Dear Operations Manager Community,Late yesterday the RTM of Operations Manager 2007 R2 was approved , which immediately initiated the next stage of the process ... getting this latest version of Microsoft's end-to-end monitoring product for IT environments and datacenters out to YOU !  Read more in our overview whitepaper , What's New datasheet , or download the trial , and see customer stories and more information on our pages on Microsoft.com and TechNet .

Get community help on the New Online Forums here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/systemcenteroperationsmanager

The trial version of Operations Manager 2007 R2 RTM (build 7221) is now available via the Microsoft Download Center. General Availability of the product will be 1st July 2009 , at which point new and existing customers will be able to obtain the bits from their respective customer download centers, such as MVLS.

In addition to the updated product documentation, our overview whitepaper , and what's new datasheet , newly released collateral includes a number of new datasheets that include:

• Reducing the cost of data center management with Operations Manager 2007 R2
• Monitoring UNIX/Linux with Operations Manager 2007 R2
• Tracking Service Levels with Operations Manager 2007 R2
• Interoperability Connectors for Operations Manager 2007 R2

Some of you have also have the opportunity to try our new hands on labs at our MMS and TechEd events this year, which cover topics such as installation, introduction, management pack authoring, and more.  We're busily upgrading these with the RTM bits, and they will be available for you to use via the TechNet Online virtual labs next month (June).

In addition to downloading the trial (or if you're waiting for the upgrade or full product bits to arrive in your customer portal):

• Check out our TechNet Webcast Series on Operations Manager 2007 R2 :
  • Introducing Operations Manager 2007 R2 (Level 300)
  • Monitoring .NET and Web Applications with System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2
  • Operations Manager 2007 R2 Deployment and Upgrade Best Practices
  • Operations Manager 2007 R2 Agentless Client Monitoring
  • Successfully Monitor UNIX and Linux Alongside Your Windows Infrastructure with Operations Manager 2007 R2 (Level 300 )
  • Developing Custom Reports and Operational Dashboards with Operations Manager 2007 R2 (Level 400)
  • Monitoring .NET and Web Applications with System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2
  • System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 Interoperability Connectors
    
    
• Watch our TechNet EDGE Video Blogs (more on their way!):
  • Introduction to Operations Manager R2
  • Visio Integration with Operations Manager 2007 R2
  • Microsoft Management Summit 2009 Day 1 Keynote Recap with Brad Anderson
    
    
• Learn about v2.0 of the Service Level Dashboard from our Solution Accelerators team , which lets you measure and report application or system performance & availability in near real time across your organization through Microsoft SharePoint. Download the Service Level Dashboard from the System Center Catalog (available shortly).
  
  
• Check out our new community portal, System Center Central for downloads, discussions with our MVPs, and much, much more!

How else can I extend and leverage Operations Manager 2007 R2?

• Operations Manager 2007 R2 Interoperability Connectors provide the ability to synchronize alerts and status between Operations Manager 2007 R2 and other management systems. Beta connectors for Tivoli Enterprise Console, HP OpenView Operations, and the new Universal Connector can be obtained from the Operations Manager R2 download on Connect. Download the Interop Connectors from the System Center Catalog (available shortly).
  
  
• Operations Manager 2007 R2 Visio Add-in delivers the ability to link status and health information gathered by Operations Manager 2007 R2 into normally-static Visio diagrams, adding life and interaction to those diagrams. Download it today from Microsoft Connect .
  
  
• New Exchange Server 2007 Management Pack (MP) Beta , which provides enhancements over the current Exchange MP such as reducing alert noise and enhanced performance. Download it today from Microsoft Connect .
  
  
• BridgeWays MP Beta Program , providing beta MPs for MySQL , Apache , and Oracle running on Windows, Linux or Solaris. For more information, and to register into the BridgeWays MP Beta Program, visit http://www.bridgeways.ca/bw_management-pack-beta-program-signup_form.php