Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) is a set of tools designed to allow remote desktop management of a Windows Server environment and is an updated version of what was called ADMINPAK.MSI available on Windows Server 2003RSAT includes the following tools which can be used to manage Windows Server 2008 servers:

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With Windows Vista Service Pack 1 now available to the general public, Microsoft has made available for download it’s free toolkit designed to streamline and automate the deployment of both Desktop and Server operating systems.

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As my previous post on 15 March, Microsoft today released Windows Vista SP1 via Windows Update. Microsoft initially held back the public release of the Service Pack to resolve some hardware driver compatibility problems

In a post on the Windows Vista Team Blog Nick White wrote: “For those of you happy to wait - sit tight because SP1 will start downloading to PCs automatically beginning in mid-April (Remember, this happens only if you have your Windows Update configured to automatically download updates and SP1 will automatically download but not automatically install).”

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The long wait for the general release of Windows Vista Service Pack (SP) 1 is almost over. Windows Vista SP1 RTM was initially released back at the beginning of February to beta testers then to OEM’s, MSDN and TechNet customers, the general public release was postponed to allow Microsoft time to resolve some hardware driver issues. According to a recent article on the Softpedia Website, Vista SP1 RTM will be made generally available on March 18 2008, this ties in with Microsoft’s Mid March availability. We will wait and see!

This post is just a reminder to those considering taking one of Microsoft’s new certifications – MCTS, MCITP or MCPD on Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft have updated their exam retirement policy, unlike the MCSA & MCSE certifications on Windows Server 2003 which once passed will at the time of writing never retire, Microsoft have introduced a lifecycle policy for the MCTS, MCITP or MCPD, to ensure that these certifications are kept relevant and up to date.

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For those still thinking of upgrading their MCSE on Windows 2000 to 2003, Exams 70-292 & 70-296 are scheduled to retire on 31 March 2008 along with a number of other Windows 2000 exams. Visit the Retiring Exams on the Microsoft Web Site for more details

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Microsoft’s Internet Explorer General Manager Dean Hachamovitch this week announced at the MIX conference in Las Vegas the availability of IE8 Beta 1. Microsoft are debuting a number of new features with IE 8, some of which appear to have been “borrowed” from both Firefox and Safari.

First, Microsoft is debuting a feature called “Activities.” This feature was included to allow users to streamline many of their internet-related tasks. For example, Microsoft has partnered with Facebook, eBay, StumbleUpon, Yahoo, Windows Live and MSN, and provides ‘activities’ associated with each

Another new feature is called “Web Slices.” These function in a similar way to links, as they are tabbed below the URL bar; users may select slices of websites they like, and Internet Explorer will automatically check that particular website for updates, which will be easily viewable from the “slice” tabbed on Internet Explorer, unfortunately at this time only a handful of sites offer slices,.

The Phishing Filter which was built into Internet Explorer 7 has been given a new feature, users can now turn on and off a “safety filter,” which will block websites that have been recognized to contain malicious software or phishing devices.

You can read more about the features of IE8 on the MSDN Developer Network.

Although intended primarily for developers, the beta is public and can be downloaded from here. A quick note of caution to all: Several people have experienced problems with running this beta under Windows Vista with Service Pack (SP) 1 installed

If you load Internet Explorer 8 beta 1 and then decide you don’t like it, you can click the Emulate IE7 button to return your browser to the look and feel of the current version.

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Microsoft Product Manager, Nick White yesterday posted more information about Windows Vista SP1 on the Vista Team Blog, this time about language packs and the Vista Ultimate edition

He wrote: “We will be releasing Windows Vista SP1 in two “waves”. The first wave will only provide Windows Vista SP1 to Windows Vista Ultimate PC’s running the following 5 Languages: English, French, German, Japanese and Spanish. The second wave will follow shortly after - supporting all 36 languages.”

He continued: “This means if you are running a Language Pack that is not one of the 5 initial Language Packs you will not be able to install Windows Vista SP1 until the other Language Packs are released…. But not to worry - the Language Packs are on their way. We will have more information on exactly when very shortly so stay tuned!”

A number of people may find his last comment difficult to believe as we are still awaiting a collection of additional Windows Ultimate Extras which were promised months ago after the release of Windows DreamScene!

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