With the impending launch of Windows Server 2008 scheduled for February 27th, 2008, the date of the "Heroes Happen Here" event in Los Angeles, Microsoft is gearing up on its offerings aimed at developers. In this context, as of January 2008, the Redmond company has made available for download the Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5, as well as the Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit (Beta 3). Both resources are, of course, focused on the last 32-bit server operating system from the company that is but two months away.

"The Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 provides prerelease documentation, samples, header files, libraries, and tools (including C++ compilers) you need to develop applications to run on prerelease versions of Windows Server 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5 Beta2. To build and run .NET Framework applications, you must have the corresponding version of the .NET Framework installed - see System Requirements below for more details", Microsoft revealed.

According to the Redmond company, the SDK is designed to offer a preview of the final offerings that will accompany Windows Server 2008 and, as such, all the contents could be modified along the way. Such a scenario can potentially affect all the materials included, from the compilers to the tools, documentation and samples. The SDK is offered as an ISO file and is compatible with Visual Studio 2005 SP1 and Visual Studio 2008 Beta2.

Developers can also access the Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit, with content courtesy of the Microsoft Developer & Platform Evangelism group. "The Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit includes a set of hands-on-labs and presentations for technologies such as IIS7, Management, WCF, WF, Windows CardSpace, Windows PowerShell, Virtualization and the Transactional File System (TxF)", Microsoft informed.

Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit (Beta 3) can be downloaded from here.
Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows Server 2008 and .NET Framework 3.5 can be grabbed via this link.