Win 2003 R2 RC1 and Exchange 2003 SP2 Released

[ScrnScrm]

Hi Guys

Windows 2003 R2 RC1 is out. Download here :

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...l/default.mspx

Exchange 2003 Service Pack 2 is out. Download here :

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Cheers ~
ScrnScrm

[nGAGEd55]

hey thanks for the links ScrnScrm..

This might be a bit off topic (then again this is the off topic section ) but the mods should seriously consider making a Software section, like the Hardware one, where stuff like this can be posted and stuff relating to software can be discussed, instead of it always landing in Off Topic.

[ScrnScrm]

Ya, thats most probably a good idea. Will PM RPM and ask him...
Cheers ~

[ScrnScrm]

Whats new in Windows 2003 R2 :

* DFS - Distributed File System lets you build virtual drives that bundle multiple share points to give easier access.

* SRM - Storage Resource Manager is a quota management system which partly is based on SRM tools from Veritas.

* Print Management gives control over all print servers (2000 and 2003), their printers and their queues.

* Storage Management for SANs lets you use a single MMC console for managing multiple SAN devices.

* ADFS - Active Directory Federation Services lets you create and maintain identity information for outside users.

* Unix Interoperability - Windows can now pretend to be a *NIX System and can give you therefore a better UNIX interoperability made possible by three new components: IdMU, SUA and MSNFS.

The new DFS is a biggie because of the way you can now handle branch servers. It allows caching on the shares...

[ScrnScrm]

Whats new in Exchange 2003 SP2 :

*New for mobility is direct push, which is an Exchange technology that maintains an open connection between the mobile device and the server. Remote wipe is another new feature, and it enables administrators to delete sensitive data from a lost or stolen mobile device. Other features include global address list (GAL) lookup, policy provisioning whereby administrators can make supported policies more secure, support for certificate-based authentication, use of S/MIME to sign and encrypt mail, and server-based synchronization of Tasks.

* Anti-spam improvements are included in the release of the integrated version 2 of Microsoft Exchange Intelligent Message Filter, and Sender ID, which is an industry-standard framework. Version 2 of Intelligent Message Filter contains significant improvements in the anti-spam area for SP2.

* For Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition, the hard-coded licensing database size limit has been increased from 16 GB to 75 GB. The administrator can set a protective database size limit (prevent unintentional database size growth). The default value will be 18 GB in SP2 for Standard Edition and the default can be changed.

* Public folders are now more manageable. Administrators can now track who deleted public folders, stop and resume public folder replication, synchronize the public folder hierarchy, propagate access control list (ACL) changes through public folder hierarchy, and propagate replica list changes through the public hierarchy. Many of the improvements work toward minimizing the effect of replication storms.

* There is a new version of the offline address book (OAB 4.0) that features the reduction in the OAB size, differential OAB update files, indexing based on locale setting, and improved diagnostic logging.

The lifting of the 16GB EDB (Database) restriction to 75GB is a biggie - flush go all the 2nd line storage archiving implementations that were getting done against the cost difference between standard and enterprise edition.

[fergus]

How do I enter? The title says I can win somethink

[DFantom]

Lol

[ScrnScrm]

yeah, you pay microsoft about $3000 to enter and you win three years of trouble and sleepless nights