Updated: July 14, 2020 (November 22, 2004)

Windows Server Roadmap Clarified

Michael analyzed and wrote about Microsoft's operating systems, including the Windows client OS, as well as compliance and governance. Michael... more

Network protection features planned for Windows Server will be delayed, according to Microsoft’s latest Windows roadmap. A number of features originally planned for a 2005 interim release of Windows Server, code-named R2, will instead be released as part of Windows “Longhorn” Server 18 to 24 months later. The delays will help Microsoft coordinate its network protection efforts with Cisco and could also help Microsoft maintain a regular tempo of Windows Server releases. However, a large cluster of Windows releases in the first half of 2005 could strain execution of Microsoft’s new plan.

For an overview of likely Windows Server releases through 2008, see the illustration “Windows Roadmap Overview“.

Windows Server 2003 SP1 Next Up

The next release on the Windows Server roadmap will be the first service pack (SP) for Windows Server 2003. In addition to integration-tested bug and vulnerability fixes, Windows Server 2003 SP1 will incorporate several changes introduced with Windows XP SP2 in Aug. 2004. These include the following:

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