Download – Office 2016 IT Pro and Developer Preview

Today Microsoft announced the publicly-available preview of Office 2016.

The download is available by signing up for the Office 2016 Preview program on the Microsoft Connect site.

Note: You will need a Windows Live ID / Microsoft Account to sign up.

After logging into the Connect site you’ll fill out a self-nomination survey. Fill that out and then you’ll have access to the four files for the March 2015 preview:

  • Admin_OfficePreview.zip (2.27 MB)
  • Office 2016 Preview What’s Next.docx (687 KB)
  • Installation Guide for Office 2016 Preview – Business (External).docx (138 KB)
  • Known Issues for Preview – February Refresh – Business External.docx (24 KB)

Where’s the ISO?

There is no spoon.

The ZIP file contains a tiny Setup.exe file (2.42 MB) that leverages XML and BAT files to stream the installation bits to your PC in the background:

Office 2016 Preview setup screen

As you can see from the screenshot above, the bits are available in x86 ands x64 flavors.

Here are the new programs:

Office 2016 Preview

As you can also see, this *is* beta / preview level software.

Excel 2016 fail-o-rama

And if you click the Help button, the support site is *also* in beta:

Help site fail-o-rama

So – word to the wise, don’t install this in production.

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Download – Free Microsoft Azure Essentials eBook

Microsoft Azure Essentials - Fundamentals of AzureTitle: Microsoft Azure Essentials: Fundamentals of Azure
Authors: Michael S. Collier and Robin E. Shahan
Published: Feb 2015
Publisher: Microsoft Press
ISBN: 978-0-7356-9722-5
Pages: 246
Price: FREE
Download URL: Click here for download

E-BOOK FORMATS

PDF: 9780735697225.pdf (6.7 MB)
EPUB: 9780735697225.epub (12.0 MB)
Kindle / Mobi: 9780735697225.mobi (24.6 MB)

DESCRIPTION

The “Microsoft Azure Essentials” series helps you advance your technical skills with Microsoft Azure. “Microsoft Azure Essentials: Fundamentals of Azure” introduces developers and IT professionals to the wide range of capabilities in Azure. The authors—both Microsoft MVPs in Azure—present conceptual and how-to content for seven key areas and describe management tools and business cases.

CHAPTERS

  1. Getting started with Azure
  2. Azure Websites and Azure Cloud Services
  3. Azure Virtual Machines
  4. Azure Storage
  5. Azure Virtual Networks
  6. Databases
  7. Azure Active Directory
  8. Management Tools
  9. Business Cases
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Download – New Office Visio Stencil

Title: New Office Visio Stencil
Published: 10/03/2014
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
File name: OfficeSymbols_2014.zip
Size: 3.19 MB
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

This stencil contains more than 500 icons to help you create visual representations of Microsoft Office or Microsoft Office 365 deployments including Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, Microsoft Lync Server 2013, and Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013.

Note: This is a (yet again) updated version with the ever-confusing same name of “New Office Visio Stencil”.

The zip file contains 10 individual .vss files:

CLOUDS – s_symbols_Clouds.vss
(11 stencils)
s_symbols_Clouds.vss

COMMUNICATIONS – s_symbols_Communications.vss
(65 stencils)
s_symbols_Communications.vss

CONCEPTS – s_symbols_Concepts.vss
(117 stencils)
s_symbols_Concepts.vss

DATABASES – s_symbols_Databases.vss
(45 stencils)
s_symbols_Databases.vss

DEVICES – s_symbols_Devices.vss
(50 stencils)
s_symbols_Devices.vss

SECURITY – s_symbols_Security.vss
(51 stencils)
s_symbols_Security.vss

SERVERS – s_symbols_Servers.vss
(95 stencils)
s_symbols_Servers.vss

SERVICES – s_symbols_Services.vss
(25 stencils)
s_symbols_Services.vss

SITES – s_symbols_Sites.vss
(23 stencils)
s_symbols_Sites.vss

USERS – s_symbols_Users.vss
(41 stencils)
s_symbols_Users.vss

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Windows 10 Technical Preview Download

Windows 10 Technical Preview (desktop version) and Windows Server Technical Preview (server version) hit the web today.

What do the versions look like currently?

 

WINDOWS 10 TECHNICAL PREVIEW (DESKTOP / TABLET)
Build: 9841
Current availability: MSDN, TechNet, and public preview –
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-download

Public Preview

  • x86: WindowsTechnicalPreview-x86-EN-US.iso (2.93 GB)
  • x64: WindowsTechnicalPreview-x64-EN-US.iso (3.81 GB)

MSDN & TechNet

  • Windows Technical Preview (x86) – DVD
    en_windows_technical_preview_x86_dvd_5552509.iso
    Size: 3,009 MB
  • Windows Technical Preview (x64) – DVD
    en_windows_technical_preview_x64_dvd_5552500.iso
    Size: 3,911 MB
  • Windows Technical Preview for Enterprise (x86) – DVD
    en_windows_technical_preview_for_enterprise_x86_dvd_5554091.iso
    Size 2,913 MB
  • Windows Technical Preview for Enterprise (x64) – DVD
    en_windows_technical_preview_for_enterprise_x64_dvd_5554079.iso
    Size 3,797 MB

Windows 10 Technical Preview screen shot:

Windows 10 Technical Preview screen shot

 

WINDOWS SERVER TECHNICAL PREVIEW (SERVER)
Build: 9841
Current availability: MSDN & TechNet Subscribers

MSDN & TechNet

  • Windows Server Technical Preview (x64) – DVD
    en_windows_server_technical_preview_x64_dvd_5554304.iso
    Size: 4,210 MB
  • Microsoft Hyper-V Server Technical Preview (x64) – DVD
    en_microsoft_hyper-v_server_technical_preview_x64_dvd_5554305.iso
    Size: 1,903 MB
  • Windows Server Datacenter Technical Preview (x64) – VHD
    en_windows_server_datacenter_technical_preview_x64_vhd_5554157.vhd
    Size: 7,661 MB

Windows Server Technical Preview screen shot:

Windows Server Technical Preview

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

  • Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster
  • RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
  • Free hard disk space: 16 GB
  • Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
  • A Microsoft account and Internet access (not required for Server Preview)

NOTES

  • I intentionally installed the 64-bit version with only 1 GB of RAM to see if a warning was thrown – no warnings.
  • Both OSes were installed as Generation 2 virtual machines as guest VMs on Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Both VMs have 127GB dynamic VHDX files
  • The technical preview expires April 15, 2015 (Upgrade reminders start on April 1, 2015)
  • The version of PowerShell in the Server preview is 5.0.9841.0

image

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Download – PowerShell Hyper-V Cookbook

The Altaro PowerShell Hyper-V CookbookTitle: The Altaro PowerShell Hyper-V Cookbook
Author: Jeffery Hicks, PowerShell MVP
Twitter: @JeffHicks
Published: 2014
Publisher: Altaro Software
PDF: Altaro-PowerShell-Hyper-V-Cookbook.pdf
Size: 6.9 MB
Pages: 63
Scripts: Altaro-PowerShell-HyperV-Cookbook-Scripts.zip
Size 44.7 KB
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

  • Understand the basics of Hyper-V Cmdlets and how to create
    a Hyper-V VM
  • How to display and discover information about your VMs and Hyper-V host
  • Get mounted ISO files & identify orphaned VHD/VHDX files
  • How to delete obsolete snapshots and query Hyper-V event logs

SAMPLE POWERSHELL SCRIPTS

  1. Get-HyperVEvents.ps1
  2. Get-ImageFromISO.ps1
  3. Get-MyVM.ps1
  4. Get-ObsoleteVHD.ps1
  5. Get-VHDInfo.ps1
  6. Get-VMMemoryReport.ps1
  7. Get-VMOS.ps1
  8. Get-VMSnapshotUsage.ps1
  9. New-HVHealthReport.ps1
  10. New-VMfromISO.ps1
  11. New-VMFromTemplate.ps1
  12. Remove-OldVMSnapshot.ps1
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PowerShell Cheat Sheet for Active Directory

Old school MicrosoftAll right, pop quiz, hotshot:

Do you still use any of the following commands?

  • CSVDE
  • DCPROMO
  • DNSCMD
  • DSACLS
  • DSADD
  • DSGET
  • DSMOD
  • DSMOVE
  • DSQUERY
  • DSRM
  • GPRESULT
  • GPUPDATE
  • IPCONFIG
  • NETDOM
  • NETSTAT
  • NLTEST
  • NSLOOKUP
  • PING
  • REPADMIN

If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of the previous items, you failed.

ALL of those commands have been replaced by PowerShell.

And they were replaced over a year and a half ago.

News flash: You’re falling further behind in your IT career.

“But PowerShell is hard to remember…” which is true.

Good news though. There’s a handy 4-page cheat sheet to help wean you off the sour milk of the command prompt and get you eating the solid food of PowerShell.

Title: PowerShell Command Line Conversion Guide: Active Directory
Published: 01/02/2013
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
File name: PowerShell Cmd Line Conversion Guide AD.pdf
Pages: 4
Size: 48 KB
Download URL: Click here for download

PowerShell Command Line Conversion Guide: Active Directory

Enjoy your meal!

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Download – PowerShell 4 Quick Reference Guide

Title: Windows PowerShell 4.0 and Other Quick Reference Guides
Published: 04/23/2014
Publisher: Microsoft / PowerShellMagazine.com
Size: 2.08 MB
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

Quickly learn tips, shortcuts, and common operations in Windows PowerShell 4.0, Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration, Windows PowerShell Workflow, Windows PowerShell ISE, Windows PowerShell Web Access, Server Manager for Windows Server 2012 R2, WinRM, WMI, and WS-Man.

CONTENTS

  • Windows PowerShell 4.0 Examples
  • Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE) 4.0
  • Windows PowerShell 4.0 Language Quick Reference
  • Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration Overview
  • Windows PowerShell Web Access
  • Elements of Windows Management Infrastructure (WMI)
  • WMI in Windows PowerShell 4.0
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New Office Visio Stencil Website Management

WordPress – Themes – Management – Tying it all in with Visio

WordPress website maintenance is a critical aspect of managing a successful online presence. Regular maintenance ensures that the website remains secure, performs optimally, and provides a seamless user experience. Key maintenance tasks include updating the WordPress core, themes, and plugins to their latest versions, which helps protect the site from vulnerabilities and enhances functionality. Additionally, regular backups are essential to safeguard data and provide a recovery point in case of any issues. These backups should be automated and stored in secure, off-site locations to ensure they are readily available when needed.

Themes play a significant role in WordPress website maintenance. A theme determines the visual appearance and layout of the website, impacting user experience and engagement. It is essential to choose a theme that is regularly updated and supported by its developers. This ensures compatibility with the latest WordPress versions and plugins, as well as adherence to best practices in web development. Popular themes such as Astra, Divi, and GeneratePress offer robust support and frequent updates, making them reliable choices for long-term use. Regularly checking for theme updates and implementing them is a key part of maintaining a secure and functional website.

Moreover, customizing themes can sometimes lead to issues during updates. To mitigate this, using child themes is recommended. A child theme inherits the functionality of the parent theme while allowing for customizations without altering the parent theme’s core files. This approach ensures that updates to the parent theme do not overwrite customizations, thereby maintaining the integrity and unique features of the website. Maintaining a child themes is important. WordPress maintenance service involves keeping both the parent and child themes updated and ensuring that any custom code is compatible with new releases.

Integrating WordPress maintenance with tools like Microsoft Office Visio can enhance the management and visualization of the website’s architecture. Microsoft Visio is a powerful diagramming tool that can create detailed flowcharts, site maps, and process diagrams. By using Visio stencils specifically designed for WordPress, administrators can visually map out the structure of the website, including the relationship between different pages, plugins, and themes. This visualization aids in planning updates, troubleshooting issues, and communicating the website’s architecture to team members or clients.

Creating a Visio stencil for WordPress themes and plugins can streamline the maintenance process. A stencil includes shapes and templates representing different components of a WordPress site, such as themes, plugins, and widgets. By arranging these components in Visio, administrators can identify dependencies and potential conflicts before making changes. For example, if a plugin update might affect certain theme features, this can be visualized and addressed proactively. This strategic planning reduces downtime and ensures smoother updates and transitions.

Overall, combining WordPress website maintenance with Microsoft Office Visio stencils provides a structured and visual approach to managing complex websites. It enhances the ability to maintain a secure, efficient, and user-friendly website while allowing for better communication and planning. This integrated method ensures that all aspects of the website are considered during maintenance activities, leading to a more robust and reliable online presence. By leveraging these tools and best practices, website administrators can effectively manage their WordPress sites, ensuring they remain up-to-date and functional.

Title: New Office Visio Stencil
Published: 04/22/2014
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
File name: FLEX_Stencil_121412.vss
Size: 3.9 MB
Download URL: Click here for download

 

 

 

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Download – Active Directory Replication Status Tool

Title: Active Directory Replication Status Tool
Published: 04/17/2014
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
Version: 1.1
Size: 5.7 MB
File name: adreplstatusInstaller.zip
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

The Active Directory Replication Status Tool (ADREPLSTATUS) analyzes the replication status for domain controllers in an Active Directory domain or forest. ADREPLSTATUS displays data in a format that is similar to REPADMIN /SHOWREPL * /CSV imported into Excel but with significant enhancements.

CAPABILITIES

  • Expose Active Directory replication errors occurring in a domain or forest
  • Prioritize errors that need to be resolved in order to avoid the creation of lingering objects in Active Directory forests
  • Help administrators and support professionals resolve replication errors by linking to Active Directory replication troubleshooting content on Microsoft TechNet
  • Allow replication data to be exported to source or destination domain administrators or support professionals for offline analysis
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Download – Test Lab Guide – Windows Azure AD

Test Lab Guide: Creating a Windows Azure AD and Windows Server AD Environment using DirSync with Password SyncTitle: Test Lab Guide: Creating a Windows Azure AD and Windows Server AD Environment using DirSync with Password Sync
Author: Bill Mathers
Published: 01/15/2014
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
Pages: 48
Size: 1.8 MB
File name: DirSync_TLG.docx
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

This document will assist IT professionals, administrators, architects, and developers with in creating a test lab that uses Windows Azure Active Directory and Windows Server AD.

CONTENTS

  1. Set Up the Configuring the Windows Server 2012 Base Configuration Test Lab for Public Cloud Technologies
  2. Sign-up for a Windows Azure 30-Day Trial
  3. Create a Windows Azure AD Tenant
  4. Prepare the Windows Azure AD Tenant for Synchronization
  5. Create Organizational Units and Test Users in Windows Server AD
  6. Download and Install DirSync
  7. Configure DirSync to specific Organizational Units
  8. Run DirSync and Verify Results
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