Tag: review

Book Review: Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V: Deploying Hyper-V Enterprise Server Virtualization Platform

These days I’ve managed to get my hands on another Hyper-V book and review it. These book reviews aim to give you more insight so you can make your mind if this book is for you.

The books starts at a very basic level by explaining what is Virtualization and the basic concepts of Hyper-V. After that as usual there is a chapter for planning, designing and implementing so you can  get a grasp on the basic features of Hyper-V. The third chapter is for Hyper-V Replica which is a very popular feature since the release of Hyper-V 3.0. Network and Storage have their own chapters as there are a lot of improvements there. Unfortunately in the Network chapter there is not detailed information about Network Virtualization (NVGRE) which is becoming very popular topic. PowerShell is implemented in every enterprise Microsoft product and because of that the author of the book hasn’t missed to place a chapter about automation with PowerShell. The next three chapters include more advanced content. You can find a chapter on how to use VMM 2012 to manage Hyper-V, a chapter on how to achieve high availability with Hyper-V and a chapter with best practices for securing Hyper-V. The last chapter that you will find in the book is about Backup and Recovery. It is interesting how in real world topic like Backup and Recover is also left last Smile. It may not be the most attractive part of Hyper-V and servers in general but it is something that we should take care good.

As a summary the book aims not so much to show you how to configure a certain feature but more to explain you the capabilities of Hyper-V in order to get most of them in your specific environment. I would recommend the book to engineers who just start to work with Hyper-V 3.0, to engineers who had little experience with Hyper-V 2.0 and now are facing the challenge to migrate to 3.0 and at last but not least to engineers who have been working with “the other guys” and now are converting to Hyper-V 3.0. If you think this book is for you can find in one of the following stores:

Book Review: Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 Cookbook

After my last book review about DirectAccess technology I am back to another System Center component. Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 Cookbook is written by MVP Edvaldo Alessandro Cardoso. Let me first start the the book is based on VMM 2012 SP1 release. Virtual Machine Manager is the component that was changed the most in SC 2012 and 2012 SP1. These changes are not so much in terms of the architecture but in features. The main reason for these changes is probably that the component was heavily falling behind its competitors. The book is well structured and begins by introducing you of the SCVMM 2012 Architecture. Than it continues with a guide of how to install this SC 2012 component. Initial setup by configuring SCVMM fabric resources is also present. Basic administration in the form of deploying virtual machines and services and PowerShell scripting is also included in the book. Those who want to upgrade from SCVMM 2008 SP1 will find their upgrade paths in the book. The last two chapters in the book represent more advanced topics like managing VMware ESXi. Citrix XenServer, Hybrid Clouds and Fabric Updates. There are even several pages about System Center 2012 App Controller SP1. This book is the perfect solution to take your baby steps into System Center 2012 Virtual Machine Manager SP1.

I recommend this book engineers who are just starting with SCVMM 2012 SP1, administrators who are operating with product and for IT Managers that have indirect contact with it.

If you think that this book is for you, you can find it in one of the following stores online:

Book Review: Windows Server 2012 Unified Remote Access Planning and Deployment

This is another book review. Windows Server 2012 Unified Remote Access Planning and Deployment book is about technologies I do not have so much experience with – DirectAccess and VPN. Even though I specializing in System Center and Hyper-V it is good to have broader knowledge at least on some basic level. Technologies like DirectAccess and VPN are deployed event in the Cloud.

First I will start that is a small book but it understandable that it covers only one feature in Windows Server 2012. Before starting to read this book I recommend to have basic knowledge on Windows Server, Active Directory, Certificate Services and Networking. The book starts by introducing you to DirectAccess, how it works on general level and what are the requirements for it. It doesn’t rush you directly in the technology instead it explains very well every technology that is built into DIrectAccess. This very good if you have only some basic knowledge on Windows Server, Active Directory, Certificates services and Networking because explains you technologies like IPv6, DNS, ISATAP, DNS64, NAT64, 6to4, Teredo, IP-HTTPS, Group policy and PKI. In next chapters the book continues by introducing you to the architecture of DirectAccess and how to prepare your environment for implementing it. This is followed by installation and configuration of Unified Remote Access role. The last chapters cover some advanced scenarios as well as troubleshooting tips.

In summary the book is very easy to read and provides very good picture of Unified Remote Access role in Windows Server 2012. I recommend this book for engineers who have the task or consider deployment of DirectAccess in their environments. The book is suitable reading for those who have implemented Direct Access in Windows Server 2008 R2 in the past and want to know what have changed in 2012 and how they can migrate to the new version. If you think that this book is for you can grab it on one of these stores:

Book Review: System Center 2012 Operations Manager Unleashed

As I promised on my last book review next review is on System Center 2012 Operations Manager Unleashed. This book was anticipated last year but with the announcement of Service Pack 1 for System Center it was decided to be released in Q1 of 2013. The benefit of this delay is that includes information for System Center 2012 Operations SP1. The book is authored by three well known MVPs – Kerrie Meyler, Cameron Fuller and John Joyner. If we see the contributors in the book it is becoming even more interesting – Jonathan Almquist , Alex Fedotyev, Scott Moss , Oskar Landman, Marnix Wolf, and Pete Zerger. And last but not least technical editor is Kevin Holman. So we basically we have all star team participating in the writing of this book. But what actually the book brings to the table besides its famous authors and contributors?

Let’s start with that the book is 1528 pages. Within those 1528 there is no single unnecessary information. All topics are well structured and even when topics have touching points they are referenced properly to each other. I can clearly say that the authors have managed to cover OpsMger 2012 SP1 from end to end. I couldn’t find a topic or a feature that haven’t been described in this book. And by describe I do not mean just an overview. The book provides very deep technical knowledge for every feature of System Center 2012 Operations Manager SP1. Even if you think you know everything about SCOM I bet that in the book you can find something new. To provide even more depth the authors reference different blog posts over the book. These blog posts aim to give you more real world examples and deeper knowledge for SCOM. As I calculated it took me 4 days to read this book without reading these reference materials taking in consideration that I’ve skipped some parts of the book that I’ve already had knowledge of. Let’s say it simple: this book should be the bible for every OpsMgr 2012 administrator / engineer / specialist / consulted. In fact as System Center 2012 now is one product this book should be guide for every System Center 2012 specialist also. I recommend this book with two hands to every engineer who is designing, operating or administering SCOM 2012. No matter if you are just starting now with OpsMgr or you are administering SCOM for the last 5 years this book is for you. This is one of the best technical books I have read,

Feel free to purchase the book on one of the following websites:

I am looking forward for next Unleashed book for System Center 2012 component.

Book Review: System Center 2012 Unleashed

I’ve wanted to read System Center 2012 Unleashed book for a long time but either I didn’t had enough time or the timing was not right. As I am writing designs for all System Center 2012 components I’ve decided that this is the right time. The book covers every System Center 2012 component at some certain level with the exception of App Controller. You probably think that the book provides some overview of System Center 2012 as it includes almost every component and none of these components cannot be introduced in details because of that. You are probably right but only on 50%. First the book is more than 1000 pages. Second in it you will not only find overview of the components but a lot more information. Every System Center component in the book is presented with the following topics:

  • What is new in the component?
  • How to component works and what feature it provides?
  • Design and planning of the component
  • Implementing the component
  • Administering the component

 

Topics are not covered in full detail but at very decent level. So by reading this book and with the help from Technet you can plan, design, implement and administer a small deployment of System Center 2012. Taking this in consideration I would level 200 to this book. Think of this book as the prelude for the other System Center Unleashed series books that will cover every component in much more detail.

You may also ask why System Center 2012 App Controller is not included in the book. My opinion is that because there is not so much planning about App Controller. It is just a interface in the form of a website. Your design and planning will be identical like every other IIS website.

In summary this book is ideal for engineers who are just starting with all System Center components and for those who are planning a small deployment of the product. All of you who like more advanced information you will find it in the series of these Unleashed books that will cover specific System Center component.

If you want to buy System Center 2012 Unleashed you can find it online on one of the following web stores:

 

Expect soon to make review of System Center 2012 Operations Manager Unleashed.