Beta Invites Sent for Windows Server R2

By David Worthington | Published April 12, 2005, 5:07 PM

Microsoft has delivered a round of invitations for testers to participate in a wider second beta of Windows Server 2003 "R2," which is an interim release of Windows Server due out in October 2005. A smaller private beta began in December 2004, providing an early glimpse at what new features to expect in R2.

Windows Server 2003 R2 is built on top of the recently delivered Windows Server 2003 SP1 platform and adds components that Microsoft customers have requested.

"This beta will incorporate a number of key features that are of interest to customers who want to take advantage of new technologies available in the next release of Microsoft Windows Server 2003," Microsoft beta coordinators wrote in the e-mail invite.

Some R2 specific features include: Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM); SharePoint version 2.0; Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS), also known as TrustBridge; Branch Office File Replication services (FRS); Common Logging File Systems (CLFS); File Server Migration Toolkit (FSMT); Interix and Network File System (NFS) support; MMC compatibility; Simple SAN support; and Microsoft's Storage Resource Manager.

The beta cycle begins in April and will run through Q4 2005. Microsoft desires test candidates that have extensive experience in configuring and administering Windows network environments. Invitees have an April 18, 2005 deadline to apply for the R2 beta.

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"One of the new Terminal Services features is the ability for a Windows Server to encapsulate and proxy RDP traffic over HTTPS connections. The RDP over HTTPS proxy is part of what Microsoft calls “Anywhere Access.” Not to be confused with Citrix’s “Access Infrastructure,” Microsoft’s Anywhere Access will allow users to securely access corporate resources over the public Internet without using VPN software." - Brian Madden http://www.brianmadden.c...tent/content.asp?ID=192

Unfortunately "Bear Paw", the codename for the major enhancements to terminal services, will not be included in R2. We will need to wait until 2007 - 2010 for any major enhancements.

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They already sent the invitation since, like, a month ago?

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...congrats on already knowing it.

If it's old news to you, then don't read it, and certainly don't complain about it. I, for one, hadn't heard about this yet.

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A month ago? I only got mine, like...3 days ago.

They appear to have actually sent me two of them.

Too bad I have no interest in this beta.

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Got mine like 3 days ago too.

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im fine

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