Echo Binary

I attended the launch of Windows Server 2003 R2 yesterday at Makati Shangri-La Hotel. I was able to arrive at the venue just on time. I thought I was late already because it was 8:40 AM when I arrived. Microsoft Philippines had given away portfolio bag, ballpen, quick notes and magazines for every attendees. When the event started, I was surprised that there is a special number by the Philippine Wushu Team. I was surprised that they had given this even so much preparation even if R2 is just a minor release of Windows Server. Actually even though it’s just a minor release R2 has some interesting new features that made it more than just a service pack. So it’s not a service pack but it’s not a major release hence it was called release 2 because it is a release update. That’s what I understand from what I saw in the presentation.

Before Windows Server 2003, it’s hard to predict when will Microsoft release its server OS. However starting in Windows Server 2003 Microsoft reorganized the server product line so that every four years Microsoft will ship a major Windows Server release. Two years after each major release, an R2 (release 2) version will be released. Windows Server 2003 R2 is the first R2 release.

In R2, there are 5 main improvements: Simplified Branch Server Management, Improved Identity and Access Management, Reduced Storage Management Costs, Rich Web Platform, Cost Effective Server Virtualization, and Seamless UNIX/Windows Integration.

What caught my attention is the virtualization feature in Windows Server 2003 R2. You can run 4 instances of Windows Server 2003 on top of your installation of Windows Server 2003. You also get 4 additional licenses to run virtual copies of Windows Server 2003 so you get 5 license in total. This is great way to maximize your resources. And you can also virtualize Linux in Windows Server 2003. No matter what flavor of Linux, the speaker said that Microsoft would support them in case you encounter problems to get them running.

To find out more information about Windows Server 2003 R2, visit the links below.

Links:
Microsoft Philippines: Windows Servers
What’s New in Windows Server 2003 R2
Technorati Tags: Windows+Server+2003, Philippines