Windows Server 2003 SP2 Available for download

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Windows Server 2003 SP2 is released.  Some of the new features include:

  • Windows Deployment Services is an updated and redesigned version of Remote Installation Services (RIS), allowing administrators to set up new computers through a network-based installation without having to be physically present at each computer and without having to install directly from DVD media.
  • Windows Server 2003 Scalable Networking Pack enables customers to cost-effectively improve the performance and scalability of network-based Windows Server 2003 workloads, such as file storage, backup, Web servers and media-streaming.  The Scalable Networking Pack accomplishes this by providing support for networking technologies focused on eliminating operating system bottlenecks associated with network packet processing. 
  • Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 supports the new Wi-Fi Alliance certification for wireless security, making it easier for end users to securely connect to Wi-Fi hotspots. 
  • Improved IPsec Filter Management reduces the IPsec filter set that needs to be managed for a Server and Domain Isolation deployment from potentially hundreds of filters to as few as two. 
  • “Firewall per port” authentication secures traffic between extranet environments and internal assets that are protected via IPsec domain isolation.
  • Microsoft Management Console 3.0 supports richer functionality in snap-in management tools, allows users to add or remove snap-ins and provides improved error handling via the MMC console. 
  • Enhanced MSConfig provides a single launching point for common support tools that will ease server diagnostics. 
  • Performance improvements under Windows virtualization and for SQL Server.