Available for download

Jul 2, 2007 07:24 GMT  ·  By

A fresh release of Windows Server Codename "Centro" was made available for download at the end of the past month. The Microsoft Centro Community introduced Centro back in October 2006 as a Microsoft Windows Server Solutions product. With Windows Server 2008, formerly codename Longhorn at its core, Centro is a new Microsoft technology designed to deliver a new server and management solution.

"Centro is the code name for a new Microsoft infrastructure solution that will help midsize businesses with less than 250 PCs in their environment. Centro will bring together key server products for midsize businesses, including Windows Server "Longhorn," Exchange Server 2007 and security technologies, plus a new, integrated management experience. Centro is designed for IT professionals in midsize companies, helping them with server technologies that are easier to purchase, install and manage," revealed Kevin Beares, Centro and SBS Community Lead back in October.

If in 2006, Microsoft introduced the first beta version to Windows Server Centro, at the end of June, a Community Technology Preview (CTP) for the product went live. Beares announced that registration is opened for program participants. Testers will be able to directly impact the design of Centro through their input. However, in order to access the CTP, participants will be required to accept a confidential agreement.

"The CTP includes many new Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 based components, as well as updates to the server applications that shipped in "Centro" Beta 1 (updated versions of System Center Essentials 2007, Exchange Server 2007 and ISA, as well as new updates to setup, Active Directory domain join functionality and a host of other improvements)," Beares added.

The minimum configuration required to run Centro involves a server with a 64-bit processor, a 60 GB HDD, 2 GB RAM Management Server (4 GB recommended), 2 GB RAM Messaging Server (4 GB recommended), 2 GB RAM Edge Server, a DVD-ROM drive and 1 network adapter (2 in the Edge Server). But testers will be required to produce no less than three physical servers in order to access Centro. Participation in the Centro CTP is opened through Microsoft Connect.