Datasheet

Choosing a Windows 7 Edition 5
However, Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate all support as much as
192 GB of RAM on 64-bit systems. This gives you enough RAM to support multiple virtual
environments hosted on a single system and also to support even the most demanding
applications.
Years ago, many applications didn’t run effectively on 64-bit editions of Windows
because of various compatibility issues. However, the era of 64-bit systems has arrived.
Many programs have both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and those that don’t have a separate
64-bit edition usually work on a 64-bit system without any problems.
AppLocker
AppLocker is a new feature in Windows 7 that can be used to control what software is
allowed to run on individual PCs using either Local Security Policy (nondomain computer)
or Group Policy in Active Directory. It can be used to restrict unauthorized software from
running on systems.
Although software restriction policies existed in previous versions of Windows, AppLocker
provides improvements that solve many of the problems with these software restriction poli-
cies. For example, a software restriction policy could be used to prevent an application from
running. However, when some applications were updated, the software restriction policy no
longer recognized the application and no longer restricted the application.
AppLocker uses a rule-based structure that an administrator can build to ensure that the
policy doesn’t need to be rewritten each time an application is updated. Group Policy and
AppLocker will be covered in greater depth in Chapter 10, “Managing Windows 7 with
Group Policy.”
BitLocker
BitLocker Drive Encryption allows you to protect entire drives by encrypting them. This
can be especially useful on disks in mobile computers when the data needs to be protected.
When BitLocker is implemented, the entire drive is encrypted. It can be configured to unlock
the drive automatically after the system verifies the drive is in the same computer or config-
ured so that users enter a passphrase to unlock access to the drive.
The BitLocker to Go feature is new to Windows 7. BitLocker to Go can be used to
encrypt and lock removable drives, including USB flash drives.
Both BitLocker and BitLocker to Go will be explored in greater depth in Chapter 11.
BranchCache
BranchCache is useful for clients in remote offices that access data over virtual private
network (VPN) links. When data is stored on a Windows Server 2008 R2 server at the
main office and BranchCache has been enabled, users in the remote office are able to store
a cached copy of the data on their local computers. This is similar to Offline Folders,
which has been available for many versions of Windows, but has a distinct difference. Data
cached on one Windows 7 computer can now be shared with other Windows 7 users.
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