Brian W. McCann

If you have been beta testing Windows Server 2008 for any amount of time you will have noticed that the build number has stayed the same at 6001. I'm not sure about the rest of the world but this always got to me when I got the latest build of Longhorn because I never knew how many builds took place since the last one I had. For those of you that like to know which build you have you can find it in the registry. Just take a look at the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion in the BuildLabEx value. The latest June 2007 CTP has a build of 6001.16606.070619.0730.

Seeing that number makes me miss the old build increments even more!

I just found another gem that I'm sure everyone will love. While surfing over at IIS.net I saw that they had 5 virtual labs on IIS, three on IIS 7 and two on IIS 6. These are the real deals where you connect to an actual Virtual Machine and have free reign over it. It comes with a PDF lab manual that resembles the labs from the Official Curriculum that a CPLS would use. After digging a bit further I found that TechNet also had quite a few Virtual Labs available on Vista, SQL, Exchange, Office 2007, ISA, SharePoint, SMS, and Server 2003.

I thought it would be a good idea to put these labs all in one place for people to use. I know I'll be taking them!!!

IIS 6 and IIS 7

• IIS 6.0 - Compression
• IIS 6.0 - HTTP Caching
• IIS 7.0 - Core Server
• IIS 7.0 - Configuration
• IIS 7.0 - Diagnostics & Troubleshooting

Windows Vista

• Windows Vista Security Overview
• Windows Vista Management Overview
• Windows Vista Windows System Image Manager Overview
• Windows Vista Collaborate in Small Groups Anywhere, Anytime
• Windows Vista Improve your PC's Power Management
• Windows Vista Easily Manage your Data Synchronization
• Windows Vista Set Up and Connect to Networks with Simplicity
• Windows Vista Improved and Automated Help Options
• Windows Vista Instantly Search and Find Information
• Windows Vista Built-in Diagnostics
• Windows Vista Better Protection from Malware
• Windows Vista Browse with Enhanced Security

More Virtual labs

• What's New in SQL Server 2005
• Microsoft 2007 Office System Overview
• Introduction to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
• Introduction to ISA Server 2006 Beta
• Introduction to SharePoint Portal Server 2003
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003-Distribution
• Introduction to Windows Server 2003 Management
• SMS Hardware, Inventory and Web-Based Reports

Bob Muglia mentioned in the keynote at TechEd 2007 (really wish I could be there) that IIS7 was in fact going to be included in Server Core. I know that a lot of hosting providers have been screaming for this and rightfully so. While this sounds like outstanding news it is only the first step in what really needs to be done. This allows you to run a great web\ftp server on a server that has a reduced attack surface and small footprint, however it ONLY allows you to run non ASP.NET sites and applications. That is because .NET is still not supported on Server Core. I'm not sure if it will be by time it is released but I truly hope they will find a way to get .NET working on Server Core.

I wanted to keep everyone up-to-date on the latest developments of the missing AdminPak for Windows Vista. To catch up on the subject you can look here and then here.

I have some good news and some OK news. First the good news:

I have been informed by Microsoft (the team that is responsible for Admin Pack) that they will be coming out with a new tool tentatively called Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) which will replace AdminPak for Windows Vista. This is not a direct replacement but a solution similar to AdminPak. I don't have any details yet but once I do (and am able to talk about it) I'll keep you informed.

Now on to the OK news:

This looks like it will not be available until Vista SP1. I don't call that bad news because at least something is coming out to help with the administration. Before anyone asks I have no idea when SP1 will be released.

Even though this is going to come out sometime in the future I still think the community should try to work together and see if they can create a cool way of doing this type of administration in the mean time. Take a look here for further details.

I think that it is pretty obvious that the majority of the Admins out there want Windows Vista to have an Official AdminPak. While you and I may not be able to convince Microsoft that an AdminPak is truly needed, perhaps we can help solve the problem and come up with a solution. I'll throw in a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate to the person or team or people who come up with the best solution.

I'm proposing for the community to get involved and start thinking creatively. The time is ours to take action, and that is exactly what we must do.

Here are the ground rules:

• The solution cannot be a third party solution (feel free to comment about it here but it will not count for the prize)
• The solution must be freeware and completely open for the community to use
• All solutions must be complete by July 2^nd 2007
• Top solutions will be posted as a new Blog no later than July 9^th 2007
• Solutions must be emailed directly to me

There are several workarounds to get the AdminPak to work on Windows Vista but none are seamless. Perhaps you can be the savior of not only the Vista community but for all Admins out there. Good luck and happy hunting!!!