It's homeward for Windows Home Server as Microsoft announced that the product has exited beta stage and that the Release Candidate went live. On June 12, 2007, the Redmond Company made available for download the Release Candidate build of Windows Home Server, a product unveiled by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates in January 2007. Of course that the milestone indicates – as is the tradition – that Windows Home Server is almost finalized, and that the company is getting ready to ship the product.

"That's right...we've reached another important product milestone! The highly anticipated Windows Home Server Release Candidate is available today. The product team has been logging long hours and doing heroic work to finalize this new and improved build," revealed Joel Sider, Sr. Product Manager, Windows Server PR Microsoft.

The final version of the Windows Home Server Release Candidate 1 was posted on the Microsoft Connect website. According to the Redmond Company, there won't be a RC2 and the next release of Windows Home server will in fact be the RTM version. As of yet, Microsoft has failed to detail when it plans to release Windows Home Server to manufacturing.

Sider added that Windows Home Server RC1 will be made available to all participants in the Beta testing program, but that the company is ready to welcome additional participants. "The community has been chomping at the bit for RC. And while with Beta 2 and CTP we accepted applicants into the beta program in stages, we'll make the RC software available to all 100,000+ beta program applicants asap, as well as all new sign ups. Come and get it. Next stop RTM!" Sider stated.

In Microsoft's vision, Windows Home Server is a product designed to be implemented at the heart of any household network. The company has strongly emphasized the fundamental capabilities of WHS, storage, backup and remote accessibility. Windows Home Server will hit the market in the second half of 2007, initially as a bundle with the MediaSmart Server from HP, but also on additional hardware.