Microsoft and VMware Compared Series–An Introduction

As expert providers of VMware’s vSphere server virtualisation platform and Microsoft’s Hyper-V with System Centre Virtual Machine Manager we are often asked to make comparisons between the two platforms.  The web is filled with propaganda from both organisations and there is little objective commentary.  In the ‘Microsoft and VMware Compared Series, we are going to [...]

Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2

From Jose Barreto’s Microsoft Blog, SUMMARY – You no longer need Storage Server to turn Windows into an iSCSI target LINKS – Download / Direct Link / More Info / Known Issues The text in full Introduction For the last few years, I’ve been blogging about the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target and its many uses [...]

Hyper-V Component Architecture 2K8R2+SP1

This poster provides a visual reference for understanding key Hyper-V technologies in Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1. It focuses on architecture, snapshots, live migration, virtual networking, storage, RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory. You can use this poster in conjunction with the previously published Windows Server 2008 Hyper-v Component Architecture, Windows Server 2008 and Windows [...]

Windows 8 Image Leaks

Winreview.ru has published some early shots of Windows 8, specifically the Aero Lite interface, there is plenty of Windows 8 buzz around at the minute with various commentators offering predications on upcoming changes – you should believe 5% of what you hear… Babelfish translated Link Here If you are looking for RELIABLE Windows 8 information, [...]

IE9 Released–and its good!

Like me, you may have dismissed IE as a legacy browser that offers nothing but a completely slow and unusable experience, particularly on servers when run with a secure configuration.  So you will be approaching IE9 with a bit of trepidation, don’t be – it is a very fast and very functional browser with a [...]

What’s new with SP1 for VMM 2008 R2

As you all know that SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 just gone RTM adding two new virtualization capabilities: Dynamic Memory and RemoteFX         Let’s first understand these capabilities in details. Dynamic Memory: An enhancement to Hyper-V R2, Dynamic Memory pools all the memory available on a physical host. [...]

Updated Hyper-V Component Architecture Poster

I am a massive fan of the MS Posters, such a great way to have loads of at-a-glance information, the Hyper-V one has now been updated for 2008R2 SP1 Link Here

Windows 7 and Windows 2008R2 Service Pack 1 – Available Everywhere

To the general public, its now on Windows Update and available for distributed download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=c3202ce6-4056-4059-8a1b-3a9b77cdfdda

Communications Server “14” Announced

During the extensive testing I did under Windows 2008R2 when it landed I tried and failed to install Office Communications Server 2007R2, the product is simply not compatible with the OS which astounded me frankly, how there can be no backwards compatibility on such a key product seemed crazy to me (Kernal change or No [...]

Microsoft Pushing Desktop Virtualisation

The last time I visited, Microsoft seemed very nervous when we pushed them on Desktop Virtualisation, anyone who has spent time looking at offerings like MED-V will notice that it’s miles away from where Citrix are with XenDesktop and VMware are with View.   Also with Citrix’s killer Tier-One desktop hypervisor on the way to completion [...]