Release Candidate Windows Server 2008 R2: powerful and compact

Windows Server 2008 news and updates blog article

15th June 2009

Microsoft began free distributing their new release candidate version of the flagship OS Windows Server 2008 R2. The new version of Windows Server 2008 offers less system requirements, as the basic part of the operating system takes up only 128 MB RAM.
A single ISO-image of the installation DVD-disk sized at 2.68 GB contains all four editions of the new server platform - Enterprise, Datacentre, Web and Standard. Besides, the new version offers a few new features. The feature of WOW64 (Windows on Windows 64) for the executing 32-bit applications present in the standard edition is quite known. The technologies of Windows Deployment Services for automated deployment of components; DirectAccess Diagnostics for rapid diagnostic of the system; Windows PowerShell for advanced management through the command line, and Live Migration for the rapid reallocating the load and moving applications between servers - all of them are now available in the finished form, so that users will no longer have to face any difficulties.
The most pleasant thing in Windows Server 2008 R2 is that the developers did their best to optimize the core. In particular, the modules of the operating system without launched apps now require only 128 MB of RAM, which is a really significant advantage in comparison with the very demanding platform of Windows Server 2003.
One can download the installation ISO image for all four editions of Windows Server 2008 R2 RC from the official site of Microsoft. Besides, this version is available also in Torrent-like networks