Microsoft Virtualization In Depth

VirtualizationAdmin.com has posted Part II of my three part article that covers performing a server virtualization assessment with MAP 3.1. This part of the article contains an overview of MAP 3.1 features that facilitate conducting a server virtualization assessment. If you are interested in assessing your traditional infrastructure with the goal of developing a basic server virtualization plan, this article will assist you in your endeavors. In Part III, to be posted in the near future, you will learn how to actually use MAP 3.1 (available for download from the Microsoft site) to conduct a server virtualization assessment.

The hotfix that allows you to backup online virtual machines using DPM 2007 SP1 was recently released. You can find it at http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;959962.

A team of Microsoft IT Pro Evangelists are starting a 20-part series on Microsoft Virtualization Solutions beginning on January 14, 2009. The objectives of this series as stated on Yung Chou’s Yung Chou's Blog are:

“…not only to help you develop technical depth on various virtualization solutions with level 300 sessions, but to appreciate the essentials of a typical virtualization project in a real world implementation.”

Here is the session list:

1. 01/14/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualization in a Nutshell
2. 01/16/2009, TechNet Webcast: Selecting the Right Candidates for Virtualization
3. 01/21/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualizing Test and Development Environments for a Quick Return on Investment
4. 01/23/2009, TechNet Webcast: Managing the Virtualized Test and Development Environment
5. 01/28/2009, TechNet Webcast: If I Virtualize It, How Do I Manage It?
6. 01/29/2009, TechNet Webcast: Consolidation and Rapid Provisioning
7. 02/04/2009, TechNet Webcast: Building on Your Existing Virtual Environment
8. 02/06/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualization Solutions for High Availability
9. 02/11/2009, TechNet Webcast: Client-Side Virtualization
10. 02/13/2009, TechNet Webcast: Using Presentation Virtualization
11. 02/18/2009, TechNet Webcast: Scaling Terminal Services Out (1/2)
12. 02/20/2009, TechNet Webcast: Scaling Terminal Services Out (2/2)
13. 02/25/2009, TechNet Webcast: Running Legacy Applications with Virtualization (1/2)
14. 02/27/2009, TechNet Webcast: Running Legacy Applications with Virtualization (2/2)
15. 03/04/2009, TechNet Webcast: Creating a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
16. 03/06/2009, TechNet Webcast: Securing the Virtual Environments
17. 03/11/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualization with Centralized, Policy-Based Management
18. 03/13/2009, TechNet Webcast: Virtualization Solutions in Branch Offices
19. 03/20/2009, TechNet Webcast: Road Map for the Future of Virtualization
20. 03/24/2009, TechNet Webcast: Managing Virtual Solutions

Enjoy!