Windows 2003 R2 RC1 available for testers

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With the Release2 for Windows 2003, which is to come out for free as an upgrade for existing legal Windows 2003 installations Microsoft wants to give Windows 2003 - their latest Server OS - more features, bug fixes and be more competitive, too. Yesterday, Microsoft released RC1 to its testers, and provides the ability for the public to register and download this build for free.

The new features that come with R2:

DFS - Distributed File System lets you build virtual drives that bundle multiple share points to give easier access.
SRM - Storage Resource Manager is a quota management system which partly is based on SRM tools from Veritas.
Print Management gives control over all print servers (2000 and 2003), their printers and their queues.
Storage Management for SANs lets you use a single MMC console for managing multiple SAN devices.
ADFS - Active Directory Federation Services lets you create and maintain identity information for outside users.
Unix Interoperability - Windows can now pretend to be a *NIX System and can give you therefore a better UNIX interoperability made possible by three new components: IdMU, SUA and MSNFS.

Download: Register and Download (free)

News source: Official Windows 2003 Site by Microsoft

What's Included::

Windows Server 2003 SP1 - Critical Updates
KB890046: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB890830: Malicious Software Removal Tool v1.9
KB893756: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB896358: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB896422: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB896428: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB896688: Cumulative Update for Internet Explorer for Windows Server 2003
KB899587: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB899588: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB899589: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB899591: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB900725: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB901017: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB901214: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB902400: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB904706: Security Update for Windows Server 2003
KB905414: Security Update for Windows Server 2003

Windows Server 2003 SP1 - Recommended updates
KB898458: Security Update for the Step-by-Step Interactive Training Application

Components
Windows Script 5.6 for Windows Server 2003 (v5.6.0.8825)
Windows Installer 3.1 (v2)

Add-ons
DirectX Control Panel
New XP Style Wallpapers (only in Full)
Macromedia Shockwave Player 10.1 (only in Full)
Macromedia Flash Player 8 for Internet Explorer (only in Full)
Macromedia Flash Player 8 for Mozilla, Firefox, Opera and Netscape (only in Full)
New Wallpapers (only in Full)
New AutoPatcher Wallpaper (only in Full)
Sun Java 1.5.0_05 (only in Full)
Google Toolbar 3.0.126.3 (only in Full)
WinUptime Tool (only in Full)

And of course a few registry tweaks which improve functionality and security!

English Full File Size: 63 MB (66130097 bytes)
English Full MD5 Hash: DAAD52D062B5DD8A611779181A4BBCCB
English Lite File Size: 34.3 MB (36033615 bytes)
English Lite MD5 Hash: 244AABF44E0CA030EA6509E595B7381D

#1 clonk on 18 Oct 2005 - 08:08

Exciting stuff!

(3 replies) #2 RudyJ on 18 Oct 2005 - 09:17

I just hope this will not rekindle the whole "Windows 2003 is / is not a desktop OS" war.

QUOTE

Unix Interoperability - Windows can now pretend to be a *NIX System and can give you therefore a better UNIX interoperability made possible by three new components: IdMU, SUA and MSNFS.

Now THAT I gotta check out!

#2.1 Jason on 18 Oct 2005 - 09:32

Do any of the above features look like its a Desktop OS.

#2.2 .:Neo.X.WinFreak:. on 18 Oct 2005 - 09:54

well you can use it as a Desktop OS, but almost all Antivirus Companies want you to buy their Server Versions.
Let's say: It has certain advantages just llike disadvantages

-fm

#2.3 Jon on 18 Oct 2005 - 11:18

McAfee got rid of the seperate server/client versions over a year ago, we now simply run Virusscan 8i on all.

(1 reply) #3 DjmUK on 18 Oct 2005 - 11:08

Release2 - am I correct in assuming that this is a second edition of the OS?

- Win98
- Win98 SE
- Win2003
- Win2003 R2 (a.k.a. SE)

#3.1 .:Neo.X.WinFreak:. on 18 Oct 2005 - 12:34

in a way, yes
but with R2 the new feature are just JUMPING into ur eyes...
the new stuff that came with SE (especially the whole compatibilities you still see for many apps) were more hidden...

-fm

(1 reply) #4 Ideas Man on 18 Oct 2005 - 13:16

DFS - Distributed File System lets you build virtual drives that bundle multiple share points to give easier access.

This is already a part of Windows Server 2003, so how is it different? SYSVOL uses it and in standard, you can create one DFS root. What's the difference between the original and the R2 version of DFS?

#4.1 Glassed Silver on 19 Oct 2005 - 11:57

since i didnt test win 2003 gold that well i think it got enhanced and "perfected"...
(yes i know... nofin thats coded by a human can be perfect, but thats just human and we all know what i mean by "perfected" mkay?)
but microsoft dus mention it everywhere on betaplace, therefore i listed it.

-fm

(1 reply) #5 DaveLegg on 18 Oct 2005 - 18:15

What I'm really liking (As a beta tester of this for a while) is the new FSRM features, that allow you to set quotas and various restrictions on accounts very easily and with loads of options.

#5.1 Glassed Silver on 19 Oct 2005 - 11:59

yea, thats a pretty nice feature.

cheers,
-fm

PS: I am .:Neo.X.WinFreak:. - Name Change

Last edited by 58560 on 19 Oct 2005 - 12:07

#6 Z3romus on 19 Oct 2005 - 15:25

Does anyone who downloaded this mind to post the MD5's? Reason being, my power flickered off last night, and just want to make sure my download isn't corrupted.

Thanks in advance ;-)

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