I Love Train Signal!

My wonderful Train Signal just got a brand new laptop for me with … Windows 7! 

Remember how I gave my boss a little hint in my upgrading from XP to Windows 7 article?  I guess he reads my posts after all, because first thing yesterday morning I get a package with a brand spanking new laptop!  I was so happy I was in tears! (Quite hormonal, yes — but there’s not much you can do when you are about to have a baby AND you get a new laptop you’ve been wanting for months).

Bragging About My New Windows 7 Laptop

Most of the day yesterday I spent setting up my Windows 7, copying files and programs, configuring my preferences, etc., and I must say, Windows 7 makes all of this really easy.  I am not a Windows 7 pro and I haven’t done much training on it either but I was able to figure out almost everything on my own — it’s so easy to use. 

I love the new look and feel and the speed is amazing — I really think I can get used to it quickly.  Now, just so you know, I haven’t used Windows Vista that much.  I know Windows 7 is supposed to be just like Vista and all, but I made the jump to 7 from Windows XP. 

I still love XP and will miss it dearly, but it’s time for me to move on and “go with the flow”.  So, if any of you are still on Windows XP and are afraid of installing Windows 7 — don’t be.  It’s easy and you will have no problem getting used to it.

Redirecting Your Documents Folder in Windows 7

Ok, enough bragging about my new laptop and the awesome Windows 7.

What I want to show you today is how to redirect your Documents folder to a different location on you Windows 7 PC.

I like to keep my Documents folder on my D drive and as of now the default is C:\Users\Public. So, how do I change the default? Here are the steps.

1. To start, click on the start orb, point to Documents and right click. You will get a pop-up menu.  Point and select Properties.

2. In the Documents Properties window, select the Library location you want to remove (in my case it is the C:\Users\Public folder) and click Remove.

3. You can remove them all or you may leave the ones you would like to keep.  I am going to leave the “My Documents” location that is in my profile, in case I want to save files in that location someday.  To add a new location, click on the Include a Folder button.

4. Select the folder you want to include for your Documents and then click Include folder.

5. That folder now shows in your library locations.  To set it as your default save location, select it and then click on Set save location.

6. Make sure to click Apply and OK before you close that window.

7. That’s it!  You can see now that I have two locations for my library.  One is on my C drive and the other — the default one, is on my D drive.

8. I think we should test it.  I created a word document and I am going to click on Save As.  Let’s see where it is going to take me.

9. I’m not going to select anything, just type in the name and click Save.

10. Now I’m going to open up my Documents library and see where the document was saved.

Woo Hoo!  It worked!  The document is on my D drive!

Just like the folder redirection, everything seems to be super easy and common sense in Windows 7.  Is there anything you want to know how to do? 

Let us know and we’ll try to help out!

Related posts:

• My Journey from Windows XP to Windows 7
• How to Create a New Virtual Machine with Hyper-V
• Server 2008: How to Setup a Remote Desktop on Windows Vista

Here are couple things to keep in mind.

First, the new Windows Server 2008 R2 can only be installed (or upgraded) on 64-bit servers.  If you have Server 2008 installed on a 32-bit server, you will first need to upgrade your hardware to 64-bit before upgrading to Server 2008 R2.

Another thing to think about is whether you want to install R2 from scratch or run an upgrade. Both options are available so it is up to you to decide.  When it comes to a clean install, it is quite easy and almost exactly the same as installing Server 2008.

Is the Upgrade Free?

Well, it depends. 

According to Microsoft, if you purchased Windows Server 2008 together with Software Assurance (SA), your upgrade to Server 2008 R2 is free.  If you did not purchase SA, then unfortunately you will need to purchase R2 before upgrading. 

How much will R2 cost without Software Assurance?  Microsoft did not publish the pricing just yet but you can contact your reseller and ask him/her what would be the cost for your upgrade.

To verify that the upgrade is in fact free for people who purchased SA, I contacted Microsoft via live chat.  Here is our quick conversation:

• Jodi: How may I assist you today?
• Gosia: Hi Jodi, I just have a quick question about Windows Server 2008 R2. If I already have Windows Server 2008 – will the upgrade be free or is there a price tag for upgrading?
• Jodi: Do you know if you purchased Software Assurance when you bought Windows Server 2008?
• Gosia: No… I did not purchase Software Assurance…
• Jodi: Ok, It is my understanding that you will have to purchase the Windows Server 2008 R2 if you did not purchase Software Assurance with the Windows Server 2008.  You will not have to re-purchase CALs, just the server software.
• Gosia: I see. But if I had purchased software assurance then it would have been a free upgrade, right?
• Jodi: Correct.  And, customers that had purchased Software Assurance are eligible for Windows Server 2008 R2 before new customers.
• Gosia: That will teach me a lesson for next time. Thank you for your time. That’s all I needed.
• Jodi: Sure.

So as you can see, purchasing SA is always a good idea and it saves you money in a long run.

Improvements in Server 2008 R2

Why should you upgrade to Server 2008 R2?  Are you going to benefit from the upgrade?

Lisa and I have mentioned a couple of our favorite new features in R2 like the Global Search bar in Active Directory Administrative Center or the Recycle Bin in Active Directory.

But besides the cool toys you’re going to get, here are few reasons for upgrading to R2:

• Better performance on more powerful hardware (Windows Server 2008 R2 can be only installed on 64-bit server)
• “Balanced” power policy for processors
• Enhanced Virtual Desktop Integration (VDI) technology
• Efficient Server Management
• Enhancements to Hyper-V
• File Classification Infrastructure (FCI) Feature for data management
• DirectAccess for remote users
• BranchCache for remote offices
• Improved and Simplified Management for SMBs
• Internet Information Services 7.5 (IIS 7.5)

To read more about these features check out the Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to R2 from Microsoft.

Upgrading to Server 2008 R2 in 8 Easy Steps

Once you’re ready to upgrade your Server 2008 to R2 follow these simple 8 steps.

 
1.  Start the installation by clicking Install Now.

 
2.  Select the option to get the latest updates for installation by click on the option.

 
3. Next, select the appropriate version — I have Server 2008 Enterprise installed on my system so that’s the one I’m choosing. Once you make your selection, click Next.

 
4.  Accept the License terms and click Next.

 
5.  Now we are ready to select the Upgrade option — go ahead and click on the selection.

 
6.  R2 is now going to run a compatibility checker.  If you get a report that some things need to be improved or corrected, you must do that before continuing with the upgrade.

 
7. My compatibility checker gave me a couple of warnings but nothing major, so I’m going to continue. Once you’re ready, click the Next button.

 
8. Now we wait for the Upgrade to complete.

As you can see it is a very easy upgrade and as long as your compatibility checker turns out ok, you are good to go with your new Windows Server 2008 R2 in no time!

Related posts:

• Upgrading to Server 2008 from Server 2003
• A Guide to Upgrading to SCCM 2007 R2
• Installing Hyper-V Server Role in 7 Easy Steps

Hyper-V is becoming more and more popular in the virtual world and so is the Hyper-V certification — MCTS: Windows Server Virtualization, Configuration.

I’m not sure if many of you were aware that this certification even exists, since it’s not as popular as the other Windows Server certifications. In fact, only a little bit over 2 thousand people hold the Hyper-V cert, compared to over 37, 35 and 28 thousand for Active Directory, Network Infrastructure, and Applications Infrastructure certifications, respectively.

Note: The above stats are from 9/9/09; to see more current stats go here.

Well, now that you’re aware of the Hyper-V cert let me give you all the info on what you need to do to get it.

Hyper-V Exam 70-652 Details

From what I heard, the number of exam questions is around 50 with approximately 90-120 minutes to complete them all. The passing score was reported to be the usual 700.

I hear that it has a lot more lab questions that any other MCTS exam.  Overall, however, this exam is not too difficult and with solid preparation and lots of practice you are guaranteed to ace it.

As always, I strongly suggest going through all the questions and answering the ones you know how to answer first.  While doing so, mark the ones that will take longer for you to answer as well as the ones you have no clue about. Once you go through all the questions and reach the final one on your first “round” go back and review the marked questions for the rest of the allotted time.

By using this method you will have a chance to answer all the questions you know and then spend the rest of your time on the ones that you might not be sure about. Be aware of changing your answers on the second run, though. Chances are your “gut feeling” was right and the answer you picked the first time is correct.

Trust me on this one, I learned the hard way

Hyper-V Exam 70-652 Topics

There are 4 main topics on the Windows Server Virtualization, Configuring exam:

• Installing Hyper-V (14%)
• Configuring and Optimizing Hyper-V (20%)
• Deploying Virtual Machines (30%)
• Managing and Monitoring Virtual Machines (36%)

Make sure you know how to deploy, configure and manage Hyper-V machines since it accounts for nearly 2/3 of the exam questions.

I also found out through lots of forums and the nice people who shared their exam experiences that you need to be familiar with SCVMM08 (Systems Center, Virtual Machine Manager), clustering/quick migration requirements, how to use snapshots withing Hyper-V, Authorization Manager, iSCSI configuration for failover clustering, and versioning information for both VMs and Host Servers.

More details about the topics covered are included on this Microsoft page.

Where to Start

You need to start with a good source of information for learning the theory behind virtualization. You can either buy a book or get a training video for this.

Next you need to get yourself a testing environment and put the theory into practice. This should be quite easy since all you need is one decent machine on which you can run multiple virtual machines, or should I say, Hyper-V machines.

As far as hardware is concerned, I would suggest getting at least 4GB of RAM and at least 200GB of hard disk space. You want to be able to run a couple VMs at the same time and still have decent speed.

If you decide to prepare with our Hyper-V training, Coach will show you step-by-step how to create multiple virtual machines to use for practice plus lots of other cool stuff.

Don’t I Need Experience?

Microsoft suggests that you have “at least one and a half years of experience working in Windows Server 2003 and/or Windows 2008 Server environments as system administrators.”  In addition it states that you should be familiar with virtualization products and technologies.”

This is a pretty typical suggestion from Microsoft, they want to make sure that you get enough experience with the technology before you start preparing for the exam.

I would like to add to that and say that if you don’t have the 1.5 years of experience you can make up some of the lost time by practicing.

Start by building your own virtual environment and practice, practice, practice. Break your virtual machines, fix them, and learn as much as you can. Remember that re-creating your VMs is a quick and easy fix, but that’s not the true fix; you should be able to fix them without re-creating them. Find out what went wrong so you can be a real professional in a production environment and on the job.

Practice is also the best way to learn the material for the exam, so make sure you’re getting enough of it.

Why Do I Want to Get Hyper-V Certified?

Virtualization is becoming more and more popular, which means Virtualization experts are becoming more and more in demand.

The Hyper-V certification will give you an edge over your competitors in job searching. As I mentioned in the beginning, there aren’t a lot of Hyper-V experts out there and this cert will give you a chance to become one.

By preparing for and passing the 70-652 exam you will be able to show prospective employers that you’re proficient in setting up, configuring and managing Hyper-V, which should also make you eligible for that promotion or raise you’ve been looking to score.

Related posts:

• MCTS Demystified: What you need to know about the Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure (exam 70-643) Certification
• MCTS Demystified: What you need to know about the Server 2008 Network Infrastructure (exam 70-642) Certification
• MCTS Demystified: What you need to know about the Server 2008 Active Directory (Exam 70-640) Certification

Which one is more valuable?  Which one is going to get you a better job?  Should you get your MCSE certification or go for the new MCITP?

These are all valid questions and they are not easy to answer. You have to keep in mind that one certification may work great for one person, and it may not work out so well for another. 

To make the right decision, you really need to take some time, evaluate your situation and your current position, and come up with a solution that will work for you. To help you get started I would suggest to take into consideration your current job situation and ask yourself these questions:

• Is my company still using Server 2003?  If so, for how long?
• Am I going to be involved with Server 2008 migration?
• How long do I plan on staying with my current company?
• Do I plan on getting a new job?
• Do I want a promotion?
• Do I want to completely change my career?

All these questions (and few more that you might come up with) will help you determine which certification path to go with. But here, let me clarify some info for you guys; let’s start with Windows Server 2003.

Windows Server 2003 MCSA/MCSE

The MCSA and MCSE certifications are very similar. In fact, 4 specific exams required for your MCSE will get you your MCSA in the progress. Then once you pass 3 additional exams you become MCSE certified.

So there are 4 exams required for the MCSA and 7 exams for the MCSE. As you can see the MCSE certification is a little more desirable than the MCSA because it’s more advanced and you’re required to know more (plus you need to pass 3 additional exams).

MCSA Exam Requirements

To become MCSA certified you are required to pass the following exams:

• Exam 70-290 – Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
• Exam 70-291 – Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure

And one of these two elective exams:

• Exam 70-620 – TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
• Exam 70-270 – Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional

Plus one additional exam, which is also an elective exam, from a list of about 20 exams to choose from. Here is the complete list — just make sure you’re looking at the Elective Exams under MCSA on Windows Server 2003.

This makes it a total of 4 exams — two required and two electives — to obtain your MCSA on Windows Server 2003.

MCSE Exam Requirements

Once you get your MCSA you will only need to pass the following 3 exams to become MCSE Certified:

• Exam 70-293 – Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
• Exam 70-294 – Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure

And one of these two:

• Exam 70-297 – Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure
• Exam 70-298 – Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network

For more information on the MCSE requirements, exams and their objectives, check out this page.

Windows Server 2008 MCTS/MCITP

Just like with MCSA and MCSE, the MCTS and MCITP certifications are also closely connected. You get one certification on your way to another, except that you earn your MCTS title after passing only a single exam. This is the complete list of the Microsoft exams that you can take to earn your MCTS credential.

It’s also good to know that by passing two of the MCTS exams, you get two MCTS certifications with two specific titles. For example, if you pass the Windows Vista – Configuration (70-620) Exam and the Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration (70-640) Exam you have two MCTS certifications:

1. MCTS: Windows Vista, Configuration
2. MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration

And you can continue to earn your MCTS certifications as you pass additional MCTS exams.

So … how do you earn your MCITP? 

MCITP Exam Requirements

Well first let me mention that there are two MCITP certifications for Windows Server 2008: MCITP: Server Administrator and MCITP: Enterprise Administrator.

For the MCITP Server Administrator Certification you will need to pass:

• Exam 70-640 – TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
• Exam 70-642 – TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
• Exam 70-646 – Pro: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator

For the MCITP Enterprise Administrator Certification you will need to pass:

• Exam 70-640 – TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
• Exam 70-642 – TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
• Exam 70-643 – TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring

Plus one of these:

• Exam 70-620 – TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
• Exam 70-624 – TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops

And the final exam:

• Exam 70-647 – Pro: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator

Notice that exams 70-640 and 70-642 are required for both the Server Admin and Enterprise Admin certs (so it’s probably wise to start with those two exams). The MCITP Enterprise Administrator, like the MCSE, is a bit more advanced and as you can tell, it requires more knowledge and more testing.

If you’re interested in learning more about the two Server 2008 MCITP Certs check out:

• Video on Server 2008 MCITP Certifications
• What’s the difference between MCITP Certified Server Admin and Enterprise Admin?
• How To Become a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Server Administrator

The “Other” MCITP Certifications

I know this is a little off topic, since we are talking about Windows Server certification paths … but I thought I’d mention it anyway.

You can get MCITP certified in SQL Server, Exchange, Windows Client and Microsoft Office Project Server — not just Windows Server. There are several options when it comes to earning your MCITP and it really depends on your personal interests and what you would like to do in the future.

Do you like doing support work and see yourself working at a Help Desk? (I worked at a Help Desk and really enjoyed helping people, it was also a really good experience for me.) If so, then the MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician might be the right choice for you.

If you enjoy working with databases then consider one of the SQL Server MCITP’s — there are 6 to choose from!

There are even two choices for your Server 2008 MCITP cert, that I mentioned above, so it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about the different MCITP certifications before you decide which one is right for you.

Check out the MCITP list from Microsoft to learn more about your choices when it comes to earning your MCITP certification.

The Final Question: MCSE or MCITP?

Option 1: MCITP

To make the right decision, first consider your situation.

If you only passed one of the required MCSE exams and you don’t currently work with Server 2003 (or plan on working with it in the near future) then it might be more advantageous for you to switch over to Server 2008 and start working on your MCITP.

Option 2: MCSE

However, there are many people that already started working towards their MCSE but, for whatever reason didn’t complete it. Should they just abandon their MCSE path and switch to the new MCITP?  Well, it depends.

Think about the questions I posed at the beginning of this article and consider how many exams you still need to complete to earn your MCSE.

At this point it becomes a no brainer — if you already passed 5 of the exams and have only 2 left then you might as well finish your MCSE, since you have already invested a lot of time and effort (not to mention money) on this certification path.

Option 3: MCSE & MCITP

There are advantages to going this route — you earn your MCSE on Server 2003 and then take the additional upgrade exams to earn your MCITP on Server 2008.

The upgrade paths are an awesome shortcut. With an MCSE on Server 2003 (sorry Server 2000 doesn’t qualify for this upgrade) you can earn 3 MCTS certifications by passing a single upgrade exam:

• Exam 70-649 – TS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist.

After that you need only one exam to earn your MCITP Server Admin:

• Exam 70-646 – PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator

Or two exams to earn your MCITP Enterprise Admin:

• Exam 70-620 – TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client

or

• Exam 70-624 – TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops

and

• Exam 70-647 – PRO: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator

Here’s some additional information on upgrading your MCSE to MCITP on Server 2008.

Where to Find MCSE and MCITP Training?

Whatever your decision is going to be — whether you want to finish up your MCSE or go for your MCITP — we got you covered! 

We have training videos that will help you earn both your MCSE and MCITP certifications. We also have training for those of you who are interested in the upgrade path from MCSA/MCSE on Server 2003. 

I took the 70-640 and 70-620 exams after watching our videos, just to test our instructors (I know, I’m evil ) and I passed on first try — and so can you!

Here are links to all of our Windows Server 2003 and 2008 training videos:

MCSA/MCSE Server 2003 Training:

• Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Training
• Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure Training
• Windows Server 2003 Security Training

MCTS/MCITP Server 2008 Training:

• Windows Server 2008 MCITP Server Administrator Training Package
• Windows Server 2008 MCITP Enterprise Administrator Training Package
• Upgrading Your MCSE on Server 2003 to Server 2008 MCTS

Time to Decide and Get Windows Server Certified!

No more excuses! No more procrastinating! No more wasting time!

The new MCITP’s have been out for over a year now and it’s time for you to take action — either finish up what you already started on your MCSE path (then take the upgrade exams to earn your MCITP) or, if you think that completing your MCSE is a waste of time then start working toward your MCITP.  Either way, it’s time to make a decision and get certified.

I hope that my article will be able to help you make the right decision and remember, you can always post your specific situation in the comments below and I will try to help you as best as I can! Good luck!

Related posts:

• What’s the difference between MCITP Certified Server Admin and Enterprise Admin?
• Why Getting Your MCSE Now Is Still A Good Idea
• Lesson 10: Server 2008 MCITP Certifications

Windows 7 Minimum Hardware Requirements

• 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB of RAM (32-bit)/2 GB of RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB of available disk space (32-bit)/20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics device with Windows Display Driver Model 1.0  or higher driver

These are the big 4 requirements but Microsoft has a list of additional feature based requirements also.  

Looking at this screenshot of my Toshiba Tecra M3 laptop’s hardware specifications you can see that I am in pretty good shape for general hardware requirements. There is also a tool called the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor (only a Beta version is currently available) that will tell me if all my devises will work with Windows 7 as well.

The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

I downloaded and installed the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. This tool also requires .NET framework 2.0 or higher. I didn’t have it so I was automatically prompted to download and install it before continuing with the upgrade advisor install. 

The upgrade advisor told me to make sure I install all my devices before running the tool so that they can be checked for compatibility. That reminds me. What about my USB adaptor for my Play Station controller? I better still be able to use that.

Success! I am Windows 7 ready! Sort of. While there was no mention of my game controller this message was given for my wireless card:

I wonder why it wants me to download the driver upgrade first before installing Windows 7. If I download it now I would have to have an external device to save it to (I do have one but that’s not the point).  I decided to just ignore this advice and see it if bites me later.

There are several programs that the upgrade advisor is asking me to uninstall before upgrading to Windows 7. I will not be upgrading to 7 from XP as that is impossible. So I don’t need to bother uninstalling anything – everything will be wiped anyway. Did I mention that this tool is a beta?

File Backup

All I need to backup is My Documents, my browser favorites, and my Thunderbird profile. With those all safely copied and pasted onto a USB drive, I am ready to go.

Install Windows 7

I waited all morning on Thursday for the RTM downloads to show up on TechNet. Sometime around noon (CDT) I hit refresh and there they were – the  versions of Windows 7 in all their shining glory. I chose the 32 bit version of 7 Ultimate and started the download.

I also got a key from TechNet and made sure it was saved in a .txt file on my USB drive. What? Did you expect me physically to write it down? How barbaric.

After 3 hours and still no completed download I saw a tweet form Keith Combs with a tip to use the Akamai Technologies Download Manager Browser add-on at TechNet’s Top Downloads.  This was much faster!

My second attempt at downloading the ISO file finished in only 42 minutes. However, and this is a huge however – I simultaneously discovered that my DVD/CD-ROM drive on the Toshiba does not work. When was the last time I even tried to use it? I can’t be certain. This puts a damper on things.

Well, if I am going to embark on trying to make a bootable USB drive I might as well make it for my netbook instead and just get the Toshiba’s DVD/CD-ROM fixed/replaced. Now the focus switches to my Acer Aspire One A150X. This means a quick trip back to TechNet to get Windows 7 Home Premium instead of Ultimate (a new key too).

Create a Bootable USB to Install Windows 7 From

After some Googling I found a guide at IntoWindows.com for making a bootable USB drive.  This guide shows the steps for making the drive bootable using Vista so I used a different (yes a third) computer to actually create the bootable drive.

I was using a 400GB external HDD instead of a little USB key. Therefore the line in the instructions that says “Format process may take few seconds” was a wee bit of an understatement. After an hour and a half the format was only at 18%.

Instead, I just used the normal Windows GIU method to do a quick format after assigning the drive a letter. This time, after an actual few seconds passed I just went back to the command prompt and continued on to step number 6. This worked for me just fine, but I would suggest sticking to the written directions if possible.

At this point I was getting impatient. I didn’t bother with the Upgrade Advisor, I just checked to make sure the netbook had the minimum hardware requirements (it does), backed up my needed files, and went for it.

My first trip into the BIOS to change the boot order did not list USB as an option – not all computers can do this. However, after trying it again … with the USB drive actually plugged in to the computer, the option was available.

Custom Windows 7 Installation

I then followed the install wizard as it did its business:
A custom install is a clean install.

I left the XP restore partition on the netbook (hey you never know), and chose not to further partition the drive. The third drive you see here is actually the bootable USB hard drive.

Besides asking for a computer name, username, time zone, and other expected configurations — the custom install asked me for my network information.  You could always skip this step if you want, but why not set it up now.

Tada! Windows 7 on my netbook! That was easy.

All that is left is to get it configured just how I want. Sliding scale UAC controls here I come! Windows 7 sure has some wacky standard desktop backgrounds available.

So how many computers does it take for Lisa to install Windows 7?

The answer is 4. I know you probably only counted 3. In a momentary act of stupidity, I actually tried another ridiculously old machine I have that is running Windows ME. Needless to say it wouldn’t even open the Windows 7 install disk.  So the final tally is:

• 2 broken/obsolete computers that were nothing but distractions from my true quest (you can’t polish a turd)
• 1 current Vista machine on which to create the bootable USB drive
• 1 slick little Acer netbook that eventually did run 7

Oh and don’t forget the 400GB external hard drive and my trusty Nikon D200 for all the awesome photos of the install.

Well, I hope your upgrade/custom install journey goes significantly better than mine did. I guess it was worth it in the end.

Share Your Journey: How did your Windows 7 install turn out?

Related posts:

• Windows 7 — Downgradable But Not Upgradable
• How to Redirect Your Documents Folder in Windows 7
• W00T! Window 7 and Server 2008 R2 RTM

In my last post about SQL Server Certification we talked about the SQL Server 2008 Administrator (70-432) Exam. 

I also told you that there are 3 different types of SQL certifications:

• Implementation and Maintenance
• Database Development
• Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance

Since exam 70-432 focuses on Implementation and Maintenance and we already covered it, now it’s time to talk about the second type of SQL certification: Database Development. 

You can obtain the MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Database Development certification by passing a single exam: 70-433 Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Database Development.

70-433 Exam Details

As we all know, Microsoft doesn’t like to share the details of their exams with anyone. They change their exams periodically to throw people off and keep them on their toes. I was able to get some info about the 70-433 exam but keep in mind that this information might change by the time you read this.

I don’t think it’s going to be completely different, but some things like the total number of questions, or the depth of coverage for specific topics might be different. So just keep that in mind when you are preparing for this exam, ok?

I think the best news is — you do not need any prerequisites to take this exam. This is an entry level exam for a database developer.  You will receive your MCTS status after passing this single exam.

The Microsoft Learning site states that anyone who wants to take this exam should be an IT professional who “works in jobs in which database development is their main area of responsibility, or they work in environments in which databases are central to their primary job roles. These job roles include the following:

• IT generalists who work in environments in which SQL Server 2008 is part of an overall solution
• IT professionals who manage systems that run SQL Server 2008
• Developers who build applications that use SQL Server 2008
• IT professionals who work with third-party applications that are built on SQL Server 2008″

Does that mean you can’t take this exam if you are just entering the field.  Nope — nobody is going to ask you where you work of what your title is if you go to take the exam, so don’t worry. If you have the desire to get the SQL Server Developer cert then go for it!

I heard that there are about 60 questions for this exam with 3 hours to complete it.  This might not be 100% accurate however, as the person who took this exam doesn’t remember exactly.  (Sorry guys, I guess we need more certified SQL developers out there so I can bother them with my questions. If you do find exact numbers please share them in the comments with everyone.)

The passing score is the usual 700.  I say, “usual” because most of Microsoft exams have a passing score of 700 — so that’s easy to remember. From what I heard, this exam isn’t too difficult; you should be able to pass it after adequately preparing for it.

70-433 Exam Topics

The following topics are covered in this particular exam:

• Implementing Tables and Views (14 percent)
• Implementing Programming Objects (16 percent)
• Working with Query Fundamentals (21 percent)
• Applying Additional Query Techniques (15 percent)
• Working with Additional SQL Server Components (11 percent)
• Working with XML Data (12 percent)
• Gathering Performance Information (11 percent)

There is also a detailed version of this list at Microsoft Learning. It has a list of subtopics and other detailed information for this exam.

Where to Start?

Like with any other exam preparation I would start by getting some type of training material: a book, a training video or singing up for an instructor lead class.  You will get a better understanding of SQL databases with some previous database experience.  What you need is basic knowledge of what a database is and how it functions. 

If you are a complete n00b to SQL and are interested in learning the basics before studying for the developer exam, check out our free SQL 101 training videos — they are really good (I reviewed them all so you can trust me).

How About Experience?

Well, sure experience is great.  But how are you supposed to get hands-on experience with SQL when you are trying to get into the field? 

Easy — you get your own server, install a free trial version of SQL Server 2008 and practice, practice, and then practice some more. 

Follow examples from the book or video that you’re learning from and do them on your server. Make sure to break something and then try to fix it. Don’t just reinstall SQL, put your troubleshooting skills to the test and see if you can fix ‘em.  That will be extremely helpful in your position as a SQL Developer since there is no way you can just re-install the database everyone is working on.

Do I Need This Certification?

Certification is not everything; in my opinion, you need the knowledge more than your certification. The cert will however be beneficial if you’re trying to get a job as a SQL Server developer. So since you are going after the knowledge then why not get the proof that you know your stuff.

Does Train Signal have SQL Database Developer Training?

At the moment, we are very close to having the complete SQL Server Developer training available. 

I am currently working with Mel Haynes, our SQL Server Instructor on all the final videos that are going to be included in this course. We are very close — cross your fingers so that we can have it released in early September!

Related posts:

• Get SQL Server Certified: What you need to know about the SQL Server 2008 Administrator (70-432) Exam
• MCTS Demystified: What you need to know about the Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure (exam 70-643) Certification
• MCTS Demystified: What you need to know about the Server 2008 Network Infrastructure (exam 70-642) Certification

PowerShell is Microsoft’s newish extensible scripting language and corresponding command line shell. PowerShell was specifically made for IT professionals to achieve greater productivity and control system administration more easily. 

What PowerShell Can Help You Do

The thing is, PowerShell can do pretty much anything except walk your dog for you. You can even check the date and time if you really wanted to. I guess you could stop using the command line all together and do all your cmd tasks from within the PowerShell shell.

However, the real fun comes in when you can use PowerShell to make your sysadmin life easier. Here are a few random examples:

• Inventory your servers like what each has, the free memory, what service pack it is running, and so on.
• Add multiple users at once to your AD and then give them all a mailbox in Exchange.
• Back up and sync certain files then email yourself a corresponding log file…every night.
• Test out those scary commands before committing to them using the Whatif feature.
• And maybe the most compelling thing: You know how in Server 2008 R2 you can recover an AD object from the recycle bin after you have – oops – deleted it? Well you won’t find that option anywhere in the GUI. You need PowerShell to do it. If that isn’t a reason to give PowerShell a try then I don’t know what is!

For the Newbies

Good News! You don’t need any prior programming experience to use PowerShell — it is that intuitive. But, just so we are on the same page here is a short vocab lesson:

• Shell – What you the user actually interacts with. Either a command line or a GUI (graphical user interface).
• Extensible – The ability of a system to grow and change as needed.
• Scripting Language – Well, there are numerous debates going on all over creation about the difference between a programming language and a scripting language. You don’t really need to understand the specifics to understand that PowerShell is a language that you use to do administrative tasks. Who cares whether it is interpreted or compiled?
• cmdlets – Pronounced command-lets. Cmdlets are simple tools that can be used separately, but their power is realized when you combine these simple tools to perform complex tasks. Microsoft provides buckets of built-in cmdlets  but you can write you own if you see fit.

For the People with Programming or Unix Experience

Not surprisingly PowerShell has all the comforts of home: man pages, aliases, wildcards, and pipelines; if statements, recursion, and loops.

If you have worked with VB or WHS then you should be able to make the translation pretty easily. There is even help for translating your existing VB scripts to PowerShell.

Resources to Get You Started

• Jason Ensinger’s articles on PowerShell right here at Windows Server HQ
• PowerShell FAQ
• Windows PowerShell Owners Manual
• Scripting with Windows PowerShell
• Windows PowerShell Blog
• Windows PowerShell Cookbook – The term cookbook describes how the book provides recipes to do specific tasks  with PowerShell. A super cute concept if you ask me.

 Good luck!

Related posts:

• Take Command of Server 2008 with Windows PowerShell – Part 1
• Take Command of Server 2008 with Windows PowerShell – Part 2
• Take Command of Server 2008 with Windows PowerShell – Part 3

In my previous posts we talked about the usability as well as features of both:  Hyper-V and VMware.  It’s time to talk about the cost of each of these solutions.

A lot of you probably want to know which one is cheaper.  Well, this is not an easy question to answer.  There are a lot of factors that need to be considered when calculating the final cost. The total price for virtualizing your environment will depend on your current infrastructure — what Operating Systems currently run on your servers, how many servers are you going to virtualize, what functionality you’re most interested in, and few others.

A word of caution — the articles and blog posts that make the argument that one solution is cheaper than the other should be taken with a grain of salt. The authors are making a lot of assumptions that may not align with your environment and infrastructure, so don’t take anyone’s word — do your research.

Evaluating Cost of Hyper-V

Hyper-V might be significantly more affordable for a company that already invested into a lot of Microsoft products.  So for example, if all of your servers that will be virtualized have Microsoft Server 2003 and/or 2008 installed on them using Hyper-V is going to be a lot cheaper than using any other virtualization solution.  Hyper-V can be installed on Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 for free.

Unfortunately you will still need to invest in the following:

• System Center Server Management Suite
• System Center Configuration Manager
• System Center Operations Manager Server
• System Center Data Protection Manager

Also, keep in mind the limits of Hyper-V when it comes to RAM and processors.  All these items may bring your Hyper-V solution’s costs up.

Evaluation Cost of VMware

If you are downloading the free ESXi version of VMware the cost of your virtualization software is, well free, even for a Microsoft shop.  But as you probably already know, with ESXi you are not getting all the bells and whistles and this solution might not be sufficient for your virtualization needs, especially if you work for a bigger company.

VMware vSphere 4 currently starts at around $1K. The price goes up with the number of different features that are available.

If you are interested in vCenter you need to be prepared to spend around $6K.  The price tag on vCenter might look shocking to some of you but you need to take into consideration all the features that vCenter will provide for you.  Here is a quick list of what is included with vCenter.  For more details and information visit this VMware page.

• Centralized Control and Deep Visibility into Virtual Infrastructure
• Proactive Management of VMware vSphere
• A Scalable and Extensible Management Platform
• Distributed Resource Optimization
• High Availability
• Security

As you can see the price can climb pretty high but it can also be cost efficient when compared to Hyper-V if you are virtualizing hundreds of servers that have multiple OSs.

Conclusions?

You need to keep in mind that with both Hyper-V and VMware you are obligated to buy licenses for every operating system you run on your servers whether it is Windows, Linux, or anything else.

Also, as I mentioned at the beginning, beware of reviews and articles that claim one solution has lower TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and high ROI (Return on Investment) than the other — this is unique to your situation and it is only up to you to decide.

VMware has an awesome TCO Calculator that will help you calculate your potential cost savings when using VMware virtualization.   It is pretty self explanatory and quite easy to use – try giving it a shot.

What do our Hyper-V and VMware instructors have to say?

Coach Culbertson, who is all about Hyper-V, says:

“I’d take Hyper-V over VMware due to the fact that Microsoft knows Microsoft. In building out virtual networks on Hyper-V, I haven’t encountered any weirdness, and it just works. I have had multiple instances of stuff not working in VMware that work exactly like they should in Hyper-V.

Another benefit to Hyper-V is I don’t have to pay a billion dollars for extra software licensing. With the recent advent of Microsoft releasing Hyper-V Linux Integration Components (LinuxIC), plus the current backwards compatibility for older OS’s, Hyper-V is going to quickly become a one-stop shop for virtualization. For the needs of most sysadmins, Hyper-V will be a cost effective solution that’ll get the job done in less time for less money.

Plus, faster snapshots. Just sayin’.”

David Davis, who loves VMware, says:

“To me, VMware is the winner due to its memory over commitment and ballooning features.  You can get many more guest VMs on a single physical server than you can with Hyper-V. Thus, you will need fewer servers to virtualize the same number of physical servers into guest VMs with VMware, than you would with Hyper-V.

Also, the VMware product is so much more mature. VMware has a 10 year development lead on Microsoft and it shows with so many advanced features — Vmotion, SVMotion, DRS, VMHA, DRS and now new features like FT and Data Recovery. Microsoft is still trying to catch up with the features from ESX 3.0 (and they aren’t really close yet).

PLUS, third party products — there are a zillion of them for VMware and like “none” for Hyper-V.”

Good luck in your decisions.  Feel free to ask questions and I will do my best to help you get the right answers.  Once you are successful in virtualizing your server infrastructure let us know which solution you chose (and why) and how it worked out!

Related posts:

• Hyper-V and VMware — Part 1: Usability
• Hyper-V and VMware — Part 2: Features
• 7 Awesome Things You Can Do With Hyper-V

I started gathering information for this article right after the Windows 7 and somewhat quieter Server 2008 R2  release to manufacturing (RTM) announcements on Wednesday. As the hours go by more and more people are starting to weigh in on what they think about the products.

Predictions and opinions are mixed and some facts are still unknown. But, I have gathered the most important facts for you and then I’ll chime in with my own two cents. Why not? Everyone else is doing it.

Time Table

There is a very intricate time table for whom can get their hands on what when. I made you some neat and tidy little charts to help you find out when you can first get Window 7. Please note that these dates are for the English version of the projects only. For info on other languages see the Windows Blog and the Windows Server Division Weblog.

Well at least it is cheaper then Vista… There are also talks of a family pack that lets you install Windows 7 on up to 3 computers, but the details are not confirmed at this time.

Windows 7 Versions and Prices

Here are the six, count-em six, versions of Windows 7:

So to buy or not to buy?

With Windows Server R2 the answer (money aside) comes down to whether or not you could use some of the many new features that R2 has to offer. Do you need the reduced power consumption, a ton of new PowerShell cmdlets, all the improvements in security and failover, and of course vitalization up the wazoo? You can even reinstate Active Directory objects from the “recycle bin” after you delete them – how cool is that!

Whether or not to hop right on the Windows 7 bandwagon is the hot questions that everyone is debating right now. Is 7 just a Vista Pig in lipstick? I say Vista already had lipstick but what it really needed to do is go on a diet. And I guess it did – most people agree that 7 is leaner and quicker than Vista.

Yes, it will be impossible to upgrade from XP to 7. Yes, 7 might not be able to run well on the underpowered old XP machines. I hate to say it, but if you have machines that are that old maybe it is time to replace them anyway.

And, please don’t keep whining about the lack of backward compatibility. People like my husband think it is a great injustice. He was correct – back in 2007 when Vista first sprang that problem on us. But if you haven’t done anything about it by now you only have yourself to blame. We need to move forward people. Only grandma can get away with refusing to embrace change.

What about usability? I think usability is all about what you are used to. I primarily use Vista now so when I get on an XP machine I don’t automatically remember where and how to do things. That doesn’t mean that XP is suddenly more cumbersome then I remember; it just means I am suddenly more cumbersome with XP. 7 will feel awkward at first, but you will get used to that funky task bar I promise.

As far as I am personally concerned, the only question that really needs answering is will Windows 7 work on my netbook? Microsoft’s Windows 7 Starter solution is just not a viable option. Limiting the user to three applications at once is just plain silly. Even if it will work, how will I get 7 onto the machine with no DVD drive?

The Windows 7 Challenge

So I issue a challenge to Gosia my fellow Train Signal Product Manager, known XP lover, and borderline Vista hater: Try out Windows 7 and see if you like it (after you get used to it).

Will the new UAC still bug you? Will you love the fact that 7 will know what network you are connected to (work or home) and change you default printer accordingly? Will the search box make you extremely lazy like Vista’s does for me?

Let me and the world know in an answer post in a month or so. Can’t Wait!

Related posts:

• Why Skipping Vista & Going Straight from XP to 7 is the Best Option – For Some of Us
• Downgradable Windows 7 — Downgrade Not Just to Vista, But XP Too

Last week I talked about Hyper-V and VMware usability. In this article I want to talk about all the different features available for both — Hyper-V and VMware. 

Just like in the first article I am not going to suggest which one is better or which one is worse — this is for you to decide. I will just list the features and give you a very quick overview of what they will do for you.

If you’re interested in any of these features I would suggest doing some more research to find out if a specific solution is compatible with your current network infrastructure.

Ready? Here we go.

Hyper-V Features

Here is a list of Hyper-V features on Server 2008:

• Quick Migration – this features will let you, the administrator, to quickly move virtual machines from one host to another which means minimal downtime.
• High Availability – with Hyper-V you will be able to cluster your virtual machines on a specific host.
• Server Core Role – you can install Hyper-V by going to Add Role on Windows Server 2008. This is a very quick and easy installation.
• Integrated into Server Manager – the Hyper-V Manager is integrated into Server Manager providing the typical Microsoft look and feel. You can now add the Hyper-V role from Server Manager as well.
• Live Backups with VSS - this features is also called snapshots. It is provided by Volume Shadow Copy (VSS) Service and it allows you to take a live backup of a running virtual machine.
• VHD Tools – this enables you to do compaction, expansion, and inspection of any Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) that was created with Hyper-V.
• Linux Integration Components – these SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 components enable Xen-enabled Linux for VSP/VSC architecture as well as improved performance.
• VM Manageability – you can now import and export Virtual Machine (VM) settings for backups or for cloning purposes. You can clone the VMs not only on a specific host but across different hosts.
• Improved Performance – Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008 now include integration components.
• Improved Access Control with AzMan – Authorization Manager (AzMan) enables Role-Based Access Control which provides better administration of Hyper-V environment with increased security.
• Remote Management – you can now install Hyper-V MMC on a separate management node.
• Increased Virtual SCSI Support – provides support up to 4 virtual SCSI controllers per VM which provides a broader disk support.
• Increased Memory Support – now up to 64GB of memory per VM.
• Quick Reset – you, as the administrator, can now quickly Reset Checkboxes and delete all saved credentials used for connection to VMs.

For all of you who are about to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft also provides the following features:

• Live Migration Feature for Failover Clusters - this feature will allow you to move virtual machines from one host to another without any interruption of service.
• Better Fault Tolerance and Cluster Validation Tool
• Enhancements to the Hyper-V Manager
• Better Virtual Networking – there are few new network technologies improving the overall VM network performance. Two of them are: VM Chimney (a.k.a. TCP Offload) and Jumbo Frames.
• Hot-Switching of VHDs – you can now add and remove VHD files without rebooting your virtual machine. This provides a lot more flexibility when it comes to storage needs and growth.

I think the biggest feature available with Windows Server 2008 R2 is the Live Migration feature. This feature has been available with VMware for quite some time and I know a lot of Microsoft lovers were waiting for it for quite some time.

VMware vSphere Features

VMware vSphere editions offer a different set of features which I will also go over with you.  Based on what features you are interested in you can pick the specific VMware edition

• Thin Provisioning – this feature provides increased storage utilization, enhanced application uptime, and simplified storage capacity management.
• VC Agent – VirtualCenter Agent will allow you to collect, communicate, and execute actions received from the VirtualCenter Server.
• Update Manager - will allow you to automate all patches and updates.
• VMSafe – with VMSafe your virtual datacenter can be more secure than physical environment.
• vStorage APIs – enables backup software to perform scalable, centralized backup of your virtual machines without disturbing your users.
• High Availability (HA) – this feature is slightly different from the Hyper-V HA. VMware offers HA across your entire virtualized environment without the cost or complexity of clusters.
• Data Recovery – this is a disk-based backup and recovery solution that provides quick, simple and complete data protection for your virtual machines.
• Hot Add – will allow you to perform dynamic, on the fly change to Virtual Machine resource.
• Fault Tolerance – This feature, based on vLockstep technology provides zero downtime and zero data loss without the clustering solution.
• vShield Zones – with this feature you will be able to run applications efficiently within a shared resource pool and at the same time maintain trust and network segmentation of users and sensitive data.
• VMotion – this is a VMware version of Live Migration, which will enable you to move a virtual machine from one physical server to another.
• Storage VMotion – this type of Live Migration will allow you to move virtual machine disk files between different physical servers while maintaining service availability.
• DRS+DPM – Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) provides constant monitoring of utilization across resource pools while Distributed Power Management (DPM) optimizes power consumption in your datacenter.
• vNetwork Distributed Switch – will provide a centralized point of controller for cluster level networking. It simplifies and enhances the provisioning, administration, and monitoring of Virtual Machine Networking.
• Host Profiles – this is a new feature included in vSphere that ensures a level of configuration standardization and compliance across your hosts.
• Third Party Multipathing – this feature is provided by Pluggable Storage Architecture (PSA) that allows workload balancing and high availability.

Now you can go over and see which features you will need or want to use in your environment. You should seriously consider them all before choosing one of these virtualization solutions. 

For more information on Hyper-V features visit Windows Server 2008 site and Windows Server 2008 R2 site. 

If you want to find out more about VMware features visit VMware vSphere Editions Comparison.

Related posts:

• Hyper-V and VMware — Part 1: Usability
• Hyper-V and VMware — Part 3: Cost
• Adding Storage to a Hyper-V Machine !!Without Shutting it Down!!