Managing Configuration Manager 2012 Across AD Forests

Neil Peterson has written some superb blog posts about Configuration Manager 2012 and cross forest support.

This post is more for my reference so I know where to get back to them and to share the links with others if you've not already got them book marked.

Part 1 - http://blogs.technet.com/b/neilp/archive/2012/08/20/cross-forest-support-in-system-center-2012-configuration-manager-part-1.aspx

Part 2 - http://blogs.technet.com/b/neilp/archive/2012/08/21/cross-forest-support-in-configmgr-2012-part-2-forest-discovery-publishing-and-client-push-installation.aspx

Part 3 - http://blogs.technet.com/b/neilp/archive/2012/08/24/cross-forest-support-in-configmgr-2012-part-3-deploying-site-server-site-systems-in-an-untrusted-forest.aspx

Windows Server 2012 - Licensing and Key Features Webinar

I thought I'd throw this one out there...

For anyone involved in Server or Datacenter administration, design, support or management my employers Trustmarque will be hosting an online webinar to discuss and show the new licensing changes that come with Windows Server 2012 along with an overview of some of the new key features of which I'll be co-presenting.

Signup for the webinar here:

http://www.trustmarquesolutions.com/news/overview-of-microsoft-licensing-changes-for-2012/

Windows Server 2012 was Released To Manufacturing (RTM) yesterday (01/08/2012) and Microsoft have announced September 4th as the general release date for Windows Server 2012, bringing with it a much simpler model and many enhanced features. To help you learn more about these changes Trustmarque are running a webinar on Tuesday 7th August at 10.30am and 3pm giving you both a licensing and technical insight.

• Overview of Licensing Changes for 2012 and impact on Software Assurance – Dominic McHugh, Software Procurement Consultancy, Trustmarque
• Features and toolsets improvements and changes – Steve Beaumont and Wayne Robinson, Technical Architects, Microsoft Integrated Solutions, Trustmarque

The webinar will highlight some of the following new or improved features:

• Deployment & automation
• Active Directory Improvements
• Dynamics Access Control – Claims based authentication
• Server Virtualisation – Hyper-V 3.0
• Virtual / Remote Desktop delivery
• Cluster enhancements
• File Server enhancements
• Data De-duplication

Windows 8 & Server 2012 RTM

Well Microsoft said the first week of August for the RTM version of Windows 8 and Server 2012 and it's arrived!

Well kind of...

The Release To Manufacturing (RTM) was announced today and see's the final code wrapped up, finalised and is now starting to get shipped to Microsoft hardware partners (HP, Dell, Lenovo etc) who will finish their final testing ready to deliver devices with Windows pre-installed as from October 26th (September for servers with Server 2012).

What this means for us mere mortals and IT-Pros is that we still have to wait some more.

From the Windows Team blog the schedule looks like this:

• August 15th: Developers will be able to download the final version of Windows 8 via your MSDN subscriptions.
• August 15th: IT professionals testing Windows 8 in organizations will be able to access the final version of Windows 8 through your TechNet subscriptions.
• August 16th: Customers with existing Microsoft Software Assurance for Windows will be able to download Windows 8 Enterprise edition through the Volume License Service Center (VLSC), allowing you to test, pilot and begin adopting Windows 8 Enterprise within your organization.
• August 16th: Microsoft Partner Network members will have access to Windows 8.
• August 20th: Microsoft Action Pack Providers (MAPS) receive access to Windows 8.
• September 1st: Volume License customers without Software Assurance will be able to purchase Windows 8 through Microsoft Volume License Resellers.

I was all prepped to rebuild our Customer Experience Center this week or next with RTM but now it looks like it will have to wait until I come back from holiday, which happens to be the week when the downloads become available (How inconsiderate Microsoft!)