First Windows Server 'R2' Beta Ships

A core group of 1,000 beta testers has received Beta 1 copies of R2, the next Microsoft Windows Server release, sporting build number 1711. R2 will fill the void between Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and the next generation Longhorn server, which is slated to hit the market some time in the 2007 timeframe.

Late November, Microsoft opened up nominations for a larger second round of testing, which, according to Microsoft Watch, is due to begin in Q2 2005. The final release of R2 is expected to ship in October 2005.