Windows Server Codename “Longhorn”- Microsoft EMEA Reviewers Forum

The Windows Server “Longhorn” EMEA Reviewers Briefing in Rome a couple of weeks ago is now available on-line on demand.

Links to all sessions: https://www.microsoft.com/emea/itsshowtime/result_search.aspx?event=63

 

Server Virtualization

Bryon Surace, Program Manager II - Microsoft Corp

 

This scenario focuses on the virtualization role of Windows Server “Longhorn” that enables IT organizations to reduce costs and create an agile and dynamic datacenter. The virtualization role provides an entirely new deployment and licensing paradigm to enable multiple operating system instances—from both Microsoft and potentially third party operating system vendors—to run in a virtual infrastructure separated from the hardware by a slim “hypervisor”-based virtualization technology. As we look at this scenario, it will be important to keep focus on not only what the scenario provides but also what it enables – which is possibly all the other roles of Windows Server “Longhorn” and potentially Linux and other operating systems.

 

Centralized Application Access

Alex Balcanquall, Product Manager - Microsoft Corp.

 

This scenario focuses centralizing application access to business applications with Terminal Services. Terminal Services enable customers to set up a centralized system that allows them to quickly and securely provide access to Windows-based applications from any network-connected location. Customers can provide this functionality using a variety of clients, including Windows PCs, Windows based thin clients, or Windows Mobile devices. When users run an application with Terminal Services, the application execution takes place on the server, and only keyboard, mouse and display information is transmitted over the network. Users see only their own individual sessions, which are managed transparently by the server OS, and remain independent of any other client session.

Security & Policy Enforcement: Network Access Protection

Graziano Galante, Technology Solution Professional, Microsoft Italy

This scenario focuses on the improved manageability and security compliance enabled by the policy-driven access features for organizations that have deployed Windows Server “Longhorn” with Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 R2. We will focus on Network Access Protection and Network Policy and Access Services.

 

Web & Applications Platform

Isaac Roybal, Product Manger Windows Server, Microsoft Corporation

 

This scenario focuses on the management, security, performance and extensibility improvements that will be available when Windows Server “Longhorn” is deployed to host and manage applications & services running on the server and/or over the Web.

 

Server Management: Server Core

Andrew Mason Principal Product Manager Lead, Microsoft Corporation

This scenario focuses on tools, technologies, and installation options that are available for use on Windows Server “Longhorn” to improve the management experience of single and multiple servers across an enterprise. Server Core provides a minimal installation option for certain server roles, offering a smaller server footprint and attack surface to reduce management and servicing needs.

Server Management: PowerShell / Server Manager

Scott Ottaway, Senior Product Manager - Microsoft Corporation

This scenario focuses on tools, technologies, and installation options that are available for use on Windows Server “Longhorn” to improve the management experience of single and multiple servers across an enterprise. For local administration of a single server, Server Manager is an integrated Microsoft Management Console that offers IT professionals a seamless, integrated experience for adding, removing, and configuring server roles, role services, and features. It also acts as a portal for ongoing server management, monitoring, and operations by exposing key management tasks based on server role, and providing access to advanced administration tools. In larger enterprises, management of multiple servers can be automated using Windows PowerShell, which consists of a new command line shell and scripting language designed specifically to automate administration tasks for server roles such as IIS and Active Directory.

 

High Availability

Kurt Friedrich, Principal Product Unit Manager, Microsoft Corporation

Providing highly available services to critical applications and services is a cornerstone for any IT department. This scenario focuses on high availability; failover clustering improvements that will be available for applications deployed on Windows Server “Longhorn.” Failover Clustering as part of Windows Server “Longhorn” provides an easy to use feature for mission critical applications and services.