Severud @ Work

Passed: Exam 70-243 Administering & Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

2012-05-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

After a bit of a delay, Prometric finally posted results for those of us who sat for Microsoft beta exam 71-243 Administering & Deploying System Center 2012 Config Manager. A special thanks to Helmer Zandbergen for posting about Prometric's issue in providing the results to Microsoft.

Exam Date	Exam Name	Exam Number	Exam Status
23-Feb-2012	Administering & Deploying System Center 2012 Config Manager	Microsoft 071-243	Passed

I was also fortunate to be able to attend the two System Center 2012 Configuration Manager courses, in a beta teach at Microsoft, which was a huge benefit in allowing me to quickly design, deploy, and implement ConfigMgr12 at Shoreline Community College.

For more info on those courses see:
10747A: Administering System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (5 Days)
10748A: Deploying System Center 2012 Configuration Manager (3 Days)

MCSA Windows Server 2008

2012-05-10T10:13:00.001-07:00

Microsoft recently granted a new certification to those holding Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA). Thank you, @MSLearning.

The MSCA certification is for Windows Server 2008 and is one of the first in Microsoft's new solutions-based certifications.

I studied long and worked hard to attain

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator on Windows 7
MCITP: Virtualization Administrator on Windows Server 2008 R2

The knowledge gained through this process has been imensely helpful to the execution of my daily job as a network, storage, and systems/virtualization administrator.

With MCSA Windows Server 2008 under my belt I look forward to earning MCSE Private Cloud certification once I pass exam 70-246: Monitoring and Operating a Private Cloud with System Center 2012.

Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Windows Server 2008 R2, Virtualization Administrator

2012-02-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

I took my first virtualization exam in April 2011 and passed the fourth and final exam on February 14, 2012 thus earning my third MCITP certification.

Although only three exams are required I ended up taking all four exams to attain MCITP: Virtualization Administrator on Windows Server 2008 R2:

70-652 - TS: Windows Server Virtualization, Configuring
70-659 - TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization
70-669 - TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop Virtualization
70-693 - Pro: Windows Server 2008 R2, Virtualization Administrator

Exam 70-652 retired as of September 30, 2011 but it can still be used to qualify for the MCITP certification. I took its replacement, exam 70-659, partly because I had already paid for it through the Virtualization Jump Start training.

I found exam 70-669 to be the most difficult due to a lack of experience with MED-V and App-V. In addition to some hands-on experience with MED-V, I found reading through the TechNet documentation on MED-V to be helpful. For the App-V portion of the exam I used "Getting Started with Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6" by Augusto Alvarez to ramp my knowledge. And finally, for the Remote Desktop Services material I relied on Windows Server 2008 Remote Desktop Services Resource Kit.

I'm now looking forward to the new Microsoft Private Cloud Certification.

70-246 - Private Cloud Monitoring and Operations with System Center 2012
70-247 - Private Cloud Configuration and Deployment with System Center 2012

Please consider a donation to support Wikipedia

2008-12-28T08:38:00.000-08:00

Mikimedia Foundation is the organization behind Wikipedia. Support for Wikimedia comes from donations since there are no advertisements on the site and never will be. Please consider supporting Wikipedia with a donation.

McAfee VirusScan 8.5i Patch 7

2008-11-17T11:05:00.001-08:00

Patch 7 for McAfee VirusScan 8.5i has been released.

McAfee® Rogue System Detection 2.0 for ePolicy Orchestrator® (ePO) v4.0 has been released!

2008-06-09T17:07:00.001-07:00

McAfee announcee the release of Rogue System Detection (RSD) 2.0 today.

RSD provides real-time detection of rogue systems by means of a sensor placed on at least one system within each network broadcast segment (typically a subnet). By rapidly identifying rogue systems, administrators are empowered to significantly improve system security compliance and eliminate the potential vulnerabilities posed by rogue, non-compliant systems.

McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator 4 patch 2

2008-05-27T14:26:00.001-07:00

McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator 4 patch 2 is scheduled to be available on June 2. Read the known issues prior to installing. This update resolves 22 bugs in addition to those fixed by patch 1.

17th May Celebration in Seattle

2008-05-11T23:46:00.001-07:00

The Norwegian Constitution Day is the National Day of Norway and is an official national holiday each year. Among Norwegians, the day is referred to simply as syttende mai (meaning May Seventeenth), Nasjonaldagen (The National Day) or Grunnlovsdagen (The Constitution Day). -Wikipedia

In Seattle there will be a celebration in Ballard. The 17th May Celebration in Seattle includes a Parade, Kid's Games, Norwegian Fjord Horses, Lunch, Dinner, and more.

Bring the kids and have a fun day!

Symantec Ghost Solution Suite 2.5

2008-05-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Symantec announced Ghost Solution Suite 2.5 was released on May 4. New features include:

Bundled WinPE 2.0 PreOS
Both the console, and the standard tools include WinPE 2.0 in addition to PC-DOS. This greatly improves hardware compatibility.
DeployAnywhere
The new hardware-independent imaging feature allows a single image to be deployed to diverse hardware, and obtain the necessary drivers from a centrally managed driver database.
Hot Imaging
Images may be created hot, using Volume Snapshot in Windows and Logical Volume Manager in Linux.
Secure Computer Decommission
The Console has a task to perform the secure erase of a computer for decommissioning, or prior to re-imaging.
Support for VMDK and V21/PQI Images
VMDK virtual disk, Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery (V2I) and Symantec Deploy Center (PQI) images can be deployed directly from the Console and from Ghost.
Better Sysprep Support
Console contains a Sysprep Answer File Editor as well as being able to edit the raw file.
Bundled Linux PreOS
Linux Thinstation distro is bundled as and unmanaged PreOS.
Native Linux versions of Tools
Linux versions of Ghost, Gdisk, Ghconfig, Ghregedit, Omnifs.

You can read more about Symantec Ghost Solution Suite at Ghost.com

VMWare Thinstall beta

2008-05-06T11:59:00.001-07:00

VMWare acquired Thinstall not too long ago and has a new beta available today. The beta is named Thinstall Project North Star and add two new features:

Application Link: allows administrators to dynamically link Thinstall packages to one another, making it possible to create separate packages for interdependent components (such as Java or .NET) and use them across multiple Thinstall packages.
Application Sync: allows customers to execute updates to virtual applications through a secure Internet connection, increasing application portability while reducing security and patch risks to offline and out-of-network machines.

Is application virtualization going to replace the current method of deploying and managing apps in the enterprise? I wonder where Apple will find itself in this new paradigm...

It's Friday!

2008-05-02T10:56:00.001-07:00

Seatle & Space Needle, originally uploaded by Kevin Severud.

Where shall I go this weekend for some good night photography?

New BitLocker downloads from Microsoft

2008-04-30T09:43:00.001-07:00

BitLocker Recovery Password Viewer for Active Directory Users and Computers tool
The BitLocker Active Directory Recovery Password Viewer helps to locate BitLocker Drive Encryption recovery passwords for Windows Vista- or Windows Server 2008- based computers in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS).

BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool
The BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool configures the hard disk drives in your computer properly to support enabling BitLocker.

BitLocker Repair Tool
The BitLocker Repair Tool can assist administrators in recovering data from a corrupted or damaged disk volume that was encrypted with BitLocker.

What is MDOP?

2008-04-22T11:03:00.001-07:00

The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is an add-on subscription that is available to customers who have Software Assurance (SA) coverage for their Windows desktops. MDOP can help these customers reduce their total costs of ownership by accelerating OS- and application-management and minimizing downtime.

MDOP combines five Microsoft technologies that work together to provide a dynamic solution you can offer to your Windows desktop customers:

Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization (formerly Softricity SoftGrid) transforms applications into network-available services.
Microsoft System Center Desktop Error Monitoring provides IT with awareness and insight into application and operating system failures.
Microsoft Asset Inventory Service (formerly AssetMetrix) delivers a comprehensive view of your customers' enterprise desktop software environment.
Microsoft Diagnostics and Recovery Toolset (formerly Winternals Administator’s Pak) accelerates desktop repair.
Microsoft Advanced Group Policy Management (formerly DesktopStandard GPOVault) enhances administrators' control over enterprise desktops.

A sixth product, Microsoft Desktop Virtualization will become part of the suite soon.

McAfee Agent 4.0

2008-04-21T14:06:00.001-07:00

Read about all the New Features in McAfee Agent 4.0. Despite the technote listing Feb as the release date, McAfee is staging the rollout of this agent so if you may have to wait a bit before it's available for download.

Everdream: Dell remote-service management SaaS

2008-04-17T09:43:00.001-07:00

Dell acquired Everdream recently to help companies with PC visibility, consolidation, control, compliance and governance. Everdream's services consist of asset discovery and management, software licensing, software distribution, patch management, antivirus/antimalware and PC data security (online back up and encryption).

Get notified of Dell updates

2008-04-17T08:57:00.001-07:00

If you support Dell products I would highly recommend signing up and configuring Dell Technical Update Subscriptions. Subscriptions are set up per product or service tag.

You choose the OS variants that you want to track followed by the various devices or applications that are of interest. When an update for the systems you configured in the category for which you choose notification is released you will receive an email.

I would prefer RSS as a means of subscribing but I don't see that Dell has that option yet.

Intel PRO/Wireless drivers 11.5.1.2

2008-04-16T17:21:00.001-07:00

Intel version numbers on their wireless product downloads is a bit odd. The package itself is version 11.5.1.2. For example, the drivers versions for the 32-bit version of Vista are:
-Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN: 11.5.1.15
-Intel® PRO/Wireless 3945ABG: 11.5.1.15
-Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200BG: 9.1.1.15
-Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915ABG: 9.1.1.15

Here are the links:

Intel® PRO/Wireless Drivers-Only for Windows Vista*
Microsoft Windows Vista* Drivers for Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN and Intel® PRO/Wireless Network Connections.
Version: 11.5.1.15/9.1.1.15 Date: 4/12/2008 Type: Drivers (Intel Tested)

Intel® PRO/Wireless Drivers-Only for Windows* XP/2000
Microsoft Windows* XP/2000 Drivers for Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN and Intel® PRO/Wireless Network Connections.
Version: 11.5.1.15/9.0.4.39 Date: 4/12/2008 Type: Drivers (Intel Tested)

Intel® PROSet/Wireless Network Connection Software for Windows Vista* 32-Bit
Drivers and management software for Microsoft Windows Vista* 32-bit OS.
Version: 11.5.1.2 Date: 4/12/2008 Type: Software Applications

Intel® PROSet/Wireless Network Connection Software for Windows Vista* 64-Bit
Drivers and management software for Microsoft Windows Vista* 64-bit OS.
Version: 11.5.1.2 Date: 4/12/2008 Type: Software Applications

Intel® PROSet/Wireless Network Connection Software for Windows* XP 64-Bit
Drivers and management software for Microsoft Windows* XP 64-bit OS.
Version: 11.5.1.2 Date: 4/12/2008 Type: Software Applications

Intel® PROSet/Wireless Network Connection Software for Windows* XP/2000 32-Bit
Drivers and management software for Microsoft Windows* XP/2000 32-bit OS.
Version: 11.5.1.2 Date: 4/12/2008 Type: Software Applications

IT Administrators - Intel® PROSet/Wireless Network Connection Software for Windows* XP/2000 and Windows Vista*
Enterprise IT Admin Package: This includes the full CD with software and drivers for Microsoft Windows* XP/2000 and Microsoft Windows Vista* OS.
Version: 11.5.1.2 Date: 4/12/2008 Type: Software Applications

As noted in Aaron Tiensivu's post these drivers should be installed ASAP to prevent any blockage of Vista SP1 and to fix other issues.

Latitude D630 BIOS update A09

2008-04-16T17:02:00.001-07:00

Dell Latitude D630 System BIOS, English, Latitude ATG D630, D630, XFR D630, A09

Fixes/Enhancements
------------------
1. Improve compatibility with Dell Wireless 1390 & 1490 Dell WLAN.
2. Improve setup and HD password operation.
3. Fixed: System Hangs on Resume from S3 with Driver Verifier enabled.

WSUS is free and easy to implement

2008-04-10T11:11:00.001-07:00

If you run a Windows Server and manage Windows clients, why in the world would you not deploy Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)? It's free. It's simple to use. It provides control over updates. It provides reporting.

Chris Sanders has a well written FAQ on WSUS for those of you who haven't yet availed yourself of this great product.

Did I mention it's free and easy to use?

Clean up Vista SP1 uninstall bits

2008-04-09T11:34:00.001-07:00

SP1 is clearly an improvement over the initial release of Vista. So if you're satisfied that you don't need to uninstall you can clean up a bit of space by running vsp1cln.exe.

Microsoft Forefront "Stirling" beta integrates & consolidates security protection and management

2008-04-08T22:50:00.001-07:00

Microsoft's Forefront security products are maturing and are now challenging products from leading security companies McAfee, Symantec, and Sophos.

Forefront “Stirling” provides a single console from which you can manage Forefront Client Security, Forefront Security for Exchange Server, Forefront Security for SharePoint and the next generation of Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA Server), and Forefront Threat Management Gateway.

Download the Forefront "Stirling" beta, kick the tires a bit, then see how it matches up with your current security solution. A Stirling Demo video is also available to introduce you to its features.

VMRCplus v1.7.0 adds support for Server 2008

2008-04-08T21:15:00.001-07:00

VMRCplus enables management of Virtual Server 2005. It combines configuration management and remote control of Virtual Server and virtual machines from a single Windows application. It allows for local and remote management of Virtual Server and supports simultaneous management of up to 32 Virtual Server hosts.

Remote control sessions of virtual machines are grouped in a single window using Tab pages. The interface enables sorting virtual machines based on various properties like name, status and description. Multi-select of virtual machines enable you to perform actions to change their status or open remote control sessions all at once.

VMRCplus is a Windows application and does not require IIS to manage Virtual Server.

This release contains several fixes and minor enhancements over version 1.6 and has been tested on Windows Server 2008.

You may also benefit from reading Matthijs ten Seldam's post on configuring permissions for Virtual Server.

McAfee VirusScan 8.7i beta

2008-04-07T09:43:00.001-07:00

McAfee will soon make available VirusScan 8.7i beta. Key features and improvements in VirusScan Enterprise 8.7i include:

Support for Windows 2008 Server
Improved local control of on-demand scans (ODS)
   • Battery state & full screen awareness
      • Allows end user to delay scheduled ODS when system is low on battery or during full screen presentations
   • ODS usability improvements
      • Right click ODS now prompts the user to choose to either (a) Clean any malware, or (b) Continue (report only).
Enhanced system throttling
• Includes registry and memory scanning, in addition to file scanning
Additional Access Protection Rules for virtual machines
• Prevention of changes to the VMware settings and configuration, files and folders, and active processes
New mail scanner
• Improved reliability with double-byte and multi-byte languages

Ghost Solution Suite 2.5 beta

2008-04-04T16:15:00.001-07:00

Follow the directions in Symantec's GSS 2.5 beta announcement to sign up and participate. Altiris posted new features of GSS2.5 on their Juice site:

WinPE Pre-OS support in Console
Hardware Independent Image Deployment
Hot Image Creation via Console or Ghost32/64 for desktop operating systems
Support for VMDK and V2i files
Return code management in Command Execution tasks
Client file retrieval from Console
Configurable deployment task containing AI deployment, File Transfer and Command Execution
Secure Decommission Task
Volume Cloning
Recovery Partition Tool (Stand alone Virtual Partition)
Native stand alone Linux Tools (Ghost, Gdisk etc)
64bit Tools (Ghost, Gdisk etc)
SUM Content IDE (to edit application setting definitions)

For those wondering why Altiris is mentioned: McAfee acquired Altiris in 2007. The Ghost Dev and PM now report up the Altiris business unit so Altiris has product responsibility for Ghost Solution Suite.

Clipperz Community Edition

2008-04-01T22:58:00.001-07:00

Clipperz is a free, anonymous, zero-knowledge, online password (or any other private information for that matter) management application. For those who may be a bit nervous about storing their encrypted information online there is now an AGPL licensed Clipperz Community Edition that you can host yourself with the help of a webserver, MySQL, and PHP.

Source: Clipperz blog