ronaldg's ramblings

Virtualization & Windows Server 2008 RC0

A few months back I told you about  a great blog on Microsoft Virtualization technology by Rob Larson.  Well there's other MS virtualization "gurus" out there, and one is Jeff Woolsey, who's actually on the Virtualization team a Microsoft.  He's got a great blog around Virtualization, but in one of his recent posts he blogged about the Windows Server 2008 RC0 release/Windows Server virtualization AND included step-by-step instructions with how to enable WSV. Check it out... 

http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/

For those who may not know, RC0 is the customer preview release of Windows Server 2008, so it's available for public download at:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/audsel.mspx

Links to info on Forefront Client Security (FCS)

Hey all, here's some great links to info around FCS, as a reminder, our Action Pack subscribers will be getting FCS in their OCT update.

Product Links

• Microsoft Forefront Client Security Home Page

• Microsoft Forefront Client Security Product Support

• Installing and Deploying Client Security

Webcasts

• Deploying Forefront Client Security (Part 1 of 2)

• Deploying Forefront Client Security (Part 2 of 2)

Virtual Labs

• Deploying Forefront Client Security Virtual Lab - Part 1

• Deploying Forefront Client Security Virtual Lab - Part 2

E-Learning

• E-Learning Resources for Microsoft Forefront Client Security

Community

• Learn from other users on the Forefront Client Security Forums (this link may be broken)

• Check out the Forefront Client Security Product Team Blog for the latest updates from Redmond

Other Technical Resources 

•  Visit the Forefront Client Security TechCenter

•  Forefront Client Security Technical Library

Rome wasn't built in a day, but ROM can help you get going in the managed services space in record time.

As you might know, the TS2 team is focusing on Managed Services as a preferred business model in our current content, and we are also featuring a look at System Center Essentials and Remote Operations Manager (ROM) as the technologies that can help you provide the remote monitoring component that is one of the basic and essential pillars of a managed services offering.

ROM is typically used in conjunction with a Master Hoster Provider and allows the Partner to take advantage of their NOC services and provide ready-to-go

Here's some links to help you get you jump started on this exciting new technology:

ROM Home page on Partner Portal:
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/productssolutions/servers/systemcenter/remoteoperationsmanager

[There's no links for ROM on Microsoft.com yet that I can find]

ROM presentation hosted by TS2 with John Joyner, Sr Architect, from ROM TAP partner ClearPointe - its full of demos and details!   You REALLY need to see this...
http://www.msreadiness.com/attendeeregister.asp?eid=5013&rid=378873

ROM Blog (TechNet)
http://blogs.technet.com/dustinj/

ROM Support Forum
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowForum.aspx?ForumID=1738&SiteID=17

Small Business Community Licensing Blog & Licensing Help

In case you're not familiar with this, and if you do anything that involves licensing of Microsoft software and technology, you need to be aware of this site and blog.   Eric is the manager of the Partner Community Manager (PCM) team and is an acknowledged SME in general licensing, you should take advantage of his recurring webcasts around licensing for Partners.

Here's a couple of pertinent links:
--Microsoft Open Licensing Renewals Made Easy (blog)http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2007/08/28/4615556.aspx

--Microsoft Small Business Community Blog Licensing Archive
http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/tags/Licensing/default.aspx

--Microsoft Small Business Community Blog Licensing Webcast Archive
http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/tags/Licensing/Events+_2600_amp_3B00_+Webcasts/default.aspx

--Microsoft Small Business Community Blog Promo & Offers Archive
http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/tags/Promotions+_2600_amp_3B00_+Offers/default.aspx

--What's the Difference  between MS Gear Up and LicenseWise?http://blogs.msdn.com/mssmallbiz/archive/2007/08/22/4513954.aspx

Also, don't forget, as a Microsoft Partner, you have access to the following licensing resources as well:

--Pre-sales technical (incl licensing) support
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40012211

--Microsoft Gear Up (Licensing info and tools)
http://www.ms-gearup.com/default.asp

--Microsoft Licensing Reseller Handbook
https://partner.microsoft.com/global/licensing/licensingchoices/40017359

Good selling...

Forefront Security RSS feed for partners

Where Can Partners Subscribe to This New Feed?

Partners can sign up for the RSS feed at https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40045699

What Sort of Content Will be Placed on the Feed?

The content is STRICTLY relating to Security, Identity and Access, and Management.  This will be where the Security, I&A, and Management focused product teams place alerts re: new content, training, and other tools for partners.  Also, since this is a PARTNER feed, the content is supposed to be screened to ensure that it has a high partner relevance. 

Enjoy.

Wow, here's a deal you can't afford to pass up...

Get a Free TechNet Plus Direct Subscription and SBS 2003 R2 Software

Assess & Win Offer Extended to June 2008: Assess Customer Needs, Earn More Rewards
Take part in the extended Assess & Win offer—you can now earn rewards more quickly. Added for this year, a free one-year TechNet Plus Direct subscription (US$349 value), when you evaluate customer business needs using the Microsoft Business and Technology Assessment Toolkit and submit two assessments and a survey to Microsoft. TechNet Plus Direct includes two free technical support incidents (worth US$490 if purchased separately), access to evaluation software and more. Submit a further three assessments to also earn a for-resale copy of Windows Small Business Server (SBS) 2003 R2 (US$599 value) and to begin earning Microsoft Partner Points.

net: 2 assessments = TechNet+ (which includes tech support incidents), and 3 more (5 total) = full retail copy of SBS 2003 R2

TechNet+ is a great deal nowadays IMHO and you still get the SBS. 

And for those of you who complete this and can then attend one of my TS2 events, please let me know (ronaldg@microsoft.com) as I'd like to recognize your accomplishment in that event and give you a custom-ordered SBS polo as an additional reward.