By Michael Cherry [bio]
Posted: Feb. 20, 2006                             Purchase a copy of this report

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.

Free! Executive Summary

Windows Server 2003 R2, an interim update to Microsoft's server OS, will interest customers with specific branch office, storage management, Unix interoperability, and identity management issues

Free! Introduction

Windows Server 2003 R2 is designed to make Windows Server delivery more predictable and reliable by limiting changes to a few key features and scenarios

Branch Office Improvements

To encourage organizations to deploy or upgrade to Windows Server 2003, Microsoft is making it easier to support file and print servers in branch offices

New Storage Management Features

Windows Server 2003 R2 includes two new tools that should help administrators better manage disk storage

Identity Management Improvements

Windows Server 2003 R2 includes Microsoft's first technology for linking Active Directories in two organizations, but the supported scenarios are limited to Web applications, and some applications may require changes

Unix Services Support Migration

Windows Server 2003 R2 incorporates the functions of Services for Unix, which enables Windows servers to use Unix-compatible file sharing and directory protocols and run Unix applications

Future Directions and Considerations

The release of its first R2 version is a good start toward more predictable release cycles, but it does not guarantee Microsoft will be able to stick to this plan

Availability

The availability and licensing details for Windows Server 2003 R2

Resources

Additional sources of information about the topics covered in this Research Report

Appendix: SP1 Enhances Windows Server Security

The first service pack for Windows Server 2003 includes several security improvements, and the changes should raise fewer application compatibility concerns than Windows XP SP2