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Training – Server 2012 R2 Essentials Now on MVA

Server 2012 R2 Essentials is finally getting some love from the Microsoft Virtual Academy!

Behold: 4.5 hours of Essentials 2012 R2 goodness!
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Instructor: David Fabritius – Microsoft Product Marketing Manager

Description: ​Join Microsoft Product Marketing Manager David Fabritius​ as he takes you through Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials and the new Windows Server Essentials Experience role available on the Standard and Datacenter editions of Windows Server 2012 R2.

MVA - Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials

URL: http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/windows-server-2012-r2-essentials

Contents:

  1. Overview (36 minutes)
  2. Deployment Options and Licensing (36 minutes)
  3. Installation, Migration, and Getting Started (48 minutes)
  4. Server Management and Monitoring (46 minutes)
  5. Cloud Integration and Add-Ins (40 minutes)
  6. User and Computer Management (32 minutes)
  7. User Experience (33 minutes)

BONUS: There is also a TechNet Virtual Lab for Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9836955

Source: Small Business Server Blog

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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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Download – Visio Stencils for Windows Azure

Buck WoodyBuck Woody (Microsoft employee) has created and shared some unofficial Visio Stencils for Windows Azure.

You can download the stencils for free from his SkyDrive.

Title: Windows Azure Visio Shapes
File size: 846 KB
File name: Azure.vss
Download: Click here to download

DESCRIPTION

Windows Azure Stencils for the following:

  1. Yahoo Identity
  2. Facebook Identity
  3. Google Identity
  4. LiveID Identity
  5. Cloud
  6. Datacenter
  7. Claim
  8. ID
  9. Security
  10. Persistent VM
  11. Web Role
  12. Worker Role
  13. Queue
  14. Table Storage
  15. BLOB Storage
  16. Cache
  17. Azure Services
  18. RDBMS Service
  19. Windows Workload
  20. Windows Process
  21. On Premises Server
  22. Application
  23. On Premises Data
  24. On Premises
  25. Person 1
  26. People
  27. Person 2

EXAMPLE

Visio Stencils for Windows Azure (unofficial)

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What’s New In Software-Defined Storage

If you haven’t heard of StoreVirtual VSA by HP, you should check out this short video.

Kate Davis from HP talks about what’s new in software-defined storage from HP.

We plan on doing a user group presentation on StoreVirtual VSA soon.
Stay tuned for details!

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New Windows Azure Network Security Whitepaper

Title: Windows Azure Network Security Whitepaper
Author: Ashwin Palekar, Principal Program Manager, Windows Azure
Published: Nov 2013
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
Pages: 14
Size: 579 KB
File name: Windows Azure Network Security Whitepaper – FINAL.docx
Download URL: Click here for download

Windows Azure Network Security Whitepaper

DESCRIPTION

This document provides guidance on securing network communication for applications deployed in Windows Azure, enabling customers to determine how best to protect their virtual infrastructure and data.

The intended audience for this whitepaper includes:

  • IT and Network administrators interested in deploying applications on Windows Azure
  • Developers interested in creating applications that run on Windows Azure
  • Technical decision makers (TDMs) considering Windows Azure to support new or existing services
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2014 Microsoft Events

Here’s a list of Microsoft events for the first half of 2014:

Source: US Partner Training January 2014 Hot Sheet

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24 Free eBooks from Microsoft Press

Since we’re talking about eBooks, here are two dozen more free eBooks from Microsoft Press.

Note: The eBook web page was originally created on May 4, 2012, but was recently updated on December 29, 2013.

Free Microsoft eBooks

Titles:

  • Rethinking Enterprise storage – A Hybrid Cloud Model
  • Introducing Windows Azure for IT Professionals
  • Microsoft System Center – Designing Orchestrator Runbooks
  • Microsoft System Center – Configuration Manager Field Experience
  • Microsoft System Center – Cloud Management with App Controller
  • Microsoft System Center – Troubleshooting Configuration Manager
  • Microsoft System Center – Optimizing Service Manager
  • Introducing: Microsoft System Center 2012 R2 – Technical Overview
  • Introducing: Windows 8.1 for IT Professionals – Technical Overview
  • Introducing: Windows Server 2012 R2 – Technical Overview
  • Programming Windows Store Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
  • .NET Technology Guide for Business Applications
  • Introducing: Windows Server 2012 – RTM Edition
  • Introducing: Microsoft SQL Server 2012
  • Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS and JavaScript
  • Microsoft Office 365
  • Security and Privacy for Microsoft Office 2010 Users
  • Introducing: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
  • Introducing: Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Understanding Microsoft Virtualization Solutions – Second Edition
  • First Look: Microsoft Office 2010
  • Deploying Windows 7
  • Moving to Microsoft Visual Studio 2010
  • Programming Windows Phone 7

URL: Click here to download

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Free eBook – Hyper-V 2012 Hands-On Guide

eBook - Hands-on Guide: Understanding Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012Title: Hands-on Guide: Understanding Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012
Author: Brien Posey with additional chapters from Pete Zerger and Chris Henley
Published: 2013
Pages: 392
Price: FREE*
* Registration required for download
(email address & job description)

FORMATS

  • PDF: 23.5 MB
  • MOBI: 31.4 MB
  • EPUB: 15.4 MB

Download URL: Click here for download

File name: veeam_brien_posey_hands_on_guide_understanding_hyper_v_in
_windows_server_2012_wpp (.pdf, .mobi or .epub)

DESCRIPTION

If you’re just getting started with Hyper-V, you’ll really like this eBook because it shows screen-by-screen how to enable and work with Hyper-V features.

You will learn how to:

  • Build clustered Hyper-V deployment
  • Manage Hyper-V through PowerShell
  • Create virtual machine replicas
  • Transition from a legacy Hyper-V environment, and more

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. An Introduction to Hyper-V 3.0
  2. Failover Clustering
  3. Migrations
  4. Managing Virtual Machine Failover
  5. PowerShell Management
  6. Virtual Machine Management
  7. P2V Conversions
  8. Replication
  9. Hyper-V Management
  10. Networking
  11. Backing up Hyper-V
  12. Automation and Orchestration

Source: Veeam ‘Best of 2013’ blog post

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Download – Linux Integration Services for Hyper-V

Linux logoTitle: Linux Integration Services Version 3.5 for Hyper-V
Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
Published: 12/19/2013
Version: 3.5
File Name: LinuxICv35.iso
Size: 22.4 MB
Download URL: Click here for download

DESCRIPTION

LIS 3.5 supports the following guest operating systems:

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5.5-5.8, 6.0-6.3 x86 and x64
  • CentOS 5.5-5.8, 6.0-6.3 x86 and x64

All of the above distributions are supported on the following Windows Server releases:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard, Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise, and Windows Server 2008 R2 Datacenter
  • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2
  • Windows 8 Pro
  • Windows 8.1 Pro
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012
  • Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 R2

For more information, see Ben Armstrong’s blog post about the announcement.

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MVP Award for 2014

I got a nice email from the friendly folks at Microsoft yesterday:

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award - 2014

This is my 7th Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award (2008-2014).

Here’s a copy of the Executive Recognition Letter:

Microsoft Executive Recognition Letter - MVP Award 2014

Thanks Microsoft, and I’d especially like to thank my MVP Lead, Michelle Campbell for her hard work and dedication to the community. You rock!

Smile

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