Windows Home Server Power Pack 2 Coming Mid-2009

By on November 28, 2008 in WHS v2, windows 7, Windows Home Server

Australian magazine APC recently interviewed Stephen Leonard, Senior Product Manager for Windows Home Server regarding plans to release “basic” and “advanced” versions of the product in the future. Whilst splitting the platform into two SKUs is still under consideration (potentially with more entertainment focused features in the advanced version), Leonard confirmed that the V2 release will be preceded by a second Power Pack update in the middle of next year.

“Ideally we want to be able to release a product every year, around the same time” Leonard told APC. “We’d love to have an update for customers and OEMs, we released Power Pack 1 in our summer and certainly within the same year timeframe you’ll see another (update).”

“The Power Pack 1 name was a slight departure from the Microsoft terminology, where a lot of the time you hear things like Service Pack 1” Leonard explains. “We chose Power Pack 1 for a couple of reasons. One is that it wasn’t just a service pack. It had enhancements, but we also added new features and functionality. And with consumers being our primary customers for Windows Home Server, we wanted the name to be friendly. The next update will likely be something similar. We’re going to be fixing some things, and adding some features and functionality. It’ll be something similar to what you’ve seen so far (with Power Pack 1).”

So, if you’ve been betting the house on Windows Home Server v2 being released next year, you’ll be disappointed – looks like it’ll be 2010 at the earliest (shipping after the release of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2). In the meantime, though, you’ll have Power Pack 2 to look forward to.

Source: APC


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About Terry Walsh

Terry Walsh is the founding editor and owner of We Got Served. Since February 2007, the site has provided detailed coverage and analysis of the emerging home server category, and has subsequently grown into a trusted outlet for digital home news and reviews.
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  • ViRGE

    “So, if you’ve been betting the house on Windows Home Server v2 being released next year, you’ll be disappointed – looks like it’ll be 2010 at the earliest (shipping after the release of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2).”

    Doh!

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  • Boggy

    Sorry @Virge, but I don’t get your disappointment. I really, don’t care much what is under the hood, as long as I get to go fast from point A to B. I’ll be happy to get all the missing functionality in PP2 using the current Windows 2003 base code. Windows 7 code base (which will give us better hardware support and performance) will be nice, but it is not critical for what WHS is made for. Let’s be realistic and supportive of Microsoft on this one. WHS is a great product, and I am grateful for it. I say that without being a “religious” follower of this company. Let’s use our criticism in a constructive way, so it helps Microsoft in providing us with a great product.

  • Magic

    Actually,

    A new version based on Windows Server2008 R2 code that included Media Centre functionality would be great.

    The only additional SKU should be for additional User/Client Access licenses.

    For now WHS does exactly what it was intended to do. I don’t even have a problem with the price. (Considering what the product is.)

  • urmaster

    Originally Posted By MagicActually,

    A new version based on Windows Server2008 R2 code that included Media Centre functionality would be great.

    The only additional SKU should be for additional User/Client Access licenses.

    For now WHS does exactly what it was intended to do. I don’t even have a problem with the price. (Considering what the product is.)

    Indeed; media centre needs to be an addition. The Advanced SKU could be used for those who have 10+ clients and maybe add some of those Small Business functions or Standard functions found on server 2003 (whatever they may be)

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  • hype8912

    It’s nice to know that in 2010 we’ll still be using a 7 year old core in WHS.

    Any chance in at least bringing it up to W2k3 R2 in the next release? Just a wish but I know it won’t happen. WHS would greatly benefit from SIS available in the R2 release of Win 2K3.

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  • Ken

    @hype8912 – SIS? Windows Home Server already uses single instance storage for backups (aka Data Protection Manager/DPM). Windows Server 2003 R2 doesn’t have any SIS features.