Microsoft Corp. is posting the final beta and first publicly available and feature-complete version of Windows Server “Longhorn,” marking the final time the product will be available for testing and feedback before the long-awaited server update is available later this year.
Microsoft will post Longhorn beta 3 code on a special Web page sometime Wednesday evening Eastern Time, said Ward Ralston, senior technical product manager for the software. It’s the first time anyone who’s interested can get their hands on the product, which has been in private beta release only until now.
Wednesday also will be the first time users can get a look at a new scripting and command-line technology, Microsoft PowerShell, at work from within Longhorn server, he said. The technology, which allows administrators to more easily automate tasks across Windows servers on a network, previously was available as a separate add-on, but will be built directly into Longhorn and is making its first appearance in a test version of the product.