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…

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…

Brief Description

The GPOAccelerator creates all the Group Policy objects (GPOs) that you need to deploy recommended security settings for your environment to save you hours of work that you would otherwise need to configure these settings. This Solution Accelerator includes guidance to assist you with this tool.

Overview

The download for GPOAccelerator includes the following components:

• GPOAccelerator. The GPOAccelerator automatically deploys the security recommendations in the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide, 2007 Microsoft Office Security Guide, the Windows Vista Security Guide and the Windows XP Security Guide. These guides recommend Group Policy configurations and, in the case of Windows Vista and Windows XP, Security Template configurations that are enforced via Active Directory® in your environment. Each of these guides contains prescriptive recommendations for two security baselines, Enterprise Client (EC) and Specialized Security – Limited Functionality (SSLF). These baselines have been thoroughly tested and validated. The tool provides you with the recommended EC and SSLF Group Policy objects (GPOs) for Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and the 2007 Office release in this download.
• How To Use the GPOAccelerator. This download also includes the How To Use the GPOAccelerator to provide you with step-by-step guidance to set up a test environment, create the GPOs. Then you can link the GPOs in a test or production OU structure, and deploy them.

Click here to download the accelerator…

Overview

Multiple Group Policy Preferences have been added to the Windows Server 2008 Group Policy Management Console (which are also available through the Remote Server Administration Toolset (RSAT) for Windows Vista SP1). Group Policy Preferences enable information technology professionals to configure, deploy, and manage operating system and application settings they previously were not able to manage using Group Policy. After you install this update, your computer will be able to process the new Group Policy Preference extensions.

• Windows Vista
• Windows Vista x64
• Windows XP
• Windows XP x64
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2003 x64

For more information on the topic of group policies check out this post…

.NET Framework 3.5 builds incrementally on the new features added in .NET Framework 3.0. For example, feature sets in Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Windows CardSpace. In addition, .NET Framework 3.5 contains a number of new features in several technology areas which have been added as new assemblies to avoid breaking changes. They include the following:

• Deep integration of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) and data awareness. This new feature will let you write code written in LINQ-enabled languages to filter, enumerate, and create projections of several types of SQL data, collections, XML, and DataSets by using the same syntax.
• ASP.NET AJAX lets you create more efficient, more interactive, and highly-personalized Web experiences that work across all the most popular browsers.
• New Web protocol support for building WCF services including AJAX, JSON, REST, POX, RSS, ATOM, and several new WS-* standards.
• Full tooling support in Visual Studio 2008 for WF, WCF, and WPF, including the new workflow-enabled services technology.
• New classes in .NET Framework 3.5 base class library (BCL) that address many common customer requests.

Get the new .Net here…

UPDATE:  Click here to download .Net 3.5 SP1…