Microsoft said earlier this morning that it has released the new beta version of its forthcoming Windows 8 Server operating system, a day after making its consumer preview of the Windows 8 client-side code that will be available tomorrow morning.
The software giant is claiming that its Server 8 OS platform has been designed with virtualization and cloud support in mind. The coding has version three of Windows' virtualization platform Hyper-V, which the company promises will be able set up many more virtual systems on the same hardware, while ensuring that data can still be siloed when needed.
"With Hyper-V Network Virtualization, you can simply create virtual networks so that different business units, or even multiple customers, can seamlessly share network infrastructure," said Microsoft's corporate vice president for servers Bill Laing.
"You will be able to move VMs (virtual machines) and servers around without losing their network assignments," he added.
Microsoft is also looking forward in shifting IT admins off using graphical user interface controls and instead get them to use PowerShell to manage the software. PowerShell is a bit of a retro step in that Microsoft was once very keen on server GUIs.
The beta has over 2,300 commands included in PowerShell, and Microsoft recommends dumping the GUI altogether, although you can still install it as an option, if you prefer.
The download comes as a 64-bit ISO image in English, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and as a virtual hard disk (VHD) edition in English only.
Early reports indicate that the beta code is very stable, but as always with betas, users install and operate it at their own risks, and Microsoft users have been warned by an initial install screen that spells out the risks with any software released in beta form.
In other IT news
Intel said earlier this morning that it is ramping up the production of its much-anticipated Ivy Bridge CPUs for an official launch date in April, but at the same time, the chip giant is adjusting its numbers to meet increased demand from Ultrabook vendors.
Sources in the notebook industry say that, despite reported delays of up to nine weeks, production is still by and large on schedule.
Intel is nevertheless increasing the production of the low-power chips for Ultrabook and smartphone platforms.
Meanwhile, traditional desktop and notebook segments will be equipped with the high-end and much faster processors. The Ivy Bridge family squeezes an Intel multi-core CPU and graphics processor onto the same 22 nm process die with added power-saving features, allowing the chips to comfortably slip inside small battery-powered devices.
Although a Chipzilla spokesperson says that the company wouldn’t comment on unannounced products, we were handed a prepared report to confirm that the launch date is still on track to take place in April.
"We’re ramping three factories simultaneously, and making some production adjustments to meet increasing customer demand for CPUs for Ultrabook devices. To ensure customers have adequate supply to support a broad market launch for third-generation Intel Core, we are adjusting the launch schedules accordingly," the spokesperson said.
Intel expects to supply the market with 50 percent more 3rd Generation Intel Core than second-generation Intel Core in the first two quarters of the two products’ respective ramps.
Such has been the demand for Ivy bridge-based Ultrabook processors that some vendors could be ready to unveil their next round of ultra-thin notebooks based on these chips as early as May, with prices dropping to the sub-$900 mark, said Digitimes.
A recent report by Juniper Research predicted that Ultrabooks will grow at about three times the rate of tablets over the next five years as prices continue to fall.
Here's the price list for Ivy Bridge Ultrabook processors set for launch in the early spring:
The i7-2677M at 1.8G Hz ($317), Core i7-2637M at 1.7 GHz ($289), Core i5-2557M at 1.7 GHz ($250), Core i7-2657M at 1.6 GHz ($317), Core i7-2617M at 1.5 GHz ($289) and finally, the Core i5-2537M at 1.8 GHz ($259).
In other IT industry news
IBM's Global Business Services division will soon start offering enterprise solutions with Huawei Technologies, initially for Chinese companies that have global aspirations.
Overall, Huawei would like its smartphones embedded into large companies, and to give those companies a reason to buy its tablets as well, so the plan is a long-term one it would appear at first glance.
For its part, IBM wants to push its Chinese presence and tap into the expediently expanding market, which it hopes to do with Huawei's assistance, but to Huawei, this is just another step to global domination, but this time with enterprise solutions targeting big business.
Source: Microsoft.
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