Skip Links

Network World

  • Social Web 
  • Email 
  • Close

Microsoft lays out Windows Server future, defends virtualization cuts

Windows Server Virtualization, Windows Server 2008 hot topics at WinHEC
By John Fontana , Network World , 05/17/2007
Newsletter Signup
  • Share/Email
  • Tweet This
  • Comment
  • Print

Los Angeles — Microsoft last week laid out its road map for various versions of Longhorn over the next two years, including the elimination of 32-bit versions, and christened the new operating system Windows Server 2008.

In addition, company officials for the first time admitted they may have shot too high on the feature set for the Windows Server Virtualization (WSV) add-on to Longhorn, but said the remaining virtualization capabilities would still appeal to the broad market.

Windows Server road map
Over the next two years, Microsoft plans to release a host of server operating systems tuned for small, midsize and large businesses, including the first update to the forthcoming Windows Server 2008 that will usher in the 64-bit-only era at Microsoft.

Year Operating system Description Key features
2007 Windows Server 2008 Longhorn is finally set for its debut by year-end. Security, management features highlight operating system.
  Windows Home Server Microsoft targeting consumer market with operating system to serve multi-PC homes. Support for multimedia sharing and streaming.
2008 Windows Server Centro Infrastructure bundle for small and midsize businesses. Longhorn, Exchange and security technologies in a single 64-bit-only server.
  Windows Server Cougar Next major upgrade to Small Business Server. Like Centro, based on Longhorn; adds tighter ties to Office, Vista.
  Windows Storage Server Next major release. Creates a platform for network-attached storage
2009 Windows Server 2008 R2 The "every other year" interim release in Microsoft's four-year cycle of major upgrades. 64-bit-only. Could include baked-in virtualization capabilities.
2011 Windows Server 2011 If Microsoft stays on its release cycle, this would be year for successor to 2008 Microsoft has not officially announced anything beyond 2009.
Click to see: Windows server road map

The announcements came at the company’s 16th annual WinHEC conference and the last that will feature Bill Gates as its keynote speaker. In July 2008, Gates will become a part-time employee and focus most of his time on philanthropic work.

Company officials reiterated that Windows Server 2008 and Windows Home Server would ship this year. In 2008, Microsoft will ship Centro, the code name for a server for small and midsize businesses, and Cougar, the next version of Small Business Server, and the next version of Windows Storage Server. These servers will be based on Windows Server 2008.

  • Share/Email
  • Tweet This
  • Comment
  • Print
Partner Content

Explore the Ultrium Edge

The powerful tape technology can address data security with tape encryption as well as long term data protection.

Find Out More

Disk and Tape Square Off

Discover what disk and tape really cost and which solution provides lower total cost of ownership and optimizes energy use for your organization

Download this White Paper

Don't Fall for the Myths

The Clipper Group explores the truth behind the myths of tape, digging into the misconceptions in the disk vs. tape debate.

Review this information

information examination

An examination of information security issues, methods and securing data with LTO-4 tape drive encryption

Read this analysis

Comment
Login
Forgot your account info?
Add comment
Anonymous comments subject to approval. Register here for member benefits.
Have a NetworkWorld account? Log in here. Register now for a free account.

Videos

rssRss Feed