Kurt Shintaku's Blog

From the BUILD Conference in Anaheim, California, Server and Tools President, Satya Nadella outlined a changing world of application development, connected devices, and continuous services, and articulated how Microsoft’s investments in these areas will enable developers to create a wealth of new opportunities by leading this transformation.

Nadella went on to highlight the opportunity for developers to build the next generation of applications by architecting new types of front-end client applications that are connected to back-end clouds using the Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows 8, which was released today at BUILD.

For more details on the Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows 8, Windows Azure SDK 1.5, Geo-Replication for Windows Azure Storage, and other announcements, check out the Windows Azure blog post on the topic:

• JUST ANNOUNCED @ BUILD: New Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows 8, Windows Azure SDK 1.5, Geo-Replication for Windows Azure Storage, and More
  http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsazure/archive/2011/09/14/just-announced-build-new-windows-azure-toolkit-for-windows-8-windows-azure-sdk-1-5-geo-replication-for-azure-storage-and-more.aspx

In his keynote at BUILD, Jason Zander announced the availability of:

• .NET Framework 4.5 Developer Preview
• Microsoft® Visual Studio® 11 Developer Preview
• Microsoft® Team Server Preview

If you are an MSDN subscriber, you can download the preview immediately via this link. For everyone else, Visual Studio 11 and Team Foundation Server 11 will be generally available starting at 10:00 AM PDT on Friday.

For more details, check out the announcement on the Visual Studio Blog:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudio/archive/2011/09/14/visual-studio-11-developer-preview-announced.aspx

Overview
In this lab, you will learn how Microsoft SQL Server PowerPivot for SharePoint leverages SharePoint 2010 and Excel Services to support centralized management of PowerPivot workbooks to enable collaboration.  You will also learn how to configure a PowerPivot site in SharePoint for successfully viewing PowerPivot workbooks and how to publish PowerPivot workbooks to that PowerPivot site.  In addition, you will learn about the PowerPivot Gallery views and how to change the default view, and create a linked document based on a PowerPivot workbook and configured a data refresh of the workbook.  Finally, you will learn how to build a Reporting Services report using the PowerPivot Web service as a data source, and review the PowerPivot Management Dashboard.

During this lab, we will cover:

• Visualizing Data with Maps in SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services
• Working with ATOM Data Feeds in SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services
• Exploring PowerPivot for SharePoint
• nalyzing and Reporting with the Excel 2010 Client
• Developing and Consuming Shared Components in SQL Server 2008 R2 Reporting Services

Registration:  To register, please contact me for registration details as this is an invite only training for our managed customers.  This special, no charge training series will fill quickly and space is limited, so be sure to register as soon as possible to reserve your seat.

Date
Wednesday October 5^th, 2011

Time
9:00am – 1:00pm Pacific Time

Location:
Virtual Hands On Lab Classroom. 

Target Audience: 
IT Pro, IT Manager

Before the Event:

• Check virtual lab for your computer http://test.vlabcenter.com/hv/default.aspx
• Install the ActiveX control. The Microsoft "Virtual Machine Remote Control" ActiveX control is required to start the virtual lab.
• Review system requirements.
• If you have any issues, please contact support.

What is a virtual hands-on-lab:
This isn’t your typical IT class. A hands-on lab online is an invite only event that combines LiveMeeting with a virtual lab.  Attendees and presenters login from anywhere. Attendees watch a brief LiveMeeting presentation, then spend most of the time getting hands-on experience working through all, or just self-selected modules of the entire lab – at their own pace, and receive real–time, personal, one-on-one attention from the presenter.  In addition, there’s a proctor available for technical support and to answer more attendee questions.

Annnnd if you’re looking to learn how to administer BizTalk Server 2010, you’re in luck.  Free training!

Announcing the BizTalk Server 2010 Administrator Training Kit!  This training kit contains a complete set of materials that will enable you to learn the core administrator capabilities in BizTalk Server 2010. This kit includes lab manuals, PowerPoint presentations and videos, all designed to help you learn about BizTalk Server 2010. There is also an option below to download a Virtual Machine that is ready for you to use with the training kit.

About This Hands-On Lab
This three-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to install and configure a computer running Microsoft BizTalk Server 2010. The course also shows you how to deploy and manage BizTalk applications in a production environment.
Audience Profile
This course is intended for systems engineers and network administrators with two to three years of experience managing an enterprise-level Microsoft Windows Server environment.
At Course Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the services and tools provided in BizTalk Server 2010.
• Install BizTalk Server 2010 on a computer.
• Deploy BizTalk applications to a BizTalk server 2010 computer.
• Manage and monitor BizTalk applications on a BizTalk Server 2010 computer.
• Manage BizTalk Server groups and backup a BizTalk Server 2010 computer.
• Monitor a BizTalk Server environment with System Center Operations Manager.

DOWNLOAD: BizTalk Server 2010 Administrator Training Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=27148

Holy cow.  Wanna learn how to implement an Enterprise Services Bus using a basic implementation of BizTalk Server 2010?  There’s a training kit for that!

Announcing the BizTalk Server 2010 ESB Training Kit!  This training kit contains a complete set of materials that will enable you to learn about the ESB Toolkit in BizTalk Server 2010. This kit includes lab manuals, PowerPoint presentations and videos, all designed to help you learn about the ESB Toolkit. There is also an option below to download a Virtual Machine that is ready for you to use with the training kit.

About This Training Kit
This two-day instructor-led course consists of a series of hands-on labs that provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop applications using Microsoft BizTalk Server ESB Toolkit.

Audience Profile
This course is intended for Developers who want to learn how to develop applications with BizTalk Server.

At Hands-On Lab Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:

• Understand the ESB Toolkit
• Install the ESB Toolkit
• Process messages using the ESB itinerary mechanism
• Understand ESB pipeline processing
• Understand the ESB resolver and adapter provider framework
• Use ESB external services
• Understand exception management and the ESB management portal
• Modify and extend the ESB Toolkit

DOWNLOAD:  BizTalk Server 2010 ESB Training Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=27151

The following online training sessions will be available exclusively for our managed Enterprise customers. We have limited seating for these virtual events so if you are a customer of mine, please contact me for registration information.

SQL Server High Availability
Wednesday, November 02, 2011 9:00 AM
During this lab, we will cover:

• How to create a Windows Server cluster
• How to install a SQL Server clustered instance
• How to maintain a failover cluster

SQL Server 2008 R2 Upgrade and New Features 
Wednesday, November 30, 2011 9:00 AM
In this hands on lab, you will learn how to prepare and perform an upgrade to SQL Server 2008 R2, as well as go through new features including StreamInsight and Multi Server Management.   We will cover:

• Lab 1:  Upgrading to SQL Server 2008 R2
• Lab 2:  Working with the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 StreamInsight Event Flow Debugger
• Lab 3:  Querying Events in Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 StreamInsight Using LINQ
• Lab 4:  Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2: Multi Server Management

The following online training sessions will be available exclusively for our managed Enterprise customers.  We have limited seating for these virtual events so if you are a customer of mine, please contact me for registration information.

Addressing Application Compatibility in Windows 7
Tuesday, September 27, 2011 9:00 AM
Learn about tools and resources to reduce the time, cost, and complexity of addressing application compatibility.

• Windows 7 Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.5
• Windows 7: Mitigating Application Issues Using Shims

PowerShell, IIS 7.5 on Server Core and AD Management
Wednesday, October 12, 2011 9:00 AM
Windows Server 2008 R2 provides a productive server platform because it offers cost-effective virtualization, power saving capabilities, and a superior experience for end users. In this Hands-on Lab we will focus on the enhancements made to PowerShell, the new Scripting Language for the Windows Platform, will help you automate management tasks in local and remote computers. You also learn how to configure IIS 7.5 on Server Core in order to run ASP.NET applications. Finally you will learn how you can use PowerShell and the new AD administrative Center to Manage Active Directory.  We will cover:

• Server Management and PowerShell V2
• Deploying and Managing ASP.NET Using IIS 7.5 on Server Core:
• Active Directory and Server Manager Remoting

Learn How to Deploy Windows 7 in Your Enterprise
Tuesday, October 25, 2011 9:00 AM
Learn about Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), the recommended process and toolset to automate desktop and server deployment and the Windows® Automated Installation Kit (Windows AIK), which is designed to help IT professionals deploy the Windows® 7 operating system.  We will cover:

• Introduction to Deploying Windows 7 Using the Windows Automated Installation Kit
• Getting Started with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010
• Zero Touch Installation Using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 and System Center Configuration Manager

Active Directory, Best Practice Analyzer, IIS 7.5 on Server Core and BranchCache
Wednesday, December 07, 2011 9:00 AM
Windows Server 2008 R2 provides a productive server platform because it offers cost-effective virtualization, power saving capabilities, and a superior experience for end users. In this hands-on lab, we will focus on the enhancements made to Active Directory in Windows Server 2008 R2. We will also show you how you can leverage the Best Practice Analyzer to improve compliance with established standards and best practices. Finally, we’ll provide an overview of two new features in Windows Server 2008 R2:

• The ability to run ASP.NET apps on IIS 7.5 running on Server Core
• BranchCache, a new technology that can help organization reduce bandwidth utilization.

We will cover:

• What’s New in Active Directory
• Best Practices Analyzers, IIS, ASP.NET and Server Core
• BranchCaching

Microsoft ALM Summit
Application Lifecycle Management for the Microsoft platform
November 14-18, 2011 – Microsoft Redmond

Do you want to help your software development team be the most efficient and effective it can be?
Attend ALM Summit 2011 to gain deeper insight into your application lifecycle, discover best practices that address additional development challenges in the industry, and learn how Microsoft’s ALM solutions enable and support those best practices. You’ll come away from this event with new tools for making better decisions about design, implementation, and technology selection.

New at this year’s event:

• A full-time, hands-on lab featuring self-guided tutorials on Team Foundation Server and Test Lab Management
• Two focused breakout tracks—ALM Leadership and Agile Developer

The leadership track will include strategic content to help CIOs, application development VPs, directors, and managers improve their organizations. The developer track will include tutorials to help individual contributors become exceptional members of their teams.

REGISTRATION:

• http://www.alm-summit.com/home.aspx
• http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/alm-summit-2011

It’s finally out!  The Windows 8 Developer Preview in .ISO format for x64/x86 along with versions with Dev Tools built in are now available courtesy of the Microsoft //build/ Conference 2011!

• DOWNLOAD:  Windows Developer Preview downloads
  http://dev.windows.com
  (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516)

If you’re interested in other Build Conference resources that address Windows 8, check out the following list:

Build Conference/Windows 8 Resources:

• BUILD Event/Keynote Livestream or Archive (Mon, Tue)
• B8 Blog
• Microsoft News Center/BUILD
• The Windows Blog
• Windows Dev Center
• BUILD Session Recording Archive
• Windows and Windows Server Application Compatibility Cookbook

Developer Forums for Windows 8 Dev Preview:
(http://win8.ms/forums)

• Metro Style Applications Forum
• Desktop Development Forum
• Hardware Development Forum

BUILD is a new event that shows modern hardware and software developers how to take advantage of the future of Windows. Learn how to work with the all new touch-centric user experience to create fast, fluid, and dynamic applications that leverage the power and flexibility of the core of Windows, used by more than a billion people around the world.

Hear how the UI was designed to work seamlessly with a diversity of devices and form factors. Go behind the scenes and learn all about the new app model that allows you to create powerful new apps. All while retaining the ability to use your existing apps. Web-connected and web-powered apps built using HTML5 and JavaScript have access to the power of the PC. Touch-optimized browsing, with the full power of hardware-accelerated Internet Explorer 10 transforms your experiences with the web. BUILD is the first place to dive deep into the future of Windows.

Day 1’s sessions online include 32 different topics including:

• Steven Sinofsky’s Keynote for Day #1
• 8 traits of great Metro style apps
• Anatomy of HTML5 sites and Metro style apps using HTML5
• Tools for building Metro style apps
• Programming SVG and canvas graphics in a Metro style app based on HTML5
• Platform for Metro style apps
• SPA 3.0 – A simple server performance tuning advisor
• Capturing and analyzing performance traces

And many more.

• VIDEO:  //build/ Conference Session Video Archives
  http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/BUILD/BUILD2011