The Metro User Interface

Many professionals, analysts and even CEOs have been impressed with how Microsoft has been developing Windows 8 from the ground up with tablets in mind; rather than shoehorning the OS onto tablets. The upcoming OS will support a wide range of hardware, but tablets are the devices Microsoft has been relying on to showcase it. For instance, during IDF 2011 tablets were shown running an early version of Windows 8, as reported by Notebook Check.

One of the main aspects of Windows 8 that makes the OS stand out from previous versions of Windows is the Metro user Interface (UI) that has been clearly designed with tablets in mind. Metro will allow users to select multiple apps side-by-side from tiles gathered on a screen. Users will be able to shift through them effortlessly.

According to AnAndTech, Metro will not be running off of a standard Windows desktop or in its background. Users will be able to choose to switch apps from a desktop interface or through Metro. As you may have guessed, tablet users will probably want to use the Metro approach while Mac users with a mouse will use the desktop interface. Another great aspect of Metro is that it will allow cloud storage across multiple devices.

The Software-Based Approach

In terms of the professional or enterprise market, these tablets will probably stand out and make the greatest splash. But is this the only market Microsoft is going after? Microsoft wants as much appeal for Windows 8 as possible and the company will have to find ways to cater to different audiences. Capturing the enterprise market fully first would be a strategy that would make a lot of sense for Microsoft. This is because users in enterprise would not have to feel Microsoft is making compromises for the OS (in order to make it more user friendly and less open). Microsoft could sell a lot more software in the enterprise market with tablets running Microsoft Office applications. However, Microsoft will have to remake these apps for tablets and they may be watered down or not the same apps as the x86 versions. Microsoft is a software company first and foremost, so they should create Office for tablets in one form or another. However, other companies, like Adobe, may not be as open to creating software just for tablets running Windows 8.

Microsoft will want to license out not only Windows 8 to manufacturers, but sell Windows-based applications to as many companies and industries as possible. This was a huge reason why the company captured the PC market in the enterprise sector over the Mac. Software became widespread and hard to turn away from once companies started relying on Windows apps. For Windows 8 tablets to take off in the professional, or enterprise field, Microsoft will have to make the same splash on tablets. Microsoft Office better be quite stable and usable when it comes to tablets.

Security

Besides standardized compatibility with Windows apps, security is another issue that Microsoft will have to tackle for Windows 8 to truly take off in enterprise. Security is a very important issue for many companies. It is an issue that has gained RIM support with their tablet, the Blackberry Playbook, over the iPad in certain industries. For instance, the U.S. federal government has embraced Blackberry Playbook Tablets due to its great security features, according to a RIM press release. In order for Microsoft to be able to truly stand out with tablets running on their platform, security issues like anti-malware software, privacy, and Virtual Private Networking (VPN) will have to be sorted out. Users of tablets in enterprise do not want privacy to be compromised within their company, nor do they want data to be stolen.

By offering a high level of VPN connection support, users in enterprise may want tablets just for e-mail and file storage. These Windows 8 Tablets could start capturing the enterprise market from then on. Security needs to be stressed by Microsoft with tablets and other computing systems. However, Windows 8 will be cross platform which mean that security on tablets should at least equal security on any other PC. This is good news for enterprise. Keep in mind that security could be a whole topic onto itself, so VPN is only one example of a security issue Microsoft could address (for tablets). Also, Apple does have VPN support for the iPad, so this wouldn’t be a particular issue that would proper Windows 8 ahead of iOS all by itself. Microsoft needs to tackle all security issues directly with Widows 8. Windows 8 needs to allow tablets to have a high-caliber Wi-Fi encryption, secure firewall settings, great anti-malware software, and other security methods (like VPN) in order for companies to function securely.

Conclusion

The bottom line is that Microsoft is tackling tablets head-on and making Windows 8 compatible with them as a primary goal. Whether it will be able to do this in an efficient manner, while also fully supporting PCs, remains to be seen. However, the enterprise market should be pleased that there will be portable devices available for employees running standardized Windows apps. The software incompatibility is the one aspect that Microsoft has to work out. It isn’t always easy to convince developers to create separate or new apps for a new tablet platform (new in the sense that Android and iOS are already established on tablets).

It will definitely be a lot harder for Microsoft to capture the mass consumer market — in the same way Apple has done — than the enterprise market. The enterprise market may be satisfied with Microsoft Office apps running on tablets and nothing else. The average user will want a sleek device that is effortless to use, provides a long battery life, and has plenty of apps. Windows 8 tablets may not have as much pull in this regard. Marketing and appeal also play a huge role — not just functionality or features — in the consumer market. Time will tell if Windows 8 tablets will overcome the hurdle that prevented previous Microsoft-based tablet offerings from taking off. We will find out when Windows 8 tablets start rolling out sometime in 2012.

I love numbers. So when the end of year arrived I thought it would be interesting to look at some TrainSignal numbers. Below are three of our most popular courses, and probably the most popular IT certifications on the market, and the five states that purchased the largest percentage of them.

Do you live in one of these tech-savy states? Or are you one of the few IT gurus from one of the other 45?

Cisco CCNA

The Cisco CCNA is One of the Most Popular Certifications in the IT industry. It lets people know you have the knowledge to work with Cisco routers and switches, the most popular on the market. This graph below shows the states that bought the most copies of our CCNA course in 2011:

Microsoft MCITP Enterprise Administrator

The Microsoft MCITP Enterprise Adminsitrator is one of the toughest certifications a person can get. With five certifications under your belt, it lets someone know you are the master of all things Windows Server 2008:

CompTIA A+

The CompTIA A+ is the original gangster of IT certifications. It’s where most techs start and it lets people know you have the knowledge to fix most problems that can come up on anyone’s computer:

In fact, Windows 8 can be that much more confusing for those familiar with the operating system; even the Start menu — a staple that’s been present since the Windows NT days — is completely redesigned. To help you figure out how to navigate the new OS, I’ve put together a list of tips and tricks that should be useful to both novices and super users.

8. New, Awesome Keyboard Shortcuts

Along with the updated design, Windows 8 comes with some cool new keyboard shortcuts. Although a few of the old shortcuts — like Win+R to launch Run — are still present, some of the new keyboard combinations offer more utility than the old shortcuts. Windows+Q, for example, gives Windows+R a run for its money; it features the same functions as Run, but at the same time enables you to search your system for installed programs or browse through an alphabetized list of apps.

Here are a few of my favorite Windows 8 shortcuts:

1. Windows: Toggles between the Start Screen and the Windows desktop, or between the Start Screen and an active app.
2. Windows+Tab: Toggle between running apps.
3. Windows+C: Displays the Charms (the Settings, Devices, Share and Search options), date and time, and power options.
4. Windows+F: Opens the new Windows search feature, Search Files.
5. Windows+I: Opens the Settings pane and displays the wireless networking, speaker, screen brightness, language, and power options.
6. Windows+O: Rotates orientation on tablet and slate PCs.
7. Windows+W: Opens the Search Files function from within the Settings tab.
8. Windows+Z: Displays a contextual menu when running a full-screen Metro app.

7. Use a Picture Password

Just about every online service, from banking to social networks to email services, require passwords — all of which, to provide the most protection, should be unique. To keep your files and other information safe from unauthorized users, you should create a password when setting up a new Windows 8 account. However, rather than memorizing yet another jumble of letters and numbers, you can instead create a picture password.

Picture passwords can be made up of a combination of taps, straight lines and circles. To set up a picture password in Windows 8, open Control Panel, and then click “Users.” Click “Create a Picture Password,” and follow the onscreen directions.

6. Log in to Your Account Automatically

In contrast to picture passwords, if you’re the only one who uses your computer and you don’t have to worry about other users logging into your account without permission, you can configure automatic login. Open regedit, and then navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon. Double-click “DefaultPassword” and enter the password for your username. Double-click “AutoAdminLogon,” and then change the value to “1″ to enable automatic login.

5. Mount Disc Images Without Third-Party Software

In previous editions of Windows, you had to download a third-party application to emulate disc images. Windows 8, however, includes a built-in tool that can mount ISO images to a virtual disc drive. To emulate an ISO file in Windows 8, press the Windows key and “E” to open Windows Explorer, and then navigate to the folder where the ISO file is stored. Right-click the file and then select “Mount” from the contextual menu.

4. Restart Explorer with the Click of a Button

Windows Explorer isn’t always the most stable process, and when the taskbar or file manager lock up or become unresponsive, killing explorer.exe is sometimes the easiest way to restore the operating system to working order. In the past, you had to find Windows Explorer in the Processes tab in Task Manager, end the task, and — on much older editions of Microsoft Windows — even create a new explorer.exe task. Windows 8, however, now provides a two-click solution from within Task Manager. Simply click “Windows Explorer” from beneath the Applications or Windows Processes section, and then click “Restart.”

3. Restore the Old Windows Desktop

If you’re a creature of habit, you’re probably not going to be a big fan of the new Start menu. The menu now consists of just four options, called Charms. No more is the jump list, the user folders, or the Computer, Control Panel or Network options; Settings, Devices, Share and Search are all of what makes up the Windows 8 Start Menu. But one quick change to the registry can restore the classic Windows desktop. Open Regedit, and then navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer. Double-click RPEnabled and change the value to 0. Click “OK” to re-enable the old Start menu.

2. Turn on the Touch Keyboard

Windows 8 features a touch keyboard, improving on the old onscreen keyboard. The touch keyboard is ideal for tablet and slate users; it automatically capitalizes the first letter of each sentence, adds a period to the end of a sentence when you double-tap the spacebar, and can toggle between different modes. To enable the touch keyboard, right-click the taskbar, point to “Toolbars,” and then click “Touch Keyboard.” Select the keyboard icon from the bottom right of the dock to switch between full-screen mode, thumb mode, and pen mode.

1. Close Running Apps

If you launch an app from within Metro, you’ll notice that the caption buttons are missing from the upper right side of the window, preventing you from closing the application. Even worse, Alt+F4 does nothing. Pressing the Windows key will switch you over to the Start Screen, but the app you opened will still be running in the background. If you switch to the Windows desktop, Windows 8 will suspend the application, but it won’t close it. The Windows 8 development team may change this sometime in the future, but for now, the only way to close running apps in Windows 8 is to end the task from Task Manager. Press “Windows” and “D” to switch over to the desktop, then press “Ctrl,” “Shift” and “Esc” to open Task Manager. Select the app you want to close, and then click the “End Task” button.

Microsoft is no stranger to tablets. Apple did not invent the concept of a tablet device from the ground up in 2010 when the original iPad was released. The framework for the modern tablet really came from Microsoft. The company has tried to push the tablet PC concept since 2000. According to Trans Meta Zone, Bill Gates officially introduced the “tablet PC” during the Comdex Fall 2000 Keynote address. It was a device that came with a stylus and was to revolutionize computing. However, the idea of a tablet is even older than the push by Microsoft. Huffington Post traces their origin all the way back to 1964.

Despite tablets existing in one shape or another before 2010, that was the year Apple made them relevant to the mass market with the iPad. The earlier Microsoft tablets were not geared for the mass consumption market like the iPad; and underutilized even in enterprise. This was mostly due to their unfriendly interface for touch input. Windows 7 tablets have mostly been relevant to only a few sectors of the enterprise market. Employees of fields like cable TV, car insurance companies, and some sectors of IT support them because of their portability and application support. Employees are able to use these Windows 7-based tablet PCs, for instance in a warehouse with a stylus attached while moving around. IT professionals can use them while fixing a network error in a mobile environment, like on a college campus. Car insurance employees can use them while standing up and inspecting damages, noting the costs directly with a stylus.

Windows tablets were generally always made to be used with a stylus. It wasn’t until Apple released the iPad that the idea of a multi-touch tablet really came about. Multi-touch displays were mostly relevant to smartphones and not tablets. Despite making some strides in enterprise and professional fields with tablets previously, Microsoft, like Google, has never been able to capture a market segment like Apple has done with the iPad. The iPad has been such a success — and Microsoft has been so quiet in the tablet support since the iPad was released — that even professional industries have been moving toward Apple in the mobile-device market. Examples include various restaurants, schools, and airlines using iPads instead of tablets running Windows 7.

United Airlines has fully integrated iPads for its flight crews. They are used instead of pen and paper for chart keeping and instructional manuals, according to PadGadget. What does this mean for Microsoft? Yes, rugged tablets are often used in warehouses or by insurance employees. And yes, they mostly all happen to run Windows 7. However, other industries, ripe for Microsoft’s appeal, are moving toward the iPad instead. Here are some current setbacks and potential challenges Microsoft is facing and must overcome.

Lack of Standardized Application Compatibility

Microsoft could have just put their mobile (Windows Phone 7) OS onto tablets while making Windows 8 exclusive to PCs. In essence, they could have done what Apple is doing with iOS. Make it virtually identical across mobile devices — from tablets to smartphones — and different from their PC OS. However, various executives at Microsoft have expressed that the company feels a tablet could handle much more than just a stripped-down operating system in a mobile platform. Microsoft executives think that tablets could really become robust productivity machines. By standardizing the OS across devices, rather than having a separate mobile OS and a separate PC OS, the company is not making compromises for end-users.

“Their approach is to take the PC OS and bring it to the tablet which is opposite of what Apple is doing,” said Jason Maynard, an analyst with Wells Fargo Securities in a CNET report. “Sometimes when you have a hammer, everything looks like nail.”

By making Windows 8 compliant across multiple devices, from tablets to netbooks, Microsoft is eliminating fragmentation problems that have plagued enterprise users with the iPad. Users familiar with Windows should feel at home using tablets as they do desktop PCs. However, like Apple, Microsoft may still have a productivity problem due to app incompatibility. Apps may have to be recreated, or created in two versions, in order for tablets to take advantage of them.

It has been reported that ARM-based Windows 8 tablets may not run Windows 7 desktop applications via the Metro interface (I will go into this interface further below). However, PCs will run them from the desktop. According to LA Times, “On PCs, Windows 8 will run all Windows 7 applications, according to the company. But Windows 7 applications may not run on Windows 8 tablets built with ARM processors.” Microsoft is rumored to be preparing an app store for Metro-based apps. How compatible non-Metro apps will be on tablets remains to be seen.

Another more recent report from Microsoft’s Build Windows conference (for developers) confirms that not just Windows 7 applications, but even newer Windows 8 applications, may not be compatible across platforms. The apps may have to be totally re-designed for ARM-based tablets, and standard Windows applications may not even work on tablets.

According to Extremetech, “Speaking at the Build Windows conference, and then later reiterating it during Microsoft’s Financial Analyst Meeting, Steve Sinofsky — the President of Windows — confirmed that ARM-powered Windows 8 tablets will not run the vast, multi-billion-strong arsenal of existing x86 applications.”

This probably means, like Apple, Microsoft will force all tablet software developers to create separate apps than the ones made for Windows desktop. Microsoft Office, for instance, may be totally different on a tablet than on a desktop PC.

Possible Hardware Constraints

Windows 7 is Microsoft’s last-released operating system. It is an OS that some tablet manufacturers have been using in their products, like the famous “rugged tablets,” popular for warehouse usage due to their thick designs. However, Windows 7 tablets are often criticized for weak battery life, hard to navigate menus, and an OS that really was not designed for tablets at all. They are not something the IT industry has embraced as a whole, nor are they devices that appeal to the mass consumer market.

What Microsoft has to do is create a platform for enterprise to embrace in devices, which are complimentary to PCs. Tablets could become these devices and replace or compliment notebooks. As more forms of hardware become established in enterprise, or other markets, Microsoft will profit from Windows licensing and software distribution.

According to various reports, Microsoft is actually tweaking Windows 8 for hardware manufacturers to be able to take full advantage of it. Windows 8 tablets will be utilizing ARM chips, according to various reports. This is the same chip design that powers many tablets on the market today and is the leading tablet platform. Even Apple’s A5 (and A4) SoC (system-on-a-chip) utilized for the iPad 2 uses an ARM processor.

“Microsoft has been working with hardware makers to ensure that Windows 8 can run on ARM chips,” CNET reports . “The ARM system-on-a-chip architecture means that devices themselves can be thinner and lighter. That should open the door to some slim and attractive tablets running the operating system.”

Tablets running Windows 8 will be a lot more notebook-like than the iPad. They will probably be similar to certain Android tablets like the Asus Eee Pad Transformer, in the sense that they will have attached keyboards, docs, and a variety of ports as part of their package. This may make them more cumbersome for the average user who has multiple machines anyway. However, for the enterprise professional who wants to carry their workstation everywhere, these tablets may offer just what they need. They can make them just as productive on the go as if they were sitting right in their office.

“For one thing, Windows 8 on a tablet isn’t limited to a touchscreen. It works with a mouse, a keyboard and a stylus as well as your fingertips, according to a report from the LA Times. “The test tablets, handed out by Microsoft, are quick and responsive and offer true PC-like specs in a tablet body.”

Battery life has also been reported to be weaker than what the iPad and Android tablets provide, according to a report from PCPro. “Our early tests – albeit using far from finished code – suggests Windows 8 is going to lag far behind Android and iOS tablets when it comes to battery life,” PCPro reports.

What does this all mean? Microsoft certainly has a lot to do to convince enterprise to use tablets if Windows 8 tablets won’t have software compatible with the desktop apps right out of the box. However, the company has addressed many weak points of Windows 7 tablets, like the touch-unfriendly interface of Windows 7 being replaced with the Metro interface. We will go into this interface in part II. We will also discuss other software issues and security.

What is WPAD?

Web Proxy Auto Discovery is a way for clients to automatically locate the URL of a proxy server config file with the Threat Management Gateway acting as a proxy server for the clients on the network. Scott explains how you will need to download and install the AdConfigPack tools from the Microsoft Forefront TMG Tools & Software Development Kit, and then run the appropriate commands to make sure WPAD is in place.

Connected web parts allow you to provide enhanced interactivity within SharePoint application pages. Consumer and provider web parts pass information back and forth, which is very useful in master-details scenarios, for instance when selecting a list item and seeing additional information about that item. Eric Skaggs carefully walks through the process of creating a provider web part that has a message among its properties, and connecting it with a consumer web part. After the web parts have been connected, the message property of the provider web part will be displayed in the consumer web part.

In recent years many IT professionals have complained that Microsoft exams are not challenging enough, that the certifications don’t prove expertise because anyone is able to obtain them and that Microsoft has simply made their certification process too easy. In response to this, Microsoft Learning has made some significant changes to exams that are coming out in 2012.

In our recent webinar on Getting Started with a Microsoft Certified Career, Erika Cravens and Krista Wall from Microsoft Learning shed some light on how new Microsoft exams are changing. Below is a quick summary, but if you’re interested in learning more take a look at Erika’s presentation and Krista’s involvement in the Q & A that followed or visit Born To Learn.

How Are Microsoft Exams Changing?

Microsoft exams are changing in a number of ways; they are becoming harder, more relevant and more difficult to cheat on.

The Microsoft Learning team has redefined the experience level for their certifications, so instead of 6 months of experience for TS level exams, IT professionals are encouraged to have at least 2 years of experience with the product before attempting their exams. The increase is also true for Pro level exams, which now will require 4 years of experience. Experience with the product doesn’t necessarily mean work experience, and it can be obtained in a number of ways. People who don’t work in the IT field can read a book, attend a class or get Microsoft training to help them obtain the experience they need to prepare for an exam.

New Microsoft exams will require a deeper technology knowledge, more familiarity with business context and understanding of more complex environments. The distinction between TS (technology specialist) and Pro (professional level) certification is also growing, with the Pro level certifications requiring 3-4 exams, depending on the technology. Similarly, MCTS certifications may require 2 exams to earn the credential. This will make TS and Pro certifications more difficult to complete and will help close the gap between the Pro and Masters level certifications.

The difficulty of Microsoft exams is increasing across the board. Not only will you need more experience, the exams will be more difficult to complete. Microsoft is introducing new question types to make the exams more challenging. The relevance of the skills being tested is also increasing to ensure that what you’re being tested on are the actual skills you need on the job. In addition to changes to how the exams are being designed and developed, Microsoft is improving the user interface and accessibility of their exams as well as test center standards, monitoring and security of exams and test centers. Which means no more brain dumps for Microsoft exams!

In short, Microsoft exams are getting harder, which in turn will make Microsoft certifications more valuable. It’s a win-win for certification holders as well as the integrity of Microsoft certifications.

What Do You Think?

Is Microsoft doing the right thing by making their certifications more difficult to obtain?

These are just some of the questions that get asked repeatedly by our readers and customers. We decided to tackle some of these questions as they pertain to Microsoft certifications in a live webinar hosted by TrainSignal’s lead Windows Server instructor and Microsoft Certified Trainer, Ed Liberman and Erika Cravens, Certification Strategy Product Manager at Microsoft Learning, who did a presentation on how Microsoft exams will be changing in 2012.

If you didn’t get a chance to join us for the live webinar, you can watch a recording of the 45 minute presentation and the 1 hour+ Q & A session that followed. Ed and Krista Wall from Microsoft Learning were committed to answering every single question and stayed on for as long as time permitted. You’ll get as much from the presentation as you will from the questions and answers.

We hope you enjoy!

Upcoming TrainSignal Webinars

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Available Now: Windows Server 2008 PowerShell Training

Windows Server 2008 PowerShell Training, taught by a PowerShell MVP, will stop you from using the GUI as a crutch, and show how to blast through common administrative tasks. With this advanced scripting language course, you’ll find a wealth of use in automation.

PowerShell proficiency can allow for practical applications that save incredible amounts of time. For example, if you want to retrieve specific data from the system event log from a group of computers, a single PowerShell command can take care of this. Students will see practical demonstrations throughout the course on managing event logs, services, files and printers, the registry and more.

Certified, Expert Instruction

The instructor for Windows Server 2008 PowerShell Training is renowned PowerShell guru and MVP Jeff Hicks, author of the books, Managing Active Directory with Windows PowerShell and Windows PowerShell 2.0. Jeff works as a specialized IT consultant in Microsoft server technologies, and he also authored Windows PowerShell 2008 Fundamentals Training, a great foundational course for getting started with PowerShell.

Watch an interview where Jeff explains how PowerShell helps admins manage R2 Servers.

In this course, Jeff runs through the most useful approaches that save time on common tasks. The course also contains the script examples from the lessons to give you a working template as you try to accomplish more using PowerShell on your own. He shows you how to launch remote processes, performance monitoring and permissions management, as well as the top ten server tasks admins should know using PowerShell. With basic server management skills and a familiarity with PowerShell Fundamentals, students will learn how to perform a broad range of management tasks using Windows PowerShell 2.0.

Learn PowerShell

PowerShell is in use everywhere, and will soon be considered a standard skill of system administrators. Consider the future, and automate your career with Windows Server 2008 PowerShell Training.

So, how do you make sense of it all? How do you know which certification is right for you? How can you get a start with a career in Microsoft technologies?

In this free webinar presented by Ed Liberman, a Microsoft Certified Trainer with over 20 years of experience in the IT field, you will learn about the different Microsoft certification options for IT professionals and why getting certified will help you launch your career in IT.

Update: Erika Cravens, Certification Strategy Product Manager at Microsoft Learning, will be joining us live to talk about some of the changes that will be occurring in future Microsoft exams and answer your certification related questions.

Join Us For: Getting Started with a Microsoft Certified Career

Date: Tuesday, November 15^th 2011
Time: 12 PM – 1 PM CDT

Register: Registration now open

Today’s competitive job market demands validation of skills and getting certified is the best way to show prospective employers that you have what it takes to do the job. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and get advice from a Microsoft Certified Trainer who has helped thousands of students start and advance their careers through Microsoft certifications.

Ed has a deep understanding of Microsoft certifications, how they have evolved over the years and how IT professionals can take advantage of the certification process to learn, grow and advance their careers. And he’s here to help you do just that.

A couple of years ago I wrote an article on a beta software program that Microsoft was working on called Windows Live Mesh. Now the beta has ended and Microsoft has released the official version called Windows Live Mesh 2011.

Mesh allows you to synchronize files between multiple devices and the cloud using SkyDrive with 5GB of space for free. It’s similar to dropbox and other cloud backup and storage solutions.

Today we’ll take a look at how to install and configure the newest version of Live Mesh. I’ll also show you how you can remotely control the computer you have Mesh installed on.

Windows Live Mesh 2011: Installation

You need to have a Windows Live or Hotmail account and Windows Vista or Windows 7 to be able to use Windows Live Mesh 2011. Note: Windows Live is now also available for mac.

Go to http://explore.live.com/windows-live-mesh and click the download link to start the installation. The installer is actually for Windows Live Essentials, which Live Mesh is a part of, but we can choose what exactly to install.

During the beginning of the installation you will be asked what you want to install. At this point you can choose to install all of Windows Live Essentials, or choose the programs you want to install. For this example we are going to choose what we want to install – Windows Live Mesh.

Here I am going to uncheck everything except Windows Live Mesh, then click Install.

Once the installation is complete click Close. If the program doesn’t launch automatically, you can go to Start, All Programs, Windows Live, and click Windows Live Mesh.

From here you should be prompted to login with your Windows Live ID.

And this completes the installation of Windows Live Mesh 2011; now let’s move on to the configuration.

Configuring Synchronization Settings in Windows Live Mesh

Once you are logged in you can configure your sync settings for files, folders, IE favorites, and Microsoft Office styles, templates, custom dictionaries, and email signatures.

Let’s start by syncing a folder. Click on the link to sync a folder then browse to the folder you want to sync with SkyDrive. For this example I’m going to sync a folder called Test. Browse to the folder you want to sync and click Sync.

Next you will be prompted to choose where to sync your folder. We want to sync it with SkyDrive so check this option and click OK.

Now you should see the folder you selected to sync listed under Folders. You can sync as many folders as you want to, but you are limited to 5GB of storage space. More space is available for a monthly fee.

You can also turn on syncing for your IE favorites. Simply click the link to turn on syncing for your favorites.

Syncing your Microsoft Office styles, templates, custom dictionary, and email signatures is also just as easy as clicking the link to turn on syncing.

Follow these same steps for your other computers that you want to keep synchronized.

Remote Access with Windows Live Mesh

Windows Live Mesh also allows you to remotely control the computer you have Mesh installed on. Let’s turn on remote access and give it a test.

Click on the Remote tab in Windows Live Mesh. This page describes how it works and allows us to configure remote access. Turn on remote access by clicking Allow remote connections to this computer.

To remote into your computer go to www.live.com and sign in with your Windows Live ID. Hover over the Windows Live icon in the top left and choose devices.

Now you should see a list of devices you have installed Mesh on. Click Connect to this computer next to the computer you want to remote control.

When you click Connect you will be prompted to install an ActiveX control. Make sure to install this so you can connect to your pc remotely.

Once you install the plugin you should be able to remotely control your computer.

Accessing Your Documents via the Cloud using Windows Live Mesh

So how do you access your documents via the cloud? Go to www.live.com and login with your Windows Live ID. Hover over the Windows Live icon in the top left corner and choose SkyDrive.

Then click View synced folders.

Now you should see all of the folders you are synchronizing with Windows Live Mesh. In this example we only have one folder called Test.

From here you can manage all of your files that are being synced. This makes it really easy to access your important documents from anywhere via a web browser.

How does Windows Live Mesh Compare to Similar Products?

Live Mesh is very similar to Dropbox but has the added feature that allows you to remotely control your computers. This is a great benefit in case you don’t have the file you need synchronized with Mesh but the file is on your computer at home or at the office.

There might be other scenarios where you need to run a proprietary program on your computer at the office or at home. Now you can use Live Mesh to remotely control your computers and run the programs you need to from the PC you want.

Live Mesh also has a version available for Macs and features available for Windows phones.

Mesh is a fairly competitive rival of Dropbox and could be considered better because of these additional features and functionalities. I’m sure as cloud computing becomes more and more popular, there will be other alternatives that pop up as well.

What other types of cloud synchronization programs are out there that you like to use?

What do you like about them?

I feel I need to let all of you in on a little secret from “the real world”.  It might hurt, just a little.

Many of us, as IT professionals, have a reputation of being angry, little nerds with little to no social skills that don’t involve an eight-sided die.

Like most stereotypes, that statement is simply not true.  But like it or not, this is the view that many of our non-techie co-workers have of us.  After all, we’re the ones who seem to know everything there is to know about that magical box that allows people to get their work done, and we’re the only ones with the skills and permissions to fix those magical boxes when something goes awry. 

There’s a certain level of mystery and intimidation that comes with that power, and therefore many of us come across as, well, angry little nerds.  And let’s be honest, many of us are just that.  After all, how many times have you had to reset the same user’s password or had to show the same user how to print to a different printer?

Maybe you’re different.  Maybe, just maybe, you enjoy people and enjoy helping them solve their problems.  Maybe you’re a computer geek with the uncanny ability to actually put what you do in normal, easy-to-understand English.  If so, maybe (just maybe) you should look into becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT).

It’s not rocket-surgery: a Microsoft Certified Trainer is simply a professional trainer that has been certified by Microsoft as being legit in terms of professional know-how and the ability to communicate that to “normal” people.  I’ve been an MCT for six years, and I can honestly say that maintaining that designation has made my job as a trainer much easier.

… but wait, why?

Benefits of Becoming an MCT

There are lots of reasons!

First and foremost is the level of respect that comes with the MCT designation. MCTs are many times viewed as the premiere experts in their field and are often the gateway for IT staff to update their own skills.

To that end, you are provided with the resources you need as a trainer to stay current, nay, ahead-of-current with Microsoft technologies as and before they are released to market.

Here are just a few benefits you’ll receive when you join the ranks of MCTs:

• A not-for-retail TechNet subscription, which gives you free download access to a very large majority of Microsoft titles.  The catch is that you can’t use it for business purposes, but you can use it for sharpening your own skills.
• Images for MOC (Microsoft Official Curriculum)  courseware.  Instead of wiping and custom building lab environments for your classes, you can deploy these custom images of client and server environments that have been tailored to the specific MOC.
• Recently new is the formatting of MCT Trainer Packs (think of them like your high school teacher’s instructor’s manual) in MS OneNote format.
• Access to the MCT Forums.  This is not a minor perk — this is a very big deal.  Some extremely intelligent people hang out on these boards, and it’s such a great resource!

Enough blather, already! How do you become an MCT?

MCT Requirements

Becoming an MCT is relatively easy, depending on your current circumstances.  Here are the requirements:

MCT Requirement Number 1: You must be Microsoft certified

You must hold one of the following Microsoft certifications/designations:

• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security (MCSA: Security)
• Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)
• Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)
• Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)
• Microsoft Office 2007 Specialist (MOS 2007)
• Microsoft Office 2010 Specialist (MOS 2010)
• Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Specialist (MCBMSS)
• Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Professional (MCBMSP)
• Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)
• Microsoft Office 2007 Master (MOM 2007)
• Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)

Obviously, if you don’t currently have any Microsoft certifications, get them first before shooting for your MCT.

MCT Requirement Number 2: You must be able to relate to normal people

This is where, unfortunately, some of the best technical people fail. You must present information well! Think about all of the really bad professors you had in college. I’m sure they all (well, most anyway) had vast knowledge of their subject, but they simply couldn’t communicate it well. If you’re like these bad professors, becoming an MCT isn’t for you. MCTs are generally very dynamic presenters with the ability to take an overly complex issue and boil it down to where mere mortals can understand it.  It’s an MCT’s secret desire to propagate more geeks!

So how would a fledgling MCT-wannabe go about fulfilling this requirement?  Unfortunately for us, and fortunately for future students, an MCT candidate can’t simply declare they have presentation skills, they must prove they have presentation skills. There are a few of ways of accomplishing that:

• Earn your CompTIA Certified Technical Trainer+ (CompTIA CTT+) certification.  As you may know, CompTIA is a vendor-neutral organization designed to let IT professionals provide tangible evidence of their skills.  Much like the CompTIA A+ designation, a CTT+ candidate is required to pass two exams; one “essentials” test, and one “practical application” test.  The practical application test involves a video.  See?  Proof.
• Pass a presentation skills course.  CompTIA has a course, as well as Microsoft.  This will be your most expensive option as it involves signing up for and taking classes in technical presentation.  If you have no prior experience in the presentation realm, this would be a good option to pursue.
• Already be a certified trainer for a major technology vendor.  Microsoft clearly spells out five and of course, they’re listed: Microsoft, Cisco, Citrix, Novell and Oracle.  If you’re already an MCT, this is your loophole for not having to take and pass presentation courses every year!
• If you already work as an instructor at an accredited academic institution, Microsoft takes the school’s word that you are a good instructor — at least good enough to keep your job!  Simply have your boss fax or scan over proof of employment on your school’s letterhead and you’re golden.  It’s none of my business, but I think this particular method should be dropped.  We’ve all had instructors at accredited schools that were just terrible, and with this option in place, terrible instructors could skate their way right into becoming an MCT.  But enough editorializing!

MCT Requirement Number 3: You must maintain high scores

As an MCT, you are required to distribute surveys to your students as each class draws to an end. You are required to maintain very high ratings in order to maintain your MCT status, so if your idea of teaching is reading out of the textbook to your students (or worse, having students read a paragraph at a time around the room — ARRRRGGHGHHHH!!), go ahead and skip on to the next blog post.  MCT isn’t for you.

MCT Requirement Number 4: You must teach

If you’re new to MCT, you have to fight (Fight Club reference, sorry).  Put another way, if you’re a new MCT, you have to teach at least one Microsoft course in your first year. This generally is not a problem as most new MCTs I’ve known are itching to go.

Hey, I fit all of those requirements!  Now what?

How to Become an MCT

Now, simply navigate to the MCT page on the Microsoft Learning site, located here. You’ll want to click the Apply button. This will open a tab that gives you a launching point for starting your MCT application process.  In my experience, most new MCTs are current MCPs, so this tutorial will assume that you’ve clicked the link taking you to your MCP page.

Hover your mouse over Microsoft Certified Trainer and click MCT Enrollment Tool; then walk your way through the wizard. Here are some things to watch out for:

The annual fee to be an MCT is $400. There are a number of ways to get a discount (for example, if you work for a Certified Partner for Learning Solutions (CPLS) or a Microsoft IT Academy, you’ll receive anywhere from a 25% to a 100% discount). I’ve found that each year the mechanism for discounts, etc. has been different.  I manage a Microsoft IT Academy, and when my instructors were renewing their MCTs, my institution was granted three free MCTs.  In 2011, that number was lowered to one — so we had to pay to keep two instructors live with MCT status. Luckily, they did receive a 25% discount, but it was still $600 more than we spent last year.

Next month if you attend the MCT Summit you can complete your MCT requirement #2 through the 1.5 day pre-conference Train-the-Trainer bootcamp for $700; this fee includes your $400 MCT Enrollment fee and the $350 MCT Summit conference fee. Trust me, this is a great deal; you’re not only saving a lot of time and money, but you get a chance to network with other MCTs.

In any case, becoming an MCT is well worth the price and effort!  If you’re interested in becoming an MCT and want to ask questions or need advice, please feel free to comment or contact me directly.

This year, MCTs from all over will be gathering in San Francisco from October 19-21, 2011. Presentations for developers, IT Pros, SQL, Office, and Personal Development will be given by fellow MCTs and presenters from Microsoft. The theme for the MCT Summit is “The Cloud,” and as such presenters are encouraged to present on topics pertaining to developments and challenges related to various cloud technologies.

At TechEd North America 2011, TrainSignal had the pleasure of interviewing one of this year’s organizers for the MCT Summit, Dave Franklyn:

What is an MCT?

For those of you who are unaware, Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) are people who have proven themselves to be superior technical and instructional experts on Microsoft technologies. To become an MCT, individuals must meet quite a few stringent MCT certification requirements. They must meet all certification and competency requirements for each course they teach, maintain high customer satisfaction scores on course evaluations, and prove model instructional presentation skills.

TrainSignal is fortunate enough to have on staff quite a few MCTs, including Ed Liberman, instructor for our Windows Server 2008 Training, Jeff Hicks, instructor for our new Windows PowerShell Fundamentals Training, J. Peter Bruzzese, instructor for our Exchange 2010 Training and SharePoint 2010 Administration Training, just to name a few.

Interested in Becoming an MCT?

If you are currently an MCP certified in a premier certification (Systems Engineer, Desktop Support Technician, Microsoft Certified IT Professional, Microsoft Certified Professional Developer, Microsoft Office 2010 Specialist, or other premier Microsoft certification) and are interested in becoming an MCT, one of the requirements to become an MCT is to prove instructional presentation skills. One way to fulfill this requirement is to attend an approved Train the Trainer (TTT) session; however, these sessions are often hard to come by.

On Tuesday October 18, 2011, (the day before this year’s MCT Summit), MCT hopefuls may register to attend this 1.5 day bootcamp style Train-the-Trainer event and become an MCT upon successful completion.

Ordinarily, Train-the-Trainer classes are much longer and can cost several thousand dollars, not to mention the normal MCT annual dues.

This Train-the-Trainer bootcamp, however, costs only $700, which includes the MCT fees for the remainder of the year, and includes admission for MCT Summit!

Due to the condensed format, there will be required prep work to do before the event and “homework” to do on the Tuesday evening to ensure success.

To learn more about the Train-the-Trainer event, additional requirements for becoming an MCT and how to register for the October 18, 2011 pre-conference Train-the-Trainer session at the MCT Summit visit the following links:

• Lean more about the Train-the-Trainer event: MCT Summit Train-the-Trainer Event page
• Requirements for becoming an MCT: MCT Certification Page at Microsoft
• Register for the October 18th Train-the-Trainer session: Train-the-Trainer Registration

Bill Kulterman and I have been training Microsoft Office applications for years, but have never pursued our MCT credentials (mainly because the MCT was not always open to Office instructors). This year, Bill and I will be attending the Train-the-Trainer bootcamp so we can join our fellow TrainSignal Trainers in the MCT ranks. We are looking forward to it!

• VMware uses Virtual Machine Disk Format — with the extension .vmdk
• Microsoft uses Virtual Hard Disk Format — with the extension .vhd

So when you need to convert a VMware VM to Hyper-V, or vice versa, the process becomes a little bit more involved.

However, Microsoft’s System Center Virtual Machine Manager allows you to easily convert your existing VMware virtual machines to Hyper-V. In this video from my new Microsoft Server Virtualization Training I’ll walk you through the process of converting a VMware virtual machine to a Hyper-V virtual machine using System Center VMM 2008 R2.

For those of you who need to follow along, below is the step-by-step process for your reference.

Converting a VMware Virtual Machine to Hyper-V

Why would you need to convert an existing VMware virtual machine to a Hyper-V virtual machine? Well, maybe you’re in the process of testing the Hyper-V platform or maybe your organization is already migrating from the VMware platform to Hyper-V. Whatever the reason you might have, these step-by-step instructions can guide you through the conversion process.

For this procedure, we’ll be using the Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (VMM).

1. First, go to your VMM Library and select the virtual machine you want to convert. In the Actions panel on the right, click Convert virtual machine.

2. This will bring up the Convert Virtual Machine Wizard. When you’re asked to select the source VM, click the Browse button.

3. You’ll then see the VM you selected earlier. Select it again and click OK.

4. Once you’re back to the wizard window, just click Next.

In the next window, you’ll be asked what name you’d like to assign to the virtual machine once it gets converted. You may leave it as is, otherwise, if you want a new name, change the name in the Virtual machine name: field.

You may also select an owner for that virtual machine as well as give it a description. When you’re done with those, click Next.

5. In the following window, specify the number of processors and memory size you want to allocate for this new VM. Click Next when done.

6. The next step is to specify a host for the virtual machine. There’s only one in the screenshot below, but you can actually see more if there are any. You can also view each host’s Rating, which is actually a rating VMM uses in evaluating how capable each of these hosts are in taking on the new VM. Naturally, the more stars there are on a host, the more capable it should be.

If you’re interested, you can even see the explanation of a particular host’s rating by navigating to the Rating Explanation tab for that host at the bottom of the page.

Once you’ve selected your desired host, just click the Next button.

7.You’ll then be asked to pick a path for your virtual machine. You can either choose the default path or browse and select a path you prefer. Take note of this path, as you’ll be needing it later when you search your Hyper-V server for files associated with the newly converted VM. After selecting a path, click Next.

8. If the virtual machine will be connected through a virtual network, you can also specify a particular virtual network. Click Next when done.

You will then need to specify a couple of Automatic start actions. That is, you will need to specify what action should be performed when the physical server starts and what action should be performed when the server stops.

For example, a usual choice for the first action is: Automatically turn on the virtual machine if it was running when physical server stopped, while Save State is a typical choice for the second.

Choose your desired actions from the drop-down lists and click Next when done.

11. At this point, you’ll be presented with a summary of all the settings you specified earlier. If everything looks fine, click Create.

12. This will bring up the Jobs window, where you’ll see the actual virtual to virtual conversion. It’s going to take quite a while for that conversion process to complete, so you may go ahead and do some other tasks in the meantime.

13. If everything goes perfectly well, you’ll simply see a Completed notice on the Status column. But since this is not a perfect world, you might actually encounter a Warning like the one below. It says that the task completed but that there’s some information you need to be aware of.

You can see details of that warning as well as some recommended actions.

Although some of these “errors” will require you to rectify the problem and do the entire process all over again, there are also “errors” that may not be too serious and can be remedied by working on the newly created virtual machine.

For example, a problem can occur if you fail to remove the VMware Tools from a VMware virtual machine before that VM is converted. If that happens, a possible solution would be to simply start the machine, get inside, mount the Integration Services CD/DVD and run the required utility from within.

If you’re confident you can easily rectify the problem later, just close the Jobs window and you’ll see the newly created Hyper-V virtual machine.

If you see it there, you can go to your Hyper-V server and navigate to the path that you specified earlier in the conversion process. You should see all the relevant files for that virtual machine in there.

Also, if you run your Hyper-V manager, you should see the newly created virtual machine in there as well.

That completes this virtual machine conversion from VMware to Hyper-V tutorial.

Ever since the late thirties, a computer has been a computer.

Ok, so let’s try to make that statement a little less weird.  Here we go…

Many of us our entire lives have had a very specific idea of what a computer is.  It’s physical parts: a processor, some form of memory, some form of long-term storage and some form of input and output devices that was assembled together.  Software was then installed on it to allow us to have an interface and actually use the hardware.  And it was good.

Then, an interesting phenomenon occurred.  Our hardware capabilities outgrew our software capabilities.  Our servers began to sit, many performing at no more than 15% of their hardware potential.  Company spreadsheet monkeys and environmentalists began to freak out (and that’s ok, they’re just doing their jobs).  There needed to be a way to utilize the unused power of our computer hardware.  Enter virtualization.

Virtualization allows us to create a “pretend” computer that looks real to a network, but is in fact using a “host” server for all of its processing power, memory and storage.  The benefit of virtualization is that it allows us to use all of the hardware power we’ve purchased in our servers while still maintaining separate computers for separate roles, like domain controllers and Exchange servers.

The Product: Microsoft Hyper-V

Since 2004, Microsoft has been in the virtualization arena, and in 2008 released Hyper-V (short for hyper-visor, a virtualization engine). Hyper-V is a free download and can be installed either directly onto a “bare metal” server or onto a server running Windows Server 2008 or higher. 

If you install it onto bare metal, you have the benefit of lower overhead and therefore more resources available for your VMs, but you don’t get a direct GUI for managing the VMs. Conversely, if you install the Hyper-V role in Server 2008, you’ll get a usable GUI, but will be short the license fee for server.

Hyper-V Minimum Requirements

As with anything computer related, these are the bare minimums you have to have it order for Hyper-V to technically work, but having more than the minimum will give you a better experience. 

So, here’s your starting point, remember, the further you go over your minimum, the better the experience:

• 64 bit processor, capable of hardware-assisted virtualization and hardware data execution prevention (aka DEP).  Look for “Intel Virtualization Technology” or “AMD Virtualization”.
• The minimum amount of RAM needed for your host OS + the virtual OS’s you’ll be installing.  If you plan on installing Windows Server 2008 R2 as the host and four virtualized Windows Server 2008 R2 machines, you’ll need – at a bare minimum – 5 GB or RAM – 1 GB for the host, 1 GB each for the four virtualized servers.
• At least one NIC if you want your virtual machines to access the network

How to Install the Hyper-V Role in Windows Server 2008

For this article, we’re assuming you want to install Hyper-V into an already running version of Windows Server 2008 or higher. For the screenshots and demonstration purposes, I’ll be using the full installation of Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise.

1. First things first, make sure you have the most up-to-date version of Hyper-V. If you’re still rocking the RTM version of Windows Server 2008, your version of Hyper-V is actually still the beta version.  Thankfully, Microsoft has updated Hyper-V since then, and you’ll need to obtain it either through Windows Update or via direct download here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=123539

2. From your desktop, open Server Manager.  You can do this by clicking Start, right-clicking Computer and selecting Manage, or you can simply click the Server Manager shortcut on your taskbar. 

3. Right-click the Roles node and select Add Roles. 

4. This will open the Add Roles Wizard. 

Acknowledge the introduction and click Next.  Here, you will indicate which Server Role you want to install.  We, of course, will choose the Hyper-V role. 

5. Click Next past the Hyper-V Introductory screen, and you should see the Create Virtual Networks screen.  Select the NIC that you’ll want to use for creating the internal network that your host machine will use to forward packets to the virtual machine.  Realistically, you’ll want to install at least one physical card into your host machine for every virtual machine you plan on running. 

6. You’ll next receive a confirmation screen. Look over the settings and verify that they are correct. If you’re satisfied with them, click Install to begin the Hyper-V Role installation. 

Note that your server will need to reboot once installation is complete, so take that into consideration if this server is currently a production server.

7. After your server finishes its reboot cycle, open Server Manager and expand the Roles node  (see step 2).  You should see the final steps of your Hyper-V configuration. 

8. You are now ready to begin managing your very own Hyper-V irtual machines, either through the Hyper-V Manager MMC or through System Center Virtual Machine Manager.

As you can see, setting up Hyper-V on your Windows Server 2008 R2 computer is an extremely simple process, with dividends that will make both your boss and the environment happy. I hope this was a good introduction to Microsoft virtualization – there are lots of cool things virtualization allows us to do!

New 2011 CompTIA Security+ Exam

Back in November, I wrote about the new CompTIA Security+ exam objectives (2011, SY0-301) to be released this year. That time has come and the 2011 version of the exam is live and available at testing centers. As reported earlier, the topics in the new exam remain the same. You’ll notice an emphasis on threats and vulnerabilities, and there are plenty of new buzzwords and attack types to recognize when studying for the exam.

Here is a quick topics comparison between the 2008 and 2011 exams:

The official specifications for the new revision aren’t too different from before. There are 100 questions, with 90 minutes given to complete the test. You’ll need a score of 750 or higher (on a scale of 100-900) to earn the certification.

This is the first update to the exam since 2008, which is odd for a security-based certification. However, if you’ve been studying for the 2008 exam and aren’t ready to take the 2011 exam just yet, you will have until the end of the year to earn your Security+ certification through the 2008 version of the exam (SY0-201) before it’s fully retired.

You can read more about the update in CompTIA’s June press release: Updated CompTIA Security+ Exam Reflects Changes in IT Security Landscape.

Additionally, I’ve been informed that TrainSignal is in the process of developing a new version of Security+ training (available later this year) which will cover the new SY0-301 exam objectives.

Microsoft Exams Retiring

A lot of exams have been retired and refreshed this year, and it doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. Microsoft has just announced the names of 18 exams to retire this year, and 4 exams to retire in early 2012.

The following is a list of discontinued exams according to the Microsoft Learning site:

Microsoft Exams Retiring on September 30, 2011:

• Exam 70-282: Planning, Deploying, and Managing a Network Solution for the Small and Medium-Sized Business
• Exam 70-403: TS: System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, Configuring
• Exam 70-652: TS: Windows Server Virtualization, Configuring
• Exam MB6-502: AX 4.0 Product Builder
• Exam MB6-503: AX 4.0 Installation and Configuration
• Exam MB6-504: AX 4.0 Project Series
• Exam MB6-506: AX 4.0 Questionnaire
• Exam MB6-507: AX 4.0 Financials
• Exam MB6-508: AX 4.0 Development Introduction
• Exam MB6-509: AX 4.0 Trade and Logistics
• Exam MB6-510: AX 4.0 Human Resource Management
• Exam MB6-511: AX 4.0 Production
• Exam MB6-512: AX 4.0 Enterprise Portal Development
• Exam MB6-513: AX 4.0 MorphX Solution Development

Microsoft Exams Retiring on October 31, 2011:

• Exam 74-924: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 – U.C. Voice Specialization

Microsoft Exams Retiring on December 31, 2011:

• Exam 74-544 (70-544): TS: Bing Maps Platform, Application Development
• Exam MB6-285: Axapta 3.0 Sales and Marketing
• Exam MB6-291: Axapta 3.0 Shop Floor Control

Microsoft Exams Retiring on May 31, 2012:

• Exam 74-404: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2 – U.C. Voice Specialization

Microsoft Exams Retiring on June 30, 2012:

• Exam 70-579: TS: Windows Mobile 6.5, Configuring
• Exam 70-580: TS: Windows Mobile 6.5, Application Development
• Exam 70-625: Connected Home Integrator

For more information on discontinued Microsoft exams, as well as new and beta exams, see Microsoft Learning.

Cisco CCDE Practical Exam Registrations Underway

The Cisco Learning Network has started accepting registrations for the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) practical exam and will continue to accept them until October 7th, 2011. The exam date will be Friday, October 21, 2011. The exam cost is $1,400 (USD) and you are required to have passed the CCDE qualification exam prior to registering for the Practical Exam. The Cisco CCDE certification exams are offered only a few times per year, so if you are planning to take the exam, you should probably register sooner rather than later.

For more information on the Cisco CCDE Practical Exam, please visit Cisco Learning Network and be sure to carefully look over the registration steps, prerequisites, and cancellation policies before registering. For more information on the CCDE certification see Cisco.com.

VMware Certified Professional 4 – Desktop Exam Open for Registrations

The VMware Certified Professional 4 – Desktop (VCP4-DT) is open for registration, and a $50 discount will be applied for those who register before September 1st, 2011. In order to qualify to take the exam, you must first attain the VCA4-DT and hold a current VCP certification. According to VMware, the exam is aimed at Virtualization Systems Engineers who are able to configure the vSphere environment, and who possess a deep understanding of VMware core components.

For more information on the VCP4-DT exam, requirements, and preparedness recommendations, please visit mylearn.vmware.com. For details on the new Desktop Virtualization Certifications from VMware take a look at this post from vExpert David Davis.

MCTS: Forefront Identity Manager 2010, Configuring Exam Now in Beta

Beta invitations have been announced for the new MCTS (71-158) Forefront Identity Manager 2010, Configuring exam and the tests are now available at Prometric testing centers. The beta exam period runs until August 4, 2011 and if passed, will be added to your transcript and you will not have to retake the exam when it is officially released.

It is important to note that there are no Microsoft-issued preparation materials at this time, so you should have quite a bit of hands-on experience using Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager 2010 (FIM 2010) before attempting the exam.

To view a list of skills measured and topics covered, visit the 70-158 exam page on the Microsoft Learning website. To register for the exam, you’ll need to visit the Prometric website or call (800) 755-3926.

CWNP Offers Free Exam Retakes

Following the success of last year’s free retakes, CWNP, Inc. recently announced the return of free retakes on all CWNP exams. The free retakes will be available until August 31st, 2011 should you fail to pass an exam before then. As long as you took the original exam before August 31st, you will be eligible to receive a free retake voucher.

For details on how to take advantage of this promotion, you can visit the Free Retake promo page at cwnp.com.

CompTIA Looking for Subject Matter Experts

CompTIA has expanded the request for Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) for not only the Storage+ certification, but also A+, Security+, Network+, and CDIA+ certifications.

SMEs are often called upon to ensure certifications remain up to date and relevant. As an SME, you’ll be called upon to work with the CompTIA staff to create and review exam items associated with the exam’s specific topics, skills needed, and best practices. According to the press release, those who participate are rewarded with a stipend, a CompTIA voucher, a CompTIA shirt, and breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner on some meeting days. However, these benefits may not all apply for those who participate in remote workshops.

The SME workshops currently scheduled are as follows:

• July 18-22 – CompTIA Network+ Workshop
• August 15-19 – CompTIA A+ Workshop (Job Task Analysis)
• September 12-16 – CompTIA Security+ Workshop
• September 19-23 – CompTIA A+ Workshop (Item Writing)
• October 3-7 – CompTIA CDIA+ Workshop
• October 17-21 – CompTIA Storage+ Powered by SNIA

For more information on becoming a CompTIA Subject Matter Expert, please visit CompTIA’s Exam Development page.

Companies could do what they usually do and replace existing hardware with thin clients as machines reach the end of their lifecycle. The problem with this approach is that a particular department, for example, would end up with some users on thin clients and some users on fat clients during the transition, a support nightmare.

Windows Thin PC (WinTPC) is Micorsoft’s solution to these realities. WinTPC is a locked down version of Windows 7 that allows companies to take existing computers within the organization and turn them into thin clients. Rather than having to overcome the financial and operational disincentive to replace hundreds or thousands of full-scale PCs already in place, IT management can use WinTPC to take the computers already sitting on everyone’s desk and turn them into thin clients. If thin clients don’t work out, systems can be rebuilt as traditional fat client installs.

WinTPC versus Windows Embedded Standard 7

Windows Thin PC and Windows Embedded Standard (WES7) are similar options available from Microsoft to deliver the thin client experience as a replacement for the traditional desktop PC.

Windows Embedded Standard is only available to hardware manufacturers. These OEMs then build and sell thin client devices loaded and configured with WES7. WinTPC, on the other hand, is only available to business as part of Microsoft Software Assurance (SA) to those with a volume licensing agreement with Microsoft. Neither product can be purchased directly.

Both WinTPC and WES7 aim to deliver a thin client experience. WinTPC comes directly from Microsoft. Enterprise features such as BitLocker, AppLocker and DirectAccess are built into the base image. Businesses download WinTPC and roll it out to existing hardware using a standard image.

WES7 comes from OEMs who customize features based upon their hardware solution and customer desires. Whereas WinTPC uses operating system level security and lockdowns to turn a standard PC into a thin client, WES7 comes directly on hardware that is already designed and locked to provide a thin client environment. OEMs can remove unused components of WES7 to make a smaller image.

What Is WinTPC

Microsoft positions WinTPC as a transitional operating system for organizations moving toward thin client computing. The idea is that an organization can take a subset of existing computers and rebuild them as thin clients using WinTPC without having to buy any new hardware or make any locked-in commitment to thin client computing. If thin clients don’t work out, IT can just reinstall the regular Windows operating system.

The WinTPC strategy is classic Microsoft. The company knows that there is an interest in thin client computing in the business world. However, businesses are leery of jumping all the way into the thin client pool until they know it will work. With WinTPC Microsoft gives businesses a free way to dip their toe into the world of thin clients.

For example, a CIO can green light a move to thin clients for a single department using WinTPC. There is no cost of acquisition. WinTPC is free as part of SA. The hardware already exists within the company because all of the employees already have regular PCs on their desk. Once the IT department is comfortable rolling out and supporting thin clients, they can move onto to other departments. If it doesn’t work out, they format and start over with Windows 7 installed. In this way, CIOs can try Microsoft as a thin client provider without committing to a costly test or transition period.

If the company decides that thin client computing is the way to go, the idea is that they can move on to buying OEM thin clients as systems end their useful lifecycle.

How WinTPC Works

WinTPC is a locked down version of Windows 7. As such, it requires the same hardware specification as Windows 7. It can be deployed and managed via System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) just like the full versions of Windows.

One of the main issues with using traditional desktop hardware as thin clients is that users end up writing data to the local disk. Whether intentional or not, writing to disk defeats many of the benefits of using a thin client including the ability to work on any client, eliminating the need to back up local systems, and security.  WinTPC uses OS level write filters to ensure that no local data is stored by users of the thin client. Additionally, all system level or program generated writes are shunted to a virtual disk that is destroyed at the end of each session ensuring that the system returns to its clean state each time. IT accesses disk writes via administrator tools or Windows Embedded Device Manager (WEDM).

WinTPC supports RemoteFX for enterprises running Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 with Hyper-V. Over a standard wired network connection, RemoteFX delivers a user interface experience so similar to a standard desktop computer that many users have no idea that they are running a remote desktop.

WinTPC also supports BitLocker and AppLocker.

WinTPC was released to manufacturing in June and is expected for general availability in July 2011.

Using a free browser-only version of Microsoft Excel whenever the mood might strike is a wonderful thing. However, sharing still requires either getting everyone together at the same time in a conference room or emailing copies back and forth to everyone. It’s better than having an administrative assistant pass around photocopies, but just barely.

Office 365 combines the power of web apps with a collaboration environment. Now, when Joe creates a new Excel spreadsheet while using web apps from a computer he is using while on the road, he can have Dave take a look at the spreadsheet and make updates while Susan verifies that the numbers add up to an attractive profit margin, even if Dave and Susan are running the web app version of Excel too.

While this scenario is a no-brainer for many corporate environments running Office and a SharePoint server, it’s a tougher setup for your average IT-less small business. Office 365 runs all of the necessary software and applications in the cloud without the need to plant a complicated or expensive server in a corner of the office space.

Setting Up an Office 365 Team

If you are going to be sharing documents out on the cloud, you need to control who has access to them. With Office 365, security is handled by an administrator. Fortunately, administering an Office 365 environment for a small business is straightforward and uncomplicated. Any reasonably technologically savvy employee or owner should be able to figure it out.

The person who first signs up for the Office 365 beta becomes the administrator by default. Other team members need not sign up directly. Instead, the administrator of the team or small business group creates the additional users, which serves both to avoid the headache of getting everyone signed up and to link all the users together as a team.

Additional administrators can be added later if necessary. Administrators have an additional tab at the top of their Office 365 desktop titled Admin. As you might guess, all the necessary administrator functions are here.

Clicking Admin brings up the administrator control panel. The options are limited, and that is a good thing. Office 365 is built to offer powerful collaboration and messaging without the need for a highly-trained computer administrator.

You can add users one at a time by clicking the Add users link at the top of the page. However, unless you only have a handful of team members, that can get old fast.

To add several users quickly, select the Users link under the Management heading in the sidebar. Click New and you’ll find a Bulk add users option. Use the comma-separated file template to populate all of the information necessary and upload it to create a list of users all at once. (If you are logged into your Office 365 account, you can use this link to get the file directly.)

When you’ve finished creating a user, the Office 365 system generates a password and emails it to the new user. The new team member is now ready to log on without having to go through the process of getting setup with Office 365 on their own.

Note that the email passwords are sent in clear text. If that makes you nervous, send the emails to your own account or to a null account. The username and password is displayed on the next page. Copy the credentials and then pass them on to the user in whatever secure way you prefer.

Setting Permissions and Licenses in Office 365

There are not a lot of options and permissions to get lost in with Office 365. There are just two main options. The first is whether or not the user has administrator permissions. An administrator can create new users, delete users and block and unblock users. Most importantly, an administrator can reset the passwords for users who forget them.

If you don’t want to be the only person getting emails and phone calls about password resets, you’ll need at least one other administrator. The other reason to have a second administrator is that they can reset YOUR password if, for some reason, you end up need a little assistance. Of course, only trusted users should be granted administrator access.

The other permission option is simply whether or not the user can currently use the services. Allowing and blocking users can be handy for changing who is involved; however, it is a global setting, so its use is somewhat limited.

Administrators can also determine which Office 365 functions a user can use by assigning licenses. A user without a Lync Online license, for example, cannot use the instant messaging and video conferencing features of Lync. Again, for most users, the choice is likely full access or no access, not allowed to use SharePoint features but not Exchange features. Unless a real need arises, don’t over-think this setting.

Under the More menu are the options to configure Mail and Lync. The most useful feature here is the ability to add additional email addresses for users. For example, a user might have both a direct email address and a generic email address such as support@company.com or widgetusers@company.com. Additional email addresses are added under E-Mail Options.

Another feature to watch here is the size of each user’s email box. Microsoft Office 365 offers 25 GB of storage. While that should be plenty for most users, those who frequently send and receive large attachments might have an issue. The handy usage bar can be let the administrators know when users are approaching the threshold.

Keep in mind that these user settings are only the basic global settings. Further permissions are available for specific needs. For example, users can be assigned different permissions for the Team Site ranging from full control to View Only.

Creating users and getting a team up and running on Office 365 is easy and it shows Microsoft’s commitment to making the online collaboration platform usable by small businesses and groups without full-time IT staffers.

Office 365 is currently in beta and is available at office365.microsoft.com.

IE 9 sports a new download manager, tools menu, command bar, status bar and favorites bar. If you’re wondering where all of these features are now located then check out this video from our TrainSignal Office Tutorials YouTube Channel. In the video you’ll also get to see a few hidden features in Internet Explorer 9. Enjoy!

Also, check out this list of New and Useful Keyboard Shortcuts for Internet Explorer 9 from the TechNet Magazine.