Microsoft may release server version of Longhorn

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Microsoft officials say they are again considering shipping a server version of the Longhorn operating system after announcing late last year that it would be released for the desktop only.

In addition, the company also is again considering a desktop version of Blackcomb, the follow-on release to Longhorn, after saying that version of the OS would be a server-only release.

Versions of both operating systems, which will follow Windows Server 2003 slated to ship April 24, are now being re-evaluated, says Brian Valentine, senior vice president of the Windows division at Microsoft.

“It is in flux - that is a fair thing to say,” Valentine says. “There is a wave of very interesting things that we are doing in the Longhorn timeframe and we have yet to decide the delivery vehicle for those. The goal is to be non-intrusive, or least non-disruptive, to the customer environment.”

The ship dates for Longhorn and Blackcomb have been moving targets for nearly a year, and now version issues are again in play.

News source: nwfusion.com

How many beta builds of Windows Server 2003 have there been?
The development team creates a new build each night, and at checkpoints creates interim builds that are made available to beta testers. Beta 1, Beta 2, Beta 3, RC1 and RC2 are the key development milestones.

How many beta testers were there for Windows Server 2003?
Nearly 300,000 customers, partners, OEMs, developers and other testers had access to the beta releases, beginning with Beta 2.

What product line does Windows Server 2003 follow?
Windows Server 2003 is the best upgrade for Windows 2000 Server and Windows NT4 customers. The next product to follow Windows Server 2003 will be Blackcomb.

What's the current timeline for the first service Pack for Windows Server 2003?
This information is not yet available.

What flavors of Windows Server 2003 are there?
There are currently four editions of Windows Server 2003: Web Edition, Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition and Datacenter Edition. The Enterprise and Datacenter Editions will be available in both 32- and 64-bit versions.

Does Microsoft support Windows Server 2003 when modified as per Neowin Workstation Guide?
Windows Server 2003 is a server product.

(2 replies) #1 DjmUK on 19 Mar 2003 - 23:35

Isn't Windows Server 2003 good enough as a Network Operating System that manages Longhorn? Confusing...but I can't remember the timeline dates of Longhorn/Blackcomb etc.

#1.1 Jason on 20 Mar 2003 - 01:35

2003 Server would need a huge service pack to work with WinFS and other new stuff.

#1.2 gameguy34 on 20 Mar 2003 - 03:51

i dont think a service pack would be enough to bring win2k3 server along side with longhorn when it's final. maybe just enough to read the filesystem, but i doubt it will do much more.

(2 replies) #2 netizen on 20 Mar 2003 - 00:54

Looks the purpose of the names Longhorn and Blackcomb are just that, names! Seems that the only hard facts are that Longhorn=Windows 6.0, Blackcomb=some number bigger than 6.0!

#2.1 Jason on 20 Mar 2003 - 01:37

If Longhorn is NT6, Blackcomb will be NT7 as its supposed to be another big upgrade.

#2.2 gameguy34 on 20 Mar 2003 - 03:53

longhorn and blackcomb are including major changes to the design of windows. it's not something like adding themes or system restore to a previous version (like xp did, not that xp was some sort of minor update, just saying longhorn and blackcomb will be more of a major change than xp was)

(1 reply) #3 leebobs on 20 Mar 2003 - 10:17

As well as a media center edition, a small business edition, a home edition, a medium business edition, an e-mail center edition, a storage center edition, a WAN management edition, a portable PC edition, a tablet PC edition, a microwave edition, another media center edition, a Longhorn for lamps edition, a Longhorn for MAC edition.......

#3.1 brew crew on 20 Mar 2003 - 16:43

[QUOTE]a microwave edition......a Longhorn for lamps edition[/QUOTE] hook a brother up LMFAO

#4 Tom Servo on 20 Mar 2003 - 11:28

Hopefully there will be a server release. Those are usually tuned a bit more than the desktops.

(3 replies) #5 danbalsh on 20 Mar 2003 - 11:35

Yep, just another reason for me NOT to upgrade to Windows Server 2003, you would have thought they would have waited till way AFTER the launch of 2003 before they announce they might have plans for a new Server system.

#5.1 y_notm on 20 Mar 2003 - 12:24

yes, you should wait another 2-4 years to upgrade from a 3 - 7 year old operating system

#5.2 Tom Servo on 20 Mar 2003 - 12:44

Why would you want to skip Win2k3 just to upgrade to a server OS that runs the very first version of a new file system? Longhorn Server will be more a thing for early adopters and database only servers (WinFS is Yukon, means a database without underlying NTFS, thus faster).

#5.3 danbalsh on 20 Mar 2003 - 14:50

Yeah maybe, but from what i've seen MS are still mainly aiming for people still running NT (if there boxes can still run Win2K3) and WebServers, I can't see many features that are worth the huge upgrade costs of this OS, that is unless your buying new servers, in which case get Win2k3 loaded on em. Just my general opinion, or is it that I don't want Windows 2000 to go, seen as i've been with it since day1

(1 reply) #6 mintll on 20 Mar 2003 - 13:21

I dont think they will admit it at least untill Windows 2003 is released, Anywho you could just put apache on to the desktop version!

#6.1 Tom Servo on 20 Mar 2003 - 13:53

Maybe some companies use the server for other stuff than webserving.

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