Microsoft Offers 'Release Candidate' of Windows Server 2008

The long march to the release of Windows Server 2008, aka Longhorn Server, continued on Monday, as Microsoft Corp. announced that it is making the first Release Candidate version of the upcoming operating system available for public download.

Microsoft said that RC0, as it's being called by the software vendor, will become available on its Web site within the next 24 hours-- replacing the Beta 3 release that it has been offering to early users.

RC0 is the first pre-release version to include a built-in virtualization hypervisor, which is code named Viridian. But Ward Ralston, senior technical product manager for Microsoft's Windows Server group, noted that the hypervisor component "is not yet in beta" and is thus less mature than the rest of Windows Server 2008.

Microsoft declared as long ago as April that the OS itself was basically "feature-complete." In contrast, the hypervisor, which will compete with technology from server virtualization market leader VMware Inc., will still be in beta form when Windows Server 2008 ships in next year's first quarter of next year, Ralston said. A finished version of the hypervisor will be ready within six months of the operating system's release, he added.

Companies that have been testing earlier versions of Windows Server 2008 as part of Microsoft's Technology Adoption Program (TAP) largely say they're impressed with the software, though not without some reservations.

Robbie Roberts, IT manager at Windrush Frozen Foods Ltd., an Oxford, England-based fine foods importer, has been using Windows Server 2008 in live applications for the past two months to run his company's rights management services and its print servers, as well as a portal based on Microsoft's SharePoint Server 2007 software.

With just a two-person IT team that oversees 25 Windows servers, Roberts considers automation and ease of use to be his highest priorities. Windows Server 2008 is delivering on both those counts, he said.

"The worst thing they could have done is totally redesign the [operating system] so that there would be a huge learning curve," Roberts said. Instead, "the user interface is cleaner, while keeping it as similar as they could."

Small things, such as the ability to reduce the number of Windrush's domain controllers through the use of Windows Server 2008, also are helping to boost the performance of the company's servers, Roberts said.

He added that bugs haven't been an issue with the software. "We were involved in the Windows Server 2003 rollout, and we had tons of problems," he said. "We absolutely expected tons of problems with Windows Server 2008. But-- hand on heart-- we've had none. We found running Vista more difficult than Windows Server 2008."

The main problem Roberts did encounter was in getting SharePoint, in particular its Excel Services feature, to run properly with the new operating system. But that turned out to be due to a problem with SharePoint, he said.

Windrush currently uses VMware's virtualization software, and that product's "features and performance are great," Roberts said. "But I'm a GUI type person, so I don't like using the command line in Linux." He plans to try testing Microsoft's Windows Server Virtualization hypervisor as soon as he can.

Roberts also plans to move the rest of his Microsoft applications onto Windows Server 2008 as soon as possible, except for Office Communications Server, which he said is not yet supported by the operating system.

The Backyard Breeders' and Puppy Millers' Big Book of Old Excuses

The Backyard Breeders' and Puppy Millers' Big Book of Old Excuses
© Denna Pace 2001

1. When called on bad breeding practices, ALWAYS claim that you are merely an innocent posting as a favor to a friend or family member.

2. Point out that everybody you know breeds this way, therefore it must be
okay.

3. Claim that "snobby show breeders" are only criticizing you because they
want to corner the market on puppy profit.

4. Claim that a Champion in the pedigree is just as good as 56 Champions in the pedigree. Not that it matters, because you doubt that there is such a
thing as a dog with 56 champions in the pedigree.

5. Claim that you are just trying to produce good pets, therefore good pets
are all you need for breeding.

6. When asked about health testing, enthusiastically point out that your
bitch had a health checkup before breeding.

7. Be sure to mention that you do not need to run such health tests as OFA,
CERF, thyroid, cardiac, patellae, etc., because your dogs look healthy and
had no visible problems at their last vet checkup.

8. Point out that these tests cost too much and would cut into your profit
margin. Be sure to champion the right of poor people to breed dogs.

9. Confidently assure worried rescuers that no puppy you produce, or any of
their puppies or grand puppies or great-grandpuppies will end up in shelters
because you have a bunch of friends who have told you that they'd like a pup
from your bitch.

10. Point out that you don't need Championships or working titles on your
dogs because you are breeding for temperament and your dog is really sweet.

11. Silence those annoying people who ask about your health guarantee by
assuring them that buyers can return any sick puppies and you will replace
it with another pup as long as it got sick within a certain amount of time
of sale and as long as you don't think the buyer did something to make the
puppy sick.

12. If your breed or line is rare (or you have a "rare" color, or believe
your breed or color is rare), be sure to remind everyone that you do not
need to show, temperament test, or health test your breeding stock because
you are doing the world a service by continuing this "rare" breed/color/line.

13. No matter what anyone else says, claim that you obviously know what you are doing because you've been breeding for a long time. Point to the
hundreds of puppies you've pumped out over the years as proof.

14. If this is your first attempt at breeding, make sure to remind everyone
that you HAVE to breed your dog because how else are you going to learn how to breed?

15. Assure everyone that your dog does not need to be shown because you were assured by someone at Petsmart/the park/the vet's office/a friend that your dog is a perfect example of the breed.

16. Always remember that "rare" colors, oversized or undersized dogs, and
mixes of popular breeds are great selling points. Anyone who doesn't think
so is obviously not in tune with their customers' wishes.

17. Claim that your dogs are better because they are not inbred, as
inbreeding obviously produces sick/stupid/deformed dogs. If breeding poo [as in "Cock-a-Poo," "Peek-a-Poo," etc.] dogs or other mutts, always point to "hybrid vigor" as proof of your dogs' superiority.

18. Remind everyone that you do not need a waiting list because your puppies are cute.

19. Assure everyone that your puppies will not end up in shelters because
they are cute.

20. Claim that YOUR breed never ends up in shelters in your area, therefore
your puppies will never end up in shelters.

21. If asked why you think your dogs are breeding quality, point out that
they "have papers." Extra points awarded for using the phrase "AKC
Certified." Double points if those papers come from the Continental Kennel
Club.

22. If you sell a sick puppy, always blame the owners for making it sick. If
the owners are clearly not responsible, blame their vet. (see #11)

23. If presented with irrefutable evidence proving you wrong on any excuses
you have used, pretend your server did not receive the post/e-mail.

24. Claim that none of the rules of ethical breeding apply to you because
you only intend to have one litter and therefore aren't a "real" breeder.

25. If all else fails, tell everyone who criticizes you to "get a life."

Written by Denna Pace . It was compiled by reading the horrible BYB ads on rec.pets.dogs.breed. Please credit when quoting.