Microsoft touts benefits of Longhorn

Windows Server Longhorn is on track for release to manufacturing in the second half of 2007

Microsoft has unveiled the first publicly available test version of Longhorn, allowing enterprises to get their hands dirty and properly evaluate the server software and its much touted security.

The final version of Windows Server Longhorn is on track for release to manufacturing in the second half of 2007. The third beta is now available as a public download.

"As they take it for a test drive, our customers and partners will find we made some vast improvements in Windows Server 'Longhorn' to help them reduce costs and adapt to changing business needs," said Bill Laing, general manager of the Windows Server Division at Microsoft.

"Between early adopter customers and Microsoft IT, we have hundreds of servers running in production environments today. If there is one message we want to send today it is get ready, download and evaluate."

The Redmond giant has said that Longhorn builds on the reliability and security of Windows Server 2003 R2 to address the automation of daily management tasks, tightening security, improving efficiency and increasing availability.

According to Microsoft's own research, approximately 70 per cent of an IT budget is devoted to daily management tasks, indicating a high demand for services such as help desk, infrastructure health monitoring, and systems and update management.

Longhorn claims to help simplify administration tasks via improved event logging, task scheduling, enhanced remote management and the scripting capabilities of Windows PowerShell.

• Windows Server Longhorn Beta 3