Microsoft is to ship an update of Windows Server 2003
before its Longhorn version of the server operating system, which
is expected by about 2007.
"It is likely that we will introduce an update to Windows Server
2003," said Jeff Price, senior director for Windows Server product
management at Microsoft.
"We're hearing from customers that they want us to look at a
more integrated and easier-to-consume delivery vehicle for
technology updates to Windows Server 2003."
The components in the update are likely to include Windows
SharePoint Services, Windows Rights Management Services and the
Group Policy Management Console, which have been released as
Windows Server 2003 Feature Packs since the operating system was
launched last April.
The update is likely to add new features and functionality to
the operating system, and not just offer a roll-up of Windows
Server 2003 updates or feature packs, Price said, although he
declined to give any further details.
Microsoft has yet to decide on naming, packaging and a delivery
date for the update. Pricing is also undecided, which means
customers who bought Windows Server 2003 and did not sign up for
Microsoft's Software Assurance upgrade plan may have to pay for the
new software.
"Customers who purchased Software Assurance with Windows Server
2003 as well as people buying the product (when it is released) at
that time would get this new technology, the rest of the decisions
are pending," said Price.
"Anytime Microsoft can offer some incremental update, there is
nothing wrong with that," said Al Gillen, research director for
system software at IDC, adding that users like to have the richest
version of Windows Server available.
However, with Windows Server 2003 not even a year old, users
would not welcome a completely new server release.
"Customers are still absorbing Windows Server 2003; there aren't
too many customers standing around waiting for the next version,"
said Gillen. "I tend to look at this update more as a statement of
packaging."
Gillen expected the Windows Server 2003 update should come out
between 12 and 18 months from now. A first service pack for the
server operating system is due out in the second half of this
year.
The news of an updated release of Windows Server 2003 comes a
week after Microsoft confirmed that it is considering ways of
adding functionality to Windows XP after the release of Service
Pack 2 later this year.
These discussions, under the project name Windows XP Reloaded,
could result in an interim release of Windows before Longhorn, but
the Microsoft has not confirmed such a plan.
Joris Evers writes for IDG News Service