Windows Server 2012 RTM in Early August, Final Release in September

In addition to providing info on the upcoming release timeframe of its Windows 8 operating system, Microsoft took its time at the Worldwide Partner Conference in Toronto, Canada, to offer some details on the release of Windows Server 2012.

The Redmond-based software giant announced that the server platform is set to hit Release to Manufacturing status during the first week of August, the same as Windows 8. However, unlike the desktop client, the server OS will be ready for commercial availability as soon as the next month, September. “In fact, at the conference we are announcing that Windows Server 2012 will be released to manufacturing in the first week of August,” Jeffrey Snover, Windows Server, Microsoft, explains in a blog post. “The code will be complete and we will begin delivering it to our hardware partners. Then, the product will be generally available to customers worldwide through multiple channels in September.”

He also provided some info on how the pre-release flavors of Windows Server 2012 were received by the community, announcing over half a million downloads for it. “You, our customers and partners, have downloaded pre-release versions of Windows Server 2012 more than 500,000 times - more than any other server from Microsoft before. We can’t wait to get the final version out the door to you,” he concluded. The availability of Windows Server 2012 RTM means that OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) that build servers based on this platform will be able to load it on their new products, while the rest of the world will have access to it only in September.

Windows Server 2012 is seen as a major upgrade for Microsoft’s server OS, packing a wide range of major features when compared to the latest platform release, Windows Server 2008 R2. In addition to better control of files and processes, it also comes with single console management, Hyper-V with support for multi-tenant configurations, and a new ReFS file system, ComputerWorld notes. The OS also features the new Metro UI that is present on Windows 8 too. Last week, Microsoft also went official with the various Windows Server 2012 SKUs that will be available for its customers, and announced that it will remove the Windows Home Server edition from the list.

Windows Server 2012
Image credits to Microsoft

Posted in: Preview, Software