Category: Server 2012

Windows 8.1 Hyper-V Networking and Enhanced Session Mode

As a good Administrator should, I have two user accounts. One as an ordinary user and one Admin Account. We have all our Services running in the Microsoft Cloud and of course I do not want to fill out my credentials every time I open my browser or do stuff in Private Browser sessions. Although tearing it down, we still have some servers Onprem and to access those I need a VPN Connection to our Cisco ASA appliance (I live on Aruba and our office sits on Curacao). It took me some trial and error to get things going…… with my Virtual Admin Machine.

@Home I have a simple Wi-Fi set up and as we all know by now, running a Virtual Admin Machine just over a Wireless Network Adapter is no great success. The proper way to set that up is as follows:

In Hyper-V Manager, create a new Internal Switch:

Assign the Network Adapter of the VM to that Internal Switch:

Go to Network and Sharing center on the Host, click properties on the Wireless Adapter and hit the Sharing Tab and share it with the Internal Switch:

 

At this point the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client (3.1) on the Host refuses to connect over the Wi-Fi connection because the adapter is being shared. Bummer. There is probably a workaround for that but I want my Admin stuff not on the Host but on the VM. So this is just a note.

I installed the Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility client in the VM and tried to connect. Bummer……. The client refuses to connect out of a RDP Session. I used my favorite Search Engine:

  • There is a client config file on the local machine -> not so
  • In the ASDM Console connected to the Cisco ASA Appliance there is Node called “Client Profile Settings -> not so
  • Both the ASDM Console and the ASA OS are outdated, downloading the latest version -> (Cisco) accountname + pw -> not documented…..

So, I tried starting at the other end, the VM. How come “RDP”? Am I not connected to the Console in the “Virtual Machine Connection”? My favorite Search Engine again: A “cool” feature of Windows 8.1 Hyper-V is “Enhanced Session Mode”. By default this is set to “Enabled”. It allows for RDP-like experience in the Virtual Machine, redirection of drives etc. There are three places where you should look:

And in the Virtual Machine Connection Window:

Unchecking the “Enhanced Session” in the Virtual Machine Connection did the trick. The Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client now connects through my Shared Wi-Fi Connection!

All in a days work………

 

 

 

 

 

 

TechEd Europe 2013 Day 3 and Day 4: Windows 8.1 & Office365 with PowerShell

Due to a tight schedule I have not been able to post a Blog last night… I’ll do it now. Although the Windows 8.1 Preview is already out there I still think I should mention a few things. And of course I had to see my co-chairman of the Dutch Office365 User Group do his session on managing Office365 with Powershell. The rest of my time at TechEd I was proctoring the Hands On Labs and I was assisting in the Instructor Led Labs, making a difference for the delegates of the Event.

So, now we have Windows 8.1 with the return of something like a Start button (imho it could be left out anyway, remember how laughed at the Start button back in ’95?). But if it makes you happy, I’m happy. The real good news is that the switching between “Metro” (oeps, Modern UI) and the classic desktop is much less. For desktop users, they can choose to stay in the classic desktop and yes, boot to the classic desktop, while touch/tablet users can stay in the Modern UI. That’s neat!

In my previous Blog I already mentioned “Workspaces”, a safe online/offline way of connecting to corporate fileshares over https for mobile devices. You need to implement this on a Server 2012 R2. Windows 8.1 defaults to Skydrive for saving files but gives the user the opportunity to keep a locally cached copy of those files.

 

Danny Burlage did a nice job in delivering his session Powershell. I know as a MCT and speaker that Powershell is not “sexy” and it’s hard to deliver an interesting hour! It took him only 1 hour to provision a newly created Office365 Tenant with User, Contact, DistributionGroups, Rooms, Archives and so on with just a few amazingly simple PowerShell scripts.

CU at the next Teched?

 

TechEd Europe 2013 SCVMM R2 Session

After joining a session on ConfigMgr and Intune, which brought me nothing new, I joined a session on System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 R2 (http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/Europe/2013/MDC-B357#fbid=hBjzVKd6xg9 ).

There is some interesting new stuff in SCVMM2012R2:

  • Apart from SC AppController for Self-Service there is the Windows Azure Pack. WAP gives the look and feel of Azure but is targeted at your Private Cloud.
  • Cisco now provides a Virtual Nexus 1000 Switch (http://www.cisco.com/en/US/solutions/collateral/ns340/ns517/ns224/ns955/ns963/solution_overview_c22-687087.html ) for Virtual Networks based on Hyper-V.
  • VMM R2 will provide a Gateway out-of-the-box with the Border Gateway Protocol.
  • There will be Service Templates for all System Center Components (sounds like a deeper development of the Powershell Deployment Toolkit)
  • Guest Cluster can now use a VHDX as shared storage (as long as the VHDX resides on a CSV Cluster).
  • VMM R2 can manage Physical Switches.
  • I already mentioned in yesterdays’ Blogpost the Azure Hyper-V Replica Manager for orchestrating a failover to a DR Site.

Pretty neat features for a R2 release!

I’ll be back tomorrow.

TechEd Europe 2013 My Keynote Highlights from Madrid

Although TechEd North America finished some three weeks ago I would like to mention a couple things from the, mostly the same Keynote as 3 weeks yonder. They have not become less worthwhile in that short period of time.

And, there was a great announcement! The bits of a lot of upcoming stuff are available as of today as Preview:

  • Server 2012 R2
  • System Center 2012 R2
  • SQL 2014
  • Visual Studio

Here comes the summer J.

As an IT Pro I focus on what was said concerning this line of IT Business. A quote I really liked: “BYO is not a privilege, it is a right.” Such is the perception of users. Out of that Identity Management is a major thing and Microsoft proposes to leverage Azure Active Directory with the Onprem Active Directory (no-brainer for Office365 en Intune admins). The same goes for leveraging Windows Intune with SCCM! SQL 2014 Management Studio can connect to SQL Azure

Extending stuff to Azure with the Windows Azure Pack, gives the look and feel of the Azure Portal to both your Private Cloud and the Azure Public Cloud. The MSDN accounts on Azure are now calculated per minute (as per hour in the “old” days), making it easier for Devs to test their Apps.

A super Server 2012 R2 feature is “auto-tiering” of storage where you can mix SSD with JOBD and the OS will find out what to store where, now that is cool!

Azure now has a Hyper-V Recovery Service with which you van Orchestrate Data Center failovers….. pffff.

A demo of Windows 8.1 showed us “workplace connect” en “worker folders”. I like the Wrker Folders (on Server 2012 R2 that is); it syncs and secures ordinary fileshares over hhtps to any user-device…. Very very neat!

The rest of my 1st day was filled with assisting as Microsoft Certified Trainer so no details from me on the breakout sessions which you can see on http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechEd/Europe/2013?wt.mc_id=homepagetop#fbid=CJ-2jXdm1ag

Enjoy, I’ll be back with more!

Attending Microsoft Management Summit 2013

On April 6 I will fly to Las Vegas where MMS2013 will start.

I just finished building my Schedule and I will append my notes from each session into this Blog post.

Here’s my schedule:

  • The Benefits and Reasons for Upgrading to Windows Server 2012 Active Directory
  • Getting Started with Orchestrator and Service Manager
  • System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Overview
  • System Center 2012 SP1 Operations Manager Overview
  • Getting Started with Windows Azure Virtual Machines and Virtual Networks
  • How to Design and Configure Networking in VMM and Hyper-V
  • Designing a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Architecture for Scale and Performance
  • Orchestrating Hyper-V Replica Planned Failover with System Center 2012 SP1
  • Implementing Common Scenarios in Virtual Machine Manager: Services and Service Templates
  • Cisco Virtual Networking Solutions for Microsoft Hyper-V Environments
  • Develop a Successful Flexible Desktop Strategy in Today’s Digital Era
  • Monitoring and the Network and Storage Infrastructure with Operations Manager 2012
  • Manage and Monitor Your Windows Azure Usage From System Center 2012 SP1
  • How to Manage and Deploy Microsoft User Experience Virtualization Across an Enterprise
  • Software Defined Networking with Windows Server 2012, System Center 2012 SP1
  • Microsoft Application Virtualization 5.0: Migration and Coexistence
  • Building the Perfect Windows 8 Image

Now that I see it in all its glory it’s an impressive list, a lot of great work to do! Long days and short nights.

So, it’s Friday night and I’m all set to go, my flight is tomorrow morning at 10 AM from Amsterdam. A 4 hour stopover in Philadelphia so I’ll be in Las Vegas around 9 PM Pacific Time.

That was a long trip, some 25 hours… Sunday morning I went of to Wallmart to buy me a bicycle for taking up up and down to the MMS2013 Venue; Manadalay Bay, which is some 5 miles from my hotel. For $ 95 I’m done, no cab fares for me (that’s what I thought).
Going to Manadalay Bay I had a flat tire within 3 miles… bummer. A thorn is the backtire. I left my bicycle and continued walking. Got my MMS2013 Badge after walking The Strip up and down. And then I took a cab (poor excuse… blisters on my feet) back to the hotel and arranged to pick up my bike.
Ok, Monday I’ll start posting teh Technical Stuff.

MMS2013 KeyNote

I attended quit a few keynotes over past 5 years at various Microsoft Conferences. In this MMS2013 Keynote one thing was really different: IT IS ALL HERE!

No promises of upcoming releases or beta demos. It’s all about what is available right now. Server 2012 with all its features in the middle, surrounded by System Center 2012 SP1, SQL 2012, Azure, Intune, Advisor, Office 365. So now is the time to automate all that stuff, leveraging all the features to enable businesses to do their business.
I think of it as a very smart keynote: we have work to do NOW! Whether it is on premises or in a public cloud, probably a lot of bits of both for most enterprises. But with one and only one toolset and underlying technology: Microsoft.

MMS2013 The Benefits and Reasons for Upgrading to Windows Server 2012 Active Directory

This breakout sessions showed how easy it is to upgrade current domains to Server 2012, there is no reason not to. Domain Controllers become clonable on Hyper-V. Dynamic Access Control keeps data safe bases on multiple policies. Remote execution out of the box. Software controlled networking and Storage Spaces. Let’s go for it.

MMS2013 System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 Overview

SCCM2012 has at least 2 highlights for me:
1. User-centric approach enables to give users the same experience on whatever device.
2. Integration with Intune meaning that we can manage devices without them connecting to the corporate network. Devices such as Windows RT, Windows Phone, iOS and Android!

MMS2013 Private Cloud Reference Architectures

This session was about all the work Microsoft and its Vendors have put into making things work. The biggest takeaway is that most of the things have already been done and are tested and documented. The trial and error method, as a lot of IT Pros use, is not going to do it when building Private Clouds. S you’d better use those Reference Architecture documents!

MMS2013 Getting Started with Windows Azure Virtual Machines and Virtual Networks

David Aiken turned out to be a very funny speaker and his session was great. He pretended to be a newbie and went through all the steps with all the questions while creating some VMs and connecting them. He concluded with: you do it once or twice like this and from then on you use Powershell!

MMS2013 How to Design and Configure Networking in VMM and HyperV (Part 1 and 2)

Wow, tough technical stuff at the end of the day: network virtualization or software based networking. You really need to switch some buttons in your brain to figure this out. Mainly it’s about 2 things:
1. Network Convergence: we can now put all network communications through just one NIC (teamed) instead of having separate NICs for different kind of communications. Less hardware, less cables!
2. Isolation: although we can use convergence we still can isolate VM Networks from each other. We can use the same (virtual) IP Ranges multiple times, tenants/customers can bring their own IP Ranges.
A couple of advantages are that we can manipulate IP settings without configuring that on individual hosts or guests and that we can do Live Migrations across (physical) subnets.
Don’t start with VMM and Clusters before you ingrained this stuff!

MMS2013 Orchestrating Hyper-V Replica Planned Failover with System Center 2012 SP1

Okay, you can initiate a planned replica failover from Hyper-V Manager manually. The @OrchestratorGuy took a different approach. From heavy touch, through lite touch, to zero touch. The principles of Orchestrator are simple; it does nothing but it can do everything. So he assembled a couple of tiered runbooks to do the trick. Run the runbook and the failover occurs. Alsways nice to see such demo’s.
Then he introduced System Center Service Manager into the game; initiate the failover through a Service Request in the Self Service Portal. Worked like a charm, with the CMDB being being updated, tickets opened and closed, properties of the VMs adjusted etc. etc. Great demo!
The key point out of this session: before you can automate something, get your procedures straight!

MMS2013 Implementing Common Scenarios in Virtual Machine Manager: Services and Service Templates

The VM is not important, the Service is. So you should even use Service templates if the Service consists of only one V. It gives you more repeatability, consistency and ease of management. At first glance it looks somewhat overdone but when you think it through it’s quite logical if you are getting into automation.

MMS2013 Develop a Successful Flexible Desktop Strategy in Today’s Digital Era

I am a BIG fan of Eduardo Kassner. He was once again brilliant in his confronting sarcasm, I really like that. I am NOT saying anymore, here is the abstract, the video should be available tomorrow on Channel9.
New desktop technologies such as BYOD, VDI, Slates, Consumerization, among other pressures are causing many IT environments to consider re-architecting their desktop infrastructure. In this session you will see predictions, market trends, and then proceed to separate myths from facts by proposing a mobile workspace strategy that focuses on meeting your users’ desktop requirements based on roles / personas, and enabling technologies rather than implying that one technology solution would fit all.

MMS2013 How to Manage and Deploy Microsoft User Experience Virtualization Across an Enterprise

UE-V is part of MDOP and it eases the pains of roaming profiles and combining profiles for desktops, laptops, remote desktops and VDI.
UE-V does this in a smart way by using an agent on the client(s). The Agent captures the changes on either OS or Application level and stores them locally and on a Network Share when the reconfigures app is being closed or the OS being locked/logged off. Now the smart thing is that only the changes are uploaded and downloaded instead of the complete profile.
There are no servers involved (except for the network share, which can be the AD-homedirectory), it also works offline, it is manageable through GPO and SCCM ant it comes with a bunch of out-of-the-box templates.
It makes no sense not using this if you have MDOP!

MMS2013 Automating System Center Deployment with the Powershell Deployment Toolkit

Well, this was a really COOL session. The demo, started at beginning of the session, completed in 55 minutes and the System Center Suite was completely installed, including SQL, prerequisites, integration and Management consoles. Pffffff.
They took a bit off effort to build this but then you have something. You only have to fill in some parameters such as server names, service accounts and stuff and the Powershell scripts do the rest, including the download of all necessary components!
Awesome!

MMS2013 Microsoft Application Virtualization 5.0: Migration and Coexistence

I’m supposed to be an App-V specialist so this was a very interesting session. I’ve been doing stuff with App-V 5.0 but I did no go in yet to coexistence and upgrading. Now that I have seen the things mentioned in the abstract below, I see great opportunities at our customers!
This session focuses on the process of migrating from App–V 4.6 to App–V 5.0, including coexistence of the App–V 4.6 Client and the App–V 5.0 Client.
The process of migrating App–V 4.6 packages to App–V 5.0 will include using the App–V 5.0 Package Converter tool and the process of customizing converted packages to leverage App–V 5.0’s new features.
We will also discuss some of the new features of the App–V 5.0 Sequencer that may make customers consider re–sequencing their applications instead of converting their App–V 4.6 packages

MMS2013 Building the Perfect Windows 8 Image

This session was almost a Hands On Instruction Lab, so I actually did the HOL after the session. An excellent session/HOL leveraging MDT and Windows8 for either Desktop Deployment or VDI Deployment.
That concluded my MMS2013 participation.

General insights are mostly about automation and the roadmap towards that automation. I have a lot of stuff to share, why we should do those things and where to start.

Exchange 2013 Hybrid Deployment on Office365 leveraging Azure

With all the new releases of Servers, Services and Devices, I thought it was time to build a Hybrid Deployment using Exchange 2013 Preview and Office 365 Preview.

I set out to do everything on Server 2012 but unfortunately that didn’t work out. So I had to cheat a little (making it more interesting though); my onprem environment consists of Server 2012 machines only. The Win2k8R2 machine I needed runs on Azure. The AD FS Service required for Single Sign On with Office 365 does not (yet) run on Server 2012. As the High Available AD FS Service is a constraint for a lot of customers to go for SSO, this might be good option anyway. Have your AD FS Servers in the Cloud, you could even force geo-redundancy and stuff like that.

So, I first need to acknowledge Office 365 MVP Jethro Seghers (http://jethroseghers.blogspot.nl/ and @jsegehrs) from Belgium who already set up this config but has had no time yet to describe it.

Secondly I used a great blogpost from Paul Cunningham on installing Exchange 2013 on Server 2012 (http://exchangeserverpro.com/install-exchange-2013-pre-requisites-windows-server-2012 .

And Trevor Smith for getting DirSync to run on Server 2012 http://community.office365.com/en-us/forums/613/p/63806/243279.aspx

I also acknowledge myself J for my earlier posts on setting up a Hybrid Deployment (been there, done that, got the certifcations….. no t-shirts though).

Okay, that being said, let’s get going.

Here is my Bill of Materials:

And you need a couple of rainy Sunday afternoons to set it all up. It’s not that hard but we all met Mr.Murphy, he’ll check in every now and then.

Onprem Configuration

I have a lack of resources so I only used 3 VMs in my “Private Cloud”: a Domain Controller, an Exchange Server and a Windows 8 client. It’s certainly no best-practice to put the Directory Synchronization tool on the Exchange server but it works.

It’s all straight forward configuration work, the certificate tool in Exchange 2013 works great. Just make the request, go to your certificate provider to submit the request and import the certificate. This is what it looks like:

 

 

 

I added the “sts” so I can use this certificate on the AD FS Server as well.

Create some users, dynamic distribution groups and mailboxes and start mailing, scheduling and stuff like that. There should be something in there before we start moving things to Office 365.

Then you do ALL of the tests in the Exchange Remote Connectivity Analyser (https://www.testexchangeconnectivity.com/ ):

 

 

 

 

 

 

….. and fix any issue before proceeding (keeps Mr.Murphy away).

 

Azure Configuration

The new Azure Portal is a real pleasure to work with, everything is in the place where you expect it to be. First we have to do some networking so that the VMs running on Azure can connect to the Onprem environment, using also your Onprem DNS Server. On Azure you have to create a so called Gateway Network and private subnet, name them as an Affinity group. Tick the Checkbox that you want to use this Gateway Network to connect to you Onprem environment.

Azure gives you the Gateway IP Address and there’s a button that will show the Pre-Shared Key to use when setting up your IPSec LAN-to-LAN VPN Tunnel. On my Draytek Router (running from my HAN, Home Area Network) that was a quick one. Although the default time-out was too low (300 sec), I adjusted it to 1500 secs. The result (in the pic even my two VMs are already spinning):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I set up 2 VMs on Azure, just pick them form the Gallery, I took a Server 2012 for a Read-Only-Domain-Controller (it only serves authentication purposes out there) and a Win2k8R2SP1 for the AD FS Server. When the Networks are properly configured the machines obtain the appropriate IP Addresses. A RDP Endpoint is automatically created so you can manage the machines through RDP. I created an additional Endpoint for the AD FS Service.

I did the dcpromo wizard to create the RODC (the Azure Neworking gave it the right IP settings, including my Onprem DNS Server) and I also joined the AD FS Server to the domain.

 

 

 

 

Office 365 Preview Configuration

The steps to take in the Admin Portal are the same as they are in the current version, it is still very important (keeps you out of trouble) to do thing in the right order.

So, assuming that all is set to go, working and tested, this is the order:

  • Set up Single Sign On by installing AD FS 2.0 and configure it with the proper commandlets in de MSOLPowershell Module.
  • The previous step asks that you must add a TXT Record in DNS for validation, after doing that you re-issue the last commandlet
  • Verify the addition of your domainname in the Portal
  • Enable Directory Synchronization, it’s just a button in the Portal. It says it might take 24 hours, my experience is it takes about 30 minutes.
  • When you see that DirSync is enabled you can run the configwizard prompting for both Online Admin credentials and Onprem (Schema) Admin credentials
  • Verify Directory Synchronization in the Portal, your Onprem AD Users should be listed there
  • Verify SSO by logging in to the Portal with a Synchronized user

All this is necessary because a Hybrid Exchange Deployment uses only Federated Users, thus AD FS and DirSync.

 

Exchange 2013 and Exchange Online Hybrid Deployment

Finally, we’re getting there. Getting the 2 Exchange Organizations talk to each other, allowing for Calendar Sharing, mailbox moves, complete GALs , etc, etc. I was not that enthusiastic about the wizard in Exchange 2010 SP2. It takes away the deeper level insights of what is actually happening. In my Trainings I still do it the manual way and if time permits I let my students do the SP2-Wizard.

So I’m quit curious about the Exchange 2013 “Exchange Administration Center” and the Wizard in there…..

As soon as you hit “Hybrid” in the al new Exchange Admin Center, a button appears with “Enable”, then it asks you to logon to Exchange Online so you end up in the Exchange Admin Center …… online! As soon as you hit Hybrid in there, a button appears with “Enable”. Looks like that way you have enabled Hybrid Deployment on both sides.

 

 

 

 

 

That looks very promising! YES! The next one looks familiar from the “old” Hybrid Deployment, proof of ownership for your domain:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I go to GoDaddy to do just that. Oeps, slight error in the “Copy to clipboard”, it also takes the domain name field… do NOT put that into your DNS Tool!! GoDaddy is fast, I could continue right away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Centralized Mail Transport allows for mail flow from Exchange Online to the Internet to be routed through your Onprem mail servers (Compliance, Journaling or whatsoever). The Edge Role does not exist anymore (as TMG will soon) so I choose Hub Transport.

 

 

 

 

 

Easy choice, I only have one server deployed…. It should be an Internet facing CAS Server though, Hybrid Deployment is leveraged by Exchange Web Services found through Autodiscover. I skip the next screenshot, it’s the same but now it’s about the Sending Server.

 

 

 

 

I have set up my Exchange Certificate real good! Exchange Online recognizes it right away. And asks me for the SMTP Address of my Onprem server:

 

 

 

 

 

 

No surprise here (I’ll keep that for myself J):

 

 

 

 

This looks almost too easy to be true:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Checking Onprem, checking Tenant, checking prerequisites ….. a

All the manual steps from the good old times come by….. and yes indeed, this used to be the case all the time….

 

 

It used to be a matter of time-outs, so I’ll just cancel it (changes made are already there) and do some manual stuff, but not after running the wizard for a third time (Mr.Murphy please leave).

 

 

Let’s see what there is to modify….. hmmm, not much, exactly the same Wizard with the same results L.

 

 

Hey, I’m on Wave 15! This appears when I look at the Node “Organization”.

Here’s the FIX!

 

 

 

 

I added my namespace not from the Online Interface but from the Onprem Interface! That seems to be working perfectly! Just passed all the nodes and settings and it looks okay…. Time to move a Mailbox to Online, I guess.

The usual credential stuff (I’m triggering the Move from Online):

 

 

 

 

The Wizard does it wrong again…. As in Exchange 2010 SP2, the automatically configured endpoint is my local FQDN, which is of course not resolvable from Online. I manually enter the webmail.domain.domain endpoint and of we go.

 

 

 

 

YES! There he is! Note the very, very, very small arrow pointing to “Office365”, took me some minutes J, by that time the move had already completed (just 2 items).

Last checks for now:

  • mailflow Onprem-Online and vice versa                                   check
  • mailflow Online-Internet and vice versa                                    check
  • Calender sharing                                                                       check
  • That all will double check the AD FS Deployment as well J    check

Great!

Been there, done that, now I want the T-Shirt!

Thanks for reading and don’t hesitate to comment or to contact me!

 

Server 2012 Certification Tracks

Server 2012 is here! And so are a great deal of the exams necessary to earn your certifications. I took them all, either the real stuff or in beta (beta-period is over though, you’ll have to wait). So what’s available and what are they like?

Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate: Server 2012

  • Exam 070-410, Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
  • Exam 070-411, Administering Windows Server 2012
  • Exam 070-412, Configuring Advance Windows Server 2012 Services
  • Or Exam 070-417, upgrading your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012, which is the 3 above exam taken all at once

I did 070-410 (beta) and 070-417 and passed them both. There is not much preparation material available yet, so how did I prepare? Well, first of all, I already started playing around with Server 2012 when the first Technical Preview became available. So I’m already pretty familiar with the interfaces, the “what-is-where-and-how” questions on the exams. Secondly, I am really well grounded in the previous versions of Windows Servers. There is a lot off good old stuff in the exams. And third, I took a very close look at the section “Skills being measured” on the Microsoft Learning website: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Exam.aspx?ID=70-417&locale=en-us#tab1 (substitute the bold-printed exam number for either which exam). Actually, I did everything mentioned on those pages! Been there, done that, got the Certification (no shirts yet in the eCompany Store though….)

Exam 070-410 was a piece of cake, I took the beta unprepared and for free during Microsoft TechED 2012 in Amsterdam. I was not surprised of the result. I took exam 070-417 playing a game with some co-workers; who would be certified before October first. Jimmy van der Mast and I took it up and both passed. It’s a tough exam! Very lengthy, it took me 2,5 hours to complete. And a lot of stuff is being covered. As a trainer/coach I would suggest to a lot of folks to take the 3 separate exams instead of this one. Which has been the case with all previous versions of Upgrade-your-skills exams. It’s 3 exams in one, you cannot go back to a finished section, you’ll get 3 scores, the lowest one being the final score. So you must Pass on all 3 sections. No surprise that both Jimmy and I had the lowest score on the third section, there’s no “good old stuff” in there.

 

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Server Infrastructure

  • Exam 070-413, Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure
  • Exam 070-414, Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure

Those exams are currently not available, I took the beta’s, no scores so far…). According to the Microsoft Learning website they will be “live” on October 16. You can look at the “Skills being measured” by taking the URL mentioned above and change the exam number. And then you will see…….. wow, this covers a lot more than only Server 2012! There is quite a bit of System Center 2012 in there so you have to be fairly familiar with SCOM, SCCM, SCVMM and you have know about AppController, Orchestrator, SCSM and SCDPM. And of course there is Networking, networking and more networking. And there is all flavors of Storage. BEWARE!

On exam 070-413, the name is not well chosen (IMHO). I think “Design” would fit better on exam 070-414. Then they would be more in line with the former Server 2000/2003 Design Exams. So exam 070-413 is still about “what-is-where-and-how”. Know the Interfaces, know how to fulfill requirements, step by step, complete the tasks. Whereas exam 070-414 is more about deciding which technology should be implemented give the requirements. More thinking and overview is required for the latter. I’m good at that, so I thought the first one was tougher than the second one.

Again, my preparations were about doing it all, building the complex Infrastructures and DOING it ALL. Fortunately there is Microsoft’s Virtual Labs (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/hh968267.aspx so you don’t have to build everything yourself.

Overall, these are really tough exams. The certification will be great asset on your resume.

 

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Desktop Infrastructure

  • Exam 070-415, Implementing a Desktop Infrastructure
  • Exam 070-416, Implementing Desktop Application Environments

Same story here, beta’s, no scores yet, live on October 16. And again a lot of System Center 2012 products, networking, storage, performance and optimization. Depending on your line of expertise (mine is more on infrastructures than desktops and applications) this track is at least as tough as the Server Infrastructure track. Lucky for me that Qwise, my employer, does a lot of “Server Based Computing” (Citrix, RDS), VDI and App-V projects so I am well grounded in those matters. And isn’t everything about the App?

The track is very similar to the Server Infrastructure track for the differences between the 2 exams. And also over here, this certification will look great on your resume because markets will soon find out that not many of us will succeed in passing both exams.

 

Happy studying! Keep you posted!

Update, October 23: no MCSE for me, passed one exam in both tracks.