Microsoft has made available the Community Technology Preview version of the Windows Longhorn Server for February. Details are scarce but the CTP is available exclusively to current beta testers of Windows Longhorn Server. This release follows the Christmas gift made by Microsoft to technical beta program participants with the December 2006 CTP of Windows Longhorn Server.

Microsoft made Windows Longhorn Server available on the heels of the Beta 2 program for Windows Home Server. Windows Longhorn Server beta testers will be able to access the February CTP via Microsoft Connect. And don't be fooled by the build number for the February CTP 6001.16461.070209-1510. It is in fact different from that of the previous version but only the last part of the number was incremented.

Windows "Longhorn" Server February CTP has been available since yesterday, February 17, 2007. Microsoft is currently offering two download options. The tester will have a choice between downloads of 2.5GB for x64 and 1.8GB for x86.

Microsoft has failed to provide additional details as yet. However, the Redmond Company plans to release the first public beta of Longhorn by mid-2007. Speculations surrounding Windows Longhorn Server are now pointing to March for the availability of the Beta 3 release.

"As many of you will have heard, we are on track to release our next major milestone of Windows Server "Longhorn" in the first half of 2007. Beta 3 will be feature-complete, and it will be the first *public* milestone of Windows Server "Longhorn", meaning that we'll be doing everything we can to get it into the hands of our partners and customers so that they can begin some serious testing (if they're not already)," said a member of the Windows Server Division.