You may have missed the recent MSDN Webcast on the new Non-Uniform Memory Access and User-Mode Scheduling API’s. No worries. Catch the replay here.
A short-list of online resources…
A new posting on MSDN Channel9 with an accompanied resource list on MSDN Code Gallery.
The excellent Server Core "Step-by-Step" Guide has been updated with Windows Server 2008 R2 "how-to" information. Read more here.
A new blog posting explains when applications should take advantage of Server Core, parallel processing using NUMA, PowerShell 2, Windows Web Services, and more. Links are also provided on getting Windows Server 2008 R2, getting the updated Windows SDK, compatibility considerations, and application certification. There are links to code samples, other blog postings, and resources.
http://blogs.msdn.com/usisvde/archive/2009/05/08/how-to-get-started-leveraging-windows-server-2008-r2-features.aspx
See the new Hyper-V Server Role page as well as the Technical Resources page.
Yesterday the new “Windows Events” MSDN forum went live:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/etw/threads
The forum is for Event Log, Event Tracing for Windows, and WPP technologies:
· APIs: ETW, Event Log, WPP, TDH, and the related managed code classes (system.diagnostics.eventing)
· Tools: EcManGen, MC.exe, Logman, TraceRpt, TraceLog, PowerShell Get-WinEvent, etc.
Please note the following new “how-to” demos for Windows Server 2008 R2.
And many recent videos from the series at the following aggregate URL:
MSDN and TechNET subscribers may now download an ISO image of Windows Server 2008 R2 RC1. Watch for new feature demo videos on Channel9 and general evaluation availability soon.
I'll be delivering two MSDN webcasts soon... please join me by registering via the following links.
4/30/2009 09:00 AM
Windows Server 2008 R2, A Technical Overview for Developers
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032410681&Culture=en-US
5/28/2009 09:00 AM
Windows Server 2008 R2, NUMA and UMS APIs
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032410702&Culture=en-US
See new PowerShell V2 feature demonstrates at MSDN Channel9.
And sample scripts at MSDN Code Gallery.
Find more PowerShell V2 Community Resources at TechNET ScriptCenter.
The “on-campus” platform adoption labs have been a perennial favorite event for Microsoft Partner software developers. Unfortunately, many developers are now under travel and expense budget constraints and unable to attend such events. Hence, the Microsoft Platform Evangelism team is offering a new approach with many of the benefits of on-campus labs and without corresponding travel expenses.
This offering is designed for Software Vendors participating in the Microsoft Metro “early adopter” program. For details about Metro including how to become a registered participant, please speak with your local Microsoft representative. As with other events and programs associated with pre-release products, an event or corporate non-disclosure agreement is required.
A “Virtual Lab” is a new evangelism program offering intended to enable a low-cost but still highly productive product development team engagement. Logistically, the “online” event can accommodate a number of small partner teams consisting of technical leads with deep solution knowledge. Your team would work directly with Microsoft product development engineers and solution architects, entirely within an online collaboration and communications environment.
The virtual lab collaboration infrastructure enables attendees to join the event using Microsoft LiveMeeting along with a variety of additional online collaboration and communications services. Attendees may “bring their code” to the event by hosting a development configuration at their location. Attendees are provided a “Virtual Lab Attendee Kit” prior to the event. Microsoft technology experts provide depth discussions and even assist with solution projects entirely within a remote collaboration infrastructure.
A Virtual Lab event is conducted within “Virtual Rooms”. Virtual Rooms are independent LiveMeeting sessions accessible within a specific schedule. The Main Room is where all attendees gather for keynote presentations and open-forum discussions. The Lab Room is where attendees may obtain guidance related to optional Hands-on-Labs. The Chalk-Talk Room is where attendees interact directly with Microsoft Product Team members and Subject Matter Experts. The Project Room is where attendee teams independently develop, build, and test their Windows Server 2008 R2 solution.
Near-term, Microsoft has 2 lab events scheduled. Logistically, it is advantageous to focus upon specific integrated solution scenarios as indicated via the event titles below. However, any Windows Server 2008 R2 solution scenario is considered and nominations will be accepted pending availability of expert resources. The scheduled lab dates are as follows:
· April 21-23, “Server Core Hosted Solutions” with Windows Server 2008 R2
· May 19-21, “Enterprise Network Solutions” with Windows Server 2008 R2
The event agenda includes morning topical presentations followed by self-paced hands-on-labs and then “chalk-talk” sessions each afternoon. Attendees have the choice of several hands-on-lab topics including:
· Server Core Application Development
· New NUMA APIs
· PowerShell V2
· Windows Web Services API
· SCM, Services and Tasks
· Application Instrumentation
The lab is intended to focus on architectural issues, scenario white-boarding and application development. Solutions must leverage new features of Windows Server 2008 R2. Note that this is not a traditional training event. There are a limited number of presentations, and hands-on-lab exercises are optional. Attendees are expected to have a working knowledge of Microsoft Server technologies. Microsoft provides complementary preparatory materials.
Interested? Tell us more about your Windows Server 2008 R2 solution. Use the Contact Form on this blog to request more information.
FYI, all editions of the next release of Windows Server are x64/ia64 processor architecture only; there are no more x86 Windows Server builds beyond Server 2008. You will, however, be able to run your x86 binaries on Windows Server. 32-bit binaries will be dependent upon the "WoW-64" emulation layer (actually just a thin thunking layer on x64, and a full instruction set emulation layer on ia64). Software Developers will need to ensure their applications are thus compatible with x64 Windows. It's a good idea to learn more about the potentially complex issues associated with running x86 or mixed x86-x64 based binaries on Windows Server.
Fortunately, it's a rather mature topic as x64 Windows Server editions have been available for many years now. Here is an excellent online resource that will suffice to answer most of your questions.
http://www.microsoft.com/events/series/msdn64bitwin.mspx
Also, be sure to review the resources at the 64-bit Portal here:
http://www.microsoft.com/servers/64bit/overview.mspx
Here are aggregate links to the recent Channel9 and Code Gallery "5 Minute Concept" series focused on Server Core application development.
Channel9
Code Gallery
Use these resources to learn how to deploy, configure, develop, and debug applications hosted on Server Core installations of Windows Server 2008 R2. We focus on new features and how to use them.
