What’s next after RTM for Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2

[mobilenvidia]

Just got this email from Technet, some more info on Windows 7 and server 2008 Server 2008 R2

Note from the Editor

Greetings Pieter,

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 have reached the RTM milestone. If you’re still testing the RC build, you’ll be able to switch over to the RTM build during the second half of August, 2009. For Windows Server 2008 R2, you can get the low-down on system requirements and installation guidelines and IT pro testing guidelines; and for the updated reviewers guide and other technical content be sure to visit the Windows Server 2008 R2 Resources page.

For those evaluating Windows Server 2008 R2 for the first time, check out the Resources page for content on R2’s key new features, including Hyper-V with Live Migration, the new File Classification Infrastructure, the updates to IIS 7.5 and the new “better together” features you can access by combining Windows Server 2008 R2 with Windows 7. And for developers looking to see what R2 has to offer, make sure to visit MSDN’s Windows Server Resource page, sporting several new additions in time for RTM. Finally, starting October 1 you’ll be able to find even more readiness and technical content at an upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 - Windows 7 - Exchange 2010 Virtual Launch Experience site.

When Will Windows 7 RTM Be Available?

According to this Windows Team Blog posting, Volume License (VL) customers with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 7, 2009 via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). The rest of the languages for Windows 7 RTM should be available within a couple of weeks following the English release. For IT professionals who are not part of the VL program, if you have a TechNet subscription, you will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English on August 6, 2009, and the remaining languages by October 1, 2009. Evaluation versions of Windows 7 Professional for IT professionals will be made available via the Springboard Series shortly after RTM.

Windows 7 Upgrade Paths

For a quick view of the supported and unsupported upgrade paths for Windows 7 SKUs, download the Windows 7 Upgrade Paths document that outlines possible upgrade scenarios from older versions of Windows. For a Web version of this document, see Windows 7 Upgrade Paths in the Windows Client TechCenter Library.

Microsoft Contributes Open Source Linux Drivers for Hyper-V

Microsoft has contributed 20,000 lines of code to the Linux kernel community. The code contribution, a Linux device driver, will be published on CodePlex, and will be immediately available to the Linux Community and customers, enabling any distribution of the Linux operating system to be virtualized on Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008. For more, check out the Channel 9 video.

Thanks for reading,

Mitch Irsfeld

Editor, TechNet Flash