Working for a company that designs some pretty impressive buildings (here or here) this video caught my eye when I saw it on Laughing Squid today. Whilst the Burj Dubai isn’t one of ours, it’s equally impressive and this video, shot from the top of the spire, shows just how tall the building is. I’m not sure how much I’d like being up there!
Pictures from Mars
From a fantastic set of pictures from Nasa’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on the Boston Globe’s Big Picture site. The MRO has been orbiting Mars for a few years now sending back hi-res images of the planets surface. The images are a real mixture of familiar looking landscapes and alien details like the swirls in the image above.
Windows 7 Device Installation without Administrator Privileges
Supporting mobile workers is always a little tricky. Whilst you need them to be able to work effectively, you don’t always want to grant them enough system access that they can break things whilst on the other side of the world where you can’t help them.
One of the big requirements for administrative access to systems is the ability to install new devices such as printers. Windows has supported non-admin installation of drivers for years, but with the big caveat that the drivers are signed. If they’re not then it won’t work, and often the manufactures don’t bother going through the time and expense.
Fortunately Windows 7 offers some help here by allowing you to point the system at Windows Update for driver installations. When a device is plugged in Windows will check for appropriate drivers on the local disk (these can of course be pre-populated) and then if it can’t find any search Windows Update.
We’ve tested it with a few devices here, and whilst not everything is on Windows Update, it would seem that the majority of newer printers and devices are. At the very least it’s a huge expansion of the drivers included out-the-box.
You can also search the Windows Update catalog so check whether certain devices are covered, and download those drivers manually. I’ve not tried it, but I suspect that might also be useful should only Vista drivers be available.
Anyway, so how do you set this up? Well there are two Group Policies that you need to set:
Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation > Specify search order for device driver installation source locations = Enabled: Search Windows Update Last
This tells Windows to search locally for drivers, then search Windows Update for a compatible driver if none are found
Computer Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > System > Driver Installation > Turn off Windows Update device driver search prompt = Enabled
This removes the choice for an administrator to specify searching Windows Update and sets Windows to search Windows Update by default (given the search order specified above). If this isn’t set the user is prompted to enter administrative credentials before searching Windows Update
Direct Access Infrastructure Planning and Design
![IPv6TransitionTechnologies1[1]](https://i0.wp.com/refraction.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/IPv6TransitionTechnologies11.jpg?ssl=1 "IPv6TransitionTechnologies1[1]")
To go along with the release of Windows 7 last week, Microsoft have today released the Infrastructure Planning and Design guide (IPD) for DirectAccess.
I’ve covered DirectAccess a few times here as I think it’s a good solution for remote workers. The IPD covers the steps you’d need to consider in the design process including IPv4/IPv6 transition technologies, IPv4/IPv6 network address translation and the overall server and certificate topology. Though I still think my diagrams are better :)
You can find the guide here: here
Improved Silverstone for 2010
With all of the bad news coming out of Donington and it’s plans to host the 2010 British Grand Prix, it’s nice to see that Silverstone has some plans of it’s own.
I spotted this over on Lotus Central (a good place for all sorts of Lotus related news), so I hope they won’t mind me lifting a couple of their images to share here (they’re good guys so hopefully I’m ok). The biggest change looks to be the removal of Bridge from the GP circuit. Though in return there will be improved views for spectators, and modifications to the National and South circuits so that they can be used at the same time.
From Lotus Central:
Arena Grand Prix Circuit
Length –3.615 miles/5.89 km
Safer for both cars and bikes with increased run off areas
Designed with both riders, drivers and spectators taken into consideration
Will be FIM and FIA licensed and redefine the focal point of the circuit creating new a spectator arena
Gives spectators closer access to key points of circuit
One of the fastest bike and car circuits in the world
National Circuit and Extended National
Length of National – 1.6 miles/2.6 km
Length of Extended National – 2 miles/3.257 km
The Woodcote chicane currently used for bikes will be removed
There is an extended National Circuit configuration which can be operated if required- just .2 miles shorter than 2009 International which has an extra loop at Becketts before turning back down the National straight
The increased run offs will result in increased safety allowing the circuit to be faster
Brand new pit wall completed in Jan 2008
Southern Circuit/2011 International Circuit
Length – 1.9 mile/3.05 km
Circuit will be known as International Circuit in 2011
New layout designed to offer increased overtaking opportunities whilst fast flowing nature
Increased safety features
Planning in place to add a pit lane in 2010
Track separation allows for the Southern and National to be run at the same time
Stowe Circuit
Length 1.2 mile/1.8 km licensed circuit (increased from 0.9 mile)
Dedicated pit garages with viewing terrace on roof
Dedicated Hospitality units with viewing terrace on roof
Includes split breaking area
Three lane irrigated wet handling pad boasting different levels of grip from sheet ice to standard wet tarmac
Works started in November due for completion in March
