As we've documented on this blog before, sometimes reporters get things wrong when reporting news, and they report inaccuracies. Most often the reporters make amends once they've been shown the facts. I say "most often" ...
Yesterday, IT Pro magazine (UK) posted an article about Longhorn and Windows Server virtualization (codename Viridian), and it contained errors about the timing of Windows Server virtualization and Longhorn. In this case, the reporter wasn't aware of the product milestones we announced at last year's WinHEC, and once shown what we announced last year, he admitted the error of his ways. As you'll recall, at WinHEC (May 2006) we announced the planned RTM timeframe for Windows Server virtualization as "within 180 days of the release to manufacturing of Windows Server Longhorn." The transcript from Bob Muglia's MMS 2007 keynote yesterday will be posted, and he reiterated the RTM timing of Longhorn (2nd half 2007) and Windows Server virtualization.
The IT Pro article remains online for now, uncorrected, because the reporter's editor has not listened to the reporter, nor reviewed the public content above.
Be re-assured, Longhorn development is on track. Look for beta 3 within the next 90 days. And, unfortunately, don't believe everything you read in the press.
Patrick
Rapid customer adoption of Windows Server 2003 SP2 continues. In less than a week since release there were more than 400,000 successful downloads! Interesting that some have commented that we "quietly" released SP2. The trade press have certainly covered it, since November when we broadly publicized the Release Candidate and product details, and at launch last week. At last count there were several dozen news stories about SP2 over the last week, and many blog posts. SP2 also required less advance education compared to SP1 or XP SP2, because (by design) it is generally much easier for customers to "consume."
Joel
I found these results of this report interesting because Symantec is not always on the best of terms with Microsoft. Despite this fact, Symantec's study found that Windows Server - quoting InternetNews here - "had the fewest number of patches and the shortest average patch development time of the five operating systems it monitored in the last six months of 2006." Read more at Symantec's 11th Annual "Internet Security Threat Report."
Here's a statement from Symantec:
Alfred Huger, vice president of engineering for Symantec Security Center, said the real problem is with Web applications, where two-thirds of all vulnerabilities are found. Operating systems are fairly minor, and despite the long time periods, the vendors are doing "an ok job, just not stellar."
I found this interesting because just the other day I read the CSO blog on RHEL5 launch and the 11 security advisories that came with it. Of note is the "critical: firefox security update" seen in the screen capture, which the MSRC folks say was made public Nov. 23, 2006. I'd consider that to be the real critical flaw.
It’s great to see the word is getting out about the release of SP2 in Windows IT Pro and many other press outlets. One note regarding some discussion and confusion in the blogosphere about SP2 being pushed onto boxes via Automatic Updates (AU). In fact, SP2 – though flagged as a high priority update - will not be automatically installed for 3 months. After 3 months on the Windows Update site, SP2 will also be offered via Automatic Updates. We detailed this info on the SP2 web site starting in November, when we announced the SP2 Release Candidate at IT Forum. Even on AU, SP2 will not install automatically until the End User License Agreement has been accepted. Customers who wish to test SP2 for a longer period and would like to prevent SP2 from installing from AU can download and install the SP2 Blocking Tool at the Microsoft Download Center.
Joel Sider
Jeff Woolsey's 5-minute demo of Longhorn and Viridian (the virtualization feature of Longhorn) has been posted to the public site under "Spotlight." Some of you may have already seen this demo on Soapbox. The demo also showcases Server Core of Longhorn, Linux guest VM support, and support for 8 procs.
On a related note, I recommend reading Dave Northey's 3-part blog series on virtualization. Part 1 starts here.