Microsoft today announced the release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. This puts R2/W7 right on schedule for general release on October 22.
In coordination of this release, Mitchell Ashley has interviewed Windows Server Division product manager Eric Jewett who explains how the much-anticipated Live Migration works. (At 3:11 in the interview). He talks about how Hyper-V cuts over from one running VM to another with no downtime, no loss of state and how the price is right, included for free in the Server). Jewett also mentions that System Center is not a requirement to use Live Migration -- though certainly can be used to help.
At 5:48, the two discuss performance improvements in Hyper-V, particularly mentioning the contentious issue of memory management (VMware is marketing itself heavily against Hyper-V by claiming it handles memory overcommit better than Hyper-V).
The two go on to discuss "green" CPU power consumption improvements of up to 18%, scalability and reliability improvements, and Remote Desktop Services (former Terminal Server) including presentation improvements and the addition of the RDS connection broker. They talk about the many Windows 7 specific additions including DirectAccess support, and BranchCache that locally caches and serves up large non-volatile files from a cache server or Windows 7 user machines instead of downloading them multiple times over a WAN link.
Listen:
Windows Server 2008 R2 is available for download the second half of August if you are a Technet or MSDN subscriber and it will be on the volume licensing price list September 1.
I give Microsoft a lot of grief in this blog for spending too much time and energy chasing competitors ideas instead of developing its own technologies to solve real business problems. But R2, by all accounts, is Microsoft at its best.
Jewett provided several resources for you to evaluate R2’s improvements and capabilities, including these resource links:
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Reviewers Guide
- Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit
- Windows Sever 2008 R2 RC Download
- Application Compatibility Resources for IT Professionals and Developers
Also see:
Network World Clear Choice Tests Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows 7 IPv6 Support
Fear and Loathing: More Windows 7 BranchCache Stuff - Part 1
Fear and Loathing: More Windows 7 BranchCache Stuff - Part Deuce
Fear and Loathing: More Windows 7 BranchCache Stuff - Part Three
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