Using the Hyper-V virtualization capabilities built into Windows Server 2008, organizations can slash costs for power, space, and maintenance, and dramatically improve IT flexibility at the same time. This is the first book to offer comprehensive, independent, real-world coverage of planning, designing, implementing, and supporting Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V virtualization environments. Authored by Rand Morimoto and Jeff Guillet—top consultants of Microsoft technologies with unsurpassed experience deploying Hyper-V in enterprise organizations—this book delivers start-to-finish guidance for every facet of your virtualization initiative. Leverage the experience from hundreds of real world implementations of Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Manager 2008 in your deployment of a virtualized server environment Implement best practices for planning, prototyping, and deploying Hyper-V—including strategies, processes, and templates Install and configure Windows 2008 Server with Windows Hyper-V Services Provide guest operating systems ranging from Windows 2003 Server to Linux Administer Hyper-V Host Servers as standalone hosts or in multiple host environments Optimize Hyper-V Host Server and guest sessions, by efficiently allocating memory, processors, disk space, and other resources Move from basic server virtualization to a systematically managed virtual enterprise environment Use Virtual Machine Manager 2008 to centrally monitor all your Hyper-V hosts and guest sessions Quickly provision new guest images wherever and whenever you need them Implement reliable failover processes to overcome failures in guest sessions, host systems, or sites Troubleshoot problems with both Hyper-V hosts and guest operating systems

This is the most comprehensive and realistic guide to Windows Server 2016 planning, design, prototyping, implementation, migration, administration, and support. Extensively updated, it contains unsurpassed independent and objective coverage of Windows Server 2016's key innovations, including the cloud, containers, and Windows 10 integration. Windows Server 2016 Unleashed reflects the authors' extraordinary experience implementing Windows Server 2016 in large-scale environments since its earliest alpha releases, reaching back more than two years prior to its official launch. Microsoft MVP Rand Morimoto and his colleagues fully address every aspect of deploying and operating Windows Server 2016, including Active Directory, networking and core application services, security, migration from Windows Server 2003/2008, administration, fault tolerance, optimization, troubleshooting, and much more. Valuable for Windows professionals at all skill levels, this book will be especially indispensable for intermediate-to-advanced level professionals seeking expert, in-depth solutions. Every chapter contains tips, tricks, best practices, and lessons learned from actual deployments: practical information for using Windows Server 2016 to solve real business problems.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Unleashed is the most comprehensive and realistic guide to planning, design, prototyping, implementation, migration, administration, and support. Based on the authors’ unsurpassed experience working with Windows Server 2008 R2 since its earliest alpha releases, it offers indispensable guidance drawn from hundreds of production environments. Microsoft MVP Rand Morimoto and his colleagues systematically introduce Windows Server 2008 R2 to IT professionals, identifying R2’s most crucial enhancements and walking through every step of installation and configuration. Next, they present comprehensive coverage of every area of Windows Server 2008 R2, including Active Directory, networking services, security, R2 migration from Windows Server 2003 and 2008, administration, fault tolerance, optimization and troubleshooting, core application services, and more. The authors thoroughly address major Windows Server 2008 R2 enhancements and present extensive coverage of R2 innovations ranging from Hyper-V virtualization to DirectAccess and the enhancements in Failover Clustering. Every chapter contains tips, tricks, and best practices learned from actual deployments: practical information for using Windows Server 2008 R2 to solve real business problems. Detailed information on how to... Plan and migrate from Windows Server 2003/2008 to Windows Server 2008 R2 and use R2’s new server migration tools Manage Active Directory with Active Directory Administrative Center, Best Practice Analyzer, and PowerShell scripts Use R2’s updated security tools and templates to lock down servers, clients, and networks Maximize availability with Windows Server 2008 R2 clustering, fault tolerance, and replication Streamline client management with new Group Policy ADMX settings and management tools Improve remote access using DirectAccess, Remote Desktop Services (formerly Terminal Services), and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Implement Hyper-V virtualization including the built-in Live Migration technology Leverage add-ons such as Windows SharePoint Services, Windows Media Services, and IIS 7.5

This is the most comprehensive and realistic guide to Windows Server 2012 planning, design, prototyping, implementation, migration, administration, and support. Extensively updated, it contains unsurpassed independent and objective coverage of Windows Server 2012’s key innovations, including improved virtualization components, enhanced security tools, new web and management resources, and Windows 8 integration. Windows Server 2012 Unleashed reflects the authors’ extraordinary experience implementing Windows Server 2012 in large-scale environments since its earliest alpha releases, reaching back more than two years prior to its official launch. Microsoft MVP Rand Morimoto and his colleagues fully address every aspect of deploying and operating Windows Server 2012, including Active Directory, networking and core application services, security, migration from Windows Server 2003/2008, administration, fault tolerance, optimization, troubleshooting, and much more. Valuable for Windows professionals at all skill levels, this book will be especially indispensable for intermediate-to-advanced level professionals seeking expert, in-depth solutions. Every chapter contains tips, tricks, best practices, and lessons learned from actual deployments: practical information for using Windows Server 2012 to solve real business problems. Plan and migrate from Windows Server 2003 and 2008 Leverage powerful capabilities that are truly new in Windows Server 2012 Install Windows Server 2012 and the GUI-less Windows Server Core Upgrade to Windows Server 2012 Active Directory Utilize advanced AD capabilities including federated forests and identity management Plan and deploy network services, from DNS and DHCP to IPv6, IPAM, and IIS Protect systems and data with server-level security, transport-level security, and security policies Deliver true end-to-end secured anytime/anywhere access to remote/mobile clients Efficiently configure and manage users, sites, OUs, domains, and forests through Server Manager console Create more fault-tolerant environments with DFS, clustering, and Network Load Balancing Leverage major Hyper-V virtualization improvements in availability, redundancy, and guest support Manage Active Directory more efficiently with Active Directory Administrative Center, Best Practice Analyzer, and PowerShell scripts Systematically tune, optimize, debug, and troubleshoot Windows Server 2012

The most comprehensive, realistic, and useful guide to Microsoft Lync Server 2013, today's leading Unified Communications system. Four expert Lync consultants and implementers bring together in-the-trenches guidance for all facets of planning, integration, deployment, and administration. The authors introduce Microsoft Lync Server 2013, outline what it can do, and review the key improvements Microsoft has made in this version. They cover every form of communication Lync Server can manage, including IP voice, instant messaging, audio/video conferencing, web conferencing, and more. You'll find expert guidance on planning infrastructure, managing day-to-day operations, server roles, multi-platform clients, security, troubleshooting, and much more. Microsoft Lync Server 2013 Unleashed contains a new section on Office 365 and Lync Online, a chapter covering coexistence between on-premise and Office 365 Lync deployments, and another introducing Lync online configuration and administration. Throughout, the authors combine theory, step-by-step configuration instructions, and best practices from real enterprise environments. They identify common mistakes and present proven solutions and workarounds. Simply put, they tell you what works--and show how it's done. Detailed information on how to... * Plan for any type of deployment, from simple to highly complex--including virtualized environments * Walk step-by-step through installation, and understand important new changes in the installation process * Overcome obstacles to successful migration from older versions of Lync or Microsoft Office Communications Server * Manage server roles, including Front End, Edge, Monitoring, Archiving, and Director roles * Efficiently administer Lync Server 2013 through the Lync Server Management Shell * Leverage Lync Server 2013's significantly improved capabilities as a PBX replacement and videoconferencing solution * Integrate Lync with third-party video platforms, voice/video gateways, and cloud services * Evaluate the option of providing Lync services through Microsoft Office 365 hosting * Make the most of Lync Server 2013's dramatically upgraded web, mobile, and desktop clients

This is the definitive real-world guide to Microsoft System Center 2012, Microsoft's newest and most powerful version of System Center. Authored by consultants who've deployed System Center in hundreds of enterprises and innovative smaller businesses, this book brings together up-to-the-minute tips, tricks, and techniques you just won't find anywhere else. You'll learn how to use System Center's powerful capabilities to build highly-efficient managed environments that encompass datacenters, cloud environments, client computers, mobile devices, and more. The authors address planning, design, implementation, integration, and administration, and cover every component, including Configuration Manager, Operations Manager, Data Protection Manager, Virtual Machine Manager, Service Manager, and Orchestrator. Use Configuration Manager 2012 to deliver software and updates in highly-distributed environments including datacenters, clouds, and mobile devices Reliably manage and report on assets with Configuration Manager 2012 Perform monitoring, alerting, operations, and security reporting with Operations Manager 2012 Use Data Protection Manager 2012to protect file systems, SQL, Microsoft Exchange, and SharePoint Leverage Data Protection Manager 2012's improved central monitoring and remote recovery Run Hyper-V virtualized environments with VMM 2012--including new private clouds and mixed private/public fabrics Use Service Manager 2012 to provide top-down integration, and use Orchestrator 2012 for bottom-up process automation and integration "glue" Give users an efficient self-service portal for creating service and incident requests and browsing service catalogs Manage service offerings and implement enterprise-wide change control with Service Manager 2012 Ensure compliance by creating, executing, and repeating auditable, documented processes with Orchestrator 2012