14 DAY TRIAL // A new resource available for download from Microsoft streamlines the testing of System Center Configuration Manager v.Next Beta 1.
On August 17th, 2010, the Redmond company released VHD Test Drive - System Center Configuration Manager v.Next on Windows Server 2008 R2.
The bits are now live on the Microsoft Download Center, and available to all System Center users that want to get a taste of what the software giant has in store when it comes down to the evolution of Configuration Manager.
The Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) download offered by the Redmond company brings to the table a pre-configured virtualized version of System Center Configuration Manager v.Next Beta 1 on Windows Server 2008 R2 VHD.
“We now have released a fully configured virtual machine for ConfigMgr v.Next Beta 1. Based on a Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 OS, this is a fully built virtual machine ready to import into your Hyper-V environments,” revealed Jeff Wettlaufer, Senior Technical Product Manager System Center, Management and Security Division.
Obviously, customers interested in test driving this release will need Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise, as the VHD has to be opened via Hyper-V.
“This is something the ConfigMgr team has done for a few major releases, starting back at the ConfigMgr 2007 RTM timeframes,” Wettlaufer said.
“We are really excited to get you guys this type of access, to help you evaluate the latest and greatest ConfigMgr v.Next release. We are also in the process of uploading the hands on labs for ConfigMgr v.Next as well, look for that announcement soon,” he added.
Of course, at the same time, early adopters could just grab the standalone version of System Center Configuration Manager v.Next Beta 1 from Microsoft.
The first Beta development milestone of the next major version of System Center Configuration Manager was released in May 2010, and continues to be available for download.
VHD Test Drive - System Center Configuration Manager v.Next on Windows Server 2008 R2 is available for download via this link.
VHD Test Drive - System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 is available for download via this link.
Configuration Manager vNext Beta 1 evaluation is available for download via this link.