Summary: In this episode Symon interviews Eamon O'Reilly, a Principal Program Manager Lead in System Center, to discuss the features and benefits of the Service Management Automation (SMA) in the Windows Azure Pack (WAP). SMA provides automation of administrative tasks (such as deploying virtual machines) through the WAP management portal, and integrates with System Center and Windows Server, while running on PowerShell workflows. In this interview that starts at [07:05], we cover: [07:30] Why is automation important? [08:35] What are Microsoft's different automation solutions? [09:25] What is Service Management Automation?[10:05] What is the Windows Azure Pack? Demo at [10:35] of the Windows Azure Pack interface [11:25] How is the experience consistent with Azure? [12:00] Is WAP required to use SMA [12:30] What is a PowerShell "workflow"? [13:35] When would someone use System Center Orchestrator versus SMA? [14:55] What is the equivalent of an Orchestrator Integration Pack in SMA? Demo at [16:00] of Service Management Automation[33:55] Where can people go to learn more about SMA? SMA on TechNet: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn457812.aspx Orchestrator Team Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/b/orchestrator/Building Clouds Blog: http://blogs.technet.com/b/privatecloud/archive/tags/automation+track/ Forums on TechNet: https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/home?forum=scogeneral News: [00:15] SQL Server 2014 RTM and General Availability: http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2014/03/18/sql-server-2014-released-to-manufacturers-will-be-generally-available-april-1.aspx New Microsoft Virtual Academy courses [00:50] SQL Server in Windows Azure Virtual Machines Jump Start: http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/sql-server-in-windows-azure-virtual-machines-jump-start [02:35] Windows XP Migration: http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/small-business-migrating-from-
