Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows Server 2008 R2 is a server operating system produced by Microsoft. It was released to manufacturing on July 22, 2009[3] and launched on October 22, 2009.[4] According to the Windows Server Team blog, the retail availability was September 14, 2009.[5] It is built on Windows NT 6.1, the same core operating system used with the client-oriented Windows 7. It is the first 64-bit-only operating system release from Microsoft. Windows Server 2008 R2 is an update of Windows Server 2008.

Version enhancements include new functionality for Active Directory, new Virtualization and Management features, the release of IIS 7.5, and support for up to 256[6] logical processors.

There are seven editions: Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, HPC Server and Itanium.

Microsoft introduced Windows Server 2008 R2 at the 2008 Professional Developers Conference as the server variant of Windows 7.

On January 7, 2009, a beta release of Windows Server 2008 R2 was made available to subscribers of Microsoft's TechNet and MSDN programs, as well as those participating in the Microsoft Connect program for Windows 7. Two days later, the beta was released to the public via the Microsoft Download Center.[7]

On April 30, 2009, the release candidate was made available to subscribers of Microsoft's TechNet and MSDN.[8] On May 5, 2009, the release candidate was made available to the general public via the Microsoft download center.[9]

According to Windows Server Division WebLog,[10] the following are the dates of the year 2009 when Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 has been made available to various distribution channels:

OEMs received Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM in English and all Language Packs on July 29. The remaining languages were available around August 11.

ISV (Independent software vendor) and IHV (Independent hardware vendor) partners have been able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM from MSDN starting on August 14.

IT Professionals with TechNet Subscriptions were able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM and obtain product keys for in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish beginning August 14 and all remaining languages beginning August 21.

Developers with MSDN Subscriptions have been able download and obtain product keys for Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish starting August 14 and all remaining languages starting August 21.

Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members were able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM through the Microsoft Partner Program (MPP) Portal on August 19.

Volume License (VL) customer with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license were able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM on August 19 via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC).

Volume License customers without a Software Assurance (SA) license can purchase Windows Server 2008 R2 through Volume Licensing on September 1.

Additionally, qualifying students have been able to download Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM Standard Edition in 15 languages from DreamSpark.[11]

Microsoft has announced that Server 2008 R2 will be the last version of Windows supporting the Itanium architecture.