Did you know ? Windows Vista Meeting Space requires IPv6.
So next time someone say that they dont use IPv6, they might need it anyway...

Here we are - Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions are now available for download. This is a cool thing bringing lot's of Group Policy Power to admins around the world!

The GPP CSEs are included in Windows Server 2008 RTM, but can now be downloaded for:
Windows XP SP2+ (32/64 bit)
Windows Server 2003 SP1+ (32/64 bit)
Windows Vista RTM+ (32/64 bit)

These are the links:
GPP CSEs for Windows Vista (KB943729)
GPP CSEs for Windows Vista x64 Edition (KB943729)
GPP CSEs for Windows Server 2003 (KB943729)
GPP CSEs for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition (KB943729)
GPP CSEs for Windows XP (KB943729)
GPP CSEs for Windows XP x64 Edition (KB943729)

To get Group Policy Preferences on your network all you need is a single Windows Server 2008 as a management station in you existing Windows Server 2003 AD (or 2008 AD of course). When RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tools) is out there - very soon! - a Windows Vista SP1 will be enough to get this cool functionality in your domain!

But remember, no GP Preferences (GPP) without the CSEs - so go ahead and download them now ;-)

Source: Jakob H. Heidelberg

Event ID: 1032369053

Language(s): English.
Product(s): System Center.
Audience(s): IT Professionals.
Duration: 90 Minutes
Start Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 1:00 PM Pacific Time (US & Canada)

Event Overview
Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 shipped recently, but we are not done yet! This year, we will also release a service pack and an R2. In this session, we cover the changes we are making in the System Center Configuration Manager 2007 Service Pack 1 (SP1) timeframe, in addition to the following System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 release. We briefly introduce System Center Configuration Manager, but our focus is on the new elements to support Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2008, in addition to some additional changes for Asset Intelligence and Intel AMT Integration.

Presenter: Jeff Wettlaufer, Senior Technical Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Register here.

What's New in Configuration Manager 2007 SP1

• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 introduces a new feature for out of band management.
• Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 provides significant enhancements to the Asset Intelligence feature introduced in Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 and included in Configuration Manager 2007.
• The length of the evaluation period has changed in Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 to be more consistent with other Microsoft products. In Configuration Manager 2007, the evaluation period is 120 days. In Configuration Manager 2007 SP1, the evaluation period is 180 days.
• The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Connector and the System Center Updates Publisher are no longer included with the Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 installation media.
• Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 provides support for Windows Server 2008 as clients and site systems.

Note
Windows Server 2008 does not include WebDAV by default, which is required for Configuration Manager 2007 management points and distribution points. For more information, see the release notes.

What's New in Configuration Manager 2007 R2

• Application Virtualization management support
• Forefront Client Security Integration
• SQL Reporting Services Reporting - Allows you to report on Configuration Manager activity using SQL Reporting Services
• Client Status Reporting - Provides a set of tools and Configuration Manager 2007 reports to assess the status of client computers, sometimes referred to as "client health." Clients that show a change in activity patterns might need administrative intervention.
• Operating System Deployment Enhancements
  • Unknown computer support
    In Configuration Manager 2007 R2, you can deploy operating systems to computers using a PXE service point without first adding the computer to the Configuration Manager database.
  • Multicast deployment
    Previously, all operating system deployments used unicast. Multicast can make more efficient use of network bandwidth when deploying large images to several computers at the same time.
  • Running command lines in task sequences with credentials other than the local system account.

If you haven't already joined, to get access to the program, which includes the ability to provide feedback, download pre-release bits, and use newsgroups for discussing product topics, please apply for the program here:
https://connect.microsoft.com/programdetails.aspx?ProgramDetailsID=1829

With Windows Server 2008, the installation process for servers has substantially changed for the first time since Windows NT 4.0. Since the underlying technologies for deploying Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista are now the same, wouldn’t it be great if you could use the same tools and leverage the same knowledge to deploy both? System Center Configuration Manager and Microsoft Deployment now provide that integrated toolset. In this paper, learn how to use System Center Configuration Manager and Microsoft Deployment to automate the deployment of Windows Server 2008 – through native integration with these new deployment processes and tools.

Download…

Source: Rod Trend at myITforum.com

The new switch to connect to the server's active console session is:
mstsc.exe /admin
The old /console doesn't work anymore!

Microsoft has released a number of whitepapers on Windows Server 2008 clustering:

• Microsoft High Availability Strategy White Paper
• Overview of Failover Clustering with Windows Server 2008
• Quick Migration with Hyper-V
• Windows Server 2008 Failover Clustering Architecture Overview
• WS2008 Failover Clustering Datasheet
• WS2008 Multi Site Clustering

Download