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Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers

By | August 16, 2010, 9:57am PDT

Summary: Microsoft has released an updated preview build of its Windows Home Server “Vail” product to selected testers.

Microsoft has released an updated preview build of its Windows Home Server “Vail” product to selected testers.

It’s not clear to me whether this is the near-final Release Candidate of Vail which Microsoft execs recently said to be expecting. (I don’t think it is.) But I’ve asked Microsoft for comment and will update with any information I receive back. Microsoft is sticking with “preview” as the descriptor for this build, a spokesperson said (which still doesn’t clarify whether this is the Vail Release Candidate 0 that it seems to be).

According to Microsoft enthusiast and blogger Tom Ziegmann, the August Vail test build includes a number of tweaks to the dashboard. It also will add a new client connector for Mac OS, as well as support fo Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 betas, according to Ziegmann. Ziegmann warned testers that some things are broken in the new test release, such as storage check and repair.

Another Vail tester confirmed that Microsoft quietly made the new “preview refresh” available on August 13 on its Connect site.

Microsoft released a beta of Vail in late April 2010. Microsoft officials have continued to decline to say when to expect the final version of Vail to ship, but many of the testers and company watchers I know are expecting it to be released this calendar year.

Vail is one of three new low-end servers Microsoft is developing. “SBS 7″ is the next version of Microsoft’s on-premises Small Business Server product. “Aurora” is a hybrid cloud/on-premises server aimed at small business users. Test builds of SBS 7 and Aurora are expected before the end of August.

Update: The Aurora beta is available for download today, August 16.

Microsoft officials also are not commenting on when the final version of SBS 7 or Aurora will launch.

Microsoft officials have said to expect Vail to include improvements in four areas, including the extension of media streaming “outside the home or office”; new functionality around multi-PC backup and restore; simplified setup and user experience; and expanded tools and customization capabilities for partners.

Update: The “We Got Served” blog has more about the Mac connectivity added to this build:

“The big news is that Windows Home Server Vail will natively support computers running Mac OS. This includes the use of Windows Home Server as a target for Time Machine backups, as well as a Mac Launchpad and the same remote web access experience as provided for the PC. At this point (in the preview), there does not appear to be access to the Windows Home Server Dashboard.”

We Got Served also has added a Vail installation walkthrough for those who are downloading and installing the new August preview.

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Topics

Microsoft Windows Small Business Server, Microsoft Windows Home Server, Microsoft Corp., Vail, Microsoft Windows, Servers, Operating Systems, Software, Hardware, Mary Jo Foley

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

Disclosure

Mary-Jo Foley

Freelance journalist/blogger Mary Jo Foley has nothing to disclose. WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). I do not own Microsoft stock or stock in any of its partners or competitors. I have no business ventures that are sponsored by/funded by Microsoft or any of its partners or competitors.

Biography

Mary-Jo Foley

Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry for 25 years for a variety of publications, including ZDNet, eWeek and Baseline. She has kept close tabs on Microsoft strategy, products and technologies for the past 10 years. In the late 1990s, she penned the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet, and more recently the Microsoft Watch blog for Ziff Davis.

Got a tip? Send her an email with your rants, rumors, tips and tattles. Confidentiality guaranteed.

Talkback Most Recent of 31 Talkback(s)

  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    Still no media center? >:-(
    ZDNet Gravatar
    angarita calvo
    16th Aug 2010
  • What the hell man??
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    ZDNet Gravatar
    Johnny Vegas
    16th Aug 2010
  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
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  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    @Johnny Vegas

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  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    @Johnny Vegas officials have said to expect Vail to include improvements in four areas, including the extension of media streaming ???outside the home or office???; new functionality around multi-PC backup and restore. Double Glazing
    ZDNet Gravatar
    edsalltm
    14th Sep
    • Flagged
  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    @Johnny Vegas
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    ZDNet Gravatar
    cateuse
    18th Oct
  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    @angarita calvo Maybe that's why they're not calling it a release candidate.

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    atrok
    27th Jul
  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    t?s not clear to me whether this is the near-final of Vail which Microsoft execs recently said to be expecting. (I don?t think it is.) But I?ve asked Microsoft for comment and will update with any information I receive back.
    Microsoft is sticking with ?preview? as the descriptor for this build, a spokesperson said (which still doesn?t clarify whether this is the Vail Release Candidate 0 that it seems to be). px24 livecams
    ZDNet Gravatar
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    1st Sep
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    kirismin
    25th Sep
  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
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    ZDNet Gravatar
    Arabalar
    18th Aug
  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    According to Microsoft enthusiast and blogger Tom Ziegmann, the August Vail test build includes a number of tweaks to the dashboard. It also will add a new client connector for Mac OS,Office Standard Key, as well as support fo Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 betas, according to Ziegmann. Ziegmann warned testers that some things are broken in the new test release,Windows 7 Ultimate Sale, such as storage check and repair. Web
    ZDNet Gravatar
    user202
    30th Aug
  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    Louisville Weight LossHi Jasper - What you are seeing on the desktop is the build number of the underlying OS, Windows Server 2008 R2, which is in fact build 7600.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Amanda123456
    31st Aug
  • Beware of serious bugs in this
    http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2010/08/16/opinion-thoughts-on-the-vail-rc0-release/

    There are a couple of serious, data loss bugs still in this preview.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    NonZealot
    16th Aug 2010
  • RE: Windows Home Server 'Vail' refresh goes to testers
    @NonZealot

    Maybe that's why they're not calling it a release candidate.
    ZDNet Gravatar
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    17th Aug 2010
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