Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) vPro

Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) (Intel vPro) is hardware-based technology for remotely managing and securing PCs out-of-band. Currently, Intel AMT is available in desktop PCs with Intel Core2 processor with vPro technology and available in laptop PCs with centrino or centrino2 platform with vPro technology

Overview of Intel AMT

Intel AMT is hardware and firmware technology that builds certain functionalities into business PCs in order to make the PCs easier and less expensive for businesses to monitor, maintain, update, upgrade, and repair. Intel AMT is part of the Intel Management Engine, which is built into PCs with Intel vPro technology. Intel AMT is designed into a secondary processor located on the motherboard.

Remote configuration options, including certificate-based zero-touch remote configuration, USB key configuration (light-touch), and manual configuration.

AMT is not intended to be used by itself; it is intended to be used with a software management application. It gives a management application (and thus, the sys-admin who uses it) better access to the PC down the wire, in order to remotely and securely do tasks that are difficult or sometimes impossible when working on a PC that does not have remote functionality built into it.

Hardware-based AMT features in laptop and desktop PCs

Hardware-based AMT features include:

• Encrypted, remote communication channel for network traffic between the IT console and Intel AMT.
• Remote power up / power down / power cycle through encrypted WOL
• Remote boot, via integrated device electronics redirect (IDE-R).
• Console redirection, via Serial Over LAN (SOL).
• Network Isolation a PC that might be compromised or infected.
• Agent presence checking, via hardware-based, policy-based programmable timers. A “miss” generates an event; you can specify that the event generate an alert.
• Remote configuration options, including certificate-based zero-touch remote configuration, USB key configuration (light-touch), and manual configuration.

What makes Intel AMT motherboard makes Special?



Cool Features of Intel vPro Technology





To know more about this technology and features of Intel vPro refer below links:
http://www.intel.com/technology/vpro/index.htm

http://communities.intel.com/community/vproexpert

http://www.intel.com/products/vpro/index.htm

Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5

App-V 4.5 is the first Microsoft-branded release of the product formerly known as SoftGrid. It includes new capabilities designed to help IT support large-scale virtualization implementations across many sites and provides multiple delivery options, including over-the-Internet application availability to meet your business needs. Dynamic Suite Composition (DSC) provides administrator-controlled virtual application communication and interaction; compliance with Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing and Secure by Default initiatives, integration with Microsoft System Center Management Products and infrastructure updates via Windows Update.

Additionally, Microsoft Application Virtualization for Terminal Services has also been updated to the same standards and now supports Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services. Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 will be available as part of the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack and Microsoft Application Virtualization for Terminal Services

Microsoft Application Virtualization can help solve your business challenges. See more information below

	Centralized Management, Scalable Infrastructure Publish, deploy, and manage your virtual applications while leveraging your existing technology investments and software distribution processes.
	Readily Accessible Applications Deliver applications that meet the needs of your users regardless of whether they are in the office, on the road, in a remote site, or holding a meeting at the local coffee shop.
	Simplify Application Deployment, Reduce End User Interruptions Give your staff time back for other projects by reducing test cycles and delivering applications more quickly to your end users while providing seamless application updates that don’t require reboots.
	Dynamic Application Virtualization Turn physical applications into virtual applications that are never installed but can seamlessly communicate with the local operating system, middleware, plug-ins, and other applications.

For additional understanding of the App-V infrastructure and virtualization see the Overview of App-V 4.5 Technologies

April deadlines for Windows XP, Office 2003 product support

Folks itz the time to upgrade your older Microsoft Windows and Office products

Next month marks the deadlines for support — in some cases, free support, in other cases, paid — for a handful of older Microsoft Windows and Office products. Ref Support Life cycle Index

Windows 2000: Free support ended June 30, 2005; paid support ends on July 13, 2010. Service Pack 3 was retired on June 30, 2005. No more SPs planned.

Windows XP SP2: Service pack will be retired on July 13, 2010.

Windows XP SP3: Service pack due to be retired two years after SP4 (if there is one) releases or in April 2014, whichever comes first.

Windows Vista Business: Free support ends on April 10, 2012; paid support ends on April 11, 2017.

Windows Vista SP1: Service pack will be retired two years after the release of SP2 (which is expected in April 2009), so likely in April 2011

Office 2003 SP3: Service pack will be retired one year after SP4 (if there is one, which is doubtful) is released or in August 2014, whichever comes first.

Office 2007: Free support ends on April 10, 2012; paid support ends on April 11, 2017.

Office 2007 SP1: Service pack will be retired a year after SP2 debuts, so likely in April 2010.

Windows Server 2008: Free support ends September 7, 2013; paid support ends October 7, 2018.

Installing Win7 using a USB Stick

The below video shows, how you can install Win7 on notebooks. Which do not normally come with a DVD Drive. The video shows you how to prepare a USB drive with the installation bits and install from it.

Go through the Video in Below Link:

http://edge.technet.com/Media/Installing-Win7-using-a-USB-Stick/

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP)

Overview:

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) helps IT professionals improve control of their desktop environments with a comprehensive set of tools to help IT professionals move their organization’s desktop strategy from a basic infrastructure maturity level to a dynamic maturity level. This document provides a basic technical overview of the tools included in MDOP. A discussion on how each tool helps organizations move through the infrastructure optimization model is also provided so that IT professionals and managers can better understand how MDOP can benefit the organization as a whole.

System Requirements

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista; Windows XP

Download the Guide in below link:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=bf5c4b63-b484-4003-9343-f497fc8c9fb3&displaylang=en

See a Video Overview:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/videos/mdop_sa.asx

Windows 7 Feature Walkthroughs

Explore the new and updated features in Windows 7, from AppLocker to the Problem Steps Recorder, with short video screen casts in below link:

http://technet.microsoft.com/hi-in/windows/dd320282(en-us).aspx

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP)

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning is an agent less toolkit that will find computers on a network and perform a detailed inventory of the computers using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI), the Remote Registry Service, or the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). The data and analysis provided by this toolkit can significantly simplify the planning process for migrating to Windows Vista®, Microsoft Office 2007, Windows Server® 2008, Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5 (formerly SoftGrid), Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Microsoft Online Services, Forefront and Network Access Protection, Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, and Virtual Server 2005 R2. Assessments for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista also include device driver availability and recommendations for hardware upgrades that may be required.
MAP includes features for gathering performance metrics from computers you are considering for consolidation using Hyper-V in addition to Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2. Using the performance metrics and a model virtual server host computer, you can generate reports that recommend placement of the physical servers in a virtual server environment. Other new reports include a Security Center Assessment for client computers, a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 inventory report as well as an enhanced virtual machine inventory report to help you assess your virtualization efforts to date. MAP incorporates the assessment features provided by the Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Solution Accelerator, including localization of the Windows Vista assessment reports in French, German, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese.

System Requirements:

• Supported Operating Systems: Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008; Windows Vista; Windows Vista Service Pack 1; Windows XP Professional Edition
  

• Hardware Requirements:
  

>1.6-GHz or faster processor minimum (dual-core for Windows Vista)

> 1.5 GB of RAM minimum (2.0GB for Windows Vista)

> 1 GB of available hard-disk space required

>10/100 Mbps network adapter required

• Software Requirements: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition for storing inventory and assessment data. Microsoft Word 2003 SP2 or Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Excel 2003 SP2 or Microsoft Excel 2007 for generating reports..NET Framework v3.5SP1,Windows Installer v4.5


• CPU Architecture: The Microsoft Assessment and Planning toolkit can be installed on 32-Bit and 64-bit versions of any of the supported operating systems.
  

For more Details:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb977556.aspx
For Downloading MAP Toolkit:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=67240b76-3148-4e49-943d-4d9ea7f77730&displaylang=en

Download Windows7 Beta

What is Windows7

Windows 7 is the next release of the Windows client operating system, built on the secure foundation of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. Performance, reliability, security, and compatibility are core tenets of this release as we collect your feedback to meet our engineering goals of making Windows 7 the best-performing and most stable Windows operating system to date. Innovations in the product are, designed to augment your ability as an IT professional to better provision and manage increasingly mobile PCs, protect data, and improve both end-user and personal productivity.

Windows7 beta (formerly codenamed Blackcomb and Vienna) version is available for you to download now. Please Install and look at some of the new features and functionality of Microsoft’s new Operating System, how powerful and good it is for you and your Environment.

You have two Beta versions for this to download
32-bit (x86) Beta software
64-bit (x64) Beta software

To Download from Microsoft (Beta Download available till 10th Feb 09)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/dd353205.aspx
Scroll down; you will be able to see below screen,

Select appropriate version, you need to register for Microsoft TechNet (Already a registered user, please login with your TechNet ID)
Note: It is an ISO format, total size of 2.54GB.

Catching Features of Windows 7
Windows 7 includes a number of new features, such as advances in touch, speech, and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, improved performance on multi-core processors, improved boot performance, and kernel improvements. Adds support for systems using multiple heterogeneous graphics cards from different vendors, a new version of Windows Media Center.
Many new items have been added to the Control Panel including: Clear Type Text Tuner, Display Color Calibration Wizard, Gadgets, Recovery, Troubleshooting, Workspaces Center, Location and Other Sensors, Credential Manager, Biometric Devices, System Icons, Action Center, and Display. "Windows Security Center" has renamed as "Windows Action Center" (Windows Health Center and Windows Solution Center in earlier builds) which encompasses both security and maintenance of the computer.

Removed features

While Windows 7 contains many new features, a number of capabilities and certain programs that were a part of Windows Vista are no longer present or have changed, resulting in the removal of certain functionality. The following is a list of features that were present in Windows Vista but have been removed in Windows 7
-->Several Start menu and taskbar features including:
Floating Deskbands (was deprecated in Windows Vista, now desk band can be only pinned to taskbar)
------>Windows Media Player Toolbar (replaced with the new Jump list feature)
------>Pinning default Internet Browser and E-mail client software programs on Start menu by default (programs can be manually pinned)
-->Windows Photo Gallery, Windows Movie Maker, Windows Mail, and Windows Calendar (in favor of downloading or using online the free respective Windows Live counterparts, which lack some features)
-->Software Explorer feature of Windows Defender
-->Removable Storage Manager (RSM)(applications dependent on it, such as NTBackup or the NTBackup Restore Tool, cannot run)
-->Windows Meeting Space
-->InkBall, a game
-->The numeric keypad from On-Screen Keyboard
-->Microsoft Agent 2.0 Technology
-->Windows Sidebar (Gadgets remain, sitting freely on the Desktop)
-->Windows Ultimate Extras

Hardware requirements

Windows Commands From Run - (Windows Key + R)

Type the following commands in your Run Box (Windows Key + R) or Start Run

devmgmt.msc = Device Manager
msinfo32 = System Information
cleanmgr = Disk Cleanup
ntbackup = Backup or Restore Wizard (Windows Backup Utility)
mmc = Microsoft Management Console
winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
excel = Microsoft Excel (If Installed)
msaccess = Microsoft Access (If Installed)
powerpnt = Microsoft PowerPoint (If Installed)
winword = Microsoft Word (If Installed)
frontpg = Microsoft FrontPage (If Installed)
notepad = Notepad
wordpad = WordPad
calc = Calculator
msmsgs = Windows Messenger
mspaint = Microsoft Paint
wmplayer = Windows Media Player
Iexplore = Internet Explorer
Firefox = Firefox (If installed in system)

Certificate Manager = certmgr.msc
Computer Management = compmgmt.msc
Event Viewer = eventvwr.msc
Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) = gpedit.msc

Common Control Panel applets

Opens the Control Panel = control
Accessibility Options = access.cpl
Add New Hardware Wizard = hdwwiz.cpl
Add/Remove Programs = appwiz.cpl
Date and Time Properties = timedate.cpl
Display Properties = desk.cpl
Internet Properties = inetcpl.cpl
Joystick Properties = joy.cpl
Keyboard Properties = main.cpl keyboard
Mouse Properties = main.cpl
Phone and Modem options = telephon.cpl
Power Management = powercfg.cpl
Printers & Faxes = Control printers
Regional settings = intl.cpl
Sound Properties = mmsys.cpl sounds
Sounds and Audio Device Properties = mmsys.cpl
System Properties = sysdm.cpl
User settings = nusrmgr.cpl

Automatic Updates = wuaucpl.cpl

Internet browser Tip

type in url address "google", then press [Left CTRL Key] + [Enter] willadd www. & .com to url in address bar. [Left SHIFT Key] + [Enter] will add www. & .net to to url in address bar

Some of Windows Commands for Win2K & XP

• at (windows XP/2000): Scheduling utility.
  

• bootcfg (XP only): This utility allows you to set up your boot options, such as your default OS and other loading options.
  

• cacls (XP, 2000, & NT4.0): Changes the ACLs (security Settings) of files and folders. Very similar to chmod in Linux.
  

• comp (XP & 2000): This utility is very similar to Linux. Use the /? switch to get examples of command usage.
  

• contig (works with NT4.0 and newer): A great defrag utility for NTFS partitions.
  

• control (XP only): Allows you to launch control panel applets from the command line. control userpasswords2, for example will launch a helpful local user admin utility.
  

• defrag (XP only - NT4.0 and Win2k use contig): Yes, XP comes with a command line disk defrag utility. If you are running Win2k or NT4.0 there is still hope. Contig is a free defrag program that I describe on the defrag page.
  

• diskpart (XP only): Use this command to manage your disk partitions. This is the text version for the GUI Disk Manager.
• driverquery (XP only): Produces a list of drivers, their properties, and their versions. Great for computer documentation.
  

• eudcedit (XP only): Private Character editor. Yes with this program built into Windows XP you can create your own font!
  

• findstr: Find String - similar to Linux's Grep.
  

• fsutil (XP only): This is a utility with a lot of capability. Come back soon for great examples.
  

• getmac (XP & 2000): This command gets the Media Access Control (MAC) address of your network cards.
  

• gpresult (XP & 2000): This generates a summary of the user settings and computer group policy settings.
  

• gpupdate (XP only): Use this utility to manually apply computer and user policy from your windows 2000 (or newer) domain.
  

• ipconfig (XP, 2000 & NT4.0): This handy tool displays IP settings of the current computer and much more.
  

• MMC (XP, 2000 & NT4.0): Management Console
  This is the master tool for Windows, it is the main interface in which all other tools use starting primarily in Windows 2000 and newer systems.
  

• more: Utility used to display text output one screen at a time. Ex. more c:\windows\win.ini
  

• msconfig (XP only): The ultimate tool to change the services and utilities that start when your Windows machine boots up. You can also copy the executable from XP and use it in Win2k.
  

• msinfo32 (XP & 2000): An awesome diagnostic tool. With it you can get a list of running processes, including the residing path of the executable (great for manually removing malware) and get detailed information about hardware and system diagnostics.
  

• narrator (XP only): Turns on the system narrator (can also be found in accessibility options in control panel). Will will allow your computer to dictate text to you.
  

• netsh (XP & 2000): A network configuration tool console. At the 'netsh>' prompt, use the '?' to list the available commands and type "exit" to get back to a command prompt.
  

• netstat (XP): A local network port tool - try netstat -ano.
  

• nslookup (all): A DNS name resolution tool.
  

• openfiles (XP Only): Allows an administrator to display or disconnect open files in XP professional. Type "openfiles /?" for a list of possible parameters.
  

• Pathping (XP & 2000): A cross between the ping and traceroute utilities. Who needs Neotrace when you can use this? Type "pathping " and watch it go.
  

• recover (XP & 2000): This command can recover readable information from a damaged disk and is very easy to use.
  

• reg (XP & 2000): A console registry tool, great for scripting Registry edits.
  

• sc (XP & 2000): A command line utility called the Service Controller. A power tool to make service changes via a logon/logoff or startup/shutdown script.
  

• schtasks (XP only): A newer version of the AT command. This allows an administrator to schedule and manage scheduled tasks on a local and remote machines.
  

• secedit (XP & 2000): Use this utility to manually apply computer and user policy from your windows 2000 (or newer) domain. Example to update the machine policy: secedit /refreshpolicy machine_policy /enforce
  To view help on this, just type secedit.
  NOTE: In Windows XP SP1 and news, this command is superceded by: gpupdate /force
  

• sfc (XP & 2000): The system file checker scans important system files and replaces the ones you (or your applications) hacked beyond repair with the real, official Microsoft versions.
  

• shutdown (XP & 2000): With this tool, You can shut down or restart your own computer, or an administrator can shut down or restart a remote computer.
  

• sigverif (XP only): Microsoft has created driver signatures. A signed driver is Microsoft tested and approved. With the sigverif tool you can have all driver files analyzed to verify that they are digitally signed. Just type 'sigverif' at the command prompt.
  

• systeminfo (XP only): Basic system configuration information, such as the system type, the processor type, time zone, virtual memory settings, system uptime, and much more. This program is great for creating an inventory of computers on your network.
  

• sysedit (XP/2000): System Configuration File Editor. An old tool that was very handy for the Windows 9X days. msconfig is what you want to use now.
  

• tasklist (XP pro only): Tasklist is the command console equivalent to the task manager in windows. It is a must have when fighting scumware and viruses. Try the command:
  tasklist /svc
  to view the memory resources your services take up.
  

• taskkill (XP only): Taskkill contains the rest of the task manager functionality. It allows you to kill those unneeded or locked up applications.
  

• tree (XP & 2000): An amazing experience everyone should try! This command will provide a 'family tree' style display of the drive/folder you specify.
  

• WMIC (XP & 2000): Windows Management Instrumentation Command tool. This allows you to pull an amazing amount of low-level system information from a command line scripting interface.

Windows Key Board Shortcuts:

CTRL and A	Selects all the items in the active window.
CTRL and C	Copies the item or items to the Clipboard and can be pasted using CTRL and V.
CTRL and F	Displays the Find all files dialog box.
CTRL and G	Displays the Go to folder dialog box.
CTRL and N	Displays the New dialog box.
CTRL and O	Displays the Open dialog box.
CTRL and P	Displays the Print dialog box.
CTRL and S	Displays the Save dialog box.
CTRL and V	Pastes the copied item or items from the Clipboard.
CTRL and X	Cuts the item or items selected to the Clipboard.
CTRL and Z	Undoes the last action.
CTRL and F4	Closes the active document window.
CTRL while dragging an item	Copy the selected item
CTRL+SHIFT with arrow keys	Highlight a block of text
CTRL+F4	Close the active document
CTRL+ESC	Display the Start menu
CTRL and F6	Opens the next document window in the active application.

ALT+ENTER	View the properties for the selected item
ALT+F4	Close the active item, or quit the active program
ALT+SPACEBAR	Open the shortcut menu for the active window
ALT+TAB	Switch between the open items
ALT+ESC	Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened

F1 key	Gives help on the active window or selected item.
F2 key	Rename the selected item
F3 key	Search for a file or a folder
F4 key	Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer
F5 key	Update the active window
F6 krey	Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop
F10 key	Activate the menu bar in the active program
Windows Logo	Display or hide the Start menu
Windows Logo+BREAK	Display the System Properties dialog box
Windows Logo+D	Display the desktop
Windows Logo+M	Minimize all of the windows
Windows Logo+SHIFT+M	Restore the minimized windows
Windows Logo+E	Open My Computer
Windows Logo+F	Search for a file or a folder
CTRL+Windows Logo+F	Search for computers
Windows Logo+F1	Display Windows Help
Windows Logo+ L	Lock the keyboard
Windows Logo+R	Open the Run dialog box
Windows Logo+U	Open Utility Manager

TAB	Move forward through the options
SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through the options
CTRL+TAB	Move forward through the tabs
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through the tabs
ALT+Underlined letter	Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option
ENTER	Perform the command for the active option or button
SPACEBAR	Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box
F1 key	Display Help
F4 key	Display the items in the active list
Arrow keys	Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons
BACKSPACE	Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box
END	Display the bottom of the active window
HOME	Display the top of the active window
NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*)	Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder
NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+)	Display the contents of the selected folder
NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-)	Collapse the selected folder
LEFT ARROW	Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder
RIGHT ARROW	Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder