Jumat, 29 Maret 2013

Networking enhancements in Windows 8

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 provide new features and resources when deployed
together. Many new features that IT pros love about Windows Server 2012 are optimized
for use with Windows 8 clients. In fact, many of the new improved management features in
 Windows Server 2012 can also be used from a local console only available in Windows 8.
Many redesigned features were available in Windows Server 2008 but have been reimagined
for the modern, expanding business needs.

BranchCache
BranchCache was first introduced in Windows Server 2008 as a way of caching content from
wide area network (WAN) web and file servers locally at branch offices. BranchCache greatly
reduces network traffic by accessing reused files from the local cache instead of the WAN.
BranchCache has been enhanced with new features in Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8
that far surpass its previous capabilities. Just some of its many improvements include  
the following:
  •    Removed requirement for individual Group Policy Objects for each branch.
  •    Automatically encrypted cached content.
  •    New management options in Windows PowerShell.
  •    New ability to preload content into cache before a client request.
  •    Increased scalability through multiple Hosted Cache servers and improved database
performance.
BranchCache supports two cache modes: Distributed Cache mode and Hosted Cache
mode. Figure 3-6 displays the fundamental differences of each

Windows PowerShell 3.0 in Windows 8

Windows PowerShell 3.0 is packed with new features and cmdlets that extend its use,  improve
its usability, and allow for more comprehensive control of Windows-based   environments.
 Previously, users and administrators enjoyed the rights and permissions provided by
 PowerShell. With more than one thousand new cmdlets, Windows PowerShell 3.0 is now more
powerful than ever.

New features
PowerShell 3.0 has updated features for Windows 8, as well as Windows Server 2012. A few
of the additional features specifically for Windows Server 2012 include BranchCache, Server
Manager, and web cmdlets. The new features found in Table 3-2 are only a small portion of
the new features available in Windows 8, but they are some of the most impactful.
Integrated Scripting Environment (ISE)
Windows PowerShell ISE is a host application for Windows PowerShell. It allows you to run
commands and write, test, and debug scripts in one graphical user interface. Windows
PowerShell ISE introduces many new features in Windows PowerShell 3.0. A few notable new
features are described in Table 3-3

Redesigned NTFS health model and chkdsk in windows 8

Although increasingly rare, disk corruptions can occur due to a variety of unique causes.
Whether caused by hard disk or transient memory errors, corruptions can occur within the
file system’s metadata, which links physical disk blocks to virtual data. To restore access to the
corrupted data, Windows must isolate and correct the issue using the chkdsk tool. Windows
8 vastly improves the resolution time of system errors by implementing a new NTFS health
model and Check Disk resolution strategies.

Key design changes
In previous versions of the Windows operating system, NTFS implemented a simple health
model which indicated two states for a volume; healthy or not. In this health model, the
 corrupted   volume had to be taken offline for however long was necessary to resolve the  issue.
The   downtime of the volume was directly proportional to its number of files, which for some
systems was quite large. Windows Vista and Windows 7 made significant  improvements to this
process that ultimately decreased the resolution time. However, with hard drive  capacities  rapidly
expanding, using the current resolution method has spanned several hours in some cases.

      A redesigned NTFS health model and chkdsk was necessary to correlate with the rapidly
expanding storage capacities. The new chkdsk design makes administrators aware of file system
health at all times and provides convenient scheduled resolution with nearly zero downtime.
Using this new design, downtime for correcting typical corruptions is less than two seconds.
The   correction process is now split into the following phases to ensure coordinated, rapid, and
 transparent corruption resolution. Figure 3-5 shows that in the green phases, the volume remains
online. The final phase requires the volume to be offline for only seconds (which is indicated in red).
In the previous model, the entire resolution process would be red rather than the stripe.

New NTFS health model
Unlike the previous two-state model, the redesigned NTFS health model implements four health
states. Some states are for informational purposes only, whereas some require action. The health
states are the following:
  •     Online and healthy  This state represents normal operation. In this state, there is nouser        action          required and no corruptions are detected.
  •   Online spot verification needed  The file system is briefly placed in a transient state
after it detects a corruption that cannot be self-healed. The volume is placed in this
state only until the spot verification service verifies the corruption. This state does not
require any user action

In the previous NTFS health model, a user might not know there is a problem until the chkdsk
screen suddenly appeared when booting. To improve transparency and user awareness,
Windows now exposes the current state of the file system and provides repair options via the
Action Center, Explorer, Windows PowerShell “REPAIR-VOLUME” cmdlet, and Server Manager.
These transparencies improve the user experience by providing full resolution control when it
is most convenient.

Client Hyper-V in windows 8

Client Hyper-V is an innovative virtualization platform available in Windows 8. It provides IT
pros and developers with a local environment to test applications and client–server  deployment
scenarios without requiring a Hyper-V server. For example, you can build, host, and test an
entire infrastructure on your local machine and then export the virtual machines directly into
production. Additionally, tools that were created for Hyper-V in Windows Server, such as VMM
P2V (Virtual Machine Manager Physical-to-Virtual) and Sysinternals DisktoVHD, can also be
used in Client Hyper-V. Windows PowerShell scripts and Hyper-V virtual switch extensions that
are developed and tested on Client Hyper-V can also be used in Windows Server 2012.
         Because Client Hyper-V is the same technology as found in Windows Server, IT pros and
developers do not need to learn any new tools or commands to implement and use this
 technology. The availability of Client Hyper-V allows cross compatible virtual machines (VMs)
to be imported and exported between Client Hyper-V and Hyper-V Server. This simplifies
 application and deployment testing and troubleshooting across an enterprise. Client Hyper-V
supports USB media, as well as other new Windows features such as Windows To Go.   Turning on
the Windows 8 Hyper-V feature also installs a VM management tool called Hyper-V  Manager.
        To enable Client Hyper-V from Control Panel:
            1.   From the Control Panel, click Programs, and then select Programs and Features.
            2.   Select Turn Windows Features on or off.
            3.   Click Hyper-V, then OK, and then Close.
        To enable Client Hyper-V using Windows PowerShell:
            1.   In the Windows PowerShell command line, type the following:
                  Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature-Online-FeatureName Microsoft-Hyper-V
Once Hyper-V is enabled, you must fully shut down and restart your computer to
 complete installation. Upon restart, you will be able to create and manage VMs through
Hyper-V Manager or the Hyper-V Module for Windows PowerShell. You can also use Virtual
Machine Connection to remotely connect to VMs. Not all features found in Hyper-V are
 available in Client Hyper-V;

PC Settings in windows 8

The PC Settings menu can be accessed by dragging the mouse pointer to the bottom right
corner of the screen and selecting Settings. (You can also simply press Windows key + I to open
Settings.) You will notice that a settings menu comes up. This settings menu is the  settings for
the active Window. At the bottom of the menu, you will notice “Change PC   Settings.”


Using this interface, you can:
  •   Customize features such as lock screen and Start screen appearance.
  •   Manage user accounts.
  •   Edit application notifications and search history.
  •   Share applications.
  •   Edit general settings such as system time and language.
  •   Refresh your Windows installation or fully reinstall Windows.
  •   Edit privacy settings for location services and other information.
  •   Manage devices.
  •   Change Home group and profile sync settings.
  •   Check for Windows updates.

Tile configuration in windows 8

The new Windows Start screen is fully customizable with “Tiles.” Some Tiles can be activated
to provide real-time updates of applications such as Microsoft Outlook. Windows 8 is an
event-driven operating system, meaning that it provides information and options right when
you need them. Right-clicking a Tile brings up its menu with available options. Figure 3-4
shows the menu available when right-clicking a Live Tile.

The Windows 8 Tile layout makes tasks like uninstalling an application very simple.
 Right -click the Tile of the program that you want to uninstall, and then select uninstall. 
For programs not designed for Windows 8, uninstallation can be performed through the add/
remove programs feature in the Control Panel