As VMware steps into the virtualization limelight in San Francisco at its VMworld conference Sept. 11, Microsoft is trying to steal some of that thunder by making a number of announcements of its own. Microsoft is announcing that it plans to deliver the first release candidate of Windows Server 2008 later this month. The first Community Technology Preview of Windows Server Virtualization, code-named Viridian, will be released at the same time, Larry Orecklin, Microsoft's general manager of marketing for System Center, said at a media event Sept. 10.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-12-06
Member since:2005-07-06
The easier way to avoid the problem is move to something like iFolder or NFSv4 to avoid the version/revision compatibility issues.
Member since:2007-08-22
Well, historically Samba has been about a generation behind Microsoft due to the fact that they are essentially reverse engineering the MS SMB/CIFS protocol using network packet analysis. (They've discovered some really cool things about Windows as a result too. Just check their docs and you'll see some of the treasures.)
So, unless (as the other poster suggests) Microsoft plays more nicely this time around and doesn't change their SMB/CIFS protocol, then it will likely happen again.
But that's not really a big deal, as Samba would still be able to interop with the new protocol much the same way that WS2003, Win2k, WinXP, and others will. So they won't be left out in the dark, just not able to run as a PDC/BDC in a WS2K8 network; but it is not likely that there will be many Win2k8 networks for a while as businesses will try it out in test labs, etc. before putting into production.
So, it's all up to how much Microsoft modified the protocol; on the other hand, given that Vista has been out for a while now, it is possible that they could have reverse engineered some of the Vista-to-Vista specifics and have a head start - who knows, they may have even gotten a Win2k8 beta too (not likely though).
Best head over to the Samba mailing list for an official and real answer.
Member since:2006-10-31
Member since:
2005-07-06
Will WS 2008 come out just in time to steal the thunder of Samba 4? Samba 4 will enable users to setup an Active Directory commpatible server - ie., operate in a WS 2003 environment (including being the Primary Domain Controller). I assume WS 2008 will introduce just enough incompatibility to SMB and AD to cause Samba 4 users to again be behind the times with Microsoft's current server line. On the other hand, maybe the Samba folks are already following this and will be able to fulfill the role of a 2008 server. Just wondering!