| Volume 11, Issue 17: July 29, 2009 | | Note from the Editor Greetings, and welcome to TechNet Flash. Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have reached the RTM milestone. If you're still testing the RC build, you'll be able to switch over to the RTM build during the second half of August, 2009. For Windows Server 2008 R2, you can get the low-down on system requirements and installation guidelines and IT pro testing guidelines; and for the updated reviewers guide and other technical content be sure to visit the Windows Server 2008 R2 Resources page. For those evaluating Windows Server 2008 R2 for the first time, check out the Resources page for content on R2's key new features, including Hyper-V with Live Migration, the new File Classification Infrastructure, the updates to IIS 7.5 and the new "better together" features you can access by combining Windows Server 2008 R2 with Windows 7. And for developers looking to see what R2 has to offer, make sure to visit MSDN's Windows Server Resource page, sporting several new additions in time for RTM. Finally, starting October 1 you'll be able to find even more readiness and technical content at an upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 - Windows 7 - Exchange 2010 Virtual Launch Experience site. When Will Windows 7 RTM Be Available? According to this Windows Team Blog posting, Volume License (VL) customers with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 7, 2009 via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). The rest of the languages for Windows 7 RTM should be available within a couple of weeks following the English release. For IT professionals who are not part of the VL program, if you have a TechNet subscription, you will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6, 2009, and the remaining languages by October 1, 2009. Evaluation versions of Windows 7 Professional for IT professionals will be made available via the Springboard Series shortly after RTM. Windows 7 Upgrade Paths For a quick view of the supported and unsupported upgrade paths for Windows 7 SKUs, download the Windows 7 Upgrade Paths document that outlines possible upgrade scenarios from older versions of Windows. For a Web version of this document, see Windows 7 Upgrade Paths in the Windows Client TechCenter Library. Microsoft Contributes Open Source Linux Drivers for Hyper-V Microsoft has contributed 20,000 lines of code to the Linux kernel community. The code contribution, a Linux device driver, will be published on CodePlex, and will be immediately available to the Linux Community and customers, enabling any distribution of the Linux operating system to be virtualized on Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008. For more, check out the Channel 9 video. |
Your Featured Content | | Let us know what interests you and we'll deliver your featured content here in the next edition of TechNet Flash. |
New Videos for IT Pros | | | | 3 minutes, 52 seconds
What happens when you combine business intelligence with Virtual Earth and the Surface? The BI team showcased an application known as Falcon Eye at Tech·Ed that integrates data with Virtual Earth so that you can investigate it hands-on through a Microsoft Surface device. | | | | | 22 minutes, 38 seconds
The SharePoint Diagnostic (SPDiag) tool offers both static and trend analysis and reporting as well as real-time details to assist in analysis, planning, and problem avoidance and resolution. In this video Hilton Giesenow takes us through downloading, installing and configuring the tool, and shows how to use some of its features. |
Featured Downloads | | This document is for information technology (IT) implementers who have planned a Volume Activation deployment and are now ready to review and perform the procedures needed for that deployment. | | | Join the Security Baselines Beta, and download the baselines to ensure you get the first look at this new release. The beta review program closes August 17, 2009. Already a member of the beta program? Bookmark this link. |
Scripting for IT Pros Hey Scripting Guy...
Support and Troubleshooting How-tos Hotfixes Knowledge Base Articles See a selection of new Knowledge Base articles on the TechNet Web site. KB articles feature an Article Translations box in the right column. You can select a language from the drop-down list and read the article in the selected language.  Also available via RSS
IT Management | | A full-sized color application lifecycle management (ALM) poster gives IT managers a comprehensive view of how ALM technologies work within their IT environment. Check out the Platform Solution Blueprint posters provided by Advaiya Inc. to help you visualize your platform design and strategy. | To stay updated on the next installment for IT Managers, visit the IT Management Hub.
Upcoming Webcasts | | August 12, 2009, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Attend this webcast to lean how using the Microsoft Desktop Optimization pack with the Windows 7 operating system can simplify application deployment and desktop management while reducing IT costs. | | | August 5, 2009, 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time
If you're generating lots of job leads, but can't clinch the offer, the problem may be with your interview demeanor and skills. We'll discuss ways to increase your likeability in interviews and the hidden agenda behind many interview questions. |
Identity and Security | | Forefront Threat Management Gateway (TMG) is a comprehensive secure Web gateway solution that helps protect employees from Web-based threats. It also delivers simple, unified perimeter security with integrated firewall, VPN, intrusion prevention, malware inspection, and URL filtering. Forefront TMG Beta 3 is available for download in both Standard and Enterprise editions. | | | Forefront Unified Access Gateway Beta 2 provides an easy and secure remote access solution with a focus on application intelligence and granular access control. Forefront UAG is the one solution to fit all of your remote access needs, as it provides centralized management and policy control across all users, devices, and network resources. When you download the latest beta software, you're automatically registered to access valuable beta resources assembled in one convenient location. | | | Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (Windows EBS 2008) includes Forefront Security for Exchange Server that helps businesses protect their Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 messaging environment from viruses, worms, spam, and inappropriate content. Read how to modify the malware-scanning engines used by Forefront Security for Exchange Server in Windows EBS 2008. Learn more about Windows EBS 2008. |
On Demand | | In this webcast, we explain how Windows 7 security features provide the foundation for a secure and reliable desktop platform. | | | This session will explore group policy enhancements in Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. |
Virtual Labs | | After completing the exercises you will be able to configure interoperability between Office Communications Server 2007 R2 and Unified Messaging, and also experience the features of Microsoft Unified Communications. | | | After completing this lab, you will be better able to build a balanced and optimized portfolio, focus resources on projects that further the most important organizational goals, and more. |
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| |  | _________________  | | Training and Books Learning Snack: Setting Up a Home Network in Windows 7 People who have more than one computer in their homes would want to create a home network so that they can easily share and access files and printers across the network. This learning snack describes the HomeGroup feature in Windows 7 and demonstrates how to create a home network by using the HomeGroup feature. Unified Messaging in Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Unified messaging provides users with flexible and powerful new ways of accessing information and increasing productivity. This learning snack explains how unified messaging works and the improvements to unified messaging in Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. | | National and Global Events Microsoft Tech·Ed Europe 2009 November 9 - 13, 2009 Berlin, Germany Immerse yourself in over 600 learning opportunities and gain access to in-depth technical training that's tailored to your individual needs.  Digital WPC: Attend Virtually Not able to attend WPC this year? Watch the vision keynotes, solution value keynotes, and over 100 different breakout sessions on-demand through Digital WPC. The online forum enables you to interact with partners across the globe via social networking like Twitter, Facebook, and blogs. | | TechNet Plus Direct | • | Full library of Microsoft software for evaluation without limits | | • | Immediate access through subscriber downloads | | • | Two Professional Support incidents | | • | Access to beta software before public beta releases | | • | Exclusive tools and utilities | | | | | | | | Personalize Your Flash Let us know your technology interests. When you personalize your Flash experience, additional content for your selected topics can be found in every edition in Your Featured Content. | | | © 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Microsoft Dynamics, Expression, Forefront, Hyper-V, Internet Explorer, Outlook, Silverlight, SoftGrid, SQL Server, Visual Studio, Windows, Windows Mobile, Windows Server, and Windows Vista are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. To cancel your subscription to this newsletter, reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the Subject line. You can also unsubscribe at the Microsoft.com Web site. You can manage all your Microsoft.com communication preferences at this site. Legal Information. This newsletter was sent by the Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, Washington, USA 98052 | | | | |
