As this chart shows, Microsoft is unlikely to release the next version
of Windows Server (code-named Blackcomb) until 2006 or 2007. However, it will extend the
functionality of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 by releasing free add-ons and optional products
(which might require customers to purchase additional Client Access Licenses or
per-processor server licenses). It will also release service packs and entirely new
products based on Windows Server 2003.
| |
Description |
Anticipated
Delivery |
Product
Type |
Additional
Information |
| Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) |
Tool to facilitate the administration and
ongoing management of Group Policy |
Available |
Add-on |
See "Windows
.NET Server Reduces Fear of Group Policy" on page 3 of the Jan. 2003 Update |
| iSCSI Support |
Driver to support the iSCSI-based storage
networking standard for linking data storage facilities |
Q2 2003 |
Add-on |
See "iSCSI
to Simplify Windows Storage" on page 17 of the Apr. 2003 Update |
| Network Attached Storage (NAS) 3.0 |
NAS Server Appliance Kit based on Windows
Server 2003 |
Q2 2003 |
New product |
See "Windows Embedded OS Roadmap" on
page 17 of the June 2003 Update |
| Windows SharePoint Services |
Team portal and document management service |
Q3 2003 (Could be delayed to tie to Office 2003
RTM) |
Add-on |
See "Windows
SharePoint Services Supports Office Collaboration" on page 3 of the June 2003 Update |
| Automated Deployment Service (ADS) |
Facilitates deployment of Windows Server 2003
on bare servers |
Q3 2003 |
Add-on |
|
| Virtual Server |
Virtual machine software for Windows Server
2003 to facilitate legacy applications |
Q4 2003 |
Optional product |
See "Connectix
VM Technology Acquired" on page 14 of the Apr. 2003 Update |
| 64-bit support for AMD processors |
Support for AMD processors |
Q4 2003 |
New product |
See "Windows 64-Bit Supports AMD" on page 26 of the June 2003 Update |
| Windows Rights Management Services |
Applies persistent permissions to Web content
and documents |
Q4 2003 |
Add-on |
See "Rights
Management Comes to the Enterprise" on page 11 of the Apr. 2003 Update |
| Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 |
Service pack and hotfix roll-up |
Q1 2004 |
Service pack |
|
| Longhorn Server Refresh (Anticipated) |
Service pack to provide server-side support
for any Longhorn features |
Q4 2005 (Tied to Longhorn RTM) |
Service pack |
|
| Blackcomb |
Intelligent and self-managing OS and services,
virtualization, Trustworthy Computing enhancements, federation capabilities |
2006 – 2007 |
New product |
|
