Windows Server 2012 Answers

I recently took a full day Windows Server 2012 course and I prep’d for it by installing the Beta and making the following list of questions, which Microsoft staff answered at various points during the day:

1. Q: Can HyperV live migrate without System Center 2012
   A: Yes, just right click on the VM and move it!
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2. Q: Are there any notable changes to Distributed File System (DFS)
   A: No
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3. Q: Is Direct Access (Microsofts automatic VPN technology) simplified under Windows Server 2012
   A: Yes, Dramatically.  An internal Certificate Authority (CA) is no longer required which makes the setup sooooo much easier.
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4. Q: Are there any notable changes to iSCSI
   A: No
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5. Q: Is Security Essentials AntiVirus (now integrated into Windows Defender in Windows 8 ) , also part of Windows Server 2012
   A: No, there is no antivirus or antimalware code in Server 2012
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6. Q: Are there any notable changes to the Windows Firewall
   A: No
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7. Q: Do Hyper-V snapshots really no longer need to have the Virtual Machine (VM) in question, shut down to merge or delete the old SnapShots?
   A: Yes, you can delete and merge snapshots on the fly now
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8. Q: Are the any notable changes to Windows Deployment Services (WDS)
   A: No
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9. Q: Can Server 2012 HyperV see USB devices, like external disks?
   A: Yes (and a big freakin’ ya for the that!).  Since SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2, this has been possible
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10. Q: Can Hyper-V use Teamed Network Cards
    A: Yes, and now that is support right in the Operating system.  The NIC’s do not even have to be the same brand or even the same speed!!!
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11. Q: Are the any notable changes to NTFS
    A: No
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12. Q: What is “Cluster Aware Updating”
    A: It is UNRELATED to Hyper-V.  If you have two (or more) PHYSICAL Server 2012’s in a cluster, you can right click on them one at a time and select PATCH.  This will keep the servers up and running to the clients when in fact one of the cluster is offline and being patched
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13. Q: Is there a free book on Windows Server 2012
    A: Yes, there is a free ebook from MS Press available here
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14. Q: Is System Center Essentials Dead?
    A: Yes, Essentials is gone
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