Windows Server 2008 SP1

.:blog.iainmcdonald - Windows Server 2008 is called SP1. Adventures in doing things right?

"I had a bunch of people internally ask me why Windows Server shows it's version as Windows Server 2008 SP1 (for brevity - WS08). ...

 

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At the same time other people wanted to get the client out earlier than server.  ...again.  So the folks doing Vista closed the client release down.  My guys ran server as a project kinda on the side until Vista released. After that, Alex Hinrichs along with the servicing folks drove the WS08 release out.

This means the that the Service Packs are shared, that patches get released at the same time, etc etc. I believe it is incredibly simplified for customers. The other thing is the servicing stack is now smart enough to not download stuff you don't need. This means if you have a Vista system & the service pack has fixes to Active directory, the Vista system does not get the directory update downloaded to them. Vice versa - if there was ever the need for a fix to media player (shock horror, who ever heard of the need to fix security issues there), you don't get it on server unless you install the Desktop Experience pack. 

So, it's called SP1 - in retrospect I should just say its called that so you don't have to wait for SP1 for it to be right like people have before.  The first Service Pack for WS08 will be called SP2. 

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That last line made me laugh... (Make sure you read the post... That's not the real reason, just a guy being human. But can you see that statement getting totally blown out of proportion by a misquote on Digg/Slash or something? Fingers crossed that that doesn't happen and sanity prevails...)