Archive for May, 2012

Visual Studio 2012 Release Candidate Now Available

May 31

Posted by Anil Desai in Databases / SQL Server, Development | 1 Comment

Today’s release of the Windows 8 / Server 2012 downloads isn’t the only news for techie-types that want to live on the bleeding edge. Microsoft has also released the Release Candidate versions of Visual Studio 2012. You can find the downloads on MSDN (of course) and from the Visual Studio 2012 (formerly Visual Studio 11) product page. Related products, like the Express Editions and Team Foundation Server are also available.

Here’s a little bit of news quoted from Microsoft’s Corporate VP, Developer Division, S. Somasegar:

These releases ship with “Go Live” licenses, so you can get started today building and deploying production applications using Visual Studio 2012 and .NET 4.5.

For this release candidate milestone, you’ll find substantial improvements since the Developer Preview and Beta releases. We’ve added features, improved performance, revamped the UI, streamlined setup, made it easy for you to move from Beta to RC, and more.

Personally, I’ve been happy with the Visual Studio 11 Beta. In fact, I am primarily using it for all of my development work, and haven’t even installed Visual Studio 2010 on my primary development machine. I’m not sure that I’m complete sold on the monochromatic UI, but I rarely think about it when I’m actually working with the product. If I find any useful tips or tricks, I’ll plan to post them on this blog.

Windows 8 Release Preview / Windows Server 2012 Release Candidate Now Available

May 31

Posted by Anil Desai in General, Systems Admin, Virtualization, Windows 8, Windows Server | No Comments

The Windows 8 Release Preview is now available to anyone’s who is itching to try out the latest (and last) publicly-available build before the final release of the products. Consumer-types can Download the Windows 8 Release Preview from Microsoft.com. The bits have also been posted to Microsoft TechNet and Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN). For now, my downloads seem to be going pretty quickly.

As the products are getting close to release, I’ll plan to post some tips and info to this blog over the next few weeks and months. Feel free to comment if there’s anything you’re particularly interested in reading about. I might have posted this a little sooner, but all of my bandwidth is currently allocated to download the installation media and VMs.

SQL Server Presentations on UserGroup.tv

May 24

Posted by Anil Desai in Databases / SQL Server, Presentations, Webcasts | 1 Comment

It’s no secret that attending local or regional user group meetings and events is a great way to keep up-to-date with technology and to network with peers and experts in the field. The major problem is that it can be difficult to find the time to fit some meetings into a busy work/life schedule. I try to make it a point to attend at least a few local events each year, and one of those is Austin Code Camp. I’m planning to present again this year (see my post about Austin CodeCamp 2012) with updated versions of my previous topics.

If you weren’t able to make it to last year’s event, the UserGroup.tv Team has you covered! They recorded several of the sessions and have posted the video presentations online. Specifically, two of my topics are online and available to view now:

I think the recordings turned out really well, though I’ll admit that you might miss some of the audience interaction by viewing them online. You can also find more recordings of other presentations from Austin CodeCamp 2011 (which took place on Sept. 10, 2011). A very special thanks to the crew at UserGroup.tv for taking the time and effort to record and publish this content!

BrightTALK Presentation: Application Performance Monitoring (APM) in Virtualized and Cloud Environments

May 24

Posted by Anil Desai in Best Practices, Cloud Computing, Presentations, Storage, Virtualization, Webcasts | No Comments

On June 6th, I’ll be presenting another live, free webinar on BrightTALK. The title is Maintaining Service Levels with APM in Virtualized & Cloud Environments. Here’s the abstract/overview of the content:

Significant changes in IT infrastructure approaches are driving data centers towards high levels of efficiency and automation. Virtualization and public/private/hybrid cloud architectures can help reduce costs and simplify administration, but the primary goal for IT organizations is to ensure that the applications and services they deliver meet or exceed their users’ needs. This presentation will provide advice and recommendations that focus on end-to-end monitoring and management of highly virtualized and cloud infrastructure components, including user experience, storage, networking, and hypervisors.

Visit the site to register for the webinar, or use the below information to sign up. And, while you’re there, be sure to check out the huge library of related content that’s available for free!

Note: To access the recording of this session (and all of my past BrightTALK webinars), please search using https://www.brighttalk.com/search?q=Anil+Desai.

VKernel Podcast: Top New Features in Hyper-V 3.0 and Windows Server 2012

May 16

Posted by Anil Desai in Microsoft Hyper-V, Storage, Virtualization, Windows Server | No Comments

A few weeks ago, during the TEC 2012 Conference, I had the opportunity to record a brief podcast that provides an overview of the new features in Microsoft’s upcoming server update. In this brief interview, fellow Virtualization MVP Hans Vredevoort and I discuss some of the features we’re most looking forward to. You can access the audio-only podcast on YouTube, and you can download an MP3 version.

Here’s a brief overview of the topic:

VKernel’s Mattias Sundling discusses The Expert Conference event with MVPs Hans Vredevoort and Anil Desai. Topics include highlights of the technical sessions presented by Microsoft, Quest and industry experts as well as updates and highlights of Windows Server 2012 and Hyper-V3 advances.

Both Hans and I gave presentations at the conference and focused on storage-related improvements. Hans’s presentation was an excellent demonstration of how quickly and easily administrators can setup the new Scale-Out File Server role in Windows Server 2012, using nothing but a single laptop (that is, no shared storage and no third-party products and tools). The best part was the conclusion: Hans setup a highly-available Hyper-V cluster configuration and did a live migration of a VM using only his laptop (and several virtual machines).

Thanks to Mattias Sundling, Evangelist & vExpert at VKernel for arranging, recording, and posting the podcast!

The Windows Server 2012 Community Roadshow

May 7

Posted by Anil Desai in Presentations, Virtualization, Windows 8, Windows Server | No Comments

Windows Server 2012 (formerly known as Windows Server “8”) is nearing completing. With a “Release Preview” set to be available in early June, it’s a great time to bet familiar with the extremely long list of new features in Microsoft’s latest server platform.

To help IT pros learn from those that have experience with the new features, Microsoft, Dell, HP, and the Global IT Community Association (GITCA) are sponsoring the Windows Server 2012 Community Roadshow. These events will be covering many areas throughout the U.S. and internationally and presentations will be made by local/regional Microsoft MVPs. I’ll be presenting in Austin, TX on Tuesday, May 29th, 2012 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm (location details coming soon). Visit the event web site to find a location near you (dates and locations are still being added), and be sure to register if you plan to attend. Here’s a brief overview of the topics that will be covered:

This event will showcase presentations and demos from Microsoft MVPs on the following topics

· Manageability

· Simplifies configuration processes

· Improved management of multi-server environments

· Role-centric dashboard and integrated console

· Simplifies administration process of multi-server environments with Windows PowerShell 3.0

· Virtualization

· More secure multi-tenancy

· Flexible infrastructure, when and where you need it

· Scale, performance, and density

· High availability

· Storage and Availability

· Reduces planned maintenance downtime

· Addresses the causes of unplanned downtime

· Increases availability for services and applications

· Increases operational efficiency and lower costs

· Networking

· Manage private clouds more efficiently

· Link private clouds with public cloud services

· Connect users more easily to IT resources

As an aside, I recently returned from the TEC 2012 conference in San Diego, where I gave two presentations on just the storage features in Windows Server 2012 and Hyper-V 3.0. That alone was a lot of information to cram into just a couple of hours. This no small release, and there’s a lot to learn. I hope readers of this blog are able to make it to either the Austin event or one of the many other locations which will be added soon!

Austin Code Camp 2012

May 5

Posted by Anil Desai in Databases / SQL Server, Development, Presentations | 1 Comment

The Austin .NET User Group (ADNUG) is again holding it’s annual Austin Code Camp 2012 event. The date is Saturday, June 9th, 2012 at the St. Edward’s Professional Education Center (PEC) (the same location as the last few years). The event runs all day, and attendees can pick which sessions are most interesting to them. Visit http://austincodecamp2012.com/ for more information about the event.

The event features speakers that focus on development-related topics with a focus on real demonstrations (rather than marketing information). All sessions are free to attendees, and volunteers in the community are invited to speak. Organizer John Teague states it a little better:

All of the content in community driven, presented by members of the community. I would encourage you to come and talk about whatever is interesting in the world of software development. While the event is organized by the Austin .Net Users group, it is not limited to discussions about .Net. It is an excellent opportunity to gain public speaking experience.

If you’re planning to attend, please be sure to register on the Austin Code Camp 2012 Eventbrite page. That will help the planners determine how much space (and food!) they’ll need.

I have presented at the conference every year since 2008, and it has been a great experience! The number of attendees is always impressive (I think 2011’s event included more than 250 IT pros and developers). I’m planning to give two presentations this year:

Practical SQL Server Performance Monitoring & Optimization

Developers can dramatically improve performance by monitoring and analyzing real world queries. This session covers SQL Server monitoring at various levels to the most impactful performance improvements. The presentation will start with an overview of different optimization tools and techniques and will be based on practical examples of real-world performance monitoring and troubleshooting. Details include the use of server monitoring tools, SQL Profiler, the Database Tuning Advisor, and analyzing query plans, Dynamic Management Views, and related methods. The overall emphasis will be on solving practical, real-world database performance problems.

SQL Server Reporting Services: Develop & Deploy Reports

This session will begin with a brief architectural overview of Reporting Services and details on getting up and running with Reporting Services. Then, we will look at demonstrations of creating new reports by building connections and data sets using Report Builder and Visual Studio. Reporting design features including parameterization, dynamic drill-downs, matrix reports, charts, and sorting will be provided.

Next, we’ll look at deployment details, including scheduling reports, configuring caching, creating snapshots, and managing security. The presentation will also include details about new reporting and BI features in SQL Server 2012

Those topics are updated versions of presentations I’ve done in the past. I’m still trying to decide whether they’d work best as one-hour or two-hour sessions. Feel free to leave comments below if you have any opinion.

Microsoft Virtual Labs

May 4

Posted by Anil Desai in Development, IT Tips, Systems Admin, Virtualization | No Comments

Evaluating and learning about complex server-side software can be quite a challenge for the busy IT pro. Often, you’re just trying to work with a feature or two for evaluation purposes, but you find yourself spending significant time just trying to setup the pre-requisites for the environment. Add in hassles related to licensing, and it can so much effort that many of us don’t end up taking the time.

While the widespread adoption of virtualization has made the process of provisioning a test environment and installing software simpler, free, online Microsoft Virtual Labs make the process even easier. Basically, all that’s required is a web browser on the client side. When you choose to launch a Virtual Lab, a server cloud will spin up a new VM, create a browser-based RDP connection, and will include all the necessary software. To make the process even simpler, you’ll see a sidebar that includes downloadable, step-by-step evaluation details and guides. The following screenshot shows an example of a SQL Server MSDN Virtual Lab that I spun up to learn more about configuring the new PowerView feature.

TechNet Virtual Labs

Microsoft TechNet Virtual Labs are focused on providing IT professionals (such as systems administrators and data center administrators) with pre-built evaluation environments that showcase various features and technology. At the time of this writing, there are numerous labs focused on Windows Server 2008 R2 features, the System Center suite of products, Forefront, and (my personal favorite) Private Cloud guides.

MSDN Virtual Labs

Architects and developers haven’t been left out either: MSDN Virtual Labs include a long list of software development-focused labs, including ones for Visual Studio, Office Applications, SQL Server 2012, SharePoint, Team Foundation Server, Windows Azure, and many more related technologies.

A Few Tips

Using an RDP session (especially, a browser-initiated) one isn’t exactly like having software installed on your own computer. However, it’s a reasonable trade-off for most of us that want to quickly try out or learn about some new feature. Here are some additional tips that can help make the experience more user-friendly:

Limitations: While it might be tempting to cause havoc on the hosted VMs, most are locked down to prevent such shenanigans. Operations like changing IP addresses or machine names are restricted, so it’s best to “stick to the script”.
RDP Window Resizing: In at least some Virtual Labs, you’ll need to connect to multiple VMs through a secondary RDP connection. The default resolution and size for this window is quite small. To get a bigger viewable area, first resize the Remote Desktop Connection Manager window, and then connect (or disconnect and reconnect to the VM). This way, you should be able to get close to the 1024 x 768 resolution that many applications require.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Those of us that rely on keyboard shortcuts for simpler and quicker navigation and administration will often need to resort to the mouse to perform certain commands. Examples include the use of the Windows key (which will execute locally) and task switching.
Screen and Input Lag: I have a solid, fast Internet connection, but I experienced a significant amount of screen lag when connecting to several Virtual Labs. Perhaps this is unavoidable, but to make the best of it, use the extra time to review the available documentation (or rejoice in the time you saved from having to setup the entire environment yourself). 🙂
Time Limits: Virtual sessions have time limits (90 minutes for all of the labs I worked with), so it’s a good idea to set aside some uninterrupted time to finish the lab in one shot. Of course, you can always revisit the same lab later, though you’ll lose your “progress” and will likely need to repeat steps in the evaluation guides.
Software Versions: I noticed that in some labs, earlier versions of server applications were installed (for example, SQL Server 2012 RC0 in the screenshot above). It takes significant effort to update software and the related lab instructions, so that’s definitely understandable. I didn’t find any major issues in the labs that I tried out, but it is something to keep in mind.
Using RSS to keep up with new Virtual Labs: The list of Virtual Labs appears to be growing quickly. Both the MSDN and TechNet Virtual Lab sites have RSS feeds that can provide you with a quick and easy way to learn about new labs as they become available.

Windows Server 2012 / Hyper-V 3.0 Component Architecture Poster

May 2

Posted by Anil Desai in Microsoft Hyper-V, Systems Admin, Virtualization, Windows 8, Windows Server | No Comments

OK, perhaps it doesn’t get much geekier than decorating your office with large, complicated posters of technical knowledge. But I’ve always been a fan of Microsoft’s Component Architecture Posters (though I rarely have the opportunity to actually print and display them). These posters are designed to convey an large volume of information in a way that is easy for readers/viewers to consume and understand. They’re somewhat like the “infographics” many sites and publishers use to convey information in an easier-to-consume way.

To download your copy of the posted in PDF format, just visit the Microsoft Download Center page: Windows Server “8” Beta Hyper-V Component Architecture Poster (published March 2012). The screenshot is a very small screenshot of just one tiny portion of the overall poster. Just a couple of notes on terminology changes:

Windows Server “8” Beta is now officially named Windows Server 2012
SMB 2.2 is now officially known as SMB 3.0
All information is current as of the “beta” version, and some relatively minor details (like VM CPU and memory limits) might change prior to the official release.

Thanks to John Howard’s post on the Windows Virtualization Team Blog for the information. I think we can look forward to an updated poster sometime prior to or soon after the general availability of Windows Server 2012. I’ll update this post if/when that happens.

Cisco AnyConnect VPN Client and Windows 8 Compatibility

May 1

Posted by Anil Desai in Networking, Systems Admin, Windows 8 | 12 Comments

Migrating to a new operating system can be tricky, with some special “gotchas” for various applications. While Microsoft has done a great job in minimizing driver changes that can impact application and hardware compatibility, there are always some exceptions. One particularly problematic piece of software for me has always been Cisco’s AnyConnect VPN client. I rely on it for connecting to my clients’ networks and, for the most part, it works well on Windows 7.

The Problem

While testing the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, though, I ran into some problems. While the standard x64 installer for the client seemed to work properly, the client would automatically disconnect after authenticating with the VPN server. I’d receive the following error message:

Secure VPN Connection terminated locally by the Client.

Reason 442: failed to enable Virtual Adapter

The Solution

Thanks to some really helpful posts online (references below), I found that the solution was to make a minor change to the Registry. First, using RegEdit, find the following Registry path:

KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CVirtA

You should see a key called “DisplayName”. Simply change its value by removing the unnecessary characters at the beginning of the name. In my case, I was left with “Cisco Systems VPN Adapter for 64-bit Windows”, and everything worked fine when I tried to connect again. It’s a strange bug (and one that I wish was better documented), but I have been up and running after this change on three different computers.

If you’re unfamiliar with editing the Registry (and the inherent dangers therein), the below links will provide more details).

Update for Windows 8 Release Preview:

The above Registry path on my most recent installation seems to have changed; on my primary computer, the correct path is:

KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\vpnva

Fortunately, the DisplayName key change worked fine for me.

Other Options

The Cisco AnyConnect VPN client seems to be aging, and support is difficult to come by unless you have a Cisco support account. Fortunately, there are other third-party commercial and freeware alternatives. It has been a while since I’ve used any of them, but one that I see mentioned often is the VPN Client for Windows from Shrew.net. Feel free to post a comment if you’ve had any experiences (good or bad) with VPN alternatives.

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