Tell Us What You Really Think

It has been nearly five full years since Windows Server 2003 was released to manufacturing, and the channel natives are getting restless. But the Windows Server 2008 RTM is here, and there's a palpable air of excitement and enthusiasm among VARs over the myriad improvements Microsoft has baked into the OS.

While solution providers are pumped up about virtualization in Windows Server 2008, they're just as excited about features like Network Access Protection, Internet Information Services 7.0, Server Core, BitLocker and Terminal Services. Fueling VARs' giddiness is their belief that the new features will help them drive services revenue among existing clients, as well as capture new business.

In an interview with CMP Channel, one Microsoft channel partner, in a frenzy over the impending release, described Windows Server 2008 as "a [bleeping] monster release, a real game-changer." Another drew specific attention to the Read Only Domain Controllers (RODC), the Windows Power Shell and the range of Windows Deployment Services. Still others liked the look and feel of the security improvements.

"Network access protection being built into the server core is definitely going to benefit VARs selling into the midmarket and SMB," said Matt Scherocman, vice president of consulting services at Cincinnati-based PCMS IT Advisor, a Microsoft Gold partner. "NAP makes sense for these customers because it eliminates the need to deploy a third-party network access control situation and the cost of integrating it."

CRN spoke with a number of other Microsoft partners to identify the important features of Server 2008 and how they'll impact the channel.

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