There's no Windows Server 2008 SP1 in the works. Here's why

Customers who are waiting for Service Pack (SP) 1 to start planning/deploying Windows Server 2008, don't hold your breath. Microsoft is not going to issue an SP1 for its latest Windows Server release.

The reason? Windows Server 2008 already is labeled as "Windows Server 2008 SP1."

Chalk that abnormality up to Microsoft's ongoing attempt to more closely synchronize its Windows client and Windows server releases. Because Windows client and server are built from the same core and thus get patched with many of the same updates and fixes, Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1 are now "on par." (Indeed, Microsoft released to manufacturing Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1 on the same day, February 4.) To reflect that fact, Microsoft added "SP1" to the name of first release of Windows Server 2008 .

Director of Project Management for Windows Server Iain MccDonald explained the intertwined history of the client and server releases on his blog late last week. McDonald noted:

"(I)n retrospect i should just say its called (Windows Server 2008 SP1) so you don't have to wait for SP1 for it to be right like people have before. The first Service Pack for WS08 will be called SP2."

It sounds like SP2 for both Vista and Windows Server 2008 should be moving ahead in lockstep, at least in theory....