Microsoft Datacentre Security & Management Update – February

Last time out we went a bit System Centre mad, so this time we’ll start with news of Windows 8. The beta version of the product is due for release this month and the feature I’m looking forward to most is Hyper-V 3. I blogged about a while back with what hopefully would be in the product, well some more details relating to Storage, management of storage with PowerShell and the new VHDX format disks.

Back to System Centre and a new product in the family that may have escaped your notice. System Centre Advisor, which is now a benefit of Software Assurance for Windows Server or Microsoft SQL server. So what is System Centre Advisor, to find out more and download the 60 day free trial click here.

Read More…

Microsoft and HP team up on public and private cloud services

HP and Microsoft have announced a new four-year partnership to deliver public, private and hybrid enterprise cloud solutions built around Office 365 and its on-premise equivalents. Microsoft solutions will be offered via HP’s cloud data centres. Brandt Faatz, vice president of Workplace Services at HP Enterprise Services, stated: ‘This alliance with HP not only broadens Microsoft’s geographic reach, it gives customers maximum flexibility to choose a cloud computing solution that meets their organisation’s specialised messaging and collaboration needs’.

Microsoft makes changes to rules on government licensing

Microsoft has made some changes to the rules on selling licences to government recently. From now on, you are no longer able to sell central or local government licensing deals through the Open Licensing scheme; instead you need to use the Open Value or Select routes. While this won’t affect many agreements, it’s worth making your licensing teams and your government customers aware of the changes. If you have any questions, please get in touch with our Microsoft Licensing expert, Simon King – email simon.king@computer2000.co.uk.

Microsoft expected to complete Skype deal

Microsoft was expected to win EU approval for its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype this month. The granting of approval was the last major stepping stone to the deal going ahead. The US Federal Trade Commission gave it the go-ahead as long ago as June. At the same time, rumours were circulating that Microsoft were preparing to make a further foray into the web with a bid for Yahoo.

Computer 2000 backs resellers to win Microsoft business ahead of the New Year

Computer 2000, the UK’s leading IT and communication products distribution group, is appealing to resellers to get behind the drive to sell Microsoft Small Business Server 2011 and Windows Server 2008 R2 as a way of giving their sales a welcome boost ahead of the festive break.

With support for virtualisation and a whole range of productivity, performance and security enhancements, the latest versions of Microsoft’s solutions deliver tailored benefits for smaller businesses. For resellers, they create extended opportunities and lead to infrastructure upgrades and additional services sales. It is estimated that for every $1 spent on virtualisation software, many more are spent on additional products and services.

Computer 2000 is running a social media campaign and a series of banner and print ads to promote the solutions and is offering special sales incentives throughout the rest of the year. A whole range of marketing assets are available that will help resellers educate customers and identify the right solutions for their needs. Also, any reseller buying OEM copies of SBS2011 or Windows Server 2008 R2 from Computer 2000 before the end of December will be entered into a draw to win £5,000 worth of free marketing and lead-generation support.

To find out more, resellers should visit www.computer2000.co.uk/microsoft/stellasix get in touch with the Computer 2000 Software team.

Is it time to upgrade customers to SBS 2011 and Windows Server 2008 R2?

There are a lot of benefits to be had from upgrading to Microsoft Small Business Server 2011 and Windows Server 2008 R2 – both for end-user customers and for resellers.

For the customer, SBS 2011 will deliver enterprise-class security, improved deployment, migration and management capabilities and a scalable platform – an in one affordable, easy-to-manage solution.

Stepping up to Windows Server 2008 meanwhile makes a whole lot of sense because customers who are still on previous versions will get immediate advantages in the form of improved performance and efficiency, and more reliable and cost-effective for business workloads. With innovative features for virtualisation and to optimise applications performance and server utilisation, Windows Server 2008 R2 enhances efficiency and competitiveness – making businesses better-able to withstand the continuing challenges of the economic climate.

Read More…

Microsoft Datacentre Security & Management Update – November week 3

We’ll start this week with a great article and interview about the new storage features in Windows 8 and how they impact on Hyper-V 3, so if you want to find out more about VHDx files, Storage Pools and Spaces and how to use them to Cluster Hyper-V virtual machines click here.

Last week I blogged about the release of System Centre Service Manger 2012 Beta, there are some really cool new capabilities that are available, specifically the new Service Catalog and Service Request Management feature that Microsoft started talking about and showing examples of last year.

Read More…

Microsoft previews Windows 8

Microsoft previewed Windows 8 at its Build developer conference in the US last month and will support tablet form factors, including devices based on ARM’s low-power microprocessors. Due for release next year, Windows 8 will have two interfaces – a traditional desktop and the tablet ‘Metro’ version. The latter will have larger control buttons for easy touch- creen use. Microsoft will also launch its own online marketplace, called Windows Store, to sell downloadable applications. Gartner has predicted that the global market for tablets will reach 70 million this year and 300 million in 2015.

Microsoft Datacentre Security & Management Update – October

How well do you know your Private Cloud, over on the Microsoft Virtual Academy you can take self-assessments covering the full cycle from understanding, planning and managing Microsoft private cloud offerings this will earn you Academy points and improve your ranking. Sticking with Private Cloud have you ever tried to get the Cloud concept over to a non-technical person, if so this should prove helpful.

Read More…

Microsoft Datacentre Security & Management Update – October

We’ll start this week with news that Microsoft has launched a new hub for all Private Cloud architectural resources, so if you’re looking for all things Private Cloud this would be the place to start looking.

A couple of upcoming events to tell you about, next week at 16:00 on the 13th of October Microsoft are delivering a webinar on “How Partners Can Make Money Selling Microsoft Private Cloud Solutions” to register click here and on the 19^th and 20^th of October Microsoft will be presenting “Journey to the Cloud” at this years’ IP EXPO – The UK’s Largest Enterprise IT Event where IP Networks, Virtualization, Cloud, Wireless, Storage and Security work together. For more information check this out.

Read More…