system center – TechVirtuoso

DPM 2010 Release Candidate webcast

January 11th, 2010 at 3:13 PM 1 Comment Michael Stanclift

Microsoft Data Protection Manager 2010 is coming soon, and Microsoft is set to release an updated test version even sooner. The beta of 2010 has been out since September and the product team has been taking feedback to make the product even better then the 2007 version.

This Thursday, at 9AM PST, Microsoft will be hosting a 90 minute webcast to cover what has changed in the release candidate and the progress being made towards the final version. Anyone using DPM will want to be sure not to miss this. The team will demonstrate the software that early adopters have been running as well as new Windows client protection capabilities, the new SQL/SharePoint/Exchange protection and recovery features, as well as their enhanced Disaster Recovery scenarios.

There will also be information on the new auto-healing/auto-scaling features (which current DPM administrators like myself will love) — the team also promises a few new surprises that weren’t in the beta.

Windows Print Server team seeking feedback

January 6th, 2010 at 6:13 PM 2 Comments Michael Stanclift

There are many less than glamorous roles that a Windows server can take on. Not all of them are born to be an Exchange server, a domain controller, or even a web server. Some are destined to take on the role of managing printers. And for every role in Windows server, there is a team of programmers and engineers behind it, and they need your help.

If use the Print Server role in your environment, Microsoft is looking for your feedback, especially if you’re using the print server management packs for System Center Operations Manager 2007. Your input will help form the future manageability plans for the print server role in Windows Server. If you deal with printers like I do, you probably know how frustrating they can be so you’ve probably got a lot of feedback to give. (Although truthfully none of my issues are really Microsoft’s fault — I’m looking at you Xerox)

Head over to the OpsMgr public site on Microsoft Connect and fill out the “Print Server Management Survey” You’ll need to login to Connect using your Windows Live ID but Microsoft claims the survey is anonymous and should take about 5 minutes to fill out the 11 questions.