I am a Microsoft MVP and I feel Great!
July 1, 2008
Thanks Vasu for pointing this 
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Announcing UGTV (User Group Television) for ITPros
May 29, 2008
Microsoft has today launched UGTV, as the name reads User Group Television - dedicated specifically for the User Groups WorldWide.Here is what Microsoft says:
User Group Television (UGTV) is a monthly webcast dedicated to bringing informative programming to User Groups worldwide while providing Microsoft the ability to introduce up and coming information to user group communities as well as highlight our engagement with them.
The shows will be aired on 2 Microsoft websites, Edge for ITPros and Channel9 for Developers.
As a part of launch, today they have aired the FIRST episode that includes some interviews of those behind the scenes and interviews of few User Group leaders worldwide. Spot me in there for few seconds (2:29 - 2:36)! Glad to be included in this show, interviewed during my recent trip to Redmond for 2008 MVP Global Summit and Community Summit.
There are lots to come, so keep watching this space. Be an active participant in this User Group and chances are you could be casted in upcoming show sometime. There are several initiatives coming up with MumbaiITPro, do let your contributions keep coming in.
UGTV (User group Television) for ITPro Debuts!
Wishing this initiative a great success! Let’s make it happen.
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“Hyper-V” the next generation Virtualization technology
May 19, 2008
As we hear a lot about the buzzword Hyper-V on Windows Server 2008, scheduled to RTM soon in coming few months, just thought of exploring on this technology and what are the possible enhancements in this technology we can expect. As there are not too many documents / white papers currently available, we need to explore installing Windows Server 2008, already available.
First starting with the basics on what is virtualization? I assume you have the heard-abouts on this technology. We will then focus on the Hyper-V technology. The traditional way of networking required the physical hardware, ample space, separate power requirement for each hardware, etc… which not only adds up the total cost of investment over the hardware but also on the specialized skills for supporting different servers. By implementing Virtualization, we overcome all the above concerns.
Virtualization is an abstraction layer that allows multiple virtual machines, with heterogeneous operating systems to run in isolation, side-by-side on the same physical machine. Using virtualization you can run multiple operating systems on a single machine whether virtual machines are different operating systems to be tested, or whatever other configurations you care to imagine.
While earlier its adoption was primarily limited to test and development environments, the maturity of technologies that its use in enterprises evolved in various ways. The Microsoft’s server virtualization offers flexible workload management, allowing IT teams to relocate live applications without any downtime. Server virtualization is primarily the encapsulation of server infrastructure and resources, hiding the identity of physical servers, processors and operating systems from the end-users. Software applications are used to divide a physical server into multiple independent virtual environments that may run concurrently, more commonly referred to as virtual private servers, guests, partitions, instances, containers or emulators.
There are 3 forms of Virtualization:
- Virtual Machine model
- Para-virtualization model
- Operating system virtualization model
Virtualization allows us to:
- Consolidate workloads to reduce hardware, power, and space requirements.
- Run multiple operating systems simultaneously - as an enterprise upgrade path, or to leverage the advantages of specific operating systems, or for whatever reason you can imagine.
- Run legacy software on newer, more reliable, and more power efficient hardware
- Isolate operating environments to improve security and fault tolerance
- Provide redundancy to support disaster recovery
- Create fully configured isolated virtual machines with it’s own set of virtual hardware to run an operating system and applications
- Rapidly save, copy and provision virtual machines that can be moved from one physical server to another for workload consolidation and zero downtown maintenance
A Microsoft’s Virtual Server virtual machine supports up to four virtual network adapters in the virtual machine environment
Microsoft also offers a physical machine-to-virtual machine (P2V) conversion tool using The Virtual Server Migration Toolkit (VSMT)
Though the Virtual Server supports only Ethernet topologies, it does also support the IPV6 technology of IP Addressing.
Virtual Hard Disks (VHD) can be stored on a SAN. A host operating system views a SAN volume as a local volume, due to which no special configuration is needed when using a Microsoft’s Virtual Server solution with a SAN.
Microsoft’s virtualization solutions increases hardware utilization and enables organizations to rapidly configure and deploy new servers with the following key benefits:
- Efficient use of hardware resources
- Enhanced administrative productivity and responsiveness
- Well-supported server virtualization solution
- A key deliverable for Microsoft’s Dynamic Systems Initiative.
Few reasons to implement Virtualization:
- Production server consolidation
- Business continuity management
- Software test and development
- Create Dynamic datacenter
- Ease Power consumption
- Better security
- Run legacy softwae on non-legacy hardware
- Run multiple operating systems on the same hardware
- Improve scalability
- Dynamically manage outages
Microsoft has developed the Hyper-V technology, a next generation 64-bit hypervisor based virtualization technology that reduces cost, increases hardware utilization, optimizes network and business infrastructure, and improves server availability.
Hyper-V is a key feature of Windows Server 2008, integrating with familiar, Windows based server management tools. Businesses don’t have to purchase additional software to take advantage of powerful virtualization features like live backup and quick migration. For customers who want a complete server management solution that works with virtual machines and physical servers, Microsoft’s System Center product line now includes advanced virtual machine management and monitoring capabilities. Hyper-V’s open architecture enables internal development teams and third-party software developers to build enhancements to the technology and tools.
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Here comes the Day. The Biggest Launch in Microsoft History.
February 26, 2008
Finally after the long wait, here is the day. A Day more for the Global Launch of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008. Promotions happening very aggressively all over and here in India too. The events here are happening in 3 cities: Bangalore (4th March), Mumbai (5th March), and New Delhi (7th March). Register yourself now before it is too late to witness the Biggest Launch for ITPro and Developers in Microsoft History. Entry is restricted only to those who receive a confirmation email. So registering is a must.
If you are unable to make it at the event, you still can have a glimpse of it through the Virtual Launch Experience.
VLE (Virtual Launch Event) is a interactive representation of the 2008 Launch Wave event providing customers access to keynote, all breakout sessions and representations of partner and Microsoft assets (such as booths etc) that will be at the LAX event. As part of this, being a global effort we are reaching out to over 1M users during the launch wave activities, including many local experiences from Japan, UK, CEE, Germany, Australia, Ireland and Russia.
As part of the 27th Feb experience, Microsoft will be streaming the live keynote, and then providing it on-demand. Also all the 20 breakout sessions on demand, and over 1000 pieces of content will be hosted. You can get more information on www.heroeshappenhere.com
VLE of the events in India will soon be updated on http://heroeshappenhere.co.in/
Soon after these events, starts the Community Launch events will will be further updated on http://heroeshappenhere.co.in/Register.aspx under the {Community Events} section where I will be one of the speakers for Windows Server 2008. Lot’s coming up even after the launch so keep updated and stay tuned and keep watching this space.
You may view the preview of the Virtual Launch Experience here:
YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWYgEbUaRY
MSN Video - http://video.msn.com/?user=8606555166349029309
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Technologies to watch for in 2008
February 18, 2008
Been long since not blogged being busy with MCA Exams. Now finally done! Ever since they start of year 2008, have been wanting to post about thats coming in the year 2008. We have had a great 2007 and moving ahead, again this year I would now like to point out some of the technology updates we will be seeing this year. Instead of posting all at once as done last year, I will now keep updating about the details about each technology over a series.
Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technologies for 2008, which are Green IT, Unified Communications, Business Process Modeling, Metadata Management, Virtualization 2.0, Mashup & Composite Apps., Web Platform & WOA, Computing Fabric, Real World Web, Social Software.
Soon we will discuss more about them as well as few more technological enhancement happening this year, however two of my major pick technologies Unified Communications and Virtualization are the once that will have my eye on.
The Windows Server 2008, now includes Hyper-V already released to manufacturing, will be available for purchase to new customers on March 1. Microsoft Volume Licensing customers with active Microsoft Software Assurance coverage or an Enterprise Agreement will be able to download the server software toward the end of February as part of the joint Microsoft SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 “Heroes Happen Here” launch event. So if you are in Bangalore (March 4th), Mumbai (March 5th) or New Delhi (March 7th); do make a point to attend the grand launch of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008. Being an MVP on Windows Server, I will surely be posting few articles specifically on Windows Server 2008.
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Microsoft has awarded me Most Valuable Professional
January 1, 2008
I am delighted to share with you that Microsoft has awarded me “2008 Microsoft® Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Windows Server - Customer Experience” and this involves several people around technical communities and guys at Microsoft for supporting and recommending me.
The Microsoft MVP Award is Microsoft’s way of saying thank you, to honour and support the significant contributions we make to technical communities worldwide. As a recipient of Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professional award, I join an elite group of technical community leaders from around the world who foster the objective to exchange of knowledge by actively sharing my real world expertise with users and Microsoft.
Back in August 2007, I was recognized IT Professional of the month by Microsoft TechNet but this was much awaited.
The MVP Award includes a printed MVP Certificate of Appreciation, a complimentary one-year subscription to MSDN Visual Studio Team Suite or TechNet Plus, goodies from Microsoft Employee Store, access to private newsgroups, Microsoft Product Betas and a channel to speak directly to product groups.
As per the Microsoft’s website, The MVP Award is given in recognition of a recipient’s technical expertise, spirit of community, and their willingness to help their peers by providing reliable and accurate information about Microsoft products & technologies. An MVP is a person with a passion for technology.
An MVP promotes the spirit of community and enhancing people’s lives and the industry’s success every day.
You can also find more details here: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvp
Thank you all the blog readers, supporters on various User Groups, and most importantly to the guys at Microsoft.
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Get Panaromic view of your desktop with 360Desktop
December 23, 2007
360Desktop is a new software app that lets you see your Windows Desktop in a whole new way - as a user-generated, panoramic space, which scrolls around in a circular manner.
This gives you the experience of having a virtually unlimited desktop, as you can open programs and windows and then spin to the “other side” of your desktop to have more space.
You can further customize your desktop with web apps, widgets, RSS feeds, AJAX start pages, and any part of any web page.
Even better, the web content placed on your 360Desktop can be viewed independently from your web browser.
The company promises to make the download available for free - forever.
Though the download is not available yet, you can sign up to be a member of the beta program if you’re interested in testing it out. The software will work on computers running on Windows XP or Windows Vista.
Watch the Demo in action:-
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Windows XP SP3 RC 3264 now available for download
December 23, 2007
Microsoft has released Windows XP SP3 RC ver. 3264 on its download center and its available for anyone. It can be downloaded from:Standalone Update Package for Windows® XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate
Also check this release Notes KB 936929 and Windows XP Service Pack 3 Whitepaper
Also you can post your queries and feedback on Windows XP Service Pack 3 Feedback Forum on Microsoft TechNet
NOTE: This pre-release software is provided for testing purposes only. Microsoft does not recommend installing this software on primary or mission critical systems. While the SP3 update is available for anyone, Its reminded that it is pre-release software, and is time-limited, and is intended for IT professionals, developers, and other technically-inclined individuals that are comfortable using pre-release software.
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Microsoft Hardware celebrates 25th Anniversary at COM-IT Expo 2007
December 10, 2007
Recently I had been to the COM IT 2007 Expo at MMRDA Grounds, Bandra, Mumbai between 7 Dec and 11 Dec 2007. Cool event and sexy babes as the major attraction all over in most of the major stalls… But here was something that will really awestruck anyone attending!
This is the Microsoft Hardware Stall. Time for some celebrations.
After this, what is attracting or tempting the most? Microsoft products? Or is Microsoft finding a way to attract people to their products?
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Windows Server Virtualization (WSV) codenamed Viridian is now Hyper-V
November 14, 2007
We know about the Windows Server Virtualization (WSV) being included with the release of Windows Server 2008 RC0, which was previously codenamed “Viridian”. Recently at the TechEd IT Forum 2007 in Barcelona, Microsoft announced the detailed packaging, pricing and licensing information for Windows Server 2008 which also included Microsoft’s server virtualization technology for stand-alone virtualization server named Microsoft Hyper-V Server (formerly codenamed: Viridian). Therefore it is now no more Windows Server Virtualization.
Find out more in detail on the Packaging, pricing, licensing, and more details on the Hyper-V here
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