Lets face it, Microsofts new deployment tools rock. But today it got even better… Microsoft now have multicast support checked into the build tree for Longhorn Server.  It will be tightly integrated into the Longhorn Server Windows Deployment Services (WDS) role. Microsoft will release the bits on a very limited basis this month to some customers via an IDS build, with much broader availability as they’ll drop Beta 3 from airplanes.  For those of you with subscriptions to TechNet Plus Online, you’ll get the goodies early.  Want more details? New MGMT tasks in the WDS MMC and WDSUTIL New WDS Client UI page indicating…

Deploying Microsoft Windows Vista Operating System Images Using SMS 2003 Virtual Labhttp://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6067734Event OverviewAfter completing this lab, you will be better able to: • Install the SMS 2003 OS Deployment Feature Pack Update. • Install USMT 3.0 to capture and restore user state information. • Create an Image Capture Wizard CD. • Image a Windows Vista client computer. • Import the Windows Vista image into an SMS 2003 image package. • Deploy the Windows Vista image to upgrade a Windows 2000 client computer. NoteBy registering for this Virtual Lab – you will receive a one-time follow up call from a Microsoft representative to inform you of special…

The final version of the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.0 are now released. If you are already familiar with ACT 5.0 make sure you download the new bits and the refreshed product guide here.  If you want to learn more about the tools and resources around application compatibility for Windows Vista – please visit our TechNet site. For people new to ACT, it is a single toolset that can help detect, diagnose, and mitigate compatibility issues found in Windows Vista.  I think the single coolest feature of this tool is that you can deploy it in your current environment, Windows 2000 or Windows…