The “Microsoft Application Virtualization Advanced Guide” represents my second App-V book; the previous one “Getting Started with Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6” was developed a year ago with the basic guidance and step-by-step to get IT administrators started with App-V. This new book is currently available for pre-order in Packt Publishing website (paperback and eBook versions) and hopefully soon enough in Amazon’s (including a Kindle edition).

This advanced book will cover the necessary guidelines and step-by-steps processes to dominate App-V. Starting with detailed description of its architecture, including some rare advanced topics, and moving through the instructions to implement those advanced guidelines. Here’s an overview of the areas we will cover:

• Perform sequencing in complex environments including scenarios where App-V is normally not supported.
• Deploy applications in complex scenarios, including the use of Providers Policies to enforce licensing and other company’s policies.
• Get hands on in how to implement the scripting process within App-V applications and also review how to use App-V command lines.
• Troubleshoot App-V, covering the installation process of this platform, but also normal sequencing issues and deployment problems delivering applications.
• Scale-up App-V implementations by using failover and load balanced scenarios.
• Review App-V integration with VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) and Remote Desktop Services.
• Integrate App-V with System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012.
• Understand the new approach appearing in SCVMM 2012 with Server App-V to virtualize servers’ applications.
• Examine 3rd party tools available in App-V to complement your implementation.

Note: We will not cover the topics reviewed in the “Getting Started” book. This version assumes that we’ve already implemented and used Microsoft App-V; presumes that we are looking to optimize our implementation and learn advanced concepts.

And as an exclusive note, here are the chapter’s names to be included in this book:

1. Taking a Deep Dive into App-V.
2. Sequencing in Complex Environments.
3. Deploying Applications in Complex Environments.
4. Handling Scripting and App-V Command Lines.
5. Troubleshooting App-V.
6. Scaling Up App-V Implementations.
7. Integrating App-V with Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).
8. Integrating App-V with System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) 2012.
9. Integrating Server App-V with Private Clouds.
10. Appendix A: Reviewing App-V Microsoft and 3rd Party Tools.

In this book, which will contain approximately 450 pages total, I had the great pleasure to work again with Packt Publishing and the same crew of App-V experts that made important contributions in my first book: Aaron Parker, Kevin Kaminski and Nick Källén.

Stay tuned for more news about the book and hopefully a new giveaway copy to all my blog readers! :)

Not so much for a recent, but still I think represents as great news: The App-V book, “Getting Started with Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6” is available in Kindle version, in Amazon site of course.

So for all those geek Kindle owners (I’m not one, unfortunately) there’s a chance to take a great look to my App-V book using Amazon’s device.

And seems that the availability of the Kindle version also keeps pushing the popularity of the book, since in Amazon.com is ranked as a top seller book in Microsoft section.

#83 in Amazon.com:

Also in Amazon.co.uk (#58):

The contest ended in February, but I didn’t have the chance to publish the winner in my blog so I decided to take a moment and share with all blog readers the happy winner for the App-V book.

Ian Walters from Webster, NY received a few weeks ago the book and kindly is sharing with us a quick pic. Thank you Ian!

For all those who didn’t get the chance to win this time, remember that the book is still available in the following sites:

• Packt Publishing
• Amazon.com
• Amazon.co.uk
• Lehmans

Thank you all for participating!

My book “Getting Started with Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6” has been finally published by Packt and the pre-order waiting game is over :)

This App-V book is available in the following stores and in the following links:

• Packt Publishing
• Amazon.com
• Amazon.co.uk
• Lehmans
• Bookware

Sample Chapter

Also, as a preview of this book, you can download a sample chapter for free!

Chapter 7: Managing Dynamic Suite Composition (DSC)

This chapter provides a complete overview and detailed procedure for using Dynamic Suite Composition in App-V 4.6. A complete explanation about DSC and how these virtual dependencies are being handled by App-V, naming also some considerations and restrictions about its implementation.

App-V Book Overview

As a quick overview of the book, here are some of the topics this book will provide:

• Understand App-V components and its architecture.
• Explore the new and important features of App-V 4.6.
• Set up App-V Management and Streaming Servers to facilitate the centralized management of applications.
• Install App-V Sequencer, Desktop Client, and Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services) Client to set up the entire environment for application virtualization deployment.
• Prepare and configure different models and implementations of App-V.
• Sequence and publish simple applications, as well as highly complex applications such as Microsoft Office 2010.
• Understand and implement Dynamic Suite Composition (DSC) for interconnected virtual applications.
• Integrate App-V with System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to optimize the infrastructure.
• Secure the App-V Environment to ensure safe communication between the server and the clients.
• Install and configure App-V for Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services) to simplify application deployment and integration.

For more information, check this previous post of mine.

More News Coming Soon

I’m hoping that within the following weeks I’ll giveaway one App-V book (paperback version) among blog readers, so stay tuned!

Also, I would like to share some special thanks included in this book but definitely worthwhile to mention them in this post:

• PacktPublishing crew
• Aaron Parker
• Kevin Kaminski
• Nicke Källén

Finally the writing process is complete, and my App-V book is just around the corner: “Getting Started with Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6”. The book is available for pre-order in Pack Publishing website and in Amazon.

An overview about what we will cover:

• Publish, deploy, and manage your virtual applications with App-V.
• Understand how Microsoft App-V can fit into your company.
• Guidelines for planning and designing an App-V environment.
• Step-by-step explanations to plan and implement the virtualization of your application infrastructure.

As an exclusive note, here’s the list of chapters that will be included (chapter’s name could vary in the final release.):

1. Introducing Application Virtualization in a Virtualized World.
2. Understanding App-V Architecture.
3. Preparing your App-V Environment and Installing App-V Management Server.
4. Deploying the App-V Sequencer, App-V Desktop Client and Streaming Server.
5. Taking the Initial Steps in the Sequencing Process.
6. Sequencing Complex Applications.
7. Managing Dynamic Suite Composition.
8. Integrating App-V with System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2.
9. Securing your App-V Environment.
10. Reviewing App-V for Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services).

Here’s also a summary about what you will learn in this book:

• Understand App-V components and its architecture.
• Explore the new and important features of App-V 4.6.
• Set up App-V Management and Streaming Servers to facilitate the centralized management of applications.
• Install App-V Sequencer, Desktop Client, and Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services) Client to set up the entire environment for application virtualization deployment.
• Prepare and configure different models and implementations of App-V.
• Sequence and publish simple applications, as well as highly complex applications such as Microsoft Office 2010.
• Understand and implement Dynamic Suite Composition (DSC) for interconnected virtual applications.
• Integrate App-V with System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to optimize the infrastructure.
• Secure the App-V Environment to ensure safe communication between the server and the clients.
• Install and configure App-V for Remote Desktop Services (Terminal Services) to simplify application deployment and integration.

This book represents a lot of months of hard work and I’m hoping it will cover all of the common topics for any IT professional who wants to start working with Microsoft Application Virtualization, understanding the basic concepts, and receive the guidelines for installing, configuring and deploying the entire App-V environment, and of course achieve the abilities to master Application Virtualization in complex scenarios.

The book will be available in the paperback as well as in eBook version.

The official release date for the book is not available just yet, but you’ll be hearing the confirmation soon enough; including the special acknowledgements for a lot of people who I had the chance to work with in the writing process of this book.

For more information and pre-order, access the detailed description for “Getting Started with Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6”.

Microsoft Press introduced a great technique to get more readers: Giving away free books, as simple as that. And this time with a great proposal: Introducing Windows Server 2008 R2.

Even though it is a short book (200 pages) you’ll see that there are several topics that you might be interested in. Here are the chapters involved:

• Chapter 1    What’s New in Windows Server R2
• Chapter 2    Installation and Configuration: Adding R2 to Your World
• Chapter 3    Hyper-V: Scaling and Migrating Virtual Machines
• Chapter 4    Remote Desktop Services and VDI: Centralizing Desktop and Application Management
• Chapter 5    Active Directory: Improving and Automating Identity and Access   
  Chapter 6    The File Services Role
• Chapter 7    IIS 7.5: Improving the Web Application Platform
• Chapter 8    DirectAccess and Network Policy Server
• Chapter 9    Other Features and Enhancements

You will find several information about important improvements introduced in this version, like: Hyper-V R2 (Live Migration and storage hot add feature); VDI; IIS 7.5; BranchCache and DirectAccess.

Enjoy!

Continuing with their 25th Anniversary Microsoft Press prepared for us their final release for free E-Books (yes, these two and you won’t be getting this exciting offers anymore):

“Office Communications Server 2007 R2: Resource Kit”

If you are not very familiar with the communications suite, here’s a short topic review that is included in almost 900 pages:

• Overview and server roles
• Key deployment scenarios: VoIP, basic IM, conferencing, voice mail, etc.
• Planning and Deployment
• General administration and monitoring
• Backup and restore
• Troubleshooting.

And as for previous released, the offer also includes the developers e-book:

“Programming for Unified Communications with Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007 R2”

Remember that these downloads are available for a short period of time.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Remember that these books are available as a free download for a limited period of time. 

Microsoft Press released two new e-books to continue celebrating their 25th anniversary:

Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services Resource Kit

On this book you’ll find detailed information about what’s new in Windows Server 2008 regarding Terminal Services and common scenarios to use a Terminal Services ecosystem.

As an always requested topic regarding to Terminal Services, you’ll see how the applications publications works within these environments, using Terminal Services RemoteApps (TS RemoteApps).

Some of the topics:

• Planning and installing Terminal Server environment.
• Creating and maintaining user work environment.
• Installing and Publishing Applications.
• Terminal Services ecosystem management.

Also, on the devs side again, you can find this another “best practices” book:

“The Practical Guide to Defect Prevention”. Techniques to meet the demand for more reliable software.

Enjoy and don’t forget to share the links.

Cheers!

Windows Small Business Server 2008 Administrator’s Companion

But you should know that this book is going to be available for download for a short period of time: April 15 to April 22. So you better hurry up and get yourself a copy!

The SBS platform that was introduced with Windows Server 2003 is oriented to small-medium organizations (between 5 and 75 computers) and gives you all the possibilities and solutions that you may need to use on your organization within a single server: Active Directory, Exchange Server, Internet Information Services (IIS), Sharepoint, SQL, Terminal Services, etc. Avoiding, this way, to consider the implementation of several servers and their hardware and licensing costs.

Also, on the devs side, you can find this book also available:

Microsoft® Visual Basic® 2008 Express Edition: Build a Program Now!

Enjoy!

Windows Vista Resource Kit, 2nd Edition

On this book you’ll find:

• Windows Vista Deployment
• Desktop Management
• Desktop Maintenance
• All you need to know about Networking on Windows Vista
• Troubleshooting

It’s quite interesting actually, on this book you’ll find several topics that can be quite useful as an IT Pro or a common user: Regarding to Vista Deployment you can find everything you need to know about deployments using Windows Deployment Services (WDS) or Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), preparing Windows PE boot environment, etc.

Also take a look at the networking section that will explain the improvements that were made on this OS (firewall, IPSec, etc); troubleshooting hardware, devices and common errors.

Remember that these free eBooks will be available for a short period of time, so don’t waste any more time and get it!

Adding now another free eBook: Introducing Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

Enjoy!

Cheers

Windows Server 2008 Server Core Administrator’s Pocket Consultant

On this book you’ll find:

• Introduction to Server Core
• Deploying Server Core
• Initial Configurations
• Installing Roles and Features
• Local and Remote Management
• Detailed description of all roles available:
  • Active Directory and DNS
  • Hyper-V
  • DHCP
  • File and Print Services
  • Web Server
  • Others
• Maintaining Server Core

Did you give Windows Server Core a chance already? On the obvious security reasons that you can find to install it; you’ll see other benefits like having a small footprint operating system, licensing price, great performance to take advantage all the features on the mentioned roles, including Hyper-V clustering.

You can start on this book to get a nice introduction and to know all the possibilities with Server Core.

And again, on the devs side (but it is also quite useful for IT guys) you’ll find a SQL Server 2005 book:

SQL Server 2005 Integration Services Step-by-Step

For another free eBook (“Virtualization Solutions”) still available, click here.

Enjoy!

Cheers!

You can still access the “Virtualization Solutions” free eBook from MS Press on this link.

I’ll keep you updated whenever this offers appears!

More very interesting reading MS Press books available for free.

On the IT side, you can find "Understanding IPv6". Great book to get to know this (still not commonly used) networking and security protocol.

• IPv6 Protocol for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008
• IPv6 addressing and headers
• Neighbor Discovery
• Address Autoconfiguration
• IPv6 name resolution
• ISATAP
• Teredo
• Deploying IPv6
• Setting up a lab with IPv6

On the devs side, "Best Practices Writing Secure Code for Windows Vista".

Enjoy.

Cheers!

Well this is for sure a must reading book for you. And the best thing, it’s here for free! You can get the PDF (~14mb) at this link (link updated):

“Virtualization Solutions from the Desktop to the Datacenter”

Chapter 1: Microsoft’s Virtualization Solution
Introduction to the virtualization world, benefits and how to implement it.

Chapter 2: Server Virtualization – Hyper-V
Start to know about the hyper visor released by Microsoft from Windows Server 2008 platform. How it works, benefits and different scenarios.

Chapter 3: Managing Virtualization – VMM 2008
The latest centralized platform from System Center, Virtual Machine Manager 2008. Where you can manage different type of servers: Virtual Server, VMWare and Hyper-V.

Chapter 4: Application Virtualization – App-V
How App-V works (former known as SoftGrid) and how it can be delivered to users.

Chapter 5: Presentation Virtualization – Terminal Services
How Terminal Services complements the different virtualization solutions and their benefits.

Chapter 6: Desktop Virtualization – MED-V and VDI
Explaining Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) and Microsoft Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI).

Chapter 7: User State Virtualization
Complementing Romaing Profiles, Folder Redirection, Offline Files, Group Policies with virtualization and how to implement it on an organization.

Chapter 8: Building a Virtualization Infrastructure
Getting to know Microsoft Virtualtion Solutions Accelerators, Microsoft System Center and Virtualization Licensing.

Enjoy it!

Cheers