Windows Server 2008 was released to manufacturing concomitantly with Windows Vista Service Pack 1. And in fact, because of the synchronization between the RTM builds of Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008, Microsoft's latest server operating system is also carrying the label of Service Pack 1. Despite the fact that it was planned for RTM by the end of 2007, Windows Server 2008 SP1 only dropped alongside Vista SP1 on February 4, 2007. In the nick of time ahead of the February 27, 2008 worldwide launch of the platform.

The postponement of the the RTM of Windows Server 2008 did not impact the official launch date of the operating system. In this context, Windows Server 2008 SP1 will be made available officially at the Heroes Happen Here launch event in Los Angeles at the end of this month. The event will also feature SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008. Microsoft has only RTM'd Windows Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 at this point in time, and the RTM of SQL Server 2008 is not expected sooner than the third quarter of 2008.

"Microsoft Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet," the company boasts on the Heroes Happen Here website, "designed to power the next generation of networks, applications and Web services. With Windows Sever 2008 you can develop, deliver and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a secure network infrastructure, and increase network efficiency and value within your organization."

But one thing that Windows Server 2008 SP1 means for Microsoft is an alternative to the Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP server infrastructures. Windows Server 2008 will bring IIS7, SQL Server 2008 and will also feature optimized integration with PHP. Still, for Microsoft, Windows Server 2008 is ultimately a platform, and as such it is intimately connected with content from third party developers. This is where Open Source Heroes will come into play.

The Open Source Heroes website features nothing than the Forge New Powers slogan for the time being, which essentially points to February 27, the launch date for Windows Server 2008. With its latest Windows server platform, Microsoft will enjoy a consistent amount of support from the open source community. For the time being, the Redmond company has failed to give any examples of Open Source Heroes, but I'm thinking Novell will be the main representative. Still it does say Heroes, so...