Linux Integration Components (v2 RC2) for Hyper-V

You can now download the release candidate 2 of Linux integration components for Hyper-V from connect site.

https://connect.microsoft.com/SelfNomination.aspx?ProgramID=1863&pageType=1&SiteID=495

These integration components support the following versions of Linux:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 (x86/x64)
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.3 (x86/x64)
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP2 (x86/x64)

The Linux ICs are necessary to get the optimal performance from your Linux Virtual Machines. These are the Linux drivers for VMBus and for our VMBus based network and storage devices.

Windows Virtual PC RC and Windows XP Mode RC

Windows Virtual PC RC and Windows XP Mode RC installers are available on http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=140344.

There are numerous feature improvements and I strongly believe you will be interested in these improvements.

Feature Improvements in Windows Virtual PC RC and Windows XP Mode RC

· Granular drive sharing

In the settings on the virtual machine, you can select specific host computer drives to share with the virtual machine.

· Manage USB devices with virtual applications

While running virtual applications, you can manage USB devices by using the Virtual Applications icon on the task bar.

· Windows XP Mode tutorial

A Windows XP Mode RC tutorial, which introduces the product features, is displayed during Windows XP Mode Setup.

· Jump list for virtual applications

Right clicking on the virtual application icon for Windows XP Mode, on Windows 7 taskbar, displays a jump list that allows one to easily launch virtual applications from the taskbar.

· Faster Windows XP Mode Setup

Windows XP Mode Setup completes more quickly than in Windows XP Mode Beta.

· Compact differencing disks

You can compact the differencing disks to decrease the file size.

· Ability to install Windows XP optional components

Windows XP optional components can be installed in Windows XP Mode RC without prompting for Windows XP media.

· Ability to choose a location to store virtual machine files for Window XP Mode RC

When you are setting up Windows XP Mode RC, you can choose where to store all virtual machine files for Windows XP Mode RC. The default path is: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows Virtual PC\Virtual Machines\.

· Option to turn off and discard changes when Undo disk is enabled for a virtual machine

An additional option is available when you are turning off a virtual machine: Turn off and discard changes. This option will delete the current Undo disk, and turn off the virtual machine.

New Blog on http://sgwindowsgroup.org

I am starting a new blog on http://sgwindowsgroup.org/blogs/bernard

Watch this blog space!!

Monitoring Hyper-V Performance

For those of you who are interested in monitoring Hyper-V Performance, this article explains it!!

http://blogs.msdn.com/tvoellm/archive/2009/04/23/monitoring-hyper-v-performance.aspx

Installing Hyper-V Server 2008

A friend asked me how difficult is it to setup Hyper-V Server 2008 for his IT-Lab. My answer to him is "It is very simple. Just go ahead and do it!". Hyper-V Server 2008 is free!!

Below are all the information that I fed him and these are enough for him to proudly setup his first Hyper-V Server 2008.

Good Web Resources:
1. Microsoft Hyper-V Server Home Page
2. Download your Hyper-V Server ISO
3. Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit to help you assess your current IT infrastructure.
4. Window Server Virtualization Guide for your reading and knowledge, to help in your planning and deployment.
5. Hyper-V Server Configuration Tool Guide

Installation:
Installation is very simple. Burn the ISO into a DVD and boots your machine with your DVD.
1. The first screen that greets you is to ask you to select a Language.
2. Then select the "Language to install", "Time and currency format", and "Keyboard or input method".
3. Click on Install Now to start installing.
4. Accept the license agreement
5. Select Custom (advanced)
6. Select which Disk and Partition to install Hyper-V. Click Next and installation begins.

Configuring Hyper-V Server 2008:
1. First thing that you need here is the Administrator's password to login to your newly installed Hyper-V Server. Enter Administrator and an empty password to login. You will be prompted to create a new password.
2. You will not get your desktop on Hyper-V Server 2008, you will be given a menu driven User Interface tool known as Hyper-V Configuration Tools. If you need to start the tools at any time run hyconfig.cmd.


3. I think the configuration tools menu is self explanatory. I will leave it to you to set your computer name (2), Join Domain/workgroup (1), configure your network settings(3).
4. Finally, you can manage this Hyper-V Server 2008 machine remotely using the following methods:

• Microsoft® Windows Server 2008 (a full installation) with the Hyper-V Manager
• Microsoft® Windows® Vista SP1 with the Hyper-V Manager
• Microsoft® System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008

5. Have fun!!!

Introduction to Active Directory

This is video recording of a training session on Introduction to Active Directory that I conducted on 10 Jun 2009. Click here to view the video.
Abstract and Topics are:
Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), formerly known as Active Directory Directory Services, is the central location for configuration information, authentication requests, and information about all of the objects that are stored within your forest. Using Active Directory, you can efficiently manage users, computers, groups, printers, applications, and other directory-enabled objects from one secure, centralized location. Let's explore further with the following

Topics:
What is AD?
Server Roles
Deployment Considerations
Designing a Forest infra
Designing a Domain Infra
Setting up AD
Tools to administer AD

Deploying Windows XP with Microsoft Deployment WorkBench

Deploying Windows XP with Microsoft Deployment Workbench

I hope this pictorial can guide you through the process of using Microsoft Deployment WorkBench (Previously known as BDD) to deploy Windows XP. I will be uploading another post to use Windows Deployment Services in Windows Server 2008 together with this deployment workbench to deploy Windows XP, Vista, 2008. Stay tuned!

1. Download Microsoft Deployment Workbench from the link before and install it onto a 32bit version of Windows 2003 SP2 machine.
   http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3BD8561F-77AC-4400-A0C1-FE871C461A89&displaylang=en


2. After you have installed Microsoft Deployment Workbench, expand Information Center and select Components. Select Windows Automated Installation Kit from the component list. Then click on Download button on the Details pane.
   


3. Install Windows Automated Installation Kit when the download completes.
   


4. Proceed to create distribution share directory after AIK installation. Note: Do not create on System Drive if possible.



5. Create the Distribution directory on a separate drive.



6. Now let’s add Windows XP source files. Be sure to add the latest releases.



7. Let’s add Applications such as Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, etc to be installed during Windows XP deployment.



8. Steps 8 – 11 demonstrates adding Adobe Reader 9 to your deployment.



9. Locate the source files for the Application.



10. Create a friendly name to easily identify the application.



11. Enter the command line to install the application in silent mode.
    
    
    
12. Next, we need to create a Task Sequence for the Windows XP Installation.
    Steps 12-17 guide you through creating a Task Sequence for installing Windows XP on your client computer.
    Create a task sequence for your installation and give it a identity.



13. Select Standard Client Task Sequence.



14. Full in the OS setting information.



15. Select the Windows XP source files that you uploaded earlier.



16. Key in the Product Key.
    


17. Key in the local administrator password and click Finish.
    


18. Finally, we need to create a Deployment Point for the Task Sequence.
    Select Lab or Single-server deployment.
    


19. Give it a Deployment point name.
    


20. Allow users to select additional applications on Upgrade.
    


21. Do not Ask if an imagine should be captured.
    


22. Do not Ask user to set the local Administrator Password.
    


23. Do not Ask user for a product key.
    


24. Click next to create the network share.
    


25. Do not save data and settings.
    


26. The whole sequence will be completed once the Update completes.