Windows 7 for Enterprise Guide

Windows 7 Enterprise edition is the most advanced Windows operating system designed to meet the demands of enterprise customers.  The Enterprise edition is a segment of Windows Optimized Desktop that includes the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) tools and will only be available to customers with Microsoft Software Assurance. Windows 7 offers advanced data protection, enhanced security and control, and streamlining their PC management. It is a complete package for businesses providing communicate, collaborate, and work with greater effectiveness and efficiency.  We would like to provide you all comprehensive information about Windows 7 Enterprise edition and its trial version that is already available.

Who are eligible to download Windows 7 Enterprise edition?

Enterprise customer with Software Assurance on the existing Windows licenses will be able to avail Windows 7 Enterprise for PCs once Windows 7 is released. Further, customers who buy Windows 7 Professional and add Software Assurance will be able to have the rights to deploy the Enterprise edition.

For the time being Windows users can take a pick at the Windows 7 trial edition.

Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial is the final RTM version of Windows 7 Enterprise. This is a feature-complete edition, the same software that is available to Volume Licensing (VL) through Software Assurance (SA).

Who are eligible to download Windows 7 Enterprise trial?

The IT decision makers, IT pros and developers looking to test their hardware, software and deployment strategies on Windows 7 can download the Windows 7 Enterprise 90 day trial. In order to download the trial they need to fill-out a survey. Incorrect and incomplete surveys would be rejected. Apart from them, those having access to Windows 7 bits through MSDN or TechNet or the existing Software Assurance customer need not  download the trial as they already have access to Windows 7 RTM without timeout period.

When will the Windows 7 Enterprise 90-day trial edition be available?

Windows 7 Enterprise 90-Day Trial is available for download in Microsoft TechNet Evaluation Center from September 01, 2009.

What are the minimum hardware requirements for Windows 7 Enterprise?

The minimum hardware requirements are:

• 1 GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
• 1 GB of RAM (32-bit) / 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
• 16 GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20 GB (64-bit)
• DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver
• DVD-compatible drive
• Internet access

However, for some of the Windows 7 feature like the ability to watch and record live TV, BitLocker, or navigation through the use of touch would require advanced and additional hardware.

Can you use Microsoft deployment technologies to deploy Windows 7 Enterprise?

You can use the a variety of deployment technologies, including Microsoft Deployment Toolkit 2010. Alternately, you can install the Windows 7 Enterprise Edition by simpling running the downloaded installation application.

What are the key features in Windows 7 Enterprise?

Here’s the list of all- important features  included in Windows 7 Enterprise edition

BranchCache

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 together provides an alternative to sort out the problems of slow connectivity. The feature allows faster network responsiveness of applications. This is to ensure that a remote office works as a head office. Essentially, when BranchCache is enabled a copy of data accessed from the intranet website or a file server is cached locally within a branch office. If any user requests for the file, he/she ets access to the content almost immediately.

BranCache retrieves data from headquarters when a remote user requests for data. It is a passive cache that decreases the bandwidth utilization between headquarter and branches. BranchCache supports common protocols for web content (HTTP and HTTPS) and file servers (server messaging block [SMB]). This enables it to work with a variety of application types. Further BranchCache also works with network security technologies - Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), SMB signing, and Internet Protocol security (IPsec)- to offers enhanced application performance even for encrypted content.

DirectAccess

Windows 7 along with the network technologies in Windows Server 2008 R2 with network technology. This network technology allows users to seamlessly access corporate network resources when on Internet. It requires no VPN connection, but keeps the user connected to PC via mobile while traveling.

DirectAccess also offers enhanced security and access control. In order to ensure that the data is safe in public networks DirectAccess makes use of IPv6-over-IPsec to encrypt communications transmitted across the Internet.

Further, it has been designed to reduce unwanted traffic on corporate networks. It sends only traffic destined for corporate network via DirectAccess server. The administrator might choose to send all traffic through the corporate network.

Improved Search

IT administrators can now search information on the PC, mail or SharePoint. They can provide links on commonly used internal sites, for instance, the SharePoint sites. Windows Explorer UI or to Start menu or in Windows 7 using Group Policy. These links simplify access to target internal data sources on the network for business users.

Windows 7 federated search allows users to search remote document repositories, SharePoint sites, and Web applications through familiar Windows interface. It uses an existing public standard called OpenSearch. The users can select the sites they want to search from. Alternately, the  IT department can populate a list for the user. Results of the federated search appear on the Windows explorer displaying local files, with rich views, file details, and previews.

AppLocker

For any enterprise there are specified applications to be run by specific departments. Windows 7 AppLocker is a flexible mechanism that allows the IT professionals to specify exactly what would be allowed to run on a users desktop. It restricts users from unauthoized software while allowing applications to run.

BitLocker & BitLocker to go

This is an important feature of Windows 7 Enterprise security. IT protects data on PCs and removable drives by enforcing encryption and backup of recovery keys. The BitLocker protection feature has been extended to USB devices while making the functionality much more easier to use.

Multi Lingual User Interface

The Language Packs in Windows 7 Enterprise supports upto 36 different language using a single Windows master image, rather than creating a separate image for each language used in the organization.

Better Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

With VDI, Windows 7 users can access their desktops remotely as well as the ability to reuse virtual machine (VHD) images to boot a physical PC. Windows 7 provides for better user experience in VDI scenarios with better graphics, audio and local device support.

What are the additional advantages of Windows 7 Enterprise edition?

Windows  Enterprise includes all end users features available in Windows 7 Professional, in addition to DVD playback Codec and Windows Media Center.

Conclusion

With a number of significant improvements Windows 7 Enterprise is expected to meet the needs of Microsoft’s large base of commercial customers. Windows 7 Enterprise includes improved features and efficient management tools for IT productivity. While Microsoft carries on its effort to spread the word about how Windows 7 can help enterprises, it remains to see whether the Enterprise edition can deliver the promises.