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Microsoft Tag Index

How to Team Your Network Cards with Windows Server 2012

Discover how to resolve all sorts of virtualization headaches by teaming your network cards with Windows Server 2012's Server Manager.


Tags: Windows Server, Server Administrator, virtualization, Windows Server 2012, server, Microsoft, servers

How to Manage Multiple Servers with Windows Server 2012

Discover how to quickly and easily administer multiple servers, no matter where they are in the world, from a single interface.


Tags: Windows Server 2012, servers, Windows Server, Server Administrator, Microsoft, server

A Hands-on Look at Windows Server 2012 Essentials

While Windows Server 2012 Essentials fails to include all the features in the previous Standard edition, does it offer enough to meet the basic server needs of most small businesses?


Tags: Windows Server 2012, Windows Server, Windows Server 2012 Essentials, server os, Microsoft

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.4 Set to Improve Microsoft Interoperability

The Linux vendor is working with Microsoft for the benefit of mutual customers.


Tags: RHEL, RHEL v6.x, Microsoft, Red Hat, Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Windows Server 2012: Microsoft's Cloud OS Leaves the Gate

Microsoft makes it official in releasing a server OS that's "built from the cloud up."


Tags: OpenStack, public cloud, Microsoft, private cloud, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server, hybrid cloud

Microsoft Announces Windows Server 2012 RTM

Windows Server 2012 will be hitting OEMs in August, launching in retail come September.


Tags: server os, Hyper-V, virtualization, Microsoft, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server

Hyper-V 2012 Heats Up VMware vs. Microsoft Server Virtualization Showdown

The recent barbs traded between VMware and Microsoft can mean only one thing -- each sees the other as a real threat in the server virtualization and private cloud computing markets.


Tags: virtually speaking, virtualization, Hyper-V, server virtualization, private cloud, VMware, server, Microsoft, VMware vSphere

Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Reaches RC

While Windows 8 has been receiving the overwhelming majority of attention from the media, enterprises may be more interested in Microsoft's server OS entering its final phase prior to an official debut.


Tags: Windows Server, server os, server, Windows Server 2012, Microsoft, Cloud, windows server 8

Microsoft Server and Tools Business Boasts Double-Digit Growth

Microsoft's Server & Tools business posts $4.57 billion in third-quarter revenue, driven largely by significant increases in SQL Server and System Center revenue.


Tags: SQL Server, Server and Tools, System Center, Microsoft, server, MICROSOFT TOOLS

Virtual Desktop vs. PC OS Standoff Looms

Often, what spells opportunity for aspiring startups is viewed as a threat by entrenched market leaders. In the case of virtual desktops hosted on the public cloud, Microsoft has a lot to lose. And one company stands ready to change the game further.


Tags: VDI, virtual desktop, Microsoft, Windows 7

Microsoft Releases Windows Server 8 Beta

Supercharged Hyper-V and improved storage management are among the many carrots Microsoft is dangling in front of systems administrators.


Tags: Hyper-V, Microsoft, windows server 8, IIS

The Truth About RHEV

VMware, Microsoft and Citrix are the Big 3 of server virtualization and public cloud. It may soon be time to add Red Hat and rebrand them the Big 4, however. With more mission-critical Linux servers being virtualized, more servers are running RHEV, and cloud providers are not exempt from this trend.


Tags: cloud provider, public cloud, RHEV, Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, server virtualization, cloud computing, Red Hat, Microsoft, VMware, red hat linux

VMware Takes Steps to Conquer Nascent Hybrid Cloud Market

VMware rules in the virtual data center and private cloud, but it's second runner up in the public cloud. With hybrid clouds  on their way to being the future of computing and a consistent infrastructure between enterprises and service providers critical to their success, is it any surprise VMware is taking steps to protect its virtual kingdom?


Tags: public cloud, hybrid cloud, vCenter, server virtualization, VMware, Xen, private cloud, Microsoft

Microsoft Solidifies Its Private Cloud Approach

The System Center 2012 release candidate makes a very clear statement: Microsoft is ready to seize the private cloud  market from VMware.


Tags: Microsoft, Windows 8, system center 2012, server virtualization, Hyper-V

Microsoft to Debut Resilient File System with Windows 8 Server

The new ReFS file system, designed for resiliency and optimized for extreme scale, will be introduced as a storage system for Windows 8 Server, but will later be implemented as storage for clients and eventually as a boot volume.


Tags: ReFS, Microsoft, Windows 8, Storage, ntfs, file system

VDI: The 'Other' Virtualization Technology

Unlike server virtualization, desktop virtualization, aka VDI, has been a hard sell for enterprises due largely to its high upfront costs. Still, VDI offers many benefits. Do they outweigh the costs?


Tags: VDI, Quest, desktop virtualization, Microsoft, VMware, Citrix

Kicking the Tires on Windows 8 Server

We take the developer preview release of Windows 8 Server out for a spin and find it surprisingly crash-free.


Tags: Microsoft, Windows 8

Survey Reveals Server Virtualization Has Gone Commodity

But has it? Veeam Software's last V-Index reveals price as the leading driver for enterprises switching up their virtual environments. Cost, however, is far from the only differentiator among virtualization offerings.


Tags: VMware, Microsoft, server virtualization, Veeam, commoditization, Citrix

DataCore Releases Business Continuity for Windows Servers

For data center managers who want the benefits of SAN-based business continuity software without the risks of disruption, virtualization vendor DataCore claims to have a solution.


Tags: Cloud Storage, DataCore, Microsoft, Storage

Server Virtualization Buying Guide -- Hyper-V

Hyper-V may not be today's virtualization market leader, but don't count on it to play second fiddle forever.  The virtualization platform is catching up fast, and its low price point makes it an increasingly easier sell.


Tags: Hyper-V, server virtualization, Microsoft, hypervisor

Hyper-V 3--Microsoft's Virtualization Platform Grows Up

Microsoft tends to get things right with version 3 of its products, and with Hyper-V 3, this looks to be the case once again. When Server 8 comes out, Microsoft will have a serious server virtualization platform on its hands that will do everything most companies need.


Tags: Hyper-V, windows server 8, server virtualization, VMware, Microsoft

Server Virtualization Pricing: Apples to Oranges to Pears

When it comes to server virtualization pricing, it seems each vendor has chosen a different fruit. How do you compare pricing when structures vary from per-server or per-processor, or are based on VM usage, bundled guest OS licenses or combinations of all of these?


Tags: Hyper-V, KVM, vSphere, Citrix XenServer, Red Hat, Microsoft, VMware, server virtualization

Microsoft or VMware -- Who's Really Stuck in the IT Past?

Microsoft knocks VMware's virtualization strategy. Some of it rings true but it doesn't seem to matter. Is this a sign of Microsoft becoming less relevant?


Tags: server virtualization, Hyper-V, virtualization, VMware, Microsoft, vmotions

Microsoft Partners With Fujitsu on Azure Middleware

Fujitsu announced it will ship four middleware products for Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud platform.
Tags: middleware, Microsoft, Azure, public cloud, Fujitsu

Microsoft's System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 Beta -- The User Experience

The initial beta of Microsoft's System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 was released to the MSDN community two months ago. We step through our user experience with and provide some tips to get things working optimally.
Tags: System Center Virtual Machine Manager, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Hyper-V, server virtualization, Microsoft

What, VMware Worry?

The virtualization kingpin has company in the Leaders' Quadrant of Gartner's x86 server virtualization Magic Quadrant. With Citrix and Microsoft in its square, shouldn't VMware be at least a little concerned?
Tags: Citrix, VMware, server virtualization, Gartner, Microsoft

Testing Microsoft's System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 Beta

Microsoft released a first beta of its upcoming System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 product to the MSDN community in early May. We took it out for a spin, and here's what we found.
Tags: Microsoft, server virtualization, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Hyper-V

Microsoft Doubles Down on Virtualization

Virtualization plays an ever more important role in Microsoft's long-term plan. Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows 7 SP1 each brought a number of new features to the virtualization table from their respective sides, and the virtualization offerings don't stop there.
Tags: TechEd, Hyper-V, Windows Server 2008 R2, virtualization, Microsoft

TechEd 2011: Cloud Computing, Devices and Developers

Microsoft's TechEd keynote declared cloud, devices and developers the theme for the week. But it did not ignore its longstanding data center and end user desktop bases.
Tags: Exchange, cloud computing, Microsoft, TechEd, Azure

Why Choose Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Over VMware or Microsoft?

Sure, it's a lot less expensive, but is there a technological reason to choose the Linux leader over the virtualization kingpins? Navin Thadani thinks so and explains why.
Tags: Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, Microsoft, Hyper-V, server virtualization, VMware

Server Virtualization: It's All About the App

With System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 and Server App-V, Microsoft aims to simplify the bits and pieces needed to run a virtual infrastructure by virtualizing at the application level. Will it change the perception of server virtualization management?
Tags: Server App-V, server virtualization, Microsoft, SCVMM, application virtualization

New Windows Record Shattered by SGI

SGI stands to benefit from a new round of Microsoft certs as the company looks to run hundreds of physical cores on Windows Server.
Tags: SGI, Microsoft, Windows, Intel

HP: Itanium Is Not Dead

Oracle claims Intel is ending Itanium. HP and Intel respond.
Tags: Itanium, HP, Oracle, Microsoft, Intel

Cloud vs. Data Center: Can't Decide Which Is Best for Your Exchange Install?

If you want the advantages of a local messaging server as well as those of cloud computing, it may be time to consider coexistence.
Tags: Microsoft, messaging server, Exchange server, cloud computing

Microsoft Revs Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7 and SBS

It's SP1 time for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7, and a release candidate (RC) for Small Business Server 2011 Essentials is out. Find out what new features may be headed to your data center in the next few months.
Tags: SBS, server software, Microsoft, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 7

5 Reasons Nokia Won't Save Microsoft's Mobile OS

Microsoft and Nokia have teamed up in the hope of at last conquering the smartphone market. Many are calling this a last ditch effort for both the phone maker and the OS vendor to have any sort of presence in this complex market. Here's why the venture is likely to fail.
Tags: mobile os, Microsoft, iPhone, Windows 7 Phone, Nokia

Dell, HP Roll Out Virtual Solutions

Dell and HP announced new software offerings designed to make managing virtual environments easier. Is the future for server manufacturers virtual?
Tags: server virtualization, virtual appliance, Dell, Microsoft, HP

The Looming OS Identity Crisis

The gap between where desktop computing ends and mobile computing begins is becoming increasingly murkier as tablets make strides to cross the chasm. Not surprisingly, no two vendors demonstrate this more sharply than Microsoft vs. Apple.
Tags: Apple, iPhone, mobile os, server os, Microsoft

Does CPTN Spell the End for Open Source Software?

As part of the sale of Novell to Attachmate, Microsoft, Apple, Oracle and EMC have done the unlikely: They've joined together under the CPTN banner to acquire more than 800 patents. Is the OSI right to be concerned that this could be the beginning of the end?
Tags: OSI, Attachmate, open source software, Microsoft, Unix

Migrations to Exchange 2010 Heating Up

A new survey of IT professionals finds Exchange 2010 migrations entering a growth phase.
Tags: Mimecast, Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft, email, Exchange server

10 Free Server Tools Your Organization Needs

Got tools? Add these valuable and free server tools to your toolbox to make your computers, network and wallet very happy.
Tags: Microsoft, open source server, Top 10, server tools, Apache server

Novell Sells Out to Attachmate, Leaves the Future of Suse Linux Unclear

The announcement that Novell has agreed to sell itself is no surprise. The buyer -- Attachmate -- is, as is the agreed-upon price of $2.2 billion. Meanwhile, the future of Suse Linux Enterprise Server remains unclear, as does Microsoft's role in the deal.
Tags: open source servers, Attachmate, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Microsoft, Novell

Microsoft Releases SQL Server 'Denali' Preview

When Microsoft showed off "Denali" at the PASS conference in Seattle this week, it wasn't the Alaskan mountain they were talking about. Instead, it was about a mountain of data.
Tags: Windows, Denali, SQL Server, Microsoft

Active Directory Domain Services Recovery in Win Server 2008 R2

Active Directory is one of the primary infrastructure components of many Windows environments. Its resiliency and recoverability are inherently linked to operational continuity. Issues affecting its availability translate into monetary losses. Since Microsoft introduced this technology, it has continually improved native restore capabilities, most recently in Windows Server 2008 R2.
Tags: Windows Server 2008 R2, Microsoft, Windows Server, Active Directory, disaster recovery

8 Conversations From the VMworld Show Floor

From cloud computing virtual to I/O and more, here are highlights of eight ServerWatch conversations had with vendors at VMworld.
Tags: AMD, Cisco, Novell, Microsoft, VMworld

Oracle Squelches Open Source Spirit

Has Oracle replaced Microsoft as public enemy No. 1 when it comes to enterprise operating systems? Some in the OpenSolaris community believe so.
Tags: open source, Oracle, OpenSolaris, OS, Microsoft

Preview: Windows Home Server Vail

This preview offers an early look at the next version of Windows Home Server.
Tags: Vail, Windows Home Server, Microsoft

Open Source Software Soaring to Success

A recent Accenture survey finds almost 40 percent of respondents planning to migrate mission-critical workloads to open source software within the next year. Will open source software overtake proprietary apps, and is there room for both in the marketplace?
Tags: Microsoft, open source software, software development, Accenture, commercial software

Microsoft Bows Self-Service Virtual Machine Tool

New release of Microsoft's self-service portal aims to improve data center administrators' ability to quickly provision virtual machines for internal customers.
Tags: server virtualization, virtual machine, Hyper-V, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, Microsoft

Linux Integration Services 2.1 RTM Available

Linux Integration Services 2.1 for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V R2 is now available free of charge from the Microsoft Download Center.
Tags: virtualization, Linux Integration Services, Hyper-V, Microsoft

Ballmer: Microsoft Has Been in The Cloud Biz 15 Years

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer defends the company's cloud computing focus.
Tags: cloud computing, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure

Dell Offers Server Management from Microsoft with OEM Deal

The company will integrate Microsoft's SCE 2010 software with its own OpenManage tools.
Tags: server management, Microsoft, OEM, Dell

Microsoft Aurora SMB Server Details

Designed for SMBs, Microsoft claims its Aurora server delivers traditional and cloud capabilities.
Tags: SMB server, Aurora, SMB, Microsoft, cloud computing

Azure for Private and Public Clouds

Microsoft is taking its Azure cloud computing platform private.
Tags: Azure, Microsoft, cloud computing, private cloud, public cloud

NetApp Offers Data Center Management Services to SMB

The company is collaborating with Microsoft to leverage the Dynamic Data Center Toolkit for Hosters.
Tags: SMB, Microsoft, data center management, NetApp

Microsoft Allies to Sell Hosted Clouds Running Azure

Several service providers plan to offer services using the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform.
Tags: cloud computing, Azure, Microsoft

NetApp Integrates with Microsoft for SMB Cloud Services

The Toolkit provides code and guidance for building cloud services powered by Windows Server 2008 R2 with Hyper-V.
Tags: NetApp, Dynamic Data Center, SMB, Microsoft, Cloud

Microsoft Readies Betas of Vail and Aurora Servers

Online reports indicate that the betas may be released next week — timed with the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference.
Tags: server, Microsoft, Vail, Aurora

Cloud Computing's Back Alley Brawl

Microsoft is taking a page from SCO's playbook, suing Salesforce.com over nine CRM-related patents on which it claims the CRM vendor is infringing. Clearly, both companies believe cloud computing is critical to their future. With the cloud landscape still forming, is Microsoft prepared to do whatever it takes to be chief kingpin?
Tags: CRM, cloud computing, Azure, Salesforce.com, Microsoft

Likewise Open 6, Advancing Active Directory Interoperability With Open Source Software

Managing mixed Window, Linux and Mac environments is getting a speed boost with latest release of the open source software, Likewise.
Tags: Microsoft, open source software, Active Directory, Likewise

Microsoft Working on IIS 'Express' Web Server

Developers may have an easier time building websites with a streamlined offering that combines the best features of IIS 7.x and ASP.NET Developer Server.
Tags: ASP.NET, Microsoft, IIS, web server, Internet Information server

The Open Source Server Quagmire

For many enterprises, the choice of a server OS is a difficult one. While many companies don't want to pay too much for an open source server, they also want their vendor to remain in business. Unfortunately, the current model seems both unsustainable and unchanging.
Tags: open source software, open source server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, OS, Microsoft

In-Depth With Microsoft Communications Server 14

Microsoft has been working on a new version of Office Communications Server for several years and many new features were recently unveiled at the Tech Ed conference.
Tags: Microsoft, Communications Server, PBX, communications

Apple vs. Microsoft: Patch Management Polar Opposites

OS Roundup: When it comes to OS patches, Apple's model of 'ignorance is bliss,' is not the way to go; nor is Microsoft's regularly scheduled blitz. What is the best approach for both users and vendors?
Tags: Apple, OS, Patch Tuesday, Microsoft, patches

Has VMware Won the Server Virtualization War?

Virtually Speaking: It's accolades all around for VMware, even from Microsoft users.
Tags: TechEd, VMware, Microsoft, server virtualization, Hyper-V

Apple's Journey to the Top

OS Roundup: Was it exclusion or exclusivity that fueled Apple's journey to being the world's biggest technology company? Or perhaps it's Apple's understanding and ability that when the producer names the tune, the consumer must dance.
Tags: Microsoft, Apple, iPhone, OS, Mac OS X

NetApp, Microsoft Partner on Data Center Management Tools

The partnership will enable IT to manage virtual environments with standard Microsoft data center management tools.
Tags: NetApp, Microsoft, data center, data center management

Microsoft, Novell Report Upswing in HPC

The two companies claim to see an increase in the number of companies seeking high-performance computing.
Tags: Microsoft, HPC, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, Novell

ScaleMP, Microsoft Help Bring HPC and Cloud Computing Together

Virtually Speaking: Cloud computing continues to find its way into some of the most unlikely places. The HPC community is beginning to embrace it. Is cloud poised to become the most ubiquitous technology of the 21st Century?
Tags: ScaleMP, virtualization, cloud computing, supercomputing, Microsoft

Microsoft Releases Release Candidate of AppFabric

Microsoft has issued a release candidate of AppFabric, a services platform that is expected to become a standard feature of Windows Server 2008.
Tags: Microsoft, BizTalk, AppFabric, Windows Server 2008

A SMB Guide to Windows Small Business Server

For many small businesses, experts say that email and file sharing are the top priorities.
Tags: small business server, server, SMB, Microsoft

Deployment Guidance for Windows MultiPoint Server 2010

The Windows MultiPoint Server 2010 Deployment Guide is available from the Microsoft Download Center free of charge.
Tags: MultiPoint Server, deployment, Microsoft, server, guide

Microsoft Claims it 'Gets' The Cloud

Chief Executive Steve Ballmer believes Microsoft is now firing on all cylinders having been late to the cloud.
Tags: BizTalk, Cloud, cloud computing, Microsoft

Inside Ten of the World's Largest Data Centers

In pictures, here is an inside look at ten of the world’s largest data centers.
Tags: server, Facebook, Microsoft, Google, data center

Microsoft Changes SQL Server Enterprise Virtualization License

According to one report, to gain unlimited virtualization rights, customers will need to purchase the new Datacenter Edition of SQL Server 2008 R2.
Tags: SQL Server, Microsoft, virtualization