New Windows Server 2003 SP1, SQL Server 2005 Betas Available

by Alex Woodie

Microsoft on Monday posted the first Release Candidate for Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1, a nearly complete, late-stage beta release of an update to the operating system that will implement similar security features that Windows XP received this summer. Additionally, the company has posted a new technical preview of "Yukon," the upcoming SQL Server 2005 database due to ship next year, as well as an associated administration tool.

Improving the security of Windows servers is the main goal of Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). With this update to the operating system, Microsoft will provide a range of new features, including a Security Configuration Wizard; support for Data Execution Protection ("no execute") hardware, to prevent the running of malicious code; greater authentication for RPC and DCOM calls; limits to access to VPN by default; the new Windows Firewall; and "Post-Setup Security Updates," a new feature that uses the firewall to shelter new computers from attack while critical updates are downloaded.

Release candidates from Microsoft are late-stage beta releases and are generally very close to their final packaged form. Just the same, Microsoft warns customers not to run Windows Server 2003 SP1 Release Candidate 1 (RC1) on any production system. Windows XP SP2, on which Windows Server 2003 SP1 is largely based, went to RC2 before being released, but that didn't stop many older programs from breaking under the updated operating system, something many large Windows shops are still dealing with. Considering the more mission-critical nature of server applications, Windows Server 2003 SP1 users should be very careful with this release when it becomes available, which is expected in the first half of 2005.

Windows Server 2003 SP1 RC1 is for 32-bit versions of Windows only. It can be downloaded from Microsoft's Web site.

Microsoft announced last week that it has released a second Community Technology Preview (CTP) of SQL Server 2005 ("Yukon"), which is still on track to ship in the first half of 2005. The CTP2 release of Yukon adds 64-bit support for the Analysis Services and Integration Services components of SQL Server 2005. Microsoft introduced supported for 64-bit extended systems from Advanced Micro Devices with SQL Server 2005 Beta 2 in July (see "SQL Server 2005 Beta Released, Support for AMD Opteron Added"). Microsoft says that a CTP is "an interim build that provides the community with the ability to test and experiment with new features as they are added." CTP releases are available to MSDN and Betaplace subscribers.

Microsoft also last week announced a new CTP of SQL Server 2005 Express Manager, which can be used to streamline the support and administration of various SQL Server instances, including SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine, and SQL Server 2005 Developer and Express Editions. The SQL Server 2005 Express Manager can be downloaded from www.microsoft.com/downloads, as well as from Betaplace and MSDN locations.