Risk-free testing at Microsoft Virtual Labs

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: DAVE KEARNS ON WINDOWS NETWORKING TIPS
06/13/05
Today's focus: Risk-free testing at Microsoft Virtual Labs

Dear security.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* Test out Microsoft gear at Microsoft Virtual Labs
* Links related to Windows Networking Tips
* Featured reader resource
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Concord Communications
Network World Executive Guide: The Evolution of Management
Technologies

Network and systems technologies have an important new role -
helping networked systems live up to new business realities.
With growing and shifting demands, network executives are
balancing business goals with prioritizing IT projects. Read
about the 'Future of Management', 'IT Service Management',
'Managing Security', and 'Best Practices'.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106687
_______________________________________________________________
SANs, NAS, VIRTUALIZATION AND MORE

NW's Research Center on Storage allows you to quickly find the
enterprise storage information you need. Whether your quest is
for information on Storage Management, Storage Compliance, SANs,
NAS, Virtualization or the latest enterprise storage trends -
find breaking news, case studies, white papers, commentary,
reviews and more on NW's Research Center on Storage. Click here:
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_______________________________________________________________

Today's focus: Risk-free testing at Microsoft Virtual Labs

By Dave Kearns

Ever wanted to test Microsoft's newest software in a sandbox
environment? Wouldn't it be great to be able to test new servers
immediately, without formatting hard drives or dedicating one or
more computers to the project? Now you can, through the virtual
test bed provided by Microsoft at Microsoft Virtual Labs (link
below), which is the portal to three sets of online demo
environments:

* Visual Studio .Net is represented by the "Visual Studio Hosted
  Experience" which allows you to either quickly evaluate Visual
  Studio .Net 2003, or learn how to build applications for Windows
  and the Web with the MSDN Virtual Labs - a series of guided,
  hands-on labs which can be completed in under an hour.
* Microsoft's Technet is the sponsor of TechNet Virtual Lab,
  where the very newest technologies can be experimented with, but
  without risking your network.
* Microsoft Server System provides a testbed to look at many of
  the server products Redmond offers in a realistic environment
  without any lab investment (that should make the bean counters
  happy).

The Server System test bed is probably of most interest to the
majority of readers of this newsletter. Through this system you
can look at:

* Microsoft Windows Server 2003 - road test new and improved
  features and functionality including performance, management,
  and usability enhancements to Microsoft Active Directory.

* Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 - exploration of the Microsoft
  Active Directory and Exchange management packs, anti-spam and
  SMTP security features, migration from Exchange Server 5.5,
  disaster recovery and more.

* Microsoft Identity Integration Server (MIIS) 2003 -
  walk-through potential usage scenarios, learn how to synchronize
  different directories and data sources, automate identity
  management tasks, and maintain a consistent state of directories
  over the lifetime of user accounts.

* Microsoft Systems Management Server Manager (SMS) 2003 -
  experiment with and learn more about SMS 2003 and Microsoft
  Active Directory integration, patch management, security
  updates, Office deployment and configuration of SMS for hardware
  and software asset inventory and usage.

* Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) 2005 - experiment with
  managing Exchange and Active Directory and Monitoring SQL Server
  with MOM 2005 in the enhanced security of a sandbox environment.

* Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server (ISA) -
  experiment with ISA's advanced application-layer firewall, VPN,
  and Web cache solution. Gain exposure to new features in ISA
  2004 and learn more about securing Exchange Server with ISA.

While you do need to register for this service, the opportunity
to try out these products in a virtually hassle-free and
risk-free environment is well worth it. Sign up now.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

Microsoft Virtual Labs
http://microsoft.demoservers.com/

AT&T collaborates with Microsoft
Network World, 06/13/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlwnt2530
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Dave Kearns

Dave Kearns is a writer and consultant in Silicon Valley. He's
written a number of books including the (sadly) now out of print
"Peter Norton's Complete Guide to Networks." His musings can be
found at Virtual Quill <http://www.vquill.com/>.

Kearns is the author of three Network World Newsletters: Windows
Networking Tips, Novell NetWare Tips, and Identity Management.
Comments about these newsletters should be sent to him at these

respective addresses: <mailto:windows@vquill.com>,
<mailto:netware@vquill.com>, <mailto:identity@vquill.com>.

Kearns provides content services to network vendors: books,
manuals, white papers, lectures and seminars, marketing,
technical marketing and support documents. Virtual Quill
provides "words to sell by..." Find out more by e-mail at
<mailto:info@vquill.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Concord Communications
Network World Executive Guide: The Evolution of Management
Technologies

Network and systems technologies have an important new role -
helping networked systems live up to new business realities.
With growing and shifting demands, network executives are
balancing business goals with prioritizing IT projects. Read
about the 'Future of Management', 'IT Service Management',
'Managing Security', and 'Best Practices'.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106686
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Breaking Windows networking news from Network World, updated
daily: http://www.networkworld.com/topics/windows.html

Operating Systems Research Center:
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/operating-systems.html

Archive of the Windows Networking Tips newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nt/index.html
_______________________________________________________________
FEATURED READER RESOURCE
VoIP SECURITY

For the latest in VoIP security, check out NW's Research Center
on this very topic. Here you will find a collection of the
latest news, reviews, product testing results and more all
related to keeping VoIP networks secure. Click here for more:
<http://www.networkworld.com/topics/voip-security.html>
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