Windows 7, netbook support in the works for Windows Home Server
The Windows Home Server (WHS) team announced on July 17 that its next update -- slated to go to testers this week -- will add support for Windows 7 clients.
The beta of that update, known as Power Pack 3, is slated to be made available to testers via the Microsoft Connect site on Friday. (Power Packs are basically the equivalent of feature packs.)
In a posting to the Windows Home Server blog, team members itemized some of the new features coming with the Power Pack 3 rollup. On the short list:
- Backup and restore support for computers running Windows 7
- The inclusion of Windows Search 4
- Integration with Windows 7 libraries
- Various enhancements for Windows Media Center, including TV archiving
- Better support for netbooks
According to the post, the team's goal is to release the final Power Pack 3 code before October 22, the date Windows 7 will go on sale at retail. From the post:
"Timing of the Power Pack 3 final release has not been determined. With your help to test the Beta, we hope to release the update prior to the Windows 7 General Availability date of October 22. Power Pack 3 will be a free update to existing Windows Home Server users via Windows Update."
Microsoft rolled out Power Pack 2 in March. Microsoft is working on a major update to Windows Home Server, codenamed "Vail," but there's no new word on the whereabouts of that version.