Microsoft Server Technologies Training

Customers and objective third-party analysts have found that Microsoft's integrated innovation approach results in greater out-of-box value and lower total cost of ownership as a result of better productivity, efficiency, and manageability in comparison to competitive offerings. For more information, find out how Windows Server compares to Linux.

Integrated innovation is at the heart of Microsoft's major technology initiatives, including the Dynamic Systems Initiative (DSI), Trustworthy Computing, and Microsoft .NET.

New Release Cycle for Windows Server
Today Windows Server 2003 delivers the core infrastructure and common services of the Windows Server System. Since its release in April 2003, Microsoft has been providing new functionality to Windows Server 2003 in the form of feature packs as well as planning for the next major release, Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft intends to provide a more predic Windows Server release cycle that helps customers to do longer term planning and budgeting. The goal is to provide a major Windows Server release approximately every four years, followed by a release approximately two years after each major release.

Major Windows Server releases include a new kernel and therefore are capable of supporting new hardware (for example, tem buses); new programming models; and improved fundamentals, such as security and reliability. Changes of this nature can sometimes impact the compatibility of the new operating tem with existing hardware and software.

Update releases integrate the previous major release with the latest service pack, selected feature packs, and new functionality. Because an release is based on the previous major release, customers can incorporate it into their environment without any additional testing beyond what would be required for a typical service pack. Any additional functionality provided by an would be optional and thus not affect application compatibility or require customers to recertify or retest applications.

Service packs incorporate all of the current critical, non-critical, and customer-requested s into one convenient package that has been extensively regression-tested by Microsoft and by customers during a beta test program. Service packs may also include new security enhancements, such as the Security Configuration Wizard that is included with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1), now available.

Occasionally it is necessary to make changes to existing tem binaries to support new industry standards or customer-requested features. These changes are closely scrutinized, evaluated, and tested before being included in the next service pack. To the greatest extent possible, Microsoft strives to maintain application compatibility between service pack releases and performs extensive application compatibility tests with each service pack. Application compatibility issues are usually restricted to applications that inappropriately use private, internal interfaces or tem calls.

Feature Packs
On occasion, Microsoft will release feature packs. However, to simplify the process for tem administrators and IT implementers, Microsoft plans to substantially reduce the number and frequency of standalone feature pack releases. Instead, most feature packs will be integrated into the releases and major releases.

Windows Server 2003 R2 was released to manufacturing on December 5, 2005. Customers can expect to see significant new value in this release to Windows Server 2003. Windows Server 2003 R2 consists of Windows Server 2003 with SP1 plus an additional CD with the R2 features, which can be optionally installed.

Customers with servers covered by Software Assurance or Enterprise Agreements will be eligible to use Windows Server 2003 R2 in place of their current Windows Server software. Once Windows Server 2003 R2 is made publicly available, existing SA customers will receive it automatically when they order Windows Server 2003 software. All others can license the server software to get the Windows Server 2003 R2 functionality. Windows Server 2003 R2 requires the same version of client access licenses (CALs) as the original release of Windows Server 2003.

Windows Server 2008
The next major Windows Server release, Windows Server 2008 is scheduled for early 2008. Windows Server 2008, with built-in Web and virtualization technologies, enables you to increase the reliability and flexibility of your server infrastructure. New virtualization tools, Web resources, and security enhancements help you save time, reduce costs, and provide a platform for a dynamic and optimized datacenter. Powerful new tools like IIS7, Windows Server Manager, and Windows PowerShell, allow you to have more control over your servers and streamline Web, configuration, and management tasks. Advanced security and reliability enhancements like Network Access Protection and the Read-Only Domain Controller harden the operating tem and protect your server environment to ensure you have a solid foundation on which to build your business. Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate is currently available for download from Microsoft.com