Windows Server 2008 is ready

Microsoft has approved Windows Server 2008 for corporate use. Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscribers can download the Release to Manufacturing (RTM) version immediately.

Microsoft will officially celebrate the launch of the new Windows server generation in Los Angeles on February 27. Windows Server 2008 will be available in four versions: The Enterprise and Datacenter Editions will cost just shy of $1000 and $4000 respectively, and the Datacenter edition costs $3000 per CPU. The Standard edition includes five Client Access Licenses (CALs) and the Enterprise version 25 CALs, but Microsoft hasn't stated the number of CALs provided with Datacenter Edition. In addition, Microsoft wants to introduce a fourth Web Server edition at a cost of some $500. All of the Windows Server 2008 versions are supposed to be available in 32 and 64 bit versions. These versions are joined by a variant for the Intel Itanium (also $3000 per CPU).

The 64-bit version of Window Server 2008 includes Hyper-V virtualisation software (except for the Web server and Itanium versions), but it is not available until 180 days after the server is set up. Among other new features of the new Microsoft server software is the new version of its web server IIS 7.0 and the "Server Core" installation variant, which can run without a GUI.

As with Windows Vista, all product variants are included on a single DVD. During installation, you can choose whether to install the Standard, Enterprise or Datacenter-Variant. You have 60 days to test the installed server before you have to enter a product key.

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