Safeguard Windows 2008 Server

Businesses cannot afford to have downtime, and with so much depending on the function of the Microsoft Relevant Products/Services Windows platform, they also have a need for tools that will help to maximize and preserve their investment in the Windows environment, even as they transition to the Windows Server 2008.

Fortunately, a number of proven tools and services are available to help organizations preserve and protect their Windows 2008 server Relevant Products/Services. By providing new availability to virtualization Relevant Products/Services, security and management capabilities, Windows Server 2008 helps IT staff maximize control over their infrastructure. Windows PowerShell, for example, a new command-line shell with more than 130 tools and an integrated scripting language, makes control and automation of repetitive system administration tasks easier. The new Server Manager is an additional help by offering the convenience of a single control panel from which administrators can install, configure and manage the server roles and features of Windows Server 2008.

One component of keeping critical IT environments up and running is having the capability to not only back up mission-critical data Relevant Products/Services but also to have fast and reliable recovery of that data. Without proper protection, an infrastructure failure, natural disaster or even simple human error could send a profitable, productive company into a tailspin from which it might never recover.

To ensure a complete data-system protection strategy, organizations are now replacing their silo-based backup-and-recovery strategies with a single, more comprehensive approach that maximizes Windows Server 2008 and legacy Window systems by supporting VSS writer integration, system state, Active Directory, BitLocker technology and cluster failover. In addition, these comprehensive data-protection solutions are powered by disk-based technology that minimizes IT downtime and helps businesses meet strict recovery-time objectives.

Intelligent archiving tools are also being integrated into data- and system-protection solutions to extend protection and availability to critical archives. In order to keep in compliance with data retention and recovery standards, more organizations are requiring an integrated archive solution that will help to manage and reduce storage Relevant Products/Services volumes and improve overall data discovery.

Advanced disk-to-disk-to-tape backup-and-recovery solutions can leverage other technologies to streamline protection. For example, these types of solutions provide IT administrators with the ability to recover granular data like e-mails, folders, mailboxes, and individual documents and attributes from critical Microsoft applications -- including Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, SharePoint Server and SharePoint Services. Having the ability to restore granular items versus restoring an entire database Relevant Products/Services eliminates the additional management and storage resource required when running Exchange mailbox backups.

Traditionally, Windows system recovery has been a manual, intensive and lengthy process that can take days or weeks. In contrast, bare metal restore technology can whittle that down to just minutes. With these solutions, IT administrators can quickly restore systems, even to dissimilar hardware Relevant Products/Services, virtual environments, or from remote, unattended locations. The entire Windows system can be captured and protected, including the operating system, applications, databases, files, device drivers, profiles, settings and registry.

Source: http://www.newsfactor.com/news/Safeguard-Windows-2008-Server/story.xhtml?story_id=131008JS64A7

Apple Releases Server Admin Tools 10.5.6

Apple has released Server Admin Tools 10.5.6, a package that contains remote administration tools, documentation, and utilities you can install on a computer other than your server. The download is free; the .dmg file weighs in at exactly 88MB.

According to an Apple support document, Server Admin Tools 10.5.6 is required to administer Mac OS X Server version 10.5.6 from a remote Mac client. As usual, the Server Admin Tools 10.5.6 are available as a manual download, and as an automatic Software Update for Macs running Mac OS X 10.5.6 with version 10.5 or later of the Server Admin Tools already installed. Users should note that the Server Admin Tools 10.5.6 require the latest version of Mac OS X available today - 10.5.6.

Apple also posted a note for users who might have accidentally moved or deleted some of the files contained in the Server Admin Tools folder. If as little as one file has been removed from its original location, OS X 10.5.6 users may see the Server Admin Tools 10.5.6 update appearing in their Software Updater again. If this is the case with you, Apple advises to return the Server services to their original location, or remove any duplicate copies of the Server Admin Tools, before using Software Update.

Affecting Mac OS X Server 10.5, Server Admin, the Server Admin Tools 10.5.6 deliver the following enhancements, according to Apple Support.

Server Admin Tools 10.5.6 include several improvements, including those delivered in Server Admin Tools 10.5.3 and Server Admin Tools 10.5.5, as well as the following:

System Image Utility

When deploying a system image created from a volume, the target computers will no longer have identical local KDC files.

Adds NetBoot/NetInstall model filters for the latest MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air computers.

Server Admin

Fixes an issue that could cause Server Admin to stop responding when propagating permissions on a folder which is on a volume other than the boot volume.

Download Server Admin tool Free

Architecting Memory for Systems on Windows Server 2008

The initial provisioning of RAM on systems is quite important, and with Windows Server 2008, it becomes even more critical now that 64-bit servers are common equipment. This tip breaks down how RAM can be used in Windows Server 2008.

Prior to Windows Server 2008, most servers did not have much of a RAM requirement above 4 GB. In Windows Server 2008, it is time to give some thought to x86 vs. x64 computing in regards to memory allocation.

The chart in Figure A shows the RAM maximums available with the different versions of Windows Server 2008.


Now that all new hardware is x64 capable, it is almost a no-brainer to go ahead and provision systems with the x64 editions of Windows — this includes the Standard and Web editions, which can hold more RAM. The only real distinguishing factor is whether these machines will be virtual machines or carry a heavy workload as a physical system. If new Windows servers (including selected virtual machine workloads) will be doing very little work, it may make more sense to only provision them with 4 GB of RAM.

When comparing x86 to x64, the systems should be made x64 (if possible) if there is any foreseen need to increase the RAM beyond the 4 GB limit. However, cases can be made for x86 installations; namely, drivers that need to be installed for certain equipment, vendor support for third-party applications, and the possible need for 16-bit applications (read 10 things you should know about 64-bit Windows Server) can become great obstacles in adopting x64 distributions of Windows. The other side of the discussion is to minimize the number of editions of Windows Server 2008 that you use in your environment, which is a very valid management point.

Increasing the footprint of operating systems is something that most administrators want to avoid, but this one may be an exception. With Windows Server 2008’s x64 versions being able to process more RAM, the case becomes quite clear. This becomes an even more convincing case when we consider that the x86 versions of Windows Server 2008 will likely not go beyond the base release, paving the way for the x64 platform exclusively available with Windows Server 2008 R2.

Source: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/datacenter/?p=483

Windows Server 2008 Store something for Small business

This is a philosophy that the Windows Server team at Microsoft adopted since Windows Server 2003 R2 beta will be available for download on the WinServer R2 web site.

While R2 arrives with myriad new features, there are two key areas that are of great interest to IT generalists and small VARs that cater to the Small business. First, a new DirectAccess feature eliminates the need for VPN connectivity by providing seamless intranet based connectivity to Windows 7 clients from remote locations. DirectAccess will do away with the need to buy any VPN appliance. What's more, administrators will be able to manage remote computers just like computers inside corporate intranets. For VARs, DirectAccess spells a boom in new business revenue. VARs can offer managed services directly from their networks.

In R2, Microsoft also changed some of the network plumbing and underlying protocols to increase the efficiency of file transfers and improve remote connectivity with Hyper-V. As a result, the old Terminal Services will no longer be supported.

R2 provides a new Remote Desktop service using a new Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). In a R2 VDI environment, remote computers will be able to connect to virtual desktops, instead of physical machines. Hyper-V's virtualization technology makes it looks seamless. From the point of view of users, they won't be able to distinguish if the virtual desktops are virtual or installed on physical hardware.

While this might sound too esoteric for many small businesses to deploy, in actuality, it is not. I've worked with Hyper-V in the past and found it extremely easy to use. Small business will be able to reduce operational costs because the desktops exist in the VDI environment (a server box). You won't be rolling your eyes back when you see the price. It's all included in the Windows Server 2008 license.

Source: pcmag.com

Microsoft touts Mac-Windows collaboration at Macworld

Microsoft Corp. today said it would launch new Macintosh software later this year that will let Office 2008 for Mac users collaborate with people running the Windows version of the application suite.

The company made the announcement at the Macworld Conference & Expo, where Apple Inc. delivered the keynote for the last time, without CEO Steve Jobs, a longtime fixture at the event.

Document Collaboration Companion will be released to a small number of beta testers next month, said a Microsoft spokeswoman in an e-mail today. However, Microsoft would not commit to a definitive final release timetable, saying only that it would deliver the software "later this year."

The spokeswoman said that the program will make it easier for users to download and upload documents to enterprise servers running SharePoint, Microsoft's browser-based collaboration platform, or to Office Live Workspace, the free online server service that offers similar functionality. Document Collaboration Companion also will provide Mac-based tools to let Office users check shared documents in and out.

Microsoft touted the upcoming software and a planned makeover of Entourage -- the e-mail client for Office 2008 for Mac -- as its first moves toward providing some of the same kind of services to its Mac customers that those running Windows already enjoy.

"Entourage Exchange Web Services and the Document Collaboration Companion lets Mac Office users connect with counterparts on a PC," said Eric Wilfrid, general manager of Microsoft's Mac business group, in a separate statement. "These releases are the first step in harnessing the power of software plus services on the Mac."

Microsoft promised that Entourage will also be beefed up this year so that it's more on par with Outlook, the Windows e-mail client, in enterprises. As part of that upgrade, which Microsoft will offer later this year free of charge to Office 2008 users, it is transitioning Entourage to Exchange Web Services (EWS) for connecting to Exchange mail servers and dropping the currently supported WebDAV.

The changes will also include new support for synchronizing tasks, notes and categories in Entourage via an Exchange server.

Source:http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9125032&intsrc=hm_list

Small Business IT Services: Save Money with Third-Parties

Hiring Third-Party IT Services

There are four key reasons why small businesses are hiring third-party IT support services providers right now.

1. Cost-Savings

Hiring outside IT services is often much less expensive than hiring a full-time IT staff member. With outside service providers you get to choose exactly what IT programs your company size and workload needs. That means you can decide whether you want to pay for network management, help desk support, systems security elements, server support and on-going maintenance or just a subset of these. With an IT consulting firm you get what you need when you need it and can avoid the high overhead cost of paying an employee.

2. High-Quality Service

Professional IT providers often offer a much higher quality of work than a single IT employee. A good IT consulting firm hires fully trained IT professions that are able to design and implement competitive IT systems, analyze server, desktop, and network vulnerability, and provide desktop and network support. This kind of comprehensive analysis is often more than a entry level IT manager can handle.

3. Improved Network Security

By hiring an outside IT service provider, small businesses can utilize the critical and objective assessment of an unbiased, diligent professional. Outside IT providers are often asked to thoroughly examine threats that exist outside the company and implement technologies that help protect the business from these threats. These companies' main objective is to stay on top of the latest network and system threats to make sure they are on top of securing the systems. That takes time and work that most business owners don't have on their own.

4. Peace of Mind

Probably the most honest and simplest reason small business owners are seeking out outside IT service providers is the peace of mind it can bring. An IT service provider with years of proven experience in the field and access to state-of-the-art tools will undoubtedly do a better job than an employee with a basic knowledge of internet trends and technologies. Knowing that the IT components are taken care of allows small businesses with limited resources to focus their energy on sales, customer service, project management and other income generating work.

Small business owners in any industry can find value in researching IT support services for their company. It is not vital that they understand all the components for a secure and functioning server and systems network. It is important for them to take time to find someone who does. There are professional services out there willing to help cut costs and save you time.

Source: goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1288137

Layer Zero Server Management

It's kind of surprising in this day and age how rudimentary server management can be. Far too many IT organizations are still using pen and paper trying to keep track of which servers are attached to what applications. In short, they are using the most basic of manual processes to keep track of the equipment we use to automate every other aspect of the business environment.

The good news is that the discipline of IT service management is maturing quickly. A lot of internal IT departments are taking a page from professional IT services organizations by starting to manage their own operations like a service company. We have all kinds of IT automation tools available today to help accomplish that, but the first step along that journey is to start figuring out what server equipment is actually in place.

Turns out that may be a seemingly obvious thing to do but you might be surprised that there are not that many tools focused on the physical management of servers. In fact, Hewlett-Packard just expanded its portfolio of systems management tools to include Vista server management and monitoring tools from Aperture, which makes a set of tools that company officials say address the often overlooked "Layer Zero" aspect of server support services management.

The other side of this equation is that in this economy IT organizations are likely to find they are going to be short-handed when it comes to data center personnel. That means they need more tools to proactively monitor data center environments that are becoming more complex in the wake of virtualization and data center consolidation projects.

With the advent of blade servers and multicore processors, the challenges associated with managing servers are only going to get more difficult. But you can't really manage what you don't really know you have. And when you're dealing with hundreds of servers.

Source: blogs.eweek.com