Those in the virtual IT world have been long awaiting the release of the Longhorn Windows Server.  The public release of the Beta 3 version last Wednesday brings the product closer to releasing.

Microsoft announced initially that it would ship Longhorn during the second half of 2007.  The company announced to the virtual IT world today that Longhorn would not be released for manufacturing until the end of 2007.  

For those involved in virtual IT and small businesses, the Windows Server beta is now complete with features, except it does not yet have the virtualization hypervisor – named “Viridian” – and will not have this feature until 2008.  Viridian will be shipped separately from the rest of the Server package as an add-on.  

For virtual IT specialists and businesses, Longhorn Beta 3 adds some important features to the pre-existing product.  It offers the Windows PowerShell command language interface and also new server roles such as print services, Active Directory, Lightweight Directory Services and Active Directory Federation Services.

Longhorn will be important to the virtual IT world because it is the first product of its kind to provide such high levels of virtualization.  Longhorn also has advanced security and protection that works with Windows Update and Microsoft Update.  Some in the virtual IT world are anticipating issues with the firewall, but most are excited about the prospects of increased capabilities.    

Microsoft is expecting hundreds of thousands of copies of Longhorn Beta 3 to be downloaded by those in the virtual IT world.  The Small Business Server edition of Longhorn, named Cougar will ship in 2008.

Added By:  Joshua Feinberg