Guy's Top 10 Free Tools

1) FreePing
2) Network Monitor
3) Xobni
4) PuTTY (UNIX)
5) IP SLA Monitor
6) BgInfo
7) Net-SNMP
8) CatTools 
9) Exchange Monitor
10) WinDiff

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Guy Recommends

A solution to monitor, manage and archive thousands of events that are generated by devices across the entire network. 
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Microsoft Windows 7 Milestone 3 Approaches

Microsoft Windows 7 Milestone 3 Approaches

Here are details of each Windows 7 milestone to date, and also explanations of Microsoft's version and build numbers.

Microsoft Windows 7 Milestones

• Microsoft Windows 7 Milestones
• Explanations of Version and Build Numbers
• Versions of Microsoft Window
• Review of Windows Version 7

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Microsoft Windows 7 Milestones

Microsoft started with a master plan for Windows 7.  In true project management style they broke the task down into steps, consequently, as the development team delivers a major objective, so a milestone is reached.

M1 (Milestone One) Prototype available to selected testers in October 2008.

M2 Beta 1 was available in January 2009 via Microsoft Connect.
Note: The Beta version will stop working on August 1, 2009.  Furthermore, you won't be able to upgrade from the Beta to the final retail version of Windows 7.

M3 Release Candidate, The RC meets the criteria for Windows 7 feature completeness and performance.  RC will be available to the public in May 2009.

M4 RTM The final product was Released To Manufacturers in August 2009.  On sale to the public from October 2009.

Explanations of Version and Build Numbers

Beta Version - Means, 'We have done our best to get a working model'.  Inevitably, this prototype is full of bugs, which conscientious testers note problems and report them to Microsoft.

RC - Release Candidate.  No more major features will be added, the look and feel of the final product.

Build Numbers for Windows 7: 7000, 7048, 7057, 7068, 7100, 7600. Incidentally, you could display this number on the desktop with PaintDesktopVersion, or else search the registry for CurrentBuildNumber.

Major Version Number - Confusingly, Windows 7 reports to be 6.  XP was 5, and there was NT 4.

Minor Version Number - 1 as in 6.1 for Windows 7.  Vista was 6.0.

Note: Version numbers do not always correspond to build numbers.

RTM - Release to Manufacturer (Build 7600).

SP - Service Pack.

Guy Recommends: SolarWinds LANSurveyor

LANSurveyor will produce a neat diagram of your network topology.  But that's just the start; LANSurveyor can create an inventory of the hardware and software of your machines and network devices.  Other neat features include dynamic update for when you add new devices to your network.  I also love the ability to export the diagrams to Microsoft Visio.

Finally, Guy bets that if you take a free trial of LANSurveyor then you will find a device on your network that you had forgotten about, or someone else installed without you realizing!

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Versions of Microsoft Windows that I have been involved with:

• Windows 7 Ultimate (Build 7600) October 2009
• Windows 7 RTM (Build 7600) August 2009
• Windows 7 RC (Build 7100) May 2009
• Windows 7 Beta (Build 7048) March 2009
• Windows 7 Beta (Build 7000) February 2009

• Vista SP2 2008
• Vista SP1 Beta September 2007
• Vista general release of all editions January 30th 2007
• Vista Business edition released to manufacturers December 2006
• Vista 5728 October 2006
• Vista RC2 Build 5600 September 2006
• Beta 2 5536 August 2006
• Beta 2 5384 June 2006
• Beta 2 5384 June 2006
• Beta 2 5308 March 2006
• Beta 2 5270 January 2006
• Beta 2 5231 Winter 2005
• Beta 2 5219 Autumn 2005
• Beta 1 5112 Summer 2005
  (Longhorn 5112)

Microsoft Windows Version 7 Topics

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