Windows Server Longhorn Beta 3 now publicly available

Microsoft has unveiled the first publicly available test version of the next edition of Windows Server, codenamed Longhorn.

The Beta 3 release allows users to evaluate the promised increased control, flexibility and protection built into the next Microsoft Windows Server platform.

The final version of Longhorn is on track for release to manufacturing in the second half of 2007, said Microsoft.

“As they take it for a test drive, our customers and partners will find we have made some vast improvements in Windows Server Longhorn to help them reduce costs and adapt to changing business needs,” said Bill Laing, general manager of the Windows Server Division at Microsoft.

According to Microsoft research, around 70% of an IT budget is devoted to daily management tasks, indicating a high demand for services such as helpdesks, infrastructure health monitoring, and systems and update management.

Windows Server Longhorn is designed to help simplify administration tasks via improved event logging, task scheduling, enhanced remote management and powerful scripting capabilities seen in the Windows PowerShell feature.

Download Windows Server Longhorn Beta 3 >>

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