Thanks Express for this update in Back Page News.
 
Microsoft has announced Windows Server 2003 R2 today, Windows Server 2003 R2 is an update release of Windows Server 2003 operating system.

R2 includes Windows Server 2003 + SP1 as well as several new components. It will be available in Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Small Business Server and Storage Server editions for x86 and x64.

Components new or updated in R2 include:
  • Branch office framework
  • Completely redesigned Distributed File System that is more scalable than its predecessor, File Replication Services.
  • Remote Differential Compression.
  • Print Management Console with new richer view of network printer toplogy.
  • Enhanced DFS Namespaces UI
  • File Server Resource Manager
  • Active Directory Federation Services to share identity over federation trusts.
  • Active Directory Application Mode
  • Windows Sharepoint Services v2 SP2
  • .Net Framework v2
  • MMC 3.0 with relibaility enhancements and Whidbey snap-in authoring.
  • Subsystem for Unix Applications - Interix Subsystem.
  • Unix Identity Management with AD & NIS interoperability.
  • Network File System with Unix interoperability.
  • Quota Management with directory quotas, storage reports, and file screening.
  • Simple SAN Management which allows easy setup and management of simple SAN configurations.
  • Common Log File System with ARIES logging support.
  • New roles : Sharepoint, File Server Role, and Print Server


There are 40 additional comments
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(3 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by Sub on 06 Dec 2005 - 21:46
So I take it this is like Windows 98 Second Edition? Upgrades and Updates that should be free, but yet bundeled into a whole new OS?

Or is this a free download for Windows 2003 customers?
Quote this comment #1.1 Posted by Sub on 07 Dec 2005 - 00:27
Just found out its not free. I will not be upgrading just for these features.

"Windows Server 2003 R2 is an update release of the Windows Server 2003 operating system that is built on top of Windows Server 2003 SP1 and includes new product features, specifically in the following areas: branch office management, identity and access management, and storage management. Windows Server R2 requires a new server license and is available for purchase through the same channels as Windows Server"
Quote this comment #1.2 Posted by Sub on 07 Dec 2005 - 00:28
double
Quote this comment #1.3 Posted by sphbecker on 07 Dec 2005 - 20:54
I will be; the more advanced DFS features are worth their weight in gold for the type of environment I run (assuming they work as advertised).
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by ghostwind on 06 Dec 2005 - 21:50
should be a free download for all w2k3 customers
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by Neobond on 06 Dec 2005 - 21:51
Its an add-on, so it won't be free. Its kinda like a mega Service Pack. I wonder what they will do about Windows Server 2003 Service Pack as well :/
Quote this comment #3.1 Posted by Express on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:28
Its free!
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsse rver2003/R2/R2FAQ.mspx

BTW: Thanks for the credit Steve.


Edit: I don't understand what the hell is wrong with the news commenting system. My links end end up with an extra space.

Last edited by Express on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:36
Quote this comment #3.2 Posted by sphbecker on 07 Dec 2005 - 20:58
It is not free. There is a free trial and they are not forcing you to upgrade your CALs, but you still have to pay whatever the cost for the R2 software is.
(3 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by neufuse on 06 Dec 2005 - 21:54
i'm confused... in chats before MS said this would be a free upgrade for W2K3 users... i know i saw that before because the other admins i work with saw it too and are confused now also!
Quote this comment #4.1 Posted by Neobond on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:18
Well it offers a trial version which would mean they want money for it, I really dont know mate
Quote this comment #4.2 Posted by neufuse on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:37
I can't even find information on how to upgrade from windows 2003 to 2003 R2... just how to frmo NT4 and w2k...
Quote this comment #4.3 Posted by sphbecker on 07 Dec 2005 - 21:01
They never said it would be free. I have been watching this thing for months and they have always said that the pricing has not been determined yet.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by uniacid on 06 Dec 2005 - 21:58
hmmm odd, I too remember seeing that it would be free
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by Ferret on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:03
hum..... I can see this being a bit of a flop !!!<br><br>There's certainly no way I would be upgrading my Server's with this !<br>

Quote this comment #6.1 Posted by Gumboot on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:23
Don't you have any WinNT or Win2k servers? Might be a nice upgrade for them...
Quote this comment #6.2 Posted by neufuse on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:38
unless you have a SAN u really dont need to... this is the one thing we wanted to upgrade for was the SAN managment... which is WAY easier in R2...
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #7 Posted by Tomi on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:34
I've been in the beta for the past year [less than I think, actually].
[although, I would have been more happy if I got into Vista instead...]
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #8 Posted by Jason on 06 Dec 2005 - 22:40
Any new 2003 Server's will be 2003 R2. Its not designed for replacing existing 2003 Server's.

(5 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #9 Posted by Kushan on 06 Dec 2005 - 23:15
I've been a beta tester for this for ages now. I downloaded it and they emailed me telling me that if I didn't download it, they'd throw me off the program. I downloaded it again. I got an even more threataning email saying I was on my last legs.

I decided never to beta test another Microsoft product again.

I'm still listed as a beta tester too.
Quote this comment #9.1 Posted by neufuse on 07 Dec 2005 - 03:46
MS never sends out emails like that so I don't know what the heck you are talking about... if you dont participate they just dont say anything and quietly dont put you on the next one
Quote this comment #9.2 Posted by Tomi on 07 Dec 2005 - 04:40
Odd, I haven't been downloading every single build [busy with other work], and I've never got any emails from Microsoft like that. =/
Quote this comment #9.3 Posted by snuffy on 07 Dec 2005 - 09:39
I got a couple of these e-mails, but they turned out to be sent to the wrong person.
Quote this comment #9.4 Posted by Kushan on 07 Dec 2005 - 11:06
Dear Steven,


Several weeks ago you were selected to participate in the Microsoft® Windows Server™ 2003 R2 Beta. We would like to thank you for your interest in participating in the program.


Unfortunately, our records indicate that you have not yet downloaded the software from http://beta.microsoft.com to begin testing. As we have an extensive list of interested participants and a limited number of openings, we are asking that you download and install the software by Wednesday, May 25th. After this date, we will be removing inactive participants in order to extend invitations to others.
Quote this comment #9.5 Posted by CoLdFuSi0n on 07 Dec 2005 - 17:19
I've gotten an email from them as well about that.
(5 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #10 Posted by divertom15 on 07 Dec 2005 - 05:11
i get a 404 trying to download the trial

anyone else sucsesfull?
Quote this comment #10.1 Posted by mdsll on 07 Dec 2005 - 10:53
Same here

Can anyone provide a working Download Link ?
Quote this comment #10.2 Posted by madda on 07 Dec 2005 - 12:53
you been here
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003...al/privacy.mspx

to register for the trial?
Quote this comment #10.3 Posted by mdsll on 07 Dec 2005 - 13:27
Yes, but when I click on I Agree i get a 404.

I tried from home and from work, so its not my PC nor my ISP.
Quote this comment #10.4 Posted by madda on 07 Dec 2005 - 13:47
yea seems broken for me aswell
Quote this comment #10.5 Posted by metalguy90 on 07 Dec 2005 - 14:13
yup... same here .... 'page cannot be displayed'
:/
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #11 Posted by madda on 07 Dec 2005 - 12:52
anybody any ideas when this will be available on msdn?
Quote this comment #11.1 Posted by madda on 09 Dec 2005 - 09:20
its now available on MSDN, for all you guys that have it
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #12 Posted by flashcore on 07 Dec 2005 - 12:54
What Microsoft has said in the past still stands. Windows 2003 R2 is a free upgrade IF you have Software Assurance. The only reason this exists is becouse they are so far behind on Vista and Longhorn Server people were bailing out of Software Assurance becouse they were getting nothing in return for there money. You can view all this here under the licensing FAQ http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003...censingfaq.mspx
(2 replies) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #13 Posted by bReD on 07 Dec 2005 - 13:19
YES, Our new R2 License is $99!
Quote this comment #13.1 Posted by madda on 07 Dec 2005 - 18:35
More info:
http://www.redmondmag.com/news/article.asp?EditorialsID=7072
Quote this comment #13.2 Posted by Kelxin on 12 Dec 2005 - 05:54
Thats Virtual Server 2003 R2 for $99... Windows 2003 R2 is gonna be the same pricing model as Windows 2003's respective editions.
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