Microsoft Releases Windows Server 2003 R2
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 2nd Feb 2006 19:56 UTC
Windows Microsoft's long-awaited Windows Server 2003 R2, the update to Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1, is finally generally available, the company said on Feb. 1. This widespread availability follows the December 2005 release to manufacturing of the final code for this server software. Microsoft customers will now be able to buy Windows Server 2003 R2 pre-installed on hardware through companies such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard and IBM, and Microsoft's enterprise Software Assurance customers will get their Windows Server 2003 R2 updates in the near future.
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Used it yet?
by Adam S on Thu 2nd Feb 2006 21:35 UTC
Adam S
Member since:
2005-04-01

Has anyone used this yet? I haven't seen any reviews yet.

Reply Score: 5

RE: Used it yet?
by jason_brooks on Fri 3rd Feb 2006 19:52 UTC in reply to "Used it yet?"
jason_brooks Member since:
2006-02-03

We reviewed it at eWEEK: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1908728,00.asp

It's not a big change from the initial 2k3 release, but I was impressed by the steps they've taken toward better interop with Linux/Unix.

Reply Score: 2

what is the difference between this and ...
by anyweb on Thu 2nd Feb 2006 21:43 UTC
anyweb
Member since:
2005-07-06

what is the difference between this and windows 2003 server sp1 ?

i just did a windows update on my win2k3 server and nada.

any ideas anyone ? the article was more a sales pitch than news

cheers
anyweb

Reply Score: 1

cwdrake Member since:
2005-08-09

This is not a Service Pack. It is a new release of the Windows Server OS that you will have to pay for unless you have already paid for software assurance on your server OS.

Reply Score: 2

cwdrake Member since:
2005-08-09

Windows Server 2003 R2 adds the following...

Better Branch Office Management
Active Directory Federated Services
File Server Resource Manager
Storage Manager for SANs
A new version of the .NET Framework
UNIX Interoperability

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/R2

Reply Score: 3

dillee1 Member since:
2005-08-10

- Some "Unix co-op" stuff, like a reamped posix sub and NFS client/server. No unix tools included.(e.g. not even a simple shell).
- Server role wizard which are supposed to help quick configuration for w2k3 for specific task.
- New logo that add "R2" in the "About Windows" dialog. Text within the logo actually looks more aliased and uglier than normal w2k3.

R2 come with 2 cd. Disc 1 is identical to w2k3+sp1(same build number). Only difference is the EULA text in text mode setup is updated. Disc 2 is the R2 feature pack. Disc 1 only install is identical to w2k3+sp1.

IMO unix-coop stuff is pretty useless. SFU is superior to that. An admin knowing what he is doing don't need wizard as well. Pretty pointless to upgrade to R2 if one is already at sp1, unless you want the upgraded logo.......

Reply Score: 1

CPUGuy Member since:
2005-07-06

Or the ADFS, or the Storage Manager, or the Branch Office Management, etc...

There is more to it than unix-coop stuff.

Reply Score: 1

Tom K Member since:
2005-07-06

As far as I know, R2 comes with a new and much-improved SFU. SFU has always contained boatloads of UNIX utilities, including an NFS server and client.

Reply Score: 5

Tom K Member since:
2005-07-06

And this was moded down why? Someone doesn't want to hear that R2 isn't as bad as they think it is?

Reply Score: 4

postmodern Member since:
2006-01-27

Well when an individual becomes a strict ideologue, unable to discuss the different facets of certain stories they usually gain enemies. You shouldn't be so surprised, your username is a large target. Now I would actually want to hear from you on Windows related topics, since you've been very informative and even handed in that area. Perhaps that next “Linux” related post that comes up, you could give a broader analysis, instead of the usual “worst. OS. Eva”, I'm sure people would respect you more then.

PS: I didn't mod you down, just giving a theory on why you were modded down.

Reply Score: 5

Tom K Member since:
2005-07-06

Appreciated.

I'll take you up on that suggestion.

Reply Score: 4

free update?
by cwinans on Thu 2nd Feb 2006 21:49 UTC
cwinans
Member since:
2005-07-12

Does anyone know if this will be a free update to 2k3sp1?

Reply Score: 1

RE: free update?
by cwdrake on Thu 2nd Feb 2006 21:53 UTC in reply to "free update?"
cwdrake Member since:
2005-08-09

No, it will not be free unless you have purchased software assurance. It is an interim release of the Windows Server OS filling the gap between Windows Server 2003 and Windows Loghorn Server. You will have to pay for it the same as a regular Windows Server OS.

Reply Score: 2

Also licensing change
by dilidolo on Thu 2nd Feb 2006 23:09 UTC
dilidolo
Member since:
2006-02-02

Now you can run up to 4 VM instances inside one machine paying only one license. This is HUGE!

Reply Score: 2

Workstation?
by Gentleman on Fri 3rd Feb 2006 09:40 UTC
Gentleman
Member since:
2006-01-17

I used win2003 for a while as a workstation. How about this new release? Should it be good advice using this as a workstation replacing my xp install?

http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/

Reply Score: 1

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