Microsoft puts its server software to the test

Microsoft has signed up a key beta tester for the next generation of its server operating system: itself.

In recent weeks, the company has switched 79 of 80 servers that power Microsoft.com over to Windows Server 2008, a new version of its server operating system still in testing. The company is intentionally leaving one box to run the existing server OS, Windows Server 2003, so it can compare versions.

"To deploy a new operating system and new Web server into an environment like this without compromising performance or reliability is quite a feat," Microsoft Technical Product Manager Eric Woersching said on his blog.

For those really interested in how Microsoft approached the switch, the company posted a 38-minute video with Woersching talking to two of Microsoft.com's operations managers.

Microsoft released a third beta version of the software in April and this week offered technical beta testers an updated test version. The company has said it aims to finalize the code this year, though a formal launch of the product may not come until next year.

Web server-tracking firm Netcraft spotted the Microsoft.com switchover earlier this week. The firm said that by its count, there are already about 2,600 sites powered by Windows Server 2008.

"Whilst some of the servers running Windows Server 2008 are at Microsoft itself, the majority are not," Netcraft said in a posting on its Web site. It noted that Microsoft has a "Go Live" program that allows Web sites to use the beta software in a production Web site.

Despite the advance start, Netcraft said it doesn't expect Windows Server 2008 to become the standard for Web sites all that quickly.

"It took several years for the installed base of Windows Server 2003 to overtake Windows 2000, and there are still some 5 million sites running on Windows 2000 even today," Netcraft said.

More from News.com on this story's topics

Programming

Create an email alert | RSS feed

Microsoft Server

Create an email alert | RSS feed

Microsoft

Create an email alert | RSS feed

See more CNET content tagged:
Microsoft Windows Server, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, server software, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Corp.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 1 comment (Page 1 of 1)
And this is news?
by aabcdefghij987654321 July 3, 2007 10:44 AM PDT
MS has done this for every version of their OSes. The article would've done better to mention that MS has advanced their work on the OS to the point where they're now using it internally not trying to "cute up" the headline and story by presenting a normal action as something newsworthy.
Reply to this comment
Powered by Jive Software
advertisement
RSS Feeds
Add headlines from CNET News.com to your homepage or feedreader.
Google
Yahoo
MSN
More feeds available in our RSS feed index.
Today's Top Stories
Google adds privacy policy link to home page
1 euro eBay baby goes home
Down to earth with the Blue Angels
Week in review: Microhoogle intrigue
VeriSign names interim CEO
Most Popular Stories
'Netflix box' to carry more than just Netflix
Jobs, Apple directors face new backdating suit
IE 8 to have antimalware protection
China's military tries out Segways
Stolen: Google employees' personal data
Resource center from News.com sponsors
Aligning CIO & CEO visions
What CIOs need to know

It's a simple truth. The closer you and your CEO see things, the greater your chance for success. Our exclusive report can help you get there—and help your business grow. To get the report, featuring the views of 765 CEOs on innovation. click here

Click Here!
What CEOs think: Innovation Insights for CIOs

Learn How CIOs can deliver strategic success for their enterprises

The New CIO: Beyond Technology

Learn how CIOs become heroes

Podcast: Chris Gorog of Napster

Learn about the impact of technology in strategy execution

The future of the Enterprise

Read more about tomorrow's organization

Markets

Market news, charts, SEC filings, and more

Related quotes

Microsoft (0.39%) 0.10 25.98
Dow Jones Industrials (0.00%) 0.00 11,288.54
S&P 500 (0.00%) 0.00 1,262.90
NASDAQ (-0.27%) -6.08 2,245.38
CNET TECH (0.00%) 0.00 1,580.18
  Symbol Lookup



advertisement
On TV.com: KIM KARDASHIAN is hot hot hot
Advanced
search
Advanced
search
Visit other CBS Interactive sites