By Michael Cherry [bio]
Posted: Feb. 20, 2006

The following an excerpt of a Research Report published by Directions on Microsoft, an independent research firm focused exclusively on Microsoft strategy & technology. More samples of our content, as well as a list of upcoming articles and reports are also available.

Contributing Analysts: Rob Helm and Peter Pawlak

This report examines the "R2" release of Windows Server 2003, a minor update to Windows Server that requires a previous service pack (Windows Server 2003 SP1). Windows Server 2003 R2 offers improvements to the following four specific scenarios:

• Improved functionality for branch offices
• Improved deployment and management of storage, including storage area networks
• Improved support for migration to Windows Server from Unix and Linux
• The first Windows Server support for federated identity management.

This report examines each of these changes and improvements in Windows Server 2003 R2. Few customers will benefit from all of these improvements, but most customers could benefit from at least one. Finally, the report looks at additional changes, such as the decision to drop 32-bit OS support in some future server products that may also make Microsoft's product delivery schedules more predicable.