Windows Server 2003 Release 2 (R2) launched yesterday
Yesterday we launched Windows Server 2003 R2 and relased it to manufacturing. Windows Server R2 will be broadly available in Switzerland in February 2006.
What is an R2 Release?
- R2 is a Release Update and is based on the prior Major Release, in this case Windows Server 2003 incl. SP1
- There are no changes to the Support-Cycle for the Major Release with the appearance of the Release Update
- Windows Server 2003 R2 will be the only release available and thus R2 Editions replace the Major Releases.
What is new in Windows Server 2003 R2
- Management of Branch-Office Servers
- Simplified Management of Branch Office Servers with centralized management tools.
- Lower administration cost through reduction of local administration and local back-up.
- Uninterrupted business processes through faster data replication.
- Identity- and Access Management
- Increased benefit from Active Directory to securely cooperate with partners.
- More efficiency for users due to less user passwords for internal and externally hosted web applications through Single Sign On and Identity Federations.
- More security through automated de-provisioning of extranet accounts with the deactivation of an Active Directory Account.
- Storage Management
- Detailed information regarding storage usage through storage reporting.
- Monitoring of storage usage trough directory based quotas.
- File type restrictions and easy configuration of simple SANs (Storage Area Networks).
You can use following resources to get more information about Windows Server 2003 R2:
