This update will come down via Windows Update but if you want to direct download the service pack here are the links you’ll need and some you may want.

Direct download links:

• Windows Server 2008 SP 2 – Five Language Standalone for ia64-based Systems (KB948465)
• Windows Server 2008 SP 2 and Windows Vista SP 2 – Five Language Standalone (KB948465)
• Windows Server 2008 SP 2 and Windows Vista SP 2 – Five Language Standalone DVD ISO (KB948465)
• Windows Server 2008 SP 2 and Windows Vista SP 2 – Five Language Standalone for x64-based systems (KB948465)

Other links to checkout:

• Read the announcement from the Windows Vista team…
• Read the announcement from the Windows Server team…
• Notable changes in Windows Server SP2 and Windows Vista SP2…
• Windows Service Pack Blocker Tool Kit…
• Hotfix and Security Update List…

Having trouble with Windows Update?  This tool is being offered because an inconsistency was found in the Windows servicing store which may prevent the successful installation of future updates, service packs, and software.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821

Article includes download links for 32-bit and 64-bit.

This one addresses a long outstanding issue with running Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows Server 2008.

Click here to get more information on installing Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows 2008…

Excerpt from the MS Exchange Team:

1. KB 969690 – We have fixed the bug introduced in Update Rollup 7 which caused the sender of the Delivery Status Notification (DSN) to be unresolved.
2. Disable kernel mode authentication in Windows Server 2008 for CAS servers – As documented here, it was required to manually take the additional step to configure the CAS servers running Windows Server 2008 to disable kernel mode authentication. Starting this rollup, the installer will configure this for you.
3. X-Header promotion to named properties- Change to the way X-headers are promoted to named properties. More on this in Jason Nelson’s blog post Named Properties, X-Headers, and You.
4. KB 961606 – We have fixed a bug where Outlook Web Access (OWA) users may find that the font size of plain text messages is extremely small on third-party Web browsers.

Click here to download the rollup…

Click here to read the MS Exchange Team’s post…

If you haven’t had a chance to bookmark the Exchange 2007 installation guides now is the time to do so.  The MS Exchange Team just released a new installation guide for Cluster Continuous Replication (CCR) on Server 2008.  Head on over and check it out.

They also made some other updates to previous installation guides as well…

Overview

Many organizations today are consolidating older file servers to reduce the cost of managing multiple file servers and to increase the efficiency of storage allocation and backup tasks. When organizations migrate data to file servers running Windows Server® 2003 and Windows Server 2008, they can take advantage of new features, such as Shadow Copies for Shared Folders and the Volume Shadow Copy service, and enhancements to other technologies, such as Distributed File System (DFS).

• Click here to download…
• From the MS Storage Team…

Administrative Templates (.admx) for Windows Vista

This download provides the complete set of Administrative Template (.admx) files for Windows Vista

• Click here to download…

Administrative Templates (ADMX) for Windows Server 2008

This download details page provides the complete set of Administrative templates (ADMX) for Windows Server 2008. Additionally, there is a separate download that includes the ADMX and ADML files for Group Policy preferences.

• Click here to download…

Administrative Templates (ADM) for all other Windows operating systems

This download provides a complete set of current and previously shipped Administrative Template files (.adm files) included by default in Windows operating system and service pack releases, beginning with Windows 2000.

• Click here to download…

Group Policy Settings Reference for Windows and Windows Server

These spreadsheets list the policy settings for computer and user configurations included in the Administrative template files delivered with the Windows operating systems specified.

• Click here to download…

For anyone who has ever called MPS to troubleshoot an issue you will know these tools.  For those that haven’t this is a must to bookmark.  These tools are used by MPS to gather configuration data from a server for troubleshooting purposes.  You can run the tool to gather critical data BEFORE you call MPS.  Having this critical data ready will greatly help to speed things up with MPS and get your issue resolved much quicker.

MPS Reporting come in a variety of flavors

(Please review the readme file included with each reporting tool for more information on usage)

• Alliance
• Cluster
• Active Directory (DirSvc)
• Exchange
• MDAC
• Network
• Base Setup (SetupPerf)
• SQL
• SUS

Overview

The Microsoft Product Support Reporting Tool facilitates the gathering of critical system and logging information used in troubleshooting support issues. The reporting tool DOES NOT make any registry changes or modifications to the operating system. There are 8 specialty versions, one for each of the following support scenario categories: Alliance, Directory Services (not for Windows NT 4.0), Networking, Clustering, SQL, Software Update Services, MDAC and Base/Setup/Storage/Print/Performance. Each version gathers some of the same basic information but there are specific reports unique to each of the support scenario categories. Please read the readme.txt files for more details about each version.

• Click here to download the MPS tools…

Microsoft Premier Services Reporting Utility

Another useful tool is the Premier Services Reporting Utility.  (PFE Version)  This version is newer and also supports x64 bit Windows platforms.  This one is not as specialized as the tools listed above but useful to gather detailed system status and configuration information when the above tools don’t fit your needs.  This utility will also gather limited information on SQL and Exchange.

Microsoft Product Support Reports Viewer

The MPSReports Viewer tool is a viewer companion to the Microsoft Product Support Reports tool, allowing for the collected results to be reviewed using a graphical user interface. Please be aware that not all the datapoints collected by Microsoft Product Support Reports are exposed by the viewer companion. This version of Microsoft Product Support Reports viewer does not parse results files collected by older versions of MPSReports.

If you have McAfee’s GroupShield deployed in your Exchange organization and are considering an Exchange 2007 deployment hosted on Windows Server 2008 then you are in luck.  Here is a matrix of their supported environments.

Click here for a complete listing of supported environments for GroupShield…

MS released a new hotfix for Windows Server 2003 to address the ongoing issues surrounding the scalable networking pack feature added by SP2.  They are highly recommending that this update be applied to any server that will need to communicate with Vista or Windows Server 2008.

Read more about the update here and here.

Check out the KB article here…

Download the update: x32 & x64

If you have ever had to change TCP/IP parameters on a set of client (or servers) in mass you usually have to do it one at a time, but what if you have 100+ clients that need changing?  Sure, there are tools out there and I know PowerShell and Vista/Server 2008 has some advanced GPO settings that can “help” in this area.  However if you are like most companies you probably don’t have PowerShell deployed to your clients and aren’t quite fully deployed on Vista or Server 2008.   So now the question, how do I script the changes?  Below you’ll find a great resource on automating TCP/IP networking changes that I’ve used quite successfully on many an occasion published back in 2004.

Overview

Windows scripting technologies enable system administrators to automate many common tasks involved in managing TCP/IP network clients. This paper discusses scripting techniques and shows scripting examples for:

•  Retrieving TCP/IP client settings.
•  Working with remote hosts.
•  Configuring DHCP and static IP addresses.
•  Managing DNS client settings.
•  Working with NetBIOS and WINS.

Also included are scenarios that combine basic techniques to create sample solutions for more complex networking tasks.

Click here to read the article…