File Server performance improvements with the SMB2 protocol in Windows Server 2008

SMB (Server Message Block) is the main protocol used in Windows for file sharing and it has been significantly improved from Windows Server 2003/Windows XP to Windows Server 2008/Windows Vista. During my TechEd 2008 ITForum presentation on “Windows Server 2008 – File and Storage Solutions”, I covered some details on SMB2 and showed a demo … Continue reading File Server performance improvements with the SMB2 protocol in Windows Server 2008 →

TechEd 2008 ITForum, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2

I am in Barcelona this week to participate in the TechEd 2008 ITForum. I will deliver two sessions during this event. Here are the code, title and abstract for each one: SVR310 - Windows Server 2008 - File and Storage Solutions (Tuesday, Nov 4, 09:00 AM to 10:15 AM)Windows Server 2008 contains lots of changes … Continue reading TechEd 2008 ITForum, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 →

Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit 1.1 available as a free download

Microsoft just announced the release of Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit 1.1, which will help you migrate file shares from computers running Windows NT 4.0 Server, Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2003 Server and Windows Server 2008 to computers running Windows 2003 Server and Windows Server 2008. You can use it to consolidate multiple file servers … Continue reading Microsoft File Server Migration Toolkit 1.1 available as a free download →

Watch the PDC keynote on Microsoft Windows 7 and Web applications for Office

Watch the keynote delivered on the second day of the PDC, covering Microsoft Windows 7 and Web applications for Office: Stream from http://www.microsoft.com/winme/0810/34546/34546_PDC2_6MB.asx For details, check http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/oct08/10-28PDCDay2PR.mspx

Watch the PDC keynote on Microsoft Azure, the new cloud-based service foundation

Watch Ray Ozzie's PDC keynote on the new cloud-based service foundation called Microsoft Azure.Stream from http://www.microsoft.com/winme/0810/34546/34546_PDC1_6MB.asx For more details, check http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/oct08/10-27PDCDay1PR.mspx

Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067 – Critical

I wanted to call your attention to a critical, out-of-band Microsoft Security Bulletin released today. Here's an excerpt from it (the emphasis is mine): This security update resolves a privately reported vulnerability in the Server service. The vulnerability could allow remote code execution if an affected system received a specially crafted RPC request. On Microsoft … Continue reading Microsoft Security Bulletin MS08-067 – Critical →

Data Protection Manager Partner Hero

If you are a Microsoft Partner in the United States, there is a new campaign focused on System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 (DPM).This campaign is designed for partners that already work with Microsoft applications protected by DPM, like SQL Server, Exchange Server and SharePoint Server.You can become a DPM hero by simply learning about … Continue reading Data Protection Manager Partner Hero →

Free e-learning on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Manager 2008

Microsoft Learning has two free e-learning offers covering Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and SCVMM 2008. These self-paced introductory clinics include hours of interactive content, including text, videos, demonstrations and self-tests. Clinic 5935 - Introducing Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 This 2-hour online clinic provides IT Professionals experienced in Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 with the knowledge … Continue reading Free e-learning on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Manager 2008 →

Adding Storage Management abilities to your Windows application using VDS (Virtual Disk Service)

If you’re writing a Windows application that needs to do storage management, you should look into the VDS (Virtual Disk Services) API.VDS storage management includes abilities like enumerating all HBAs on a system, creating a LUN, setting a disk online, formatting a volume or adding a drive letter to it. For those not familiar with … Continue reading Adding Storage Management abilities to your Windows application using VDS (Virtual Disk Service) →

“FSCT” – A CIFS/SMB/SMB2 File Server Tool for Capacity Planning and Performance Troubleshooting

Overview A recent presentation during SNIA’s Storage Developer Conference described an upcoming tool called “FSCT”.“FSCT” (which stands for “File Server Capacity Tool”) was created by Microsoft after analyzing the workload of production file servers used to store user’s home folders.The tool can simulate that typical file server workload (and potentially others) in a lab environment. … Continue reading “FSCT” – A CIFS/SMB/SMB2 File Server Tool for Capacity Planning and Performance Troubleshooting →