Windows Server 2008 R2 beta released

Featured eBooks
NASCIO 2025 Special Report
Changing Workforce
Future of Tech Infrastructure
Insights & Reports
Reinventing healthcare for public sector retirees
Presented By ViaBenefits
Download Now
From Silos to Synergy: Redefining State Cybersecurity with a Risk Operations Center
Presented By Qualys
Download Now
By Kurt Mackie,
GCN

By Kurt Mackie,
GCN

|

The new R2 server may offer some advantages for database administrators who plan to run Microsoft SQL Server on it.

The beta of Windows Server 2008 R2 is currently available for download by TechNet Plus and Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers, as well as by technology enthusiasts. The public beta was published on Jan. 2, according to a Microsoft Download Center page, where enthusiasts can get the beta.

Microsoft's server news was somewhat eclipsed by the release of the Windows 7 client beta, as announced on Wednesday by Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Microsoft's server and client Windows operating systems now share a common code base, which may account for the coinciding release dates.

Both betas, at least, share the same expiration date in August 2009.

The common code base signifies "a new level of synergy between server and client operating systems," according to Oliver Rist, Microsoft's technical product manager for Windows Server marketing. He cited a number of management benefits with the R2 beta, including improved remote access, a BranchCache facility and improved group policy and security controls.

A highly anticipated feature in the R2 beta of Windows Server 2008 has to do with the server's virtualization component, called Hyper-V. Microsoft has made it easier with this beta to move virtual machines around without service disruption. This new "Live Migration" feature is explained more fully here.

The R2 beta uses the PowerShell 2.0 management tool, which includes "over 240 new cmdlets out of the box" plus development tools for creating new ones, Rist explained in the Windows Server Division Weblog. Microsoft is currently working on adding new "GUI-based management consoles" based on PowerShell, he added.

Many of the features in the R2 beta were described late last year. Microsoft's partners have been reviewing the new R2 Windows Server technology for a few months now, and a pre-beta of Windows Server 2008 R2 was unveiled in late October at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference.

In early November, Microsoft made a big splash at its Windows Hardware Engineering Conference over the ability of Windows Server 2008 R2 to handle 256 logical processors. A Microsoft official suggested at WinHEC that Microsoft will be better positioned to address about half the server market using the new beefed up processing power in Windows Server 2008 R2.

The new R2 server may offer some advantages for database administrators who plan to run Microsoft SQL Server on it, according to a post by Microsoft blogger Andrew Fryer. Running SQL Server on the Windows Server 2008 R2 core can boost memory and CPU capabilities, provide greater security and make patching easier, he claimed in his blog.

TechNet subscribers can access the Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta here. MSDN subscribers can get it at this link. Windows Server 2008 is only available as a 64-bit solution.

NEXT STORY: Stopping the show at CES

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.