Windows IT Pro UPDATE--Microsoft Ships Vista, Talks Up Windows Server Advances

SLA Compliance -- How Do You Get There?
http://www.argent.com/w/whitepapers_ema_new.html?Source=WNT

Raxco Software's PerfectDisk 8 – Everything Faster
http://www.raxco.com/winitpro111406

Need to reduce support costs and delays?
http://www.numarasoftware.com/FootPrints.asp?src=itpro1106&trm=fp

Sponsor: Argent Software

SLA Compliance -- How Do You Get There? Enterprise Management Associates, the leading analyst firm for systems management, addresses the keys to providing higher Service Levels despite shrinking budgets. Read about solutions that monitor your enterprise automatically to predict and prevent issues while reducing your overall costs. Click here to read the White Paper: http://www.argent.com/w/whitepapers_ema_new.html?Source=WNT

***Commentary: Microsoft Ships Vista, Talks Up Windows Server Advances
by Paul Thurrott, News Editor, [email protected]

Last week, Microsoft reached a major milestone: After five long years, the software giant finally shipped its long-awaited Windows Vista client OS. We've discussed Vista a lot here in Windows IT Pro UPDATE, and I'm sure we'll keep talking about it in the months and years to come. In the meantime, if you're eager to know more about this product, please check out my ongoing 8-part review of Vista on the SuperSite for Windows (see the URL below).

This week, however, Microsoft is looking ahead. At the European IT Forum 2006 trade show in Europe, various Microsoft executives will speak about the status of Longhorn Server, the company's upcoming version of Windows Server, and various other products and services it plans to roll out over the next 12 months. To find out more about these products, visit the following URL:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/ArticleID/94249/94249.html

Longhorn Server The follow-up to Windows Server 2003 R2 will be a major Windows release with major new functionality. Microsoft told me this week that it's still on track to ship Longhorn Server Beta 3 in the first half of 2007 and the final version in the second half of the year. This isn't news, per se: Microsoft first announced this schedule in March 2006. But the fact that it's not further delaying Longhorn Server at this point is probably good news.

Windows 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2) The next service pack for Windows 2003 (and Windows 2003 R2) will ship sometime in the first quarter of 2007, but Microsoft will announce a public release candidate (RC) version this week for anyone who wants to evaluate the product early. Windows 2003 SP2 includes only one major new feature--Windows Deployment Services (WDS), the Vista-compatible deployment tool that will replace Remote Installation Services (RIS). Otherwise, it's all critical and noncritical bug fixes, just like a traditional service pack.

Windows PowerShell Microsoft has completed development of the Windows PowerShell (code-named Monad), an object-oriented, .NET-based command line and scripting environment that rivals the power of UNIX command line environments, while offering a level of discoverability and ease of use unknown in such products. Windows PowerShell will be integrated with Windows after Longhorn Server, I'm told, but it will begin appearing in Microsoft products as soon as December, when Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 ships.

Virtualization We recently discussed Microsoft's virtualization plans, but to recap: Microsoft will ship its Hypervisor-based technologies for Longhorn Server within 180 days of Longhorn Server's release. A beta is now expected in the first quarter of 2007.

Forefront Microsoft's coming generation of enterprise security products are finally beginning to appear. The most eagerly awaited is Forefront Client Security: This is Microsoft's unified malware protection platform, aimed at protecting desktop PCs, notebooks, and servers. Microsoft will show off Forefront Client Security publicly for the first time at IT Forum, but in a briefing last week, I got my first peak at the product, which includes a typical Microsoft administrative console and a Windows Defender-like client. Microsoft is shipping a public beta this week, so you can get your hands on it early. The final release is expected in the second quarter of 2007. There's a lot more to say about Forefront Client Security, but I'll reserve that for a future column.

Note, too, that Microsoft will ship other Forefront products in the months ahead. In December, we'll see ForeFront Security for Exchange 2007 (formerly Antigen for Exchange) and Forefront Security for SharePoint 2007 (formerly Antigen for SharePoint). These are 2007 product-specific releases (i.e., they don't protect earlier versions of Exchange or SharePoint), but they'll include licenses for earlier versions. In mid-2007, Microsoft will also ship a unified Forefront Security Management Console (formerly Antigen Enterprise Manager).

However you slice it, things are heating up. And although it's improbable that many administrators were sitting on the edges of their seats wondering where all the new products were, it's increasingly clear that the next 12 months will be quite eventful.

Windows Vista Review

http://www.itprotoday.com/reviews/winvista.asp

Raxco Software's PerfectDisk 8 – Everything Faster

It's here! The new PerfectDisk 8 disk defragmenter with the Command Center management console. Winner of 2006/2005 Windows IT Pro Readers' Choice Awards, PC Magazine Editors' Choice Awards, Redmond Magazine Best of Best, 5 stars from Download.com, and many more. New management console for complete management and reporting, plus 3 times as many warnings and alerts as competitive offerings. SMARTPlacement(TM) patented optimization strategy, patent-pending Resource Saver(TM) technology for faster defrags, AutoPilot Scheduling(TM) to automate everything, Space Restoration Technology(TM) with single-pass free space consolidation, intelligent Screen Saver mode, ...and much more.

http://www.raxco.com/winitpro111406

***From Windows IT Pro

Cisco And Microsoft Team Up On Network Access Control Find out more about Network Access Control technologies in this Web exclusive by Mark Edwards:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/93437/93437.html?Ad=1

***From the Community Training Users and Backup
Why is it that people only remember to back up data after they've lost it? Find out what you can do about that in Orin Thomas's Hyperbole, Embellishment, and Systems Administration blog at
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Blog/index.cfm?action=blogindex&DepartmentID=978

------ Have a question? Got answers? Join your peers in the Windows IT discussion forums: http://forums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/default.aspx?forumid=8
Current Threads in the Windows XP forums (http://forums.windowsitpro.com/web/forum/categories.aspx?catid=36&entercat=y ):
XP Eating Memory
Windows XP SP2 and GPOs
Remote Re-Image Computer

-----

Results of Previous Poll:
The voting has closed in Windows IT Pro's nonscientific Instant Poll for the question, "Does your organization have a network access control solution in place?" Here are the results from the 58 votes:
- 22% Yes, we're using a network access control solution
- 14% Not yet, we're waiting for Windows Vista's NAP solution
- 17% Not yet, we're evaluating third-party solutions
- 47% No, we don't plan to use a network access control solution

New Instant Poll
The next Instant Poll question is, "When will your organization deploy Vista?" Go to the Windows IT Pro home page and submit your vote for a) Within 6 months, b) Within 12 months, c) Within 18 months, d) Already deployed it, or e) No plans to deploy it.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/magazine

~~~~ Hot Spot: ~~~~

Need to reduce support costs and delays? With the new 7.5 version of Numara FootPrints, you'll experience the company-wide benefits of centrally managing all multi-channel requests, delivering self-service online and accessing contact records in LDAP & SQL directories. Look for stronger performance, support for SOX compliance and the new Numara FootPrints Sync which allows two-way data synchronization for the service desk and PIMs. Download a free trial today! http://www.numarasoftware.com/FootPrints.asp?src=itpro1106&trm=fp

***New and Improved
by Samuel Davenport, [email protected]

Symantec's OpenStorage API Provides Collaboration Between Intelligent Disk Devices and NetBackup
Today, Symantec (http://www.symantec.com/index.htm ) announced an application programming interface (API) that will allow users of disk-based backup technologies--like Data Domain, EMC, Falconstore, Network Appliance, Diligent Technologies, Copan Systems, and Sun Microsystems--to integrate their existing applications with NetBackup. This development represents a triumph over a long-standing challenge for the industry; it has been difficult for intelligent disk drive technologies to offer anything more than basic interoperability with major back-up applications. This challenge had endured because, until now, there hasn't been any purpose-built API provided to address problems of integration. "There is a growing need in the market for technologies that help reduce complexity," said director of technology consultancy firm Enterprise Information Assurance, Dianne McAdam. "\[The NetBackup Openstorage API\] will be the first solution available that leverages the features of disk storage devices while enabling control of various advanced backup techniques via a single interface." Pricing for the OpenStorage API is not expected to be released until mid-2007.

------ Tell Us About Your Favorite Product and Get a Best Buy Gift Card!
Have you used a product that changed your IT experience by saving you time or easing your daily burden? Tell us about the product, and we'll send you a Best Buy Gift Card if we write about the product in a future Windows IT Pro What's Hot column. Send your product suggestions with information about how the product has helped you to [email protected].

When disaster strikes, do you feel like you're digging for buried treasure to recover your data? Test your disaster recovery skills, and you could win! Each week we'll give away a USB flash drive to one lucky treasure hunter. You'll also be entered to win the full treasure chest, including Bose headphones! Test your skills now!
http://popquiz.windowsitpro.com/symantectreasurehunt/default.aspx

Learn the basics of Linux and Windows interoperability, and find out more about how to use Linux and open-source tools such as Samba and pam_ldap with Microsoft tools such as IdMU, MSNFS, and SUA. Register today for this free seminar with industry expert Dustin Puryear, and get access to three additional seminars discussing virtualization, single sign-on, and database replication. Find out more today! Live event: Thursday, December 14
http://events.unisfair.com/rt/techx?code=1115emailannc

You know you need to manage your email data, but how to do it? What steps should you take? What additional measures should you enact? What shouldn't you do? Get answers to these questions and get control of your vital messaging data. Download the free eBook today!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/ebooks/ilumin/discovery/?code=1115emailannc

Incorporate Virtual Machines into Your Disaster Recovery Plan Join us for a free Web seminar to learn how incorporating virtual machines into your disaster recovery plan can reduce your TCO by 50 percent or more, reduce hardware cost, and simplify management. Find out more from industry leaders at VMware and CA XOsoft. Available now!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/seminars/xosoft/virtualmachines/?partnerref=1115emailannc

BONUS: Register for any Web seminar--live or on-demand--during the month of November, and you could win a PS3! View a full list of eligible seminars at http://www.windowsitpro.com/events/Index.cfm?Filter=webSeminars&fID=1

Disaster recovery isn't just a theory for most businesses--it's a harsh business reality. Improve your own disaster recovery efforts today and learn from real-life disaster survivors. Make sure that your plan is ready before a disaster strikes--download this free white paper today!
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/whitepaper/neverfail/disaster/?code=1115featwp

Save $40 off Windows IT Pro Subscribe to Windows IT Pro today and SAVE $40! Along with your 12 issues, you'll get FREE access to the entire Windows IT Pro online article archive, which houses more than 9,000 helpful IT articles. This is offer expires on November 30, 2006, so order now:
https://store.pentontech.com/index.cfm?s=1&promocode=eu206buw

Make Your Mark on the IT Community! Nominate yourself or a peer to become IT Pro of the Month. This is your chance to get the recognition you deserve and be acknowledged in the IT community. Winners will receive over $600 in IT resources and be featured in Windows IT Pro and the TechNet Flash email newsletter. Entering is easy--we're accepting December nominations now for a limited time! Submit your nomination today:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/go/itpromonth

==== Contact Us ====

About the newsletter -- [email protected] About technical questions -- http://www.windowsitpro.com/forums About product news -- [email protected] About your subscription -- [email protected] About sponsoring UPDATE -- [email protected]