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Windows Infrastructure

Real life Active Directory, Hyper-V, Forefront , Performance and Security experiences By Erik den Burger

Exam 71-699: TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop Virtualization

Tags:  Certification

This morning I did the 71-669 exam. This exam, named TS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop Virtualization covers several desktop virtualization products. The exam was the third virtualization exam, and when Passed I can call myself Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Virtualization Administrator

 

RDS: there were a lot of RDS questions and most of them weren't that hard. Sure the licensing questions are always tricky, especially because my limited experience in this. But then again most design questions about the RDS session hosts, RDS Gateway servers, RDS Web access, RDS Session broker were pretty straightforward. Also the folder redirection is almost a daily job for me so no surprises here.

MED-V: Ouch, never used it and there were some new terms for me. But with using some common sense and experience in Microsoft in general most of the questions were doable. Or should I use the term "educated guess" ?

XPMode/Virtual PC: not that many questions and not that hard.

App-V: Although I'm familiar with the basic principles of App-V I never had really worked with in any other way than an end-user. So the questions about the sequencing part were tricky for me the least. Some questions about the infrastructure for using App-V and different branches were really interesting for me.

VDI: a lot of the VDI terms are similar to the RDS. And a lot of the basic principles are the same.the licensing is however so complicated (and get changed a lot) that fortunately there were no questions about them. If you know how to configure device configuration, folder redirection, Basic GPO settings you won't have that much problems with this.

 

With today the last day of the beta period, and me not having enough time to prepare properly I think I did a reasonable job at this exam. I will read the free MS e-book later so the Med-V and App-V Parts will be clearer.

March 25, 2010 · Posted by Erik den Burger · 0 Comments

Microsoft Virtualization announcements

Tags:  Windows Infrastructure · Hyper-V

Last week Microsoft issued a press release that had a lot of new statements on the MS front. In the press release a lot of changes were announced, especially for the VDI licensing. But there were also some technical statements.

One of these was not a surprise as this feature was supposed to have made it to the RTM of Windows 2008R2 but just didn't do so. The upcoming SP1 for Windows 2008R2 will bring memory over commitment to Hyper-V. Off course Microsoft has given this feature another name but Dynamic Memory is basically the same as Memory over commitment. So it is possible to reserve more memory for your guest than you physically have in your hosts.

Besides the announcement of Dynamic memory another new technology was announced. The RemoteFX also was supposed to be in the RTM but also was delayed until SP1. This will enable users of virtual desktops (either VDI or RDS) to use the graphic power of the clients to create a rich 3D and multimedia experience.

One other announcement was a little surprise for me. XP mode will no longer require CPU Assisted virtualization. This will make it more accessible to many more older PC's and therefore this feature will be more used in small and medium businesses.

The last technical announcement was HDX technology that will enhance and extend the RemoteFX platform in Citrix Xendesktop. This will give citrix again an edge (at a price) over standard 2008R2 RDS.

March 25, 2010 · Posted by Erik den Burger · 11 Comments

I’m Back….

After three weeks without a laptop, a PDA or a mobile phone, three weeks without email or www, Three weeks of painkillers, margarita's and frozen daiquiris I have a lot of catching up to do. But hey, That's life man!

So, after three weeks sailing in the Caribbean, it is now time to go back to work and to publish some articles on this blog.

March 22, 2010 · Posted by Erik den Burger · 0 Comments