Today, Microsoft has made available a Release Candidate (RC) for Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7. SP1 includes both a roll-up of operating system updates and several new capabilities for Windows Server.
 

During its Application Infrastructure Virtual Launch Event, Microsoft Corp. today unveiled the Windows Server AppFabric Release Candidate and announced that final availability will follow in June. The launch event can be viewed at http://www.appinfrastructure.com. The company also made available the first public beta for BizTalk Server 2010, which supports Windows Server AppFabric and is scheduled to release to manufacturing in the third quarter of 2010.

“The role of application infrastructure has become a mission-critical function in all types of businesses today, which creates demand for high-performing, connected systems and applications,” said Abhay Parasnis, general manager, Business Platform Division at Microsoft. “With Windows Server AppFabric and BizTalk Server 2010, customers can use their existing skills to improve the scalability, connectivity, and performance of applications running on their current IT assets.”