| Windows Server "Longhorn" Beta 3 Preview |
|
Windows Server "Longhorn"
Longhorn Server Introduction:
Most IT administrators are familiar with Windows 2000 and 2003 server. Server 2003 is relatively new and was a leap in technology over 2000 server offering significant advances in terminal services and Active Directory support over its older Windows 2000 brother. Window Server code name "Longhorn" offers a similar advancement in technology over Server 2003. As the successor to Windows Server 2003 the new Windows Server "Longhorn" will be known as Server 2007/2008 depending upon its actual release date.
Longhorn is essentially the server equivilant of Windows Vista and as we will discuss later it has many of the same features but without the DX10 requirements or "fluff" overhead required by many of the services running in Vista. In our view Longhorn is what Vista should have been as all most users are looking for is a fast, secure, and easy to use OS which is what Longhorn is.
The first Beta of Longhorn was released July 27, 2005 and Beta 2 was released on May 23, 2006 so as you can see not only has considerable time elapsed but also the features, interface, and technology has progressed into what is now this preview of Beta 3. This may well be the best server operating system that Microsoft has ever released. At first glance Longhorn boasts increased control and manageability and includes long awaited tools like Windows PowerShell and Server Core. Will Windows Server code named "Longhorn" set the standard for server OS's? We think it may do just that.
As of the time of this publishing Windows Server code name "Longhorn" is available in the following editions:
- Windows Server® Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3 Standard Edition
- Windows Server® Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3 Standard 32-bit Edition
- Windows Server® Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3 Enterprise Edition
- Windows Server® Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3 Enterprise 32-bit Edition
- Windows Server® Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3 Datacenter Edition
- Windows Server® Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3 Datacenter 32-bit Edition
- Windows® Web Server Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3
- Windows® Web Server Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3 32-bit
- Windows Server® Code Name “Longhorn” Beta 3 for Itanium-based Systems
As you can see there is fundamental shift in thinking with Longhorn away from 32-bit. Previous editions of Windows were designated specifically 64-bit, here we see Microsoft placing the emphisis on 32-bit and making the standard 64-bit. We feel this shift shows a fundamental move towards 64-bit for the entire industry being urged along by Microsoft.
Windows Server "Longhorn" will introduce advancements in:
- Networking
- Advanced security features
- Remote application access
- Centralized server role management
- Performance and reliability monitoring tools
- Failover clustering
- Deployment
- File system
We will go over the basic look and feel of the new Longhorn as well as some of the advancements.
