THIS WEEK: Whazzup with Microsoft and management?

[SearchWin2000.com]

Title: TechTarget

December 02, 2002 >> Receive this email as text  >> About this email   In this Issue >> From the editor: Whazzup with Microsoft and management? >> Featured Topic: Microsoft's management initiative >> Expert Technical Advice: Out of the Loop: Ed Parry on rolling the dice with Microsoft Site Exclusives: Licensing's New Deal, patchwork Brett Hill's IIS Forum >> Site Highlights: Vendor webcast on group policy Over 350 titles in our white paper library Take the SearchWin2000.com survey  From the Editor: by Jan Stafford, Site Editor, SearchWindowsManageability.com What's happening with Microsoft's management strategy? That question is frequently asked by IT pros who write to SearchWindowsManageability.com and SearchWin2000.com. They also ask: When will Microsoft deliver on the promise of a comprehensive management package? They want to know what tools are available for managing unruly Windows environments today. And, they want advice about how to prepare for Microsoft's next-generation products. At last May's management summit, Microsoft promised to deliver a full-fledged, integrated suite of tools optimized for managing Windows environments. At the time, Gartner analyst Cameron Haight predicted that Microsoft will be the largest supplier of management products for Windows server environments by 2005. Six months down the road, however, and Microsoft hasn't articulated its management strategy. It's still not clear how current products -- Microsoft Operations Manager, System Management Server, and Application Center -- will fit into the new generation of products or what new products will look like. And IT pros are still asking us: "What's going on?" We asked our reporters -- Margie Semilof and Matthew DeBellis -- to dig for answers to that question. They came back with the official word on Microsoft's timeline for articulating its management vision, including Haight's analysis of the initiative's progress. Our reporters also asked experts for some tips for using Microsoft's management tools in heterogeneous environments, how to get training on existing tools and choose between training options. Along the way, Semilof uncovered a new, third-party tool that optimizes inventory tasks with SMS, and DeBellis found answers to some of IT pros' questions about the capabilities of SMS 2003. You'll find all of these articles and more in this week's Featured Topic. If you read these articles and still have questions about Microsoft's management tools and/or strategy, please write to us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] We'll dig for more answers! Jan  Featured Topic: Update: Microsoft's management initiative by Jan Stafford What's happening with Microsoft's management strategy? Where are the products? How can Windows managers use what's available today and prepare for what's coming? Our reporters offer some answers to these important questions. Read more about this topic  Expert Technical Advice: Featured Expert: Brett Hill, technical trainer and author Category: IIS Hill is a well-known authority on IIS, the author of IIS Answers, IIS Insider and IIS Informant, a regular speaker at TechMentor and one of Microsoft's IIS course developers. Brett will respond to questions directly in "Brett Hill's IIS Support Forum." Site Exclusives: >> Out of the Loop: Rolling the dice with Microsoft News Editor Ed Parry kicks off the holiday season with a stroll down the toy aisle and offers his inimitable reflections on how some gamey players named Milton, Bradley, and a pair of siblings named Parker might describe Microsoft's relationship with customers. >> Microsoft to offer new licensing option for small, midsized shops If you're an IT shop with less than 500 computers, get ready for a new deal on licensing. Microsoft last week previewed options for small and medium-sized businesses, and offered no-interest financing to pay for them. >> Coping with patchwork In this two-parter, Roberta Bragg tells how to deal with the aggravating issue of Windows patch management. The first installment covers patchwork in medium-sized organizations and large enterprises. Part two focuses on the important issues for companies of all sizes. Tip of the Week: When pursuing a certification fast track, the best Microsoft qualifying exam is the SQL 2000 administration exam. At least that's the opinion of SearchWin2000.com member Carol Miller. Miller tells why in this user-submitted certification tip. >> Get the most from the SQL Server 2000 admin exam  Site Highlights Vendor webcast on group policy Trying to use group policy to secure your Windows infrastructure? Join this webcast for a discussion of group policy-based security management and related tips. Sponsored By: Quest Software SearchWin2000.com white paper library Find over 350 titles! Check out our searchable white paper library with categories such as AD, Exchange and security. SearchWin2000.com survey Will you do us a favor? We'd like to get your feedback on the issues and challenges you face at work. We will use the information to improve SearchWin2000.com. Take the survey now. It only takes a few minutes. Data Center Futures Get the newsletter that helps IT managers see the future of the enterprise data center. Subscribe by Dec. 6 for a chance to win a BlackBerry handheld. More info Storage Magazine Check out the "Microsoft Scales Data Center Wall with MPIO" article from Storage Magazine. You can sign up for your free subscription today! Read it now VS.NET Info Center Visit the new VS.NET Info Center on SearchVB.com! Get tips from Chris Sells, the new VS.NET Info Center expert. And you'll find the latest VS.NET news. Visit today A B O U T   T H I S   N E W S L E T T E R Created by TechTarget TechTarget - The Most Targeted IT Media Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved. 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