Windows Server 2003 R2 in 60 Days

The long wait is still not over, but it's gotten a lot shorter. Tuesday, the Microsoft Corporation released to manufacturing an update to the current version of Windows Server OS, Windows Server 2003 R2. The product will be available to customers in approximately 60 days.

This product is expected to deliver new capabilities in the areas of Web platform technologies, virtualization, data storage, also in the areas of branch-office management, identity and access management.

Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Server and Tools said "Windows Server 2003 R2 builds on the proven reliability and security of Windows Server 2003 and introduces new functionality and benefits in key workloads and scenarios� R2 presents our customers with an array of new ways to reduce cost and complexity, boost end-user productivity, and increase the strategic value of their IT systems."

Muglia also said that Microsoft is offering a special promotion for Windows Server 2003 R2. Customers who purchase the enterprise edition of the update will get Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition for US$99 until June 30, 2006. This is a part of Microsoft's broader theme "to take a leadership role in virtualization."

Muglia added that Windows Server 2003 R2 promises new branch-management capabilities; better Unix interoperability through the inclusion of the Unix subsystem within Windows, and a new version of the .Net framework, .Net 2.0. The bad news is that it's not out yet, the good news is that users can know how long they have to wait.