Webcast Series on Microsoft Virtualization

The IT Pro Evangelists team is working on a series of webcasts covering topics related to Microsoft Virtualization starting this week.
These will be 300 level sessions, so they will offer technical depth on several items related to virtualization, including Hyper-V and SCVMM:

Virtualization in a Nutshell

In this webcast, we introduce the virtualization world, laying the ground work for the other webcasts in this series. We cover both the Microsoft products and solutions available to create a virtualization environment in your organization and the third-party virtualization options. We also answer the question: Why use virtualization in the first place and why use Microsoft technologies? While we are not aiming to cover every topic in depth in this webcast, you can get an understanding of what all your virtualization options are and understand the concepts discussed in later webcasts in the series.

Selecting the Right Candidates for Virtualization

In this webcast, we look at the first steps for creating a virtual environment. Following up on the first webcast in the series, Virtualization in a Nutshell, where we discussed virtualization technologies, we now examine the specifics you need to consider. Virtualization is an ideal solution to help reduce costs in an organization. However, virtualization is not just a case of taking an application or system and creating virtual environments on a single system. You need to consider compatibility, supportability, licensing, and of course above all the long-term benefits to the business. All these factors play key parts when considering virtualization, and we analyze what makes a good candidate for virtualization and what does not. We also cover the software and hardware requirements for the main types of virtualization. At the end of this webcast, the webcast series splits into more in-depth discussions about the different virtualization types as we follow four scenario companies through their virtualization efforts.

Virtualizing Test and Development Environments for a Quick Return on Investment

In this webcast, we follow the Contoso IT department as they prepare to deploy Windows Server 2008 with the Hyper-V role. An initial benefit Contoso can take advantage of quickly while they get used to this new way of computing is the virtualization of their test and development systems. When service packs from Microsoft, other vendors, or Contoso's own development teams become available, the service packs have to be tested. However, keeping machines just for testing different setups is not an efficient solution. With Server Virtualization, Contoso can retain many different images to test more scenarios more easily. Attend this webcast to see how Contoso sets up this development and test environment virtualization scenario as they prepared for the larger consolidation project.

Managing the Virtualized Test and Development Environment

In the last webcast in the series, Contoso consolidated its test and development environments into a virtual environment. In this webcast, we look more closely at the management of this virtual environment. Later in the webcast series, Contoso expands its virtual environment and uses Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) to manage their virtual environment. However, in this webcast, we demonstrate how a smaller virtual environment, which does not justify SCVVM, can be managed using the tools in Windows Server 2008. 

If I Virtualize It, How Do I Manage It?

In the previous webcast, we looked at how Contoso used out-of-the-box Windows Server 2008 tools to manage their virtualized test and development environment. However, Contoso wishes to go further and consolidate a number of server workloads to fully realize the benefit of server consolidation. Based on their experience of managing a small number of guests, Contoso needs a management solution that can scale as they consolidate servers, and they also want to provide a self-service provisioning option to some groups. In this webcast, we introduce you to Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008.

Consolidation and Rapid Provisioning

Contoso has seen the benefits of virtualizing their test and development environments, now Contoso wishes to proceed on a wide-spread deployment of virtualization technologies with a wider scope. In this webcast, we look at how to use Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager to move production servers into a virtual environment, we also cover the creation of a self-service provisioning environment that allows groups within Contoso to create and manage their own virtual machines without the help of the IT department.

Building on Your Existing Virtual Environment

Datium is an organization that has been on the leading edge of virtualization for a while, and they currently have VMware and Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2. Datium is looking for a single set of tools to manage their virtual environments. In this webcast, we look at how Datium can use Hyper-V and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 to manage their virtual environments and migrate over to a Hyper-V–based environment.

Virtualization Solutions for High Availability

Right about now, you are probably thinking along the same lines as Contoso. Before the virtualization of all these workloads, if one server failed, you only lost that workload for the time it took to recover. Now, if one server fails, you potentially loose several critical workloads. How does this benefit your organization? In this webcast, we look at the server clustering support, configuration, and options in Windows Server 2008 and Hyper-V that help provide a high-availability virtualized solution.

Client-Side Virtualization

We now switch track in the webcast series and begin to explore client virtualization. In this webcast, we discuss the three client-related virtualization technologies—application virtualization, desktop virtualization, and presentation virtualization—and explain when it is appropriate to use each technology. We also introduce the three scenarios we use to demonstrate application, desktop, and presentation virtualization later in the webcast series.

Using Presentation Virtualization

In the next few webcasts in this series, we explore presentation virtualization solutions for running applications centrally. First, we look at how Fabrikam implemented a Terminal Services solution to reduce the number of desktops it purchases and deploys to its knowledge works as it aims to reduce hardware costs, energy consumption, and administration costs. Later, we cover the installation of the Terminal Services role, licensing, client configuration, and application installation.

Scaling Terminal Services Out (1/2)

In the previous webcast, we covered how Fabrikam could use a single server configured for Terminal Services (TS) to deliver applications centrally. In this webcast, we look at solutions for scaling out Terminal Services. We demonstrate how Fabrikam can use TS Gateway to extend the connectivity to their Terminal Services to devices outside the internal network, while still maintaining the high degree of integrity they need. In the second part of this webcast, we look at Network Load Balancing (NLB) and TS Broker Services.

Scaling Terminal Services Out (2/2)

In the previous webcast, we saw Fabrikam deploying Terminal Services (TS) Gateway to increase the access to their Terminal Services. In this webcast, we discuss the two options for scaling out Terminal Services to more than one server, Network Load Balancing (NLB) and the new TS Broker Service, and we describe when it is appropriate to use each of the two options.

Running Legacy Applications with Virtualization (1/2)

In the previous webcasts, we saw how presentation virtualization could be used to reduce the size of the client system needed to run an application by virtualizing the entire desktop and using thin clients. This solution works for certain scenarios, but what if you have older applications you need to run alongside newer applications and these applications do not work well together on the same machine, whether it is a desktop or Terminal Service session. The answer is to virtualize the application. In this webcast, we use a scenario at Woodgrove Bank to demonstrate an application virtualization solution.

Running Legacy Applications with Virtualization (2/2)

In the previous webcast, we saw how to use the lightweight and standalone methods for delivering virtual applications. In this webcast, we demonstrate how Woodgrove Bank extended their application virtualization capabilities using Microsoft System Center products.

Creating a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

In some cases the number of client systems that need to run legacy application may not require even the lightweight Microsoft Application Virtualization infrastructure. For these clients an alternative solution is available, Desktop Virtualization. Desktop Virtualization utilizes Microsoft Virtual PC to deliver an entire operating system environment to a client computer, which enables them to run applications in isolation from the regular desktop environment.

Securing the Virtual Environments

Security is of paramount concern for all organizations, and it is no different for a virtual solution. In this webcast, we look at the four main solutions from the previous webcasts and cover some best practices for ensuring your virtual environment is secure. 

Virtualization with Centralized, Policy-Based Management

The best overall virtualization solution for an organization could be a combination of all the products, technologies, and practices we have seen so far in this webcast series. This begs the question of management. With all these technologies, how will an IT department cope with enforcing company policy? In this webcast, we look at the management side of virtualization in more detail, covering how polices can be managed centrally.

Virtualization Solutions in Branch Offices

All four of our scenario companies have deployed some form of virtualization solution. In this webcast, we look specifically at how to apply the technologies we have seen so far in the webcast series to provide branch offices with a secure environment, running the applications they require while still being highly manageable from a central location.

Managing Virtual Solutions

In the previous webcasts, we looked at how Contoso used the Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V console and Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 to manage their virtual machines. In this webcast, we look at how to use Microsoft System Center Operations Manager and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager to monitor, manage, and update an entire virtual environment.

Road Map for the Future of Virtualization

In this final webcast in the series, we look at the road map for virtualization. Find out what is coming and approximately when you can actually start to try the new virtualization technologies out. We discuss Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7, and we cover the changes in Hyper-V and virtualization planned for these products as known at the time of this webcast. 

The first session is happening on 01/14/2009. For dates, times and registration links, check this blog post:
https://blogs.technet.com/yungchou/archive/2009/01/12/20-part-webcast-series-on-microsoft-virtualization-solutions.aspx