Windows Server 2008 SP2 Beta and Windows Vista SP2 Beta are available
On Tuesday 2 December, Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 Beta, and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta will be released to TechNet und MSDN for subscribers. On 4 December, Microsoft will also release the Beta to the General Public for download.
The final release of Service Pack 2 is expected in the 1st half of 2009, with the final release date being determined by the feedback received from the beta testers.
The Service Pack contains the following improvements, among others:
Client:
- Inclusion of Windows Search 4.0 for improved indexing performance, broader index scenarios, and manageability of Windows Search 4.0 with Group Policies.
- Integration of the Windows Vista Feature Pack for Wireless, and support for Bluetooth version 2.1 specification
- Improvements in Graphics relating to problems when High Definition content is viewed
- Setup and Deployment improvements to detect incompatible drivers that will block Service Pack installation
- Service Pack cleanup tool to recover disk space used by previous versions of files updated by Service Pack 2
- Performance improvement when resuming from Hibernate when the wireless connection is no longer available
- Power Management improvements
- Print Spooler performance improvements for Printing
- Previously publically released Security updates and hotfixes
Server:
- Inclusion of Hyper-V Technology at Hyper-V RTM level
- Backward compatibility with Terminal Server Licensing Keys
- Better manageability of FRS/DFS Console and Storage Manager (Quota Management and File Screening Filter)
- Improved error reporting in DFSR to help identify incorrectly configured deployments that lead to replication failure
- Updated Power Policies driving significant Power Management improvements
- Print Spooler and Print Server performance improvements for Printing
- Previously publically released Security updates and hotfixes
Your feedback is important to Microsoft, so install Service Pack 2 Beta in an environment where you have the opportunity to test your current hardware and software. Feedback is collected through the Error Reporting Systems.
TechNet links:
MSDN Links: