David E. Myers' Blog ( www.DavidEMyers.com )

Windows 7 Deployment Deep Dive, February 25th at OWSUG

Looking for Windows 7 deployment help?  Check out this fantastic session lined up for the Ottawa Windows Server User Group on February 25th.  While registration is full, walk ins are welcome if there is room:

Topic: Deployment Deep Dive on Windows 7 Community Tour-Ottawa

Description:

Are you running Windows XP?  Are you feeling the pressure of creating a deployment plan? Have no fear!  Leveraging learning’s from two Windows 7 early adopters this session will give you the skills you need to proceed with your own deployment.  The session will focus on free Windows 7 deployment planning and deployment tools that customize operating system packages and automate deployment planning and network deployments seamlessly. We will dive right into:

• How to use the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) tool to identify your current hardware and application inventory.
• How to use the Windows Automated Install Kit (WAIK) to build a customized image for your organization.
• How to use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) to build, deploy and maintain Windows installation images.
• How to migrate the end users profile from their current installation to the Windows 7 installation using the User State Migration Toolkit (USMT).
• How to integrate MDT and Windows Deployment Services (WDS) to perform Lite Touch installations of Windows 7.

Finally we will look at how we can leverage the various tools to solve any application compatibility issues you might encounter.  We will look at how you can overcome common obstacles using the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT), or larger obstacles using Windows XP Mode and Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) and even how you can leverage Application Virtualization (App-V) to streamline application deployment and ensure all your applications work!

Please note: there is no cost to attend this event.

Location:
Microsoft Canada Co.
100 Queen Street Suite 500
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1J9

Agenda:

5:00 p.m.  Event registration
7:30 p.m.  Q & A
8:00 p.m.  Door Prizes

Notes:

· Pizza and Pop will be served, Please RSVP to help us order enough of both.

· Please note that no one will be admitted after 5:55 p.m.!

RSVP:http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032436875&culture=en-CA

Event Code: 1032436875

Session Content Posted: Are you ready for Windows 7? Ottawa Community Event, and DirectAccess Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide Released

It was great to see so many people interested in Windows 7.  Todd Lamothe and I were happy to have the highest attendance of any OWSUG event ever for our presentation (110 attendees):

Thanks to everyone who attended and special thanks to all of you that got involved in the conversation with your excellent questions!

You can download the session content for the event here:  http://www.davidemyers.com/2009/10/AreYouReadyForWindows7Ottawa.pdf

DirectAccess Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide Released

For all of you that were interested in deploying DirectAccess, I’m also happy to share that Microsoft has now released the Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) Guide for DirectAccess.  This solution accelerator will help get you up to speed on all of the details that need to be considered when you’re planning your deployment.  Cruise on over to the Springboard Series Blog and check out Stephen Rose’s post on the topic.

Free Windows 7 Deployment eBook, Are you ready for Windows 7? - Ottawa Community Event, and Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Deploying Windows 7 eBook:

Just in time for the Windows 7 launch, MS Press and TechNet have brought us a free Windows 7 deployment eBook: Deploying Windows 7 eBook.  At over 300 pages of goodness, it contains several chapters from the Windows 7 Resource kit and several articles from TechNet magazine.  Best of all it’s a free download!

Are you ready for Windows 7? – Ottawa Community Event

 

Todd Lamothe and I will be presenting tomorrow night in Ottawa at the Are you ready for Windows 7? Ottawa Community Event .  Not in the Ottawa area?  Don’t worry, check out the events page on the Talking About Windows site to find out about events in your area.  We’ll be covering some of the deployment tools and techniques presented in the guide and helping IT pros get ready for Windows 7.

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

If you are wondering if your machine will work with Windows 7, check out the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor before you pick up your copy of the upgrade.  This tool can scan your XP or Vista machine and give you a couple of nice reports to let you know what your options are for moving to 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows 7:

September SQL Server Events in Ottawa

This month we are happy to announce 3 excellent SQL Server training events in Ottawa at the Microsoft office.  Check the RSVP link for event details.

September 17^th Evening:

• Presented by the Ottawa Windows Server User Group
• Topic: How to protect  SQL Server using Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 SP1 (DPM)
• Speaker: Islam Gomaa
• Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• RSVP: http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=141173

September 21^st Lunch:

• Topic: Why RPO and RTO should be a requirement in disaster recovery plan
• Speaker: Edwin M. Sarmiento
• Time: 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
• RSVP: http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=141028

September 23^rd Evening:

• Unleash Management Studio 2.0, Don Kiely
• SQL Server Efficiencies: Sparse Columns and Filtered Indexes, Don Kiely
• Speaker: Don Kiely
• Time: 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
• RSVP: http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=141029

OttawaSQL.net is a community group of Ottawa area developers and IT professionals.  We share an interest in Microsoft’s data technologies especially:  SQL Server, SharePoint, PerformancePoint, Workflow Foundations, LINQ, ADO.NET and Entity Framework.

OWSUG June 3rd Event: Windows 7 Security Tidbits & Understanding and Preventing Insider Threat

Topic:  Windows 7 Security Tidbits & Understanding and Preventing Insider Threat

Windows 7 Security Tidbits - Windows 7 is coming and the boss is asking you about all those new security features. Perhaps you've heard some buzz about AppLocker? What’s this about DirectAccess connecting securely to your corporate network without a VPN?  What’s up with BitlLocker To Go? In this fun and interactive session, Kai Axford, a Microsoft Senior Security Strategist with Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing team, will demonstrate some of the new security features in Microsoft's newest desktop operating system. Bring your questions and get the scoop on these upcoming Microsoft security technologies!

Understanding and Preventing Insider Threat – Many analysts have stated that the Number One issue facing corporate customers today is the threat of targeted corporate espionage coming from within the organization. Join Kai Axford, a security strategist from the Microsoft Trustworthy Computing team for an entertaining and engaging session, as he shares real stories from the trenches about the risk this threat presents for both you and your customers. He’ll demo the means by which these attacks occur and discuss the mindset of the attackers. Don’t miss the chance to see how this is done!

Speaker:  Kai Axford, Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Group

Kai Axford (CISSP, MCSE-Security) is a Senior Security Strategist in Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group.  A ten-year Microsoft veteran, Kai is responsible for discussing and recommending security solutions for both private and public sector organizations. In addition, he conducts Chief Security Officer councils worldwide, taking executive feedback and affecting change within Microsoft’s security products and processes.

Kai started with Microsoft in 1999 as a Server Support Engineer and then moved on to become an IT Pro Evangelist, focusing on his peers through the Microsoft TechNet Events program. Kai has delivered more than 300 security presentations on a variety of topics, including digital forensics, security management, incident response, and computer espionage. He is a frequent speaker at security conferences, executive meetings, and business seminars around the world.

He is finishing an MBA in Information Assurance and is a member of ISSA, INFRAGARD, ASIS, and the North Texas Electronic Crimes Task Force. He was the recipient of the 2006 “Rising Star” award from the Information Security Executive council. Kai is interested in security management and hopes to become a Chief Security Officer one day.

Prior to Microsoft, Kai served as a leader in several real-world operations with the U.S. Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment. Originally from Wisconsin, Kai is a huge NFL Green Bay Packers fan.  He is based in Dallas, Texas with his lovely wife, a new baby boy, and a (very wet) yellow Labrador.

Agenda:

5:00 p.m.  Event registration
5:30 p.m.  Q & A
8:00 p.m.  Door Prizes

Notes:

• Pizza and Pop will be served, Please RSVP to help us order enough of both.
• Please note that no one will be admitted after 5:55 p.m.!

RSVP: http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=138491

OWSUG December 11th Event: SQL Server 101 for the IT Pro & SQL Server Chalk Talk

Topic: SQL Server 101 for the IT Pro & SQL Server Chalk Talk

SQL What?!?  What every IT Pro needs to know about SQL Server

More and more products require a SQL Server database.  Are you an IT Pro installing SQL Server but not sure how to support it?  Do you work at a place where you are the IT department?  Well this event is for you!

The OWSUG and OttawaSQL.net user groups are teaming up to bring you a special session dedicated to SQL Server for the non-DBAs.

We will cover important topics that are often overlooked until it is too late, and talk about ways to simplify SQL Server administration.

Topics include:

· Backup and Restore

· Checking for data corruption

· Creating Maintenance plans

· Sending alerts

· Setting up email for notifications

· Security Basics

· Tips and Tricks, and time saving tools

… and much more!

After the presentations we will have a panel of local DBAs, SQL Server veterans and Microsoft MVPs ready to answer your questions in an informal SQL Server Chalk Talk

Product Showcase (15 minutes):   SQL Response - Red Gate Software, David E. Myers

No flashing lights. No repetitive emails. No complicated configuration required. Only the intelligent alerts and diagnostic data you need to resolve problems on your SQL Servers sooner. All from a single, intuitive interface.  SQL Response monitors the health and activity of your SQL Servers, so you can work proactively to resolve the problems that matter most. See how no-nonsense monitoring from Red Gate's new SQL Response^™ can help you make the most of your office hours.

Location:
Microsoft Canada Co.
100 Queen Street Suite 500
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1J9

Date: December 11^th, 2008

Agenda:

5:00 p.m.  Event registration
5:30 p.m.  Presentation
7:30 p.m.  Q & A
8:00 p.m.  Door Prizes

Notes: Pizza and Pop will be served, Please RSVP to help us order enough of both.

RSVP: http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=133776

Ottawa Windows Server User Group October 23rd Event: Successful Migration Techniques For Migrating To Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 provides many enhancements to help organizations better manage their email, extend their messaging platform with Unified Communications technologies, and provide greater reliability and security. IT Pros are challenged with upgrading or migrating their existing email platform to Exchange 2007, while at the same time being keenly aware of the fact that email is something that can never go down. This session will teach you the best practices to migrate to Exchange 2007 so that you can be successful at acquiring the benefits of Exchange 2007 by a well-planned and executed migration. We will dive into migration and transition planning where you will learn scenarios to migrate environments such as Exchange Server 5.5, 2000, and 2003, Novell GroupWise and Lotus Domino to Exchange Server 2007. You will be trained to recognize and plan which of the different migration scenarios is best for you. You will learn what’s required to support multi-client environments (Outlook 2003 and earlier, as well as Outlook 2007) and what is required for coexistence planning.

About the Speaker:
Richard Claus is a bilingual Senior IT Pro Advisor working for Microsoft Canada. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, Rick is focused on engaging "the IT Pro community" by establishing relationships and giving support to various IT Professional focused initiatives, user groups and professional associations. He is very excited to have a position where he is empowered to reach out and share his passion for technology with the Canadian IT Professional community.

Prior to joining Microsoft, Rick most recently worked as an Enterprise Architect at a Microsoft Gold Partner. His previous design experience includes Virtualization strategies, Active Directory implementations and migrations, highly available Exchange messaging solutions, and overall systems management and interoperability. Besides design and consulting work, Rick brings over 17 years of IT experience, ranging from front line "in the trenches" admin duties, to training/mentoring/facilitating individuals and teams on how to use technology more effectively in their organizations.

Rick is an integral part of the Microsoft community team which drives awareness, education and training through special in person and online events. In addition to planning and delivering these events, his group directly engages with Canada's professional communities, including IT managers, infrastructure specialists and architects, systems integrators, independent software vendors (ISVs) and community leaders.

Location:
Microsoft Canada Co.
100 Queen Street Suite 500
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 1J9

Date: October 23^rd, 2008

Agenda:

5:00 p.m.  Event registration
5:30 p.m.  Presentation
7:30 p.m.  Q & A
8:00 p.m.  Door Prizes

Notes: Pizza and Pop will be served, Please RSVP to help us order enough of both.

RSVP: http://www.clicktoattend.com/?id=132403