Beta 3 of Longhorn Server - We're using it for FoSR

I was busy with internal events yesterday and traveling back to Ottawa when the announcement was made. I noticed this morning that the Windows Server Team blog announced Windows Server codenamed "longhorn" Beta 3 has been declared and made available for downloading.

You would have known this if you signed up to TechNet Beta Central (hee hee) and probably already are finished downloading it to evaluate on your systems. I just checked the US URL (https://www.microsoft.com/getbeta3) but it looks like the servers are still replicating content and the DL is not live as of yet.

I wanted to let you know that we're using these publicly available bits for the longhorn content found in the upcoming Future of your Server Room tour that Rod and I are presenting during the month of May. I revamped the machines last week when the code was in escrow and awaiting sign off.  If you haven't already done so - check out the tour landing page for details and register to attend the in person event.

If you are interested in test driving longhorn JUST LIKE WE'RE DOING for the tour - I have a couple of very good recomendations for you:

  • Go downoad the ISO for Windows Server codenamed "longhorn"
  • Download the Virtual Server 2005 R2 RC (it was released/updated last week)
  • Install/use VS2005R2-RC on a windows server 2003 system with a couple of gigs of ram.
  • Map the longhorn Beta 3 DVD iso to a new virtual guest machine
  • Boot and install Longhorn server - I'm using a guest machine configured with 1024mb of ram
  • grab a beer / coffee / wine / pop and have a perrusal of the online resources in the newly updated TechNet library and have a look at the Reviewers Guide for Longhorn.
  • If you are more of a visual person and you don't have the ability to spin up a virtual machine, check out the self paced e-learning clinics.  

I am busy this week and next RECORDING all the demos to make them available as post event resources. I should get back to it.

 

Rick Claus
IT Pro Advisor