With Windows Server 2008 in RC here's some good info

This post links to some of the information available to help you understand, prepare for and leverage our Core Infrastructure technologies and Windows Server 2008 in you institution.

General Info 

Windows Server 2008 - https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/default.mspx

The starting point to obtain information on Windows Server 2008 and related technologies.

Windows Server 2008 RC Evaluation - https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/audsel.mspx

Microsoft System Center family of IT management solutions - https://www.microsoft.com/systemcenter/

Microsoft System Center plays a central role in the Microsoft vision to help IT organizations benefit from self-managing, dynamic systems. System Center solutions capture and aggregate knowledge about your infrastructure, policies, processes, and best practices so your IT staff can build manageable systems and automate operations in order to reduce costs, improve application availability, and enhance service delivery.

Microsoft Forefront - https://www.microsoft.com/forefront/default.mspx

The Microsoft Forefront comprehensive line of business security products provides greater protection and control through integration with your existing IT infrastructure and through simplified deployment, management, and analysis. Forefront is a comprehensive solution that helps provide protection for the client operating system, application servers, and the network edge.

For Developers

Windows SDK for Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 and .NET Framework 3.5 Beta2 - https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=3671E40C-D700-4509-9ED0-30E00EA38A9C

This Windows® Software Development Kit (SDK) provides prerelease documentation, samples, header files, libraries, and tools designed to help you develop Windows applications using both native (Win32®) and managed (.NET Framework) technologies. (ISO Image)

DirectX SDK Now Available - https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=529F03BE-1339-48C4-BD5A-8506E5ACF571&displaylang=en

The August 2007 DirectX SDK download contains the tools needed to build cutting-edge, media-rich, interactive applications. It includes run-times, headers and libraries, samples, documentation, utilities, and support for C++ development. This SDK includes important announcements regarding the release schedules of future SDKs, a Direct3D 10.1 Technology Preview, an XAudio2 beta, a new XACT “Session Window,” and a trace tool for GDF files, as well as many new or updated samples and articles.

Top 7 Ways to Light Up Your Apps on Windows Server 2008 - https://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb852230.aspx

Whether you are building Web applications or writing core server-based system services, Windows Server® 2008 provides many new features that you can leverage to build more secure, flexible, and innovative applications.

Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit (Beta 3) - https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=b36ee81a-aff5-4314-95d7-dad3acfa8094&displaylang=en

The Windows Server 2008 Developer Training Kit includes a set of hands-on-labs and presentations for technologies such as IIS7, Management, WCF, WF, Windows CardSpace, Windows PowerShell, Virtualization and the Transactional File System (TxF).

For IT Pros

Windows Server Virtualization: A Key Feature of Windows Server 2008 - https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/virtualization/default.mspx

Windows Server virtualization is the virtualization platform that provides the greatest flexibility because of dynamic, reliable and scalable platform capabilities combined with a single set of integrated management tools to manage both physical and virtual resources, which enables you to create an agile and dynamic datacenter and progress toward achieving self managing dynamic systems. Windows Server virtualization, a key feature of Windows Server 2008 provides better reliability, greater scalability and dynamic capabilities that allows you to virtualize most workloads in your infrastructure.

Internet Information Services 7.0 in Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate - https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/iis/default.mspx

More than just a Web server, Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7) provides a security-enhanced, easy-to-manage platform for developing and reliably hosting Web applications and services. Moreover, IIS7 is a major enhancement to the Windows Web platform and plays a central role in unifying Microsoft's Web platform technologies—ASP.NET, Windows Communication Foundation Web services, and Windows SharePoint Services.

Core Infrastructure Optimization Implementer Resource Guide: Basic to Standardized - https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=84248

This is the first of three resource guides for the Core Infrastructure Optimization Model explaining key IT capabilities necessary to move from one of four defined levels to the next more efficient and streamlined level. This guide focuses on moving from Basic to Standardized.

Microsoft Forefront codename “Stirling” - https://www.microsoft.com/forefront/prodinfo/roadmap/stirling.mspx

Forefront codename “Stirling” is a single product that delivers unified security management and reporting with comprehensive, coordinated protection across clients, server applications, and the network edge. Through its deep integration with the existing infrastructure, such as Microsoft Active Directory and Microsoft System Center, customers can reduce complexity, making it easier to achieve a more secure and well-managed infrastructure.

Webcasts and more
Step into a New Windows Server 2008 Virtual Lab for Free - https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/2008/bb512925.aspx

Come experience the next major release of Windows Server! In these Virtual Labs, you'll have the opportunity to test-drive new and improved features and functionality in the upcoming Windows Server 2008 release, including management, network protection and improvements to Terminal Services.

Windows Server 2008 Webcasts - https://www.microsoft.com/events/series/windowsserver2008.aspx?tab=webcasts

Prepare yourself for the next release of Microsoft’s server operating system—Windows Server 2008. Tune in and learn how you can leverage the new features to improve your organization's networking infrastructure and security, server performance and reliability, remote resource access, and client deployment. Subject matter experts break down what these upgrades mean for your environment and how to take advantage of them.

Windows Server 2008 – Learning Portal - https://www.microsoft.com/learning/windowsserver2008/default.mspx

Focus on readiness for Windows Server 2008 now, and you can be the one who stands out when initiatives happen—and when promotion decisions are made. Let Microsoft Learning resources give you the head start you need to transition your skills and credentials to the latest Windows Server technologies—or get started with a new certification.

Introducing Windows Server 2008 by Mitch Tulloch with the Microsoft Windows Server Team (ISBN: 9780735624214) - https://www.microsoft.com/MSPress/books/11163.aspx

Preview and evaluate the latest features, capabilities, and improvements to Windows Server 2008. The e-book includes coverage of usage scenarios, Windows Server virtualization, configuration and management, server roles, and the core installation, plus pointers to additional resources.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.