[Events] Overview of Code Camp 2011 and Materials
December 5, 2011 at 12:20 am | Posted in App-V, Deployment, Events, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT), Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Windows Server 2008 R2 | Leave a commentTags: App-V, Deployment, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010, Server App-V, VDI, Virtual Desktop, Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
I’ve had the great pleasure to present in October, once again, in one of the main Microsoft events in Argentina, Code Camp 2011. This time with two new tracks: “Desktop of the Future” and “Standardizing Windows Server 2008 R2 images”.
As I mentioned earlier in older posts of mine, Code Camp is an event organized and developed by Microsoft Academics which is held in some important universities of Buenos Aires, this time the selected institution was, as a few years back, Universidad Abierta Interamericana (UAI).
The event contains over 50 tracks presented by students and professionals not only as IT but also as developers. Some of the main topics this year were: Windows Azure, Cloud Computing, SQL Server 2012, Mango and Windows Phone, XBOX and Kinect, VDI, Deployment solutions and so on.
Regarding my topics, the tracks were focused on Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) integrated with App-V; and a deep dive into Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) to automate Windows Server’s deployments.
Desktop of the Future
I’ve presented this session (the original Spanish name: “El Escritorio del Futuro”) with Emiliano Estevez, friend and colleague of mine in Algeiba IT where he works as the Services Director.
This track introduces Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) technology as a result for some current demands in today’s business. By reviewing some of the basic concepts of VDI, we’ve completed the main steps to prepare the Virtual Desktops infrastructure in our company using Hyper-V and Remote Desktop Services (RDS).
We’ve also introduced App-V as the main solution to optimize application management in virtual desktops scenarios, and also with the highly important “Shared Cache” feature to save a lot of money in storage. And finally we had a quick glance about Server App-V, the new technology included in SCVMM 2012 to virtualize server’s applications.
The presentation can be downloaded from this link.
Standardizing Windows Server 2008 R2 Images
This track (the original Spanish name: “Estandarizando Servidores Windows Server 2008 R2”) was presented with another colleague in Algeiba IT, Alejandro Barrionuevo, who’s working as an IT Consultant.
In this session, we’ve reviewed with Alejandro the main benefits of using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010, combined with other free tools, to standardize and automate the deployment for Windows Server 2008 R2 OS. We had a quick look about understanding the Solution Accelerators from Microsoft.
We had a detailed look about the process involved in this automation, including some practical demos about using MDT 2010 task sequences, scripts and also editing MDT files used in the deployment process for a complete automated deployment.
The presentation can be downloaded from this link.
App-V Course in the US: Approach, Experience and More
May 3, 2011 at 8:19 pm | Posted in App-V, Course / Workshop, Events, Training | Leave a commentTags: App-V, application virtualization, course, Events, program, training, workshop
A few weeks ago I had the big pleasure to visit the US (New Jersey and New York), courtesy of a company which invited me to coach an App-V training course in their facilities. I had a wonderful experience and in this post I would like to share with you the technical and non-technical approach, experience and more I had in those 8 days.
The App-V training course and workshop intended to provide not only all the basic knowledge regarding App-V, but to also give a complete guidance and step-by-step process in App-V installation, deployment, sequence and maintenance.
The Request
The original request appeared in my inbox in 2010, the idea appeared simple right away, they’ve said:
“We are looking for an application virtualization solution for our main company app; we are very interested in App-V but we have no experience handling this technology. We need a complete overview of the platform, understand how to use it and apply it in our scenario”.
So, we’ve started talking about their expectations, getting a deeper understanding about the company app, the scenario where it should be deployed, etc.
App-V Training Course Program
After a bunch of e-mails and phone calls about getting all the information about the scenario, application involved, and general expectations, the training course program looks something like this:
Here’s a detailed look about each day approach:
Day 1 – Overview and Preparing the Environment
Since the attendees had mix knowledge about general IT concepts, I decided to take a quick look about some key components: Active Directory, IIS, SQL Server, virtualization concepts, cloud service models, etc. - Understanding App-V components, features, benefits and implementation models.
- Prepare the entire environment in the “hands-on” section of the day. Full-Infrastructure
- Reviewing automation techniques for deploying the App-V client.
Day 2 – Sequencing Applications
- Getting started with the sequencing process, understanding the phases involved and best practices.
- Sequence simple applications to understand sequencing.
- Deep review about company’s application: Environment, requirements, restrictions, integration with the OS and other applications, common use cases, etc.
- Start with the sequencing process of the company’s application.
- Publishing and deploying App-V packages to client machines.
Day 3 – Advanced Options in Sequencing
- Deeper look in the sequencing process. Handling Feature Block 1, security descriptors to protect some files within the App-V package.
- Troubleshooting applications sequencing and deployment process. Understanding log files and common errors.
- Reviewing Dynamic Suite Composition. Even though company’s application does not require any other package, the concept of interconnecting virtual apps is still important.
- Handling Active Upgrade. Reviewing different type of modifications in an existing package: Editing or upgrading.
Day 4 – Deployment Methods
- Reviewing how to size and selecting the environment for a desired App-V implementation.
- Understanding the RTSP/S and HTTP/S streaming. How to fit each in the desired scenario.
- Since the application usage required the scenario with users connecting from different geographic places to a same server, we’ve reviewed necessary steps for publishing App-V to External networks outside the organization.
- Step-by-step processes for implementing HTTP/S streaming.
- A complete Hands-On for App-V Standalone scenario.
Day 5 – App-V and RDS | Securing the Environment
- Understanding the Remote Desktop Services, RDS, role in Windows Server 2008 R2 (formerly known as Terminal Services).
- Reviewing RemoteApp. Similarities and differences with App-V; pros and cons; and understanding when RemoteApp is best suited.
- Hands-on using company’s application with RemoteApp.
- How to integrate App-V into an existing Remote Desktop Services scenario.
- Reviewing Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) scenarios, integration with App-V and the shared cache feature.
The Result
The result of the course / workshop was great, the attendees had the chance to understand and implement App-V in their scenario and I could interact with an interesting requirement and deployment.
[geekyComment] Not only I enjoyed preparing and coaching this App-V workshop [/geekyComment] thanks to the great hospitality I also had the chance to visit New York City and a bunch of touristic places.
Just hangin’ in Times Square :)
[Events] Overview of Code Camp 2010 and Materials
September 17, 2010 at 12:35 am | Posted in Events, Hyper-V, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) | 1 CommentTags: Code Camp 2010, Conferences, Events, Hyper-V, Linux, MDT 2010, Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010, Migration, Windows 7, Windows XP
As I mentioned a few days ago, I had the chance to present for the fourth time in a row in the most important academic event from Microsoft, here in Buenos Aires, Code Camp 2010.
As last year’s event, Code Camp 2010 had over 50 conferences running all day regarding not only IT stuff but also developing, gaming, software architecture, cloud computing, etc.
Here’s a short summary of my presentations: “Hyper-V en Windows Server 2008 R2 e interoperabilidad con Linux” (“Hyper-V R2 and interoperability with Linux”) and “Windows 7 Para todos” (“Windows 7 for Everyone”).
Hyper-V R2 and Linux
I presented this topic with another IT geek Guillermo Sanchez, where we started with an overview about hypervisors architecture, Hyper-V basics and then some interesting demos with Linux virtual machines.
The main idea in this presentation was talk about Hyper-V Integration Services working in Linux virtual machines: Benefits and how to install IS in SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) and Red Hat. Plus, some bonus features about virtual machines backups and interoperability with other platforms.
The presentation can be downloaded from this link.
Also, Guillermo posted the video on his blog.
Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7
The main idea of this conference was talk about how simple is migrating Windows XP machines to Windows 7 using Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010, including also the migration of user profiles maintaining even Internet Explorer history.
We’ve started talking about common scenarios and problems we usually find in the migrating process of operating systems. Using the MDT 2010 console I had the chance to show the simple process for creating the necessary environment to achieve a migration: How to create a deployment share, import an operating system, create a task sequence, automate deployments with CustomSettings.ini and Bootstrap.ini, using MDT database.
And of course a live demo where we refreshed a Windows XP machine with a functional profile (My Documents, My Pictures, IE Favorites, etc) to a Windows 7 machine with the same profile imported.
The presentation can be downloaded from this link (Code Camp official site) or directly from here.
[Events] Presenting at Code Camp 2010
September 2, 2010 at 1:51 am | Posted in Events | 2 CommentsTags: Code Camp, Code Camp 2010, Events
Once again I have the pleasure to present at the Microsoft’s academic event of the year: Code Camp 2010 (Buenos Aires). This year, also repeating with two more tracks: Hyper-V and interoperability with Linux; and Migrating Windows XP to Windows 7 with MDT 2010.
The event will take place in Universidad de Palermo (Mario Bravo 1050 – Buenos Aires), this Saturday, September 4th; starting at 9AM. The registration link can be found here.
Since the description is in Spanish, let me translate the abstract:
“Hyper-V en Windows Server 2008 R2 e interoperabilidad con Linux” (Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2 and interoperability with Linux): Taking a review about using Linux virtual machines in Hyper-V; compiling and installing “Integration Services” for Linux and backing up virtual machines with Data Protection Manager 2010 (DPM). I’ll be presenting with Guillermo Sanchez.
“Windows 7 Para Todos” (Windows 7 For Everyone): Migrating Windows XP with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 (MDT 2010) within easy steps, maintaining all user’s configurations including Internet Explorer favorites.
Review Code Camp’s complete schedule here.
See you then!
[Events] Overview of Run Reloaded in Buenos Aires
January 18, 2010 at 3:41 am | Posted in Events | 1 CommentTags: Conferences, Events, Run Reloaded
As I mentioned to you before, I presented in the Run Reloaded event that took place here in Buenos Aires in last November. I had the pleasure to give two presentations: Geo Clustering with Windows Server 2008 R2 and Group Policies with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
The event gather some great presentations about several of the new technologies introduced by Microsoft: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008 R2, Exchange Server 2010, Sharepoint 2010, etc.
And the public response was also amazing, thousands of people showed up in this two-day event, that also had several simultaneous conferences given in the Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE).
Multi Site Clustering with Windows Server 2008 R2
I presented this track with Roberto Dilello and we had the chance to revisited a previous track of mine presented in Code Camp 2009.
This time I had the chance to take a deeper review about the multi site clustering architecture, their benefits, requirements and how to configure them in Windows Server 2008 R2 Failover Cluster.
You can download the multi site clustering presentation (Spanish) from here.
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Group Policies
Presented with Leandro Amore, making an overview of the changes made since Windows Vista about the Group Policies management.
Taking a closer look to the ADMX migrator, PowerShell, Starter GPOs, Group Policies preferences, etc.
The group policy presentation can be downloaded from here (Spanish as well).
Cheers!
[Events] Run Reloaded: Buenos Aires
November 21, 2009 at 2:40 am | Posted in Events | 1 CommentTags: Conferences, Events, Run Reloaded
After presenting at the Code Camp this year, I’ve started to prepare my participation in a new and upcoming event: Run Reloaded – November 24 and 25 – Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE).
This event will officially introduce to the community the brand new Microsoft technologies: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008 R2, Exchange Server 2010, Sharepoint Server 2010, and may others, including devs technologies.
The event is divided in two days, and each day will have the IT and the developers sessions. Here is the schedule and registration links for the IT sessions (Spanish):
More info about Run Reloaded here.
About my conferences:
- Multi Site Clustering with Windows Server 2008 R2: Taking a little bit deeper about my previous presentation, checking the benefits of geo clusters and what are the necessary requirements. I’ll be presenting it with Roberto Dilello.
- Group Policies with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2: Reviewing the improvements and features that we can adopt using group policies with the just released operating systems: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. I’ll be together with Leandro Amore.
See each other then!
[Events] Code Camp 2009 at Buenos Aires
October 17, 2009 at 7:10 pm | Posted in Events | 1 CommentTags: Code Camp, Code Camp 2009, Events
Again, another excellent Microsoft event took place last month: Code Camp 2009. And I had the great pleasure to participate with two conferences, Hyper-V and Windows Server 2008 R2 Clustering.
Code Camp Buenos Aires series officially began in 2007 and appeared as a great opportunity for students and academic cells interact directly with the community, not only participating in conferences but also preparing small demos and telling their story about their work with Microsoft’s technologies.
I had the chance to participate in all of them, but this year’s Code Camp represented the biggest event of the series, with over 50 conferences regarding IT, developing, gaming, methodologies. Here’s a quick review of my participation:
Hyper-V Para Suegras
Translated in “Hyper-V for Mother-In-Laws” (don’t ask me, ask Alejandro Ponicke, he came up with the title). I presented this one with a good friend of mine, Alberto “Beto” Ortega.
The main idea resided in present an introduction to virtualization and Hyper-V with the main features included in Windows Server 2008 R2. Using also a small review of Hyper-V clustering and Live Migration.
The presentation for Hyper-V (in Spanish) can be download it from here.
Desmitificando Clustering en Windows Server 2008 R2
Translated in “Demystifying Clustering in Windows Server 2008 R2”. Here, I had the chance to go a little further about Hyper-V clustering and presented the main idea and benefits of clustering with Windows Server 2008 R2.
We’ve made a small review about the process in Windows Server 2003 and the process using Windows Server 2008 R2, features included like cluster validation, Clustered Shared Volume (CSV), Geo Clusters, clustering myths and best practices. And also we’ve discussed about clustering with SQL Server, using a demo of a SQL Server 2008 R2 (CTP August) cluster.
The presentation for clustering (Spanish also) can be download it from here.
As always, I had a lot of fun and I’m looking forward for the next event: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Official Launch (late November). We’ll see each other then!
Here’s some of the crew involved: Miguel Saez and Alejandro Ponicke
Cheers!
Cells on Camp 08: Mendoza
December 12, 2008 at 7:36 pm | Posted in Events | 2 CommentsTags: Cells on Camp, Conferences, Events
Like I mentioned before, I participated on another Microsoft Universidades event here in Argentina. This time I visited the City of Mendoza, at the Universidad Tecnologica Nacional.
The event was mainly organized by an old Student Partner collegue Fernando Hualpa together with Ángel Arcoraci and Marcelo Quevedo.
On the Microsoft side, I made the trip with Pablo Listingart and the one and only Alejandro Ponicke.
Some of the topics on this one day event were:
- XNA: Little story about gaming and with a short example about XNA.
- Expression Blend: Using Expression suite of Visual Studio.
- Hyper-V: Using Hyper-V together with Physical to Virtual migrations.
- Windows 2008 + IIS 7: Linux interoperability.
Ponicke’s machine with 192 cores and 200gb of memory
Even though I didn’t have much time to walk around Mendoza, it is a lovely city that I recommend to visit. I really hope I get the chance soon enough to spend some time there.
Cheers!
Code Camp 08: Now back to Buenos Aires
December 12, 2008 at 7:24 pm | Posted in Events | Leave a commentTags: Code Camp, Conferences, Events
Another Microsoft’s Academic event and this time the UAI (Universidad Abierta Interamericana) received the Code Camp. Hundreds of students and professionals attended to this event organized by Microsoft Universidades that introduced over 40 conferences along the day, on which I had the pleasure to present a renewed version of Windows 2008 + II7.
On this occasion, besides working IIS with PHP, I showed a simple way using a working Linux + Apache server, making this an iSCSI server that can provide storage to remote machines, that they see this remote storage as local attached hard drives. And of course, all the benefits of serving this sites on IIS7 with Failed Request Tracing, Reporting, etc.
NAS solution using iSCSI (graphic from
http://www.wikipedia.org/
)
Taking a side all the geeky stuff, it was really fun working on this event with Southworks and other friends that also participated as speakers or organizers. The other southies that presented here: Alberto Ortega, Matias Woloski, Johnny Halife, Pablo “Lito” Damiani, Ezequiel Jadib, Martin Salias, Angel “Java” Lopez, Paulo Arancibia, Federico Boerr and, now a former southie, Miguel Saez; also good and old tech partners like Alejandro Ponicke and his crew participated. And talking about my home town, GENTI and .NetSgo (academic cells also) came all the way from Santiago del Estero to participate.
Some of the southworks crew at the event stand
Introducing the company to a few people also
SDE’s cells
With Miguel Saez
And continuing with the academic events, I’ll also visiting Mendoza for another Cells on Camp event on November.
We’ll see each other then!
Cheers!
Cells On Camp: Presenting at my home town
December 12, 2008 at 7:15 pm | Posted in Events | Leave a commentTags: Cells on Camp, Conferences, Events
Recently, on August 25 and 26, I attended as a speaker on a Cells on Camp event (a preview of another Microsoft event, Code Camp) given in Santiago del Estero (Argentina), my home town. I presented about IIS7: Interoperability with PHP.
Presenting at cells on camp
Playing around with applicationhost.config 
It is always special to participate on any event, but I have to say that visiting back my home town (I don’t do it all that often) and my University it has another type of feeling. My professional life began with those events and activities: I belong (now as a remote member) to a study group called GENTI (Information Technologies Study Group); we started it at October/November of 2005 with a group of students and professors of the University, together with Alejandro Ponicke (Microsoft’s South Cone IT Evangelist) as a mentor. We began learning everything from scratch, we didn’t have much experience or knowledge but we sure knew what we wanted and we went after it.
GENTI crew back in 2006
On our first public event (May 2006) everything went perfect; the auditorium was too small for all the people that attended (~ 350 on the first conference and with 300 seats available). Alejandro Ponicke supported us with a few conferences; I also participated as a speaker. And I met a great friend of mine: Johnny Halife.
Code Camp 2007: Memories with Johnny Halife
So, whenever these types of academic events appears, no matter what technologies are involved, I think of them as great opportunities for any young students and the whole community behind it. That’s the case for my own University and my town; it always had this lack of technological events, that do not contribute on making their own future professionals to be updated with all the constant technological advances.
Making this small contribution with a conference in Santiago del Estero, makes me real proud of all of the work and ideals we had, and still have, when we started with GENTI. I really hope that those types of events start being traditional and appears really often to all the community.
On the meanwhile, I’ll start preparing my next conference at Code Camp 2008.
We’ll see each other then.
Cheers!
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About Me
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.
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