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The VIRTUMANIA continues with Episode 17! Rick Vanover jumps in the co-host chair for me this episode. We are joined by special guests Ben Armstrong, Adam Fazio, and Brent Ozar. The following is the podcast summary:

VIRTUMANIA Podcast Episode 17 – Hyper-V Dynamic Memory Is Not Over Commit Hosted by Rich Brambley (@rbrambley) of VMETC with co host Rick Vanover (@rickvanover) of Rickatron.us. Guests include Ben Armstrong, Microsoft Virtualization Program Manager, (@virtualpcguy VirtualPCGuy Blog), Adam Fazio, Microsoft Consulting, (blog), and Brent Ozar (@brentO) of brentozar.com. This week’s show starts with some talk about the recent keynotes, demos, and sessions from the Microsoft TechEd 2010 conference in New Orleans, LA, but then quickly switches to an explanation of what the new Hyper-V Dynamic Memory feature really is, and more importantly, is not. Virtumania is an Infosmack Production.

Listen to the podcast with the embedded player or subscribe to get a weekly copy so you can listen when convenient.

Check out the VM /ETC VIRTUMANIA Page to listen to past episodes as well as episodes of Infosmack.

The following links offer more information on some of the topics mentioned in VIRTUMANIA Episode 17:

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I’m starting to get the hang of using Cover It Live (CiL) at a conference. I’m still working out whether using an iPhone/iTouch/iPad/Blackberry/Browser is the best way to update when mobile. I added some 30 second audio clips from @johnobeto, @cxi, @vmdoug, and myself in yesterday’s CiL session. Did you notice? I also pulled in some of @vmdoug’s Qik videos captured from his new HTC EVO.

Here’s my favorite Qik video from yesterday

I’ll probably do more of the same stuff throughout day 2 of TechEd 2010.

NEWSFLASH: For special and  in depth conference coverage I am adding @HyperVBear to the stream of auto tweets. I suggest we all follow him closely for the rest of the week

You can replay yesterday’s CiL session here.

Tuesday Live Update Viewer

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Once again I am using Cover It Live to collect my Monday #teched tweets as well as make occasional live comments from the Veeam booth while at Microsoft TechEd 2010. I am also adding several people’s tweets to the stream who I know are at the conference. Those Included:

As I meet more people and figure out who’s here I will add to this list.

Leave me a comment with twitter names of who else I should include, or leave your own twittername if you are in New Orleans and want your #teched hash tag tweets included too!

Live Coverage

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I’m headed to New Orleans, LA for Microsoft TechEd 2010 the first half of the week. I’m there to work the Veeam booth and help show how companies can manage VMware infrastructure with Microsoft Systems Center Operations Manager using the nworks Management Pack. I’m not sure whether I’ll get to attend the keynotes or any sessions, but I’ll do my best to cover the virtualization news and Cloud buzz in the Ernest N Morial Convention Center as I experience it.

I’ve decided to use Cover It Live to hopefully help me provide more real time, live and mobile coverage as the conference unfolds. The embedded event player at the end of this post will be collecting all my tweets (@rbrambley) as I travel today when I include the #teched hashtag. I’ll log into the event broadcast console from time to time too. I’ll be sure to announce/tweet when I’m live so join me by adding comments and live interaction during those times.

I previously used Cover it Live to live blog from HP’s Blade Day Event in Houston, TX. I really like that all the tweets, comments, and coverage are recorded for full playback in the future (see the results at the link provided).

I’m still learning how to take full advantage of Cover It Live when covering an event, so thanks Microsoft for allowing me to practice so more with TechEd 2010, and, of course, thanks Veeam for sending me to New Orleans!

Live Coverage

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The virtualization community, my employer, and every Virtualization Service Provider I know is neck deep in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Already important because of Windows 7 migrations, the announcements last week from Microsoft and Citrix seemed to have raised the intensity of an existing white hot spotlight on VDI. When Microsoft, the world’s leader in the desktop operating system market, decides to change their position to make it easier to implement and license virtual desktops then we all have to stop and understand what has happened. There has been a significant change, and there are good things in the future for those moving to virtualized Windows desktops. However, understanding exactly what these changes are and how they impact us continues to be a moving target changing rapidly each year.

This post is my summary of research about the latest Microsoft and Citrix announcements. I’m linking and quoting several bloggers and analysts to help VM /ETC readers (and myself!) digest the details of the new licensing and promotions. I also the outline the actual products that make up the Microsoft and Citrix VDI solution, and then finally point to some interesting reactions and perspectives published over the last several days. 

New Microsoft VDI Licensing

Most importantly, Microsoft declared a new licensing policy where Windows desktops will no longer need a separate license to be accessed via VDI by companies with Software Assurance. Although I could not specifically find it stated anywhere I looked, I assume this means whether accessed on any Microsoft VDI solution, VMware View, Citrix XenDesktop, or any other vendor’s VDI product. Here’s some additional information on the new licensing as intrepreted by others:

Desktop Virtualization: Microsoft, VMware in Cost Smackdown

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/031910-desktop-virtualization-microsoft-vmware-in.html?page=1

“One key part of the sweeping announcements, covered in an hour-long Webcast, is a simpler and cheaper model for licensing Windows in a virtual desktop environment. Specifically, on July 1, Software Assurance customers will no longer have to buy a separate license to access Windows via a VDI.

Moreover, for customers that use devices that don’t qualify for Software Assurance, such as thin clients and PCs used by contractors, there will be a new license called Windows VDA (virtual desktop access) available for $100 per device per year. This license will allow users to still have access to their complete virtual desktop outside the corporate network on devices such a personal laptops and airport kiosks.”

Maybe Microsoft is finally starting to abandon the concept of anchoring a Windows license to hardware and hopefully beginning to consider introducing virtualization editions of their operating systems? We are definitely not there yet, but at least it’s movement in the right direction.

Microsoft and Citrix VDI Promotions

Along with the new VDI licensing Microsoft and Citrix has also introduced some competitive promotions not only stimulate VDI migration but hopefully capture back some market share in the process. A new web site, citrixandmicrosoft.com, details these new offers.

First is the VDI Kick Start

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TrainSignal, makers of popular computer training DVDs and current sponsor of VM /ETC, is not only a great training resource for admins learning VMware vSphere, but now for a limited time you can get a free Server 2008 R2 training DVD with any other DVD purchase. What may not be obvious from the 2008 R2 DVD title (at least it wasn’t to me!) is that scattered in the 6 hours and 12 2008 R2 videos are episodes on how to configure some of the new Microsoft virtualization and Hyper-V features such as Hyper-V dynamic storage and clustering. This DVD training course also explains using the new Remote Desktop Services for creating personal virtual desktops.

What I personally find great about TrainSignal videos is that the training is provided to you in multiple formats – .mp4 (video) and .mp3 (audio) for portable media players, PDFs, as well as DVD. Upload the portable formats to your favorite media player and learn on the road. Print out the PDFs if that’s a better learning style for you.

If you are used to vExpert David Davis training you on the vSphere videos, then you’ll be glad to know Certified Instructor, Benjamin “Coach” Culbertson (MCT, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MCDBA, CIW, A+, Net+, MOS) walks you through each 2008 R2 video in the same, easy to follow and learn TrainSignal style.

Check out the rest of this post for the 2008 R2 DVD Course outline and then browse through the many other technology training options from TrainSignal. Make your purchase and get the 2008 R2 DVD for free while the offer lasts! The 2008 R2 DVD is normally a $297 value. 

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