Tag Archives: Windows Server

Computers

Microsoft releases Windows 8.1 Enterprise preview with VDI, Windows to Go support

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On Tuesday, Microsoft announced the preview version of Windows 8.1 for enterprises, bringing all of the functionality of WIndows 8.1 to big business, with specific improvements for enterprises.

Microsoft also reiterated that the corporate lifecycle of WIndows 8.1 would remain the same, and extend through January 10, 2023 for both the consumer preview as well as Windows 8.1 Enterprise. Microsoft didn’t say when it would release Windows 8.1 Enterprise for general availability, but did say that the Windows 8 customers would have two years from that future date to shift over to Windows Enterprise 8.1.
 
“We encourage customers to start testing the Windows 8.1 Enterprise Preview now!” Erwin Visser, senior director for Windows Commercial, said in a blog post. 
 
Microsoft announced the consumer preview of Windows 8.1 last month, complete with useful features that include a revamped Start screen, the ability to boot directly to the Windows 8 desktop, and other useful enhancements including a reorganized apps screen. All those have been carried over to Windows 8.1 Enterprise, as well as numerous additions that Microsoft believes will benefit enterprises.
 
At the time, Microsoft also revealed several features of Windows 8.1 that it felt would be useful to businesses, including the ability to lock down a device to a single application, known as assigned access; workplace join; and the the ability for businesses to “kill” corporate data that appeared on a user’s Windows 8.1 PC.
 
On Tuesday, Microsoft revealed some additional, enterprise-specific features that will be part of the Windows 8.1 Enterprise release: 
  • A Windows to Go creator tool. Windows to Go allows admins to create fully bootable Windows drives allowing employees to port their desktops from PC to PC.
  • Start screen controls that allow admins to control the layout and make sure important corporate apps are easily seen.
  • Direct Access, which allows remote users to access corporate resources without tapping into a VPN.
  • BranchCache, which allows frequently-accessed data to be “cached” in branch offices without the need to constantly re-download it.
  • Virtual Desktop (VDI), which allows users to tap into the power of a Windows Server 2012 to remotely render graphics, use touch devices and USB peripherals without a powerful local client.
  • Apps can now be side-loaded onto PCs, and the client can be locked down to run only apps and files selected by the admin.
A list of other business-specific features is here, Microsoft said.
 
Microsft rode an early wave of corporate client adoption, reporting healthy growth in its Windows division soon after the launch of Windows 8. With the new enterprise features, Microsoft is undoubtedly hoping that hope its key corporate customers remain interested.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Computers

It’s a New (Virtual) World with Windows Server 2012 R2

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Microsoft recently rolled out Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview. The update for Microsoft’s flagship server OS includes a number of features to improve and enhance managing virtual servers with Windows Server 2012.

Virtual servers are crucial for small and medium businesses. Most SMBs don’t have an IT department or data center to work with and need tools that simplify management and allow them to operate an entire IT infrastructure from a single box. Virtual servers allow businesses to maximize the value and productivity of their investment in hardware.

With Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview, Microsoft has streamlined the performance of Hyper-V. Replication between virtual servers is faster, and more frequent, and Microsoft has added more disaster recovery options. The new Hyper-V also allows you to assign QoS (quality of service) to prioritize disk access for virtual machines that need it more, such as a database server.

Linux VMs

One of the best improvements in Windows Server 2012 R2, though, is the enhanced support for Linux virtual machines. Previous versions of Hyper-V have technically supported Linux, but the capabilities were very limited.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Computers

Java security questions answered

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Most of the products tested (except Windows Server 2012), use Oracle's Java in one form or another, at least for client access and also in some cases within the management interface. With numerous vulnerabilities recently discovered in Java, leading to guidance from Department of Homeland Security and others to disable it entirely, this raised some questions about usability and possibly even security of the devices tested.

From: http://rss.computerworld.com/~r/computerworld/news/feed/~3/bJEdySGMCmI/Java_security_questions_answered

Computers

Review: R-Studio recovers data when others won't

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There are a lot of file recovery programs out there that can try to recover your files from a damaged drive. There are even free ones, but when your vital data is on the line, R-Studio Data Recovery is quite possibly your best bet. Not only does R-Studio Data Recovery work with FAT and NTFS partitions, it understands all the Linux, Unix (BSD), and Mac OS file systems, and even the new ReFS (Resilient File System) used in Windows Server 2012. It also copies and creates images of drives, and will recover data from said images—a crucial ability when a drive is deteriorating.

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From: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2034662/review-r-studio-recovers-data-when-others-wont.html#tk.rss_all

Linux

IPlanet Website Root directory?

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By Nvizn

I have a Solaris 10 server running iPlanet and hosting a website. My issue is like Windows Server, attempting to locate the (/inetpub/wwwroot/) root directory for the website hosted. I’ve located iPlanet’s location, but unsuccessful at finding where this website lives. I assume, like Windows, there’s a typical directory where websites live. Any assistance, is greatly appreciated!

From: http://www.unix.com/solaris/221531-iplanet-website-root-directory.html

Computers

Amazon upgrades Elastic Beanstalk for .Net applications

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Amazon Web Services’ Elastic Beanstalk for .Net applications now supports configuration files to simplify cloud setup and integration with Amazon’s private cloud and relational database.

This year has seen Amazon Web Services (AWS) increasingly focus on making its cloud easier to manage and continuing to develop Elastic Beanstalk is part of that strategy.

With Elastic Beanstalk, which is still in beta, an administrator can deploy and manage applications in Amazon’s cloud without having to configure the infrastructure that runs those applications. Elastic Beanstalk allows developers to upload an application and it then automates the deployment details, so administrators no longer have to care about tasks such as provisioning virtual servers, setting up load balancing or managing scaling, according to Amazon.

Elastic Beanstalk for .NET allows companies to run and manage their .Net applications on Amazon’s cloud using Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows Server 2012.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Computers

Windows Blue rumors hint at major Windows update this year

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Evidence of a big “Windows Blue” update this year continue to pile up, including the first alleged screenshots of the future Windows software.

As previously reported, Windows Blue may not refer only to an update for Windows, but to a set of coordinated updates for several Microsoft products, including Windows Phone, Windows Server, Windows RT, and services such as SkyDrive and Outlook.com. But so far, actual details on the software have been scarce.

That may soon change as screenshots are starting to bubble up. One image, posted on WinAero, doesn’t show any new features, but lists kernel version 6.3 on the About Windows screen. As The Verge notes, kernel numbers 6.0, 6.1 and 6.2 belonged to Windows Vista, 7 and 8, respectively, so it seems that Microsoft views Blue as a significant upgrade.

If this early screenshot is authentic, we can expect to see more in due time:

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Computers

Is 'Windows Blue' a set of coordinated updates for all Microsoft products?

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When whispers about the rumored “Windows Blue” first broke late last year, they carried the tantalizing promise of Windows re-dos without all the waiting. It’s never been clear whether Windows Blue is an update, a feature pack or a service pack—or if it’s even real at all. But it sure does sound like a step in the right direction.

Windows Blue, the reports said, will release Microsoft’s flagship operating system from its stale two- to three-year upgrade cycles, and herald a new era of more frequent yearly updates.

If true, it would represent a fundamental development shift for Microsoft. And now, ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley says that Windows Blue‘s fundamental changes won’t be limited to Windows 8 alone.

Instead, Foley says “one very accurate tipster of mine who doesn’t want to be identified” told her that “Blue” is the codename for a swath of coordinated updates spanning an entire range of Microsoft products, all of which will land in the summer or fall. Windows Phone, Windows Server, Windows RT, and various Windows-centric services such as SkyDrive and Outlook.com all allegedly have “Blue” updates in the works.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Computers

Microsoft supports unified management for Cloud OS

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Microsoft is upgrading System Center so businesses can manage data-center resources under a single platform regardless of whether those resources are spread out across private, public and hybrid clouds or within Microsoft’s Azure cloud service.

In addition, Microsoft has made it possible to extend System Center Configuration Manager to its cloud-based management service called Intune as a way to manage the compliance of endpoints including PCs and a range of mobile devices.

The company talks about the new versions of these products as a means for managing its Cloud OS, the name it has given to the combination of Windows Server and Azure that result in a flexible environment where customers can add and remove capacity as needed and take advantage of cost savings that can come with public cloud use.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Computers

Security experts stress urgency of patching Windows XML flaw

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Happy Patch Tuesday! Microsoft is kicking off the year with seven new security bulletins. There are five rated as Important, and two rated as Critical—but one in particular that has security experts concerned.

Andrew Storms, director of security operations for nCircle, stresses that MS13-002 will be a popular target for attackers and should be the top priority. “If you can’t do anything else right away, at least patch this one post haste. This critical XML bug affects every version of Windows in one way or another because XML is used by a wide range of operating system components.”

Attackers may quickly prey on flaws
in XML in Windows.

Tyler Reguly, technical manager of security research and development at nCircle agrees. “If you have to apply only one patch, pick this one and pay close attention to the number of products affected.”

Of course, the XML flaw is only one of the Critical security bulletins this month. The other one is MS13-001, which deals with a flaw in the print spooler service on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Computers

5 excellent uses of Windows 8 Hyper-V

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Buried under all of the clamor and kvetching about Windows 8’s most obvious features—Metro! Metro apps!—is a new addition that hasn’t made a lot of headlines: Windows 8’s new Hyper-V-powered virtualization functionality. Oddly, most people don’t seem to know Hyper-V even exists in Windows 8, let alone what it’s good for. But it’s one of the hidden pearls inside the Windows 8 oyster.

The exact technical name for Hyper-V in Windows 8 is Client Hyper-V. Microsoft picked this name to distinguish Windows 8’s implementation of Hyper-V from the full-blown Windows Server incarnation, which is aimed at the server market and designed for more upscale, industrial-strength virtualization scenarios. Client Hyper-V is for end-users on the desktop who want to make virtualization work for them directly.

People may disagree about Windows 8’s new surface, pun intended, but there’s little arguing that many great things have happened under the hood. Client Hyper-V has started to open up a range of possibilities—not just for experimentation, but for everyday tasks—that make Windows 8 a little more appealing to the power user.

An inevitable question is how Client Hyper-V shapes up against stand-alone virtualization platforms such as VMware Workstation and VirtualBox. If you’ve used either of those apps (or another third-party virtualization product), you’ll note that Client Hyper-V offers many of the features they do: support for a broad range of virtualized hardware, snapshotting, dynamic allocation of memory, support for multiple virtual processors, and so on. Plus, Hyper-V should give better performance thanks to its architecture, especially when working with Microsoft operating systems as the guests—but don’t count on it. Your usage scenario and hardware, and thus your mileage, will vary.
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Source: PCWorld