Setting password policy at the domain level is like drinking moonshine from the barrel.

It gets the job done, but every once in a while, it would be nice to get a little more refinement.

With the new Server 2008 version, password policy has apparently aged enough for the boys in Redmond to smooth out a little rough spot in security administration.

Thanks to Windows Server 2008’s new fine-grain password feature, you are able to improve the enterprise security model.

No longer are you confined to only setting passwords at the domain level.

Now, you can implement password settings at a more specific and targeted level.

In fact, you’ve been implementing fine-grained passwords all over the place.

You’ve used so much fine grain that the high-end bakeries are starting to complain. What could possibly go wrong?

There are actually a lot of things that can go wrong.

Like the old-timers always say, "If it was easy, anybody could do it."

Wabbit Season – Duck Season – Wabbit Season

In an old Bugs Bunny cartoon, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck go back and forth trying to convince Elmer Fudd that it’s the season for hunting the other one. They stand in front of a sign tearing down page after page arguing, "Wabbit Season — Duck Season."

When it comes to fine-grained passwords, Elmer Fudd is the like the object in the Windows Server 2008 Active Directory. Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck are the competing parameters trying to convince the object that it should listen to them.

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During a Tech-Ed session yesterday, Microsoft announced a new advanced certification: the Microsoft Certified Master Certification.

The MCM will be offered for Exchange Server 2007, SQL Server 2008, and Windows Server 2008 and the training is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2008.

The new MCM is one step up from the Professional series of certifications but still below the Architect certification series, filling the apparent gap between the MCP and MCA certification tracks.

According to Microsoft, candidates for the MCM must be current Microsoft Certified Professionals (with a Microsoft Certification ID) or eligible Microsoft employees.

They must also be "highly skilled technical experts in their discipline with several years of experience designing, deploying, and managing solutions by using Microsoft technology."

Are you ready to take your Microsoft certs to the next level?

Here’s what Microsoft has to say about the MCM certifications:

"Master certification enables senior IT professionals to demonstrate and validate their technical expertise on Microsoft server products and authoritatively differentiate themselves to prospective employers and customers."

The advanced training for the certification will include 300-level and 400-level classroom training that will be a mixture of presentations, white board discussions, and goal-based labs — all taught by expert instructors, of course. The training sessions are scheduled to last three weeks and registration will begin sometime next month.

For more information on the MCM certifications and the specific prerequisites for each area read Microsoft Certified Master Product Overviews and Requirements.

In my article on RSAT I walked you through installing the remote administration tools and connecting to the Terminal Service Manager.

All could have been hunky dory at that point and you are merrily administrating your servers remotely from your Vista desktop, when you realize you need to make a change to one of your websites running on IIS 7.

No problem at all you think, let me just fire up the old IIS Manager and we will knock this out and head out to lunch.

Unfortunately for your rumbling stomach, when you start IIS Manager within Vista you find that you cannot connect to the server to administrate IIS. Well fear not rumbling stomach, we will quickly work through this issue and get you off to your Chinese buffet!

Here are some of the benefits you will get from this new version of remote management:

• It runs over SSL, so it will be very firewall friendly when we have to open ports
• It allows users with administration privileges to connect and manage delegated websites remotely

Install the Client Side

Let’s start with the basics of this fun, life changing event of remote administration. Here is what you will need client side:

• Windows Vista with Service Pack 1
• Internet Information 7 Management Console Installed
• Install IIS 7 Manager – Download from IIS.net:

X86: http://www.iis.net/downloads/default.aspx?tabid=34&i=1626&g=6

X64: http://www.iis.net/downloads/default.aspx?tabid=34&i=1633&g=6

Once you get the download let’s go about setting this up. Let’s first check that all the above requirements are met.

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The soon to be released Firefox 3 has been getting a lot of press lately.

The codename for the new version is "Gran Paradiso" and it’s been called the browser that has it all.

There’s even a worldwide effort to put Firefox 3 in the Guinness World Records by setting a record for the most software downloads in 24 hours.

But what makes this open source browser better than all the rest?
Can a new Firefox make a noticeable difference in your daily browsing?
Can it help you be more productive?

Welcome to Your Paradise on the Web …

Firefox 3 has improved performance, beefed up security, dozens new features and more ways to customize your browser to fit your unique needs.

There’s malware protection, a site identity button, a new download status bar and search option, a built-in spell checker, one click bookmarking and over 5,000 different add-ons.

But by far the best thing Fx3 has to offer is the smart location bar. This new feature is a great time saver and will definitely help you be more productive and efficient when working on the web.

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It’s Friday!

Time to finish up the week and start to unwind for the weekend.

And to help you relax, I’ve got a couple of fun and geeky distractions that will help you pass the time and get this weekend started.

But before you go on I must warn you, this stuff is for real geeks only …

Server Quest: The Adventures of an IT Guy

For all of you IT pros and server fanatics here’s a perfect way to loosen up … with a little game of Server Quest.

If you’ve always dreamed of playing the geekiest game ever created, then this is your lucky day.

Server Quest is an adventure game created by Microsoft where you get to test your IT knowledge in a number of different games.

In the game you’re Matt, an IT guy who falls for the new security officer Alicia, who’s also a geek.

To win the girl you have to earn geekpoints by playing the little games that quiz you on your knowledge of computers and IT related stuff.

With blocky visuals that bring you back to the early 90s, along with plenty of wacky humor and off the wall music — any geek will feel right at home here.

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