Microsoft releases Windows Server 2003 R2 beta
Microsoft has a customer preview beta version of Windows Server 2003 R2 - which is to be released by the end of 2005.
05 October 2005
It’s no mean feat keeping software up to date these days – especially at a server level, where there’s never-ending requirement to tighten up security, improve performance and improve management features. Windows Server has never been better, but then again, expectations have never been higher. With Windows Vista still on a faraway horizon, updates to Windows Server 2003 are welcomed with open arms.
Windows Server 2003 R2 is an update to Windows Server 2003 – and requires Windows XP SP1 to be installed.
There are improvements and new features across the board, many of which are designed to make Windows Server easier to manage.
The new hardware management technology is designed to enable system administrators to better remote manage servers, using protocols that are based on SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and other standard Web services. There’s now also a command line interface for common management tasks (how many system administrators will cheer at that one?!) and also a scripting interface for writing administration scripts. So, from a command prompt, an administrator will be able to manage remote machines, even through a firewall.
The Microsoft Management Console (MMC) has been improved with new features and functions. This includes an action pane, at the right-hand side of the console, which displays actions available to you, based on the currently selected items (for those who don’t need this extra help, you can turn it off). There’s a new dialog box to make it easier to install and remove add-ins, and there’s improved error handling – specifically to alert you of issues with snap-ins that could cause MMC to fail.
Active Directory now sports an application mode – which is an ‘independent mode’ of Active Directory (so, without infrastructure features) which provides directory services to applications. Essentially, it’s a data store and a means to access it. Active Directory Federation Services provides a single user login that remains current over multiple Web applications for the duration of a single on-line session – by sharing rights across various boundaries in a secure manner.
Disk and file management features have been beefed up and now make it easier to distribute files to what Microsoft calls ‘branch offices’ from a central source, making distributed file management easier and more reliable. As part of this, the distributed file system and distributed file system replication have been updated – making replication more efficient (for instance, only updating those parts of a file that have been changed).
There’s more control over file server resources, using file server resource manager. There’s a new snap-in for MMC to help you create and manage logical unit numbers on a storage area network. Printer management is also updated, via an updated version of the Printer Management snap-in – this can be used to manage all printers and print servers around the organisation.
The list of changes goes on, and it’s clear that this isn’t a trivial upgrade with a few security patches. Many aspects of Windows Server have been improved and made more powerful. This is not an update to be underestimated and it has lots to commend it.
In line with Microsoft’s more open policy these days, you can download the release candidate version from Microsoft’s Web site. This will allow you to really get familiar with the product’s new features (preferably in a safe environment, like a virtual server) before the release later this year.
Microsoft has also released the first beta of the much-awaited WinFS file system to all its TechNet subscribers. Originally to be part of Windows Vista, this new file system will ship at a later date and will also work with Windows XP. WinFS effectively manages your hard disk’s data in a database, rather than a file store, making information easier to find and manage.
