Microsoft announced some new details about the next version of Windows Small Business Server.  Previously codename "Cougar", the new name was also announced.

I learned the name last week while at an internal training conference in Seattle.  The Product Managers told us how many hours and dollars were spent researching the new name. 

"It has to be bold!   Daring!  Yet it has to accurately reflect the very essence of the product!" 

"So.. enough history already!  What's the name?!"

[Drum Roll....]

Windows Small Business Server 2008!

[Cymbal Crash!  Thunderous applause!]

"Oh.. I coulda guessed that!"

Of course.  Yeah, it's no shock.  But at least now it's official.  You can all breathe easier.

"So, what's new?"

Lots.  I'll blog about new features in the coming weeks.  One of the most interesting items to me is a new licensing option.  As before, there are two main versions, this time called "Standard" and "Premium".  But this time the Premium option actually allows you to install a second server.  So now when you've migrated your domain over to your new 64-bit machine (Yes, SBS 2008 requires 64-bit hardware, for the sake of Exchange Server 2007 among other things), one option you'll have is to re-purpose your old SBS server machine.  And yes, that 2nd machine can be 32-bit OR 64-bit, running the included license of Windows Server 2008.  Details on the versions are located HERE.

And here is the Small Business Server 2008 home page.

How would you like some free file storage space up on the Internet?  That's what the new Windows Live service called "Windows Live SkyDrive" is all about. 

SkyDrive has been in beta for several months, and just the other day it was announced that it is RTW, or Released-To-Web.  And better than the 1 GB you got during the beta, you now get 5 GB of space available for you to do whatever you please with it. 

"What's it cost?"

NOTE: Microsoft Salespeople - please stop reading at this point. 

Okay.. are they gone?  Good.  They hate it when I use this four-letter word:  F R E E.  Yep.  No cost.  Just use it. 

I like the idea of using this as a place to put bigger files that you need to share with someone.  If it's too big to e-mail, you just put up on your hosted location, and grant access.  I'll probably use it to start sharing my photos, though eventually I'll use Windows Home Server to host those.  Or, someday hopefully, Flickr.  (Still hopeful)

You can go here for more information.  And here is the SkyDrive Team Blog.

"Sweet!  Any downsides, Kevin?"

The only thing I wish were different is that there is a limit on the file size you can upload.  Files have to be smaller than 50MB.  That isn't enough, in my opinion. 

Have you tried it?  What do you think?

Many of us were baffled by what we saw when we first installed the "RTM" bits of Windows Server 2008 and looked at the winver results:

"Huh?  Service Pack 1?"

Yeah.  At first glance you may think it strange that a first version of a product would already be at SP1 level.  So I thought I would throw out a couple of reasons why Windows Server 2008 is at SP1 already.  NOTE: Only ONE of the following reasons is correct:

A.  We call it Service Pack 1 because we want to have something to say to the customer who is always "waiting for SP1".  "Here you go!"

B.  We call it Service Pack 1 because it sounds like it's of a higher quality.

C.  We call it Service Pack 1 because it IS of a higher quality.

The correct answer is C.  Windows Server 2008 is indeed of a higher quality, just like Windows Vista SP1 is of a higher quality than Windows Vista pre-SP1.  It is no mistake that Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1 were released to manufacturing on the very same day.  They have much of the same code base.  Most all of the security, performance and reliability benefits you get from the new OS are available in both the Desktop and Server, because they share a common base of code.  We keep a common deployment model, update model, and servicing model.  Keeping them in sync is a HUGE benefit - both selfishly as a software vendor, but more importantly as the end-user IT Pro managing the support and update process for your company. 

"Aw c'mon.. Does Microsoft think that putting SP1 in the name is going to speed up sales of Windows Server 2008?"

No.  I doubt that you'll see "SP1" on any sales material or other marketing.  It's not a sales ploy.  It's simply an indication that the code is at the same level.  I know for a fact that the SP1 designation has nothing to do with sales.  You're smarter than that.

"So does having a common code base mean that every time an update comes out for Vista, there will also be an update for Server 2008?  I can't afford to patch my servers every month!"

Of course there may indeed be times when an update will apply to both, because of this same-code reality.  But think back to the updates that have come out during the past year that involved Windows Vista.  How many of them updated the OS Kernel?  The things that typically get updated have to do with applications or features installed on top of the base operating system and subsystems.  And even though you can install it if you want, you aren't typically going to have the full "desktop experience" installed on Windows Server 2008.  Very little is installed on Windows Server 2008 by default. (Examples: You have to install and enable the capability to play sound, to play media files, or to even have wireless network device support.)  So keeping your servers as lean as possible - the same things you're already doing for the sake of higher performance and for keeping any potential "attack surface area" at a minimum - will mean that your servers should rarely need updates applied to them.

What do you think?  Any and all opinions, no matter how unflattering, are welcomed and encouraged. 

"Fast blog?  Why would you say that?"

I assumed it, because the people contributing to this brand new product team blog, the Windows Server Performance Team blog, are all about anything relating to performance.  So they might also be quick, efficient, or otherwise performant in other areas of their lives.  All they think about is computing performance in Microsoft products.  Performance of the processor.  Performance of networking.  Performance in the form of reducing power consumption. 

This week I've been attending an internal technical training conference called TechReady, and am just now about to get up from my seat after attending a talk by Microsoft Product Manager Bill Karagounis all about performance improvements in Windows Server 2008.  I won't go into the details here, but the technology and the statistics around various ways Windows Server 2008 is head-and-shoulders above anything previously released is pretty impressive.  So I wanted to make sure you all get this blog into your feed list, and watch for good information coming from this group.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The product team decided to give you TechNet and MSDN subscribers a little Valentine's Day gift by making SP1 available for download.

Go to the http://technet.microsoft.com/subscriptions/default.aspx page.  Notice the "Top Subscriber Downloads" section. 

You can also go here to get it -

• For TechNet Subscribers
• For MSDN Subscribers

And if you're a subscriber, it will require you to log-in with the Windows Live ID you associated your subscription with.

If you're NOT a TechNet Subscriber, I can save you $100 if you're interested.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: This promotion and promotion code have expired.
Please CLICK HERE for the most current promotion.

This just in...

Mike Nash just announced on the Windows Vista Team Blog some specific availability dates for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1). 

As you probably know, Windows Vista SP1 RTM'd the same day as Windows Server 2008 (Feb 4, 2008), but while Windows Server 2008 was made available to TechNet and MSDN subscribers, SP1 was not. 

Reasons were many - basically boiling down to some drivers that weren't written to handle the update very well, so they need to be reinstalled after SP1 is applied.  Not difficult for geeks like us; but to your Mother-in-Law, it's a problem.  A big hairy frustrating problem (no reflection on your Mother-in-Law.  Or mine, for that matter).  So the delay in making it generally available is to give those driver manufacturers a chance to remedy the situation... make an update available via Microsoft Update or through their own update mechanisms.

Still, I understand the frustration.  RTM.  It's "shipped".  It's ready.  And if it's every bit as good as Microsoft says it's going to be.. you want it.  Now.

And the outcry from the technical community-at-large was heard.  The availability dates for the technical audiences were actually moved up from when they were originally scheduled for.

"Enough explaining!  When can I get it?!"

If you were a Vista SP1 Beta tester for us, you can download it right now.

Volume Licensing customers will have the English version available on Friday of this week (February 15, 2008).  Other languages will be available soon after.

And those of you with an MSDN or TechNet Subscription will be able to get it later this month.  (Another really good reason why you should have a TechNet Subscription.)

"Can I slipstream Windows Vista SP1 into an existing install image?"

Nope.  Well, not directly, anyway.

"Um.. but when I get SP1, I want to upgrade my deployable .WIM images with the new bits.  I can't do that in an offline way like I can with other updates?"

Sorry.  No.

"Are you going to tell me why?"

Absolutely! You don't think I would have opened up this nasty can of worms without giving you a good explanation, did you?

"Well..."

Okay.  So here's the deal**.  And those of you who have experienced the SP1 installation have experienced this as well.   When you do the SP1 installation, even if it's from Windows Update (when available), you're going to see your machine shutdown and restart on it's own several times.  That's to be expected.

See, there's this important part of the OS known as the "servicing layer" in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.  This is the part of the OS that allows for easy update installation with minimal disruptions, allows for an update to be applied to an offline captured image that's within a .wim file, among other things.

Well.. let's say that that servicing layer ALSO needed to be updated?  What then?

"Oh.. I get it.  You can't update the thing that makes the updates happen smoothly, because the thing that makes updates go smoothly is itself being updated!"

Bingo.  You got it.  So hopefully the news that you can't just do an offline upgrade to an image .WIM file won't be too tragic.

"So.. what do I do instead?"

You are going to have to install your image to a machine.  Install the Service Pack.  Then re-capture the image.

"Simple!"

Not so simple.  There are additional steps that involve some cleanup once you've sysprepped your newly updated SP1 machine.  Detailed steps are available in the new WAIK documentation.

"Won't I lose a valuable re-arm to my image when I apply the service pack this way?"

No.  SP1 grants you an additional re-arm.  We don't want you to be penalized for having to generalize a system that additional time.

"Wait.. there's a new WAIK?"

If you're using the WAIK (Windows Automated Installation Kit), you will definitely want to get the new version that has support for both the original Vista as well as the new servicing layer that's in both Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008.

Of course, the easiest way to do this all would be to get a copy pre-slipstreamed SP1 version of Windows Vista from Microsoft when it becomes available, and start with that as your new installation base.  If you're not doing any other custom image management, that's definitely the easiest solution.  Just add it to your own Microsoft Deployment workbench or use it to build your new images from there. 

---

** I can never say "here's the deal" without thinking of former teammate-turned-security-guru, Kai "the Security Guy" Axford. 

Then get a TechNet Subscription!

I just got word from the Sr. Product Manager herself.  The bits for Windows Server 2008 are now available to be downloaded by TechNet subscribers.

Here's what I see on my personal list of new product available to download and evaluate today:

If you're not familiar with what a TechNet Subscription is, check out my recent blog post about them. 
And take advantage of the $100 savings I mention there, too.

"Is Vista SP1 available there now, too?"

Not yet.  But I suspect it will be soon.  I'll check with the product manager and get back to you.

UPDATE: I was wrong to suspect.  Because SP1 is not an update rather than a product, it's not going to be available for download from TechNet Subscriptions any sooner than when our Volume License customers will have it available.  There is a date coming when VL versions of Windows Server 2008 as well as SP1will bel available, so watch this blog for news about that when it happens. 

In the meantime, and along with watching MY blog, you should also watch the TechNet Plus Subscriptions Blog for news and information.

Wow.. it's shaping up to be quite a day!  I just got word that SP1 for Windows Vista is also ready to be made available to the entire world.  Soon...

Right on the heals of the announcement (though not related) that Windows Server 2008 is RTM, now SP1 for Windows Vista quietly went RTM (well, not so quietly..  there will be a lot of blogging) as well today. 

Check out the Windows Vista Team Blog, and in particular, this post by  Mike Nash. 

"So.. can I download SP1 today?"

Not in its released form yet; no.  You'll definitely want to read the blog post about the timing, and the REASONS for the timing of the availability.

"I don't want to read the post, Kevin.  I want YOU to tell me when I'll be able to get it."

Okay.  It will be downloadable in mid-March.  And it will be rolled out via Windows Update sometime in mid-April. 

(2/11/2008 UPDATE: Check this post.  They moved up the dates for Technology folks to get 'hold of the SP.)

"Have you installed it?"

I actually just finished installing it on several of my home machines.  My initial experience is that it does indeed seem like things are performing faster.. but I'm not ready to say yet that, yes, absolutely it's made things faster or more reliable.  I have been plenty happy with Vista already.  My hope is that some of the big file transfers I've been doing over my gigabit Ethernet connection between my laptops and my media center for the sake of synchronizing recorded TV shows to my Zune will be a lot faster.  (Apparently it could be as much as 50% faster.  Sweet!)

"How big is the SP1 download?"

Well.. I don't know how big the full install (with all updates included) will be.  I did my downloads as a test using Windows Update.  My machines were already up-to-date with all earlier patches and security updates.  On my 64-bit Vista Ultimate machines it was roughly 125MB.  On 32-bit Vista Ultimate, it was around 65MB.  Naturally, the full download will be much larger; which is why I recommend that if you're using Windows Update, or Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), you should get your computers as up-to-date as possible before doing the Update installation.  The only reason to have the full-installation on hand would be to build slipstreamed Vista installations, or to apply SP1 to a new installation using the original Vista non-SP'd media.

"Will SP1 be included in PCs purchased?  Will SP1 be also included in the packaged product I buy from the store?"

Yes, eventually both of these things will happen.  In fact, that's what RTM is all about.  We have released it to the world to be able to now create the new product DVDs and to sell new PCs with the Service Pack already installed.  Those products will be on store shelves in mid-March to mid-April; which, as you recall, is also when you'll be able to download it.  That's NOT a coincidence. 

It's the day we've all been waiting for!

Today - Windows Server 2008 has RTM'd.  For those of you who don't know - RTM stands for "Released to Manufacturing". 

In other words, put a fork in it!  It's DONE.  SHIPPED!  Signed off!  Ready to mass produce!

You can read all about it here.

And make sure you check out the Heros Happen {here} site to find and register for the launch event going on near you.  The registration is filling up fast!

I have to laugh sometimes at how un-informed some TV and other media pundits are when it comes to the world of technology.

"That's news to you?"

Well, I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose.  More specifically, though, and technology-knowledge aside (and forgiven), I do think that the comments and blanket-statements on the competitive landscape should be more thoroughly thought-out. 

"Anything in particular?"

I just had to comment on something I saw this morning on one of our national TV morning "news" shows.  The "pundit" was shooting his/her mouth off about how "Microsoft is trying to get Yahoo so that it can now dominate yet another area in the computer industry."

"Is that a bad thing?"

Judging by the way this person said it; apparently, it is.  But I agree to some extent.  Of course, I honestly and selfishly want Microsoft to succeed; as a fan, an employee, and a shareholder.  I'm certainly not shy or unashamed about that.  But I also agree that Microsoft has been at its absolute best when faced with great competition.  The creativity and innovation, and the motivation that comes from great competition has led to some of the best products.  And the industry as a whole will benefit through more choice, better service, and faster innovation.

The big problem is, though, that comments like this in the media are made with the assumption that Microsoft will suddenly "own the Internet" if the Microsoft/Yahoo deal goes through.  That we are, with a few big acquisitions, suddenly buying our way into Internet domination.

"Aren't you?"

Nope.  It's flattering, to be sure; but wholly inaccurate.  And honestly, I didn't really realize just how inaccurate until I read the first couple of paragraphs of Brad Smith's statement in a press release that came out yesterday. 

"The combination of Microsoft and Yahoo! will create a more competitive marketplace by establishing a compelling number two competitor for Internet search and online advertising. The alternative scenarios only lead to less competition on the Internet.

Today, Google is the dominant search engine and advertising company on the Web. Google has amassed about 75 percent of paid search revenues worldwide and its share continues to grow. According to published reports, Google currently has more than 65 percent search query share in the U.S. and more than 85 percent in Europe. Microsoft and Yahoo! on the other hand have roughly 30 percent combined in the U.S. and approximately 10 percent combined in Europe."

So.. is this deal worse, or better for competition?  Brad says it's better.  I agree.  And from the numbers it certainly looks like it is Google who monopolizes the search world currently.  Even when combined, the new Microsoft/Yahoo team-up is a distant second. 

I hope the pundit who made those statements this morning will see Brad's statement, and look more closely before jumping on the all-too-easy "Microsoft dominates yet-again" bandwagon.  To me, this deal looks like it will result in more choice, better service, and faster innovation.

What do you think?  Is the potential for Microsoft to own Yahoo a good thing or a bad thing?

In case you weren't aware, there are several certification exams that are going to expire.

"Oh shoot!  I lose my certification?"

No.. you never lose that.  But a MCSE on Server 2003 is more valuable today that your old MCSE on 2000 Server. 

And if you were thinking of, say, upgrading your MCSE 2000 to 2003 level, you will want to take your exam pretty soon.  Those two tests (70-292 and 70-296) are among those that are expiring March 31, 2008.

Click HERE for details.

And once you have your 2003 MCSE, you'll have fewer tests to take to make it up to the next level.  So if you're on the fence, I highly recommend you get off the fence** and get on the phone to your local testing center.

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** Where is this fence everybody is on?  It must be crowded.  Or extremely long.

Need I say more?

If you've been keeping up with the goings-on around the looming launch of Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio 2008, you've more than likely heard the theme: Heros happen {here}.  And naturally there has been a lot of creative effort around getting the  word out.

Here is another such example: Heros Happen {here} - The Comic Series