Ronni Pedersen's deployment ramblings

Hyper-V, one of the key features of Windows Server 2008, has now released to manufacturing (RTM) and is available for deployment into production environments. A beta of Hyper-V was included with Windows Server 2008 and this update provides the final release. The Hyper-V update will be available through Windows Update from July 8th.

I’ve upgraded my test lab running Hyper-V RC1 to the RTM version, and so far everything is running smoothly.

The official Press Release from Microsoft.

Additional information:

• http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/default.mspx
• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950050
• http://technet2.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/library/c513e254-adf1-400e-8fcb-c1aec8a029311033.mspx?mfr=true
• http://download.microsoft.com/download/2/e/7/2e7387d3-1391-4176-abe8-44e481100694/relnotes.htm

Download:

• http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=F3AB3D4B-63C8-4424-A738-BADED34D24ED&displaylang=en

Check out these cool Windows Server 2008 videos…

Windows Server 2008 – Crouching Robot

Windows Server 2008 – Command Line

Windows Server 2008 – Exerciser

More great stuff about Windows Server 2008 can be found at http://serverunleashed.com.

Update for Windows Vista (KB949587)
Install this update to enable remote management of a Windows Server 2008 computer running the Hyper-V RC1 role.

Update for Windows Server 2008 x64 Edition (KB950049)
The Release Candidate 1 (RC1) update to the Hyper-V role provides improvements to security, stability, performance, user experience, forward compatibility of configurations, and the programming model.

Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB949587)
Install this update to enable remote management of a Windows Server 2008 computer running the Hyper-V RC1 role.

Friday I passed the both the "TS: Configuring System Center Configuration Manager 2007" and the "PRO: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator" test (exam number 70-401 and 70-647). The ConfigMgr test was very easy but the Enterprise test was a challenge. I recommend that you update your trust skills before taking this test. The passing score for both tests was 700, and my score was 971 and 893.

A few weeks ago I also managed to passed the 70-620 (Configuring Windows Vista Client), and the 70-622 (Desktop Support Enterprise). This completes my MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician and MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certification.

Microsoft  Certification Exam Completed:
647 Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
401 TS: Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager, Configuring
622 Pro: Microsoft Desktop Support – ENTERPRISE
620 TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
649 TS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist
648 TS: Upgrading your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist
089 Designing, Implementing, and Managing, a Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Infrastructure
284 Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
296 Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000
292 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000
216 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Network Infrastructure
222 Migrating from Microsoft® Windows NT® 4.0 to Microsoft® Windows® 2000
224 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Exchange 2000 Server
219 Designing a Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
217 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure
215 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Server
210 Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft® Windows® 2000 Professional

The Windows Vista Service Pack 1 management tools for the Hyper-V release candidate are now available. This update package installs the Hyper-V remote management tools on a computer that is running Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). This package includes the following:

•The Hyper-V Manager. The Hyper-V Manager is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that provides management access to a Windows Server 2008-based server that uses the Hyper-V role.

•The Virtual Machine Connection. The Virtual Machine Connection is a remote connection tool that you can use to establish an interactive session on a virtual machine

Download:

Download the Update for Windows Vista x86 edition (KB949758) package.

Download the Update for Windows Vista x64 edition (KB949758) package.

More Information: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949758

Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tool (RSAT) for Windows Vista is now available for download. RSAT enables IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server 2008 from a computer running Windows Vista SP1. It includes support for remote management of computers running either a Server Core or full installation option of Windows Server 2008.

Download:

• x86 version
• x64 version

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

As scheduled I passed the "TS: Upgrading your MCSE from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008" test Today (exam number 70-649). The test is 55 questions with a passing score on 700 out of 1000. My score was 1000 .

This upgrade test gives me the following Windows Server 2008 exams:

• 70-640 TS: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory
• 70-642 TS: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure.
• 70-643 TS: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Applications.

I have to say that the questions are very easy when you consider its a upgrade test. Lots of the questions could be part of a Windows Server 2003 test and 1/3 of the questions was 100% the same as in 70-648.

To complete the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator I allso need 70-620 or 70-624 and the not yet released 70-647. So I hope to complete the Vista test (70-620) within this month, so I can focus on 70-647 and take the test when it becomes avalible.

Exam 70-647: Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator is in development. It is expected to be released in early 2008.