Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM Availability Deadlines

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Microsoft followed the release to manufacturing of Windows Server 2008 R2 with a comprehensive timetable outlining all the availability deadlines for the company's next iteration of the Windows server platform. Users have already received a similar release roadmap for the client version one day before the code for Windows 7 went gold. Crissy House, product manager, Windows Server Marketing, revealed that Windows Server 2008 R2 would be made available on September 14th, 2009 in the retail channel.

1. July 29th: The first to get their hands on the RTM bits of Windows Server 2008 R2 will be original equipment manufacturers. Microsoft revealed that OEMs will receive Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM in English along with all the associated Language Packs come July 29th. The software giant pointed to ?around? August 11th for the remaining languages to become available. 2. August 14th: ?ISV (Independent software vendor) and IHV (Independent hardware vendor) partners will be able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM from MSDN starting on August 14th. MSDN will post in English, French, German, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish on August 14th and will roll out the remaining languages starting August 21st,? House stat3. Also August 14th: th: IT Professionals with TechNet Subscriptions as well as developers with MSDN Subscriptions will be granted access to the Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM bits in English, French, German, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish as early as August 14th. The Redmond company will work to provide all remaining languages via MSDN and TechNet as of August 214. August 19th: th: This will be the date when downloads of Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM will go live for the Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members through the Microsoft Partner Program (MPP) Port5. Also August 19th: th: ?If you are a Volume License (VL) customer with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license, you will be able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM on August 19th via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC),? House6. August 20th: t 20th: Microsoft will make available for download the 180 day evaluation version of Windows Server 2008 R2 for the 7. August 23rd: t 23rd: Microsoft Action Pack Subscribers will have Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM available for download starting with Augus8. September 1st:ber 1st: ?Volume License customers without a SA license will be able to purchase Windows Server 2008 R2 through Volume Licensing on September 1st,? House9. September 1st: tember 1st: Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM retail availability.

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