Microsoft has reached another milestone with the initial Release Candidate (RC0) of the highly anticipated Windows Server 2008 operating system, now available for download. Now customers and partners can download and test-drive the latest development version of Windows Server 2008 for themselves.

Packed with new features, Windows Server 2008 provides customers with the most versatile and reliable Windows platform yet. Technological advancements, such as server and presentation virtualization capabilities, Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0, Server Core, PowerShell, Network Access Protection, Server Manager, and enhanced networking and clustering technologies provide customers with a security-enhanced, easy-to-manage platform. All of these feature improvements provide customers with the most integrated Windows solution to date. For example, IIS 7.0, Microsoft’s platform for developing and reliably hosting Web applications and services, is experiencing strong customer momentum, with more than 13 hosting companies offering IIS 7.0 and more than 1,200 customers who have deployed it via the GoLive license.

Related:

• Alex Hinrichs and Jeff Woolsey: Announcing Windows Server 2008 RC0
• Mike Nash: Windows Vista Status Report and Announcing SP1 Beta 1