IT server support energizing the business

Rapid growth of businesses has put extra gravitational force on the IT infrastructure of leading organizations. Hence, to manage huge amount of data, consistent up gradation is required on the server part and so is the need of IT server support. Many well established firm are associated with the job of server support, which are offering 24/7 maintenance, installation and integration support on a wide range of data systems. These IT server support firms are well equipped with a strong technical and it support team.
IT server support has a very crucial role in managing the IT infrastructure. They play key role in designing, installing and maintaining the server. Under any IT server support security, availability, reliability and stability are considered as the foundation stone. Adept IT technician are employed to get rid of any related error. In addition to server, they will also pay attention towards the functioning of desktop, as they are the integral part of any business. They will manage any kind of issue associated with hardware or software. Technician takes care of data backup and does their archiving too, in order to fight against any mishaps of system crash. IT server support provides strong protection against any kind of anti-virus or malware. E-mails to be scanned are made to undergo Message Labs Platform. Any malicious email contaminated with a virus or containing a bad link is blocked and quarantined along with information of sender and recipient.
IT server support facilitates VoIP Telephony. Hence, it is extremely useful for the enterprises to communicate in real time with integrated voice, data, video and mobile communications. Moreover, they are able to make 24/7 use of VoIP Telephony, which helps them to organize any meeting or seminar round the globe.
IT server support plays an important role to make the e-mail communication secure with email contents filtering and end- to -end boundary encryption service. In addition to this, they keep a control over the bulk of email collection which makes unnecessary burden on your server. They provide protection against viruses, spam, identity theft and targeted blackmail campaigns and on the other hand ensure legitimate business email is not blocked.

Connection of Client's to Terminal Services

This article will throw some light on how to connect a Windows Server 2003 based terminal services client to a terminal server by using Remote Desktop Connection.
For connecting clients to terminal services, you have to open Remote Desktop Connection. For doing this, click Start, select All Programs, click on Accessories. Then click on Communications and then click Remote Desktop Connection. After opening the
Remote Desktop Connection, you have to create a terminal services connection. Follow these steps for doing this:

Open Remote Desktop Connection on your Windows server. Then in the Computer box, type the computer name or the IP address of a terminal server or a computer that has Remote Desktop enabled. If you want to get connected to a remote computer from a console session, then type computer name or IP address /console. Then click on Connect. After that you will view a Windows dialog box. In this dialog box, type your user name, password and domain and then click OK.
After the creation of terminal services connection, you have to save this as a Remote Desktop protocol (.rdp) file. This .rdp file consists of all the information for connecting to a terminal server. This file also contains the optional settings that were performed at the time of saving this file. Follow these steps for saving your connection settings:
You have to open Remote Desktop Connection and then click on Options. Then you have to determine the connection settings that you would like for this connection. After that on the General tab, click Save As. In the File name box, type a file name for the saved connection file and then click on Save.
After saving the connection settings, you can also open any saved connection. For doing this, follow these steps. You have to open Remote Desktop Connection and then click on Open. Then double-click the .rdp file for that connection which you want to open.

Alteration in Terminal Server's listening port

It is a well-known fact that TCP port 3389 is used by Terminal Server and Windows 2000 Terminal Services for client connections. Alteration in this port is not recommended by Microsoft. But you can change this port. You have to perform this task carefully, otherwise you will face serious problems.
You have to give more concentration while modifying the registry. If you want to change the default port, then you have to follow these steps:
You start with the task of running Regedt32 and go to this key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp. Then you have to find the port number subkey and notice the value of 00000D3D, hex is for 3389. After this, you have to change the port number in Hex and save the new value.
If you want to change the port for a particular connection on the Terminal Server, then follow these steps:
You have to run Regedt32 and go to this key, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\connection. After this, you have to find the port number subkey and notice the value of 00000D3D, here hex is for 3389. Then you have to change the port number in Hex and save this new value.
After performing this, you have to make alteration in the Port on the Client Side. Follow these steps to perform this:
You have to open Client Connection Manager. Then on the File menu, click on New Connection and then create the new connection. After executing the wizard, you will view a new connection listed there. Then you have to ensure that new connection is highlighted. After this, on the File menu, click Export. Then you have to edit the .cns file using Notepad. You have to make modifications in the server port, Server Port=3389 to Server Port= new port number, that you had specified on Terminal Server. Now import the file back into Client Connection Manager. Then you will be demanded to overwrite the current one. If it has the same name, then overwrite it. In this way, you will receive a client that has the correct port settings to match your Terminal Server settings.

Cloud Computing Could Be a Boon for Flash Storage

Cloud computing and flash-based storage, two fast-emerging IT technologies, are driving each other forward as users of Internet-based services like social networks demand near-real-time access to ever-growing amounts of data.

Executives at Web-based companies like MySpace Inc. and Facebook Inc. are calling flash storage technologies vital to the future of businesses like theirs, which must deliver data to thousands of users simultaneously.

"In the last 20 years, spinning disk really hasn't gone any faster, and right now we're really on the cusp of a change with flash technologies," said Richard Buckingham, MySpace's (NWS) vice president of technical operations, speaking at The GigaOM Network's Structure 09 conference in San Francisco earlier this summer.

At the same conference, Jonathan Heiliger, vice president of technical operations at Facebook, predicted that "flash is going to have a very, very significant effect on not just storage, but infrastructure as a whole. I think it's going to have at least as significant an impact as going from single-core to multicore CPUs."

Flash storage is faster than hard disk drives because it doesn't need to spin a disk to get to a particular bit of data. With flash technologies like solid-state disk drives (SSD) and PCI Express flash cards, it's possible to read data anywhere in a storage device in less than a millisecond, compared with several milliseconds on a traditional hard disk drive. SSD and flash storage systems also take up less space and use less power than spinning disks.

The data centers of cloud-based companies are so big that all of those benefits really matter, said Andrew Reichman, an analyst at Forrester Research Inc.

Although corporate IT shops could also take advantage of the performance gains, the high cost of flash technology will likely continue to blunt its progress in enterprise IT, according to analysts. IDC estimates that SSD storage costs as much as 25 times more than spinning disks on a per-gigabyte basis, said Jeff Janukowicz, an analyst at the Framingham, Mass.-based IT research firm.

YuMe picked as msnbc.com's ad server

News outlet msnbc.com has chosen YuMe Inc. as the ad server for its embedded video players.

Msnbc is a joint venture of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) and NBC Universal, owned by General Electric (NYSE: GE).

Redwood City’s YuMe is privately held and backed by Menlo Park-based Khosla Ventures, Palo Alto-based Accel Partners, San Francisco-based BV Capital and Palo Alto-based DAG Ventures.

The companies didn’t give financial details of the deal.

YuMe is led by CEO Michael Mathieu.

Source: bizjournals

KernSafe iStorage Server - iSCSI Target Server for windows

KernSafe iStorage Server is a full-featured software-only iSCSI Target Server for Microsoft Windows. iStorage Server is IP SAN solution and allows you quickly export an existing storage such physical disk, partition, CD/DVD-ROM, generaic SCSI device and even a variety of popular CD/DVD images (such as: .iso, .bin, .mdf, .cdi, .b5i, .nrg, .ccd, .sub, .img, .raw.) to all the clients, that delivers immediate benefits allowing storage to be consolidated, virtualized and centrally managed, all the data, such as photos, games, software, movies and so on, will shared to all the clients logon the target. iStorage Server is an ideal choice for any sized business. iStorage Server has also provided RAID-1 (mirror) feature, which allows you create two image files for mirror backup, image file can be local image file or remote iSCSI device. Even though, it is also a good data sharing solution for personal user, he/she can share data between workstation and his/her laptop computer with iStorage Server will bring more convenience, for this case, the free version of iStorage Server is enough.

iStorage Server is a hardware-independent, and do not require an additional hardware. Quickly create an IP SAN in minutes using hardware you already have. iStorage Server takes space on a windows file system and turns it into an iSCSI target. ou can now let any computer on an Ethernet network use this iSCSI storage. It is cost-effective and scalable.

Source: http://products.serverwatch.com/networking/tools/1245293397.html

USB 2.0 Mini Network Server by GizFever

GizFever announced a new product added to its website, the USB 2.0 Mini Network Server. The device allows users to share external hard drives, flash drives, USB webcams, and other various USB devices over wired Ethernet or a wireless network. Other sharing capabilities enable multiple users to access a printer over a network, and scan and fax from any networked computer. Users can also add a USB speaker to listen to music on any networked PC.

The device can be used with a max four-port USB hub and comes with support for USB 2.0 and 1.1 devices, Windows Vista Rally Technology, and protocols such as LPR/LPD, DHCH and UPNP. In addition to the USB 2.0 Network Server, the package comes complete with a power adapter, software CD, RJ45 Ethernet cable, AND A Magic Stick.

The USB 2.0 Mini Network Server is available to purchase from GizFever.com and is priced at $60.





Source: electronista.com/articles/09/06/23/usb.2.mini.network.server/

Apple Released iPhone Configuration Utility 2.0

Apple just on Thursday evening released iPhone Configuration Utility 2.0 (8.7MB) to help manage updated phones.

The configuration security feature is one of many detailed in the new enterprise deployment guide available on Apple’s Web site. The document highlights a wide range of new business-friendly features, ranging from security to accessibility. They include:

• CalDAV calendar wireless syncing is now supported.
• LDAP server support for contact look-up in mail, address book, and SMS.
• * Configuration profiles can be encrypted and locked to a device so that their removal requires an administrative password.
• iPhone Configuration Utility 2.0 now allows you to add and remove encrypted configuration profiles directly onto devices that are connected to your computer by USB.
• Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) is now supported for certificate revocation.
• On-demand certificate-based VPN connections are now supported.
• VPN proxy configuration via a configuration profile and VPN servers is supported.
• Microsoft Exchange users can invite others to meetings. Microsoft Exchange 2007 users can also view reply status.
• Exchange ActiveSync client certificate-based authentication is now supported.
• Additional EAS policies are now supported, along with EAS protocol 12.1.
• Additional device restrictions are now available, including the ability to specify the length of time that a device can be left unlocked and disabling the camera.
• Local mail messages and calendar events can be searched. For IMAP, MobileMe, and Exchange 2007, mail that resides on the server can also be searched.
• Additional mail folders can now be designated for push email delivery.
• APN proxy settings can now be made specified using a configuration profile.
• Web clips can now be installed using a configuration profile.
• 802.1x EAP-SIM is now supported.
• Devices can now be authenticated and enrolled over-the-air using a Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol (SCEP) server.
• iTunes can now store device backups in encrypted format.
  

Source: appleinsider.com

Opera lets browser be used as a server

Opera Software's new technology is available as part of a beta for its browser, Opera 10. The feature, called Opera Unite, enables users to push content and establish communications without the need for third-party companies, such as Facebook, AOL or Flickr.

Opera CEO Jon von Tetzchner called it a giant leap in the Internet, dubbing it Web 5.0.

"We're enabling every single user, every single computer to be a two-way street on the Internet," he said in a Webcast. "Every device can share information."

Opera Unite is available now with six free applications built by Opera. They include applications for photo sharing, media streaming, chatting, file sharing and a bulletin board.

Christen Krogh, Opera's chief development officer, said developers will be able to build even more applications for Opera Unite or retool some of the original apps.

A user logs into Opera Unite, picks which files to share and passes on a Web address, either public or password protected, to friends and family. To share, a user will need to use Opera Unite and keep it running. End users, however, will be able to access the content from any PC Web browser, although mobile browsers are not supported at this time.

Source: sfgate.com

Unbound Domain Name Server Updated to Run on Windows

NLnet Labs and Nominet today announces Unbound, an open source domain name server (DNS), is now available to all Windows operating systems including Windows XP and Vista. This Unbound update further supports the deployment of Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC), a technology designed to enhance the security of the Internet as a whole.

Windows Unbound is Ipv6 compatible recursive caching validating DNS server. It looks up the domain name in the global DNS system to get the address and stores it to allow ISPs, broadband suppliers, or cable companies, to quickly direct end-users to their desired websites. It also performs DNSSEC validation checks on the DNS data, verifying that the information it retrieves is both correct and authentic. Such checks help protect users of the Internet against a range of security exploits.

Unbound was already available on Unix varieties such as Linux, OS X, and FreeBSD" says Wouter Wijngaards, the project's leader at NLnet Labs; "But we are keen for as many users as possible to reap the benefits from Unbound, which is why we have made it available to Windows platforms. There are millions of Windows users and it is great that we can now offer our high performance, secure, alternative (to Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND)) domain name server, for more platforms."

Lesley Cowley, CEO at Nominet continues; "Domain name servers are an incredibly important but completely hidden part of the Internet. Continued development of Unbound is an important part of ensuring that the DNS infrastructure is kept up to date and protected against security threats."

Windows Unbound is available as a download from http://unbound.net/download.html, and runs in the same way as it would run on Unix systems. The code is open source and can be used in other products under the BSD license. It has been designed to be as accessible to developers as possible.

Source: http://newsblaze.com/story/2009061202595700001.bw/topstory.html

Stopping Active Directory Domain Services in Windows Server 2008

The Microsoft Windows Server 2008 systems. Active Directory Domain Services role installed have an extra element of feature if we see previous versions of Windows Server. in the “stoppable” services for the domain. Theese are all services and functionlity with the active directory. This works by Active Directory Domain Services being diclayered enumerated in the Services applet of the Control Panel. One of our pet peeves in Windows. These is services that do not permition the processing of a stop and start command. Terminal Services is the holdout, as Active Directory can now be explicitly stopped.

The Active Directory Domain Services is managed as NTDS. in the Services applet. Active direcotory data base file name is ntds.dit, we would use NTDS if we were using the sc command to manage Active Directory. You can also manage these services interactively.Active Directory being stopped on a Windows Server 2008 domain controller.

Although this Feature is good for Windows administrators, he can manage easily. we need to some exercise caution, because may be face some critical satuation. The first thing we should understand is what benifit of our end. when Active Directory is stopped. In environments with multiple domain controllers, the other systems would process logon requests.If there are any roles on the server with the stopped services, they will resume when Active Directory is resumed.

If the outage we will be for an extended some time, it should be a good mathode to transfer the role to another domain controller,like cdc we should be transfer all role adc to cdc. For normal maintenance, such as applying Windows updates or basic hardware maintenance, going without the role for a short amount of time is usually fine.Also consider this question: Just because you can stop Active Directory, should you? I’m going to wait until Windows Server 2008 R2 before fully upgrading Active Directory because of some of the new features, and it will fit my timeline better.

Source: http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/datacenter/?p=966

Virtual Private Server by Pair Networks

Web hosting provider pair networks launched a fully managed virtual private server offering, pairVPS, providing an alternative to its dedicated hosting.

According to pair Networks, pairVPS - like any VPS - lets customers use a portion of a physical server to operate in the same manner as a dedicated server. Each pairVPS runs on its own, full-fledged, reliable FreeBSD operating system and can be independently rebooted. There are three different pairVPS packages that include varying amounts of resources such as RAM, disk space, and bandwidth.

"With the introduction of pairVPS, we are bridging the gap between our shared Web hosting services and dedicated hosting services, giving our clients independence from other customers in terms of software, but at less cost than a physical dedicated server," pair Networks chief executive officer Kevin Martin said in a statement. "pairVPS truly rounds out and completes our line of premium, fully managed hosting services."

Unlike many other competing VPS offers, pairVPS includes 24/7 real-time telephone and e-mail technical support, as well as 24/7 server monitoring and hardware replacement, on and off-site backups, and pre-installed software including Ruby on Rails, MySQL, Perl, PHP as a module, and mod_fastcgi. It also includes administrative access including Apache and MySQL reboots.

Source: thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/060909_Pair_Networks_Launches_New_VPS

Apple Announces Snow Leopard Server Developer Preview

Apple earlier announced a "Developer Preview" of Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard, a new version of its server software. now available based on the same under pinnings as its next-version Mac operating system release.

Mac OS X Server Snow Leopard runs up to twice as fast as the Leopard version of Mac OS X Server, according to Apple. It's a full 64-bit UNIX server that sports a number of new features, including Podcast Producer 2, which helps to automate the creation and publishing of podcasts in conjunction with the Podcast Composer application, and Mobile Access Server, which provides secure access to firewall-protected network services for the Mac and the iPhone.

And Other new features include windows Server 2, online collaboration tool that now we view windows content on the iPhone and preview attachments using "Quick Look" on any up-to-date browser. a new Address Book Server based on the Card DAV open standard -- a central location where users can store and access personal contact information. iCal Server 2, based on the CalDAV open standard, which provides Web-based calendar access, and the ability to view meeting invitations and details on an iPhone running iPhone OS 3.0; and a new Mail Server engine that supports push e-mail.


And Also new in this release is QuickTime X HTTP Live Streaming, which can adjust movie playback quality dynamically depending on available network speed; NetRestore, a new System Image Utility feature that helps administrators restore custom system images over a network, and iPhone Configuration Utility, which simplifies enterprise setup and communication of multiple iPhones with configuration information, security policies, mail settings and certificates.


Source: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/166317/apple_announces_snow_leopard_server_developer_preview.html

Windows 2008 Server Brings Better Results with Less CPU Usage

Windows Server 2008 features a Server Core installation option. Server Core offers a minimal environment for hosting a select set of server roles, including Hyper-V. It features a smaller disk, memory profile, and attack surface. Therefore, we highly recommend that we use the Server Core installation option for Hyper-V servers.

Using Server Core in the root partition leaves additional memory for the VMs. shoul be in mind that additional server roles installed on the server can adversely affect the performance of the virtualization server, especially if they consume significant amounts of CPU, memory, or I/O resources. that means when we use this feature then this application use very low memory of computer. Minimizing the server roles in the root partition is advised, and this has offers additional benefits, such as reducing the attack surface and the frequency of updates.

Minimizing the background activity in idle VMs releases CPU cycles that can be used elsewhere by other VMs or saved to reduce power consumption. when run this application services then use only needed file that means. Windows guests typically use less than 1% of one CPU when they are idle. Here are some best practices for minimizing the background CPU usage of a VM:

1. Install the latest version of VM integration services.
2. Remove the emulated network adapter through the VM settings dialog box (use a synthetic adapter).
3. Remove unused devices such as the CD-ROM and COM port or disconnect their media.
4. Use Windows Server 2008 for the guest operating system.
5. Disable, throttle, or stagger periodic activity, such as backup and defragmentation when appropriate.
6. Review scheduled tasks and services enabled by default.

when we are looking for that last ounce of performance. There are not many performance knobs in Hyper-V which is by design. However if we are looking for that last bit of performance from our Virtual Machines (VM’s) and have already made a good selection for networking and storage you might consider setting the Non-Uniform Access (NUMA) node.


NUMA means each CPU has a different path to memory and those paths can have various lengths. For example CPU 0 on Node 0 when accessing CPU M’s memory on Node X might take 10ns where as CPU 0 on Node 0 accessing CPU N’s memory on Node Y will take 20ns. It’s this difference in memory access times that can impact overall VM performance. The worst case would be for a VM’s Virtual Processor (VP) to be running on a node furthest from where the memory for the VM is allocated.

http://www.palluxo.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=487:windows-2008-server-brings-better-results-with-less-cpu-usage&catid=90:blogs&Itemid=284

service packs 2 released for Vista and Server 2008

Windows 7 client and Windows 7 Server are joined they both are same but only some changes. And just like their older, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 the same coding. And since both platforms were developed in parallel it only makes sense for Microsoft want to launch the operating systems together. microsoft announced that Windows Server 2008 R2 would have the same RTM and Availability deadlines as Windows 7. The software giant will release Windows Server 2008 R2 to manufacturing next month, and will make the successor for Windows Server 2008 available to customers in the second half of October 2009.

As Windows Server 2008 R2 is a joint development effort with Windows 7 microsoft aligned with the same RTM available in the market With Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM code is on track to be available to our partners sometime in the 2nd half of July. Windows Server 2008 R2 will also be broadly available about the same time as the Windows 7 GA date of Oct 22, both are very power full and looking figure as a vista. because windows 7 it is updated of vista.

microsoft anouced With the release of Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008 RTM/SP1, Microsoft discribe that client and server operating systems it make it easier for customers to install and manage and each and everything their deployments. it is very easier compare to previous clients and server. although this is microsoft politics was clearly visible with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 since the two operating systems. both are very power full. windows 7 it is updated of windows vista.


At the bigning of January 2009 Microsoft was releasing Beta Build 7000 and Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. when customer installed these patches then his windows very secure. The same is valid for Build 7100, the Release bits for the two platforms. But the intimate connection between the two operating systems doesn't stop with the development process. Fact is that customers running Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 together will be able to take advantage of features otherwise unavailable for any other combination of Windows client and server platforms.

Windows Server 2008 R2 to be released information

Windows Server 2008 R2, will be broadly available on Oct. 22, the same day as Windows 7.The confirmation came from Steve Guggenheimer, Microsoft's original equipment manufacturer division corporate vice president, during a keynote speech at the Computex electronics exhibition in Taipei. Microsoft has said the server product was on schedule for release around the same time as Windows 7.The release candidate for Windows Service 2008 R2 has been available since last month, when Microsoft also announced several new features.Those included the ability for Hyper-V, Microsoft's server virtualization software, to support 64 logical processors where it could previously only scale up to 32.

Another feature is the processor capacity mode, which allows for virtual machines to be moved to another physical server with a different CPU version. Before Hyper-V could only move virtual machines to servers with the same CPUs, which required adminstrators to buy more hardware. The latest version also has a feature for classifying data in file servers by importance. The File Classification Infrastructure let adminstrators prioritize certain business data and back that data more often.

Microsoft said it had fixed a bug in Bing that had infuriated Internet Explorer 6 users when they discovered that the company's new search engine had hijacked their browsers. we corrected the issue with Bing on machines running IE6. when Microsoft took Bing live, IE6 users began complaining that although they had previously set other search engines as the default, searches typed into the browser were instead directed to Bing.

Bing seems to have hijacked many user-programmed search preferences away from Google," echoed "Jimpobg" on another help thread. "Since I didn't know what Bing was, I really thought my computer was infected with malicious software. Well, actually....it WAS. Sounds like classic Microsoft behavior

AT&T launches wireless-wireline bundle for small businesses

AT&T launched a bundled service for small businesses that combines wireless service, Internet and WiFi service and traditional landline voice service for under $100 per month.

The carrier said the services will be available to small businesses that have one to four lines in a single location, and that the services will come in a single bill. The plan includes 450 wireless minutes per month per wireless device, support for up to 11 email accounts, access to AT&T WiFi hotspots and unlimited local and long distance wireline service.

However, there is a caveat: To qualify for the plan, customers must already have wireless service or purchase new wireless service from AT&T, on top of new or existing local voice, long-distance voice and broadband services.

AT&T is touting the offer as the first in the industry to offer bundled wireless, Internet and wireline services to small businesses. In a release, the carrier noted that, according to the research firm In-Stat, small businesses with between one and four employees spent nearly $17 billion last year on wireless, broadband and local and long-distance voice services and equipment.

Source: fiercewireless.com

Second service packs released for Vista, Server 2008

Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2, which pull together various updates to the operating systems that have already been rolled out by Microsoft. were uploaded to Microsoft's Download Center. The two service packs are combined in a standalone package that lets system administrators deploy and support both client and server updates in one operation.


Microsoft has not said precisely when the service packs will be rolled out as automatic updates, although Microsoft blogger Brandon LeBlanc said in a blog post on Tuesday that this would happen "sometime during the coming months". Once the service packs become automatic updates, business customers who want more time to prepare for the implementation of SP2 can use the same blocking tool that Microsoft provided for Vista SP1, LeBlanc wrote.

Some of the updates included in SP2 cover third-party application compatibility, such the new ability for Spysweeper and ZoneAlarm to work with POP3 email accounts. Microsoft has also included version 4.0 of its Windows Search technology in the new service pack. SP2 also adds support for the Bluetooth v2.1 specification, improves performance for Wi-Fi connections after resuming from sleep mode, and makes it possible to natively record data to the Blu-Ray optical disk format. The service pack also adds support for Via's new 64-bit CPUs.


For enterprise customers, SP2 fully integrates Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualisation environment into Server 2008. The service pack also introduces the ability to manage server and desktop power management settings via group policy. The standalone installer for both service packs — aimed at system administrators — weighs in at 390 MB for the x86 version, and 622MB for the x64 version.


Those installing SP2 through Windows Update will, however, get away with much lower data usage, as that service only downloads the bytes that are changed. Using this method, the x86 versions of Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2 will involve 43MB and 47 MB of downloads respectively, and the x64 versions will involve 60MB and 90MB of downloads respectively. There are a few prerequisites for the installation of Vista and Server 2008 SP2, one of which is that the first service packs for the operating systems must already be installed.


IT managers who publish applications with Citrix XenApp will also need to install and configure Terminal Services (TS) Licensing before installing Windows Server 2008 SP2, otherwise their Citrix clients will not be able to connect to the server.


Source: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39656666,00.htm

AMD and Intel computer server share partnership news

SAN FRANCISCO The battle between Intel Corp and Advanced Micro Devices Inc for server market share heated up on Monday with AMD's release of a six-core Opteron server processor codenamed "Istanbul". But AMD's celebration may be short-lived: Intel is due to launch its own eight-core Nehalem EX chip in the first quarter of 2010. AMD, which gained server market share when it launched its Opteron family of processors six years ago, has struggled to maintain an edge since its much larger competitor released its own 64-bit processor in 2004.


Intel is hard to beat on performance benchmarks and has developed a technique that allows each core to handle multiple instructions at once -- something AMD has not done -- and says is not always useful, Kanter added. Intel and AMD have clashed in past years over performance and price, and squeezing as many "cores", or processors, into a single microprocessor has been one way to boost benchmarks.

Intel now supplies about 89 percent of so-called x86 server chips worldwide, while AMD supplies the remaining 11 percent. Intel had dominated the server chip market, with a greater than 95 percent market share in the early part of the decade, Rau said. But AMD gained traction with the 2003 introduction of the Opteron and hit its highest market share - just under 26 percent - in the second quarter of 2006.

Its market share was cut in half a year later, as Intel switched to its Core architecture, and that loss was compounded when AMD was late with its Barcelona chip in 2008. "Nehalem EX and Nehalem EP are extending our leadership in the server market and we are very confident of maintaining that platform leadership," said Intel spokesperson Nick Knupffer.


Intel and AMD are battling over a shrinking market. The x86 server chip market was worth $5.7 billion in 2008 but is expected to decline 22 percent to $4.45 billion in 2009, according to research house IDC.Server shipments slid 26.5 percent in 2009's first quarter, the worst three months on record, but should begin to improve in the second half and recover in 2010, IDC said.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE5510EU20090602

Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2: Why

Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2, which pull together various updates to the operating systems that have already been rolled out by Microsoft. were uploaded to Microsoft's Download Center . The two service packs are combined in a standalone package that lets system administrators deploy and support both client and server updates in one operation.

Microsoft has not said precisely when the service packs will be rolled out as automatic updates, although Microsoft blogger Brandon LeBlanc said in a blog post on quickly that this would happen "sometime during the coming months". Once the service packs become automatic updates, business customers who want more time to prepare for the implementation of SP2 can use the same blocking tool that Microsoft provided for Vista SP1, LeBlanc wrote. Some of the updates included in SP2 cover third-party application compatibility, such the new ability for Spysweeper and Zone Alarm to work with POP3 email accounts. Microsoft has also included version 4.0 of its Windows Search technology in the new service pack.

SP2 also adds support for the Bluetooth v2.1 specification, improves performance for Wi-Fi connections after resuming from sleep mode, and makes it possible to natively record data to the Blu-Ray optical disk format. The service pack also adds support for Via's new 64-bit CPUs.For enterprise customers, SP2 fully integrates Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualisation environment into Server 2008. The service pack also introduces the ability to manage server and desktop power management settings via group policy. The standalone installer for both service packs — aimed at system administrators — weighs in at 390MB for the x86 version, and 622MB for the x64 version.

Those installing SP2 through Windows Update will, however, get away with much lower data usage, as that service only downloads the bytes that are changed. Using this method, the x86 versions of Vista SP2 and Server 2008 SP2 will involve 43MB and 47MB of downloads respectively, and the x64 versions will involve 60MB and 90MB of downloads respectively. There are a few prerequisites for the installation of Vista and Server 2008 SP2, one of which is that the first service packs for the operating systems must already be installed.

IT managers who publish applications with Citrix XenApp will also need to install and configure Terminal Services Licensing before installing Windows Server 2008 SP2, otherwise their Citrix clients will not be able to connect to the server.

Source:http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10249913-75.html

New Powerful Server Chip by Intel

Intel Corp will start producing a new, more powerful version of its Xeon multiprocessor chip for servers in the second half, a spokesman said on Tuesday.

The new chip, code-named Nehalem EX, will go on sale in the first quarter of next year. No prices have been announced for the new chip, which will succeed the Xeon 7400, priced from $1,100 to $2,700.

The Nehalem EX will provide two improvements. First, it will increase the number of cores inside a single chip from six to eight. Second, each core will be able to handle two "threads" of software instead of just one.

Severs will be able to handle up to eight of the sockets for the powerful new chips, and third parties can expand beyond that, according to Intel's Nick Knupffer.

Further technical details are available here .

Intel produces several lines of central processing units. Its multiprocessors are its most expensive, sophisticated line, used for running large servers. It also has smaller, powerful chips to run desktop and laptop machines.

Source: Reuters

Basic information of Remote desktop

Remote Access Services lets you connect your computer from other location location, such as your home. We can access computer remotley home to office or office to home. when we take remote that time client site automatically lock the computer. choose will depend on many factors such as cost, connect and transfer speeds, reliability, availability, etc.remote access to SLAC Windows resources. The remote client, using dialup or cable modem or DSL with a public Internet Service Provider(ISP), connects to the Citrix/Windows Terminal Server farm within the SLAC internal network. The processing of applications for the remote client session is moved completely off a user's desktop and onto the centralized server farm. Only screen, mouse, and keyboard information is passed between the client and the server using thin-client technology. we take remote locally entire netork.

Remote Access service:
combination of hardware and software to enable the remote access to tools or information that typically reside on a network of IT devices. Microsoft when referring to their built-in NT remote access tools, RAS was a service provided by Windows NT which allows most of the services which would be available on a network to be accessed over a modem link. It is not necessary to run Windows NT on the client - there are client versions for other Windows operating systems.RAS works with several major network protocols, including TCP/IP, IPX, and NBF. vpn is also part of remote. but some diffrence.

Remote desktop:
This software package already installed but we want only configuration. server site and client portion of Remote Desktop on any of the following operating systems Windows 95, Windows 98 and 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000, Windows XP Service. When we enable this option that time ask me you want access remotley your computer another people. we can not configure this option on remotley. this option should be we configure locally computer.remotely connect to a computer running Windows XP Professional with Remote Desktop enabled.With the Remote Desktop feature in Windows XP, you can remotely control a computer from another office, from home, or while traveling. This allows you to use the data, applications, and network resources that are on your office computer, without being in your office.

Remote installation service:
Remote Installation Services was introduced with Windows 2000 as an optional component when installed on Windows 2000 Server. Initially, it supported only the distribution of Windows 2000 Professional, but with Service Pack 3 allowed for the remote installation of Windows 2000 Server. RIS was updated twice; once to support Windows XP, and again to support Windows Server 2003. With the release of Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2003, RIS was replaced with Windows Deployment Services.Windows 2003, two services are required to provide Remote Installation Services: DHCP and Remote Installation Service. without dhcp we can not install remotly.

Basic information of group policy, windows server 2003

Group policy:
............
Group Policy management solution allows administrators to define configurations servers and user machines. Local policy settings can be applied to all machines Group Policy to set policies that apply across a given site, domain, or range of organizational units, Support for Group Policy is available on machines Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Professional, and Windows Server 2003.Group Policy we used to define user-related policies as well as security, and other policies applied at the machine level. Group Policy enables management of domain controllers and member servers as well as desktop user machines.

Group Policy Management Console provides a unified, graphical user interface. managing Group Policy implementations and enables script-based management of Group Policy operations Server 2003 adds even greater administrative control to Group Policy, including more than 200 new policy settings for the operating system. administrators can be configure standard computing environments for groups of users and computers. Group Policy, administrators could be define the policies that determine how applications and operating systems are configured and keep users and systems secure.

Administrator can be configure registry based policies for applications, the operating system and its components administrators can configre security options for computers and users within the scope of a GPO. Local computer, domain, and network security. Administrators can be configure application installation, updates, and removal centrally with Group Policy. group policy is a more powerfull part of windows server 2003. user what to do administrator can be configure. user can't change his group policy without admin permition or take admin right.

Windows 2003 server hardware requirement information.

Hardware requirement:
.....................
Requirement Standard Edition Enterprise Edition Datacenter Edition Web Edition
Minimum CPU Speed 133 MHz 133 MHz for x86-based computers
733 MHz for Itanium-based computers
400 MHz for x86-based computers
733 MHz for Itanium-based computers
133 MHz
Recommended CPU Speed 550 MHz 733 MHz 733 MHz 550 MHz
Minimum RAM 128 MB 128 MB 512 MB 128 MB
Recommended Minimum RAM 256 MB 256 MB 1 GB 256 MB
Maximum RAM 4 GB 32 GB for x86-based computers
512 GB for Itanium-based computers
64 GB for x86-based computers
512 GB for Itanium-based computers
2 GB
Multiprocessor Support Up to 4 Up to 8 Minimum 8 required Maximum 64 Up to 2
Disk Space for Setup 1.5 GB 1.5 GB for x86-based computers
2.0 GB for Itanium-based computers
1.5 GB for x86-based computers
2.0 GB for Itanium-based computers
1.5 GB


Note: The 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition and Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition are only compatible with 64-bit Intel Itanium-based systems. They cannot be successfully installed on 32-bit systems.

Basic information of DHCP

Dhcp server: Dhcp server provide Ip address his client automatically. defined range of numbers Client computers configured to use DHCP for IP assignment do not need to have a statically assigned IP address.it define by default eight days. when 50% time over then client send send a request on server. next when 87.3% time over then again send a request client onserver. and when 100% time over then again client machin send a request. that time mostly release again ip Ip may be same or diffrent this is not fix. if any case server fail then five minute wait all client machine then provide apipa ip apipa available in registry client machine. apipa range = 169.254.0.0 -169.254.255.255

DHCP server never assign permanently IP address it provide by default eight days. administrator can be fix any ip on patricular machine base of mac address because mac accress always uniqe address never match another lancard word wide. If admin fix any ip paticular machine then never change ip. They generally do not need to have addresses configured for DNS servers or WINS servers, as these are also set by the DHCP server.A user turns on a computer with a DHCP The client computer sends a broadcast request looking for a DHCP server. server receives the DISCOVER packet. DHCP uses the same two IANA assigned ports as BOOTP: 67/udp for the server side,and 68/udp for the client side.

The server also configures the client's DNS servers, WINS servers, NTP servers, and other services as well. client sends a request packet. server sends an Acknowledgement packet, confirming that the client has a ip address. When a computer uses a static IP address, it means that the computer is manually configured to use a specific IP address.If you use DHCP servers to automatically configure the TCP/IP settings for workstations in your organization, a DHCP failure can lead to a major disruption in service.

Basic information about Terminal Server Support

Terminal server:Terminal Server product Microsoft software that service the Windows desktop and applications to terminals.a terminal server is feature inbuild with server operating systems. server that provides terminals with a common connection point to a local or wide area network.Terminal Services, is one of the components of Microsoft Windows that allows a user to access applications and data on a remote computer over a network.

Terminal Services was first introduced in Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition. It was significantly improved for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 and windows server 2008. Windows includes two client applications which utilize terminal services: the first, Remote Assistance is available in all versions of Windows XP and allows one user to assist another user.

Terminal Services allows IT departments to configure this applications on a central server. For example, instead of deploying database or accounting software on all desktops, the applications can simply be installed on a server and remote users can log on and use them via the Internet. if we are working in locally network and then no need internet. windows 2000 server give only 90 days subscription after that expire. at a time only two user connect. if we want and the purchase license. and windows 2003 server provide 120 days subscriptions. in windows server 2008 five user connect at a time.

Remote desktop:Remote Desktop, allows a user to log in to a remote system and access the desktop, applications and data on the system as well as control it remotely. this is only available in certain Windows editions. These are Windows NT Terminal Server. subsequent Windows server editions. Windows XP Professional, and Windows Vista Business, Enterprise and Ultimate. In the client versions of Windows, Terminal Services supports only one logged in user at a time, where as in the server operating systems, concurrent remote sessions are allowed. is the client application for Terminal Services.

It allows a user to remotely log in to a networked computer running the terminal services server. RDC presents the desktop interface of the remote system, as if it were accessed locally. if we want configure remote desktop feture then go locally enable remote desktop feature. if we enable these feature then hibernation does not work. you can say this is disadvantage. when we take remote any computer that time client machine automatically lock.

Ways to Enable BranchCache?

You must also create the required firewall exceptions and ensure that the files you wish to be cacheable have a hash generated on them. The easiest way to configure BranchCache is via Group Policy.

First, you need to make the server hosting the data generate hash values. Open a Group Policy Object. Navigate to Computer Configuration, then Policies, Administrative Templates, Network, Lanman Server. Double-click Hash Publication for BranchCache. Set this to Enabled, then configure when the hash should be generated, as shown here. You can generate hashes if a folder is shared and enabled for cache (recommended), never generate a hash, or generate a hash for every shared folder. Make a choice and click OK. Click to expand.

If you configured the server to generate a hash only if a shared folder is set to use caching, you need to Right-click the shared folder in Explorer and select Properties. Select the Sharing tab. Click the Advanced Sharing button. Click the Caching button. Check the Enable BranchCache option, as shown here, and click OK to close all dialogs. Click to expand.

You can also use the hashgen command to force a hash generation for other files, such as web files served via HTTP.

If you're using hosted cache, you now need to enable the BranchCache feature on a Server 2008 R2 server. For this walkthrough, I'll configure distributed cache (peer to peer).

The next step is to enable BranchCache on the clients. Again, I'll use Group Policy. Navigate to Computer Configuration, then Policies, Administrative Templates, Network, BranchCache. Double-click Turn on BranchCache and set it to Enabled. Because you're using distributed BranchCache, double-click Set BranchCache Distributed Cache mode and set it to Enabled. You can also configure the latency required before caching is used.

You probably don't want to cache data if the connection is very fast, so you might only cache if the latency is over 70 ms. Double-click Configure BranchCache for network files, set it to Enabled and set the latency. In the example here, I set latency to 0, so everything is cached. Click to expand. Note that you can also set the amount of disk space to be used for the cache on clients. The default value is 5 percent. Use the Set percentage of disk space used for client computer cache option to set this value.

Now you need to enable two firewall rules. Navigate to Computer Configuration then Policies, Windows Settings, Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, Inbound Rules. Select New Rule from the right-click menu. Under HTTP, Port, TCP 80, create a rule to allow all profiles (or just a domain, depending on environment). Also create a rule under WS-Discovery, Port, UDP 3702 to allow all profiles (or, again, just a domain), as shown here. Click to expand. Close the GPO

At this point, you have a GPO with all the required settings. Make sure the GPO is linked to the client and the client refreshes its policy, either by rebooting or using the command gpupdate /force.

Source:/windowsitpro.com

SharePoint 2010 will require 64-bit SQL Server

SharePoint 2010 will require a 64-bit version of SQL Server and it will not support Internet Explorer 6, according to Microsoft.

At the company’s annual TechEd conference, Microsoft also revealed that SharePoint 2010 will not be available with the Office 2010 beta that it plans to ship in July.

“That release will mostly focus on the client side,” said Tom Rizzo, director of Microsoft SharePoint Server, during his conference session.

Microsoft will release that beta to a select group of testers, but has said previously there will be a public beta.

Rizzo said during the session that it was a “painful decision” to drop support for IE 6, but that Microsoft would support an array of browsers including IE 7 and beyond, Firefox 3.x on Windows and non-Windows platforms, and Safari 3.x on non-Windows platforms.

As far as the 64-bit support, Rizzo said as gently as he could, “You have been warned.”

SharePoint 2010 will run on the 64-bit version of Windows Server 2008 and on SQL Server 2005 and 2008.

Rizzo also said SharePoint 2010 would feature Fast Search for SharePoint and Fast Search for Internet Business. Microsoft last year purchased Norway-based Fast Search & Transfer, which developed enterprise search software.

Source: news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=3551DC97-1A64-6A71-CEA3C67372A96FB6

Buy Home Server in Less than $ 400

Unfortunately, Windows Home Server suffered early on from a serious data integrity problem. Personally, I believe that this flaw alone damaged the product’s initial foray into the nascent home server market. Now, with the release of Windows Home Server Power Pack 2, a whole slew of new devices based on the operating system are being released, including the HP LX195.

Priced at $390, the HP LX195 includes the following:

* A 640 GB 7200 RPM SATA hard drive - upgradable to a larger size.
* 1 GB RAM - also upgradable
* 1.6 GHz Atom processor
* A very attractive, 4 inch wide x 8 inch tall x 8 inch deep case
* 4 USB ports make it easy to add additional storage and to perform backups
* A gigabit Ethernet port
* 28 W power consumption when the hard drive is in use
* 3.5 W power consumption when the hard drive is asleep

At first glance, you might laugh at what appear to be ridiculously weak specifications for a server product, but it’s important to bear in mind that this product targets the consumer market - hence, Windows “Home” Server.

As is the case with HP’s original home servers, the EX470 and EX475, the LX195 boasts a ton of features that are bundled with Windows Home Server. Further, although the upgrade options with the LX195 are relatively limited, you can upgrade the RAM! With HP’s original EX470/475, upgrading the RAM (the base was a paltry 512MB) was extraordinarily difficult and not supported by HP.

Here are some of the features included in Windows Home Server:

* Client backup and restore. I’ve actually performed a bare metal restore of a client using my EX475 Windows Home Server’s backup and restore capability. The process simply couldn’t have been easier.
* Remote access. Windows Home Server includes complete remote access capability that lets you browse the file system and download files. Further, once logged in to your Windows Home Server remotely, you’re able to use Remote Desktop to connect to any computer on your home network.
* Media sharing. Windows Home Server supports any devices that uses Windows Media Extenders, including PCs running Windows Media and Xbox 360’s. I’ve personally mad heavy use of this capability to watch movies and listen to music via my Xbox 360 that is stored on my home server.
* Central file storage. My wife and I, between the two of us, use five computers - Four Windows machines and one Mac. Being able to access files from a central location is really nice!

Source: blogs.techrepublic.com.com

For any kind of server support visit: http://www.iyogibusiness.com/

Windows Server 2008 R2: Beta's Upgrade Functionality

The base release of Windows Server 2008 came with upgrade functionality. The feature was unavailable, yet the button was there, so we knew it was coming.

Among the Windows Server 2008 R2 beta's functionality improvements on Windows Server 2008 is that the upgrade functionality is now available.

For most upgrade scenarios, the process would occur in a currently running version of Windows. The upgrade option is shown in Figure A.



In-place upgrades of Windows server systems are very rare, but they do happen. This functionality is currently only applicable to systems running an x64 operating system; the upgrade will not function on x86 editions of Windows Server. This effectively means that the base release of Windows Server 2008 was the last server operating system with an x86 option.

The upgrade functionality option fits well in the IT landscape right now. For new Windows Server 2008 installations, be sure to select the x64 edition during your initial build, so the migration to R2 will be rather seamless when it comes out. Many general purpose servers that are on x86 editions are not offered a native upgrade option.

Source: zdnetasia

Windows programs remotely with Application Access Server

Application Access Server provides a lightweight alternative. Once you've got it installed and configured, you can issue commands to a remote machine by connecting to it using any web browser. AAS has built-in support for DynDns.org for automatic IP updating and DDNS access, so all you've got to do is choose a port for the server and forward access from your router (if necessary).

Adding launchable applications is done via the configuration menu, and it's a simple procedure. You can also configure multiple users and select which accounts have access to specific applications. Apps can be launched in three modes - normal, silent, and stealth - depending on how discreet you need to be. AAS is fairly light weight, using about 8Mb of memory when running.

It's a handy application to add to your Windows remote administration toolkit.

Source: .downloadsquad.com

Oracle Launches Data-Cleansing Server

Oracle on Monday introduced a data cleansing server based on Silver Creek Systems' software that restructures product data so it can be reused across an organization.

The Oracle server uses Silver Creek's patented DataLens technology, which is based on semantic recognition techniques that allow for standardization, validation and matching of most incoming product information. Once restructured, the information is loaded into the Oracle Product Hub, the database vendor's master data management system.

Other features within DataLens that have been incorporated in the Oracle server include an "auto-learning" capability that can infer new rules from previously unseen data and allow the semantic knowledge base to grow through use. The server can be adapted to a variety of industry-specific product data, such as clinical supplies in healthcare, consumer goods in retail distribution, component data in manufacturing, indirect office supplies in public sector or services in telecommunications.

The technology partnership between Oracle and Silver Creek is expected to bring "significant value to customers as the automation of product data quality can reduce the time, costs and risk to implement and operate a product information management system," BarbaraMowry, president and chief executive of Silver Creek, said in a statement.

The Oracle Product Data Quality Cleansing and Matching Server is available for customers to add to their Product Hub configurations.

Source: intelligententerprise.com

Enabling PowerShell on Windows Server 2008

For Windows editions prior to Windows Server 2008, PowerShell was an installable application. PowerShell now exists as a Windows feature for Windows Server 2008 in all editions except Core. The forthcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 release is, however, scheduled to offer PowerShell support.

To enable the PowerShell feature follow these steps:

Server manager

You can drop PowerShell on the server through the Server manager application. Go to the Features section and select Windows PowerShell. Figure A shows this selection in the Features wizard.



Scripted installation

The other approach that suits many administrators for a semi-automated configuration is to script the installation of Windows components. The ocsetup command can enable PowerShell on Windows Server 2008 with a one-liner. The command below will add the PowerShell feature to the server:

start ocsetup MicrosoftWindowsPowerShell

Once the server manager window is refreshed, the PowerShell feature will display as being installed, and the PowerShell shortcut will appear in the Start menu in the Windows PowerShell 1.0 program group. PowerShell is now ready for use.

Source: /blogs.techrepublic.com.com

How to Monitor your outbound DNS connections.

The bottom line here is that it is relatively trivial for a single infected machine to undermine DHCP to corrupt the DNS settings of all workstations on the network, assuming that they are not configured with static IPs.

So how can one defend against this trojan as well as similar attacks?

Static IPs

The simplest way to defend against such trojans would surely be to hardwire the DNS settings for every workstation on the network. However, such a solution is impractical for networks larger than even a couple of dozen nodes at the most. Indeed, the increasing use of wireless networks in the enterprise — as well as laptops — serves only as additional deterrents due to the inconvenience of static settings in such circumstances.

Outbound DNS

A simpler way for larger corporations to defend against the vulnerability exposed by this trojan would be to monitor outbound DNS connections. This could mean logging down all DNS queries — which is also useful to track down suspicious traffic trends from phishing attacks. Of course, such a drastic measure comes with its own bag of user and possible managerial resistance due to its invasive nature.

An even cleaner method would be to configure an internal DNS server tasked with all domain name queries. All other DNS queries not originating from this machine are to be barred. If the resources are not available to set up an internal DNS server, more sophisticated firewalls can be used to filter only DNS queries to addresses that are not in an approved list.

In the meantime, you might want to run a quick check that the IP of the malicious DNS server — at 64.86.133.51 and 63.243.173.162 – are not currently being queried on your network.

Source: techrepublic

Windows Server OS for Small Businesses by Microsoft

Microsoft introduced a version of its Windows Server OS for small businesses with 15 users or less, filling in what the company sees as a gap in its server offerings.

Windows Server 2008 Foundation initially will be available in 40 countries once its OEM (original equipment manufacturer) partners release servers for the new OS, since it will be sold exclusively through them. Hewlett-Packard, Dell and IBM should have those servers out sometime in the second half of this year, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft recommends using the new OS edition for basic small business IT needs such as running and maintaining a database, Web-site hosting, running line-of-business applications, file- and print-sharing and remote access, among other uses.

Microsoft already has an OS and software bundle called Windows Small Business Server (SBS) aimed at the small-business market. But that package bundles the Windows Server OS with Exchange Server, SQL Server and other business software, and may be more than some very small companies need to run their businesses.

One thing that will make Windows Server 2008 Foundation more affordable for small businesses is that the OS does not require them to purchase client access licenses, which other Microsoft business software -- including SBS -- does. Instead, the OS is licensed by user accounts; however, each license is limited to a maximum of 15 user accounts, and each one of those accounts can only have one distinct user at a time.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer let the news slip that Microsoft would add a low-end release of Windows Server to its existing server OS portfolio on a conference call with members of the financial community in February. At the time he likened it to a netbook version of the Windows client OS.

Source: .pcworld.com

IIS (Internet Information Service) – Baisc Information About IIS Server

Internet information services used for web server, Internet Information Service built in component of windows server 2003 that it is allows access to resources on the server through various Internet protocols, such as POP3 IMAP4, HTTP SMTP and FTP.

Internet Information Service 7.5 as support operating system windows server 2008, it is latest update to the Internet information service 7.0 server

Internet Information Service contents are:-

1Versions
2 Histories
3 Microsoft Web Platform Installer
4 Securities
5 Authentication Mechanisms
6 Versions 7.0
7 Versions 7.5
8 IIS Media Pack
9 See also
10 References
11 External links

Internet Information Service Support Versions are:-

IIS 1.0, Windows NT 3.51 available as a free add-on
IIS 2.0, Windows NT 4.0
IIS 3.0, Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3
IIS 4.0, Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack
IIS 5.0, Windows 2000
IIS 5.1, Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Media Center Edition
IIS 6.0, Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
IIS 7.0, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista (Business, Enterprise, Ultimate Editions)
IIS 7.5, Windows Server 2008 R2 (Beta) and Windows 7 (Beta)

Microsoft Internet Information Service 7.0 is latest version of their web server, Internet information service has been designed to most secure and flexible web and application plat form from Microsoft.

Internet Information Service media Pack is a set of a free modules for forwarding digital audio and video files from Internet information service 7.0 web server. The Internet Information service media pack provides cost saving and control benefit of streaming media server to web server to delivery of medial files.

Microsoft Web Installer platform is a simple tool that installs Microsoft's entire Web Platform including are:

IIS
Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition
SQL Server 2008 Express Edition
Microsoft .NET Framework
Silver light Tools for Visual Studio

Supported Operating Systems as is : Windows Vista RTM, Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 Supported Architectures: x86 and 64-bit.

Authentication Mechanisms:-

Internet Information Service supports the following authentication mechanisms:
Basic access authentication
Digest access authentication
Integrated Windows Authentication
.NET Passport Authentication

Cisco Into Server Computer Market

On Monday, Cisco ended months of speculation by revealing its first server computer at the company’s headquarters here. The product encroaches on the turf of Cisco’s traditional partners like Hewlett-Packard, I.B.M. and Dell, which have sold billions of dollars of computers over the years that flank Cisco’s core networking hardware, routers and switches. But John T. Chambers, the chief executive at Cisco, insisted the time was right for the company to turn more aggressive.

“What we are really talking about here is catching the next market evolution,” Mr. Chambers said, during a news conference.

Mr. Chambers said the rise of virtualization software has created the need for new types of server computers. Virtualization software, made popular by VMware, lets businesses run more software applications on each physical server, helping them save on capital costs.

Virtualization also muddies the boundaries between servers, storage systems and networking equipment, which must now deal with more fluid virtual applications rather than dedicated software.

With its Unified Computing System, Cisco bundles server, storage and networking systems in a single product. Cisco says it can run hundreds of virtual servers on a single machine.

Analysts said the product is the biggest strategic shift in the server market to occur in years. “This is definitely a transformative play,” said James Staten, an analyst at Forrester Research, who attended the Cisco news conference. “This is war and a direct frontal assault on I.B.M. and H.P.”

While servers are far less profitable than networking equipment, Cisco has worked with software makers like VMware and BMC to sell software and hardware together in order to command some of the highest profit margins in the server industry.

Source: nytimes

Server Migration Solution for Windows Server

Microsoft is already providing customers running its Windows Server operating system with the necessary resources to streamline the process of migrating not only server roles, but also operating system settings, and even data to Windows 7 Server (Windows Server 2008 R2). The Server Migration solution for Windows Server 2008 R2 is, according to the Redmond company, the one-stop-shop for all the resources necessary to migrate from Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, or Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2008 R2.

“Server role migration guides - we currently have migration guides for the top 5 server roles (AD DS, DNS Server, DHCP Server, File Services, and Print Services), and for BranchCache, a new feature in Windows Server 2008 R2. Our guides provide you with step-by-step instructions to migrate server roles or features end to end,” revealed a member of the Windows Server Division. “Windows Server Migration Tools - we also provide you a set of Windows PowerShell cmdlets to help you automate migration steps. Migration cmdlets currently support two server roles and one feature (DHCP, FSRM and BranchCache), operating system settings (IP configuration, local users and groups), and data (with NTFS and share permissions).”

Windows Server 2008 R2 is indeed still far from finalization, but the software giant has already made the jump to the successor of Windows Server 2008. According to the Redmond company a single box out of the servers powering Microsoft.com is still running Windows Server 2008, with the rest having been upgraded to Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta.

“The Windows Server Migration Tools, and most migration guides, support cross-architecture migrations (x86-based to x64-based computing platforms), migrations between physical and virtual environments, and migrations between both the full and Server Core installation options of the Windows Server operating system, where available,” the Windows Server Division representative added.

Download from here:

SP2 RC for Vista and Server 2008 Goes Public

Microsoft today released the Release Candidate build of Service Pack 2 (6002.16670.090130) for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 to the public. You can grab the standalone installer package from the Microsoft Download Center for 32-bit five languages and 32-bit all languages, 64-bit five languages and 64-bit all languages, as well as Itanium five languages and Itanium all languages. If you have Vista in English, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish, download the five languages package, otherwise get the larger "all language" version. There is also a five language and an all language .iso image available, as well as a patch that will allow you to get it via Windows Update. While this is a public release, it is still a Release Candidate, and Microsoft is recommending that the average customer "wait until the final release prior to installing this service pack" and reminding testers that "a Service Pack is not a feature release—we are not looking for new feature suggestions, only SP2 regressions, crashes, and confirmation of fixes we've made will be considered for this milestone."

The public release follows the release of the build to Microsoft Connect testers two weeks ago. The full list of the 691 hotfixes included in the service pack was made available then, and Microsoft detailed the various improvements the service pack contains. That information later appeared on the official Windows Blog, so if you're interested in the exact breakdown of application compatibility improvements, hardware ecosystem support and enhancements, operating system experience updates, enterprise improvements, as well as setup and deployment improvements, head over there for the official details.

As with previous service packs, SP2 will include all previous updates and patches for the operating system (for example, SP2 marks the inclusion of Hyper-V into Windows Server 2008 natively) as well as significant performance improvements (on top of those in SP1).

It's also worth noting that there are known issues with this build:

* Application compatibility:
o The operating system security settings will incorrectly show some versions of certain antivirus applications as inactive when they are not. Two applications known to be affected are all versions of Avira AntiVir prior to and including 8.2.0.611 and all versions of Trend Micro Internet Security prior to version 17. There is no workaround at this time for those application versions. More recent versions of these applications are not affected.
o Security Innovation Holodeck 2.8.0 (enterprise edition) may unexpectedly quit. There is no workaround at this time.
* Internet Information Services: If a Web application or service attempts to access Active Directory Service Interfaces (ADSI) remotely using an Internet Information Services 7.0 process that runs under the application pool identity, the access will fail. To avoid this, run the process under a different identity, such as Network Service.
* SQL Server 2008: This issue affects Windows Server 2008 Standard, Windows Server 2008 Enterprise, and Windows Server 2008 Datacenter. If you attempt to install SQL Server 2008 on a failover cluster, the installation will fail. If you are affected by this, have a look at the details and workaround.

SP2's main requirement that SP1 is already installed. Some have said that this is because SP2 is not yet finalized, but it has been confirmed that the final version of SP2 will still have SP1 as a prerequisite. The reason for this is size. Microsoft wants the size of SP2 to be smaller Server 2008 shipped with SP1 already installed, including the contents of the SP1 client code, which would make the Server deployments even bigger. SP2 applies to both the client and server versions of Windows because Microsoft adopted a single serviceability model to minimize deployment. Also, by releasing one single service pack, Microsoft has less testing to do, since Vista and Server 2008 have the same binaries for all common files, making for a quicker release.

Source: http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/03/sp2-rc-for-vista-and-server-2008-goes-public.ars

Microsoft to Strip Windows Server 2008 RC1 of Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

Microsoft is currently cooking some modifications for the next stage of Windows Server 2008, formerly codenamed Longhorn. In this regard, the company informed that Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 will be stripped from Windows Server 2008. Those familiar with the development milestones of Microsoft's last 32-bit server operating system have had a chance to see that Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 has so far been a component of the product included by default in the platform. Julius Sinkevicius, Senior Product Manager, Windows Server Division, revealed, that with the upcoming testing release of Windows Server 2008, this will no longer be the case.

"As we're getting closer to release, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 is returning to how it was previously available to Windows Server 2008 customers. Specifically, we are going back to making it available as a separate download that is available to customers at no additional charge. This is how Windows SharePoint Services was available to Windows Server 2003 customers (pre-R2). With the beta and RC0 versions of Windows Server 2008, we offered it in the Windows Server 2008 software. Starting with RC1 and going forward, Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 will have to be downloaded separately," Sinkevicius explained.

Joel Oleson, Microsoft Sr. Technical Product Manager, confirmed that, indeed, WSS 3.0 will not be made available as a component of Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 1. Microsoft is currently offering for download the Release Candidate 0 of the server operating system. Windows Server 2008 is planned to be released to manufacturing in early 2008 and for official release in late February of the next year.

"We made this decision to allow customers to most conveniently obtain the technology while allowing Microsoft to have flexibility in the Windows SharePoint Services development process. If you have not looked at WSS 3.0, be sure to download it and peek around. It offers great collaboration, social computing and document management features and provides a rich composite application development platform based on our .NET technologies", Sinkevicius added.

Source:http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Strip-Windows-Server-2008-RC1-69472.shtml

CyberPower Launches compact Windows Home Server

Best known for their gaming machines and workstations CyberPower has jumped into the Windows Home Server market. The Windows Home Server 100 is packaged in a compact Mini-ITX enclosure, offers 500GB of storage for $399, and is designed to be quiet and energy-efficient.

The hardware specs aren’t bad either featuring a 1.6Ghz Intel Atom processor, 2GB of DDR2 Memory, 7200 RPM SATA-II HDD, Gigabit Ethernet, and S-Video & Audio output support via its Intel GMA 950 mainboard. Full press release below.

CyberPower Inc., a manufacturer of custom gaming machines, notebook systems, and high performance workstations, today announced its Windows Home Server 100 – a small form factor home-based server that allows users to easily access their files, photos, videos and music in their home or remotely. With CyberPower’s Windows Home Server 100 users can protect, connect to, and organize their digital data, and also expand their storage needs with very little effort.

Windows Home Server 100 was designed for households and home-based businesses that have more than one personal computer. This energy-saving server can automatically complete the daily backup of your computers on a home network, which allows users to restore a single file or an entire PC. Users can now access files at home, in the office, or even on the road. The CyberPower Windows Home Server 100 also features a secure and personalized website address, which allows users to organize their digital media in a central location to make it easier to share photos, music, and home videos.

CyberPower Windows Home Server 100 features include Intel’s energy-saving ATOM 330 Dual Core CPU (45nm, FSB 533MHz, 1.6GHz, 1 MB L2) on the Intel’s Mini-ITX mainboard with Intel GMA 950 & S-video output support, 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet, ALC662 High Definition Audio, a 500GB SATA-II hard drive, 2GBs of PC2-4200 DDR2-533 memory and Microsoft Windows 2003 Server OEM version. List price of this configuration is $399.

The CyberPower Windows Home Server 100 is available direct from CyberPower and can be customized from the company web site with numerous component options. All CyberPower computer systems come with a 3-year limited warranty and free lifetime labor and phone support.

Source: http://www.slipperybrick.com/2009/02/cyberpower-launches-compact-windows-home-server-100/

Microsoft Exchange Server Hosting Outsourced for Versions 2007 and 2003

MS Exchange Server 2007 has a long list of features that truly benefit its users. Security is one of the major concerns, when it comes to email, data, and computers. When you buy MS Exchange Server or its hosting equivalent, you can be little relaxed and keeps your worries aside with respect to security. Exchange Server 2007 includes exceptional security enhancements to fortify all data. Destructive and damaging threats including virus spam, hackers and firewall infiltration could be easily prevented by using this server for handling business e-mail.

Considering all these benefits and advantages, Microsoft Exchange Server, hosted or in-house, may be considered as the best and trustworthy business communication and mail management software. The e-mail system is completely protected and users can avail complete utilization of their desktop. The value added benefits of Exchange Server include calendaring, e-mail, contacts, tasks, mobile support, data storage, easy web based access and several more.

An earlier product, the MS Exchange Server 2003 made its debut earlier in the decade and established itself firmly in many companies. Microsoft Exchange 2003 can be executed on 32 Bit Win Server 2003 and Win 2000 Server. The Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 was designed with several compatibility modes, which allowed the users to move on to the new system. Exchange Server 2003 is available primarily in two branded versions. One is the Standard Edition, whereas the other is the Enterprise Edition. Both versions have their own quality features and pricing and you can decide which will the best match for your requirements.

A recently introduced MS Exchange product is the Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. With extensive new features, this server was released in the end of 2006 to benefit all business consumers. Microsoft Exchange 2007 was formulated with new clustering options, voice mail integration, 64 bit support intended for better scalability, integrated search with web, enhanced filtering options and the latest Outlook Interface. Like any other hosted or dedicated exchange server, Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, comes with well tested list of features. Here are some benefits of MS Exchange Server 2007:

Remarkable reduction of virus, spam and hackers
eliability and easy communication flow
Improved productivity with quick work response
Seamless interface of new style of Outlook
Easy integration of Exchange Server Data with Web Services

Source: http://www.articlebiz.com/article/282284-1-microsoft-exchange-server-hosting-outsourced-for-versions-2007-and-2003/

Features of Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003

Protecting a business can be a full-time job - with full-time worries. Just consider the issues you need to be alert to every day:

1. Worms and viruses that can sneak into your computer systems
2. Hackers trying to gain access to your company's confidential data
3. Employees who might download harmful files from the internet
4. A disaster or accidental deletion that could wipe out critical business records

If you use Windows XP Professional, there is an even easier way to get updates. Simply activate the Automatic Updates feature, which allows your PC to automatically notify you of important updates once they are made available.

Is the anti-virus software current on all of our machines?

It's not enough to simply have anti-virus software. Virus writers are prolific, releasing hundreds of viruses each month. That means you need to keep not only your operating system current but also your virus protection software. And make sure it is current on every PC and laptop in your organization. However, relying on users to stay current with software updates may not be effective in every organization. Employees may forget or may not think it's important. That's one of the benefits of a server-based environment, where updates to PCs and laptops can actually be managed from the server.

Does everyone understand they should never open e-mail attachments they aren't expecting or that come from senders they don't know or trust?

Even with the most current anti-virus software, there's always a possibility that a destructive worm or virus will get through. That's why your entire organization needs to be cautious about e-mail attachments and downloading files from the internet. Consider making these safety tips company policy:

1. Never open suspicious e-mail attachments or those from unknown or untrustworthy senders
2. Configure e-mail to read all messages you receive as plain text to increase security
3. Set the security level on Internet Explorer to the highest level and make exceptions for trusted websites only
4. Use a utility that blocks pop-up ads, which can be used to install malicious code on computers
Do we have a regular back-up procedure, are we following it and do we verify the back-up is accurate?

Backing up the data on your computers is one of the simplest and most effective "safety nets" you can institute. It's also inexpensive. The idea is to routinely make electronic copies of everything on your computers. The copies should be stored off-site so that in the event of a disaster or accidental deletion, you have a way to restore the bulk of your lost data.

Have we installed a firewall? Do we have a clear policy on employee internet use and is it monitored and/or enforced?

If you don't have an internet policy, your company and employees are at risk. And the risks can be serious, from the harmful downloads discussed above to offensive and/or illegal activity that can jeopardise your company's reputation and create messy legal problems.

Do we use strong passwords and are we diligent about keeping them private?

Be honest about this one: There's a big difference between having passwords and using strong passwords. In many workplaces, it is common for employees to share passwords, post them next to their computers or choose passwords that are easy to guess. Worse yet, they use the same passwords for everything and never change them. Make sure everyone knows how to create strong passwords.

Do we have a secure way for remote users to access our network?

Enabling employees to access your network from the road or from home is great for efficiency, but it also exposes your network to risk. For small businesses, Windows Small Business Server 2003 offers a full slate of features designed to make remote access less risky. One is Remote Web Workplace, a remote portal that allows authorised users to access e-mail or their company's internal websites, from anywhere through a Virtual Private Network or over the internet.

Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/features-of-microsoft-windows-small-business-server-2003-710653.html

Microsoft Adds Some Features to SharePoint Server

Microsoft later this year will stop developing the standalone version Performance Point Server and has moved the software's scorecard, dashboard and analysis features into SharePoint Server. It's a move that can be seen either as a sign of the belt-tightening times, or as fodder for the argument that business intelligence is more of a feature than a product.

PerformancePoint has been added to the SharePoint Enterprise client access license and is now available to subscribers of SharePoint Software Assurance, wrote Pej Javaheri, senior product manager for Sharepoint, in a recent blog post.

Microsoft will release a third and final service pack for PerformancePoint around midyear, after which the vendor will stop development work on the standalone offering, Javaheri wrote.

PerformancePoint uses Microsoft's SQL Server database as an underlying platform and employs Microsoft Office applications such as Excel as the user interface, and that won't change, according to DelBene. "Microsoft is removing the barriers for customers who want to deploy a complete Business Intelligence solution, leveraging their existing investments in SharePoint Server, SQL Server, and Excel," he wrote.

Business intelligence is a useful technology for cash-strapped companies looking to maximize efficiencies, but BI solutions have been derided as too expensive and complex.

PerformancePoint was priced at $20,000 per server, plus $195 for each CAL, a level that required Microsoft to seek out large-scale deployments to keep pace with rivals such as Cognos, Business Objects and Oracle.

In addition, smaller, more nimble vendors like Tableau Software have come to market with products that reduce the complexity of business intelligence by taking information buried in databases and presenting it in a more easily digestible graphical format.

"This gives us another strong selling point for SharePoint," said Tyler Roye, senior executive officer at MindSHIFT, a Fairfax, Va.-based solution provider. "This lets us more affordably assemble business intelligence metrics into a portal or dashboard, where previously we had to assemble these component by component."

Source: http://www.crn.com/software/212903347