Windows Home Server
Download Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V through the TechNet Plus portal
Hyper-V, a key feature of Windows Server 2008, has now released to manufacturing (RTM) and is available for deployment into production environments. A beta of Hyper-V was included with Windows Server 2008 and this update provides the final release. Now, it’s available to TechNet Plus Subscribers.
Server virtualization, also known as hardware virtualization, is a hot topic in the IT world because of the potential for serious economic benefits. Server virtualization enables multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine as virtual machines (VMs). With server virtualization, you can consolidate workloads of underutilized server machines onto a smaller number of fully utilized machines. Fewer physical machines can lead to reduced costs through lower hardware, energy, and management overhead, plus the creation of a more dynamic IT infrastructure.
To download your copy make sure you login to your TechNet Plus subscription. You can find:
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Windows Server 2008 Datacenter, Enterprise and Standard (x64) - DVD (English) and
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Windows Server 2008 Datacenter, Enterprise and Standard (x86) - DVD (English)
under “Operating Systems > Windows Server 2008″
Source- Technet Blog
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Windows Server 2008 out shines Vista
IT decision-makers give the server operating system a qualified thumbs up and plan to move to it as part of the normal server refresh cycle, which typically ranges from three to five years.
It may look like Windows Vista. It shares the same code base as Vista. It even rolls in Vista’s first Service Pack. But in terms of customer adoption plans, Windows Server 2008 is no Vista.
A new Computerworld survey shows that 63 per cent of the 403 respondents plan to adopt Microsoft’s new server operating system.
This contrasts with the intention of some IT organizations to skip Vista entirely and move directly to Windows 7 on the desktop.
Source: www.itbusiness.ca
Windows HPC Server 2008 RC1 Released
You may now download the Windows HPC Server 2008 release candidate via http://connect.microsoft.com. Register for the "Windows HPC Server 2008" beta program. You’ll also want to grab the corresponding SDK. Please do provide usability feedback using the "Feedback Tool" on the beta program web-site.
For technical discussions, join and participate in the Windows HPC forums accessible via the "Forums" tab on http://windowshpc.net.
Source- MSDN Blog
Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V is available for download
Today, Microsoft reaches a significant milestone for customers and partners with the release of Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, the hypervisor-based virtualization feature included in select versions of Windows Server 2008. Those who have already deployed the x64 versions of Windows Server 2008 can receive Hyper-V from Windows Update beginning July 8, while new customers and partners can download Hyper-V later today (12:00 pm PT). The Windows Virtualization team will be counting down the days to download from Windows Update, so be sure to visit the Windows Virtualization Team blog to see daily spotlights on specific features and benefits of Hyper-V technology, as well as to read about customer stories and see postings from guests.
Since the beta release of Hyper-V in February, more than 250 customers have participated in Hyper-V’s early adoption program. Microsoft’s own deployment and results with Hyper-V is showcased today in Rob Emanuel’s guest blog and video on the Windows Server Division blog, specifically on customers using Hyper-V and partner benefits, visit the Microsoft PressPass site.
Also, check out the new Hyper-V videos on TechNet Edge:
TechNet Edge Interview: Hyper-V Overview with Mike Neil
TechNet Edge Interview: Hyper-V Program managers interview Part 1
TechNet Edge Interview: Hyper-V Program managers interview Part 2
Other Resources:
Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
Virtualization Solution Accelerators
Source- Technet Blog
Windows Server 2008 Power Savings Whitepaper published
"Microsoft has published a new whitepaper on Windows Server 2008 power savings, and the results and methodologies of the tests run to develop the paper.
This is an excellent document, which outlines the test results (downloadable in separate spreadsheets) and the role of virtualisation in optimising energy efficiencies in your data centres.
Check it out at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=61d493fd-855d-4719-8662-3a40ba3a0a5c&displaylang=en
Source- Bianca’s great blog
Hyper-V RTM’ed !
Hyper-V has RTM’ed ! That is way earlier than the initial 180 days after Windows Server 2008 release. Expect more information and official press release later today.
Source- Bink.nu
Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 Beta Update
Just got the mail from Microsoft Connect-
The Public Beta of Power Pack 1 for Windows Home Server has been available for just over a week and we’ve had a great response so far. Thanks to those who of you who have downloaded, installed and tested the update package or full ISO installs.
To help out with ideas for testing the Windows Home Server team is posting weekly Feature Focus documents. The first was posted earlier this week and the second one has just been posted. Please visit the download section to download the documents.
Also appearing in the download section of connect is the just released German version of Power Pack 1. We have posted both the update package and full ISO’s of Power Pack 1 German edition.
Finally, we would like to bring your attention to a great resource for many Home Server owners. Microsoft and HP are holding a series of webcasts on how to do more with the HP MediaSmart Server. This series includes topics such as, extending Windows Home Server with Add-Ins, Digital Photography, and Mobile Warriors. The first in the series, extending Windows Home Server with Add-Ins, will be held on June 25th, and will feature special guest Terry Walsh of We Got Served! For more information on all of the upcoming webcasts, or to register for the event on June 25th, please visit http://www.windows.com/hpmediasmartwebinar
Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 public beta!
The Windows Home Server team, in conjunction with all of our partners, MVPs, and "Dogfooders" is extremely happy to announce that a Release Candidate of Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 (Build 1771) is now available for public download and testing through Microsoft Connect!
There has been a huge amount of testing applied to Power Pack 1 already and we have high confidence that Power Pack 1 solves the data corruption bug that was first identified late last year (Knowledge Base article #946676). We are running this public beta with the aspiration that we will get thousands of beta testers to help us prove that we not only have fixed "the bug", but have significantly improved all parts of Windows Home Server with new features such as:
- Support for PCs running Windows Vista x64 editions
- Backup of home server Shared Folders
- Easier, enhanced remote access capabilities
- Better energy efficiency
- Improved performance
- Chinese and Japanese versions
We will not ship the final release of Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 until the community has validated our work. In the Release Documentation for Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 we outline a number of specific test scenarios. For us to feel our testing has been validated we need a large number of beta testers to work through these scenarios and regular home server operation for a period of time. Given the fantastic number of people who have signed up already (well ahead of the numbers we were hoping for), and how great the community has been in the past in helping us, I am confident we’ll get enough testers. The only remaining question is how quickly those testers download the bits and start testing them.
The Windows Home Server Customer Improvement Program allows us to track metrics on product usage and we are anxiously watching how the product is used to gauge when we’ve hit our target…so we can begin the final release process.
So don’t delay. Head on over to Microsoft Connect and sign-up (if you haven’t already) and download and start testing Windows Home Server Power Pack 1. We’ve posted both an update package that can be applied to existing Windows Home Servers as well as updated DVD and CD ISO images of an evaluation version of Windows Home Server with Power Pack 1. If you choose to run the Release Candidate on a "production" home server you should make a backup of everything prior to getting started. Make sure you read the Release Documentation to see what’s new and updated!
The Windows Home Server team has added a Power Pack 1 forum to the Windows Home Server Community forums. If you have questions about Power Pack 1, please go there to ask them.
Source- Windows Home Server Team blog
