Alexander’s Blog

The other day, while working at a client on a consulting assignment, I was using my Firefox browser and going through my client’s proxy server. I was able to connect to most sites but not all. For example, I wasn’t able to get to a KB article that I needed on Microsoft’s Web site.

When I entered the proxy server address in Internet Explorer (IE) and tried to connect to the sites that I couldn’t connect in Firefox, I was able to connect just fine. Then I switched to Firefox and was able to connect to all the sites that I couldn’t connect earlier. So what I discovered is this. When you use Firefox’s IE Tab Add-on (that lets you run the IE engine in a Firefox tab) it doesn’t just mimic IE behavior, it actually uses IE settings as well, such as the proxy server settings that are configured in IE. Hope this helps you if you run into this situation some day.

Check out these MSDN Virtual Labs and TechNet Virtual Labs if you haven’t already. These are a series of guided, hands-on labs which can be completed in 90 minutes or less. The best part is these labs don’t require any installation and are available to you immediately for FREE. Here are the topics that are currently available to you.

MSDN Virtual Labs

ASP.NET 2.0
ASP.NET
BizTalk Server
Commerce Server
Fritz Onion’s Intro to ASP.NET
Internet Information Services (IIS)
JPlusN (J+N)
Microsoft Expression
.NET Framework 3.0
Soup to Nuts
Visual Studio
Visual Studio 2008
Visual Studio Team System
Visual C#
Visual J#
Visual Basic
Visual C++
Connected Systems
Data Access and Storage
Office
Security
Smart Client
SQL Server 2005
SQL Server 2005 Upgrade
Visual SourceSafe
Web Services
Windows Embedded CE 6.0
Windows Live
Windows Mobile
Windows Vista
Windows XP Embedded
TechNet Virtual Labs

TechNet Virtual Labs

Antigen
BizTalk Server
Configuration Manager
Enterprise Search
Exchange Server
Forefront Security
Groove Server
Identity Integration Server (MIIS)
Internet Information Services (IIS)
Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server
Office Communications Server
Office System
Operations Manager
SQL Server 2005
SQL Server 2000
SharePoint Server
Systems Management Server (SMS)
Windows Mobile
Windows Rights Management Services (RMS)
Windows Server 2003 R2
Windows Server 2008
Windows SharePoint Services
Windows Small Business Server
Windows Vista

With every new version of Windows the number of Group Policy settings are increased. In Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 Microsoft increased to the number of Group Policy settings to approximately 1,800. In Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 the number has been increased to approximately 2,500. That’s a whopping increase of about 700 new policies that you can use to manage your company desktops, security, and some other aspects of your network.

Here are a couple of useful links related to Group Policy:

• Deploying Group Policy Using Windows Vista

• Group Policy Settings Reference Windows Server 2008 Beta 3

• Group Policy FAQs

• Windows Server Group Policy Home

Microsoft has extended the Second Shot offer through June 30, 2008. This means that you can get a free second chance to pass a Microsoft IT Professional, Developer, or Microsoft Dynamics certification exam if you do not pass on your first attempt. Learn more about Second Shot.

Don’t forget to check the Frequently Asked Questions about the Second Shot offer.

General information about Microsoft certifications is available here.

Microsoft Automotive is extending the Windows platform beyond the desktop computing. Check out this Ford Sync Demo at CES 2008. Ford Sync is an example of how Microsoft Automotive has extended the Windows CE 5.0 platform.