Senin, 01 April 2013

ACT 6.0 improvements In Windows 8

ACT 6.0, the most recent version of the toolkit, adds support for Windows 8. The following list
describes ACT:
  •    Support for Windows 8  ACT 6.0 adds support for Windows 8.
  •    Runtime-analysis package  The runtime-analysis package gathers compatibility
information. You install it on PCs running Windows 8 for compatibility testing. Data
from the runtime-analysis package replaces data from issue detectors that attempt to
forecast compatibility issues by running on a previous version of Windows.

  •  Streamlined inventory collection   Limiting the inventory-collector package to
inventory collection reduces data collection overhead. The redesigned inventory-collector package does not cause application conflicts because it does not interact with
applications, so you do not have to schedule the inventory-collector package to avoid
conflicts.
  •   Application grouping  The application reports in Application Compatibility Manager
(ACM) group multiple versions of an application together under a single parent entry.
  •    Restructured ACT documentation  ACT 6.0 includes streamlined documentation to
help you find information more quickly and conveniently.
  •    Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (Windows ADK) integration  ACT is  
now part of the Windows ADK. The Windows ADK (see Chapter 5, “Deploying 
Windows 8”) consolidates the assessment and deployment tools in one place.
  •    Focus on Operating System Deployment  ACT 6.0 focuses on operating system
deployment. It no longer includes update compatibility


Application compatibility in Windows 8

The overall compatibility of Windows 8 with existing apps is very high. However, some
compatibility issues are possible because of innovative new features, tightened security, and
improved operating system reliability.

IT pros planning for application compatibility should consider the “Windows 8 Release
Preview and Windows Server 2012 RC Compatibility Cookbook” available from the Microsoft
Download Center at  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id= 27416  to be
essential reading. This document describes changes in Windows 8 and Microsoft Windows
Server 2012 that could break an application, how those problems manifest themselves, and
how to mitigate those problems. Although this document is targeted primarily at   developers
working on the compatibility of their apps, it offers a glimpse into potential compatibility
 issues. (The large size of the document does not necessarily mean that there will be numerous
problems.)

The compatibility cookbook is theoretical, but you will need empirical data from your
 environment to assess and mitigate your applications. The Application Compatibility  Toolkit
(ACT) helps you inventory and test applications, devices, and PCs for compatibility with
Windows 8. You can get compatibility information from Microsoft and independent software
vendors (ISVs), identify compatibility issues in your environment, and share compatibility
data with other ACT users. ACT provides tools that can help you analyze and mitigate the
 compatibility issues that you discover in your organization.
Application compatibility resources for IT pros include:
  ■ Application Compatibility TechCenter on TechNet at http://technet.microsoft.com/ 
en-us/windows/aa905066.
  ■ Compatibility Center for Windows 8 Releas e Preview at  http://www.microsoft.com/ 
en-us/windows/compatibility/en-US/Comp atCenter/Home.
  ■ Windows 8 Release Preview and Windows Server 2012 RC Compatibility Cookbook
available from the Microsoft Download Center at  http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/
download/details.aspx?id=27416.


Preparing for deployment in Windows 8

Deploying any new operating system requires careful planning, and Microsoft
 Windows 8 is no exception. Successful operating system deployment includes
 automation, application compatibility testing, user state migration, and hardware
 readiness. To that end, Microsoft deployment tools and technologies can help streamline
operating system deployment, improve the user experience, and reduce support costs.
The good news is that IT pros comfortable with Windows 7 deployment will be just
as comfortable with Windows 8 deployment. That is because Windows 8 deployment is
based on the proven tools and technologies they used for Windows 7 deployment 
(see Chapter 5, “Deploying Windows 8”). Although the tools are familiar, there are other
elements of deployment that you need to consider when deploying Windows 8. This
chapter describes those considerations. After introducing you to the stock keeping
units (SKUs) available for deployment, it provides guidance for evaluating application
 compatibility, migrating user state, and choosing a deployment strategy.

Windows 8 SKUs
Not only did Microsoft reimagine the Windows 8 user interface, but it also reimagined
the available SKUs to make choosing the right one simpler. Of course, all of the SKUs
offer the same fluid experience—on a variety of devices—using touch, a keyboard, or a
mouse.
For PCs and tablets powered by x86 or x64 processors, Microsoft offers two editions:
Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro. For consumers, Windows 8 is often the best choice. On
the other hand, Windows 8 Pro edition is the best choice for enthusiasts,  technology

Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8

Windows Server 2012, formerly code-named Windows Server 8, is the most recent release
of the Windows Server operating system. Windows Server 2012 offers features unlike any
 Windows Server operating system before. It is optimized for use with Windows 8 clients.
Windows Server 2012 shares features and management tools with Windows 8, such as Server
Manager, which allow remote server management for IT administrators. These features
 depend on a Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 environment to function. Additionally,
Windows Server 2012 supports multiple installation options: Server Core, Full, and Minimal
Server Interface, which is similar to a server with a GUI installation but does not include
 Internet Explorer 10, Windows Explorer, the Desktop, or the Start screen. This customization
allows administrators to pick and customize their interface layout.

Virtualization
Virtualization offers many benefits to an organization. Some of these benefits include greater
agility, improved cost efficiency, and expanded flexibility. To meet the changing demands
of today’s business environment, combining virtualization with the infrastructure and tools
needed to provision a cloud environment is essential. Windows Server 2012 makes this
expansion possible through integrated tools like Hyper-V. For more information on how
 virtualization can improve your environment, see Chapter 11, “Windows 8 virtualization.”

ReFS
Resilient File System (ReFS) is a new file system available in Windows Server 2012 and
 Windows 8. ReFS is an improvement on NTFS that has major feature upgrades. Below is a
quick description of the primary file system upgrades found in ReFS:
  •   Robust disk capabilities  ReFS vastly raises the upper limits for the following: file
size, volume size, number of files in a directory, and number of directories in a volume.
The new available maximum file size is 16 Exabytes and the maximum volume size is 1
Yottabyte. These storage capabilities provide immense future scalability

Resiliency to disk corruption  To minimize disk corruptions, ReFS has  built-in
 features that minimize the need for tools such as chkdsk. ReFS metadata is
 check-summed and stored off-page to allow real-time corruption, miswrite, and bit rot
detection. This new option, known as  integrity streams , ensures that preexisting data is
not lost due to the new written data.
  •    Compatibility with existing technology   ReFS supports many of the existing
 Windows and NTFS features such as BitLocker, Access Control Lists, junction points,
mount pints, etc. without requiring new system application programming interfaces
(APIs). This makes ReFS easy to implement into existing data structures.
  •    Storage Spaces  Storage Spaces is the new storage virtualization pool technology
which offers the joining of different-sized storage drives into virtual drives. It also
 allows users to select parity and mirroring features on a folder-by-folder basis

Summary
Windows 8 offers a wide variety of targeted improvements while keeping its standard
 usability and functionality derived from Windows 7. With reimagined system applications,
simple configuration, vast customization options, a redesigned NTFS health model, and new
features such as windows PowerShell 3.0, networking enhancements, and Client Hyper-V,
Windows 8 is the most improved Windows operating system yet. Its design integrates the
best of Windows 7 and improves specific applications and features that make your life as an IT
pro easier