Microsoft VARs Eagerly Await Windows.net Server

The first major upgrade of the operating-system server software since Windows 2000, Windows .Net Server is expected to be a draw for enterprise and SMB customers still running Windows NT 4.0 Server, as well as for corporations running Windows 2000 Server that have begun .Net application/Web service development. The upgraded OS embeds the .Net framework for easier development.

The new OS also offers major improvements in the server's Active Directory and security, which should accelerate customer adoption, solution providers say. Directory improvements also include support for extranet e-commerce and XML Web services.

The release of complementary offerings next year,including the planned SharePoint server upgrade, Titanium Exchange server upgrade and Everett version of Visual Studio,will also drive Windows .Net adoption, solution providers said.

The new features and return-on-investment potential give partners and customers a strong incentive to move forward, solution providers said.

"Opportunities will certainly be there in the services and application-development areas and then in the integration," said Jean Beauchemin, business solutions architect at Quebec-based LGS Group, an IBM Global Services company, adding that customers will use the server as a foundation for building a transaction-oriented Web services infrastructure.

The ROI created by .Net will drive development more than the business value from the licensing, Beauchemin said.

Econium, a Microsoft solution provider in Totowa, N.J., said it plans to exploit the .Net framework and Web services features such as UDDI to build public and private yellow pages for company Web services, and create federated solutions for multiple clients to select Web services.

"The integration of the .Net framework and UDDI native support [in Windows .Net make a compelling reason to look at the server if enterprises are considering moving to a Web services approach to their solutions," said Ken Winell, president and CEO of Econium. "The amount of work can be substantial, and we intend to differentiate ourselves by creating a SpeedStart program to help companies take advantage of a packaged offering."

Tenet Computer Group, a solution provider invested in both Novell and Microsoft, expects to see ample opportunities in .Net application development, but predicts customers will hold out until the first Windows .Net service pack ships.

"We are expecting to make real services dollars developing .Net apps, not so much from doing server upgrades," said Carlos Paz-Soldan, vice president at the Toronto-based solution provider. "The first to upgrade will be those that are already developing .Net applications; the others will probably wait until it is strictly necessary," he said.

Microsoft plans to ship five different versions of the Windows .Net Server, including Windows .Net Datacenter Server, Enterprise Server, Standard Server and Web Server. The company is expected to detail the release timeframe at Windows .Net DevCon next week. A Windows .Net release candidate shipped late last month.

Microsoft will position the next version of Small Business Server, code-named Bobcat, as the fifth Windows .Net version since it incorporates the same OS server software, company executives said.

Microsoft said it expects a big push to Windows .Net, given that 50 percent of Windows servers used today are still running NT 4.0 Server.

Still, analysts said they remain cautious in light of the high costs of the server OS, server applications and integration services.