The WSiX Network Connection

New Windows Server 2012 R2 Private Cloud Storage and Virtualization Poster and Hyper-V Mini-Posters

Fri, 24 Jan 2014 19:19:00 GMT

If you're using Hyper-V and you're interested in private cloud storage and virtualization, you'll be glad to hear that Martin McClean and the Windows Server documentation team have just released new posters. Martin has provided the following info about the posters:

So what's new here this time around? These posters provide a visual reference for understanding key private cloud storage and virtualization technologies in Windows Server 2012 R2. They focus on understanding storage architecture, virtual hard disks, cluster shared volumes, scale-out file servers, storage spaces, data deduplication, Hyper-V failover clustering, and virtual hard disk sharing.

If you like, you can download each component of the poster separately and just print the pieces you need.

In addition, each piece has mobile tags, so you can use your smart phone to scan and connect directly to the latest TechNet content.

You can get your free copy of the poster and mini-posters here:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=41665

You can get your free copy of Posterpedia from the Windows Store here:

http://aka.ms/sposterpedia

New Features for Wireless Networking in Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2

Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:28:32 GMT

Windows 8.1 has some great new features for Wireless Networking.

Wireless Display with Miracast allows you to project your Windows 8.1 laptop or Windows RT tablet screen onto larger Miracast-compatible screens for easy information sharing.

802.11ac provides much greater bandwidth and faster connections than 802.11n and other previous standards.

And for those taking their own devices to their organization networks, you can now log on with non-domain joined devices (when 802.1X password-based authentication is deployed on your network) - and only have to enter your credentials once per session.

For more information see What's New in 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access in Windows Server 2012 R2 at http://t.co/PAWlESPqyM.

New Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V Component Architecture Poster and Hyper-V Mini-Posters

Fri, 18 Oct 2013 17:15:04 GMT

The new Windows Server 2012 R2 Hyper-V Component Architecture Poster and Hyper-V Mini-Posters are now available for download from the Microsoft Download Center at http://bit.ly/1aJUkxr, courtesy of Windows Server documentation team member Martin McClean.

The posters provide a visual reference for understanding key Hyper-V technologies in Windows Server 2012 R2 and focuses on Generation 2 virtual machines, Hyper-V with virtual hard disk sharing, online virtual hard disk resizing, storage quality-of-service, enhanced session mode, live migration, Hyper-V failover clustering, and upgrading your private cloud.

New Windows Server Gateway Hardware and Configuration Requirements topic live on the Web

Thu, 29 Aug 2013 17:47:22 GMT

Windows Server Gateway (WSG) is a virtual machine (VM)-based software router that allows Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) and Enterprises to enable datacenter and cloud network traffic routing between virtual and physical networks, including the Internet.

WSG is deployed on a dedicated computer that is running Hyper-V and that is configured with one VM. The VM is then configured as a WSG. For high availability of network resources, you can deploy WSG with failover by using two physical host servers running Hyper-V that are each also running a virtual machine (VM) that is configured as a gateway. The gateway VMs are then configured as a cluster to provide failover protection against network outages and hardware failure.

When you deploy WSG, the host servers running Hyper-V and the VMs that you configure as gateways must be running Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview.

If you’re planning on repurposing or purchasing new hardware to deploy WSG, you can use the new topic Windows Server Gateway Hardware and Configuration Requirements, at http://aka.ms/Kenzts to ensure that your hardware and configuration are optimized for your WSG deployment.

Great New Features for Print and Document Services for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1 Preview

Fri, 23 Aug 2013 17:57:24 GMT

Print and Document Services in Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview and Windows 8.1 Preview include some great new features that assist administrators as well as end users.

Administrators will enjoy the fact that you can now backup, restore, and migrate WSD print devices by using the Print Management console or by using the command line tool PrintBRM.exe.

Another great new feature is connections to printers by using Near Field Communication (NFC) Tap to Pair wireless technology, which provides short range connections between devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and printers. Administrators can deploy this technology in three straightforward steps.

End users will enjoy the fact that printer connections now roam with Microsoft accounts, and printing from Windows RT is easier.

For more information on these and other new features, see What's New in Print and Document Services for Windows Server 2012 R2 at http://aka.ms/E1su6e

Create Security Policies with Extended ACLs for Hyper-V Virtual Switch

Wed, 07 Aug 2013 22:55:04 GMT

One of the new features for the Hyper-V Virtual Switch in Windows Server® 2012 R2 is extended port Access Control Lists (ACLs). You can configure extended ACLs on the Hyper-V Virtual Switch to allow and block network traffic to and from the virtual machines (VMs) that are connected to the switch via virtual network adapters.

You can use the new topic Create Security Policies with Extended ACLs for Windows Server 2012 R2 at http://aka.ms/Wfpf5o to learn how to use new protocol-based and stateful rules.

DHCP Failover in Windows Server 2012

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:13:55 GMT

If you use Microsoft DHCP in your environment, check out our guide about a great new feature in Windows Server 2012 for enabling high availability for DHCP services: Understand and Deploy DHCP Failover.

DHCP failover enables you to share IPv4 scope settings and leases between two DHCP servers, and provides another option for high availability in addition to split-scope and clustered DHCP.

DHCP failover in Windows Server 2012 is based on the IETF DHCP Failover Protocol draft, but Microsoft's implementation is unique.

The guide includes concepts, specifications, and requirements for deploying DHCP failover as well as detailed steps to begin using DHCP failover. Enjoy!

Greg Lindsay

Technical Writer, Windows Server

New features in Hyper-V Virtual Switch

Thu, 25 Jul 2013 17:22:53 GMT

Hyper-V Virtual Switch in Windows Server 2012 R2 has a lot of great new features that provide security, performance, and compatibility improvements.

One of the best improvements is that the switch now peacefully coexists with third party forwarding extensions, and performs hybrid forwarding. With hybrid forwarding, network traffic that is Network Virtualization Generic Routing Encapsulation (NVGRE) encapsulated is forwarded by the HNV module within the switch, while all non-NVGRE network traffic is forwarded by the third party forwarding extensions that you have installed.

Also new is Extended Port Access Control Lists (ACLs), which allow you to create granular firewall rules to block or allow specific protocol traffic to and from VMs that are connected to the switch. Extended ACLs also now allow you to configure stateful rules that are unidirectional and provide a timeout parameter.

For more information on these and other new Hyper-V Virtual Switch features, see What's New in Hyper-V Virtual Switch for Windows Server 2012 R2 at http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn343757.aspx.

Virtual Lab: Managing Your Network Infrastructure with IP Address Management

Fri, 28 Jun 2013 22:46:35 GMT

Hi,

In addition to several new features that have been added to IPAM in Server 2012 R2 Preview (What's New) we now have an IPAM Virtual Lab available for Windows Server 2012. Check out Managing Your Network Infrastructure with IP Address Management.

If you haven't seen IPAM yet, you should check it out. Virtual Labs are a great way to test drive new technologies. The IPAM virtual lab takes you through configuring IPAM and performing some basic administrative tasks.

See the full list of Server 2012 virtual labs here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/hh968267.aspx.

Enjoy!

New Networking Content for Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 16:58:00 GMT

You might already know that Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview is now available - you can download it from the Microsoft TechNet Evaluation Center at Download Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview - so I wanted to let you know that we are also releasing some early documentation to help you find out about the new product.

One of the great new features is Windows Server Gateway, which is useful for Enterprise organizations and Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) in routing network traffic between physical networks and virtual machine (VM) networks in hybrid cloud and private cloud scenarios. In Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview, WSG routes network traffic between the physical network and VM network resources, regardless of where the resources are located. You can use WSG to route network traffic between physical and virtual networks at the same physical location or at many different physical locations. For more information, see Windows Server Gateway.

For more information on some of the other new networking features, see What's New in Networking in Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview.

And if you're interested in finding out about additional non-networking new features, see What's New in Windows Server 2012 R2.

New! Windows Server Networking TechCenter

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:04:52 GMT

The Windows Server Networking TechCenter is now redesigned to help you accomplish your networking goals with the right documentation for the Windows Server products that you use.

You can find the new TechCenter at http://aka.ms/mj4ecs

If you know what you want to accomplish but aren't sure what technologies to use, take a look at the interactive graphic on the new page, which organizes technologies into three categories - Enterprise Networking Scenarios, Cloud Networking Technologies, and Host Server Configurations.

If you already know the name of the networking technology you're interested in, there are quick links on the right side of the page to help you get where you want to go fast.

The Windows Server Networking documentation team hopes you enjoy using the new TechCenter, and please feel free to provide feedback to us on the following thread in the Network Infrastructure Servers TechNet Forum: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-us/winserverNIS/thread/bab66890-ee46-42e2-836e-09d552c02f67

New Core Network Companion Guide: Deploying IP Addressing for Branch Offices is Live

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:24:00 GMT

The Core Network Companion Guide: Deploying IP Addressing for Branch Offices is live on the Web and available for download in the Microsoft Download Center (MS DLC) at the following locations:

Web: http://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn151292.aspx
MS DLC: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=37034 (Word format)

The Windows Server 2012 Core Network Guide provides instructions for planning and deploying the components required for a fully functioning network and a new Active Directory® domain in a new forest.

This guide explains how to build upon the core network by configuring Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) version 4 (IPv4) addressing in branch offices that are connected to your main office with a virtual private network (VPN) connection. This configuration includes static configuration of TCP/IP for server computers in your branch offices in addition to optionally deploying a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server to automatically allocate IP address leases to client computers in the branch office.

Hyper-V Network Virtualization and Virtual Switch - Great Community Content Available

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:24:00 GMT

I've come across some great content about Hyper-V networking, and I'd like to share some links with you. If you're interested in Hyper-V networking features, you might enjoy some of the highlighted community content in this article.

Dutch Hyper-V community member Marc van Eijk has written an excellent article on Hyper-V networking and System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 SP1 in his blog post Hyper-V Network Virtualization in Windows Server 2012. Marc discusses network virtualization, NVGRE, logical networks, network adapters on Hyper-V hosts, and many other salient topics.

Microsoft writer Brian Wren has produced the System Center 2012 Integration Guide - Virtual Machine Manager. This TechNet Wiki topic provides information about System Center's role in the cloud, Windows PowerShell cmdlets and console add-ons, integration points, and more.

Tip: Download Microsoft System Center Private Cloud Evaluation Software at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/evalcenter/hh505660.aspx

This Windows Server blog post by Jeffrey Snover provides a great introduction to Hyper-V Network Virtualization: Introducing Windows Server “8” Hyper-V Network Virtualization: Enabling Rapid Migration and Workload Isolation in the Cloud.

The following additional TechNet Wiki articles help you configure your Hyper V Virtual Switches.

I hope you find these articles and guides useful!

IPAM Guides Published

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:04:31 GMT

Hi there,

The IPAM team and I have just published design, deployment, and operations guidance for IP Address Management (IPAM) in Windows Server 2012.

Check out these guides, and the topics available in each:

IPAM Overview: Is a brief description of IPAM in Server 2012.
What's New in IPAM: Has recent changes in IPAM.
Understanding IPAM: Provides an introduction with design and planning information.

What is IPAM?
IPAM Terminology
Getting Started with IPAM
IPAM Architecture
IPAM Deployment Planning

IPAM Deployment Guide: Provides detailed, click-by-click deployment instructions.
- Planning to Deploy IPAM
- Implementing Your IPAM Design Plan
- Checklist: Deploy IPAM
- Deploying IPAM Server
- Deploying IPAM Client
- Assigning IPAM Server and Administrator Roles
Network Management with IPAM: Provides operational, troubleshooting, and best practices guidance.
- Using the IPAM Client Console
- Managing Server Inventory
- Managing IP Address Space
- Multi-server Management
- IP Address Tracking
- Operational Event Tracking
- Using Windows PowerShell with IPAM
- Best Practices
- Troubleshooting IPAM
- IPAM Backup and Restore
Step-by-step: Configure IPAM to Manage Your IP Address Space: Provides procedures to set up IPAM in a test lab.

Note: If you’re looking for an IPAM quick start, see Getting Started with IPAM in the Understanding IPAM guide.

Greg Lindsay, Sr. Technical Writer, Windows Server (DNS, DHCP, IPAM).

Fresh on the Web and Download Center: Windows Server 2012 Core Network Companion Guide: Group Policy Deployment

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 16:59:00 GMT

The Windows Server 2012 Core Network Companion Guide: Group Policy Deployment is now published:

On the Web at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj899807.aspx
In Word format in the Microsoft Download Center at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=36050

This guide, which is authored by veteran Windows Server writer Judith Herman, provides instructions for deploying Group Policy settings to a set of client computers or users by using membership groups rather than account location in the organizational unit (OU) hierarchy of a domain.

The method described in this guide shows you how to create a single membership group into which you can add the user or computer accounts that are to receive a configuration through the use of GPOs. Membership in the group, rather than the account location in the OU hierarchy, determines whether the computer receives one of the GPOs associated with the membership group. In addition, Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) filters are used to ensure that only the GPO with the settings that correspond to the version of Windows running on the computer is applied.

There are two main benefits to using this method to deploy GPOs:

It is totally independent of the OU structure of your domain. To apply a GPO to one computer no longer means moving computers to another OU or restructuring your OU hierarchy.
It is very easy to apply or stop applying the settings in a GPO. You simply remove the user or computer account from the membership group. This removes the user or computer from the scope of the GPO without affecting any other GPOs that apply to the user or computer.

Windows Server 2008 R2 Wireless Guide Now Available in Word Format

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 21:09:51 GMT

No, you haven't entered a time warp - this blog post is about a guide for Windows Server 2008 R2 - and not for Windows Server 2012.

This guide was previously published only in HTML format, but now you can download the Windows Server 2008 R2 Core Network Companion Guide: Deploying 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access with PEAP-MS-CHAP v2 from the Microsoft Download Center in Word format, at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35831

You can build on your core network by using this guide, which provides instructions on how to deploy Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.1X-authenticated IEEE 802.11 wireless access by using Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol- Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol version 2 (PEAP-MS-CHAP v2).

The wireless access infrastructure detailed by this guide includes 802.1X-capable, 802.11 wireless access points (APs), and various Windows Server 2008 R2 features, such as Active Directory Domain Services Users and Computers, Group Policy Management, Network Policy Server (NPS) servers, and server certificates for computers that are running NPS.

In addition, the guide includes instructions for configuring wireless client computers that are running Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP with Service Pack 2.

New BranchCache Hosted Cache Mode Guide Published in Word Format to Microsoft Download Center

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:21:00 GMT

The Windows Server® 2012 Core Network Companion Guide: Deploying BranchCache Hosted Cache Mode, which was published last week in HTML format on the Web, is now published in Word format for download at the Microsoft Download Center, at http://aka.ms/uijete

New BranchCache Hosted Cache Mode Guide Published on the Web

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:55:19 GMT

The Windows Server 2012 Core Network Companion Guide: Deploying BranchCache Hosted Cache Mode, is now live on the Web at http://aka.ms/i2wfpz

This deployment guide shows you how to build on your core network by deploying BranchCache in hosted cache mode in your branch offices.

The scenario in this guide has Web and file servers in a cloud data center - but you can use the guide even if your content servers are in your main office or in a private cloud.

When you deploy BranchCache in hosted cache mode, you configure a server in your branch office as a hosted cache server. This computer can perform workloads in addition to being a hosted cache server, so you don't need to install a dedicated server for BranchCache.

In normal operations, BranchCache doesn't actively push content from Web and file servers to branch offices - instead, when users access a file or Web page, the BranchCache-enabled client downloads the content, and then the content is stored in the hosted cache. The next client that wants the same content gets the content from the hosted cache in the branch office rather than downloading the content over the wide area network (WAN) link. These operations allow content to be added to the branch office cache on a file by file basis.

With BranchCache in Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, you have the option of using a new feature called preloading. This new deployment guide explains how to use preloading - which allows you to easily add all of the content on your Web and file content servers to the cache on the hosted cache server in your branch offices. When you preload content, you run two Windows PowerShell commands on your content servers - one that prehashes the content and the other that creates a data package containing the content - and then you copy the package to one or more hosted cache servers. On the hosted cache servers, you run one Windows PowerShell command to import the contents of the data package into the hosted cache.

Stay tuned for publication of this deployment guide for download in Word format from the Microsoft Download Center.

BranchCache FAQ

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 21:42:26 GMT

The BranchCache Frequently Asked Questions topic is now live in the TechNet Wiki at http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/14309.branchcache-frequently-asked-questions.aspx.

Download the New Wireless Guide from the Microsoft Download Center

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:37:25 GMT

The 802.1X Wireless paper that I mentioned in my previous post, the Windows Server 2012 Core Network Companion Guide: Deploying Password-based 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access, is now available for download in Word format from the Microsoft Download Center, at http://aka.ms/km2utn.

New Windows Server 2012 Wireless Guide

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 21:52:18 GMT

It's important to deploy wireless technologies in such a way that they provide both security and ease of use for people that are connecting wirelessly to your network.

When you deploy wireless by using 802.1X authentication with Protected Extensible Authentication Protocol and Microsoft Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol version 2 - which, combined, are affectionately known as PEAP-MS CHAP v2 - client computers authenticate your NPS servers by using the NPS server certificate, but people can still log on to the wireless network by typing in passwords and user names.

Note: Network Policy Server (NPS) is the Microsoft implementation of a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server, and it is included in Windows Server 2012.

Brit Weston is a veteran writer on the Windows Server documentation team, and he has authored a new guide that shows you exactly how to configure 802.1X authentication with PEAP-MS-CHAP v2.

His guide is the Core Network Companion Guide: Deploying Password-based 802.1X Authenticated Wireless Access, and it's live on the Web at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj721726.aspx.

This guide is one of the series of Core Network Guides. The idea is that you first deploy your core network using the Core Network Guide ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh911995.aspx ), then you deploy your server certificate using the Core Network Companion Guide: Server Certificate Deployment ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj125379.aspx ), and finally you deploy wireless by using Brit's new guide.

Thanks, and if you have time - please provide ratings and feedback on these and other topics when you're visiting the Windows Server Technical Library.

Windows PowerShell Cmdlets for Networking

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:57:10 GMT

If you like to write scripts to accomplish administrative tasks for networking in Windows Server 2012, you might like this new topic that provides links to the command references for all of the Windows PowerShell commands for networking technologies:

Windows PowerShell Cmdlets for Networking, in the Windows Server 2012 Technical Library at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj717268.aspx.

New Quality of Service (QoS) documentation for Windows Server 2012

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:03:00 GMT

Over the last week, a lot of new QoS content published that provides guidance on how and when to configure QoS, Data Center Bridging (DCB), and other technologies on your physical or virtual network. Following is a list of content that is updated or new:

Quality of Service (QoS) Overview, at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831679.aspx. This topic is updated with information about Bandwidth Management, Classification and Tagging, Priority-based Flow Control, and QoS for the physical network (Policy-based QoS) and virtual network (Hyper-V QoS).

QoS Common Configurations, at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj735302.aspx. This new topic provides a few common server configurations and illustrates where QoS can be enforced. These configurations are 2 NICs without NIC Teaming, 2 NICs with NIC Teaming, 4 NICS in two NIC Teams, 4 NICS with a standard NIC Team and two Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) NICs, and an alternate configuration for the last configuration.

QoS Minimum Bandwidth Best Practices, at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj735303.aspx. This topic provides guidelines for when to use Minimum Bandwidth, which is a new feature in QoS for Windows Server 2012. This includes information on Minimum Bandwidth Modes, using Minimum Bandwidth and DCB, and configuring QoS and NIC Teaming.

Policy-based Quality of Service (QoS) ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj159288.aspx ) and Configuring Policy-based Quality of Service (QoS) ( http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831689.aspx ). These topics are updated with new information that assists you in deploying QoS on your physical network.

Hyper-V Quality of Service (QoS), at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831511.aspx. This topic is updated with new information that assists you in deploying QoS on your virtual network.

QoS Frequently Asked Questions, at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj735305.aspx. This topic provides answers to common questions for QoS.

Windows Server 2012 - What's New in Hyper-V Virtual Switch

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:03:47 GMT

The topic "What's New in Hyper-V Virtual Switch" is now available at http://aka.ms/bf0hkd.

This topic provides information on new features for manageability, security, isolation, visibility, and scalability to provide more effective Hyper-V deployment in your on-site or private, hybrid, or public cloud environments. New features include the Windows PowerShell commands you can use to configure the virtual switch and virtual network adapters, using portACLs, trunk mode, port mirroring, and more.

Windows Server 2012 Network Subsystem Performance Tuning

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 23:32:06 GMT

Hi there -

Network Subsystem Performance Tuning guidance is now available in the Windows Server 2012 Technical Library, at http://aka.ms/iwooe5.

This content assists you with performance tuning the network subsystem, particularly for network intensive workloads, and includes sections on selecting a network adapter with the right features for the server workload, performance tuning network adapters, using network related performance counters, and more.