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Microsoft makes November build of Windows Server 2008 available to testers

Microsoft didn't release only a refreshed test build of Windows Vista Service Pack (SP) 1 this week. It also quietly posted an updated test build of Windows Server 2008.
Written by Mary Jo Foley, Senior Contributing Editor

Microsoft didn't release only a refreshed test build of Windows Vista Service Pack (SP) 1 this week. It also quietly posted an updated test build of Windows Server 2008.

Testers with pre-approved access to Microsoft's private Connect download site can grab the Windows Server 2008 November Community Technology Preview (for both X86 and X64 machines). The build number is 6001-17042-071107-1618.

No word yet from testers on what's new in the latest Windows Server 2008 build. It's not yet quite Release Candidate (RC) 1, but the Softies are getting closer.

Microsoft has said to expect Windows Server 2008 to be released to manufacturing in the first calendar quarter of 2008. Windows Server 2008 will ship in eight flavors, some of which will include Microsoft's integrated Hyper-V hypervisor, and others which won't, Microsoft announced earlier this week.

Given that the new Vista SP1 build and this server refresh came out simultaneously, I'm wondering about any new features in the SP1 build that touch Windows Server 2008. I've asked Microsoft for comment on what's in the newest Windows Server 2008 CTP, but no word back yet.

Update on November 16: Microsoft made the new Windows Server 2008 bits available to about 10,000 testers, including OEMs, software vendors, partners and customers, officials acknowledged. Microsoft made the Windows Server 2008 refresh available to TechNet subscribers as well.

Any testers out there had a chance to download and play with the new server build? What's new in it?

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