I was quite relieved and grateful to receive the Microsoft MVP award again for 2012:

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2012 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in App-V technical communities during the past year.

A big thank-you to the community, other App-V MVPs and the App-V product team. Here’s to another full year.

App-V MVP renewed for 2012 is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

The top users who have been tweeting about App-V over the past several months:

Quite a few of the top URLs have already expired or link to non-existent pages. What’s interesting though, is most of the top URLs link to several App-V videos on TechNet – I had hoped that community created content might feature more prominently.

It’s an interesting exercise and although the graphs that are rendered are a little buggy, I think the data is worthwhile reviewing.

An Archive and Analysis of #AppV Tweets is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Welcome to our first annual European App-V User Group conference.

After a successful German edition in 2010, we were overwhelmed by the positive reactions, so we decided to expand our reach to the whole of Europe. We decided to see how many App-V experts we could gather on one event. Up till now we have 8 (!) out of 16 worldwide App-V MVPs found willing to attend the event and share their thoughts on App-V. This is almost the entire Europe based App-V MVP population!

The initiative is focused on bringing people from the App-V community together to learn about Microsoft App-V from the experts and share experiences and knowledge with each other. The event is sponsored by stakeholding companies, but is free of commercial messaging and gives an independent insight in the Microsoft App-V market.

We invite you to register for FREE and we are looking forward to welcome you on the event.

Keep an eye on the Twitter hashtag #AppVUG for more news, and sign up at the site if you’d like to attend. I’ll be there and presenting a session on virtualising Office with App-V.

First Annual European App-V User Group is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Now that Server App-V is publicly available in preview and server application recipes are being published, it’s time to start compiling the Server App-V Recipes, Tips and Tricks list. Like the Desktop App-V list, this is an RSS feed that you can use to stay up to date with Server App-V links from around the Internets.

The list currently sits at 1 and I don’t think we’ll be at 220 this time next year, but I’m keen to see how this one progresses.

Announcing the Server App-V Recipes, Tips & Tricks feed is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

This arrived in my inbox on the 1st of Jan, which was a great way to finish off a day of snowboarding:

Congratulations! We are pleased to present you with the 2011 Microsoft® MVP Award! This award is given to exceptional technical community leaders who actively share their high quality, real world expertise with others. We appreciate your outstanding contributions in App-V technical communities during the past year.

A big thanks to all those who helped me get there.

MVP in App-V for 2011 is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

I’ve embedded the videos here. You’ll need an HTML 5 capable browser to view them, otherwise go to the TechEd Online site links I’ve provided, to view Silverlight and download MP4 versions plus access to the slide decks.

TechEd Australia

The Case of…..Featuring “The App-V Sequencer”

This is a deep dive of troubleshooting techniques used when Microsoft PFE and the GTSC have investigated customer issues with Applications. See the step by step techniques used to see real world customer problems and the investigations and resolutions that were used to get the application functioning correctly. Learn some of the techniques used, and the importance of understanding the sequencer, windows and your applications. Objectives: 1. Attendees are able to identify common troubleshooting techniques for the most application issues with the App-V sequencer. 2. Attendees take away steps and methods to resolve specific application issues from the field, the root cause and resolution…

Application Virtualisation Notes from the field

Premier Field Engineering globally have worked with a number of Microsoft Enterprise customers in the App-V arena. Application Virtualisation has excellent benefits that enable an organization to dynamically manage their application deployment and reduce the amount of time required to regression test their applications. The session details various techniques that PFE help customers to utilise when looking at Microsoft Application Virtualisation and how they approach proactive reviews of their App-V estate…

When Things Go Wrong: How to Effectively and Efficiently Troubleshoot App-V Deployments

This is an in-depth view of basic troubleshooting techniques from creating virtual packages of complex applications, diagnosing client deployment issues, and troubleshooting package publication and delivery to the client. There are a number of diagnostic and troubleshooting features in Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) and we show how to use them to roll out and leverage your App-V deployment. For example, the App-V sequencer will virtualize the majority of the applications thrown at it, but sometimes you will need to use some advanced features to complete creating a virtual package for a complex app. We show you how to use built-in log files and external tools such as Procmon to understand why a virtual package is not working as expected and how to make changes to enable it to work as expected…

TechEd New Zealand

The Case of…..Featuring “The App-V Sequencer”

This is a deep dive of troubleshooting techniques used when Microsoft PFE and the GTSC have investigated customer issues with Applications. See the step by step techniques used to see real world customer problems and the investigations and resolutions that were used to get the application functioning correctly. Learn some of the techniques used, and the importance of understanding the sequencer, windows and your applications.

Application Virtualisation Notes from the field

Premier Field Engineering globally have worked with a number of Microsoft Enterprise customers in the App-V arena. Application Virtualisation has excellent benefits that enable an organisation to dynamically manage their application deployment and reduce the amount of time required to regression test their applications. The session details various techniques that PFE help customers to utilise when looking at Microsoft Application Virtualisation and how they approach proactive reviews of their App-V estate.

Demystifying the Deployment of App-V 4.6 and Office 2010

Ever wondered how Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V) can simplify and accelerate Office deployments? Learn about the investments made in App-V 4.6 and Office 2010 and best practices for deploying and maintaining Office 2010 on App-V. We will arm you with the information needed to successfully sequence, deploy, customize, and maintain virtual Office.

App-V presentations from TechEd 2010 Australia & NZ is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Visibility for posts is great and all, but why must Citrix insist on cross-posting to as many blogs as possible?

Déjà vu at Citrix Community is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Location:
Microsoft London (Cardinal Place)
http://download.microsoft.com/documents/uk/about/downloads/victoria_map.pdf

Date & Time:
Thursday 29th January 2009
18:00 – 21:30

Agenda:
18:00 – 18:15: Arrivals

18:15 – 18:45: Simon Cleland (Unisys) & Colin Power (Slough Borough Council); Case study: Hyper-V RDP deployment at Slough Borough Council

18:45 – 19:30: Aaron Parker (stealthpuppy); Application virtualisation – what is App-V?; A look inside an enterprise implementation

19:30 – 20:00: Food

20:00 – 21:15: Justin Zarb (Microsoft); Application virtualisation – in-depth look at App-V architecture

21:15 – 21:30: Q/A and wrap up

Microsoft Virtualisation User Group UK is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

• TechEd was well put together and the content was mostly very good. This was my first since TechEd 2003 in Australia and I was impressed. Quick tip – if you do go to TechEd, get as much sleep as you can over the week as the amount of beer you consume is inversely proportionate to the amount of information you can take in the next day.
• If you get a Netbook to take notes (like the MSi Wind that I have) be sure to get a 6 cell or a second 3 cell battery so that it can last the day. Madlly searching for power points isn’t much fun.
• HTC Touch Diamonds and Touch Pros where everywhere, I’m sure they where out-numbering iPhones.
• VMware had a booth and were even a Gold sponsor, plus they were giving away an iPhone (not Windows Mobile-based phones like everyone else).
• The number of female delegates was quite high. I don’t have numbers, but this was a good sign – hopefully this number will continue to increase.
• Mark Russinovich, Jesper Johansson and Steve Riley have reached rock star status. It’s an odd thing to see but perhaps warranted – they do present very well.
• Mark Minasi, Chris Jackson and Aaron Margosis are also very good and worth seeing if you get the chance. Chris and Aaron are a nerdy version of the Odd Couple when they present together.
• People go crazy over the conference satchels. When the organisers where getting rid of the last lot, I saw one guy with 4 of these things and they aren’t something that you would be caught carrying anywhere but TechEd. Well I wouldn’t anyway.
• Barcelona is a fantastic city. If you get the opportunity to visit, take it. While you are here, I recommend visiting the Museu d’Història de la Ciutat (History Museum). There are some very well preserved Roman excavations worth viewing.

TechEd EMEA 2008 Wrap-up is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

• Barcelona is a fascinating city, but my Spanish needs some work (lots of work in fact)
• Monday night was the exhibitors drinks and mingle time – there was lots of beer, finger food and Xbox (I had to have a crack at The Force Unleashed on the Xbox – it’s exactly the same as on the PS3, but I much prefer the Xbox controllers;
• The HTC Touch Diamond and Pro are everywhere, I’m sure I’m seeing more of those than iPhones;
• The Microsoft Education guys were giving out stubbie coolers. Unless you’re from Australia, you probably won’t get how great that is, but I’ve finally got one to take back to London with me to keep by beer cold;
• I got a chance to catch up with Sander Berkouwer from dirteam.com and Patick Lownds from the Microsoft Virtualisation User Group UK (yes that’s virtualisation with an s)
• The MSI Wind is not really the laptop for taking notes at a convention like this. There’s not quite enough power points around to plug into so I keep running out of power, but Windows 7 does run on this machine quite well.
• On Windows 7, there are several different builds being used by presenters here, with build 6938 being the latest I’ve seen. Not everyone has had the superbar enabled in the post M3 builds.

There’s more to come on the sessions I’ve attended as soon as I can clean up my notes and post them.

TechEd EMEA 2008 – First Impressions is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

• User Account Control – what it is and what it isn’t. With any luck we might have time to compare UAC to similar elevation processes in Linux and Mac OS
• Developing applications on Windows Vista as non-admin. Does Visual Studio work as non-admin?
• What challenges IT pros face when deploying applications that expect admin access

One of the great strengths of Vista Squad is that it gets both IT pros and Developers together in the same room, so I’m hoping to make this an open discussion rather that just a presentation.

That means though, we need you. There’s usually more devs than IT pros, so if you’re in London tomorrow night and you’re interested in coming along, you can sign up here.

Tomorrow: Developing and Running As Non-Admin is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

The only downside is that on the Thursday (6th Nov) there are two App-V sessions that I would really like to attend but they’re on at the same time: Microsoft Application Virtualization, Package and Data Management and Microsoft Application Virtualization management and System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2. If the schedule isn’t changed, hopefully someone will take some details notes from the ConfigMgr session, because I’ll be attending the other.

I’m going to make an attempt to cover the sessions I’m attending and post some details over the week, so hopefully I can provide something useful around App-V and Windows Vista content.

So who’s going? If you are, feel free to drop me an e-mail if you’d like to catch up for a beer some sangría.

TechEd EMEA 2008 is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

This will be a similar talk to the one I gave at Vista Squad back in May, but since then App-V 4.5 and System Centre Configuration Manager have both gone RTM, so lots more great stuff to cover.

If you’re interested in attending, things kick off around 6.30 and you can find details about the meet and signup at the WMUG web site.

App-V Talk At WMUG This Thursday is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

The first presentation will be in Australia at the Brisbane Infrastructure Group on Tuesday May 13. I’m told the May meeting will be their first for the year and I’m the only presenter on the bill. So no pressure eh? No word on venue yet, but keep an eye on Dugie’s blog for more information.

The second presentation will be back here in London on the 27th of May for Vista Squad at Microsoft’s London office in Victoria. Vista Squad is a great mix of IT pro’s and developers, but we need to get some more IT pro’s along. If that sounds like you and you’re going to be around London on the 27th you’re welcome to come along.

May User Group Presentations is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Windows Vista and Windows Server Longhorn Branch Office Technologies – Level 300
In this session, we will look at the Microsoft vision for branch offices and the new options available with Windows Server ‘Longhorn.’ We will also discuss the benefits and challenges of consolidating servers at branch locations. We will review some of the new technologies that can play key roles in branch office scenarios, including new protocols, like Remote Differential Compression, and Windows Server ‘Longhorn’ enhancements, like Server Message Block 2.0. Windows Server ‘Longhorn’ also includes new improvements in SYSVOL and on-demand replication. We will also look at some of the exciting new Windows Server ‘Longhorn’ features that relate to branch offices, like policy-based Quality of Service and the Read-Only Domain Controller. Windows Server ‘Longhorn’ security improvements within the branch office will include secure startup and Read-Only Domain Controllers.

Windows Server “Longhorn” Terminal Services Technical Overview – Level 400
In this session, we will examine Terminal Services for Windows Server ‘Longhorn’. For organizations that have remote users, Windows Server ‘Longhorn’ adds improvements and innovations to Terminal Services that facilitate better integration of remote and local applications on client computers, access to these same remote programs via Web browser, and a means to access remote terminals and applications across firewalls. As Windows Server ‘Longhorn’ will ship on x64 if can utilize more processors and RAM that x64 offers, this can increase 3.4 x increases in the number of users that a Terminal Services server can support.

Repost: Microsoft Australia TechNet Updates, June is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.

Alt + Print Screen takes a screenshot of the window or dialog box currently in focus rather than the complete desktop as Print Screen alone does. This is a simple one and I thought that everyone would know this, but I’m still surprised at the number of screenshots I get in an e-mail that shows the whole desktop and not just the dialog box with the error message. On occasion Outlook resizes the screenshot and I then have to squint at the tiny little dialog in the middle of the picture. Alt-Print Screen saves the day and makes the dialog nice an easy to read, but then what about:

Ctrl + C to copy the text in a dialog box. Yes it’s true; you can copy the text straight out of a dialog box. So you can turn this:

into this:

[Window Title]

Notepad

[Main Instruction]

Do you want to save changes to Untitled?

[Save] [Don't Save] [Cancel]

How cool is that? This works most of the time, however you’ll come across a number of applications where this does not work, Microsoft Office being one of them. Tristan has more on this tip at Ctrl+C In A Message Box Does What!?.

Support Tips for Administrators is post from stealthpuppy.com. Except as noted otherwise, this work is © 2005-2012 Aaron Parker and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.