TechNet Flash - Volume 14, Issue 25: November 14, 2012

Top Stories 

Download the Exchange Server 2013 Trial

Try out a full-featured, 64-bit, evaluation copy of Exchange Server 2013 and see how to tailor your solution based on your organization’s needs, whether it’s online, on-premises, or a hybrid of the two. Find out what's new in Exchange 2013 and try the Exchange 2013 Ignite interactive guided labs.

Evaluate Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013

Download the SharePoint Server 2013 trial and find resources to assist your evaluation, such as deployment overview and options, tools and add-ons, technical diagrams, and more.

Download Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 trial

SQL Server 2012 extends organizations beyond the database with a cloud-ready information platform. Get mission critical confidence, breakthrough insight, and cloud deployment on your terms. Download now and receive resources from the experts.

Evaluate Microsoft Lync Server 2013

Microsoft Lync 2013 is an enterprise-ready unified communications platform. Try it now to connect people everywhere as part of their everyday productivity experience.

Download Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 8.0 Beta

MAP 8.0 Beta assesses the readiness of your IT infrastructure for Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, Office 2013 and Office 365 deployments.

The Edge Show interprets //build for IT professionals

Get a recap of the October //build event with this special episode of the Edge Show recorded on November 5, 2012. You'll get an interpretation of the event's key messages and insights on the Windows 8 launch and Windows Server 2012.

Learn how to optimize your IT infrastructure with Windows Server 2012

Learn how enhanced manageability can improve your workflows with free online training from Microsoft Virtual Academy. Then get hands-on by testing full-featured virtualization and cloud solutions on your hardware with Windows Server 2012 Evaluation.

Supporting Linux, UNIX and Mac clients with System Center Configuration Manager 2012 SP1

Keith Mayer and Wally Mead continue their System Center 2012 Configuration Manager SP1 series with a look at the latest support features for Linux/Unix and Macintosh clients. Tune in as they discuss and demo for us how to install and manage ConfigManager on these systems, as well as how to prepare your environment, and manage and deploy applications and distribute software.

Learn how to create and deploy a website

Read this informative how-to guide to see how easy it is to create a website using the Windows Azure Management Portal. After you create a website, you have a number of options for deploying it. To use this feature and other new Windows Azure capabilities, sign up for the free preview.

White paper: Maximize your storage with Windows Server 2012

High storage costs are often one of the biggest cost drivers in a datacenter. This new white paper discusses how Windows Server 2012 can deliver enterprise-class storage availability, flexibility and performance at a fraction of the cost.

Hands-on Lab online: Introduction to Cloud Services

You will learn how to create applications in Windows Azure using web roles and worker roles, how to use storage services including blobs, queues and tables, and how to publish an application to Windows Azure Cloud Services.

To community leaders and speakers: Announcing the Microsoft Technical Communities (MSTC) program

The aim of MSTC - which replaces User Group Support Services (UGSS) - is to help community leaders and speakers connect to Microsoft and their peers while supporting community efforts with funding, technical content and access to a wide range of value-added assets. Sign up today and begin realizing the benefits of MSTC.