available for download: Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7

Last week we released for download Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 helps keep your PCs and servers on the latest support level. It also provides on-going improvements to the Windows Operating System (OS), by including previous updates delivered over Windows Update as well as continuing incremental updates to the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 platforms based on customer and partner feedback. This enables organisations to deploy a single set of updates.  Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 will help you:

  • Keep your PCs supported and up-to-date
  • Get on-going updates to the Windows 7 platform
  • Easily deploy cumulative updates at a single time
  • Meet your users' demands for greater business mobility
  • Provide a comprehensive set of virtualisation innovations
  • Provide an easier Service Pack deployment model for better IT efficiency

 

A roundup of blog posts focussing on the new Server SP1 features:

 

Download SP1 for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7

 

TechNet subscription members can also download ISO images of Windows 7 including SP1 and Windows Server 2008 R2 including SP1 too

The TechNet Evaluation Centre has the Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 evaluation download.

 

Deployment Guide for Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 and Windows 7 with SP1

Get technical information, procedures, and recommendations for installing SP1 in a business or corporate environment.

 

Documentation for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932)

  • Deployment Guide for Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 and Windows 7 with SP1.doc
  • Hotfixes and Security Updates included in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.xls
  • Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1.doc
  • Notable Changes in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.doc
  • Release Notes for Windows 7 with Service Pack 1.doc
  • Release Notes for Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1.doc

 

Please visit the Windows 7 TechCenter for the latest resources to help you explore Windows 7 Service Pack 1.

Please visit the Windows Server TechCenter for the latest resources to help you explore Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1.

 

Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 Overview WhatsNew-top

Windows Server 2008 R2, now with Service Pack 1 (SP1) provides new virtualisation technology that enables you to deliver more advanced capabilities to your business for increased IT efficiency and agility. Whether you want to consolidate servers, build a private cloud or offer Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, the addition of these powerful virtualisation features enables you to take your datacentre and desktop virtualisation strategy to a new level.

Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 Product Overview

Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 builds on the award-winning foundation of Windows Server 2008, expanding existing technology and adding new features. Just a few of the enhancements in this release include new virtualisation tools consisting of an updated version of Hyper-V with Live Migration and Dynamic Memory, Remote Fx in Remote Desktop Services, improved power management, and added features with Windows 7 integration such as BranchCache and Direct Access. Have greater control and the ability to react to business needs faster than ever before with powerful tools such as Internet Information Services (IIS) version 7.5, updated Server Manager and Hyper-V platforms and Windows PowerShell version 2.0.

Virtualise your Server and Desktop Infrastructure

Virtualisation is a major part of today’s data centres. The operating efficiencies offered by virtualization allow organizations to dramatically reduce operational effort and power consumption. Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 provides the following virtualisation types: Client and Server virtualisation provided by Hyper-V and Presentation virtualisation with Remote Desktop Services.

  • New Virtualization Technology in Hyper-V

    Since the Windows Server 2008 release, Microsoft has introduced a new version of Hyper-V. Included as part of the Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 operating system, Hyper-V contains a number of core areas of improvements for creating dynamic virtual data centres and cloud computing, namely private cloud. These improvements provide you with increased availability and performance, improved management, and simplified methods for deployment including live migration. And, when combined with System Center, you are able to build out a dedicated private cloud environment to transform the way you deliver IT services to the business, using the infrastructure as a service (IaaS) model. Learn more about Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1.

  • Expanded Features in Remote Desktop Services

    Remote Desktop Services provides users and administrators with both the features and the flexibility necessary to build the most robust access experience in any deployment scenario. To expand the Remote Desktop Services feature set, Microsoft has been investing in the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, also known as VDI. VDI is a centralized desktop delivery architecture, which enables Windows and other desktop environments to run and be managed in virtual machines on a centralized server. Learn more about the Virtualization Platform in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Improved Web Application Platform

Windows Server 2008 R2 includes many enhancements that make this release the most robust Windows Server Web application platform yet. It offers an updated Web server role, Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.5, and greater support for .NET on Server Core. Design goals for IIS 7.5 concentrated on improvements that enable Web administrators to more easily deploy and manage Web applications that increase both reliability and scalability. Additionally, IIS 7.5 has streamlined management capabilities and provides more ways to customize your Web serving environment. The following improvements to IIS and the Windows Web platform are included in Windows Server 2008 R2:

Learn more about the Web Application Platform in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Improved Power Management and Streamlined Management

The on-going management of servers in the data centre is one of the most time-consuming tasks facing IT professionals today. Any management strategy you deploy must support the management of both your physical and virtual environments. To help with this problem, Windows Server 2008 R2 has new features to reduce the on-going management of Windows Server 2008 R2 and to reduce the administrative effort for common day-to-day operational tasks. Learn more about Improving Power Management and Streamlining Management in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Increased Scalability and Reliability

Windows Server 2008 R2 is capable of unprecedented workload size, dynamic scalability, and across-the-board availability and reliability. A host of new and updated features will be available, including leveraging sophisticated CPU architectures, increased operating system componentisation, and improved performance and scalability for applications and services.

Learn more about Scalability and Reliability in Windows Server 2008 R2.

Integrated Experience with Windows 7

Windows Server 2008 R2 has many features that are designed specifically to work with client computers running Windows 7, Microsoft’s most current version of the Windows client operating system. Features that are only available when running Windows 7 client computers with server computers running Windows Server 2008 R2 include:

Learn more about Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP1 features.