(2012-05-31) Release Candidate Versions Of Windows 8 And Windows Server 2012 Are Available For Download!

Do I really need to say more?

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Read more HERE about it.

Get answers to FAQs HERE.

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Get it through the following locations:

• Windows 8 Release Preview On MSDN
• Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate On MSDN
• Windows 8 Release Preview On TechNet
• Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate On TechNet
• Windows 8 Release Preview Site
• Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate Site

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Cheers,
Jorge
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* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
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(2012-05-01) Windows Server “8” Virtual Labs

SOURCE: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/hh968267.aspx

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Experience the beta release of Windows Server “8” firsthand in these virtual labs. You can test drive new and improved features and functionality, including server management and Windows PowerShell, networking, Hyper-V, and new storage solutions.

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Getting Started

It’s simple: no complex setup or installation is required to try out Windows Server “8” running in a full-featured virtual lab. You get a downloadable manual and a 90-minute block of time for each module. Before you start, read the minimum system requirements. Select a virtual lab from the list below. Then, you will see an application launch the lab.

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Windows Server “8” Virtual Labs

• Active Directory Deployment and Management Enhancements
  In this lab, you will learn how to deploy Active Directory Domain Controllers with Windows Server "8". You will deploy domain controllers using the new Server Manager, as well as deploying remote domain controllers using Windows PowerShell. You will be able to explore the new Active Directory Management tool and use its PowerShell History Viewer.
  
• Configuring a Highly Available iSCSI Target
  In this lab, you will learn how Windows Server "8" can provide storage remotely to any machine. You will build clusters using shared storage and build iSCSI high-availability instances–observing highly available application communication during cluster failover.
  
• Configuring Hyper-V over Highly Available SMB Storage
  In this lab, you will learn how to configure a file server cluster to support running Hyper-V virtual machines from SMB file shares. You will create the file share, configure delegation, and then create a new VM on SMB storage.
  
• Implementing Storage Pools and Storage Spaces
  In this lab, you will work with the new storage spaces technology in Windows Server "8". You will first create new storage pools and virtual disks, and then you will work with those virtual disks in both Server Manager and Control Panel.
  
• Introduction to Windows PowerShell Fundamentals
  Windows PowerShell is a command-line shell and scripting language that helps you achieve greater control and productivity. Using a new admin-focused scripting language, more than 230 standard command-line tools, and consistent syntax and utilities, Windows PowerShell enables you to more easily control system administration and accelerate automation.
  
• What’s New in Windows PowerShell 3.0
  In this lab, you will explore some of the new features and functionality in Windows PowerShell 3.0 to enable you to more easily control system administration and accelerate automation.
  
• Managing Branch Offices
  In this lab, you will learn how the branch office scenario has been improved in Windows Server "8" including new branch cache enhancements.
  
• Managing Network Infrastructure
  In this lab, you will explore new network management capabilities in Windows Server "8". You will learn how to implement Network Teaming as well as how to implement DHCP failover. Finally, explore new Windows PowerShell cmdlets for network management.
  
• Managing Your Network Infrastructure with IP Address Management
  Network management is core to running a business, yet the tools that IT professionals need can be too costly or not available from Microsoft. With Windows Server "8", we change that with the introduction of IP Address Management (IPAM).
  
• Managing Windows Server "8" with Server Manager and Windows PowerShell 3.0
  In this lab, you will learn how the Server Manager and Windows PowerShell framework in Windows Server "8" delivers an enhanced, multi-server management experience. You will learn to perform tasks such as multi-server management. You will also explore new Windows PowerShell capabilities including new cmdlets and the Windows PowerShell gateway.
  
• Online Backup Service
  In this lab, you will use Windows Server Backup to back up your critical data to Windows Azure. This lab will teach you the entire set of workflows around backing up and recovering your data to Windows Azure.
  
• Using Dynamic Access Control to Automatically and Centrally Secure Data
  In this lab, you will explore Dynamic Access Control in Windows Server "8". You will learn how to create Central Access Policies, explore the new Access Denied Remediation features, as well as learn how to use the audit capabilities built into Dynamic Access Control.

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————

(2012-05-01) The Official Name For Windows Server “8”

If you have not heart it yet, the official name for Windows Server “8” is…….drums please….Windows Server 2012 !!!

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Isn’t that a surprise!?

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————

(2012-03-27) Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) For Windows Client “8” Consumer Preview

To manage server roles and features remotely on Windows Client “8” Consumer Preview you need to download and install the Remote Server Administration Tools. You can download those from here. After installing the binaries for RSAT you do not need to enable the tools you need or want as, apparently, by default all Role Administration Tools and all Feature Administration Tools are enabled. If you want to only have the tools you need/want, you can disable the unwanted tools through Program and Features in the Control Panel followed by Turn Windows features on or off.

Figure 1: All The Remote Server Administration Tools By Default Enabled

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After clicking on the “new” Start Menu you see all the default tiles. On the far right, you will see a tile called “Administration Tools”

Figure 2: The “Administration Tools” Tile On The Start Menu

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Figure 2: All The Available Role Administration Tools And Feature Administration Tools

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Another way to make the Role Administration Tools And Feature Administration Tools available/accessible is by starting the Server Manager once and pinning it to the taskbar

Figure 3: Server Manager Pinned To The Taskbar

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After clicking Server Manager as shown above, you will find Tools in the upper right corner. Clicking that and you will find the Remote Server Administration Tools on Windows Client “8” Consumer Preview.

Figure 4: The Location Of The Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) On Windows Client “8” Consumer Preview

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————

(2012-03-27) Where Are My Admin Tools In Windows Server “8” Beta?

As you may already have understood from this blog post, the look and feel of Windows Server “8” has changed. This also applies to finding your admin tools that are part of the Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT). In the developer preview you could find those admin tools after clicking the Start Menu. With the Beta that has changed. You can now find all the tools part of the RSAT within the Server Manager.

Figure 1: Starting Server Manager

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After clicking Server Manager as shown above, you will find Tools in the upper right corner. Clicking that and you will find the Remote Server Administration Tools on Windows Server “8” Beta.

Figure 2: The Location Of The Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) On Windows Server “8” Beta

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————

(2012-03-08) Windows Server “8” Beta Test LAB Guides

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In addition to the released Windows Server “8” Beta documentation (understand and troubleshoot guides), Microsoft also released Test LAB Guides to be downloaded from Microsoft’s download center. Use the following links to download the available docs:

• Test Lab Guides – General
• TechNet Blogs > Microsoft Test Lab Guides
• Windows Server “8” Beta Test Lab Guides
• Test Lab Guide: Windows Server “8” Beta Base Configuration
• Windows Server “8” Beta mini-module: Basic PKI 
• Windows Server “8” Beta mini-module: Homenet subnet 
• Windows Server “8” Beta mini-module: Second Corpnet subnet 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess Single Server Setup with Mixed IPv4 and IPv6 in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate DirectAccess Simplified Setup in an IPv4-only Test Environment in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Deploying Remote Desktop Licensing in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrating DHCP Failover in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Virtualized Domain Controller (VDC) in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Printing in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate IP Address Management (IPAM) in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate ADDS Simplified Administration in Windows Server "8" Beta 
• Test Lab Guide: Demonstrate High Availability Printing in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Test Lab Guide: Deploying an AD CS Two Tier PKI Hierarchy 
• Test Lab Guide: Deploying Certificates to Non-domain Joined Computers Using Certificate Enrollment Web Services   

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————

(2012-03-07) Windows Server “8” Beta Documentation

The Windows Server “8” Beta documentation is on Microsoft’s download center. Use the following links to download the available docs:

• Understand and Troubleshoot Activation Technologies in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot AD DS Simplified Administration in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot BitLocker in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Cluster-Aware Updating (CAU) in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot DHCP Failover in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Dynamic Access Control
• Understand and Troubleshoot High Availability Printing in Windows “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Hyper-V Replica in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot IP Address Management (IPAM) in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Microsoft Online Backup Service in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Printing in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Access in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Desktop Services Desktop Virtualization in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Scale-Out File Servers in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Servicing in Windows Server “8” Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Storage Spaces and Pools in Windows Server "8" Beta
• Understand and Troubleshoot Virtualized Domain Controller (VDC) in Windows Server “8” Beta

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————

(2012-03-06) Start Menu And Shutdown/Restart Buttons In Windows Server “8” Beta

Right after the installation of Windows Server “8”, one thing you definitely note is the absence of the good old Start Menu. To find the Start Menu, just press the Windows Key or move your mouse to the lower left corner of the screen. A small windows pops up and when you click that small window the Start Menu in tiles format (Metro UI) appears.

Figure 1: Finding The Start Menu In Windows Server “8”.

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And as already shown in Windows Server “8” Developer Preview, the new Start Menu looks like you see below. In the developer preview it was possible to switch back to the good old start menu layout by using the steps as mentioned here. Unfortunately that does not work anymore. I have not found the way yet, to get the old Start Menu back as in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Figure 2: The Start Menu In Windows Server “8” In Tiles Format (Metro UI).

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Although the above looks fancy I do not think I would want this on my servers. On servers I still prefer to have the old Start Menu. But now you have found the Start Menu, try to find the Shutdown/Restart/Logoff buttons! These are available, but not in the Start Menu as you are used to. To find the Shutdown/Restart button move your mouse to the upper right corner of the screen (or the lower right corner of the screen). Three icons on the right side of the screen popup as you see below.

Figure 2: Finding The Shutdown/Restart Button In Windows Server “8”

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The upper button is the Search button.

The middle button also provides access to the Start Menu.

The lower button is the Settings button and that’s the one you need as you can see below!

Figure 3: The Power Button

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The power button is the one you need to be able to shutdown or restart the server. Weird enough no logoff option is shown. I have not found it either. For now to just logoff, open up and PowerShell window and type LOGOFF, or press CTRL+R and type LOGOFF, or press CTRL+ALT+DEL and select “Sign Out”.

Figure 4: The Shutdown And Restart Buttons In Windows Server “8”

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UPDATE 2012-03-16:

The logoff button can be found by clicking on the new start menu followed by clicking on the user name in the upper right corner. After that you will see two options.

Figure 5: The Lock And Sign Out Buttons In Windows Server “8”

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————

(2012-03-06) Installing Windows Server “8” Beta

This blog post shows you the quick and very installation of Windows Server “8” Beta.

After booting the computer with the Windows Server “8” installation on a USB stick, the following screen appears.

Here you need to choose the language, the time/currency format and the keyboard/input method.

Figure 1: The Very First Screen Of The Installation Process – Choosing Stuff

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In the next screen just click “Install now” to start the installation, or click on “Repair your computer” if you want repair/diagnose something that’s broken.

Figure 2: The Second Screen Of The Installation Process – Click “Install Now” To Start

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In the screen below you need to select the installation option you want to install. You can only install datacenter edition, but you can choose between the Full Server option and the Server Core option

Figure 3: The Third Screen Of The Installation Process – Choose Installation Edition And Option

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As always, accept the EULA, and only if you agree with those! Has anyone ever read these?

Figure 4: The Fourth Screen Of The Installation Process – Reading And Accepting (Or Not) The EULA

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In the screen below you need to choose between upgrading an existing OS and installation a fresh Windows Server “8” instance. In this case I chose to perform a fresh install as there was nothing to upgrade.

Figure 5: The Fifth Screen Of The Installation Process – Upgrade Existing OS Or Install New

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In the screen below you can preconfigure you drives/volumes as you like.

Figure 6: The Sixth Screen Of The Installation Process – Configuring Drives/Volumes

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After clicking “Next” on the screen above, the actual installation starts as you can see below.

Figure 7: The Seventh Screen Of The Installation Process – Windows Being Installed And Configured

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After the installation has finished you need to provide a, preferably strong, password for the default administrator account.

Figure 8: The Eighth Screen Of The Installation Process – Entering The Password For The Default Administrator Account

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Just more than 20 minutes later, Windows Server “8” has been installed!

Figure 9: The Console Screen Right After The Installation

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The desktop of Windows Server “8” beta right after logon. As you can see Server Manager starts automatically. Now try to find the Start Menu!

Figure 10: The Desktop Of Windows Server “8” And Server Manager Starting Automatically

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In addition to Server Manager starting automatically, Microsoft asks you if you want to accept Windows Error Reporting sending feedback information automatically in the background. I choose “Accept”.

Figure 11: Accepting (Or Not) Windows Error Reporting To Send Feedback Information

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There is nothing new here when you compare it with Windows Server 2008 R2.

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————

(2012-02-29) Windows 8 Consumer Preview (Client And Server) Is Available For Download

Windows 8 Consumer Preview is available for download from the following locations:

• For the Client:
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/#searchTerm=&ProductFamilyId=454&Languages=en&PageSize=10&PageIndex=0&FileId=0
• For the Server
• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/downloads/#searchTerm=&ProductFamilyId=455&Languages=en&PageSize=10&PageIndex=0&FileId=0

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This will show you everything you can download about Windows 8. You can also try the following links, if you do not have access to MSDN

• http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/download

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For the product guide, see the following link:

• http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=28970

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Cheers,
Jorge
———————————————————————————————
* This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties and confers no rights!
* Always evaluate/test yourself before using/implementing this!
* DISCLAIMER: https://jorgequestforknowledge.wordpress.com/disclaimer/
———————————————————————————————
############### Jorge’s Quest For Knowledge #############
######### http://JorgeQuestForKnowledge.wordpress.com/ ########
———————————————————————————————