Configuration Manager Can …

In case you aren’t familiar with its repertoire SCCM allows you to manage all sorts of tasks from within one program. No more Remote Desktop-ing in or – heaven forbid - walking over to a machine.

Here are a few things that System Center Configuration Manager can do:

• Deploy operating systems (even servers!)
• Software distribution, management, and updates
• Manage security, support, updates, and more for mobile users
• Very, very detailed and expansive reporting
• Total Asset Intelligence – know what software and hardware you have where, how it is configured, and how often it is used
• Desired Configuration Management – set a baseline for desired configurations and SCCM will let you know what doesn’t comply

SCCM Certification Exam

Whenever you decide to tackle another Microsoft technology, one thing to consider is certification. You guessed it – Microsoft offers a SCCM certification. It is called Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring.

The exam number is Exam 70-401. If you would like more information here is the Microsoft Learning page on the 70-401 exam. One neat thing about the 401 exam is that it can be used as an elective requirement for the MCSA or MCSE 2003 certifications.

Links to Configuration Manager Resources

I just know you can’t wait for Train Signal to release the SCCM training. To tide you over until then here are some resources.

Blogs to Bookmark

• System Center Configuration Manager Team Blog
• The Configuration Manager Support Team Blog
• Configuration Manager with Jason Lewis

Training and Learning

• Virtual Labs – The two 90 min lab topics are: Introduction to System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and Upgrading from Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 to System Center Configuration Manager 2007
• Pre-Configured Virtual Hard Disc so you can play with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2
• Best Practices for Certificate Management (The PKI kind not the exam kind)
• Train Signal’s upcoming SCCM training *Now Available!* 

Train Signal sure is a fun bunch. Here are a few pictures of us entertaining the attendees (and ourselves of course).

A contest to see if Tonia or Lisa can blow up the beach ball the fastest.

Zach juggling (He’s pretty good!).

Me flexing my temporary VMware muscles.

We didn’t spend all our time in the Train Signal booth so here are some pictures of us out and about in LA.

Everyone waiting for a table to get a quick bite to
eat before the Partner Expo Reception Monday night.
Left to Right: Gary, Tonia, Zach, Iman, Scott.

Taking a video of Iman’s soliloquy at the Yard House
restaurant. I think the hand belongs to Gary.

Scott and Gary playing Tennis on the roof of our hotel.

Here is a link to a picture of me taken by the guys over at the AVIcode booth. They had lollies with real dead bugs in them. Yum. I was going for the most horrible face possible for my shot. How did I do?

A big thanks to everyone who visited out booth at Tech▪Ed 2009. I really enjoyed talking to everyone!

And just in case you missed it: Tonia kissing MSDN Webcasts Guy.

Here are some shots of us setting up the Train Signal booth.

Gary and Zach putting together the podium.

Iman smiles while holding the podium top as
Gary and Zach work on its base.

Next, we have various pictures of us talking to attendees. My favorite part of the conference was each morning when attendees came hurrying to our booth first before heading anywhere else just to make sure they got our giveaway of the day. I don’t blame them – our training rocks! Everyone I met at Tech▪Ed was really nice. Geeks rule!

Left to Right: Tonia, Iman, happy attendee, Zach,
Scott, excited attendee.

 
Zach showing off our fabulous training.

Now! The moment you have all been waiting for… Tonia, Me, and the Microsoft Source Fource. Tonia had a soft spot for her buddy Webcasts while I was partial to Visual Studio Guy. They came to visit us at our booth where Tonia gave out big hugs (and even a kiss just for Webcasts Guy) and I had a dance party with them.

Me doing the Stirring the Pot (or is it Churning Butter?) dance
with the Source Fource.

SQL Server Gal gets a hug from Tonia while
Webcasts and Virtual Labs wait their turn.

Webcasts Guy giggles as Tonia plants a kiss on his cheek.

Stay tuned because I am going to post even more pictures from Tech▪Ed next week.

We had a ton of fun in LA and I will post a bunch of pictures next week. Be sure to check back because you won’t want to miss the pictures of Tonia and me with the Source Fource!

If you met us at TechEd this week please post a comment and tell us what you think of the free training we gave out. I just know you all started watching it on your plane ride home.

Certification Sites to Visit Now and Again

Certification Magazine
A favorite of mine: Certification Magazine. This is the web version of a real live paper magazine! You can even view the articles in a super neat graphical environment that makes you feel like you are flipping though the magazine. They have great articles each month about technical training and IT certification.

Here is a must read article from this month’s issue - The Perfect Hand: Can You Be Too Qualified? Warning: this website currently looks a little strange if viewed with IE8 but using Firefox works fine.

informIT’s Certification Reference Guide
Do some clicking around on this Certification Reference Guide.  Here you will find a wealth of information about Microsoft and other vendor’s certifications. Author Tim Warner tries to demystify certification names and prerequisites.

I learned something from this guide just today! Did you know that you can apply some CompTIA credentials to certain Microsoft certifications? I didn’t. Here is the proof.

I Just Can’t Get Enough of:
No you aren’t experiencing Dejavu. IT learning and IT certification go hand in hand so many of the links I mentioned last week are still goodies for certification info. Here they are again:

• Born to Learn – A blog from the peeps who develop the MS exams.
• Microsoft Learning – Official and complete information about Microsoft certifications.
• Transcender Team Blog – Certification news and info by people that live and breath certification.

Train Signal
We at Train Signal have put together a lot of articles and info sheets on one of our very favorite topics: certifications! Shameless plug? You be the judge.

• Certification 101 - Train Signal’s tips on where to start, test taking, the benefits of certification, and more. This page also links out to some vendor specific pages outlining their certification structures.
• Train Signal Training - A plethora of articles on certification topics. Isn’t the word plethora fun?
• Windows Server HQ - You found this article. Want more?

Certification Info Websites
There are many websites out there that offer information,  practice material, and shopping forums. You really need to be careful because some of these sites are braindump proprietors. I found a neat little article at About.com that can help you spot a braindump website before you accidently jeopardize your morals and reputation. Here are two that seem to check out.

• CramSession – A suspect title but it actually has good reviews. You need to create an account but then everything is free.
• MC MCSE – Another free site with study guides, practice questions, and more.

Certification Articles

Here are some individual certification articles to give you some perspective when choosing what cert paths to tackle.

The 10 Best IT Certifications
This article by Larry Dignam is a few months old but the comments from his readers offer an amazing insight into what real people are experiencing out in the IT world. I suggest both reading the articles and going through the comments.

Top 15 Highest Paying Certifications in the Technology Industry
There are some certs listed here that I have never even heard of! Either way this juicy gossip is a must read.

What are some of your favorite IT certification sites?

The Transcender Team Blog

Let’s start with one of my favorites: The Transcender Team Blog. In case you are not familiar, Transcender offers certification exam preparation software.  They also have a great blog. These cats really have their virtual fingers on the pulse of IT learning and certification. I suggest subscribing to their RSS to so you don’t miss any of their posts on things like: their personal certification studying and exam experiences, info on free or sale specials from Transcender, and of course the latest Microsoft and non-Microsoft certification news.

Microsoft Elevate America

Here is a brand new resource: Microsoft Elevate America. The program behind this website is still being fleshed out. The general idea is that Microsoft is giving away training and certification vouchers. However, you can’t just go to this or any other MS website to get the vouchers – you have to go through some kind of state agency. What agency? Who knows.

I hope that Microsoft is not being deliberately vague when they say, “These vouchers can be obtained from the designated outlet in your state: the Workforce Development Office, Career One Stop, or some other participating entity.” More likely the program is so new that they themselves don’t actually know who the participating agencies will be yet. Either that or they just want to sell you a time share.

In the mean time, the Microsoft Elevate America website does have some other learning resources. You can download free developer software and they have: free training, a career questionnaire that gives you personalized advice, some job interview insight, and links to other Microsoft offerings like Office Live, and the free online storage (SkyDrive) at Windows Live. Be sure to check this site out now and again the coming months.

Microsoft Learning

Next we have an obvious choice but still one worth mentioning: Microsoft Learning. This is where you will find course listings, free video training, special offers, and info on certifications. I just watched a one hour Introduction to Exchange Server 2010 course over at Microsoft Learning. It was ok – would have been more entertaining done by a Train Signal instructor, but eh what did I expect. FYI you need a Microsoft Live account to view their videos. Microsoft Learning has even set up a Windows 7 Learning Portal where you can get a head start on your Windows 7 studies.

The main reason I go to the Microsoft Learning website is for certification info. It is always my first stop when I have questions on certification paths and exams objectives.

Thrive

Here is another relatively unknown website: Thrive. Well, at least it was to me considering I just found out about it today. I am not really clear on the greater goal of this website.  A lot of (but not all) the info on Thrive seems to be geared toward someone on the IT team in a business environment. There is even a picture of two geeks high-fiving!  There are some snacks, podcasts, whitepapes, and webcasts on topics like virtualization, optimization, and security compliance. Then there is a very helpful section called Career Care that talks about job search, resumes, interview questions, and the like.

Born to Learn

Get the latest Microsoft certification news right from the source: The Born to Learn Blog. These folks don’t have their fingers on the pulse of certifications they pretty much are the pulse. This blog is authored by the people who develop Microsoft training and certification. Born to Learn is another one that I highly recommend subscribing to. Right now most of their posts are about a bus tour they are doing but normally they post about exams they are developing, new exam betas, exam tips, and some general MS news.

Spicy Elephant

Last and probably least we have: Spicy Elephant. This website is not IT learning specific but is for anyone studying… anything. You create and then go through flash cards. The application doesn’t actually check your answers. So you need to be honest about how well you knew the answer based on a very scientific smiley scale.

The cool factor of Spicy Elephant doesn’t come from the digital flash cards themselves. The neatest part is that Spicy Elephant sets a schedule for how often you should go through your flash card deck. ”Too soon and you waste your time, too late and you have to relearn.” So if you have some IT vocab or concepts you are struggling to get down then give Spicy a try. I think I am going to give it a go this weekend while I study for my network security final exam for grad school. An elephant never forgets right?

What are some of your favorite IT learning sites?

The Windows 7 Release Candidate is Just Around the Corner

Last week bloggers picked up on a page of the Microsoft’s Partner Program site that seemes to have gone live early. (Intentionally? Unintentionally? Who knows?)

The information is currently gone from that page but it originally listed May 5, 2009 as the date for Windows 7’s release candidate. Here is an article by Gregg Keizer of Computerworld with more information about what partner program site exactly said.

It doesn’t end there folks! Adrian Kingsley-Hughes of ZDnet is reporting that release candidate build 7100 has been leaked. Gasp! Check out his article. His journalistic integrity keeps him from dishing any really juicy information but it is still a good read.

Microsoft Funds an Open-Source Network File System for Windows

Version 4 of NFS for Windows is being developed at University of Michigan. This means that a Windows server will be able to be used for NFSv4 file storage. Here are some links for more information:

• An Open Source Network File System Client for Windows – Port25’s Peter Galli
• Microsoft finances open-source NFS v4 implementation for Windows – Mary-Jo Foley, ZDnet

The Free Microsoft Hyper-V Server Gets More Features (Free) and will Continue to be Free!

Wow, if that title were in an e-mail it would never pass the spam filters. The Microsoft Virtualization Team Blog says, “Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 will continue to be free, and now will include live migration and host clustering capabilities.” This refers to the stand-alone version of Hyper-V that you don’t need Windows Server 2008 to get.

The Exchange 2010 Beta First Impressions

The beta for Exchange 2010 was released last week. I went looking for first reviews and found they are mostly positive. There has to be more to get excited about then thread style e-mail so check out these articles.

• First look: Exchange 2010 Beta Shines – Martin Heller, InfoWorld
• Can You Find the Enhancements in Exchange 2010? – Peter Bruzzese, InfoWorld
• Hands On with Exchange 2010 Beta – Mario Morejon, PCMag.com

Green Computing TechNet Magazine Released for Earth Day

You knew that earth day was April 22nd right? With hordes of people wearing the color green in honor of earth day while at the same time failing to take any kind of real action – I felt a bit jaded this year. I was excited to see this Going Green issue of TechNet Magazine. Articles include:

• Framework for Building a “Hyper-Green” Virtual Server System
• Planning Your Power Management and Virtualization Strategies
• Essential Tools for Planning Your Virtual Infrastructure
• Build a Green Datacenter

Windows 8?

Microsoft is looking for a Software tester for the new file server being developed for Windows 8. So that confirms that at least parts of Windows 8 is already (or very soon will be) in development. Here is the job posting with all the details. 

Personally, I just don’t have the energy to care about Windows 8 yet. Do you?