REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 4, 2008 –Approaching the company’s largest enterprise launch in its history, Microsoft reached another important milestone today with the release to manufacturing (RTM) of Windows Server 2008. The response from IT professionals and developers has been strong as the company moves toward the worldwide launch of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 on February 27.

One indication of the momentum that is building around the latest server operating system is the number of beta and evaluation versions that customers and partners have obtained: more than two million.

IT professionals face increasing pressure from rapidly changing technology, increasing costs and security concerns, and expanding business needs. Windows Server 2008 helps alleviate these pressures by automating daily management tasks, tightening security, improving efficiency and increasing availability. It also offers virtualization solutions that will enable IT professionals to reduce costs, increase hardware utilization, optimize their infrastructure, and improve server availability.

Furthermore, because Windows Server 2008 was developed in tandem with the Windows Vista code base, it has most of that operating system’s advanced management and security features, such as integrated Network Access Protection (NAP) and Group Policy. Customers will also see system-wide performance improvements from an integrated system architecture, including network file sharing, managed quality of service and reduced power consumption. Common tools and processes across both operating systems will result in efficiencies for IT organizations.

“We’ve been working with partners around the world who are creating solutions that take advantage of the new platform’s feature set,” said Bob Visse, senior director, Windows Server Marketing Group at Microsoft. “There’s been tremendous support for the operating system and a lot of excitement around the opportunity it represents for the industry.”

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2008/feb08/02-04WS2008.mspx

One of my favorite documents for Windows Server 2003 is now available in beta form for Windows Server 2008.  If you have never reviewed these guides I strongly recommend them.  The guide makes it easy to tailor the security configuration to accommodate the needs of your organization.  There is also a really cool GPOAccelerator (Group Policy Object Accelerator) tool to help you rapidly setup, test and deploy configurations of Group Policy security settings.  Here are some of the resources for Windows Server 2008 Security Guide:

Check out the Executive Overview.

Join the Windows Server 2008 Security Guide beta.

Would you like to help Microsoft and shape Windows? Do you have a cool idea that you want to see in the next version of Windows? Is there something which is bugging you in the current version of Windows? Or does Windows not work for you?

Now it is the time for you to submit your feedback about what you want to see in the next version of Windows, through the Windows Feedback Program!

Register and join and Submit your feedback now at http://wfp.microsoft.com/

Counting down to Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 Global Launch in 185 days!

You can download the Vista Sidebar countdown’s gadget from:

http://www.wedsg.com/winclient/vistasidebargadget/download.htm

 

More information can be found from:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/default.mspx

msblog fingerprint tag

Just documenting an error:

Error Message: System Cannot Log You on Because Domain <Computername> Is Not Available

SUMMARY

An error “System Cannot Log You on Because Domain <Computername> Is Not Available” appears when you try to log on to Windows.

SYMPTOMS

When the user tries to log on to the computer in the Log On dialog, it will fail with the error “System Cannot Log You on Because Domain <Computername> Is Not Available”. Log on using safe mode will not work either.

For instructions on resolving this issue, please see: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555939

msblog fingerprint tag

“Woo-hoo!  We did it. Today we are announcing that Windows Home Server has been released to manufacturing (RTM). We have finalized the software and now handing it off to our OEM partners. The evaluation version (with 120 day evaluation period) and the system builder version are also heading into the distribution channels and will be available in the next couple of months. French, German and Spanish versions will be finalized shortly, and OEM products will hit retail shelves this fall. “We’re also excited to announce Iomega and Fujitsu-Siemens Computers (FSC) as new OEMs planning to ship Windows Home Server products later this year.

“Here’s the toast I gave to the team at our RTM ship party last Friday night.It started with a vision that an always available device on the home network was an essential ingredient of a Microsoft platform for the home. At first there was only one of us, then three, then five… We put together a plan for a plan and executed. The result was an ambitious, yet pragmatic product plan that would deliver real value to consumers. We formed a team of extremely passionate, diverse, and hard working people. Some will say we had great luck but we know the best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself. We had a spirit of getting it done, no matter what. We broke some rules but never any laws. A community of highly enthusiastic customers rose around us. We made them part of the development process and rewarded them and they amplified our efforts.  We made some mistakes…and corrected them. We took a few risks…and they paid off.  In April 2005 we said we’d ship V1 in the first half of 2007. It wasn’t always easy and it wasn’t always fun, but we said what we were going to do and then we did it. You know what they say…the fourth time’s a charm.†  Congratulations and thanks for helping ship the coolest version of Windows ever: Windows Home Server.“The party was a blast and I’m glad to say everyone got home safely :-).”

Source: http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/archive/2007/07/16/ship-it.aspx (Windows Home Server Blog)

msblog fingerprint tag