Windows Server 2008 R2 Released to Manufacturing
Windows Server 2008 R2 has been released to manufacturing and has the same release dates to customers as Windows 7.
Partners & OEMs will be able to download from Microsoft Connect or MSDN on August 6th. Action Pack Subscribers will be about to download English versions starting August 23rd. Developers with MSDN Subscriptions will be able to download English versions on August 6th.
Key Features in R2
Windows Server 2008 R2 provides new virtualization tools, Web resources, management updates, and Windows 7 integration reduce costs, and provide for a dynamic and efficiently managed data center.
Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 based on same kernel. That means you can exploit many of the features that are also in Windows 7. The Windows SDK provides samples, documentation, headers and libraries, and tools. This release of the Windows SDK is compatible with Visual Studio 2008; including Visual Studio Express Editions. For more information about how to get the SDK, see Windows SDK Supports Release Candidates.
Here are the highlights of Windows Server 2008 R2. For more details about each of the features, see How to Get Started Leveraging Windows Server 2008 R2 Features.
Multicore/Manycore NUMA Readiness
Your Windows Server I/O or resource intensive solution can leverage the new NUMA topology APIs and related constructs optionally using User-Mode Scheduling (UMS), the Concurrency Runtime + PPL or .NET Parallel Extensions.
Server Core + (.NET, ASP.NET, or WWSAPI)
Your Windows Server Core based solution can leverage .NET and optionally ASP.NET, Windows Web Services API (WWSAPI), or PowerShell 2.0.
PowerShell
New PowerShell 2.0 features can be leveraged in your applications including Remoting, Eventing, GUI, WMI Enhancements, Universal Code Execution Model, among many others. Optional scenarios include solution integration with PowerShell for Software as a Service management automation.
Enterprise Network Solutions
Your Windows Server solution can leverage the Branch Cache server feature or using the WinHTTP/HTTP.SYS stack directly or optionally using a network stack dependent technology like BITs Compact Server or Windows Web Services API.
Virtualization and Hyper-V
Use VHD virtualized environment for test, evaluation, or production and optionally implementing a Hyper-V WMI programming interface.
Developer Training Kit
You can get started getting ready for Windows Server 2008 R2 with the Windows Server 2008 R2 Developer Training Kit .
The kit consists of Developer-oriented content including:
- Windows Server 2008 R2, What's New
- Developing Applications that Scale
- How to Develop .NET and ASP.NET Applications for Server Core
- Develop Native-Code Web Services
- Event Tracing for Windows
- 9 Scripted Presentations
- About 20 Scripted Demos
- 10 Hands-on-Labs with ~30 Exercises
Resources
Resources for Windows Server 2008 R2 include:
- R2 videos on Channel9: https://channel9.msdn.com/tags/W2K8R2
- Online Training Courses Offered for Windows Server 2008 R2
- R2 on MSDN Code Gallery: https://code.msdn.microsoft.com/w2k8r2
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Blog: https://blogs.msdn.com/philpenn
Front Runner
Sign up for the new Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Front Runner program. Front Runner is an early adopter program for ISVs in the US that helps you get your applications compatible with the latest Microsoft technologies. Front Runner provides you with access to Microsoft experts who can answer your questions and to training courses on developing for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. Once you tell us that your application is compatible, you’ll get a range of marketing benefits to help you let your customers know you’re a Front Runner, including customizable marketing and PR campaigns as well as listings in Microsoft directories that are viewed by millions of people.
For ISVs outside the United States, you can participate in ISV App Compat.
Bruce D. KyleISV Architect Evangelist | Microsoft Corporation
Special thanks to Phil Pennington for his help with this posting.
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