Fulfilling its promise to release an interim update for Windows Server 2003 before the end of the year, Microsoft released Windows Server 2003 R2 in Dec. 2005. The R2 release will be of interest to customers with specific identity management, branch office, Unix interoperability, and storage management issues, and will trigger updates to Small Business Server and the Windows Storage Server platform. The R2 release also frees the Windows Server team to focus on the next major release, code-named Longhorn Server and due in 2007.

What's R2?

Bob Muglia, senior vice president of Server and Tools, committed to releasing a predictable cycle of alternating major and minor releases of Windows Server. Major releases, scheduled approximately every four years, will contain major architectural changes to the server platform. Minor or interim releases, due between major releases (approximately two years after a major release) will include updates to existing features or new features that don't require major changes to the base OS.

Windows Server 2003 R2, the first minor release since this commitment was made, includes additions and improvements to the following feature areas:

Identity management. The Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) service, which provides data storage and retrieval for directory-enabled applications and was formerly a free feature pack for Windows Server 2003, has been integrated into R2. In addition, both Active Directory and ADAM have been updated to support Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), which allows organizations to trust identity information from partners for access to Web-based applications and services.

Storage management. New storage management tools will help Windows Server 2003 administrators manage storage utilization, use directory quotas to monitor and control disk space usage, prohibit selected file types on servers, and easily configure and provision iSCSI or Fibre Channel storage area networks.

Branch office management. Faster data replication and advanced compression technologies will make it easier to centrally manage data and resources such as printers in branch offices.

Unix migration and coexistence. R2 incorporates the main features of Services for Unix, another previously separate feature pack, for sharing files and identity data between Windows and Unix systems as well as running Unix applications on Windows Server.

In addition, Windows Server 2003 R2 will include the latest versions of the .NET Framework and ASP.NET (versions 2.0), Microsoft's latest application platform, which delivers particular improvements for Web programming.

Updated Ancillary Products

Windows Server 2003 R2 will be incorporated into two ancillary products:

Small Business Server 2003 R2 (SBS 2003 R2), scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2006, will include automated patch and update management, increased mailbox limits, and SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition technology for SBS 2003 R2 Premium Edition customers.

Windows Storage Server 2003 R2, an OS for devices that serve as specialized file and print servers. In the first half of 2006, OEMs including Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Iomega, LeftHand Networks, and Tacit Networks will deliver network-attached storage products with Windows Storage Server 2003 R2.

Availability and Resources

Windows Server 2003 SP1is a prerequisite for deploying Windows Server R2.

Windows Server 2003 R2 is an update release that requires a new server license but not new Client Access Licenses and is available for purchase through the same channels as Windows Server. It is available in the Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter Editions.

Until June 30, 2006, with the purchase of one license of Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition, customers can buy Virtual Server 2005 R2 Enterprise Edition at the reduced price of US$99. Microsoft announced in Oct. 2005 that Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition licenses will allow customers to run up to four virtual instances on one physical server at no additional cost.

As part of a Technology Guarantee program, beginning March 1, 2006, and running for a limited time, customers who purchase SBS 2003 from an OEM or system builder will have the opportunity to obtain SBS 2003 R2 for a nominal shipping and handling fee once the product is released.

A detailed description of the identity management features of R2 is available in "Windows Server 2003 R2 Identity Management" on page 3 of the Oct. 2005 Update.

Storage improvements in R2 are described in "New Storage Management Features in Windows Server" on page 6 of the Nov. 2005 Update.

Services for Unix in R2 is described in "R2 to Include Unix Services" on page 6 of the Oct. 2005 Update.

Improvements targeting branch office support are described in "Windows Server 2003 R2 Targets Branch Offices" on page 3 of the Aug. 2005 Update.

Windows Server 2003 SP1 is described in "Windows Server 2003 SP1 Ready" on page 9 of the May 2005 Update.

Small Business Server 2003 is described in "Microsoft Luring Small Businesses to Servers" on page 19 of the Nov. 2003 Update.