Last week, was Microsoft UK’s TechDays Online conference, held over three days with thousands of virtual attendees watching/listening to sessions on a variety of topics, starting off in the IT Pro arena with a keynote on Windows 10 from Journalist and Author Mary Jo Foley (@MaryJoFoley), Windows Server, on to Intune, Office 365, progressing to a variety of Azure topics, containerisation and DevOps with a keynote from Microsoft Distinguished Engineer Jeffrey Snover (@JSnover) and eventually into full developer mode with a keynote from Scott Hanselman (@SHanselman).
This is the fourth year that Microsoft has run these events and I was fortunate to be invited to watch the sessions being recorded. I attended the first afternoon/evening and the second day – driving my Twitter followers mad with a Microsoft overload. For those who missed it, here’s a recap (unfortunately I couldn’t commit the time to cover the developer day):
Finally made it to #techdays2015. Watching a silent screen and waiting for a gap in filming so I don’t disturb the room with my entrance!
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Windows Azure RemoteApp can be used for workloads that run on Windows Server 2012 (not “modern apps”) – still lots of options #TechDays2015
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
One #Azure RemoteApp advantage is that (if you use the right images), patching is not something you need to be concerned with #TechDays2015
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
.@doctordns Sorry – should have been clearer: OS updates are handled for you
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Filming in progress – @edbaker1965 and @richorama in action! #TechDays2015 pic.twitter.com/zeDjfO8HwF
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Seems I’ve been using the wrong hashtag: #TechDays2015 should be plain old #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Up next: @edbaker1965 and @rikhepworth on #Azure Rights Management and Azure Active Directory #TechDays pic.twitter.com/picHE0ouEJ
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Azure Rights Management Services is designed for a range of services via RMS connectors and SDKs: not just for Windows #AzureRMS #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Documents themselves are not uploaded to the cloud for #AzureRMS – just the cryptographic hash #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
RT @doctordns: @markwilsonit And the keys… ^MW Yes. Good point!
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
#AzureRMS client provides a shell extension to identify and classify data (some apps have native support) #AzureRMS #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Old and new #Azure portals with different services… nothing like making it easy for us to keep up eh Microsoft?! #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
(I later retweeted this:)
MT @ronnydejong: Microsoft admin portals to be merged: #Office365 #EMS #Intune #AzureAD #AzureRMS pic.twitter.com/DQblsQ0bEy
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
And we continue…
Apply policies via #AzureRMS in Azure Mgmt portal (or PowerShell); can also define IRM policies in #Exchange/#SharePoint Online #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Microsoft #Azure Active Directory is an ID and access management solution for the cloud. It's not the same as AD in Windows tho'! #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Having said that, it’s important to note that #Azure AD and Windows AD can be synchronised (with password hash) for “same sign-on” #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Active Directory Federation takes things further, allowing on-premises authentication with cloud services for single sign-on #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
If you haven’t tried it, #Azure multi factor authentication is worth a look (it’s in Azure AD Premium or #Office365 Enterprise) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Note that (multi factor) /authentication/ is verifying who you are, not your /authorisation/ (what you can access) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
One drawback of #Azure multi factor authentication is application support. App passwords are a workaround (for now) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Admins get multi-factor authentication with #Azure but *normal users* need Azure AD Premium to use the service (via @edbaker1965) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Only reason I stopped using #Azure multi-factor auth was that it seems to get in the way of administering #Office365 in PowerShell #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
5 reasons to connect on premises Active Directory to #Azure AD (and how to do it) http://t.co/rDpseAlQMv (by @simonster) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Starting to think everyone here at Microsoft this afternoon (except me) has a Surface Pro or other convertible (e.g. Yoga) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Lots more #Azure training resources on the TechNet Virtual labs: http://t.co/JRkfJu6k7H #TechDays pic.twitter.com/ESIi51i3Fx
— Microsoft TechNet UK (@TechNetUK) February 3, 2015
Looking forward to learning more about #InTune in @stevybsc‘s #TechDays session – it’s a fast growing product/service
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite (EMS) combines #Intune, #Azure AD Premium and Azure Rights Management to save £$€ http://t.co/FT7VJXH5rg
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
#Intune can integrate with System Center Configuration Manager but its web console won’t work for you if SCCM is in use #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Adding Windows Phone 8.1 configuration baseline to SCCM 2012 with Intune: http://t.co/G2JaTBJWRC (by @pvanderwoude via @StevybSC) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
And we’re back for the #TechDays evening session: an evening with #Office365 pic.twitter.com/aYKDKtRWGd
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Using the Microsoft guest Wi-Fi to ask a question during the live recording of #TechDays… potential infinite loop? pic.twitter.com/XxOkJEapwU
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Watching @victormeirans performing a live IMAP migration from Google Apps to #Office365 at #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Just a few Exchange Online migration tools and resources from #TechDays (more links at http://t.co/7WxnllTsEq too): pic.twitter.com/AzUfbIVJ2E
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Two of Microsoft’s escalation engineers talking about supporting Lync and Lync Online now at #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Evergreen solutions in the cloud are great, but there is a flip side: user training; browser updates/application compatibility #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Split SIP domain option for Lync/Lync Online is effectively Lync Hybrid (to follow same terminology as Exchange Hybrid) #TechDays #Office365
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
This slide shows what Microsoft call the “split domain deployment option” (i.e. Lync Hybrid!) #TechDays: pic.twitter.com/lk4M0Ujcy3
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
I believe the reason the #Lync guys avoid using the word “hybrid” is a legacy service that offboarded voice. No longer offered! #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Using a Windows Phone to present a PowerPoint deck over Lync; viewing on non-Windows mobile devices; all though Lync Online tenant #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Lync Server 2013 debugging tools: http://t.co/YM6HwBi6xC #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
SharePoint Online session from @KamilJurik presented over Lync Online at #TechDays Online. Great to see the tech working well!
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
SharePoint Online session from @KamilJurik presented over Lync Online at #TechDays Online. Great to see the tech working well!
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Really enjoyed my afternoon/evening at #TechDays. Back again tomorrow (lots of tweets no doubt) on “The Journey to the Cloud-first World”!
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 3, 2015
Day twooooo in the biig Miicrosoft howse and @DeepFat is getting ready to present. #TechDays pic.twitter.com/pk0ildkkv8
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Windows Server Tech Preview: More control over upgrading VMs when you upgrade a #HyperV host (as I would expect!) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Windows Server Tech Preview: VM config version numbers now exposed in Hyper-V Manager (makes sense but not previously shown in UI) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Windows Server Tech Preview: Linux Secure Boot support in Hyper-V is enabled via PowerShell (Set-VMFirmware cmdlet) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Windows Server Tech Preview: New .VMCX and .VMRS file extensions for Hyper-V configs – binary files instead of XML :-( #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Checkpointw will be supported in #HyperV for production use in next version of Windows Server – using VSS not Saved State #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Last few tweets are just a few of the new #HyperV features in the Windows Server Tech Preview; summary at https://t.co/gOPaBdSij9 #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Last few tweets are just a few of the new #HyperV features in the Windows Server Tech Preview; summary at https://t.co/gOPaBdSij9 #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Viewing Azure Operational Insights from a mobile app #TechDays pic.twitter.com/fyyPHFLJrf
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
#Azure Operational Insights is charged by the volume of data produced, not the infrastructure used – multiple tiers #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Azure Pack – getting beyond simple virtualisation to host your own private cloud (I hate that term, but I do mean cloud here) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Microsoft description of Azure Pack is “Azure-consistent experiences and services in your datacenter” http://t.co/zWggCCd0d9 #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Pizza analogy for evolution of IT services from @damian_flynn :-) #TechDays – brings a whole new meaning to PaaS ;-) pic.twitter.com/wB2wzfgD0Z
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Key to Azure Pack is consistency between Windows Server and Azure – only difference is the foundation #TechDays pic.twitter.com/dqCfhgtogt
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Azure Pack resource providers are built from common technologies, plus service management API and a portal #TechDays pic.twitter.com/63u2AUTHSa
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Quickest way to get started with Azure Pack: install “Azure Pack Portal and API Express” using http://t.co/TaNMxj0UHP #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Took time out from tweeting to help out in #TechDays moderation room; now have some idea what it must be like to monitor corp. social media!
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Nice #PowerShell coffee mug that came in via the Q&A at #TechDays http://t.co/phtKeVFgU6
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
“Docker is a shipping container system for code” says @susan_a_smith #TechDays – build, ship, run, any app, anywhere (may need repackaging).
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Really enjoyed @Susan_A_Smith‘s #Docker session at #TechDays. Aiming to review the slides to take it all in…
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
My understanding of #Docker: containerisation allows separation of development and operations (inside/outside container) #DevOps #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Deployment options for your #Docker containerised apps, from @susan_a_smith at #TechDays Online. pic.twitter.com/q9rDb9ojsJ
— Microsoft TechNet UK (@TechNetUK) February 4, 2015
Boris Devouge comparing Windows and Linux to strong red wine with seafood at #TechDays – that is changing though! (not sure which is which!)
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
.NET on Linux, OSS frameworks on Windows; full stack on #Azure (Boris Devouge at #TechDays) pic.twitter.com/6ydgAs8Prw
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
~21% of #Azure VMs run #Linux (via Boris Devouge at #TechDays): pic.twitter.com/j8owpaWS0C
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Some more #Azure stats from #TechDays: pic.twitter.com/AG1k7KXNLN
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
#DevOps is an approach to avoid the “chuck it over the wall” mentality of “it worked fine in test” vs. acceptance into service #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
#DevOps defined by @arora_tarun is about communication collaboration, interaction, automation and measurement – Devs + IT Pros #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Or, to put it another way: #DevOps is all about “building better quality software, faster and more reliably” (@arora_tarun at #TechDays)
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
#DevOps becomes more important in a cloud-based environment – it’s not just for startups! #TechDays pic.twitter.com/0G6hQD8vRd
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Software is complicated, infrastructure grows, gold images are clunky => programmable infrastructure with common #DevOps language #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
#Chef and #Puppet are configuration management tools. Both work in client-server mode and available (on Linux) in #Azure gallery. #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
#Chef has recipes, grouped as cookbooks (and available in a supermarket), and uses knife to automate workflows #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
#Chef/#Puppet can provide desired state configuration management in a heterogeneous environment says @DeepFat at #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
#TechDays helped me get my head around a couple of topical concepts I knew little of: DevOps and Docker. Thanks @susan_a_smith @arora_tarun
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Creating Azure networks using PowerShell and XML: http://t.co/9HSZCUmkjp (by @rikhepworth) – as just plugged by @DeepFat at #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Simon Skinner talking about putting DMZ into #Azure at #TechDays: weakest link is Internet connection; most workloads in Azure anyway
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
“Mark Russinovich – not many people know of him – he’s an engineer at Microsoft” ;-) #TechDays Nice one @jsnover (cc @markrussinovich)
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
.@jsnover talking about how Digital (computer company not 2015 buzzword) influenced Windows Server development at Microsoft #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Cloud increased Microsoft investment in Windows Server (common stack, joint development between teams, internal open sourcing etc) #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
I think @jsnover just said Microsoft makes 10 times more money on a Linux VM in #Azure than a Windows one; incentive to do it well #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Actually, he didn’t – I later published this correction:
Correction to my earlier tweet: @jsnover said that #Azure makes more money on 10 Linux VMs than 2 Windows VMs. All about volume #TechDays
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
And back to my stream of Twitter consciousness:
#techdays making the point Developers and IT need to be working closer, this aligns the Agile mantra self organising, multifunction teams
— Darren Baldwin (@darren_baldwin) February 4, 2015
Great couple of days at #TechDays. Now time to head over to London to hopefully catch tonight’s Windows Weekly recording with @maryjofoley
— Mark Wilson (@markwilsonit) February 4, 2015
Sadly, I missed Mary Jo Foley’s keynote (although I did manage to get over to Microsoft’s London offices on the second evening for a Live recording of the Windows Weekly podcast and caught up with Mary Jo after the event).
Sessions were recorded and I’ll update this post with video links when I have them.