App-V Book Giveaway!
February 10, 2011 at 12:00 pm | Posted in App-V, Cool Stuff, Documentation, Free Stuff | 2 CommentsTags: App-V, application virtualization, Books, Cool Stuff, Documentation, Free Stuff, giveaway, publication
As a celebration since my App-V Book: Getting Started with Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6 has just been published, I want to give away a free paperback version among my blog readers.
Here’s the deal:
- All you need to do is email me at augusto@augustoalvarez.com.ar with the subject: “App-V Book”.
- Include in the email body your full name plus the address where you would like for us to send the copy.
- I’ll close up the contest on February 25. All the emails sent until that date will be included in the election, which will be completely random.
- I’ll notify the winner in the following days and we’ll ship a free copy of “Getting Started with Application Virtualization 4.6”.
For more information about the book and the free chapter available for download, check this last post of mine.
To avoid any problems, here are some disclaimers:
- Only one email by person will be included. Do not use different mail accounts to participate several times.
- Emails that don’t include person’s full name and address will not be considered valid.
- We’ll cover the expenses regarding shipment but we are not responsible for extra fees or taxes other countries may include in the package.
Remember that the book is available in the following stores: Packt Publishing; Amazon.com; Amazon.co.uk and Lehmans.
Good luck!
App-V Book Published and Sample Chapter Available for Download
January 27, 2011 at 2:08 am | Posted in App-V, Books, Documentation | 12 CommentsTags: App-V, application virtualization, Books, Documentation, Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6, Packt Publishing, publication
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:
App-V Book: “Getting Started with Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6”
November 13, 2010 at 8:51 pm | Posted in App-V, Books, Documentation | 6 CommentsTags: App-V, application virtualization, Books, Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.6, Packt Publishing, publication
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.):
- Introducing Application Virtualization in a Virtualized World.
- Understanding App-V Architecture.
- Preparing your App-V Environment and Installing App-V Management Server.
- Deploying the App-V Sequencer, App-V Desktop Client and Streaming Server.
- Taking the Initial Steps in the Sequencing Process.
- Sequencing Complex Applications.
- Managing Dynamic Suite Composition.
- Integrating App-V with System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2.
- Securing your App-V Environment.
- 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”.
Windows Server 2008 R2 Live Migration: “Overview & Architecture” and “Step-by-Step Guide” Documents Released
January 30, 2009 at 4:55 pm | Posted in Documentation, Hyper-V, Virtualization, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2 | 1 CommentTags: Hyper-V, Hyper-V Server, Live Migration, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2
Microsoft released in the last days two new more documents about one of the most expected technologies on Windows Server 2008 R2: Live Migration. This new technology will allow you to move any running virtual machine using Hyper-V from Windows Server 2008 R2 or Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 (the free hypervisor offered by Microsoft) to another machine with any of those operating systems, without any downtime or disruption of the service.
Here are the two links for the new articles:
Step-by-Step Guide to Using Live Migration in Windows Server 2008 R2
Here’s an example graphic of how Live Migration setup handles Configuration Files of the virtual machines:

It is important for you to notice that Live Migration requires Failover Clustering to be configured on all hosts, access to a shared storage (like in NAS or SAN environments) and a special network configured between them to be used only for Live Migration feature.
For more information about Hyper-V Failover Clustering check this guide:Hyper-V Step-by-Step Guide: Hyper-V and Failover Clustering
Complete list of requirements for Live Migration:
- Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 Enterprise Edition
- Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 Datacenter Edition
- Live migration is also supported on Microsoft® Hyper-V™ Server 2008 R2.
- Microsoft Failover Clustering must be configured on all physical hosts that will use live migration
- Failover Clustering supports up to 16 nodes per cluster
- The cluster should be configured with a dedicated network for the live migration traffic
- Physical host servers must use a processor or processors from the same manufacturer
- Physical hosts must be configured on the same TCP/IP subnet
- Physical hosts must have access to shared storage
Other interesting links about Hyper-V, Hyper-V Server and Failover Cluster:
- Hyper-V Planning and Deployment Guide
- Failover Cluster Deployment Guide
- Failover Cluster Step-by-Step Guide: Validating Hardware for a Failover Cluster
- The Microsoft Support Policy for Windows Server 2008 Failover Clusters
- Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Beta Available for Download
- Hyper-V Server: Installing, configuring and troubleshooting
Cheers!
Infrastructure Planning and Design: Complete Package
January 18, 2009 at 1:54 pm | Posted in Documentation | Leave a commentTags: Documentation, Planning and Design, Reading
This is, no doubt, one great link to share with the community. Whenever you are planning to implement any kind of technology or solution on your company regarding to Windows Server, you’ll need to take a look at these documents.
Infrastructure Planning and Design
The Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) guides will help and guide you among the design process giving you all the tools and scenarios needed for a correct design.
The new document available is the complete planning and design for System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 SP1.
Another interesting thing about it, is that the download also includes for each technology not only the document of IPD but also a great PowerPoint that can help you around with maybe a small presentation for your team or management in your company.

Overview
Infrastructure Planning and Design guides share a common structure, including:
- Definition of the technical decision flow through the planning process.
- Listing of decisions to be made and the commonly available options and considerations.
- Relating the decisions and options to the business in terms of cost, complexity, and other characteristics.
- Framing decisions in terms of additional questions to the business to ensure a comprehensive alignment with the appropriate business landscape.
These guides complement product documentation by focusing on infrastructure design options.
Each guide leads the reader through critical infrastructure design decisions, in the appropriate order, evaluating the available options for each decision against its impact on critical characteristics of the infrastructure. The IPD Series highlights when service and infrastructure goals should be validated with the organization and provides additional questions that should be asked of service stakeholders and decision makers.
IPD consists of the following downloadable packages:
- New! Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2007 with SP1
- Exchange Online—Evaluating Software-plus-Services
- Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 with R2
- Microsoft Application Virtualization 4.5
- Windows Server 2008 File Services
- Windows Server 2008 Print Services
- Infrastructure Planning and Design Series Introduction
- Internet Information Services 7.0
- Selecting the Right NAP Architecture
- Selecting the Right Virtualization Technology
- System Center Operations Manager 2007
- System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008
- Windows Deployment Services
- Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain Services
- Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services
- Windows Server Virtualization (for Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1).
Hope you find it useful!
Cheers!
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Computer geek, totally fan of the latest's IT platform solutions. Since 2006 I've been mentioned as Microsoft Student Partner, I continue working with them, collaborating on different academic and technological events. On this blog, you'll find most of the experience I have evaluating, designing, implementing and managing those technologies.


