IT Pro posted a review of Window Server 2008 R2

The release of Windows Server 2008 R2 marks a significant turning point in the history of the Microsoft server platform. It's as major a release as NT 4 back in 1996, and the Server 2000/2003 editions. With Windows Server 2008 R2, there is a clear set of business reasons to move forward to this version, and it lays the foundations for many years of productive work ahead.
>> [url=http://www.itpro.co.uk/616582/window-server-2008-r2-review]Window Server 2008 R2 Review

Microsoft has released a beta of Windows Cache Extension for PHP

"Windows Cache Extension for PHP is a PHP accelerator that is used to increase the speed of PHP applications running on Windows and Windows Server. Once the Windows Cache Extension for PHP is enabled and loaded by the PHP engine, PHP applications can take advantage of the functionality without any code modifications.

Features
PHP 5.2 and PHP 5.3 support
Configurable file cache
Configurable PHP opcode cache
Relative file path cache
PHP functions to obtain information about the cache status"

>> Windows Cache Extension for PHP Beta

Microsoft has released a trial version of Windows Server 2008 R2

"Windows Server 2008 R2 builds on the award-winning foundation of Windows Server 2008, expanding existing technology and adding new features to enable organizations to increase the reliability and flexibility of their server infrastructures. New virtualization tools, Web resources, management enhancements, and exciting Windows 7 integration help save time, reduce costs, and provide a platform for a dynamic and efficiently managed datacenter. Powerful tools such as Internet Information Services (IIS) version 7.5, updated Server Manager and Hyper-V platforms and Windows PowerShell version 2.0 combine to give customers greater control, increased efficiency and the ability to react to front-line business needs faster than ever before.

Please review the Windows Server 2008 R2 system requirements before you proceed. Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration, and the applications and features you choose to install."

>> Windows Server 2008 R2 Trial Software

SuperSite for Windows published an update on Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate

"Most amid all the client-side excitement about the Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC, see my review) is the fact that Windows 7's stable mate, Windows Server 2008 R2, is also on the same delivery schedule. So it should come as no surprise that Microsoft's Server team also completed its RC milestone for Server 2008 R2.

Looked at broadly, the Windows Server 2008 R2 RC is a chance for Microsoft to signal to its customers that the product is being finalized and has hit the home stretch. "This is an indication to customers that we're done," Microsoft group product manager Ward Ralston told me during a recent briefing. It's time to kick tires and evaluate it." Microsoft is also ready to start talking performance for the first time, and while the number of performance comparisons I was shown is small, more are on the way, and Microsoft has a compelling story to tell there."

>> Windows Server 2008 R2 Release Candidate Changes

Paul Thurrott posted a preview on Windows Server 2008 Foundation, anew low-cost version of Windows Server

"Microsoft last week officially announced a product that Windows IT Pro UPDATE readers have known about since the end of 2008: A new low-cost version of Windows Server called Windows Server 2008 Foundation. Foundation Server, as I'll call it, has already been made available to mainstream server makers like Dell, HP, and the like, and will become available with new low-cost hardware in the weeks ahead. (As with Small Business Server, Foundation Server will only be sold with hardware.)"

>> Windows Server 2008 Foundation Preview

Tech ARP posted details on Windows Server 2008 Service Pack

"Microsoft aims to release Service Pack 2 for Windows Server 2008 (SP2 for WS08) for use with Windows=AE Small Business Server 2008 (SBS 08), Windows Essential Business Server 2008 (EBS 08) and Windows Server for Windows Essential Server Solutions (WinWess 08)."

>> Windows Server 2008 Service Pack Details Leaked

Microsoft has released a public beta of Windows Server 2008 R2

"Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 will be the next version of the Windows Server operating system from Microsoft. Building on the features and capabilities of the current Windows Server 2008 release version, Windows Server 2008 R2 allows you to create solutions that are easier to plan, deploy, and manage than previous versions of Windows Server.

This software is for evaluation and testing purposes. Evaluating any version of Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta software does not require product activation or entering a product key. Any edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta may be installed without activation and evaluated for an initial 30 days. If you need more time to evaluate Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta, the initial 30 day evaluation can be extended to August 1st (at which time the OS will become inoperable) by entering the product key below for your selected edition."

>> Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta

InfoWorld reports that Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 will support up to 256 CPU cores

"Microsoft said Thursday the next upgrade of its Windows Server operating system will scale up to 256 logical processors.Microsoft defines a logical processor as the number of physical processors multiplied by the number of cores as well as the number of threads, said corporate vice president for Windows Server and solutions, Bill Laing, during a keynote speech at the company's Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC)."

>> Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 to support up to 256 CPU cores

Microsoft published Windows SBS2008 w/WM6 Deployment Guide

"Step-by-step instructions for deploying Windows Mobile 6 powered devices with Windows SBS 2008."

>> Windows SBS2008 w/WM6 Deployment Guide

Microsoft has released a new update for Windows Server 2008

"Install this update to resolve the scenario where a Background Intelligent Transfer Service (BITS) client cannot handle files that have paths that contain the volume GUID in Windows Server 2008."

>> Download for 32-bit
>> Download for 64-bit
>> Download for Itanium-based Systems (KB956774)

Microsoft has released an update for Windows Server 2008 to register extensions under the IQueryForm registry entry.

"Install this update to register extensions under the IQueryForm registry entry."

>> Download for 32-bit
>> Download for 64-bit

Steve Schofield posted IIS6 to IIS7 migration tips and tricks

"Here are a few gotcha's that I personally came across both in the forums and migrations I've done from IIS6 to IIS7. A lot of the confusion I see in the forums is Classic ASP and 'native' applications using COM+ trying to move to IIS 7. A classic ASP.NET 1.1 and 2.0 applications should migrate with little or no issues, that is my experience. You'll need to install .NET 1.1 on Windows Server 2008. The biggest change is to try Integrated Application Pools first, then switch to classic mode. That is probably the biggest recommendation to think about in your migration.

I was involved in migrating a few sites recently with popular content engines. We used the migration tool MSDeploy provided by MS, the one thing that we needed to adjust was the Anonymous Authentication module. We had to adjust so the virtual directory inherited the application pool user account instead of IUSR. I highly recommend using the deployment tool. The one item that IIS 7 manager doesn't match up to IIS 6 is SSL certificate management. It seems more mature in IIS 6 manager IMO. "

>> IIS6 to IIS7 migration tips / tricks

Microsoft has released an update for Microsoft Management Console under Windows Vista

"Install this update for Microsoft Management Console snap-in context Help topics."

>> Download for 32-bit
>> Download for 64-bit
>> Download for Itanium-based Systems

Microsoft has released an update to IME in Windows Server 2008

"Install this update to IME in Windows Server 2008. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. This update is provided to you and licensed under the Windows Server 2008 License Terms."

>> Download for 32-bit
>> Download for 64-bit
>> Download for Itanium-based Systems

Microsoft has released an update for Windows Server 2008 to resolve an issue that is caused by revised daylight saving time laws

"Install this update to resolve an issue that is caused by revised daylight saving time laws in many countries."

>> Download for 32-bit
>> Download for 64-bit

Microsoft has released an update for Windows Server 2008

"Install this update to resolve an issue in which the system may be in an inconsistent state after you have restarted with the Last Known Good option."

>> Update for Windows Server 2008 (KB953631)

Microsoft has released Windows Small Business Server 2008 Release Candidate 0

"Public Preview Software Release Candidate 0. Designed for small businesses, Windows Small Business Server 2008 is an affordable, integrated server solution that helps you protect your business data, increase productivity and present a more professional image to customers giving you the tools you need to help grow your business capacity.

Windows Small Business Server 2008 (Windows SBS 2008) is an integrated server solution that helps you protect your business data, increase productivity and present a more professional image to customers. By providing many of the features used by larger companies --e-mail, an Internet connectivity, internal Web sites, remote access, support for mobile devices, file and printer sharing, backup, and restore--Windows SBS 2008 gives you the tools you need to help grow your business.

Windows SBS 2008 is available in two editions: Standard and Premium.

Standard Edition includes the software to install the primary Small Business Server. To install Standard Edition, you will need to download:

SBS2008_RC0_ENU_DVD1.iso - Small Business Server Installation

Premium Edition includes software to install an additional Windows Server (either x86 or x64) for your domain, with the option of running SQL Server. To install Premium Edition, you will need to download:

SBS2008_RC0_ENU_DVD1.iso - Small Business Server Installation
SBS2008_RC0_ENU_DVD2.iso - Additional Server Installation x86
SBS2008_RC0_ENU_DVD3.iso - Additional Server Installation x64
SBS2008_RC0_ENU_DVD4.iso - SQL Server 2008 for Small Business CTP6

More information about Windows SBS 2008 editions is available here."

>> Windows SBS 2008 Release Candidate 0

Microsoft has released an update for the WebDAV Extension for IIS 7.0

"This update for the Microsoft WebDAV Extension for IIS 7.0 fixes several issues that occur when using the extension."

>> Download for 32-bit
>> Download for 64-bit

Microsoft has released an update for the FTP Service in IIS 7.0

"This update for the Microsoft FTP Service for IIS 7.0 fixes several issues that occur when using the service."

>> Download for 32-bit
>> Download for 64-bit

Win2008Workstation.com has released a converter to turn Windows Server 2008 into a workstation. Use it at your own risk.

"If you don’t want to configure all options to convert Windows Server 2008 to a Workstation manually, sawo now made it possible to use a tool for this. He has done a great job by creating this converter to automate all steps of the manual!"

>> Windows Server 2008 Workstation Converter