Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Database Mounting Tool

Windows Server 2008 aims to improve recovery processes for Active Directory Domain Service (AD DS) and Active Directory Lightweight Directory Services (AD LDS). In Windows Server 2008, you can now take point-in-time snapshots of the data that is stored in AD DS or AD LDS. Furthermore, Windows Server 2008 includes a new Active Directory database mounting tool, which allows you to mount the snapshot. This new functionality provides administrators with the ability to view AD DS and AD LDS data, as it existed at different times, thus effectively arming you with better means to deal with the recovery of AD DS and AD LDS data.
Snapshots

The Windows Server 2008 version of the Ntdsutil.exe command-line tool includes a new operation, called snapshot, which provides the ability to create snapshots of AD DS and AD LDS data. The Ntdsutil.exe snapshot operation can be used to create point-in-time snapshots of AD DS and AD LDS data. You can also schedule a recurring task (e.g., using Task Scheduler) that uses Ntdsutil.exe to create snapshots.

You are not restricted to the use of snapshots that were created by using the Ntdsutil.exe snapshot operation. You can use any backup of an AD DS or AD LDS database that uses the Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS), including Windows Server Backup as well as third-party backup solutions.

Database Mounting

The Ntdsutil.exe snapshot operation also provides the ability to list, mount, and unmount snapshots of AD DS and AD LDS data. If you incorporate this new functionality into your disaster recovery plan for AD DS or AD LDS, you will likely have multiple snapshots of AD DS or AD LDS data. The Ntdsutil.exe snapshot operation provides the ability to list all snapshots so you can determine which snapshot you need to work with. Once you have identified the appropriate snapshot, you must mount the snapshot before you can continue. Mounting and unmounting snapshots is also performed using the Ntdsutil.exe snapshot operation.

Exposing a Snapshot as an LDAP Server

After you have created one or more a snapshots, and you know which snapshot you plan to work with, you must expose that snapshot as an LDAP server before you can view the data stored in the snapshot. Windows Server 2008 includes a command-line tool, called Dsamain.exe, which provides the ability to expose snapshots as an LDAP server. Dsamain.exe can be used to expose AD DS and AD LDS snapshots as an LDAP server. When running the Dsamain.exe command-line tool, you must specify the path to the AD DS or AD LDS database (ntds.dit) file. You can optionally specify where to store the log files and temporary database by using the log path parameter. In most cases, you will view multiple snapshots at the same time. As a result, you must specify which port to use for LDAP communication when exposing the snapshot using Dsamain.exe.

In addition to LDAP communication, LDAP over SSL, global catalog, and global catalog over SSL communication can be used to query a snapshot exposed as an LDAP server. By default, Dsamain.exe will increment the port number by 1 for each of these additional protocols. For example, if you specify port 5000 for LDAP, Dsamain.exe will use 5001 for LDAP over SSL, 5002 for global catalog, and 5003 for global catalog over SSL. You can, however, specify the port numbers to be used for the additional protocols.

Source: http://www.enterpriseitplanet.com/networking/features/article.php/3812086

Microsoft's new hosted services: What are your options?

Today's announcement officially means Microsoft is the latest entry in a market of services that Microsoft actually made feasible: It can now host Exchange mailboxes for Active Directory users that do not have Exchange Server 2007.

Whether today's announcement of Microsoft-branded hosted services actually adds up to a savings for a business customer, depends on how that customer is getting or has gotten its software. Right now, the Exchange Online service can host mailboxes for as little as $10 per month per client, with a five-user minimum. That's about the industry average; other firms presently offer Exchange hosting for between $8 and $15 per month.

But Microsoft's not entering this market to simply lend its voice to the ongoing chorus. On an a la carte basis, it's also offering SharePoint Online hosting for managing a collaborative document sharing site (at $7.25 / user / month), secure instant messaging and presence with Office Communications Online (at $2.50 / user / month), and Web conferencing with Office Live Meeting, a pre-existing service (now at $4.50 / user / month).

In a very compelling alternative package, though, the company is rolling all four of these services into a single bundle called Business Productivity Online Standard Suite, for $15 per user per month. Package licensing deals are available for "midmarket" customers with between 25 and 499 users, and "enterprise" customers with 500 users and above.

Compare this against the way licensing works now. Microsoft offers Exchange Server 2007 Standard Edition for $699 up front, plus $67 for each Client Access License (CAL). So in small-quantity bundles, just the CAL could be paid for in under seven months' time, which would leave a seven-person business another seven months to break even on the up-front costs.

However, just last week, Microsoft rolled out four buildouts of Small Business Server 2008 and Essential Business Server 2008, which include Exchange Server. For the Standard Edition of SBS 2008 (which does not include SQL Server), a five-CAL package sells for $1,089, plus $77 for each additional user. SBS also includes Windows Server 2008, of course, as well as SharePoint Services 3.0, and additional extras such as Forefront Security.

Technically, Microsoft's Online hosted services do not require Windows Server. However, if your business uses networked systems and if you want to take full advantage of Exchange synchronization, you should probably have a domain controller, which means one copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition. That will get you Active Directory Services (AD DS, and yes, the "D" is indeed repeated there). You could get hosted e-mail without Windows Server, in which case you'd be running Outlook 2007 through Windows XP or Vista, but most of the ActiveSync functionality that Exchange provides would be useless. The street price for Windows Server 2008 Standard is about $749, coming down a bit since the rollout of SBS and EBS 2008, and you may still need additional CALs.


Source:betanews.com/article/Microsofts_new_hosted_services_What_are_your_options/1226954182

Train Signal Releases New Microsoft Server 2008 Active Directory Training

Train Signal Inc., a global leader in professional computer training, is excited to announce the release of their new training course, Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Active Directory. Following the launch of this course, Train Signal will be releasing additional training courses for Windows Server 2008.

The comprehensive Windows Server 2008 Active Directory training features more than 20 hours of video instruction on two DVDs. Multiple file formats, such as iPod Video, Mp3 Audio, .WMV and .AVI, are available to make the training even more convenient. And students can print out the instructor's notes to follow along more easily and enhance the learning process.
The training package also helps students prepare for the 70-640 Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory exam. It covers everything they need to know to pass the exam and includes the award-winning 70-640 practice exam software from Transcender, the world's leading exam simulation provider.

"This training package is perfect for anyone who wants to gain hands-on experience on Microsoft Server Active Directory 2008 and prepare for the 70-640 MCITP exam," said Iman Jalali, Train Signal's Director of Sales and Marketing. "We are pleased to offer this extensive package of training materials to help everyone from beginners to experienced administrators enhance their skills."

Train Signal's Windows Server 2008 Active Directory training package is designed to help students develop real skills that they can apply immediately. Key topics covered in the training include:

• Creating Domain Controllers
• User Account Creation
• Group Policy
• Back Up and Restore/Disaster Recovery
• Read-Only Domain Controllers in Server Core
• Sharing Folders and Files
• Remote Software Installation through Group Policy
• MCITP: 70-640 Certification

Train Signal's Windows Server 2008 Active Directory video course is instructed by Benjamin "Coach" Culbertson, MCT, MCSA, MCDBA, CIW, A+, Net+, MOS. Culbertson has a passion for educating and motivating students. He has 10 years of training, Web, print and network consulting experience and uses a high-energy teaching style that keeps students engaged.

Source: marketwatch.com