Tag: Windows 8

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 Final

Download from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40796

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 is a Solution Accelerator for operating system and application deployment. MDT 2013 supports deployment of Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2008 R2.
Feature Summary

  • Deploy Windows and Office with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013. MDT is the recommended process and toolset for automating desktop and server deployment. MDT provides you with the following benefits:
  • Unified tools and processes, including a set of guidance, for deploying desktops and servers in a common deployment console.
  • Reduced deployment time and standardized desktop and server images

Some of the key changes in MDT 2013 are:

  • Support for the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8.1. Download final release here 
  • Support for deployment of Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
  • Support for System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager.
  • Improved support x86-based Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) systems.

KMS Update adds support for Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 clients to Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 KMS hosts

This update extends the Key Management Service (KMS) for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 to enable the enterprise licensing of Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
KMS provides support for the following KMS client activations:

  • Windows Vista
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows 8
  • Windows Server 2012
  • Windows 8.1
  • Windows Server 2012 R2

KMS uses a KMS host key to activate itself on a KMS host and to establish a local activation service in your environment. This update extends support for KMS to provide activation for Windows 8.1 and for Windows Server 2012 R2.

Click here for the downloads

VMware Workstation 10

VMware Workstation takes virtualization to the next level:

  • Support for the latest Guest OS’es like Microsoft Windows 8.1 and various Linux distributions.
  • The new hardware version 10 introduces even bigger and better Virtual Machines
    Up to 16 vCPUs
    64GB of vRAM
    8TB disks.
    vSATA support has been added
    Up to 20 networks can be defined.
    Various USB improvements (usb3 stream support, among other things)
    SSD pass through makes for better support of the underlying hardware platform.
  • New Virtual Appliances created with the Workstation team to quickly run various cloud stacks like Pivotal, Puppet Labs and Vagrant.

The team has included various smaller improvements in the product as well:

  • Better multi-monitor support for up to 4 screens
  • Unity mode has been enhanced to seamlessly work with Windows 8.1 UI changes
  • An updated version of VMware Converter has been built in and adds support for P2V’ing a Windows 8.1 machine
  • New option to display the VM console using VMware-KVM, a ‘screen-only’ window without any bells or whistles.

Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2013 Preview

The Client Management team is happy to announce the availability of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2013 Preview. Download the installer file and release notes from the Client Management program on Connect in the MDT group.

New members must first join the MDT group of the Client Management program on Connect.

MDT 2013 Preview includes:

  • Support for the Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK) for Windows 8.1 Preview. (The Windows ADK for Windows 8.1 Preview is available on the Microsoft Download Center.)
  • Support for deployment of Windows 8.1 Preview and Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview, as well as Windows 7 and Windows 8 families of operating systems.
  • Support for zero-touch integration (ZTI) with System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Preview.

We encourage you to download and use MDT 2013 Preview, and then submit suggestions, bugs and feedback via the Connect site

ADK for Windows 8.1 Preview Available

Here is a quick summary of the changes in ADK for Windows 8.1. MDT 2013  and ConfigMgr 2012 R2 requires ADK for Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 Image Size (Preview)
  • Windows 8.1 Preview Code Image (x86), 2.13 GB (WIM), 7.65 GB expanded on disk.
WinPE 5.0
  • Profiling in WinPE 5.0 is removed
  • WinPE 5.0 x64 supports 4 TB of RAM (still 64 GB for x86)
  • Scratchspace set automatically to 512 MB when having more than 1 GB of RAM, otherwise 32 MB
USMT 6.3
  • Support for Windows 8.1
  • You cannot use USMT 6.3 to migrate settings from Windows XP to Windows 8.1
  • Supports Office 2013 (hotfix available for USMT 5.0).
Windows 8.1 Upgrade / Update
  • You are likely to have more free space available on the disk after upgrading Windows 8 to Windows 8.1
  • Windows 8.1 upgrade time, less than 20 minutes
Misc. Updates
  • Export compressed recovery image (/Export-Image)
  • Cleanup base components when superseded. (/StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase)

 Download

ADK for Windows 8.1.

News. Teched is coming… New version of ADK & MDT 2013

Here is a quick summary of the changes in ADK for Windows 8.1. MDT 2013 and ConfigMgr 2012 R2 requires ADK for Windows 8.1.

Windows 8.1 Image Size (Preview)

  • Windows 8.1 Preview Code Image (x86), 2.13 GB (WIM), 7.65 GB expanded on disk.

WinPE 5.0

  • Profiling in WinPE 5.0 is removed
  • WinPE 5.0 x64 supports 4 TB of RAM (still 64 GB for x86)
  • Scratchspace set automatically to 512 MB when having more than 1 GB of RAM, otherwise 32 MB

USMT 6.3

  • Support for Windows 8.1
  • You cannot use USMT 6.3 to migrate settings from Windows XP to Windows 8.1
  • Supports Office 2013 (hotfix available for USMT 5.0).

Windows 8.1 Upgrade / Update

  • You are likely to have more free space available on the disk after upgrading Windows 8 to Windows 8.1
  • Windows 8.1 upgrade time, less than 20 minutes

Misc. Updates

  • Export compressed recovery image (/Export-Image)
  • Cleanup base components when superseded. (/StartComponentCleanup /ResetBase)

Active Directory Replication Status Tool

The Active Directory Replication Status Tool (ADREPLSTATUS) analyzes the replication status for domain controllers in an Active Directory domain or forest. ADREPLSTATUS displays data in a format that is similar to REPADMIN /SHOWREPL * /CSV imported into Excel but with significant enhancements.
Specific capabilities for this tool include:

    • Expose Active Directory replication errors occurring in a domain or forest
    • Prioritize errors that need to be resolved in order to avoid the creation of lingering objects in Active Directory forests
    • Help administrators and support professionals resolve replication errors by linking to Active Directory replication troubleshooting content on Microsoft TechNet
    • Allow replication data to be exported to source or destination domain administrators or support professionals for offline analysis

System Requirements

Supported Operating System

Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Vista, Windows XP

      • ADREPLSTATUS does not install on server core installs of Windows
      • Windows 2000 not supported due to lack of support for .NET Framework 4.0

    Domain membership requirements:

      • Must be joined to the Active Directory domain or forest you intend to monitor

    .NET Framework requirements:

      • .NET Framework 4.0 (you may be prompted to install .NET Framework 3.5.1 first on Windows Server 2008)

    Required User Credentials:

      • Target forest/domain user account

    Supported DC OS versions that can be monitored by ADREPLSTATUS:

      • Windows Server 2003
      • Windows Server 2003 R2
      • Windows Server 2008
      • Windows Server 2008 R2
      • Windows Server 2012

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Windows 7 and Windows 8 Optimization Guide for Horizon View Virtual Desktops & Antivirus Best Practices for Horizon View 5.x

VMware released two great documents!!

Windows 7 and Windows 8 Optimization Guide for Horizon View Virtual Desktops

Antivirus Best Practices for Horizon View 5.x

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