Ready or not Windows 7 is coming.  I admit it, I skipped Vista like many IT Pros did. I have been beta testing Windows 7 and I have to say, Microsoft delivered the goods this time.  I will no longer have to request “No Vista! Only XP SP3 please!” Anyway enough of me kissing Microsoft’s ass and lets give you what you came for:

Microsoft TechNet just released two 9 minute videos on how to use MDT 2010 to upgrade your XP boxes to Win7 with out too many headaches.

First Video: Part 1: Building the Deployment Environment

Learn how to build media that will automatically migrate computers from Windows XP to Windows 7 with user data, custom applications and drivers. This demonstration will walk you through the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) Deployment Workbench and how it works.

Explore the user experience for migrating the Windows XP computer to Windows 7 and how brief - or "lite touch" - interaction is required up front to automate the entire process of data migration, OS installation, driver and application customization, and domain join.

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Coach Culbertson over @ TrainSignal generously created a free 6 hour introductory video series for us. This free mini-course is divided into 10 lessons and covers the essentials of Server 2008. He focuses on a lot of new features that have been included or updated in the new Windows Server version.

This is a 6 hour course, so not everything can be covered about Server ’08, but this training will give you a pretty good start and you’ll pick up a lot of good skills.

Here’s what will be covered in his Intro to Windows Server 2008 training:

• Lesson 1: Welcome — what this course is about and how to use it
• Lesson 2: Installing Windows Server 2008 and Active Directory
• Lesson 3: Active Directory Users and Groups in Windows Server 2008
• Lesson 4: Windows Server Core and DHCP Servers
• Lesson 5: Windows Server 2008 File and Print Servers
• Lesson 6: Windows Server RODC – Read Only Domain Controller
• Lesson 7: IIS 7 Web Servers
• Lesson 8: Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services
• Lesson 9: Windows Deployment Services
• Lesson 10: Windows Server 2008 MCITP Certification Info

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With Windows 7 coming out right around the corner and support for Windows 2000 Professional becoming close to ‘end of life’ (March 2010) it is about time you go and talk to your Head Hancho(s) about UPGRADING (probably their least favorite word…unless it is for him or her). Not to worry since Frugal IT has got your back with some money saving tips.

.If you hate reading here is this article in a nutshell:

1. Buy New Energy-Efficient UPS Units
2. Use Free Patch Management tools like MSUS
3. Buying in Group Pools and get Volume Discounts
4. Research Before Purchasing & make sure you don’t buy more than you actually need
5. Before checking out online, Pick up the phone and negotiate!
6. Don’t be shy to ask for a volume discount even if you are only buying 5 units
7. Ask a sales representative what is available in “B” stock (returned unopened items)

1. Upgrading uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) to newer energy-efficient units can cut energy use and save money. When considering an upgrade, instead of adding to an old system, it’s best to un-install the old and buy a completely new system because the components in UPS – especially the batteries – do have limited life.
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2. Keeping systems up to date will help organizations, large and small, save money. If you’re operating a small office, use free tools like Microsoft’s Software Update Services (SUS) patch management. In an environment with more than a dozen machines, purchase patch management software, preferably one that provides security updates.
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3. Industry consortium and buying groups pool their resources together to set up purchasing agreements with vendors. Companies can save a lot of money buy finding a way to buy as a group. Buying as a group in this fashion will give you the opportunity to realize group and volume discounts.
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4. It is critical for businesses to do their research before purchasing IT solutions. Many companies are simply unaware of what their needs are, thus locking themselves into larger contracts than they need. Not only will doing your research save money in the long-term, but it allows companies to have more flexibility and the ability to understand how to use the technology (and contract) to their advantage. Finally, if businesses simply don’t have the resources to do your ‘homework,’ engage with vendors to help evaluate your options – many vendors, like CDW provide experts who act as free consultants.
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5. We all know that the internet makes it more convenient to shop, but when purchasing IT solutions, it’s better to pick up the phone. When companies purchase online, they run the risk of resigning themselves to paying the price listed on the Web site, thus relinquishing their negotiation leverage. If you negotiate with an actual human being there is always wiggle room in pricing. Also, forming a solid relationship with this person will help with future purchasing negotiations.
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6. Purchasing hardware and solutions in volume can decrease the overall price per unit, and often there are manufacturing incentives. It’s not simply those businesses that purchase hundreds or thousands of units that only reap the benefits, either. Sometimes just buying five units helps bring the price down. Don’t be afraid to ask.
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7. Almost all resellers have a secondary stock (a “B” stock) of equipment that has been returned for various reasons. The vast majority of this merchandise has been returned unopened and most vendors have a way to evaluate the equipment to ensure that it is in perfect working order. Returns are harder to sell – so resellers will often give very good deals to get rid of their “B” stock. Ask a sales representative what is available in “B” stock.

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• 6 Easy Methods That are Helping Sysadmins Save Energy and Money
• 5 Things I Learned Being a SMB IT Administrator

If you are in the IT industry and want to stay sharp with industry news, trends & Deal$ then I suggest you follow these Companies/Geeks (no particular order)

Back in December (08) I made a list of 10 Twitters all IT Professionals Should Follow. Times have changed and so has the list. I present to you the new (and old) 10:

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User: TigerDirectcom

Bio: Follow for the Best Computer and Electronic Deals, Fast Shipping, Great Customer Service and the Widest Selection!

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User: TechCrunch

Bio: Breaking Technology News And Opinions From TechCrunch

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User: howtogeek

Bio: Computer Help from your Friendly How-To Geek

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User: centdeals

Bio: We are grokkin’ the latest shopping trends, finding the hottest deals and helping you make smart buys. If you would like to contact ShopGrok with a shopping tip

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User: DownloadSquad

Bio: Name: Download Squad  Location: the internets

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User: woot

Bio: One Day, One Deal.

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User: GoogleOS

Bio: Unofficial news and tips about Google. Not affiliated with Google.

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User: techdirt

Bio: http://www.techdirt.com

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User: informationweek

Bio: News & views for IT managers – defining the business value of technology.

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User: Slashdot

Bio: Slashdot News Feed

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Did I leave any out? If so post them in the comments below.  Don’t forget to leave your Twitter User Name so we can add you!

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User: frugal_it

Bio: No Budget, No Problem

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Related

• 5 Things I Learned Being a SMB IT Administrator
• 10 Twitters all IT Professionals Should Follow

Improve the overall efficiency of your business by implementing these easy to do methods.

This Article was written by CDW Corporation’s Small Business Team. Stay tuned for more Money saving tips by Subscribing to our RSS feed.

1. Be sure to size uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) appropriately to maximize power savings. With a UPS that is too small, the load can exceed the capabilities of the UPS, while a UPS that is too big can be a money-drain. If you have more UPS capacity than you need and currently use single-phase power, look into three-phase, which is more efficient.

2. To save power, have employees turn off their monitors, task lights, etc. on nights and weekends, while leaving the CPU running. To make it easier, use intelligent power strips that turn off peripheral equipment automatically. The price points on intelligent power strips are going down, while availability is going up. Also, implementing a policy at organizations for peripheral usage could alleviate headaches.

3. Replace traditional fluorescent lighting with new light emitting diode (LED) lights. Because LED lights don’t emit heat, they use just one-tenth of the power draw and equate to a twenty percent longer life cycle. Additionally, LED price points are starting to decline and the cost savings over the long-term are dramatic.

4. Enabling the sleep mode on computers will save energy when the user is idle. If IT departments need to conduct nightly updates, they can simply send a wake-up signal to the device at the appropriate time and then let it go back to ‘sleep’ when the maintenance is finished.

5. Going green can do wonders for your pocket book. When purchasing hardware, only buy products that are ENERGY STAR compliant. When a product has performed to U.S. government energy efficiency standards, it earns the ENERGY STAR distinction. ENERGY STAR compliant hardware may cost more initially, but we all know that energy efficiency saves on total cost of ownership (TCO).

6. Implement motion-sensing lighting in your office. This technology shuts the lights off when it senses no one is in the room. Motion-sensing lights can potentially save companies hundreds of dollars per year. To top it off, use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) for further energy efficiency and savings.

Related

• Green IT: 10 resources that will help make your IT infrastructure Greener
• Upgrading: 7 Money Saving Secrets some IT Vendors don’t want you to know

Our Friends over @ Windows Server HQ just wanted to let you all know the following:

Hey gang, Coach here with a really cool video clip that brings Hyper-V and SQL Server together.

Mel and I recently did a bonus video on how to install SQL Server 2008 on Hyper-V for our SQL Server 2008 Administration and Hyper-V trainings and today we wanted to share a short clip from that video.

The complete video on how to install SQL Server on Hyper-V will be available as a bonus video in both the Hyper-V and SQL Server 2008 Administration courses.

So check out the short video clip and let us know what you think!

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Active Directory (AD) is a technology created by Microsoft that is a central component of the Windows platform. The AD directory service provides the means to manage the identities and relationships that make up network environments.

We have put together a list of free video tutorials that will help SysAdmins get a little more comfortable with AD.

1. How to Backup Active Directory + DNS with NTBACKUP
2. Active Directory Password Management in Windows 2003
3. How To Demote Your Domain Controller
4. How to create a Template User for Windows Server 2003
5. Installing Server 2008 and Active Directory
6. Bonus Video from Spiceworks TV: Active Directory: Managing Users And Groups

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• Master Windows Server 2008 with 10 Free Video Lessons

When I was 13-14 circa 1998 I knew what I wanted to be: an IT guy.

I saw the IT guys that worked for my dad and they had their feet up, downloading music, wearing jeans & t-shirt, browsing Slashdot and finding answers to questions using this website called “Google“. I fell in love with the fact that you could be do all of the above and have the same respect that the office manager that had to wear a tucked in shirt and slacks everyday. Fast forward to 2004 my dream came true. I started my first IT gig at a SMB (Small Medium Size Business) and since I have learned a few things.

1. Love Thy Product Vendors. Find a a couple of vendors (Fry’s, CDW, TigerDirect, NewEgg) just in case another doesn’t have what you need.  Try to build relationships with your account representative.  Don’t be afraid to ask if they can meet or beat a competitors sales price.
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2. Open Source & Freeware are not always the best solution. I used to believe that open source and freeware should always be considered first before paying for software.  Oh boy was I wrong. The problem with open source/freeware is that there is no one to call if it breaks.  Yes there are forums, and Google might have the answer but what if you are out of town?  If someone is trying to do something that the program YOU installed isn’t doing guess who will get the call?  That is just one example.  Untangle, mission critical
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3. Download, Install and Use VNC. This primarily applies to businesses that still run Windows 2000 (we do on some older stations). XP and Vista have RDC (remote desktop connection) installed.  So many times issues can be resolved by connecting to an end users desktop remotely.  VNC will save you so many unnecessary trips to the back of the office saving you and the end user time.  While writing this post I used VNC twice!
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4. Loosen the Password Policy. This might be a controversial practice but if you are a one man shop and want to keep your sanity you might want to consider it.  Assuming you are using Active Directory, by default Microsoft enforces a pretty strict Password Policy.  Customize your Password Policy to meet your needs.  Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in using strong passwords because no company is immune to security breaches. But when end users call you everyday saying that their password expired or they can’t remember the one they made because they couldn’t create the same one as last time your patience will soon run out.
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5. Read, Read, Read! If you are not keeping up with what is going on with the IT world you will miss out on so much.  I subscribe to Information Week Magazine (Free) and my Google Reader is full of RSS feeds that keep me posted. Also consider getting a Twitter account and Follow IT related people/companies.

To be continued…

Photo Courtesy of: http://www.sysadminday.com/

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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If you have a Twitter account and feel like it’s just another pointless Web 2.0 service that does nothing, think again.  Large Businesses such as Cisco Systems, Jet Blue, Sun Microsystems and Whole Foods Market use Twitter to provide product or service information.

So if you are in the IT industry and want to stay sharp with industry news, trends etc. then I suggest you follow these Geeks (no particular order):

Note: This article has been updated! Read the new list here: Updated: 10 Twitters all IT Professionals Should Follow

User: leolaporte

Bio: I’ve experiments to run, there is research to be done, on the people who are watching TWiT Live.

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User: TechCrunch

Bio: Making The World A More Ajaxy Place

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User: howtogeek

Bio: Computer Help from your Friendly How-To Geek

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User: THErealDVORAK

Bio: John C. Dvorak

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User: kevinrose

Bio: Founder @ Digg, Revision3, Pownce. Rock climber, tea drinker, podcaster.

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User: thinkgeek

Bio: Cool products for technophiles, geeks and the occassional monkey

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User: Scobleizer

Bio: Tech geek blogger @ http://scobleizer.com

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User: techdirt

Bio: http://www.techdirt.com

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User: informationweek

Bio: News & views for IT managers – defining the business value of technology.

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User: crunchbase

Bio: TechCrunch’s Free Tech Company Database

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Did I leave any out? If so post them in the comments below.  Don’t forget to leave your Twitter User Name so we can add you!

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User: frugal_it

Bio: No Budget, No Problem

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Related

• 5 Things I Learned Being a SMB IT Administrator
• Upgrading: 7 Money Saving Secrets some IT Vendors don’t want you to know

Yeah so if you haven’t already heard the Holiday Season is here…Yay?  Anyway if you need to get a Geek a great gift but really don’t want to spend a lot then you came to the right place!

I guess you can consider these “stocking stuffers” but @ Frugal IT we prefer the term “Geek Gifts aka Gifts that pwn”. So print this page out, head to Fry’s or Best Buy and get shopping!~ffff

Price Range: $10 - $50

IDEA #1 – A USB Flash/Jump Drive. This gadget consists of a NAND-type flash memory data storage device integrated with a USB (universal serial bus) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable. Storage capacities typically range from 64 MB to 64 GB. Sandisk makes a great 8GB flash drive with a new retractable USB port eliminates the need for caps and protects your USB connector.

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Price Range: $20 - $40

IDEA #2 – Portable Wireless Mouse. This gadget perfect for geeks that are always “on the go”. Wireless portable mice provide smooth, responsive portable performance when and where you’re ready to work.

The Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 provides smooth, responsive portable performance when and where you’re ready to work. And a convenient snap-in receiver automatically turns off the mouse, so you don’t have to worry about wasting battery power.

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Price Range: $20 - $100

IDEA #3 – Webcam. As Internet connections have matured to faster and faster broadband pipelines, webcam manufacturers have been keeping pace with higher resolutions and improved optics to take advantage of the larger bandwidth. And more than just communicating over chat and VoIP, webcams are increasingly used to broadcast Truman Show-esque live video feeds of one’s every move (such as at Justin.tv) as well as high-quality mini-movies uploaded to sharing sites. The Logitech QuickCam Pro 9000 really rocks, with its 2-megapixel image sensor, smooth-tracking autofocus, high-end Carl Zeiss optics, and HD video capabilities.

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Price Range: $100-200

IDEA #4 – Portable Hard Drive. These elegant portable drives are simple to use, light and easy to carry, and require no power adapter since they are powered directly through the USB cable. Pack up your office files and take them home. Carry thousands of songs or pictures. Synchronize files between home and office and encrypt everything on the drive for added security. Western Digital makes a 320 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive that includes “WD Sync” synchronization and encryption software lets you save your critical data and take it with you. Plug your drive into any PC, edit files, read e-mail, and view photos. Then sync all of your changes back to your home or office computer (Windows only) Search your drive, manage your photos, and simplify Web searches with included Google software (Windows only)

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