Until now, Microsoft has remained pretty tight-lipped on Windows 7 SP1, and the only information we have thus far on it is the leaked info from an array of sources, primarily Russian enthusiast site WZOR. However, today, amongst a flurry of virtualization-related chatter, Microsoft said a little something about SP1 for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
On the Windows 7 front, nothing much was said asides from the fact that Windows 7 will simply include a wide array of minor updates. However, theres some new features slated for Server 2008 R2. While not too much was said, Microsoft did announce that SP1 for Server 2008 R2 will bring 2 new virtualization-related technologies: RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory.
RemoteFX is a set of RDP technologies that allows people working remotely to have the rich, immersive visual user experience as that of people working on a local desktop machine. Essentially, it is a set of graphics virtualization technologies that support Silverlight, 3D graphics, highly-synchronized audio, Windows Aero, and all media types without impacting performance, so you get the rich eye-candy of a local desktop machine without sacrificing performance. To find out more, check out the TechNet blog post. RemoteFX is the result of technologies Microsoft got their hands on upon acquiring Calista Technologies that they have built up on and improved.
Microsoft has also announced a partnership with Citrix, which will allow Citrix to integrate Microsofts RemoteFX technology in its XenDesktop virtualization suite while also extending the capabilities of RemoteFX with HDX RichGraphics from Citrix, which optimizes the performance of graphics-intensive 2D/3D applications in virtualized environments.
By joining forces in desktop virtualization, Citrix and Microsoft can provide customers of all sizes with groundbreaking solutions that are profoundly simpler, richer and more cost-effective, said Gordon Payne, senior vice president and general manager, Desktop Division, at Citrix Systems. Todays announcements mark a historic milestone in our 20-year relationship that will dramatically simplify desktop computing for years to come.
On the other hand we have Dynamic Memory, which is essentially improved memory management for Hyper-V which allows people to get increased consolidation/VM density ratios. It allows administrators to pool available physical memory and distribute it to virtual machines on that host as necessary. It will dynamically do this depending on the need, so theres scalability and efficiency right there with now the memory is handled. To learn more about this, check out the blog post outlining this upcoming technology.
As you can see, Microsoft has quite a bit in store for us when it comes to virtualization. Brad Anderson, corporate vice president of the Management and Services Division at Microsoft has written a lengthy blog post regarding Microsofts approach to virtualization technology, which you can check out here. While Microsoft hasnt officially disclosed any roadmaps or timeframes for SP1 development, people whisper to us that SP1 is slated for RTM sometime around the end of 2010.