Finally, Microsoft’s server software has an official name. The software giant from Redmond’s entry in the server enterprise space is officially dubbed Windows Server 2012. Quite catchy, no? We don’t think so either. Still, that’s a tad better than the old name the project went by-Windows Server 8. In an opening speech at Las Vegas’ Microsoft Management Summit 2012, Microsoft officials officially proclaimed the new software’s name and said that it will be shipping before the year is out.
These announcements did not really pack much of a surprise. Why? Microsoft has a long tradition of tagging its server level software with names that have dates. This stands in stark contrast with its naming conventions for the company’s client software offerings. Some experts believe that Windows Server 2012 will be launching at the same time as Windows 8.
Microsoft Windows 8 is anticipated to launch in September. If this is the case, then there’s no reason to doubt that the server side version will launch roughly at the same time-in keeping with how Windows 7 was rolled out at the same time as Windows Server 2008 R2.
If you can’t wait for the final official version to roll out, you can get your hands on the beta version of Windows Server 2012. It has been available since March 1. Also, Microsoft has released System Center 2012, a collection of server managementand client tools The package is ready for download at Microsoft’s site. The company is pushing this software to enterprises to help them build private clouds, which are comprised of both virtual and physical servers. In other naming news, Microsoft has settled on Windows RT for its ARM-based OS which was earlier dubbed “Windows on ARM” or WOA. I guess naming a product too closely to Whoa was perceived (quite correctly) by Microsoft’s marketing department as sending the wrong message. People normally say Whoa when something horrendous or surprising just happened or is about to happen. Not exactly the right psychological message to send to your customers.
In other MS OS news, Windows 8 will be available in only two versions, Windows 8 and Windows 8 pro. There will be a third version which will be available only to large scale volume customers, Windows 8 Enterprise, who sign on to the Software Assurance program.