Release Candidate Of WinServer 2008 SP1 Improves Virtualisation

Microsoft has unveiled its release candidate (RC) of Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. The final version of SP1 is due early in 2011, according to the company.

In addition to a handful of operating system updates, the release candidate includes new features for Windows Server, according to a posting on the Windows Server Division WebLog. Those interested can download the SP1 RC from Microsoft’s website.

The first is Microsoft RemoteFX which “introduces a new set of remote user experience capabilities that enable a media-rich user environment for virtual and session-based desktops”. The application supports both thick- and thin-client devices, as well as “a broad array of USB peripherals to improve the productivity of users of virtual desktops”, Microsoft said.

The second, Dynamic Memory, allows “servers running Hyper-V for server virtualisation… to be more efficient in the use of memory.” The application distributes memory among virtual machines in ways designed to boost consolidation ratios, increase server utilisation rates and make workload management more flexible.

Windows Server 2008 R2 represents Microsoft’s attempt to capitalise on technological trends, such as virtualisation, that have radically altered the face of IT. On top of leveraging Microsoft’s Hyper-V technology, the platform’s 64-bit architecture is designed to take advantage of virtualisation’s hungrier memory needs. Also included: features such as support for hot plug-in and hot removal of both virtual and physical storage without the need to reboot the physical host system.

However, eWEEK Labs found that the 64-bit architecture created some issues for IT pros looking for a legacy upgrade. “There’s no doubt that Windows Server 2008 R2 offers major improvements but getting existing Windows installations to this most current release may be a drag,” the reviewers wrote in a May breakdown. “Migrating from a 32-bit version of Windows Server 2008 or 2003 basically requires a number of migration tools followed by installation of Windows Server 2008 R2.”