Intel vPro Expert Center Blog

vPro 2008 - What is it all about?

josh.hilliker — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:53:37 GMT

The time has come, September 22nd.. Check out the link above in the image to get to the virtual experience where you can learn more about what is in vPro 2008 launch. I will be following up soon with more lab video's on this new desktop.

Here are the highlights from me:

Fast Call for help
Access Monitor Control
Remote alerting

Here's Andy Tryba (Marketing Director, Digital Office Platform Division), after I caught him after the online keynote he talked through the 3 highlights.

Also here is a Landesk video showing the fast call for help (NOTE: fast forward to 3:16 where The Remotely Managing PC Outside Corporate Firewall starts)

Where to buy is being updated shortly to reflect where you can buy.
http://www.intel.com/buy/vPro.htm?iid=prod_vpro+tabs_wtb

Is having an IT Client Architecture important?

josh.hilliker — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:33:09 GMT

Is having an IT Client Architecture important?

At first glance the discussion around architecture can be more of academic exercise vs. practical. It also may conjure up hours of wasted calories that have little relevance to the fires of the day. However I encourage you that the activity of IT architecture is something of great relevance and will help define your business, data, applications & technology strategy with their interdependencies. My boss and direct manager Prasad Rampalli (Vice President, Digital Enterprise Group) was one of the founding fathers of setting up Architecture practices in Intel IT and his experiences prior, during and after help shed light on why IT Architecture is critical for the success of the IT shop. Also, over the last couple of months you have seen Bob Stoddard (IT Architect) from Intel talk about what is happening in his world from and why it is important for his role in Intel IT. I also have participated, contributed and helped drive architecture in my prior roles inside Intel IT, therefore I thought it would be good to get us all together and spend a few moments talking about why IT Architecture is important.

I would also check out our Architecture WIKI, where we are taking our Enterprise Integration Lab and Architecture activities a step further.

Bob’s blogs
Relevance of Architecture: Part 1 - Observations
Relevance of Architecture: Part 2 - Current Situation
Relevance of Architecture: Part 3 - How Architecture Can Help

Please let us know if you have questions.

Josh H

AMT Overview - Foundational Video

josh.hilliker — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 05:28:44 GMT

Ylian created this based on his class at IDF (Intel Developers Forum). this video is 23 minutes and well worth the time. If you are getting started, looking for a refresher or just want to hear one of the brightest folks talk about AMT, this is your video..

Enjoy..

Centrino2 with vPro - Finally more Screens to share out

josh.hilliker — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:19:48 GMT

After a longer wait than I planned here are the key screens that your end users may see if they click on the Icon in the Centrino 2 Platform with Intel vPro Technology. They show the different tabs and the difference between Unprovisioned & Provisioned.

What's next.. Testing them in the lab and sharing those video's out.. stay tuned for more.

Todd - Toadster Part 2 - One year later and still blogging

josh.hilliker — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:46:39 GMT

Last week I had an opportunity to drive with Todd Christ, one of the first folks to join the vPro Expert Center. He has since moved on to servers & working on Data Center space - check his blog. Dialing in your Datacenter - using Intel Dynamic Power Datacenter Manager

Good news is he's still blogging..

Can you see video's in the blogs?

josh.hilliker — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:40:04 GMT

Part of my focus is to ensure that the community can see all the data and have a good experience on the site, therefore when I received an email this week saying that folks couldn't see the video's embedded in blogs I thought it best to respond here on the site.

If you are having any problems with video, try downloading this Adobe Flash player

If this fix does not work please let me know.. thank you

Josh H

Bring out the cake and candle - 1 year anniversary is here!

josh.hilliker — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:15:49 GMT

1 year anniversary - YES!

I wanted to start this blog by saying what an interesting, fun, and action packed year it's been for the vPro Expert Center. we had a vision about 1 1/2 years ago to create a community where we could bring all parties together to talk about vPro and really make a difference in the activation and integration of this technology into the IT environment. I know that to be 1 years old in a community is just a small milestone, however for me it has been a blast to connect with a # of folks from the community both in the forums, onsite and at events where we can talk face to face. As I reflect back on the year, here are the top 5 and bottom 5 of what the community did that I think made a difference. (I could have made this the top 50).

TOP 5

Have seen some of the best bloggers join us online for dialogue (BIG Thank You)
Had great participation across the board - HW(OEM), SW(ISV), YOU, Intel, etc..
Started a Radio show on blogtalkradio - check it out (even on itunes)
Started a few sub zones that are really helping - microsoft, activation, and our latest SMB Talk.
Partnered with Myitforum.com and started using resources/wiki's for key events (Manage fusion, Microsoft mgmt summit)

Bottom 5

We published over a dozen tools and then didn't call them free tools and then we pulled one down that folks really cared about (yes it's almost fixed for those that know what I am referring to)
Implemented an ask the experts section, however we used as a single thread and now it's hard to find past solutions/fixes - (yes this is being fixed)
Tried to do an online TV show (good luck finding that legacy show anywhere)
We started a contest and made it to hard to participate - (we took the feedback and will try something soon that is easier to participate)
We haven't created a points system yet to showcase who's really answering all the questions and if the answers are good one's. (reputation system or something of that nature).

What does this all mean, we still have more work to do to make this community better. I'm committed to making this an awesome community, focused on you and how to make your life easier with vPro. Keep coming back and spreading the word to friends.

I also want to recognize the great community for giving me input on how to make this better over the year and I want to hear more over the next year on what we can do to make this a better community, increased functionality, richer video, tools, etc. If you have input on what you would like to see, what we can improve, what we should stop doing, etc.. please drop me a line by either blogging me back here, or just send me an email - josh@intel.com.

Or if you have product input that is always welcome, for example, on features we should have in the ME (manageability engine) or Software to leverage our silicon.

So.. what's next? I can tell you that I have been planning, thinking, waiting for September 22nd for the last 2 month's, I can't say much, but I can say you will want to be on the vPro Expert Center that day and check out something very exciting. (if I say any more I'll get the PR/Mktg teams yelling at me).. I can say that we will have more video's, more quick start guides and more focus on CIRA (FAst call for help) coming out soon as the HW starts to show up and we can show real life scenario's with rich detail. We are also going to spend more time focused on how to fast track a few use cases, like Going Green with vPro, Remote Repair, & Patching @ Night. After hearing this discussed the last month I believe the community with see value in the output here.

I would also like to give kudos to a # of community peers both inside & outside of Intel that have shared their wisdom, data, approaches and even video editing skills to help me start this community. I think we've only just begun and I am personally looking forward to the road ahead. please give me a shout out to tell me what you think of the community..

Josh H
Community Manager - vPro Expert Center

IDF Class - Activation, Integration & the Expert Center

josh.hilliker — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:26:53 GMT

Yesterday Jeff Marek, Big Dave & I taught a class on the value of vPro, Intel IT's experience and more on tools. Here's a quick link to the presentation.

http://intel.wingateweb.com/US08/published/sessions/PROS005/SF08_PROS005_100t.pdf

If you attended yesterday's session please let us know if you have questions, comments, etc. .

IDF: Lucky little intern!!

Sophia.Stalliviere — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:22:35 GMT

I am so lucky to experience IDF (thank you Jason Davidson, Josh Hilliker and Kevin Ma). The atmosphere here is amazing. Wide varieties of people are here to enjoy what is new coming out of Intel. Opening key notes were invigorating and exciting. Craig Barrett kicked off the experience with his speech, "Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned," what a simple and powerful saying in Craig Barrett's speech.

Going through show floor area, where the majority of the demos are located, there is so much exciting new stuff, everything from virtualization to new hardware. Let me key you in on something that is going to big with vPro: remote help for your home computer. With this technology, you can have a key stroke on your PC, it will send a signal to several qualified providers that you can choose from, they will receive a code, and the one of your choice can fix your PC remotely. You would not even need to bring in your PC or have a tech come to your place of residence for most problems. Josh Hilliker is going to be putting up w a PDF about it here on the vPro Expert Center. Keep your eye out for some clips and more cool new features from different people on the Open Port site.

(Some cool give-a-ways!!)

Live @ IDF

josh.hilliker — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:23:50 GMT

Just arrived, checked out the booth and we are ready for this afternoon. Definitely come by @ 6PM in the vPro Zone today.

Stay tuned for more video's from Pat's keynote in a few moments. along with a quick video on the booth.

Josh H

Understanding vPro Chapter 7: From virtual world to virtual appliances.

Sophia.Stalliviere — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:21:38 GMT

Virtual World - a computer based world that represents all aspects of life, as we know it. There are many fun and exciting examples of ways people have turned aspects of our world into a virtual world, and often these are found in massively multiplayer online games. However, one virtual representation I have been learning about lately is one called virtual appliances. Virtual appliances represent complex software stacks in a virtual environment. However, with a virtual appliance we are taking something that is often very complex and have high maintenance costs and representing it as single application. The virtual appliances I have been learning about lately are not representing real life in a fun environment, but solving real problems by interfacing with the vPro features.

Recently Nicole Trent wrote a blog on Microsoft SCE. It is one of the many examples (you can find an abundance of appliances on the vPro Expert Center) of virtual appliances that can be used to interact with the features in vPro. These appliances are useful when you perform inventory and maintenance to vPro clients as they bundle the software you use to manage the clients into one location. Then you can use this to control your clients from your server by using the remote capabilities.

If you have a whole lot of clients in your business that need to be updated over night because it's critical for these to be in service for the day, you would can use a virtual appliance that contains the IT software needed to make up that script so IT wouldn't have to be there over night. These scripts can execute and maintain your machine while you're away from your desk, sleeping or having a fun weekend. Best of all, the IT people that make these scripts are allowed to have their nights and weekends as well, as the scripts can execute fully automated.

This is convenient for the "green" factor. We are able to send applications with aid of AMT without wasting anybody's time that would go desk side and put the application on each computer or if the computer itself needs help because it's in trouble. They would just apply it at one time not wasting time, money, and packaging (my past blogs emphasizing these features). When the alternative is having an IT person going from one site to another, this helps lower gas consumption.

This is just another tool to our future of virtual computing. The more comes out the more it helps aid in situations that only a few years ago that is changing the way our businesses are operating. Now that it's here we should be able to use it to it's full extent it's up to us to use push the limits.

P.S. This week most of us (yes vPro lovers, Mr. Josh Hilliker will be gracing us with his presence!) will be at IDF there will be a lot of good stuff coming out of the vPro Expert Center. If you cannot be there check, out the vPro site there will be blogs and radio shows (which by the way Blog Talk is on iTunes for free download- search Intel Open Port Radio) who know maybe you will hear me!! Stay tuned!

Miss our show yesterday with IT@Intel? Listen to it here & now...

Kelsey_Witherow — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:59:05 GMT

Listen in as your hosts talk with Dave McCray, Intel's IT Program Manager. Intel IT is a leader in the activation and use of AMT. They have activated & provisioned over 10k machines - hear how they did it, why they are doing it & how to make your integration better based on Intel IT's best known methods.

Stream from blogtalkradio or click play below to hear it now...

Centrino 2 – Thank you for catching up!

josh.hilliker — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:49:13 GMT

Centrino 2 with Intel vPro Technology

has arrived and one of the big changes to the platform is that it supports OOB Power management with AC power. This is a welcome addition to the platform, however let's go back to what does each power state mean and the delta between Centrino Pro vs. Centrino 2 with vPro..

Let’s start by first describing the power states – check out the following blog by Ajay Mungara http://softwareblogs.intel.com/2007/01/10/all-about-system-power-states-s0-s5/ Ajay goes into detail what each power state means and how it applies to the vPro technology.

The next thing is that we look at the centrino pro platform (code name: Santa Rosa) that was our first notebook with Intel vPro Technology. In Gael’s post she explains with the Santa Rosa platform what the power settings mean. http://softwareblogs.intel.com/2007/07/11/centrinopro-platforms-and-power-packages-what-are-these/

However the journey is not over yet.. you have to look to the new generation of Centrino Platform with vPro Technology to see the new changes to the power settings. Here are a few screen shots that Gael put together that showcase in the ME the configuration changes. Thank you Gael

If you are asking yourself what does this all mean? Well, it means you can have OOB Wireless SX States, basically Power control in wireless mode when the platform has AC (yes, it’s finally here).

Screen Shots of the ME with the new power settings

The Intern’s Understanding Centrino 2- Oh new and shiny!

Sophia.Stalliviere — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:17:00 GMT

Now that Centrino2 with vPro is coming out, amongst the new features that it will carry is Client Initiated Remote Access (CIRA). I thought to myself "what is this?" My internet digging, tells me that it is a way for the server to communicate to the client via AMT, offsite through a Management Presence Server (MPS). When a user initiates a CIRA request to their MPS, then the MPS is able to reach the client, passing through Virtual Private Networks (VPN). Then it will be able to go through the same AMT communication channels as any Pro system that is on the local network. On the laptop that is wireless that notebook can be anywhere as long as it's plugged in to power, and can connect to the VPN.

Josh Hilliker did a blog about a month ago, and it has a great diagram showing everything I have said. Centrino 2 - Digging in deeper into CIRA

Another great video to look at is the Intel Centrino2: C.T. Phone Home video.

Sleep state manageability is another feature that Centrino2 will carry. It will be able to turn on and off the notebook remotely without it being turned on but it does still need to be in the VPN. The device needs to be plugged in; it can't be running on the battery for this to work. You wouldn't want to try to turn on your computer and find out it's dead because all of the battery power is taken up trying to update your licenses or fixing any problems. The Centrino2 has energy saving features the notebook is using less energy with this new feature, and it is enabled at the times that make sense to your battery.

One feature that people will notice is the clear video technology so items like Hulu.com will look so much better. In addition, it will have more of graphics usage so you wouldn't have to purchase more graphics cards. It will look so good you will want to put your hands all over it!

Now I will not have to look like this when my laptop is on freak out mode. I can just call up IT and they can take care of it!

And if you want to know more go to the Intel Developer Forum Aug 19-21, 2008 in San Francisco. I will be there with my blogging skills!!

Community Uploading - How to share big files with the community

josh.hilliker — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:16:37 GMT

Our Partners over at myitforum.com created a new service that helps with community sharing of large files for troubleshooting or sharing with others. I encourage you to check out their new upload capability and use this is an option when sharing out to other members.

http://myitforum.com/cs2/blogs/rtrent/archive/2008/08/02/the-new-myitforum-com-community-file-share-service-unveiled.aspx