CSC Cloud survey of information technology (IT) decision makers around the globe

CSC has made a survey of information technology (IT) decision makers around the globe

From this survey, here is what they have seen : 

• Few organizations downsized IT after cloud adoption.
• Only 14 percent of companies downsized their IT departments after adopting cloud while 20 percent of organizations hired more cloud experts.
• The majority of organizations save money with cloud, but savings are small.
• 82 percent of all organizations saved money on their last cloud adoption project.
• 23 percent of U.S. organizations and 45 percent of U.S. small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) reported no savings while 35 percent of U.S. organizations saved less than $20,000.
• Brazilian organizations reaped the most cost benefit with 92 percent saving money, while 70 percent of Australian organizations saved money.
• Organizations are into the cloud for the long term.
• 65 percent of companies choose cloud subscriptions lasting one year or more.
• Cloud computing gives organizations a green boost.
• 64 percent of organizations say that adopting cloud has helped them reduce waste and lower energy consumption.
• Nearly all businesses boost improvements in IT performance after cloud adoption.
• 93 percent of all organizations saw at least one area of improvement in their IT department since adopting cloud.
• 52 percent reported increased data center efficiency and utilization, while 47 percent of companies said they witnessed lower operating costs after cloud adoption.
• 80 percent experienced improvements within six months of moving to the cloud.
• Small businesses face less workforce resistance to cloud adoption.
• 74 percent of small businesses say that no one in their company resisted the move to the cloud.
• Data security concerns do not change significantly after adopting cloud computing.
• 25 percent of organizations expressed more concern about data security after adopting cloud services.
• 47 percent of organizations in Singapore expressed more concern about data security following cloud adoption, while 47 percent of Brazilian organizations said they are less concerned after switching to cloud.

CSC Cloud Survey Infografic

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Cloud Computing Best Animation

[Updates] Start a System Center Orchestrator 2012 Runbook through its webservice

I have updated the article  Start a System Center Orchestrator 2012 Runbook through its webservice to fix a bug with the Csharp and Orchestrator parameters

Compare Management Packs version on 2 management groups

The Following powershell script help you to compare management packs from 2 environments (like prod and preprod env).


In argument of the script:

1. RMS Name of the 1st Management Group
2. RMS Name of the 2nd Management Group
3. Name of the csv file

Here is the script:

param([string]$ref, [string]$diff, [String]$csvfile)

function Connect-OpsMgr ([string] $rootMS ) {

#Initializing the Ops Mgr 2007 Powershell provider
 if ( (Get-pssnapin | where {$_.Name -eq "Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Client" }).Name -ne "Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Client" ) {
  add-pssnapin "Microsoft.EnterpriseManagement.OperationsManager.Client" -ErrorVariable errSnapin; }
 Set-Location "OperationsManagerMonitoring::" -ErrorVariable errSnapin;
 $CS = Gwmi Win32_ComputerSystem -Comp "."
 
 #$cred=get-credential $CS.Username
 
 $mg=New-ManagementGroupConnection -ConnectionString:$rootMS -Credential:$cred -ErrorVariable errSnapin;
 Set-Location $rootMS -ErrorVariable errSnapin;
 
 #Checks to see if it failed or succedded in loading the provider
 if ($errSnapin.count -ne 0)
  {   
   Write-Output "OpsMgr 2007 PSSnapin failed initialize!"
   Write-Output "Please verify you are running this script on a computer that have the console installed" 
   Write-Output "Instance Maintenance Mode failed due:`nPowershell was not able to connect to OpsMgr platform.`nImpossible to put in mainteance mode the object [$Computer]::$object.`nContact SP Windows to reinstall the powershell and the OpsMgr console" "MaintenanceMode" "Error" 1000
  
  }
}

#Set-Location "OperationsManagerMonitoring::" -ErrorVariable errSnapin;
$cred = get-credential 
"Getting Management Group information for "+$ref
Connect-OpsMgr $ref
"Retreiving Management Packs from " + $ref
$mp1=get-managementpack

#$mg1=(Get-ChildItem . |where {$_.managementservername -eq $ref }).PathName
#"Path" + $mg1
"Getting Management Group information for "+$diff
Connect-OpsMgr $diff
# $mg2=(dir |where {$_.managementservername -eq $diff }).PathName
"Retreiving Management Packs from " + $diff
$mp2=get-managementpack
$MPREF = New-Object System.Collections.Hashtable
$mp1 | % { $MPREF[$_.Name.Tostring()] = $_.Version.tostring() }
$MPDIFF = New-Object System.Collections.Hashtable
$mp2 | % { $MPDIFF[$_.Name.Tostring()] = $_.Version.Tostring() }
$CompareMP = @()

foreach ($mp in $mp1) {
 $count=0
 $mp.Name
 $MPDIFF[$mp.Name]
 
 $record = New-Object System.Object
 if ($MPDIFF[$mp.Name] -eq $null) {
 
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name Name -Value $mp.Name
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name $ref -Value $mp.Version
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name $diff -Value 'Missing'
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name Sealed -Value $mp.Sealed
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name "Status" -Value "Need to be installed"
  $CompareMP+=$record
 } elseif ($MPDIFF[$mp.Name.tostring()] -ne $MPREF[$mp.Name]) {
    
    $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name Name -Value $mp.Name
    $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name $ref -Value $MPREF[$mp.Name]
    $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name $diff -Value $MPDIFF[$mp.Name] 
    $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name Sealed -Value $mp.Sealed
    
    $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name Status -Value "Diff"
    $CompareMP+=$record
    }
}
foreach ($mpd in $mp2) {
 if ($MPREF[$mpd.Name.tostring()] -eq $null) {
  $record = New-Object System.Object
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name Name -Value $mpd.Name
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name $ref -Value 'Missing'
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name $diff -Value $mpd.Version
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name Sealed -Value $mpd.Sealed
  $record | add-Member -memberType noteProperty -name "Status" -Value "Need to be installed"
  $CompareMP+=$record
 }

}


"Exporting results to " +  $csvfile
$CompareMP | sort -property Name | Export-Csv  -noTypeInformation -Path $csvfile

Inside Central 13 - MS Private Cloud and System Center 2012

OpsMgr2012 powershell cmdlets

With OM2012, we couple of new cmdlets has been introduced and other has been removed. You will probably have to rewrite some scripts...



70 cmdlets added


Get-SCClass 
Get-SCDiscovery 
Get-SCManagementGroupConnection 
Get-SCManagementPack 
Get-SCOMAccessLicense 
Get-SCOMAgent 
Get-SCOMAgentlessManagedComputer 
Get-SCOMAgentManagementServerSetting 
Get-SCOMAlert 
Get-SCOMAlertHistory 
Get-SCOMClass 
Get-SCOMClassInstance 
Get-SCOMCommand 
Get-SCOMConnector 
Get-SCOMDiagnostic 
Get-SCOMDiscovery 
Get-SCOMEvent 
Get-SCOMGatewayManagementServer 
Get-SCOMGroup 
Get-SCOMMaintenanceMode 
Get-SCOMManagementGroupConnection 
Get-SCOMManagementPack 
Get-SCOMManagementServer 
Get-SCOMMonitor 
Get-SCOMNotificationAction 
Get-SCOMNotificationEndpoint 
Get-SCOMNotificationRecipient 
Get-SCOMNotificationSubscription 
Get-SCOMOverride 
Get-SCOMOverrideResult 
Get-SCOMPendingManagement 
Get-SCOMRecovery 
Get-SCOMRelationship 
Get-SCOMRelationshipInstance 
Get-SCOMResourcePool 
Get-SCOMRMSEmulator 
Get-SCOMRule 
Get-SCOMRunAsAccount 
Get-SCOMRunAsProfile 
Get-SCOMTask 
Get-SCOMTaskResult 
Get-SCOMUserRole 
Get-SCRelationship 
Get-SCRelationshipInstance 
Import-SCManagementPack 
Import-SCOMManagementPack 
Install-SCOMAgent 
New-SCManagementGroupConnection 
New-SCOMManagementGroupConnection 
New-SCOMResourcePool 
Remove-SCManagementGroupConnection 
Remove-SCManagementPack 
Remove-SCOMAgentlessManagedComputer 
Remove-SCOMDisabledClassInstance 
Remove-SCOMManagementGroupConnection 
Remove-SCOMManagementPack 
Remove-SCOMResourcePool 
Remove-SCOMRMSEmulator 
Set-SCManagementGroupConnection 
Set-SCOMAgentlessManagedComputer 
Set-SCOMAgentManagementServerSetting 
Set-SCOMAlert 
Set-SCOMMaintenanceMode 
Set-SCOMManagementGroupConnection 
Set-SCOMResourcePool 
Set-SCOMRMSEmulator 
Set-SCOMRunAsProfile 
Set-SCOMUserRole 
Start-SCOMMaintenanceMode 
Start-SCOMTask 




List of cmdlets removed (replaced indeed)  :



Get-MonitoringObjectGroup 
Get-MonitoringObjectPath 
Get-MonitoringObjectProperty 
Get-NotificationAction 
Get-NotificationEndpoint 
Get-NotificationRecipient 
Get-NotificationSubscription 
Get-OperationsManagerCommand 
Get-Override 
Get-PerformanceCounter 
Get-PerformanceCounterValue 
Get-PrimaryManagementServer 
Get-Recovery 
Get-RelationshipClass 
Get-RelationshipObject 
Get-RemotelyManagedComputer 
Get-RemotelyManagedDevice 
Get-ResultantCategoryOverride 
Get-ResultantRuleOverride 
Get-ResultantUnitMonitorOverride 
Get-RootManagementServer 
Get-Rule 
Get-RunAsAccount 
Get-State 
Get-Task 
Get-TaskResult 
Get-Tier 
Get-UserRole 
Install-Agent 
Install-AgentByName 
Install-ManagementPack 
New-CustomMonitoringObject 
New-DeviceDiscoveryConfiguration 
New-LdapQueryDiscoveryCriteria 
New-MaintenanceWindow 
New-ManagementGroupConnection 
New-MonitoringPropertyValuePair 
New-Tier 
New-WindowsDiscoveryConfiguration 
Reject-AgentPendingAction 
Remove-ConnectorFromTier 
Remove-DisabledMonitoringObject 
Remove-ManagementGroupConnection 
Remove-RemotelyManagedComputer 
Remove-RemotelyManagedDevice 
Remove-Tier 
Resolve-Alert 
Set-AlertDestination 
Set-DefaultSetting 
Set-MaintenanceWindow 
Set-ManagementServer 
Set-ProxyAgent 
Start-Discovery 
Start-Task 
Uninstall-Agent 
Uninstall-ManagementPack 

New Virtual labs

Source http://technet.microsoft.com/nl-be/gg636841

First Look at Microsoft System Center Data Protection Manager 2012 This lab is your first chance to work with Data Protection Manager 2012, including the new centralized console and Operations Manager integration, as well as the new workload features in the next generation of data protection from Microsoft.

OM12 : Monitoring key Microsoft workloads : Microsoft Exchange Server, SQL Server and Windows Server with OpsMgr 2012 beta In this lab we will look at the new features in Microsoft Operations Manager 2012 that are specific to monitoring Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, SQL Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008.

Forefront Online Protection for Exchange (FOPE) with Office 365 In this lab, learn about the new hosted messaging security service from Microsoft. The lab explores the administration, reporting interface and capabilities of Forefront Online Protection for Exchange (FOPE), and the integration with Office 365. You also learn how to set up email rules and policies with FOPE

System Center Orchestrator Extensibility Learn about the extensibility of the System Center Orchestrator Beta. Take some powershell and turn it into an IP. Create a simple runbook out of it. Drive that runbook with powershell provide. Finish with creating a sharepoint web part that drives the runbook through the web service.

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack: Microsoft Application Virtualization, Configuring Read-Only Shared Cache for VDI and RDS In this lab, participants will learn how to configure and maintain the App-V Read-Only Shared Cache for VDI and RDS environments. Scenarios include populating the Read-Only Shared Cache with applications, configuring App-V clients to use a Read-Only Shared Cache, updating applications, and updating the Read-Only Shared Cache on shared storage.

Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack: Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization 2.0 Overview In this lab participants will review the new features of MED-V 2.0. MED-V 2.0 allows customers to break "last mile" compatibility barriers between Windows XP and Windows 7 by running legacy applications, including Internet Explorer 6-based applications inside a Windows XP workspace. You'll learn how to create a MED-V workspace and see how MED-V provides seamless access to legacy applications and websites, along with host documents, and printers, and eliminates the need for a dedicated MED-V management infrastructure.

OM12: Application Monitoring in OpsMgr 2012 beta In this lab, we will see how .Net monitoring technologies are now part of OM 12.

Deploying Applications in Windows Azure In this hands-on lab, you will learn how to deploy your first application in Windows Azure. The lab walks through the process using a simple application named myTODO, which is a simple list creation and management application built using ASP.NET MVC. The lab shows the steps required for provisioning the required components in the Windows Azure Developer Portal, uploading the service package, and configuring the service. You will see how you can test your application in a staging environment and then promote it to production once you are satisfied that it is operating according to your expectations.

Deploying the Core Optimalized Desktop with MDT 2010 and SCCM The Optimized Desktop enables flexibility of provisioning and managing by benefitting from integration between Windows 7, the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), Forefront and Office 2010. In this lab we will use the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) and System Center Configuration Manager to automate the installation and configuration of the core Optimized Desktop technologies - including the Application Virtualization client, the Diagnostic and Recovery Toolset recovery image, Forefront client, BitLocker and Office 2010 virtual application cache. As a result, the desktops you install will be ready for Optimized Desktop management. This lab is intended as a brief overview to the Optimized Desktop and operating system deployment tools - for deeper training on the individual components, additional labs specific to each technology and product are available.

Diagnose the Application Errors and Performance Issues with AVIcode In this second part of two labs, we use AVIcode to diagnose common application problems and performance issues, using the latest member of the Microsoft System Center family.

Advanced Deployment Scenarios Using the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Update 1 offers a configuration database that allows methodological automation of deployment configurations based on a number of criteria. With the configuration database, you can configure the automatic assignment of properties based on the target computer Location, Make and Model, and Computer values as well as assign Roles to those methods that contain further configurations. The MDT allows users to create linked deployment points in their organization. Linked deployment points allow Administrators to migrate deployment assets between deployment points through the use of custom selection profiles. The MDT Deployment Wizard can be customized to provide functionality beyond the standard deployment process and further customize specialized workspaces.

OM12 : Network Monitoring in OpsMgr 2012 beta In this lab, we will take a closer look at the new network monitoring features in OM 2012.

DirectAccess and Unified Access Gateway (UAG) SP1: Better Together UAG is Microsoft's next generation SSL-VPN solution to allow access to internal applications and Web sites from trusted and untrusted client computers on the Internet. One of the new features in UAG is the integration with Direct Access (DA) to allow seamless remote access to servers on the internal network. In this lab, explore how to configure UAG with DirectAccess, and how to set up user authentication, end-point validation and application control.

Exploring Windows Azure Storage In this lab, examine each of the foundation storage capabilities of Windows Azure, Blobs, Tables and Queues. Discover how to create storage accounts; upload and retrieve blobs and blob metadata; create, update and query tables; and create a simple service that uses a message queue for communication.

Introduction to Windows Azure In this hands-on lab, you will explore the basic elements of a Windows Azure service by creating a simple GuestBook application that demonstrates many features of the Windows Azure platform, including web and worker roles, blob storage, table storage, and queues.

Getting Started with System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 In this lab you will be introduced to System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012. You will explore the new interface including concepts such as Clouds, Fabrics, and Services. You will explore concepts such as user roles, RunAS Accounts, Services, and perform basic setup and deployment tasks.

Getting Started with System Center Orchestrator Take the System Center Orchestrator Beta for a spin, install, create a Runbook, and use the Orchestration Console.

iSCSI Software Target 3.3 enabling Hyper-V storage on Windows Server 2008 R2 Storage Area Network (SAN) architecture offers great performance in return for perceived complexity and expense. Many IT pros incorrectly equate SAN with Fibre Channel, but the IETF-standard iSCSI protocol offers an alternative that is widely available. Microsoft offers a software alternative (iSCSI Software Target 3.3) that is now available for Windows Server2008 R2 and can be used in production! It turns a computer running Windows Server into a storage device which provides shared block storage: Provide shared storage for Hyper-V to enable high availability and live migration Consolidate storage for multiple application servers (i.e. Microsoft SQL Server)  Provide shared storage for applications hosted on a Windows failover cluster  Provide block storage for embedded devices Hosting iSCSI boot OS image, support iSCSI boot  In this ILL you will get to cover:   Exercise 1: Configure iSCSI Software target and manage the iSCSI LUNs Exercise 2: Using iSCSI Target in Hyper-V environment Exercise 3: Booting diskless Servers using iSCSI Software Target Exercise 4: Deploying a Highly-Available Microsoft iSCSI Software Target

Advanced Windows PowerShell Scripting Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 bring scripting and automation to new levels through a set of production-oriented features included with Windows PowerShell 2.0, such advanced functions, modules and debugging. After completing this lab, you will be able to work with Windows PowerShell and WMI to perform systems management tasks, work with COM objects and manipulateText, XML and CSV files.

SCVMM Self-Service Portal 2.0 Business Unit/Infrastructure Requests/ Approvals and VM Provisioning This is the second in a series of 3 labs focused on SCVMM Self-Service Portal 2.0. This lab shows you how to perform the business unit requests, and the )configured. You should have completed Lab 1 before beginning this lab.