One day after the launch of Windows 8.1, Microsoft is now offering the general availability Windows Server 2012 R2 to the public. Microsoft has also launched System Center 2012 R2, a new version of Windows Intune and more tools that have been updated to work with Windows Server 2012 R2.
In a blog post today, Microsoft goes over many of the new additions in the OS, such as improved storage features, better server virtualization capabilities, streamlined network functions and more. As we reported previously, Microsoft has also released new Remote Desktop apps for iOS, Android and Mac platforms designed to connect to Windows Server 2012 R2.
In a separate blog post, Brad Anderson, the corporate vice-president of Windows Server and System Center at Microsoft, praised the development teams behind Windows Server 2012 R2 and its related products and tools, stating:
The R2 wave products have been meticulously and thoughtfully built by a global organization of truly unmatched talent; the final product is something we can all be very proud to call our own. It’s an honor to be a part of such a team, and it is an honor to bring such a genuinely remarkable product to market.
As it did for Windows 8.1 Enterprise, Microsoft is also offering a free trial version of Windows Server 2012 R2 on TechNet, but the server trial lasts for 180 days rather than just 90 days. In addition, Microsoft is offering a Windows Server 2012 R2 image in the Windows Azure Image gallery. Anderson states, "With this functionality you can now provision virtual machines with this new OS in just minutes."
Source: Microsoft | Image via Microsoft