From Staff.com, an infographic comparing revenue, profit, and market cap for Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Facebook:
Archivo de la categoría: Microsoft
Video Intro: New AWS Diagnostics for Windows Server
Amazon AWS has released a public beta of a new tool to analyze and troubleshoot problems with Windows Server instances.
AvePoint’s DocAve 6 Service Pack 2 Enhances SharePoint, Office 365 Support
AvePoint today announced the general availability of DocAve 6 Service Pack (SP) 2, the next generation of the management platform for SharePoint governance, with expanded SharePoint 2013 and Office 365 support.
Designed to increase business productivity without sacrificing on security and compliance, DocAve 6 SP2 will support the migration, protection, and administration of data in your SharePoint 2013 environment, whether it’s on-premises, in the cloud, or a hybrid deployment. DocAve 6 SP2 supports migration into the latest online or on-premises SharePoint release from a variety of legacy sources, including previous versions of SharePoint, file shares, EMC Documentum, Lotus Notes, and Open Text (Livelink).
Making the move to SharePoint 2013 is just the beginning. DocAve 6 SP2 extends SharePoint’s native capabilities, enabling application development, scalable storage, compliance and records management, and geo-distributed collaboration with confidence. New SharePoint capabilities such as business intelligence, eDiscovery, mobile device support, and social computing are also focuses of DocAve 6 SP2, as AvePoint continues its quest to enable customers to take advantage of the latest platform releases that Microsoft has to offer.
“As with each previous release, AvePoint is focused on ensuring that our more than 10,000 customers worldwide have all of the tools necessary to realize the full potential of Microsoft SharePoint 2013,” said George Petrou, Chief Technology Officer at AvePoint. “The landscape of business collaboration is ever-changing, and now more than ever organizations need a trusted solution to help them overcome any challenges that may arise. With DocAve 6 SP2, our customers can remove the roadblocks to enterprise-wide collaboration.”
DocAve 6 is built upon all Microsoft technologies and standards, including .NET, WCF, and Silverlight, utilizing only fully supported Microsoft methodologies and APIs. With robust protection, management, optimization, integration, compliance, reporting, and migration capabilities for SharePoint, DocAve is the enterprise-class management platform for SharePoint governance.
DocAve 6 SP2 is generally available to customers today, February 20. For more information about all of the new features and functionality in DocAve 6 SP2, please visit http://www.avepoint.com/
365 Command Streamlines Office 365 Administration
MessageOps today launched 365 Command, a web-based portal that makes it simple and efficient for anyone to perform common Office 365 administrative tasks without complicated scripting.
A hosted service, 365 Command replaces the command line interface of Windows® PowerShell with a rich, HTML5 graphical user interface that is easy to navigate and makes quick, point-and-click work of changing mailbox settings, monitoring usage and reporting. 365 Command scales elegantly to support a virtually unlimited number of seats for easy administration of any size Office 365 environment.
“Office 365 administration typically requires specialized skills and the use of time-consuming and complicated scripting,” said Chris Pyle with MessageOps. “365 Command offers point-and-click ease that makes Office 365 administration as simple as navigating any common website to perform routine tasks quickly and eliminate programming errors. Help desk staff can say goodbye to PowerShell scripts and now generating graphic-rich reports takes just a few clicks.”
Available on a per-seat subscription basis, 365 Command automatically populates the admin dashboard interface with Office 365 account data upon setup in minutes, with nothing to install, no special equipment and no user effort required. Once data integration is complete, 365 Command enables complete management of the Office 365 environment, including:
- Graphical overview of user data, device access, total mailbox count and size;
- Maps that show the specific datacenter location of mailboxes in the cloud, the number at each location, their total size, last log in and size over time;
- Mailbox editing to easily set forwarding addresses, create shared mailboxes, change access permissions, create and set passwords, require password changes and set passwords to never expire; and
- Report generation that illustrates hard-to-access data, such as devices by mailbox, in both graphic views and for download as Microsoft Excel or CSV data.
OpenText Releases Windows 8 Apps
OpenText today announced that OpenText Tempo Box and OpenText eDOCS DM, two secure enterprise information management applications, are now available in the Windows Store for Windows 8.
OpenText has expanded its product roadmap to deliver Windows 8 solutions for OpenText Capture, OpenText Provision, Case360 and MBPM. Similarly, OpenText Content Server, Enterprise Connect, and Email Management are adding Windows 8 support along with Web Experience Management, Portal, Media Management and other products.
“Businesses today are increasingly asking for technology solutions that will provide them with the flexibility to access important documents on their PCs and mobile devices interchangeably. Windows 8 and Windows RT give them this access with the rich functionality, ease of use and a heightened level of security they’ve come to expect from the Windows operating systems,” said John Richards , Senior Director, Windows App Marketing for Microsoft Corp.
Tempo Box is a comprehensive offering that fulfills organizational needs for security, control and integration. Unlike other solutions, it provides enterprise-grade security features that help businesses ensure compliance with regulatory and organizational mandates. Tempo Box allows users to access, view and manage files from their Windows 8 device, as well as edit files in other apps installed on Windows 8. Direct integration with a user’s corporate LDAP or AD directory makes security-enhanced sharing with other Tempo Box users fast and easy.
Tempo Box, a simple, secure file transfer and synchronization service, and the newly developed eDOCS DM app, designed to support legal and mid-market businesses, support both Windows 8 and Windows RT on tablets and PCs, providing customers with the versatility of cloud-based data access – whether in the office or on the go.
“Our Tempo Box product and our eDOCS DM app will empower our business users to quickly take full advantage of all the innovative mobility features that Microsoft offers in these new operating systems,” said Muhi Majzoub, Senior Vice President of Engineering at OpenText. “These innovations demonstrate OpenText’s continued commitment to bringing leading-edge EIM solutions to customers and represent key parts of OpenText’s Enterprise Information Management (EIM) strategy, helping organizations to work more efficiently and drive better business outcomes.”
The newly developed OpenText eDOCS DM app also supports virtually anytime, anywhere access for Windows 8 users with an easy to use app that is consistent with the new Windows user experience. It supports Windows touch interactions and provides a consistent user experience when interacting with eDOCS DM content on any Windows 8 or Windows RT device regardless of form factor.
OpenText Tempo Box and eDOCS DM users can now take advantage of all the simplicity and elegance of Windows 8 – such as the new Start screen; touch screen capabilities; Cloud-connected access; improved performance and system reliability; as well as increased end-to-end enhanced security and manageability features. OpenText Tempo Box and eDOCS DM enables users to take full advantage of the new advanced mobility and usability features in Windows 8, while ensuring a consistent experience when interacting with EIM applications on different devices.
EIM helps organizations manage and exploit their enterprise information to drive innovation, create competitive advantage and make better decisions about their business without compromising their information governance and security.
All editions of Tempo Box including CS10, Express, and Cloud editions are available immediately. Tempo Box is also now available in the Windows Store
Introducing Cloud Service Dashboard of Dashboards
We’ve added a one-stop “dashboard of dashboards” that displays all the major cloud service dashboards on one page.
The page contains a “window” for each service status page or dashboard, with live, up-to-date info at a glance. Scroll for specific applications or locations, or click the link to jump to the full status page itself.
We included these services initially:
- Amazon AWS
- Google Apps
- AppSpot
- Microsoft Azure
- RackSpace
- Apple iCloud
- Salesforce.com
- Joyent
- internet Pulse
Have we missed any? If we have leave a comment with the URL and we’ll try to add it.
F5 Extends Dynamic Networking to Windows Server-Based Virtual Network Environments
F5 Networks, Inc. today announced the F5 Network Virtualization Solution for Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V. The solution gives F5 customers the flexibility to use the BIG-IP platform to deploy network services in cloud-driven data centers that are built on Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V. This announcement underscores F5’s commitment to deliver a dynamic, efficient data center that will ensure scalability, security, and manageability across an organization’s IT environments and systems.
With this solution, the same network-based services that the BIG-IP platform provides—such as local and global load balancing, advanced traffic steering, access control, and application security and acceleration—can now also be used to deliver applications in the Microsoft cloud and virtualized network environments. The solution is enabled by F5 BIG-IP Local Traffic Manager™ (LTM®) Virtual Edition (VE) running on Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V.
Organizations that use Hyper-V network virtualization to realize cost savings and operational efficiencies stand to gain many additional benefits from the F5 solution, including:
- Improved Flexibility – Working in conjunction with Hyper-V
network virtualization, the F5 solution supports seamless, low-cost
migration to the cloud by allowing organizations to use the same
policies and IP addresses in the cloud that they currently use in the
physical network. - Cost Savings – The F5 solution accelerates data center
consolidation by connecting hybrid cloud environments, enabling
organizations to cut costs while extending their applications and
services. - Efficient Network Management – The F5 solution can
intelligently manage network traffic at layers 4-7, mitigating the
need for organizations to build and manage large layer 2 networks. - Streamlined ADN Services – The F5 solution runs on Windows
Server 2012 Hyper-V, and all services are applied in BIG-IP LTM VE, so
no software upgrades or special code is required on the physical
network.
Cloud Data Centers in Rural Locations — Gobbling Electricity, Throwing Their Weight Around
Very interesting in-depth article in the New York Times today on the sprawling, electricity-hungry data centers spawned by cloud computing.
Internet-based industries have honed a reputation for sleek, clean convenience based on the magic they deliver to screens everywhere. At the heart of every Internet enterprise are data centers, which have become more sprawling and ubiquitous as the amount of stored information explodes, sprouting in community after community.
the gee-whiz factor of such a prominent high-tech neighbor wore off quickly. First, a citizens group initiated a legal challenge over pollution from some of nearly 40 giant diesel generators that Microsoft’s facility — near an elementary school — is allowed to use for backup power.
Then came a showdown late last year between the utility and Microsoft, whose hardball tactics shocked some local officials.
These data centers are apparently not always good neighbors, and of course as they are there to serve our cloud needs we’re all complicity to some degree.
Cloud People in the News This Week (July 27, 2012)
Velti Names Former Microsoft Veteran as Chief Revenue Officer
Velti announced the addition of Harry Patz as Chief Revenue Officer to the Velti Executive team. Patz joins Velti after 20 years of experience at Microsoft Corporation, where he most recently served as Vice President of the Communications Sector North America for Mobile, Media Video, Cloud and Enterprise. As CRO at Velti, Patz will be responsible for driving the revenue strategy and operations in North America.
GraphOn Corporation Appoints Sam M. Auriemma to the Board of Directors
GraphOn Corporation announced that the company has appointed Sam M. Auriemma to its board of directors. Auriemma is a financial executive with over 30 years of senior-level experience at a variety of technology companies. He has been responsible for over 25 acquisitions and divestitures with combined cash considerations in excess of $1.5 billion. Most recently he held the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer at MSC Software.
Alert Logic Names Paul Marvin Chief Financial Officer
Alert Logic announced the appointment of Paul Marvin as the company’s new chief financial officer (CFO). In this position, Marvin will be responsible for all of the company’s financial, accounting and human resources operations.
DataCore Software Appoints Steve Houck to Newly Created Chief Operating Officer Role
DataCore Software announced the appointment of its first Chief Operating Officer (COO), Steve Houck. The new position was created to organize and drive DataCore’s rapid growth and market leadership in storage virtualization. Houck is a highly regarded veteran in virtualization, flash storage, cloud computing and data center technologies. His previous roles included vice president of worldwide channels for VMware, along with various global sales leadership posts at EMC Corporation. Houck has also held executive posts for global field sales and go-to-market strategy development at start-up ventures focused on cloud computing and flash storage, with the most recent executive role at Astute Networks, an innovative SSD technology company.
News on Windows 2012, Office 365 and Canadian Police
I had the pleasure of attending the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, Canada earlier this month and worldwide it was as 16,000 attendees squeezed into the Air Canada Center for Microsoft’s morning key note speeches. That’s the most that arena has seen inside its snug confines since Vince Carter was dunking on opposing players, or I guess when Vince Carter could dunk period. It was a week where Microsoft spent making some big announcements, covered some important changes and showcased some new products “Eh.”
The first major announcement was Microsoft’s Office 365 cloud solution which later this year will be available for purchase under the Open Licensing Program. Office 365 was released last summer and has been solely available for customers to purchase online, although partners like GreenPages would assist with quoting the subscription, ultimately customers would purchase the monthly subscription directly from Microsoft, which can be a little painstaking and nevertheless confusing (like this sentence is). Now with the announcement that Office 365 will be available through volume licensing, we’ll be able to invoice the customer directly like we would with an on-premise product, making the process much simpler for you. Now you’ll have another avenue to purchase the subscription. Most likely it will be available through the Open Value program and details are still being ironed out, so be on the lookout as we’ll provide the latest information as to when this will be available through volume licensing.
The other news is the announcement of Windows 8 set to be released to manufacturing in August and general availability in October. Microsoft is very excited about this new release as they said it is the most anticipated release they’ve had since XP. They showcased some pretty nifty touchscreen laptops with Windows 8 Professional loaded on which, I would have loved to bring back to the States, and I would have, assuming the Royal Canadian Mounted Police didn’t finally catch up with me at the Boarder.
The biggest news is the upcoming release of Windows 2012 which is scheduled for General Availability in early September and will offer new enhancements centered around Hyper-V. Along with the new features there are some major licensing changes, loss of an edition (nice knowing you Enterprise) and upgrade paths if you have current Software Assurance.
The first change with Windows 2012 is it will move to a more consistent licensing model and each edition will have the same exact common features, however the editions have been reduced. With Windows 2012 there will only be two editions: Standard and Datacenter. Windows Enterprise, on the other hand, has been cut from the team and will not be at training camp when Windows 2012 debuts. So you’re probably wondering, if Standard and Datacenter have the exact same features and can perform the same tasks than what is the difference between the two? It’s all in the licensing, but before we get into the licensing, let’s check out the new features in Windows 2012 Standard edition which previously were only available in the premium editions.
Both Windows Standard and Datacenter will include these features among others.
-Windows Server Failover Clustering
-BranchCache Hosted Chache Server
-Active Directory Federated Services
-Additional Active Directory Certificate Services capabilities
-Distributed File Services
-DRS-R Cross-File Replication
Along with the new features there is a new licensing model for Windows 2012. Both Windows 2012 Standard and Datacenter will now be licensed by the processor and the days of per server licensing are now gone and the biggest reason for that is virtualization. What differentiates the two editions is the number of Virtual Machines (VMs) that are entitled to be run with each edition. A Standard edition license will entitle you to run up to two VMs on up to two processors. A Datacenter edition license will entitle you to run an unlimited number of VMs on up to two processors. Each license of Standard and Datacenter will cover two processors so for example if you have a quad-processor host, you would purchase 2 x Two-Processor licenses. The Two-Processor license cannot be split up, meaning you can’t put one processor license on one server and the other processor license on another, nor can you combine a Standard and Datacenter license on the same host. The processor license does not include Cals. Windows Cals would still have to be purchased separately.
Ok, now that I have dropped this knowledge on you, what should you expect moving forward? Let’s talk about pricing and what this new model is going to cost you. A Two-Processor license of Datacenter will retail for $4,809, which breaks down to $2,405 a CPU. The current retail price for Windows 2008 R2 Datacenter per Processor license is $2,405 so nothing has changed there. For Windows 2012 Standard, a Two-Processor license retails for $882. For those of you who were accustomed to purchasing Windows 2008 R2 Enterprise for $2,358 MSRP so you could use the 4-VMs that came with it will notice that the price to get 4-VMs of Windows 2012 (2 x Two-Processor Windows 2012 Standard = $1,764) is actually going to be less than what Windows 2008 R2 Enterprise costs. The issue will be for those who need Windows Standard for a physical server. Since there is no Windows 2012 license for physical servers, you’ll have to purchase the Two-Processor license. Currently, Windows 2008 R2 Standard edition runs for $726 retail so you will be paying more to use Windows on physical servers.
Once Windows 2012 is released, you’ll still be able to use prior versions, which is known as downgrade rights. Windows 2012 Datacenter edition can downgrade to any prior version or lower edition. Windows 2012 Standard edition gives you rights to downgrade to any prior version of Standard or Enterprise edition.
In addition, if you have current Software Assurance (SA) on your Windows 2008 R2 license you are entitled to Windows 2012. If you have Software Assurance on Datacenter edition you will be entitled to Windows 2012 Datacenter edition. Today Datacenter edition covers 1 processor and Datacenter 2012 license with cover 2 processors, so for every two current Datacenter licenses with Software Assurance, you will receive one Windows 2012 Datacenter edition license. If you have Software Assurance on Enterprise edition, you will be entitled to receive 2 x Two-Processor Standard 2012 edition licenses, that way you still have coverage of 4-VMs. Lastly, if you have Software Assurance on Standard edition you’ll receive one Windows 2012 Standard edition license for each Standard edition license you own.
As you’re taking this news in, there are a few things I’d recommend considering. The first of which is if you’re looking to purchase Windows over the next couple of months prior to Windows 2012’s release, you should look at purchasing it with Software Assurance because that will give you new versions rights to Windows 2012 once it’s ships. Keep in mind you don’t have to load Windows 2012 right away, but by having Software Assurance it will give you access when you decide to. Also, there may be instances where you need to add VMs to your host, specifically those running Windows Standard and the only way to add more VMs is to purchase additional Windows Standard licenses. Secondly, if you think you’ll be adding a substantial amount of VMs in the future, but don’t want to invest in Datacenter today, what you can do is purchase Windows Standard with Software Assurance through these participating license programs: Open Value, Select and Enterprise Agreement and by doing so you will be eligible to “Step-Up” your Standard License to Datacenter. Step-Up is Microsoft’s term for an upgrade. This Step-Up license will allow you to upgrade from your Standard edition license to Datacenter edition, thus providing you unlimited VMs on that host. Again the Standard license would have to have current Software Assurance and be purchased through the aforementioned licensing programs.
Obviously this is big news and will create many more questions and we’re here to assist and guide you through the purchase process so feel free to reach out to your GreenPages Account Executive for more details.