Microsoft offering an on demand training content about the advanced features of Windows Server 2008 R2. This training content is completely free. Training content will include Building a Seamless Enterprise, Virtualization Enhancements, Remote Desktop & Remote Apps, Managing with Server 2008 R2 and Web Server Improvements.

Here’s a list of sessions. Each session lasts between 30 minutes and 60 minutes, specifically for developers.

• Windows Server 2008 R2: Building a Seamless Enterprise: This course will focus on the release of Windows 7 and how it has been coded to work succinctly with the features of Server 2008 to create a dynamic and reactive enterprise that can take advantage of the Branch Cache and Direct Access features available.
• Windows Server 2008 R2: Remote Desktop & Remote Apps: Some of the new capabilities in R2 such as Multimedia and DirectX Redirection have improved the landscape for administrators when it comes to RDP connections. This course will delve into some of the details and improvements found in the new release.
• Managing with Windows Server 2008 R2: The interactive controls and tools that were introduced in Server 2008 have been re-geared to give administrators even more leverage when it comes to performing everyday tasks. This course will focus on some of these including improved Identity Management within Active Directory as well as the new Powershell improvements.
• Windows Server 2008 R2: Web Server Improvements: This course will look at the new IIS 7.5 and some of the capabilities that come with it such as improved FTP as well as new management tools like Configuration Editor and Enhanced Auditing.
• Windows Server 2008 R2: Virtualization Enhancements. This course will delve into the areas where R2 has been streamlined and improved in the realm of virtualization. We will look at the enhancements made to Hyper-V in particular with new features such as Live Migration and Dynamic VM storage.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Advanced Training Website

Windows Server 2008 R2, or simply R2 for short, is the second release of
Windows Server 2008. It isn’t a completely new release, but rather adds
additional features and refinements to the existing release. This book,  focus
on the new features and refinements in R2. This book  assume you have at least a general knowledge of Windows Server, and that you have some familiarity with Windows Server 2008.

Windows Server 2008 R2 is released to manufacturing and general availability of Windows Server R2 is scheduled on 22 October 2009. If you are planning upgrading to Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V technologies then these web seminars might be useful for you. Starting this week, Microsoft will host 4 web seminars for Microsoft Partners on how to plan and deploy Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V with the latest tools called Windows Server Solution Accelerators. 

Microsoft Partners – Register Now!

WNS138AL: Planning and Deploying Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V: Part 1 August 20, 2009 from 8:00-9:00am Pacific Time
Windows Server 2008 R2 will be available soon. Are your customers’ datacenter servers ready for migration to this new operating system? Which of your customers’ existing servers are good candidates for Hyper-V virtualization? Attend this partner web seminar and see how the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit and Infrastructure Planning and Design Guides can help you accelerate your pre-sales and migration planning for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V. Part 1 of a 4-part series.
WNS141AL: Planning and Deploying Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V: Part 2 August 27, 2009 from 8:00-9:00am Pacific Time
Gain a strategic competitive advantage by reducing deployment costs using the latest deployment toolkit for Windows Server 2008 R2 deployment projects. The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010 provides a common console with the comprehensive tools and guidance needed to efficiently manage Windows Server 2008 R2 deployment projects. Attend this partner web seminar and  see how new features like flexible driver management and access to deployment shares from any location will help simplify deployment and make your job easier.  Part 2 of a 4-part series.

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Microsoft  offering Windows Home Server download to their MSDN subscribers. MSDN subscribers will be able to download Windows Home Server as of March 23, 2009. Currently Microsoft only offering Power Pack  disk but they have already released the power pack 2 also. There are currently 100+ add-ins developed for Windows Home Server (up from 70+ in January of this year).  Microsoft also has a  dedicated  Windows Home Server Add-ins page  on the Microsoft web site.

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On December 4, 2008 Microsoft is opening it’s Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 service pack 2 customer preview program to a broader range of people. MSDN and TechNet subscribers will also have access to download, install and test the beta of service pack2.  Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 service pack have fixes issue that are reported by customers and partner driven feedback surveys.  Service pack 2 contains all previously released updates, SP2 will contain changes focused on addressing reliability and performance issues, supporting new types of hardware, and adding support for several emerging standards.

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Microsoft is launching it’s Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Server 2008 in India on November 13, 2008. Microsoft is inviting us to join the India Community launch webcast of Windows Essential Server Solutions (WESS): Windows Small Business Server 2008 and Windows Essential Business Server 2008.

Date: Nov 13 2008

Time: 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM

Suresh Ramani (CEO, TechGyan) and Ranjana Jain (IT Pro Evangelist, Microsoft Corp. India Ltd.) will be leading the discussion.

To join the webcast, please register

Witness the launch and learn how to:

• Build a strong IT foundation to help save time, money, and significantly increase productivity.
• Keep important customer and business data highly secure.
• Deploy technology tools to stay connected and increase your business capacity.
• Make better decisions by getting deeper insight into your business activities.
• Get an all-in-one server infrastructure that is designed and priced for your business.

Microsoft is also inviting people to join and contribute to the Windows Small Business Server 2008 India community website