Book Update

I posted some gibberish a few weeks ago about another book project.  Well, I'm getting close to wrapping it up, so I thought I'd go ahead and blabber about it in case anyone has anything they'd like to comment on or any topics they'd like to see included in it.

The book is titled: The AutoCAD Network Administrator's Bible - 2013 Edition

I know: Not very creative or clever.  However, this is not a typical dust-off and rehash book.  I've been painstakingly re-writing it from start to end.  Some of the major changes included in this book:

• AutoCAD 2013 network deployments
• Design Review 2013 deployments
• DWG TrueView 2013 deployments

In addition, I've updated the deployment vector scenarios and included much more detail for each...

• Deployments with System Center Configuration Manager 2007
• Deployments with System Center Configuration Manager 2012
• Deployments with Active Directory Group Policy
• Deployments with Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2012
• Deployments with VBScript, CMD / Batch script, and PowerShell

There's still the familiar topics, which have been updated for the current product versions as well...

• Troubleshooting Tips
• FlexLM License Server architecture and implementation considerations
• Software Deployment strategies
• Tools:  Sysinternals, XCACLS, REGINI, MSICUU, REG, etc.
• Client Performance Optimization

As I've said before, if you have any particular ideas or topics you'd like to see included, post a comment and let me know.  I'm getting close to finishing it, but I'd still hold off for a good suggestion.  I'm looking forward to wrapping this project up so I can focus on my family and day job more as Fall sneaks into Virginia.

Cheers!

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Windows 8 on TechNet: Not so Great for TechEd folks

If you attended Microsft Tech-Ed North America 2012, in Orlando, Florida, you got a nice gift: A free, one-year subscription of TechNet Professional.  However, what you might not have realized is that there are quite a few "flavors" of TechNet Professional.  The one given out at Tech-Ed NA is "TechNet Professional (NFR)", or "not for resale".  This version, or "flavor" (my own term), doesn't allow access to the same downloads as many other "TechNet Professional" flavors.  For example...

Windows 8 and Windows 8 Enterprise is available for download to the following subscription levels:

TechNet for Action Pack
TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners
TechNet for Microsoft Competency Partners (VL)
TechNet Plus Consumer Service Professional Pilot
TechNet Professional (Certified Partner)
TechNet Professional (NFR Bundle)
TechNet Professional (NFR FTE)
TechNet Professional (NFR MCT)
TechNet Professional (NFR MVP)
TechNet Professional (NFR)
TechNet Professional (Retail)
TechNet Professional (SA)
TechNet Professional (VL)
TechNet Professional with Media (Retail)
TechNet Professional with Media (VL)
TechNet Standard (Retail)
TechNet Standard (VL)

Windows 8 Pro is only available for download to the following subscription levels:

TechNet Professional (SA)
TechNet Professional (VL)
TechNet Professional with Media (VL)
TechNet Standard (VL)

The net result is that if you happen to be running Windows 7 Ultimate, and you'd like to try out the much-touted and improved "upgrade" for Windows 8, well, you can't.  Windows 7 Ultimate can only be "upgraded" to Windows 8 Professional, which is not available on your "NFR" subscription level.  So, your only options are:

• Do a full install of Windows 8 or Windows 8 Enterprise, and reinstall everything again
• Wait and buy the "Pro" version upgrade when it's available
• Upgrade your TechNet subscription level (for a nominal fee, of course)
• Stick with Windows 7 Ultimate

Bummer.

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Another Book

So, I had posted something about trying out a "different" kind of book several months ago.  I ended up scrapping that idea because I'm not up for that challenge (nor do I really have the time).

I have decided however, that I will do a follow-up to the AutoCAD Network Administrator's Bible, based on AutoCAD 2013 but this time mix in System Center Configuration Manager 2012.  I'm still dipping my toes into ConfigMgr 2012, so it will be interesting to see where it leads.

I any case, I am open to suggestions for topics or examples to cover in this book.  If you have something you'd like me to include that relates to the planning, deployment and administration of Autodesk products in a network environment, drop me a line at ds0934 (at) gmail (dot) com, and be sure to use the subject line "Book Suggestion" so my spam filters don't kill it immediately.

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