Microsoft Updates Windows Server Roadmap

by Alex Woodie

It's been quite a year for Microsoft's Windows Server suite. Last week Bob Muglia, Microsoft's senior vice president of the Windows server system, provided a report on the progress that the Redmond, Washington, software company has made with the Windows server product, and provided an update for 2005.

Muglia pointed to Microsoft's accomplishments in 2004. During the second half of the year, the company shipped Microsoft Operations Manager 2005, Windows Virtual Server 2005, a software development kit for Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition, a beta for Windows Update Services, several Systems Management Server feature packs, and Identity Integration Server Service Pack 1. Just this month, the company delivered a the first release candidate for Windows Server 2003 SP1, a release candidate for Windows X64, and a beta for Windows Server 2003 R2.

Looking forward to the first half of 2005, Microsoft will be issuing some pretty important products, not the least of which is a version of Windows Server 2003 that can use the new so-called "extended 64-bit," or x64, processors from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices. Here's what's in the pipeline for the first half of 2005:

• Windows Server 2003 SP1
• Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions
• Windows Small Business Server SP1
• Windows Update Services
• Windows Server R2 Beta
• Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition Beta

The second half of 2005 looks pretty exciting too, with several "R2" releases of important products and the first beta release of the next version of Windows, codenamed "Longhorn," due to arrive. Here's the full Windows server menu for the second half of 2005:

• Windows Server "Longhorn" Beta
• Windows Server 2003 R2
• Windows Small Business Server R2
• Windows Storage Server R2
• Windows Server 2003 Compute Cluster Edition
• Windows Server System 2006 Criteria

There is nothing really new with these dates or products, and Microsoft's Windows Server Product Roadmap hasn't changed since July 28. IT Jungle will be covering these releases in more depth in 2005. But in the meantime, we'll be taking a couple of weeks off to celebrate Christmas, and hoping the snow doesn't block access to the beach here in San Diego. Happy holidays to all!