17 apr 2011

Essential Tools: Parted Magic

The Parted Magic OS employs core programs of GParted and Parted to handle partitioning tasks with ease, while featuring other useful software (e.g. Partimage, TestDisk, Truecrypt, Clonezilla, G4L, SuperGrubDisk, ddrescue, etc…) and an excellent set of info to benefit the user. An extensive collection of file system tools are also included, as Parted Magic supports the following: btrfs, ext2, ext3, ext4, fat16, fat32, hfs, hfs+, jfs, linux-swap, ntfs, reiserfs, reiser4, and xfs.

Features

  • Format internal and external hard drives.

  • Move, copy, create, delete, expand & shrink hard drive partitions.

  • Clone your hard drive, to create a full backup.

  • Test hard drives for impending failure.

  • Test memory for bad sectors.

  • Benchmark your computer for a performace rating.

  • Securely erase your entire hard drive, wiping it clean from all data.

  • Gives access to non-booting systems allowing you to rescue important data.

  • Runs from the CD, no install required.

Partition Editor

Download at http://partedmagic.com/doku.php

9 apr 2011

Windows Server Solutions Best Practices Analyzer 1.0

Windows Server Solutions Best Practices Analyzer 1.0 (Windows Server Solutions BPA) is a diagnostic tool that is built on the Microsoft Baseline Configuration Analyzer (MBCA) technology. Windows Server Solutions BPA scans a computer that is running the Windows server solutions software, and compares the existing server settings to a predefined set of recommended best practices.


Windows Server Solutions BPA performs the following tasks:

  • Gathers information about a server that is running Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard, Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials, Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials, or Windows Multipoint Server 2011
  • Determines if the server settings comply with a set of best practices that are recommended by Microsoft
  • Provides a report of the scan results, which identifies variances from the recommended best practices
  • Identifies conditions that may lead to problems with the server
  • Recommends solutions to potential problems  

Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=d40dcc5b-8f97-49e2-ae79-9c7a7a69dec4

8 apr 2011

The Remote Server Administration Tools have just been updated for Windows 7 SP1.

Now we can manage dynamic memory and RemoteFX from the our desktop computer.

Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows® 7 with SP1 enables IT administrators to manage roles and features that are installed on computers that are running Windows Server® 2008 R2, Windows Server® 2008, or Windows Server® 2003, from a remote computer that is running Windows 7 or Windows 7 with SP1.

Download: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=7d2f6ad7-656b-4313-a005-4e344e43997d

7 apr 2011

Microsoft Launches Bing App for iPad

Today, Bing released the Bing for iPad app, a new way to interact with Bing. Since launching, Bing has been focused on helping people stop searching and start deciding – regardless of where they are. The Bing for iPad app goes beyond the traditional search experience, offering a new visually rich way to search the Web. The experience is designed specifically to capture the fluid and intuitive nature of touch on a large, high resolution screen – allowing you to quickly browse news, movies, weather, local business listing and much more. And, you can do it all with the swipe of a finger – no more back button.

6 apr 2011

5 apr 2011

Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2 available for public download

The Microsoft iSCSI Software Target has been available for production use as part of Windows Storage Server since early 2007. It has also been available for development and test use by MSDN and TechNet subscribers starting in May 2009. However, until now, there was no way to use the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target in production on a regular server running Windows Server 2008 R2. This new download offers exactly that.

Now available as a public download, the software is essentially the same software that ships with Windows Storage Server 2008 R2. Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 and the public download package will be refreshed (kept in sync) with any software fixes and updates. Those updates are described at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg232597.aspx.

This release was preceded by intense testing by the Microsoft iSCSI Target team, especially in scenarios where the iSCSI Target is used with Hyper-V and with Windows Server Failover Clusters. We do imagine these to be amongst the most commons deployment scenarios.

Testing included running the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target in a two-node Failover Cluster and configuring 92 individual Hyper-V VMs, each running a data intensive application and storing data on a single node of that iSCSI Target cluster. The exciting part of the test was to force an unplanned failure of the iSCSI Target node being used by all the VMs and verify that we had a successful failover to the other node with all 92 VMs continuing to run the application without any interruption.

To download the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target 3.3 for Windows Server 2008 R2, go to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=45105d7f-8c6c-4666-a305-c8189062a0d0 and download a single file called “iSCSITargetDLC.EXE”.

Read more: http://blogs.technet.com/b/josebda/archive/2011/04/04/microsoft-iscsi-software-target-3-3-for-windows-server-2008-r2-available-for-public-download.aspx

4 apr 2011

How to connect SkyDrive as logical unit with Online ID provider

SkyDrive is an online storage system included in Windows Live, which gives you 25 GB of space that you can sync to your desktop. Here’s how to connect it to your Windows 7 computer as a mapped drive.

First of all, you need to go to http://skydrive.live.com and use your Windows Live account (the same you use to access Hotmail, Messenger, Windows Live Mail or MSN) to log in and create the folders you want to use by using the New menu. You can create private and shared folders and customize the access for every one of them.

link_ID04

If you haven´t installed the Windows Live ID provider, you will be taken to a website to download it.

Now, to get the address where to map your SkyDrive´s folders, you can open Excel, Word, PowerPoint or OneNote 2010 click on File and then on Save & Send.

Select Save to Web and then click on the folder you want to map.

Double click on the folder you want to map and copy the folder´s address.

Click on Map network drive.

And you can paste the folder´s address, select a drive letter and select Reconnect at logon

The folder will open in a new window.

And you will see and access your mapped drive in the Computer window.

More at Source: http://www.howtogeek.com/56096/how-to-use-skydrives-25-gb-as-a-mapped-drive-for-easy-access/