New Meetup Group created to simplify reporting and management of event notifications.  Please take a couple minutes to join the group at http://www.meetup.com/NEITPro/

More being announced in a couple weeks. Watchhttp://www.meetup.com/NEITPro/#calendarfor the most up-to-date information

All Hands On Events will require a LiveID

Please create a Microsoft Account (LiveID) - in advance and bring your credentials, as you will need them. Don't have a Microsoft account (LiveID)? Click here to sign up for new account now.  You will need to do this in advance.  There is a hard limit to the number of LiveID’s that can be created from a single IP address on a single day so you may not be able to create one at the event. 

You will also need a computer to connect to online services.  Many labs have other requirements as well see below for details.  If you do not have a computer, you are still welcome to join us and learn from watching the instructor and other attendees.

Event Details:

IT Camp– Server 2012 (Hands On)

Join us at a FREE Microsoft IT Camp for hands-on labs, demos, and interactive discussions with Microsoft technical experts.  Here's your chance to learn more about getting your datacenter ready for the cloud, whether you want to upgrade your on-premise datacenter or get connected to the cloud.  This IT Camp will showcase the next generation of datacenter technologies featuring Windows Server 2012, System Center 2012 SP1, and Windows Azure IaaS..

According to a recent IDC report commissioned by Microsoft, an estimated 1.7 million cloud-related IT jobs are open worldwide right now and there will be as many as 7 million cloud computing jobs available by 2015.   Attending an IT Camp in your local area is the perfect way to elevate your IT skills, build your cloud knowledge and propel your career to new heights

To participate in the afternoon hands-on lab session, you will need to bring your own computer (laptop preferred) with the following minimum configuration:

• 4 GB RAM (8 GB preferred)

• At least 70 GB of free disk space (90 GB preferred)

• x64 compatible processor with hardware assisted virtualization (Intel VT or AMD-V technology)

• Installed OS of Windows Server 2012 (Preferred), or Windows 8. 

• NO Drive encryption technology (Bitlocker or 3rd party)

• Required: Come with a Microsoft Account (LiveID) bring your credentials available here.

• Required: Come with a Windows Azure subscription. A free 90-day trial is available here.

• Download Windows Server 2012 Trial (both ISO and VHD). 

• Download Windows 8 Enterprise Trial.

• Download the free 180 day Private Cloud or System Center 2012 SP1 trial here.

• Recommended:  Although wireless internet access will be available, you may find that bringing your own mobile connectivity (MiFi™, phone data tethering, etc.) will be desirable.

For more information or to register, visit > www.technetevents.com OR CALL 1-877-MSEVENT

IT Lab – Server 2012 (Hands On ½ Day) 

Here’s your chance to learn about Windows Server 2012 – heralded by industry analysts as the most impressive Windows Server update since Windows Server 2000.  Join us at a free Microsoft IT Lab for hands-on demos and interactive discussions with Microsoft technical experts.  You’ll work closely with new features and functionalities of this release including Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V, Shared-Nothing Live Migration, Storage Pools and Windows Azure Virtual Machines.

Thanks to sweeping enhancements in Virtualization, Storage, Networking and Management, Windows Server 2012 is cloud-optimized as a highly dynamic, available and cost-effective server platform.  Attending an IT Lab in your local area is the perfect way to elevate your skills and propel your career to new heights.  Come watch the instructor has he works through one of the labs or bring your own machine and work through it yourself and get even more out of this Microsoft IT Lab.  This is a Hands On environment where you can chose from a list of labs which include:

·        Installing Windows Server 2012

·        Enabling Hyper-V and Desktop Experience on your laptop

·        Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V setup and configuration

·        Windows Server 2012 Storage

·        Overview of Windows Azure IaaS (Includes Hands On Lab)

·        Other options for Hands-On Labs may also be available  http://itproguru.com/hol for new labs that are added every couple weeks.

All are Step-By-Step, Hands on Labs; not all labs available in all locations.  Different labs have different prerequisites.  To participate in the hands-on lab sessions, you will need to bring your own computer (laptop preferred) with the following minimum configuration:

·        4 GB RAM (8 GB or more preferred)

·        At least 60 GB of free disk space (75 preferred)

·        NO Drive encryption technology (Bitlocker or 3rd party)

·        x64 compatible processor with hardware assisted virtualization (Intel VT or AMD-V technology)

·        Installed OS of Windows Server 2012 (preferred), Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 8

·        One Network Patch cable

Required: Don’t forget your power cord.  You will also need to bring your Live ID (Microsoft Account) credentials.  If you do not have one, please create it in advance.  Don't have a Microsoft account? Sign up now!

• Required: Come with a Microsoft Account (LiveID) bring your credentials available here.
• Recommended: Although wireless internet access will be available, you may find that bringing your own mobile connectivity (MiFi™, phone data tethering, etc.) will be desirable.

NOTE: Morning and Afternoon sessions are the same content

Azure Lab for IT Pros (Hands On)

Free Windows Azure training session where you bring your laptop and we'll help you get started on Windows Azure. We will walk you through:

1.    Creating a FREE Windows Azure trial account. (Please be sure to have a Microsoft Id (or Windows LiveId). See below for instructions to how to acquire one.)

2.    Creating web sites using Windows Azure Web Sites.

3.    Creating virtual machines.

Registration & coffee at 9:00, and the action begins promptly at 9:30.

Experts will be on hand to help you and answer questions. The goal is for you to leave this session ready to use these powerful Windows Azure features.

HOW TO CREATE A MICROSOFT ID (WINDOWS LIVE ID)

Please create a LiveID - now called Microsoft Account - in advance and bring your credentials, as you will need them. Don't have a Microsoft account (LiveID)? Click here to sign up for new account now.

If you want to start playing with Azure, go ahead and create your account for that too and come with all your tough questions.  You can get a free Azure account from http://aka.ms/iaas

NOTE: A credit card is required to create an Azure account but you will not be billed until you MANUALLY change your account from a Trial to a Pay account.

Virtualization Deep Dive Day  - Registration– Event Details

The Fifth Annual Virtualization Deep Dive Day is on. Deep Dive Day is a multi-track event with experts from around the country providing great technical talks covering just about every form of virtualization there is.

Whether you are new to virtualization, or want the deep technical details on the latest for server, desktop, application, networking, and storage virtualization, plus "The Cloud" and more, you don't want to miss this one day event.

Keynote: "Virtualization and the Case for Universal Grid Architectures"

The Keynote for the event will be delivered by Steve Duplessie of ESG, an IT market research and advisory firm.