As mentioned in a previous post, we are constantly expanding our selection of training courses on Channel9.

Today (Nov 9th) we launch a few new courses. One of them is the the Windows Server 2008 R2 training.

Windows Server 2008 R2, “Not your average R2!”

Explore this significant Windows Server release via a self-paced training course (URL works as soon as the course is live on Nov 9th, 2009) of videos and hands-on-labs with a focus on performance, web, management, and other server solution scenarios.   Learn about developing applications for “many-core” scale, enable efficient “trigger-started” services, explore new Windows PowerShell features, create integrated solutions with the File Classification Infrastructure, build Web Platform extensions, and automate your dev-test environment with VHD and Hyper-V API’s.

Besides a bunch of sessions, there’s also a chalk talk at #PDC09. Check out the details and “how to avoid the crowd” at the A View into the Behavior of Your Parallel Application blog.

Over at c|net Ina Fried has a short article, including video interview, about what “… could be the largest data center in the world," according to Arne Josefsberg, GM of infrastructure services for Microsoft's data center operations.

But it is not only the potentially largest datacenter, it is also a quite unusual datacenter. The servers come in a data containers (literally). Computers of this datacenter are set up in large shipping containers. All you need for this datacenter is a parking lot, power, water for cooling and a wide network pipe.

Find out about the pros and cons and how you – regardless of the size of your company – can take advantage of this innovative setting in Windy City. Only one word: Windows Azure.

Windows 7 has a lot to offer for developers. If I had to pick the 7 most relevant or the 7 “sexiest” I would go with James’ list. Over the past week Jim O’Neil wrote a series of blog posts about his 7 favorites.

Learn how to take advantage of these cool features on Jim’s blog. Be prepared for some cool stuff.

XP-Mode	Taskbar	Federated Search	Extended Linguistic Services
Direct 2D	Sensor and Location API	Multitouch

Whether you are currently unemployed, looking for a promotion, or want to be indispensible in your existing role, Microsoft’s Career Campaign provides learning paths and guidance to help you get trained for some of the top IT job roles in the industry. These learning paths focus on some of the most popular applications, such as Microsoft Windows, SQL Server, Windows Server and Exchange. To help accelerate your learning path, we are also providing discounts and special offers for certifications, e-learning, and classroom training.

To find out more visit: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/start/start-career.aspx

To access the promotions visit: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/offers/career.aspx

In a comment to one of my previous posts Dmitry asked:

“I'd like to find details about different versions of Microsoft Windows like Server 2008, HPC Server 2008 and HPC Server 2008 R2. What is the difference between them? It's very hard to find a table which would give such comparison.

Is R2 just an update of existing version or this is redesigned version?

What is the difference from applications' point of view? …”

Thanks for your questions! There’s lots of pages you find detailed information about all different flavors of Windows Server. I want to point out 3 pages I find particularly informative.

The first page “New and Updated Features in Windows Server 2008 R2” seems to be exactly what you are looking for Dmitry. It contains a summarized version of all new and updated features for Windows Server 2008 R2 and which edition they are supported on.

The second one is called “Overview of Editions”.

This page does a good job listing the different SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) of Windows Server and their key benefits. Clicking on the individual images on that pages leads to more in-depth information about the editions.

Did you know there’s a Windows Server 2008 R2 for Itanium based Systems edition? Of course you did. Find out about the key scenarios about Windows Server on IA64 by clicking the image.

The third page, named “Differentiated Feature Comparison by Edition” is awesome. It lists OS features and which Windows Server edition has it and which doesn’t.

Regardless which one you choose, make sure you check out the navigation bar on the right side of the page. It says “Editions Information” in bold.

There’s much more comparison info available via the links in this box.

Enjoy!

Experience The New Efficiency Microsoft Launch Event Live from San Diego October 26th Virtually!
www.thenewefficiency.com/live

View and download 18 IT Professional and Developer focused live sessions from San Diego starting at 9am PDT October 26th. Focusing on Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Exchange Server 2010, you can listen to Microsoft experts, download valuable resources and explore the live launch event "virtually".

Mark your calendars

The post highlights selected sessions and gives guidance on what to read or which website to check out to make the most out of your visit to PDC2009.

Certainly not complete but something to get you started.

PowerShell Sessions @PDC2009

Windows PowerShell: An Automation Toolbox for Building Solutions That Span Small Businesses, Enterprises, and Cloud Services

Come learn how you can leverage Windows PowerShell to automate the administration of client and server operating systems all the way from small businesses to large enterprises and cloud services.

Resources:

• PowerShell on Microsoft.com
• Windows PowerShell Quick Reference
• Windows PowerShell Getting Started Guide
• PowerShell Blog (MSDN)
• PowerShell Scripting Center
• Free Windows PowerShell Book
• TechNet Magazine videos on TechNet Edge
• PowerShell videos on TechNet Edge
• PowerShell.com

Building Your Administration GUI over Windows PowerShell

Learn how to use PowerShell to help quickly create a custom UI to simplify enterprise administration. Come find out why layering administration GUI on top of Windows PowerShell makes delivering a UX quick and easy. See how to write rich automation and integrate graphical user interfaces using Windows PowerShell.

Resources:

• see above
  

See you @PDC09.

http://channel9.msdn.com/learn/. Free technical training on bleeding edge technologies!

The Channel 9 Learning Center is the destination for free technical training on emerging Microsoft products and technologies. The Learning Center consists of a set of courses with each course including a set of videos, hands-on labs, and source code samples to get you up-to-speed quickly.

Check out the first to courses (and spread the news!):

More courses are coming (very) soon!

This post focuses on a series of select sessions closely related to the Windows Server platform. Read all related posts.

The post highlights selected sessions and gives guidance on what to read or which website to check out to make the most out of your visit to PDC2009.

Certainly not complete but something to get you started.

SQL Server Sessions @PDC2009

Making Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Fly

Hear best practices for getting the fastest query processing for general-purpose applications, including logical and physical database design, statistics management, query design, query tuning, problems areas to avoid, and more. Learn which query constructs cause the query optimizer to rely on guesses rather than accurate statistical estimates for the number of rows returned by sub-plan. Also learn how to work from an understanding of your query and update patterns to develop a high-performance set of indexes for database tables. Find out how parameters and local variables effect plan selection and optimality, and how that can impact performance of your applications. See how how your choice of data types for join keys can affect join performance, and how data compression affects CPU overhead and I/O.

Resources:

• SQL Server Optimization
• SQL Server Library
• SQL Server on Channel9 (videos and screen casts)
• SQL Server 2008 Developer Training Kit
• Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (free eBook)

Microsoft Semantic Engine

See how the Microsoft Semantic Engine brings search, structured query, and analytics together in a simple, unified Search-Discover-Organize usage model. Learn how it addresses the need to have unified access to structured and unstructured enterprise data through easy to use analytical tools. Also learn how to enable business insight to support decision making at all levels within the enterprise. Get an overview of the Semantic Engine, its architecture, the product and its APIs.

Resources:

• Microsoft Semantic Engine (MSDN Code Gallery)
• Jamie Thomson about the Semantic Engine on SQLblog.com

Microsoft Project Code Name “Repository”: Using Metadata to Drive Application Design, Development, and Management

Come see how to use the Microsoft SQL Server "Repository" to increase speed and accuracy of development, deployment, maintenance, and management of your enterprise applications. The "Repository" is a central management database for application lifecycle metadata. Learn how to perform impact analysis, architecture validation, and manage application configuration/deployment using the UML, CLR, Identity, and deployment models in the "Repository".

Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 StreamInsight

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 includes an exciting new platform called StreamInsight for building rich data processing over real-time event streams. This technology is ideal for applications that need to process high volumes of event stream data with no latency. Learn the basics of how to build a StreamInsight input adapter for monitoring an event stream, how to construct real-time queries in LINQ and install them in the highly scalable StreamInsight engine, and how to build a StreamInsight output adapter to visualize the results from your queries.

Resources:

• Blog on MSDN
• SQL Server 2008 R2 – StreamInsight Technology
• SQL Server StreamInsight and SQL Azure Database CTP Availability
• Microsoft StreamInsight Forum
• Microsoft StreamInsight Books Online
• StreamInsight Yahoo Finance input adapter example

Advanced Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 StreamInsight

This is the second session in a series focusing on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 StreamInsight, a new platform for building rich data processing over real-time event streams. Come get a detailed architectural walkthrough of the three major components of StreamInsight: input and output adapters SDK, the StreamInsight engine runtime, and the semantics of the continuous standing queries hosted in the StreamInsight engine. Learn how the engine deals with out-of-order data arrival and how to achieve close to real-time latency for queries. Examine best practices for performance and scalability, and hear a few case studies of real-world StreamInsight implementations and the lessons learned from them.

Resources:

• see above session

Simplifying Application Packaging and Deployment with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2

Come explore the new enhancements in SQL Server 2008 R2, known as Application and Multi-Server Management, which enable a more efficient way to develop, deploy, and manage data-tier applications and instances. See how a new single unit of deployment for database applications is integrated with Microsoft Visual Studio and helps enable developers to more quickly write higher quality database applications, author deployment policies based on the needs of their applications, and hand off a single package to database administrators. Also learn how improvements combine a first-class Transact-SQL IDE with a new Visual Studio 2010 project template known as .DACPAC (Database Application Component) to produce a comprehensive model of the objects, policies and runtime resources required by a data-tier application.

Resources:

• SQL Server 2008 R2 | IT & Developer Efficiency
• SQL Server Books Online

Developing Rich Reporting Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) provides a comprehensive platform for developing and delivering rich enterprise reporting functionality over the Web. SSRS reports support rich data visualization and navigation features, and can be rendered in most popular formats. Come get a quick review of SSRS report development, and explore some of the key improvements in SQL Server 2008 R2, including new map visualizations, a new component library, using existing reports as a data source for the new PowerPivot functionality in Microsoft Excel 2010, and an improved AJAX enabled Report Viewer control for building Web-based reporting solutions.

Resources:

• SQL Server Reporting Services (Books Online)
• Reporting Services Homepage
• Reporting Services in SQL Server 2008 (White Paper)
• SQL Server 2008 – Reporting Services (TechNet)

See you @PDC09.

 This post focuses on a series of select sessions closely related to the Windows Server platform. Read all related posts.

The post highlights selected sessions and gives guidance on what to read or which website to check out to make the most out of your visit to PDC2009.

Certainly not complete but something to get you started.

BizTalk Server Sessions @PDC2009

Queuing and Publish/Subscribe in a Heterogeneous Environment

Queuing and publish/subscribe are common patterns for building loosely-coupled, distributed applications. Learn how to use Microsoft Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) the new Microsoft ASP.NET 4.0 routing service, the Microsoft .NET Service Bus, and Microsoft BizTalk Server to easily connect heterogeneous systems. We’ll then introduce AMQP (the Advanced Message Queuing Protocol), an important new open standard for interoperable message-oriented middleware, which will reduce the friction in connecting heterogeneous clients. A real-world scenario will show AMQP in action, connecting WCF, Microsoft Excel, and Java-based clients.

Resources:

• WCF - Windows Communication Foundation Architecture Overview
• ASP .NET 4.0
• Routing in ASP .NET 4.0
• AMQP - Advanced Message Queuing Protocol
• Open AMQ
• MSMQ – Message Queuing
• .NET Service Bus

Microsoft BizTalk Server Futures and Roadmap

Resources:

• Microsoft BizTalk Server
• WCF - Windows Communication Foundation Architecture Overview
• BizTalk Server Developer Center
• Learn BizTalk

Connecting Applications with the Microsoft BizTalk Enterprise Service Bus

See how the BizTalk Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) enables you to build services that can be quickly located and connected, whether they live behind the firewall or in the cloud, without creating a brittle point-to-point link. Learn how to dramatically improve the service lifecycle of development, testing, and deployment by using the powerful messaging, routing, and transformation capabilities of the BizTalk ESB in your solution today, and get a glimpse of future plans for BizTalk service bus/pub-sub pattern.

Resources:

• BizTalk Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) Guidance
• ESB on CodePlex
• BizTalk Server Roadmap
• BizTalk Learning Center

See you @PDC09.

Go and grab the free MS Press eBook, “Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2” by Charlie Russel and Craig Zacker! This is a fantastic resource for learning about the new features of Windows Server 2008 R2 in the areas of virtualization, management, the Web application platform, scalability and reliability, and interoperability with Windows 7.

Down the eBook from the Windows Server 2008 Product Home Page.

This post focuses on a series of select sessions closely related to the Windows Server platform. Read all related posts.

The post highlights selected sessions and gives guidance on what to read or which website to check out to make the most out of your visit to PDC2009.

Certainly not complete but something to get you started.

Windows Server 2008 R2 sessions @PDC2009

A Computing Platform That Scales

See how Windows Server 2008 R2 represents the latest evolution of the Windows Server operating system and supports high-end hardware systems with large numbers of microprocessors.  Learn how new Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) and User-Mode Scheduling (UMS) API's effectively enable application developers to "minimize contention and maximize locality" of system resources relative to thread execution contexts. See how these new platform capabilities are extended via libraries such as the C++ Concurrency Runtime and the .NET Parallel Extensions along with complementary tools support within Visual Studio 2010.

Resources:

• New NUMA Support with Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 (Code Gallery)
• User-Mode Scheduling (UMS)
• NUMA Support on Windows
• Processor Groups
• New NUMA Support with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 (5 screen casts on Channel9)
• Rick Molloy’s Blog
• Parallel Programming in Native Code (MSDN Blog)
• Four Ways to Use the Concurrency Runtime in Your C++ Projects

Developing Applications for Scale-Up Servers Running Windows Server 2008 R2

Hear about Windows 2008 R2 features including enhanced support of Non-Uniform Memory Access (NUMA) computer architectures, along with User Mode Scheduling (UMS) and support for up to 256 logical processors (LPs). Learn how UMS enables custom thread-level scheduling within your own application. See how new extended affinity APIs unlock the ability to address more than 64 LPs, and how NUMA APIs ensure that your application performs optimally on increasingly complex topologies. Learn why developers will want to ensure their applications scale well on this new generation of high-performance commodity systems.

Resources:

• New NUMA Support with Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 (Code Gallery)
• NUMA Support on Windows
• Processor Groups
• New NUMA Support with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 (5 screen casts on Channel9)

Improving Application Compatibility and Quality for Windows Server 2008 R2

Come learn how to develop Windows Server 2008 R2 applications for compatibility, readiness, and quality. Hear about our free downloadable test tools and other resources to help you perform a quick compatibility self-test. Also learn about changes to the internal implementation of APIs and kernel enhancements to support improvements in virtualization, scalability, and networking. Take advantage of expert advice for ISVs and IT Pros to help improve your application development, deployment, and performance on Windows Server 2008 R2.

Resources:

• Windows Server 2008 Application Compatibility
• Application Compatibility Cookbook
• Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5
• Microsoft Application Verifier
• Using Application Verifier Within Your Software Development Lifecycle
• Application Compatibility Resources for IT Professionals and Developers

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Kernel Changes

Come explore beneath the hood of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and learn about the key changes in the kernel. Topics include: scalability improvements, security improvements, power efficiency enhancements, core architecture changes to modularize Windows, and much more.

Resources:

• Sysinternals (Advanced system utilities and technical information)
• Mark Russinovich’s Blog
• Inside Windows Server 2008 Kernel Changes (TechNet Magazine)
• Introduction to Windows Server 2008 R2: Kernel Changes (MSDN Video)

Using Classification for Data Security and Data Management

Learn how File Classification Infrastructure (FCI) helps developers build innovative security and data management solutions that integrate with Windows Server. See how the new classification capabilities can be leveraged by a range of products including information leakage prevention products, backup, archival and workflow management. Also see how ISVs can leverage classification to deliver compelling end-to-end solutions.

Resources:

• NTFS Technical Reference (Old but not dated on MSDN!)
• Overview of FAT, HPFS, and NTFS File Systems
• File Classification Infrastructure (Code Gallery)
• FCI videos on Channel9
• Classification made easy with File Classification Infrastructure in Windows Server 2008 R2 (Blog post on the FileCab blog)

This is the first in a number of posts focusing on a series of select sessions closely related to the Windows Server platform. Read all related posts.

The post highlights selected sessions and gives guidance on what to read or which website to check out to make the most out of your visit to PDC2009.

Certainly not complete but something to get you started.

Internet Information Server (IIS) sessions @PDC2009

Building Live Media Viewing Experiences Using Internet Information Services (IIS) Smooth Streaming and the Smooth Streaming Player SDK

Learn how IIS Smooth Streaming is changing the way on-demand and live media is consumed by delivering rich, High-Definition adaptive media experiences. Learn how the Sunday Night Football Extra experience was built, and get an overview of how you can use these tools along with IIS Application Request Routing (ARR) to develop custom experiences for your customers using the Smooth Streaming Player SDK.

Resources:

• IIS Smooth Streaming Technical Overview
• Smooth Streaming on iis.net
• Experience IIS Smooth Streaming
• Building your first Smooth Streaming Player using SSME (Presenter’s blog post)
• IIS Smooth Streaming Player Development Kit - Beta 1
• IIS Smooth Streaming Deployment Guide

Extending Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.x

Hear how the Microsoft Web platform fosters a powerful development ecosystem for Web applications you can plug into. Learn to extend an existing Web application with new capabilities that show off the powerful extensibility IIS 7.x provides, and how to leverage extensions the IIS team ships to improve it even more. Lastly, see how to package a Web application and move it to a live Web server. Lots of demos, just a few slides. Promise!

Resources:

• IIS Extensions
• Web Platform Installer
• IIS Blog – Extensibility Tag
• IIS Extensions on TechNet
• IIS Extensions info in Channel9

See you @PDC09.