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Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 Resources August 2nd, 2012

Vinod Kumar

Migrating_to_Windows7

Migration is an very important topic and often there are tons of resources that administrators carry as part of the exercise. It is one of the most calculated, tested procedure before the jump can be made. With Win XP support to go away soon from Microsoft, thought this set of links and resources will help organizations make this move easy if to Windows 7. Yes, I agree the RTM of Win8 done today, I will post links and resources to move to Win8 for sure. These are some of the useful links that come to my mind and have been bookmarked. Please feel free to add additional resources which you might have used in the past.

Deploying Windows 7

    1. Windows 7 Deployment Methods and Technologies
    2. Preparing the Environment for a Windows 7 Deployment
    3. Create a Windows 7 Image
    4. Update a Windows 7 Image
    5. Deploy a Windows 7 Image
    6. Migrate Computers to Windows 7
    7. Configure and Manage Application Compatibility
    8. Light Touch Installation using Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
    9. Deploy using System Center Configuration Manager
    10. Create and Manage Windows PE environment
    11. Manage Deployments with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit
    12. IE 9

Videos and Webcasts

Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration

Windows XP Migration to Windows 7 RC using MDT Beta 1

Using the Application Compatibility Toolkit 5.6

User State Migration Tool (USMT) Videos

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit – Building Install Media for Windows 7

Advanced Deployment Scenarios using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010

Windows 7 Deployment

TechNet Simulcast: Automating Your Windows 7 Deployment with MDT 2010

Deploying Windows 7 with Windows Deployment Services

Basic Windows 7 Deployment

Bare Metal Installation of Windows 7

Windows XP to Windows 7 Using a USB Drive

Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit Demo:

Using MDT to Quickly and Efficiently Deploy Windows 7 Across Your Organization

Articles and Documentation

Windows XP to Windows 7 Migration Guide

    1. Application Compatibility
    2. Desktop Virtualization
    3. Licensing and Volume Activation
    4. Networking
    5. Performance and Hardware Compatibility
    6. Security and Control
    7. Training and Certification
  • Application Compatibility
  • Getting Started with Application Compatibility in a Windows Deployment
    • Understanding the Application Compatibility Problem
    • Gathering an Application Inventory
    • Analyzing Application Compatibility Data
    • Next Steps
    • Additional References
  • Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Version 5.6
    • Introduction to the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) Version 5.6
    • Using the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT)
    • Application Compatibility Toolkit Technical Reference
    • Customer Support and Documentation Resources
    • Troubleshooting ACT
    • Software and Hardware Requirements for ACT 5.6
  • Addressing Application Compatibility when Migrating to Internet Explorer 8
    • Benefits of Internet Explorer 8
    • Understanding the Application Compatibility Challenge
    • Web Standards and Application Compatibility
    • Browser Changes from Internet Explorer 6 to Internet Explorer 8
    • Application Compatibility and Migration Process Overview
    • Inventory and Prioritization of Critical Web Sites and Add-ons
    • Testing Web Application and Add-on Compatibility
    • Migration Strategies and Solutions
    • Appendix 1: Benefits of Internet Explorer 8
    • Appendix 2: Tools for Debugging Web Applications and Add-ons
    • Appendix 3: Internet Explorer 6 to Internet Explorer 8 Browser Changes
  • Managing Shims in an Enterprise
  • Understanding Shims
  • Deciding When to Use Shims as a Compatibility Mitigation
  • Custom Shim Database-Management Strategies
  • Custom Shim Database Deployment
  • Summary and Resources

Upgrade and Migration

Desktop Deployment

  • Windows 7 Desktop Deployment Overview
    • Improved Application and Hardware Readiness
    • Enhanced Imaging and File Delivery
    • Streamlined Installation and File Migration
    • Conclusion
  • Deploying Windows 7 from A to Z
    • Migrating User Files and Settings from Windows XP to Windows 7
    • Application Management and Preparing for a Windows 7 Deployment
    • Choosing and Image Strategy and Building Windows 7 System Images
    • Automating the Migration from Windows XP to Windows 7 End-to-End
  • Windows 7 Deployment FAQ
  • Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7
    • Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) User’s Guide
    • Windows Automated Installation Kit Scenarios
    • Preinstallation Phases
    • Deployment Tools Technical Reference
    • Windows Automated Installation Kit for Windows 7 Readme
  • Unattended Windows Setup Reference
    • Changes in Settings from Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
    • Changes in Settings from Windows XP
    • Settings to Use for an Unattended Installation
    • Automate Windows Welcome
    • Best Practices
    • Configuration Passes
    • Language Packs
    • Components
    • Packages
    • About This User’s Guide
  • Windows Deployment Guides
    • Step-by-Step: Basic Windows Deployments for IT Professionals
    • Step-by-Step: Multilingual Image Creation
    • Sysprep and Windows Media DRM Workaround for Windows 7
    • Sysprep Provider Developer’s Guide for Windows 7
    • Maintain Driver Configurations When Capturing a Windows Image

Other Useful Links

Windows 7 Virtual Labs

Application Compatibility Resource Center

Windows Client

Windows 7 Support Center

Windows Developer Center

The Springboard Series Blog

The Deployment Guys

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit Team Blog

Engineering Windows 7

Michael Niehaus’ Windows and Office deployment ramblings

Planning a Windows 7 Deployment? Here is your survival guide

Script Resources for IT Professionals

Script Center

Hey, Scripting Guy! (Blog)

Windows PowerShell Self-Study Guide (Blog)

If you have links and resources on this very topic, please feel free to drop a line and this can be a great value to the post. Your practical insights and resources are important to complete and compliment this post.

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System Center 2012 Resources to bookmark–Part II July 23rd, 2012

Vinod Kumar

The number of links and resources outlined in the first post around System Center 2012 were getting really big. It had resources for System Center 2012 General, System Center Advisor, System Center Configuration Manager 2012 etc. Adding more to that list will make that post really bloat up. Hence this blog is to add more interesting resources (DPM, End Point Protection and Operations Manager) that are still part of the System Center family that need a mention. Again to reiterate, Top-level link for System Center 2012 is: http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter.

UPDATE: To view the Part III of the links and resources on System Center 2012.

Microsoft Virtual Academy

Virtual Academy for System Center Suite on Data Protection Manager:

SCCM 2012 End Point Protection

Edge Show 7 – Operationalize Security with System Center Endpoint Protection 2012

Edge Show 10 – Office Productivity on any Device

Consumerization of IT Jump Start

  1. Keynote – Enabling the Consumerization of IT
  2. End-to-End Security & Access
  3. User Centric Application Delivery
  4. Mobile Device Management
  5. Productive with Office 365
  6. Information Protection
  7. Cloud Security and Management with Windows InTune
  8. Desktop Virtualization

Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) 2012

  • Endpoint Protection 2012: Overview
  • End-to-End Integrated Management with System Center 2012 and Forefront
  • Day-to-Day Client and Security Management on Configuration Manager 2012

How Do I:

  1. Getting started with Endpoint Protection for System Center Configuration Manager
    2012
  2. Antimalware (Endpoint Protection) policy management for System Center
    Configuration Manager 2012
  3. Endpoint Protection Dashboard and Monitoring for System Center Configuration Manager
    2012
  4. Endpoint Protections Alerts and Notifications for System Center Configuration Manager 2012
  5. Auto Deployment Rules and SUM for System Center Configuration Manager 2012
  6. Endpoint Protection Client Deployment for System Center Configuration Manager 2012

Videos and Webcasts

System Center Operations Manager & Data Protection Manager 2012 Highlights at TechEd

Should I Upgrade to SCOM 2012?

Prepare Yourself to Move to SCOM 2012

Operations Manager 2012: Overview, Setup and Configuration

Installing and Configuring System Center 2012 – Operations Manager

System Center Operations Manager 2012 Application Monitoring

TechNet Edge Show – Managing & Monitoring the Fabric with System Center 2012

Talk TechNet with Keith Combs and Matt Hester – Episode 28: “The OpsMgr Unleashed” Authors on Operations Manager 2012

How Microsoft Deployed System Center 2012 – Operations Manager

How Microsoft IT Planned and Architected its Private Cloud Infrastructure

Private Cloud Jump Start

  1. Introduction to the Microsoft Private Cloud with System Center 2012
  2. Configure & Deploy Infrastructure Components
  3. Configure & Deploy the Private Cloud Infrastructure
  4. Configure & Deploy Service Delivery & Automation
  5. Configure & Deploy Application Management
  6. Monitor & Operate Infrastructure Components
  7. Monitor & Operate the Private Cloud Infrastructure
  8. Monitor & Operate Service Delivery & Automation
  9. Monitor & Operate Application Management

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza:

  1. Deploy Bare Metal Servers to Hyper-V with System Center 2012
  2. Multiple Hypervisors for Cloud Resources & Adding ESX Servers with System Center 2012
  3. Add Resources to a Failover Cluster with System Center 2012
  4. Service Template Creation & Deployment with System Center 2012
  5. Standardized Service Updating with System Center 2012
  6. Monitor Network Devices with System Center 2012
  7. Monitor and Automatically Resolve Issues in the Fabric with System Center 2012
  8. Create an Orchestrator Runbook and Integrate with Service Manager with System Center 2012
  9. Create Self-Service Request Offerings using the Service Catalog with System Center 2012
  10. Deliver Self-Service Request Offerings using the Service Catalog with System Center 2012
  11. Gain Insight & Visibility through Service Manager Reporting with System Center 2012
  12. Enabling Performance Monitoring with System Center 2012
  13. Creating an Application Performance Monitoring Dashboard with System Center 2012
  14. Deep Application Diagnostics & Insight with System Center 2012
  15. Managing Applications Across Private & Public Clouds with System Center 2012
  16. Managing Application Resources Across Private & Public Clouds with System Center 2012
  17. Self-Service Application Deployment with System Center 2012

Podcasts

TechNet Radio Community Corner: Microsoft MVP Islam Gomaa on System Center 2012 Data Protection Manager

Jason Buffington and Matt Hester Discuss System Center Data Protection Manager

Talk TechNet with Keith Combs and Matt Hester – Episode 30: Jason Buffington on DPM

Protecting Your Private Cloud with DPM

Getting started with Endpoint Protection for System Center Configuration Manager
2012

Antimalware (Endpoint Protection) policy management for System Center Configuration Manager 2012

Endpoint Protection Dashboard and Monitoring for System Center Configuration Manager 2012

Endpoint Protections Alerts and Notifications for System Center Configuration Manager 2012

Auto Deployment Rules and SUM for System Center Configuration Manager 2012

Endpoint Protection Client Deployment for System Center Configuration Manager 2012

Talk TechNet with Keith Combs and Matt Hester – Episode 28: “The OpsMgr Unleashed” Authors on Operations Manager 2012

IT Time – Inside Microsoft IT – Using System Center 2012 Operations Manager to Manage Your Applications

Inside Microsoft IT – An Overview of System Center 2012 Operations Manager

Virtual Lab Insider: Infrastructure and Application Performance Monitoring with System Center 2012

Articles/Documentation

System Center 2012 – Data Protection Manager

  1. Getting Started with System Center 2012 – Data Protection Manager
  2. Planning a DPM Deployment
  3. Deploying DPM
  4. Upgrading to System Center 2012 – Data Protection Manager
  5. Operations Guide
  6. DPM Cmdlet Help
  7. Troubleshooting Guide
  8. DPM Error Codes
  9. Privacy Statement

System Center Integration Pack for System Center 2012 Data Protection Manager

  • System Center 2012 Data Protection Manager Activities

Endpoint Protection

  • System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection Privacy Statement
  • Information and Support for System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection
  • Endpoint Protection Client Help
    • Why do I need antivirus and antispyware software?
    • Getting started
    • Scanning for viruses, spyware, and other potentially unwanted software
    • What’s real-time protection?
    • How do I know that Endpoint Protection is running on my computer?
    • What are virus and spyware definitions?
    • How do I remove or restore items quarantined by Endpoint Protection?
    • What is the Microsoft Active Protection Service Community?
    • Troubleshooting
    • Glossary

Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager

  • Introduction to Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Planning for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Configuring Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Operations and Maintenance for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Security and Privacy for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Technical Reference for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager

 

Protecting Identity in the Cloud

Operations Manager

  • System Center 2012 – Operations Manager Cmdlet Reference
  • Operations Manager Cmdlets for UNIX and Linux

Virtual Labs

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Endpoint Protection RC

System Center 2012 Operations Manager: Infrastructure and Application Performance Monitoring

Wiki Links

System Center 2012 Operations Manager Survival Guide

Management Pack Authoring in Operations Manager

Visio Management Pack Designer for System Center 2012 – Operations Manager

Visual Studio Authoring Extensions for System Center 2012 – Operations Manager

Visual Studio Authoring Extensions – Visual Studio Features

Visual Studio Authoring Extensions – Example Management Pack

Configuring pseudo Elevation for UNIX and Linux Monitoring with System Center 2012 – Operations Manager

Troubleshooting UNIX/Linux Agent Discovery in System Center 2012 – Operations Manager

Useful Websites

System Center 2012 Cloud and Datacenter Management

www.dataprotectionbible.com

System Center: Data Protection Manager Engineering Team Blog

System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection

Server & Cloud Blog

System Center Team Blog

System Center 2012 Application Management

Jimmy Harper’s Operations Manager Blog

Kevin Holman’s System Center Blog

System Center: Operations Manager Engineering Blog

I hope that these links and resources will be a good bookmark for you to use later. Please feel free to share the same around !!!

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Management behaviors I consider taboo July 19th, 2012

Vinod Kumar

It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure. – Bill Gates

In the corporate world we meet a number of people, each with different traits. We have already discussed about Managers VS Leaders, in this blog I wanted to call out my 5 traits I feel are management behaviors that needs to be avoided inside an organizations. I know you will want to add atleast another half dozen more to this list and please keep them coming over the comments.

1. Avoiding Feedback

Feedbacks have a negative mindshare for employees and many times in the minds of managers too. It is this that makes employees be without feedbacks and subsequently without praise or raise :). Trust is always built if true and timely constructive feedbacks are given and I find this critical missing in many.

2. Respect and know your people

Organizations have loads of talent in the form of people. It is these people that propel the organizations forward. There is no excuse for not knowing your people and knowing the individuality and strengths of each. The last thing management need to think is to look at people and run like a factory !!!

3. Avoiding Conflicts

As much as it is about people, workplace conflicts are unavoidable and the management must be geared to face it, recognize it and most importantly solve it. Keeping this away will make the teams performance come down.

4. Short term thinking

Not all decisions have to be long term, but being myopic in all the decisions will be a big downfall. Short term decisions can help reduce expenses but what will suffer in quality, morale of employees. These trade-offs need to be thought through and weighed properly.

5. Missing Humility

Any manager looking at employees as a means to move up in their ladder are going to miss the trust of their employees. Once in this state, there is no way amazing things can be achieved as a team. A selfish behavior will place a lid on performance and the possibility of meaningful work goes down the drain.

These are some traits that come on top of my mind. What do you think are traits that are a taboo? Some more that come to my mind are Cynicism, unnecessary meetings, not recognizing employee ideas etc.

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Forefront Endpoint Protection Resources to bookmark July 9th, 2012

Vinod Kumar

In continuation to various other links and resources posted on this blog, here is bunch of Forefront related links and resources that you might find useful. The Anti-Virus component of FEP is also more advanced and is based on the Microsoft Security Essentials, providing better support for rootkit detection, host intrusion prevention, and cloud based threat analysis.

The high level site to access is: http://www.microsoft.com/fep

Training Links

Featured Videos

  1. Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010
  2. Top 5 Reasons to Move to Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010
  3. Forefront Endpoint Protection: New Protection Feature Demos
  4. Understanding the Convergence of Security and Management
  5. Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 Demos and Interview
  6. Protecting your Infrastructure with Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010
  7. How to Create a Policy with Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010
  8. Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010: Simplified Policy Management Demo
  9. How to Deploy the Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection Client to a Computer
  10. How to Run a Quick Scan with Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010
  11. How to Update Antimalware Definitions with Microsoft Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 using WSUS

Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (TechNet Edge)

  1. Business Ready Security Solutions: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Server (1 of 10)
  2. Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (Part 2 of 10)
  3. Forefront Threat Management Gateway 2010: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Server (Part 3 of 10)
  4. Forefront Unified Access Gateway 2010: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (Part 4 of 10)
  5. Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (Part 5 of 10)
  6. Forefront Protection 2010 for Exchange: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (Part 6 of 10)
  7. Forefront Online Protection for Exchange: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (Part 7 of 10)
  8. AD RMS + Exchange: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (Part 8 of 10)
  9. Forefront Protection 2010 for SharePoint: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (Part 9 of 10)
  10. Forefront Identity Manager 2010: Microsoft Forefront Virtual Event (Part 10 of 10)

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 (TechNet)

  • What’s New in FEP 2010 Update Rollup 1
  • Release Notes
  • Overview
  • System Requirements
  • Getting Started
  • Planning and Architecture
  • Performance and Scalability
  • Server Installation
  • Client Deployment
  • Operations
  • Troubleshooting
  • Technical Reference

System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection

What’s new in Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012?

Endpoint Protection (TechNet)

  • System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection Privacy Statement
  • Information and Support for System Center 2012 Endpoint Protection
  • Endpoint Protection Client Help
  • Why do I need antivirus and antispyware software?
  • Getting started
  • Scanning for viruses, spyware, and other potentially unwanted software
  • What’s real-time protection?
  • How do I know that Endpoint Protection is running on my computer?
  • What are virus and spyware definitions?
  • How do I remove or restore items quarantined by Endpoint Protection?
  • What is the Microsoft Active Protection Service Community?
  • Troubleshooting
  • Glossary

Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager

  • Introduction to Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Planning for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Configuring Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Operations and Maintenance for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Security and Privacy for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager
  • Technical Reference for Endpoint Protection in Configuration Manager

Forefront Webcasts/Podcasts

Security and Anti-Malware Management with Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010: Features and Protection Technologies

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 and System Center Configuration Manager

Forefront Forums

It is a place where questions can be asked/answered, where you can review conversations on relevant topics by other administrators, and where you can interact with other IT professionals.

Forefront Endpoint Protection

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 Support

Downloads

Administrators can download both FEP 2010 as well as the FEP 2010 Security Management Pack for use with System Center Operations Manager (SCOM).

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 Downloads

System Center 2012 Client Management and Security Solutions

Useful Blogs

Some of the blogs worth bookmark are:

Forefront Endpoint Security Blog (from the Microsoft engineering team)

Forefront Team Blog

Forefront Classroom Training

Course 50509A: Implementing Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 (2-day instructor led)

  • After completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Articulate the value proposition and key features of FEP 2010.
  • Understand the protection technologies built into the FEP client to protect desktops, laptops and servers from malicious code threats.
  • Understand the fundamental concepts of System Center Configuration Manager 2007.
  • Understand the FEP server components and how they are integrated into a System Center Configuration Manager 2007 infrastructure.
  • Understand how to manage FEP client policy and definition updates.
  • Understand the FEP client architecture and how the client can be deployed across an organization.
  • Understand the various options for monitoring, alerting and reporting on the health and malware activity of FEP clients.
  • Understand how FEP can leverage System Center Operations Manager 2007 to provide real-time monitoring of high value endpoints.

Feel free to add additional resources if I have missed here.

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System Center 2012 Resources to Bookmark July 2nd, 2012

Vinod Kumar

System-Center-2012

In continuation to the resources to bookmark series – here is the next series of links and resources on Microsoft System Center 2012. Use these links and resources as a starting point for your learning and feel free to pass me your comments.

As an Administrator, if you are looking at installing System Center 2012, then this blog has step-by-step screenshot driven explanation of how to do the same. Hence this is a great starting point: Installing System Center 2012 using the Unified Installer.

Top-level homepage for System Center 2012 is: http://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter

UPDATE: To view the Part II of the links and resources on System Center 2012.

Microsoft Virtual Academy
  1. What’s New in System Center 2012
  2. System Center 2012 Data Warehouse and Reporting
  3. System Center 2012 Licensing & Pricing – Overview
  4. Introduction to Systems Management & Service Delivery
  • Introduction to Systems Management & Service Delivery (video)
  • Systems Management Cheatsheet (PDF)
  • Value and Types of Service Management (video)
  • Policies & Processes, Scale & and Automation (video)
  • Metrics, Billing, Self Service (video)
  • Exam: Introduction to Systems Management & Service Delivery
  1. System Center Advisor – Overview (Part 1)
  2. System Center Advisor – Overview (Part 2)
  3. System Center Advisor – Overview (Part 3)
  4. (Module 1) Private Cloud – Application Services Management, Configuration & Deployment
  5. (Module 2) Private Cloud – Application Services Management, Operation & Management

Configuration Manager Links:

  1. Module 1: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 – Overview
  2. Module 2: Configuration Manager 2012: Deployment and Infrastructure Technical Overview
  3. Module 3: Configuration Manager 2012: Application Management Part 1
  4. Module 4: Configuration Manager 2012: Application Management Part 2
  5. Module 5: Configuration Manager 2012 Compliance and Settings Management (aka DCM)
  6. Module 6: Software Update Management in Configuration Manager 2012
  7. Module 7: Enabling Flexible Workstyles with Intelligent Infrastructure
Training Videos and Webcasts
Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 1: Deploy Bare Metal Servers to Hyper-V with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 2: Multiple Hypervisors for Cloud Resources & Adding ESX Servers with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 3: Add Resources to a Failover Cluster with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 4: Service Template Creation & Deployment with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 5: Standardized Service Updating with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 6: Monitor Network Devices with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 7: Monitor and Automatically Resolve Issues in the Fabric with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 8: Create an Orchestrator Runbook and Integrate with Service Manager with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 9: Create Self-Service Request Offerings using the Service Catalog with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 10: Deliver Self-Service Request Offerings using the Service Catalog with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 11: Gain Insight & Visibility through Service Manager Reporting with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 12: Enabling Application Performance Monitoring with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 13: Creating an Application Performance Monitoring Dashboard with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 14: Deep Application Diagnostics & Insight with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 15: Managing Applications Across Private & Public Clouds with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 16: Managing Application Resources Across Private & Public Clouds with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Demo Extravaganza 17: Self-Service Application Deployment with System Center 2012

Private Cloud Jump Start

Private Cloud Day

Podcasts

Deliver Flexible and Cost-Effective Infrastructure with System Center 2012

Automated Remediation with System Center 2012

Deliver Flexible and Cost-Effective Infrastructure with System Center 2012

System Center Advisor – Overview (Part 1)

System Center Advisor – Overview (Part 2)

System Center Advisor – Overview (Part 3)

Virtual Labs
  • Guided Labs
    • Provide Resources through Self-Service Requests
    • Drive Consistent Service Delivery
    • Provision Additional Cloud Infrastructure
    • Delegate Cloud Resources
    • Create Consistency through Service Templates
    • Perform a Standardized Application Deployment to Test
    • Stage Application Resources
    • Self-Service Deployment of an Application to a Production Environment
    • Gain Insight and Visibility Through Reporting
    • Monitor Infrastructure
    • Taking Corrective Actions in the Infrastructure
    • reduce Time to Resolution with Application Performance Monitoring
    • Deploy and Update to a Service Instance
    • Explore Creating Dashboards

TechNet Virtual Lab: Introduction to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Role Based Administration

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Hierarchy Install

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Settings Management

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Application Management

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Content Management

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Managing Clients

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: OSD Bare Metal

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Basic Software Distribution

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Advanced Software Distribution

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Software Updates

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Endpoint Protection RC

TechNet Virtual Lab: System Center 2012 Configuration Manager: Migrating from Configuration Manager 2007 to Configuration Manager 2012

Articles/Documentation

System Center 2012 – (top-level TechNet site for all things relating to System Center 2012)

  • App Controller
  • Configuration Manager
  • Data Protection Manager
  • Endpoint Protection
  • Operations Manager
  • Orchestrator
  • Service Manager
  • Unified Installer
  • Virtual Machine Manager
  • What’s New in System Center Advisor?
  • System Center Advisor Help
    • What is System Center Advisor?
    • Advisor Maintenance Schedule
    • What’s new this month?
    • System Center Advisor Release Notes
    • Deploy System Center Advisor
    • System Center Advisor Troubleshooting
    • Contact Microsoft Help and Support
    • System Center Advisor Terms of Service
    • System Center Advisor Legal Notices
  • System Center Advisor Troubleshooting
    • Troubleshoot the Gateway
    • Troubleshoot the Agent
    • Diagnosing Connection Problems with System Center Advisor
    • Advisor Deployment Troubleshooting
    • Help!  I Cannot Download the Certificate
    • Service Principle Name (SPN) and System Center Advisor
    • Gateway Event Messages
    • Agent Event Messages
  • App Controller(TechNet)
    • Setting up App Controller
    • Deploying Services and Virtual Machines
    • Managing Services and Virtual Machines
    • Using the App Controller Cmdlets
    • App Controller Glossary
    • Release Notes
    • Privacy Statement
    • Troubleshooting App Controller
    • Logo Certification for Windows Server 2008 R2

Mapping Private Cloud Capabilities to the Microsoft Private Cloud Platform

Documentation Library for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

  • Getting Started with System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
  • Site Administration for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
  • Migrating from Configuration Manager 2007 to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
  • Deploying Clients for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
  • Deploying Software and Operating Systems in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
  • Assets and Compliance in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
  • Security and Privacy for System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
  • Glossary for System Center 2012 Configuration Manage
Useful Blogs

The System Center Team Blog

Steve Rachui’s Manageability Blog

System Center Weblog

Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform Blog

The System Center Team Blog

Microsoft Server and Cloud Platform Blog

The System Center Team Blog

Adam Hall’s Blog

The Configuration Manager Support Team Blog

System Center Configuration Manager Team Blog

Configuration Manager in Microsoft IT

Steve Rachui’s Manageability Blog – ConfigMgr/OpsMgr

System Center WebLog by Russ Slaten

Forums and other Links

System Center Forums – Cool place to hang out with experts, learn, solve and share experiences.

System Center 2012 Configuration Manager

App Controller – General

https://www.systemcenteradvisor.com/

Microsoft System Center Advisor

System Center 2012 Application Management

System Center 2012 – App Controller Survival Guide

UPDATE 6-Jul: Added few System Center Links

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Monitor High CPU with Extended Events in SQL Server 2012 June 28th, 2012

Vinod Kumar

Extended Events has always been fascinating for me to learn in the previous editions too. But the only drawback of not having an effective UI means that this was tough to configure and more so to use. With SQL Server 2012, this limitation goes out of the door and now we can use some basic UI to work with Extended Events.

In this post, let me take a simple tour of creating a simple Extended Event via SSMS and then we will add appropriate filters to the collection to collect a specific event of some specified value. This is no way exhaustive of what Extended Events can do but surely can be a great starter.

What is Extended Events?

As per BOL, “Extended Events has a highly scalable and highly configurable architecture that allows users to collect as much or as little information as is necessary to troubleshoot or identify a performance problem.” – Read completely on this topic over TechNet.

Step 1: Initializing a session

To get started, Open SQL Server 2012 Management Studio and get to the Management Node. Expand and click on the “Extended Events” node and right click at the Sessions Folder. Select “New Session”.

image

Step 2: Session Name to start

The next step is to give a “Session Name” in the Text Box. Enter a value of “High_CPU” for example. This screen has multiple other Checkbox which allows you to start this Extended Event session upon SQL Server Startup etc. For this blog, we will not select any of them. Feel free to use these advanced features once you got a hang of Extended Events with SQL Sever 2012.

image

Step 3: Add an Event and Filter Values

Once the above is complete, now select the “Events” tab from the left-hand side menu. This will bring you the Events Library to select. Remember we want to get the Queries based on some high CPU value.

Under the “Event Library” text box, apply the filter for ShowPlan. This will get you 3 records like below. Select the “query_post_execution_showplan”. This occurs after a SQL statement is executed. This event returns an XML representation of the actual query plan and we will use the CPU values from this event to get badly performing queries. Once you Select use the small “Right Arrow” to move the event to “Selected Events” section. The wizard will look like below.

image

Step 4: Configure details

Once you reached this step, Click on the “Configure” button on the top right corner. This brings the Event Configuration Options. Select the “Filter (Predicate)” Tab. Apply some filters. For the demo, I am adding two filters on cpu_time and database_name as below. These can be different for you.

image

Step 5: Configure Storage Options

Now the once the event and filter conditions are configured, we need to next configure where we be collecting these events. For this demonstration, we have used a “event_file” option and are writing to “c:\temp” folder with the options like below.

image

This is the final step and click “OK” button at the bottom. We are all set now.

Step 6: Start the session now

Right click on the “High_CPU” node and select start session.

image

Now the configuration is complete and we are all set to start collecting data. Play around with the various options, events and destinations to configure your own collection.

===================================================================

Step 7: Generate a High CPU query

For this blog I am querying a very large table and doing an aggregate to simulate some CPU cycles. Once this is done. Just "double click” the file “c:\temp\High_CPU_x_xxxxx.xel”.

This will Open up the SSMS and you will be able to view the file with some interesting data.

image

This shows you that I have had a Stored Procedure – “High_CPU1” that is causing some 3313000 ms of CPU time and this qualified for the event capture and hence was collected. You can also use Live trace if you from one of the options of right-click on the session. That will be functioning like a typical Profiler sorts with a filteration of event.

Clicking on the Query Plan also reveals the query that was used inside the Stored Procedure that caused this CPU spike.

There are nice ways to now group, filter etc on Extended Events. But I will write it for a future post.

Conclusion

Want to wrap up saying, with SQL Server 2012 Extended Events are way more powerful than the conventional way of collecting data via Profiler. We will get into some more options and advanced data collection in the future. Do feel free to pass me your comments (if any) for future posts too.

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Windows PowerShell Links to Bookmark June 24th, 2012

Vinod Kumar

powershell

After writing a bunch of links and resources on Sharepoint, thought it will be great to drop a line around all the links and resources on PowerShell. Hope the administrators who want to work with PowerShell will find these links useful and will use this page as a bookmark for reference. This is just my way to share all the bookmarks from my IE page :). Your feedbacks and comments are most welcome as you browse through this mega-list.

The list below is provided for those who wish to become familiar with Microsoft PowerShell 2.0. Top Level Site for PowerShell: http://www.microsoft.com/powershell

Windows PowerShell Training

Windows PowerShell Getting Started Guide

  • Scripting with Windows PowerShell

PowerShell Essentials for the Busy Admin (5 part video series)

  • Why You Should Learn PowerShell
  • How to Compound Windows PowerShell Commands for Fun and Profit
  • A Look at Windows PowerShell Providers
  • Windows PowerShell Does Event Logs
  • Using Windows PowerShell to Manage the Remote Desktop

Windows PowerShell – Learn it Now Before It’s an Emergency (5 part video series)

  1. Part 1
  2. Part 2
  3. Part 3
  4. Part 4
  5. Part 5

Windows PowerShell Owner’s Manual

  • Getting Started with Windows PowerShell
  • Customizing the Windows PowerShell Console
  • Windows PowerShell Shortcut Keys
  • Piping and the Pipeline
  • Running Windows PowerShell Scripts
  • The Windows PowerShell Profile
  • Windows PowerShell Aliases

Windows PowerShell User’s Guide

  • Windows PowerShell Basics
  • Object Pipeline
  • Windows PowerShell Navigation
  • Working with Objects
  • Using Windows PowerShell for Administration
  • Introducing the Windows PowerShell ISE
  • Appendix 1 – Compatibility Aliases
  • Appendix 2 – Creating a Custom Windows PowerShell Shortcut

Windows PowerShell Webcasts/Podcasts (a list of 76 different PowerShell presentations in multiple formats – to see the entire list select “MORE” on right-hand side opposite the heading that reads “IT Professionals (76)”)

  • Introduction to Windows PowerShell
  • Using Windows PowerShell 2.0
  • Windows PowerShell Basics for IT Professionals (2-part series)
  • TechEd 2011 Birds-of-a-Feather (Sessions 04): PowerShell: Best Practices From The Field
  • Managing Web Infrastructure Systems with Windows PowerShell 2.0
  • How Do I:
  • PowerShell – The Basics
  • PowerShell Variables
  • PowerShell Scripts and the Command Line
  • PowerShell and WMI
  • Creating Output with PowerShell
  • PowerShell – Object Manipulation
  • Pipelining

The VBScript-to-Windows PowerShell Conversion Guide

PowerShell Podcasts

These audios offer Windows PowerShell tips, news and interviews that you can listen to at your convenience.

Windows PowerShell Podcasts

TechNet Radio

Useful PowerShell Blogs

This is a sampling of some of the blogs that are being written on the subject of Windows PowerShell.  Some of these are independent blogs and not from Microsoft.

Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog

Windows PowerShell Team Blog

Get-PowerShellBlog

Keith Hill’s Blog

Richard Siddaway’s Blog

PowerShell Scripts

This section represents links to actual PowerShell scripts that have been developed for review and reuse.  These scripts are intended to keep administrators from having to “start from scratch” when developing scripts.  While they will almost certainly require some modification, the intent is to give admins a starting point to learn how to do various tasks related to PowerShell in their own environments.

Windows PowerShell Script Repository

Microsoft Script Center

PowerShell Forum

This forum is a place where administrators can ask question, read discussions among technical professionals, and engage with the online PowerShell community.

Windows PowerShell Forum

PowerShell Tools

Windows PowerShell (download)

The Windows PowerShell Toolbox

PowerShell Books

The following is a partial list of books that have proven useful as PowerShell resources, both to the new admin and the experienced developer. This is not intended as a complete list of PowerShell books, but is intended only as a sample for the admin looking to start building their library

Windows PowerShell 2.0 Best Practices

Microsoft Windows PowerShell 3.0 Step by Step

Windows PowerShell Scripting Guide

Windows PowerShell 2.0 Administrator’s Pocket Consultant

Additional PowerShell Resources

A variety of external resources offered to the PowerShell community in the form of blogs, sample scripts, wikis, forums, etc.

PowerShellCommunity.org

Windows PowerShell Wiki

CodePlex

Precision Computing

Under the Stairs

PowerShell v3 (beta)

These resources are specifically designed to help prepare for the newest version of PowerShell to be released in the near future.

PowerShell v3 Guide (TechNet)

  1. Introduction
  2. Getting PowerShell v3
  3. Installing PowerShell v3
  4. PowerShell v3 FAQ
  5. Featured Articles
  6. New Features
  7. Tips and Tricks

What’s New in PowerShell v3

PowerShell v3 Sneak Peek (Microsoft TechDays video)

Phew, that is a lot of links and resources you have in your hand to digest. So feel free to pass this page on your Social sites if you find it useful. Do drop a line if you would like to see for other technologies too.

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SharePoint 2010 Resources to Bookmark June 19th, 2012

Vinod Kumar

sharepointI know this is not the usual post of my techie but I thought this is worth a post based on some of the bookmarks available with me already. Can become an interesting and handy reference for sure for folks out there.

I just mentioned over my twitter (@vinodk_sql) about this awesome resource to start: SharePoint 2010 Resources for IT Professionals. This is like the root that I want to mention first and then take you through some of the detailed content that is available from there that you can use.

Beginning with SharePoint

Getting Started with SharePoint 2010 for IT Pros (Webcast Series)

  1. Part 1 – What Can SharePoint Server 2010 Do for Me?
  2. Part 2 – How SharePoint Server 2010 Works
  3. Part 3 – Simple Install for Testing in SharePoint Server 2010
  4. Part 4 – Search in SharePoint Server 2010
  5. Part 5 – Backups in SharePoint Server 2010
  6. Part 6 – Creating Your First Web Application, Site Collection and Web in SharePoint Server 2010
  7. Part 7 – Getting Started with Security in SharePoint Server 2010
  8. Part 8 – Windows PowerShell for SharePoint Server 2010 Administrators
  9. Part 9 – Tools to Optimize the Performance of SharePoint Server 2010
  10. Part 10 – Introduction to Upgrade in SharePoint Server 2010
  11. Part 11 – Service Applications and Topologies in SharePoint Server 2010
SharePoint 2010 Advanced IT Professional Training (Webcast Series)

Core Architecture of SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: Understanding SharePoint 2010 Topology
  • Lesson 2: Planning and Leveraging SharePoint 2010 Service Applications
  • Lesson 3: Business Continuity Management Features in SharePoint 2010

Security in SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: Using the New SharePoint 2010 Security Model – Part 1
  • Lesson 2: Using the New SharePoint 2010 Security Model – Part 2

IT Pro Management in SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: Managing SharePoint 2010 Customizations for the IT Pro
  • Lesson 2: IT Pro Tools for Customizing SharePoint 2010

Upgrading to SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: SharePoint 2010 Upgrade Overview
  • Lesson 2: Preparing to Upgrade to SharePoint 2010
  • Lesson 3: Testing Upgraded SharePoint 2010 Solutions
  • Lesson 4: Implementing and Validating Upgrade Plans for SharePoint 2010

Enterprise Search in SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: Search Capabilities and Features in SharePoint 2010

Content Management in SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: Document Management Capabilities and Features in SharePoint 2010
  • Lesson 2: Records Management in SharePoint 2010
  • Lesson 3: Governing Content Types, Policies, and Taxonomy Services in SharePoint 2010

Composite Solutions in SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: Business Connectivity Services in SharePoint 2010 and Office 2010

Communities in SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: Using Social Capabilities in SharePoint 2010

Business Intelligence in SharePoint 2010

  • Lesson 1: Business Intelligence Features in SharePoint 2010

SharePoint Online Overview

  • Lesson 1: SharePoint Online Overview

SharePoint Documentation

When I meet customers I get a lot of queries regarding some of the implementations and nuances. Trust me almost 80-90% of the time it is the official documentation site that gives me the answer and not the internal distribution lists. The following top-level link is for the SharePoint Tech Center on TechNet:

Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010

SharePoint Online Forums

Microsoft maintains an active community of SharePoint professionals who regularly post questions, answers, tips, and general information related to SharePoint. This is also an place where most of the best MVP’s and the support engineers hang around to help customers, partners and enthusiasts who work on SharePoint. This is an excellent way to become familiar with the professionals in the SharePoint community around the world, ask your own questions, and learn more about SharePoint:

SharePoint 2010 Forums

Microsoft SharePoint Certification

Microsoft offers several certification tests related to SharePoint 2010.  These tests contribute to the certifications listed under the “Credit Toward Certification” section listed for each test below:

Exam 70-667: TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Configuring

The minimally qualified candidate typically:

  1. Is an IT administrator who implements and maintains SharePoint Online or an on-premise deployment of SharePoint 2010 Service Pack 1.
  2. Is proficient with IIS 7.0, DNS, Active Directory Domain Services, and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 as these technologies relate to SharePoint.
  3. Is proficient with the infrastructure and security of Windows Server 2008 or later.
  4. Has experience with business operations for IT, including data backup, restoration, and high availability.
  5. Has experience with Windows PowerShell 2.0 and command-line administration.
  6. Has a basic understanding of single sign-on and Active Directory Federation Services 2.0.

Exam 70-668: PRO: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Administrator

Candidates typically plan, design, and maintain:

  1. Physical topologies and services architecture
  2. Disaster recovery (backup and restore) and availability
  3. Infrastructure capacity (users, licenses, and topology)
  4. Farm performance and availability
  5. Migration, coexistence, and upgrade  
  6. Security and compliance requirements
  7. Information architecture (interprets taxonomy)
  8. Information search strategy integration with other data sources (LOB, third-party products)
  9. Client application services deployment

Exam 77-866: SharePoint 2010

Candidates for this exam are users who provide structure for information, extend out-of-the-box site features, solve business problems through composite applications, and facilitate collaboration with other site users. Users perform all site user tasks. They optimize Web Part pages for team use by adding and configuring Web Parts from the Web Part gallery. They customize dashboards to target the information presented. Users focus on adapting SharePoint sites to their teams’ needs and improving productivity.

Exam 70-573: TS: Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development

A Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) in Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Application Development should be able to perform the following tasks:

  1. Write code that extends SharePoint 2010
  2. Add and support code to an existing project
  3. Write code for and test custom features in a SharePoint solution such as a Visual Web Part or Event Receiver
  4. Implement a solution designed by lead SharePoint Developer

Exam 70-576: PRO: Designing and Developing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Applications

The candidate is responsible for designing custom code for projects that are deployed to SharePoint servers. This includes technology selection across the many ways to build code in SharePoint, ensuring the team development environment is configured, creating a strategy for code deployment, versioning, configuration, or structure. The candidate also leads a team of SharePoint developers, has at least two years of SharePoint development experience, has at least three years of ASP.NET development experience

More Training Locations to Bookmark

These are few more locations that are worth to book are:

Introductory Developer Training for SharePoint 2010

SharePoint 2010 Developer Training Course

Developer Overview: video that shows some of the great new features for building custom applications and components in SharePoint 2010.

If you are Upgrading from SharePoint 2007:SharePoint 2010 Upgrade Resource Center.

To setup the environment on your machines: setting up the development environment for SharePoint 2010.

SharePoint 2010 101 Code Samples – Great download to learn the tricks

SharePoint 2010 Advanced Developer Training – Another set of videos to look for.

Finally, the Microsoft Certified Master certification also will be available for SharePoint Server 2010. For this certification, you must attend the training program and complete three weekly exams and a qualifying lab exam.

Hope you will find these set of links and resources useful and will bookmark for future reference. Please drop a line if you would like to see more of such consolidated lists of links from my useful links sections :).

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SQL Server 2012: Using SEQUENCE May 24th, 2012

Vinod Kumar

There have been multiple options of using running numbers and as developers we have used options of IDENTITY in the past. With SQL Server 2012, there is an interesting option to utilize called as SEQUENCE. I am not sure how many of you are using this new feature in your applications already. In this post wanted to quickly give you some ways to use this nice little addition into SQL Server.

Creating SEQUENCE

The syntax for SEQUENCE can be got from the documentation mentioned above. Let us create a simple table and Sequence to start with for our experiment.

image

In the above script the important part is the last command where we initialize the SEQUENCE. What we created is:

Data type: BIGINT
Starts at 1 which is greater than minvalue and less than maxvalue
MaxValue is max value of the type i.e. 9223372036854775807
MinValue is min value of the type i.e. -9223372036854775808
Increment is 1 – can also be negative.
No cycle – means it will error after maxvalue
Cache is used, database engine will select a size and selection might not be consistent.

‘CREATE SEQUENCE’ does not allow specifying the database name as a prefix to the object name.

Only word of caution is wrt cache. Using of cache can minimize some IO at generation time, but at the same time if any abrupt crash or power outage can mean the cache values can be lost and there can be breakage in the sequence values.

Get the SEQUENCE Metadata from inside SQL Server. Use the sys.sequence DMV for this task.

image

This confirms our initial understanding of the values and how they can be queried from the system. This DMV can be used to see what SEQUENCEs have been defined inside a Database.

Generating SEQUENCE

Generating sequence numbers is a simple step using the “next value” construct.

image

Since we are using the GO 10, there are 10 sequence numbers that get generated.

Quick Quiz: What will be the output from the below query if I run them now.

image

Will the values be:

  1. 10,11
  2. 11,12
  3. 11,11
  4. 12,12
  5. None of the above

Please post the answer over comments and would love to see your explanation for the same too. For correct answers, we will send you Pluralsight Codes to watch our courses.

Let us next, alter an existing SEQUENCE number to different values:

image

Only catch here is: Data type can’t be changed by alter statement. And “START WITH” cannot be used in an ALTER SEQUENCE command.

Given this constrain, decide on if you want to go with smallint, int, bigint or decimals/numeric (with 0 scale). I would suggest the choice would be between int and bigint – not to forget the storage or memory needs from a cache. Given these days few MB’s is fine from an overhead when the world is moving to TB’s of data :).

Using SEQUENCE Inside Transactions

The next aspect is to use the SEQUENCE values inside a transaction and see how they get affected. Use the below status check query to keep a tap on the progress every step.

image

Let us start by using an implicit transaction inside SSMS and insert one value. The output of the same is:

image

This seems to be one of the easiest of steps. Now if we use an Explicit transaction and if we rollback, how would the SEQUENCE Status look like?

image

Now you can see that the values as part of INSERT have been rolled back, yet there is a small difference in the status check – the current value is 11. This confirms that the SEQUENCE has jumped to the next value and doesn’t participate as part of transaction rollback. This is the same / similar behavior to how IDENTITY works inside SQL too. Hence if we insert a new row, it would have skipped a value of 11 as we gave a increment of 10 in the last alter statement.

It is sort of different from IDENTITY because even the IDENTITY can get reset using the TRUNCATE command, but SEQUENCE has to be reinitialized using the ALTER for the same.

image

Getting a range of values

Now that we are talking about sequences, there have been requirements to get a range of values. The same can be achieved using a stored procedure – sp_sequence_get_range. The idea here would be an application might need some range of values it can use from the sequence generated from the backend. In case of pessimistic locking lot of people ask me is it possible to know the IDENTITY before we insert so that they can send the parent and child (with foreign key populated) in one shot into SQL Server. Here is a typical way to achieve that.

image

Let me add the command text used above for easy access.

DECLARE @sequence_name nvarchar(100) = ‘SequenceID’,  @range_size int = 10, 
    @range_first_value sql_variant,  @range_last_value sql_variant,
    @range_cycle_count int,  @sequence_increment sql_variant, 
    @sequence_min_value sql_variant,  @sequence_max_value sql_variant;

EXEC sp_sequence_get_range  @sequence_name = @sequence_name, @range_size = @range_size,
@range_first_value = @range_first_value output,  @range_last_value = @range_last_value output, 
@range_cycle_count = @range_cycle_count output,  @sequence_increment = @sequence_increment output, 
@sequence_min_value = @sequence_min_value output,  @sequence_max_value = @sequence_max_value output;

SELECT RangeSize= @range_size,FirstValue=@range_first_value,LastValue= @range_last_value,CycleCount=@range_cycle_count,
  Increment=@sequence_increment,MinValue= @sequence_min_value,MaxValue= @sequence_max_value;

The documentation is pretty exhaustive and can be helpful for reference– MSDN/BOL.

SEQUENCE Usage

There are a number of ways to use SEQUENCE inside SQL Server. We have already seen how one might use the same inside a SELECT (Option 1) or INSERT Statement (Option 2) above. Let me give you some other options of how one might use SEQUENCE.

Option 3 – Pre-generation and Batching

Get the next value before inserting. If you have not taken the quiz / trivia above – do that. You will realize that the solution for that question is by doing a batch operation like one written below. Unlike in the previous case, all expressions that appear in the same logical query processing phase are evaluated as if at the same point in time hence giving it a batch window eliminates that problem.

image

Option 4 – OVER and Order by

This will be one of the common methods people might start using the SEQUENCEs. Your requirement is to get some sequence or order while you get the resultset and this can be yet another way to use. You can use the overall ranking functions also to get two numbered set one as a master and other as a subset ranking set. A typical example is:

image

Option 5 – Using inside Update statement

There can be a requirement you want to create some running sequence for an already existing values inside SQL Server as part of migrating it to SQL Server 2012. Also you don’t want any breaks in that sequence (like Invoice etc). You can use this technique to generate such running numbers and then reset / reseed if you are using the identity columns. If you get the drift then you can easily build the script using another column and achieve the same. Though I did this for one of the ISV’s keep in mind the Foreign key pitfalls as part of the activity.

image

Option 6 – Use it via DEFAULT Column value

This option is a great way to use in comparison to IDENTITY values. Some of the benefits of cache can surely eliminate the contention on the last page because of IDENTITY value generation. And I see this as a new way to maintain and create unique numbers inside SQL Server. In the example below, the default constraint makes sure the next value has been entered and see the entry of last 8th row automatically.

image

Why SEQUENCE when IDENTITY is there?

UPDATE: A lot of people are asking when to use sequence and when IDENTITY. The scenario is simple, if you need a unique sequence number to be generated across a single database then sequence can be of great help. IDENTITY can be used to generate a unique number for a given table and not across tables. That is the fundamental difference between both.

Though SEQUENCE can also be used to replace IDENTITY in the future, given the caching and faster retrieval, this is an option to explore and use. I would say, do a simple performance testing to know which one performs better. You will surely surprised :).

Finally

Your question in mind is – is it a replacement for IDENTITY? Well, it can be as one of the options. Do a small performance test to see which of these methods fair well for use before doing the replacement. I have seen acceptable performance with SEQUENCE usage on a decent workload – but you are better judge of the final results in your environments.

As time permits, feel free to pass me your comments.

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Upgrading to SQL Server 2012 May 17th, 2012

Vinod Kumar

As new versions of software get released, companies and products also get into this natural transition of upgrading and supporting the latest and greatest. And in the same space, SQL Server is no exception -almost as an predictable cycle, every 3 years we can expect a version of SQL Server getting released. This has been a trend since the SQL Server 2005 version for sure. As part of my job in meeting customers, I have to give recommendations and best practices to move to the latest versions. There are so many nuances to keep in mind as we make a successful upgrade. Let me take a moment to give you some of the suggestions I give to customers. Hope these will be helpful for you too.

Bible to start

You need to always start with preparation phase. This phase involves multiple steps and here are some of them for you to start.

  1. Keep the SQL Server 2012 Upgrade Technical Guide handy with you always. This is a very long document to read but it is worth the reference. I am outlining this as the FIRST reference because I will refrain from what this document covers as content. It is exhaustive and as I said with ~450 pages has a lot of material on how to upgrade. Also for reference SQL Server 2005 to 2008 Upgrade Whitepaper.
  2. If you still want to know WHY UPGRADE? I am attaching a link to some of the new features document for your reference. Knowing the new features is an important step before you upgrade. Later, you must be looking at how you can start maximizing the new features introduced with the new version.

Just upgrading by keeping the compatibility level at a older version is not real upgrade. Evaluate at using some of the new features to increase productivity, performance, maintainability and scalability.

As management takes the decisions for upgrade, DBA’s and developers need to also get themselves set for this task. Any upgrade process cannot be a simple overnight activity but more of a calculated informed step as line-of-business applications are at stake and it can bring down the efficiency of the teams working inside the organizations.

  1. Take a BACKUP of your databases. This is the first step irrespective of what you do next. A backup is required to make sure we have a fallback mechanism if things go wrong. Also make sure if you are using any specific system databases and objects in those DB, these are appropriately backed-up or scripted out.
    1. Take FULL Backups
    2. Transaction Log Backups
    3. Backup Database Master Keys
    4. Backup Service Master Keys
    5. Backup any external resource used (CLR DLLs, Extended SP) and anything that is required for the application outside the database for proper functioning.
  2. Before the backup process, just run a DBCC CHECKDB across the databases to make sure there is no corruption before the backup and they are consistent. This step can reduce any heartburns at a later point in time post upgrade :).
  3. As the upgrade talks happens, get started with tracking if any deprecated features are being used. There are multiple ways to do this – I highly recommend using the “SQL Server: Deprecated Features” Perfmon counter to track it like a background task. As your application runs, this gives you a rough idea of how many deprecated features you might be using inside your application that might have an impact to your upgrade process. There is also a Trace Event for capturing Deprecated features with SQL Server Profiler which you can use but that will be to nail down which code is causing that perfmon spike.
  4. Before initializing the upgrade process, please start by running the Upgrade Advisor as a first step. This surely guides you of potential problems upfront and is one of the essential step too for any SQL Server upgrade process.
  5. Keep track of the Supported Versions and Editions as you plan for Upgrades. With changes in licensing plans, LPIM (lock pages in memory), AWE gone etc. It is critical to keep track of how we upgrade between environments.
  6. Take a typical workload using profiler and keep it handy for a later test. Create a separate environment, bring the databases via a backup / restore operation to the new edition. Look for warnings, errors, changes in functionality and performance bottlenecks. Make sure to replay the workload collected before to see if anything unusual behaviors or errors. Document and then make sure these are mitigates during the actual run.
  7. Also, review the KB article that talks about “How to move databases between computers running SQL Server”. Especially, when we move between servers during upgrades we might need to change the location of files and hence have to account for the same. Also on a new setup, make sure the drivers for SAN or other hardware components are done properly and are the latest as suggested by the vendor.
    1. There are interesting ways to install as we move forward with SQL Server 2012 like, you can install SQL Server with SMB Fileshares as storage options.
    2. Another, is to install it on a Windows Server Core. This is interesting because now you don’t have an UI to manage SQL Server and it also reduces the surface area of attack and patch management is easy too.
    3. Considerations for SysPrep install for SQL Server – read documentation.
  8. Also, since this is an upgrade to a new box, make sure you are having enough space allocated for atleast 2-3 years of growth in mind for the database locations. Now is a good time for you to reassess some of the values defined for the auto-growth settings. Ideally, I suggest never allow SQL Server to grow but you pre-allocate it as part of your administration window cycle by properly monitoring SQL Server Data file free space.
  9. Before you install the Database on a new server, make a note of the Collation requirements for your applications. This is an important step and you don’t want get into a server which is Case-Sensitive while the application is built assuming case-insensitive.
  10. Don’t forget some of the critical addendum functions that you might have configured like replication, mirroring, clustering, service broker, maintenance plans, local user accounts, SQL Server Logins, service accounts, Linked servers, common backup path locations, configuration settings, DR strategies etc. All these need to be accounted and have to be changed accordingly.
  11. Whatever step you take, document them meticulously and run the document through a junior tester on a fresh SQL Server environment. This will test your upgrade process documentation and at the same time make sure that you are not missing any step to avoid last minute glitches. Document every single error encountered and the solution for the same – it is better to be prepared than to fail not being prepared.
  12. When I call out documentation, look out for hidden gems in your process like – Startup Processes, SQL Server Trace Flags that were enabled, Error Log settings, External DLL / CLR assemblies used, powershell scripts, any application Windows services that have been installed, external third party backup tools etc. Also make sure the server is secure by default and make sure any unnecessary services (SQL Browser, IIS, virus scanners, spooler etc) if running have been stopped.
  13. If you are planning to move into Virtualized environment, know what does it take to run SQL Server in Hyper-V Environment (though little outdated, is a worthy read). Also, read about running SQL Server with Dynamic Memory in HyperV Environments. I saw a session video in NA TechEd on this very topic which can be a good watch: Microsoft SQL Server Consolidation and Virtualization: Myths and Realities.
  14. More documents worthy for reading on the Virtualization subject are: Hyper-V is the Best Virtualization Solution for SQL Server, High Performance SQL Server Workloads on Hyper-V, Planning, Implementing, and Supporting SQL Server Virtualization with Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and Live Migration and Support Policy for SQL Server Virtualization.
  15. What are your plans for upgrade: in-place upgrade, side-by-side on the same box or side-by-side on a different box? Irrespective of the method used Keep in mind Point 1 :).
  16. Have a small test-stub workload where you are aware of the parameters and the expected results from the server. Make sure you run this pre and then post the upgrade and debug any anomalies based on the output. If you have automated test scripts, these are the best to be run against the server for a quick test with expected values.
  17. Have a failsafe strategy if things don’t go as per the plan. Your backup can come handy here and be careful especially if you plan to do a in-place upgrade as there is not much choice to come back other than using the backup route.

Know the fine prints

Please make sure you are aware of the specific call-outs mentioned in the Upgrade Technical reference mentioned above. During upgrade there can be specific features or settings that might need special attention. I am calling out some of them as I have seen at multiple customer upgrade process.

  1. The default setting for max worker threads in SQL Server 2000 is 255. When you upgrade from an instance of SQL Server 2000, the database engine keeps setting the value of max worker threads. However, it is recommended you change the value of max worker threads to 0 before the migration, to allow the Database Engine calculates the optimal number of threads.
  2. Changing the Compatibility Level while users are connected to the database can generate incorrect results for sets of active queries. To avoid inaccurate results, it is recommended to change the Compatibility Level with the database in order to a SINGLE_USER mode and then back to MULTI_USER. Do this post the upgrade activity.
  3. Look at server side settings from the older version, as you plan to move to new hardware’s some of these old values doesn’t make sense. Keep special note to MAXDOP settings, number of TempDB files etc.
  4. Just like the recommendation on Server Core, I highly recommend not to install any new components that you may not be planning to use in the immediate future like – Data Quality Services, PowerPivot, Master Data Services, Analysis Services etc.
  5. Look at the Security considerations and the protocols used for communication as part of upgrade. Each new version there are some changes and analyze the ports you have as standards open at the new environment. Security considerations during Install is documented and worth reading for every version upgrade.
  6. In earlier versions of SQL Server, the values ​​for the table and index row counts and page may be incorrect. Thus, databases that were created in versions prior to SQL Server 2005 may contain incorrect counts. After you upgrade a database from SQL Server 2000, it is recommended that you perform the DBCC UPDATEUSAGE to correct any invalid counts. This DBCC statement corrects the count of rows, used pages, reserved pages, leaf pages and data for each partition in a table or index.
  7. Update statistics for all Indexes after the Upgrade process. This is one of the most important step. Keep in mind also the Plan guides and hints that you have used in your application. Test these sections for any potential performance problems. Given the upgrade, SQL Server engine would have also changed and hence testing them matters. In case of Full-text catalogs, make sure these are also updated.
  8. As a sanity check, make sure to run a DBCC CHECKDB on each of the databases which have been part of the upgrade process.
  9. Over and above this, I also recommend checking each of the database properties which are critical. Check the recovery models, Auto-Close, Auto-Create-Statistics, Auto-Shrink, Auto-Update-Statistics and Auto-Update-statistics-Asynchronously. Also in this list, I highly recommend setting value of CHECKSUM for the Page Verify property at the DB properties level.
  10. Know and document the changes that need to be done on the application to start pointing to the new upgraded server. This might sometimes involve Connection String changes in Web Server deployment. Also, track if any reporting server and Sharepoint installations are pointing to the old servers as data sources. Even these need to be changed as part of movement.
  11. After all this, don’t forget to take a Backup of your system. You don’t want to do all the hard work and find out the HDD crashed the next day :). Backup and secure on a different media and location.

I think this very much sums-up what I had in mind based on various implementations that I have seen. These steps are very much towards migration of the SQL Server Relational engine but doesn’t talk about the SSAS, SSIS, SSRS workloads. I would again reiterate to look at the Upgrade Reference Guide mentioned above as a good guide to start.

A successful upgrade uses a cycle of: Plan, Document process, Test, Refine process, Test, Plan upgrade window, execute, verify upgrade and then opens for business.

Now that we have upgraded into the next version of SQL Server, now start looking actively at how we can start using the new capabilities available inside the next new release. I am just calling out some of them that are worth mentioning here for SQL Server 2012 release:

SQL Server: AlwaysOn Technologies

xVelocity in-memory technologies of PowerView and PowerPivot

BI Sematic Model

File Tables

SQL Server 2012: Express LocalDB

SQL Server ColumnStore Index

Data Quality Services

Security Enhancements – Contained Databases

Big Data Analytics and Hadoop Connectors

Microsoft SQL Server JDBC Driver 3.0

Microsoft Drivers 3.0 for SQL Server for PHP

Links worth keeping track as you upgrade:

Deprecated features: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc707789

Discontinued features: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc707782

Breaking changes in 2012: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc707784

Behavior changes in 2012: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc707785

Full-Text Search Backward Compatibility in SQL 2012: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143544

Hope these links and resources will be of help for you as you plan your upgrade and movement to yet another version of SQL Server. I would love to get your inputs and understand if there are any glaring steps that I would have missed mentioning as part of the checklist mentioned above.

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