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Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool |
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Monday, 14 July 2008
by Michel Roth
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Microsoft has released a solution accelerator that deals with a real life aspect of VDI: patching. This solution accelerator provides automated tools and guidance that IT professionals can use to
update offline virtual machines efficiently and without exposing them
to security risks.
The Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool helps organizations
maintain virtual machines that are stored offline in a Microsoft®
System Center Virtual Machine Manager library. While stored, virtual
machines do not receive operating system updates. The tool provides a
way to keep offline virtual machines up-to-date so that bringing a
virtual machine online does not introduce vulnerabilities into the
organization’s IT infrastructure.
The Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool combines the Windows
Workflow programming model with the Windows PowerShell™ interface to
bring groups of virtual machines online just long enough for them to
receive updates from either System Center Configuration Manager 2007 or
Windows Server Update Services. As soon as the virtual machines are
up-to-date, the tool returns them to the offline state in the Virtual
Machine Manager library.
This Solution Accelerator includes the following components:
- Executive Overview. Available online only on Microsoft Technet.
Summary for business and technical managers that briefly explains how
this Solution Accelerator can fit into an organization’s IT
infrastructure management strategy.
- OfflineVMServicing_x64 and OfflineVMServicing_x86. Setup files for the tool, for 64 bit and 32 bit versions of Windows Server® 2003.
- OfflineVirtualMachineServicingToolGettingStartedGuide. Getting Started Guide,
in docx and doc formats. Provides information about how the tool works,
explains prerequisites for the tool, and describes how to install and
configure the tool.
- Offline_VM_Servicing_Tool_Release_Notes.rtf. Notes provide information about this release, describe known issues in the tool, and include feedback instructions.
- Offline_Virtual_Machine_Servicing_Tool_Help. Help file for the tool. Provides instructions for using the tool.
Download here.
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