Hyper-V 2.0: Hyper-V's next release includes several improvements, including support for up to 32 logical processors on the host computer, support for adding and removing virtual hard disks (VHDs) to a running virtual machine without needing to reboot the OS on that VM; dynamically allocated memory without any interruption of service and support for booting for a VHD file so that VHDs can work on both physical and virtual hardware.

Remote Desktop Services: nee Terminal Services, the Remote Desktop Services (RDS) umbrella includes solutions for the new virtualized desktop infrastructure, or VDI. VDI lets Windows Vista and eventually Windows 7 be deployed to centrally managed virtual machines, which in turn allow employees and contractors to work in a consistent, managed environment from any location. According to Microsoft, "key benefits of Microsoft centralized desktop strategy include better enablement of such flexible work scenarios such as work from home and hot-desking, increased data security and compliance, as well as easy and efficient management of the desktop OS and applications." Hot-desking is when you have a group of cubicles or desks that exist but aren't permanently assigned to one specific employee -- you just come in and take whatever cubicle is open each day. RDS also includes traditional Terminal Services features like RDP and presentation virtualization technologies. There are also enhancements to the RDP experience, like better audio streaming, full multi-monitor support, and an improved multimedia (including video) experience.

Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) enhancements: There is a new AD DS management console which features tight PowerShell integration, as well as an AD Recycle Bin that allows recovery of previously deleted objects. You can now join machines to a Windows domain offline, which is useful for branch offices and other connectivity-challenged environments. There are also enhancements to Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS), including a feature called "authentication assurance" that I have been unable to test because I haven't had a chance to set up all the equipment I need for it.

DirectAccess: As I wrote in my IT pro-oriented piece on Windows 7, DirectAccess promises to be the end-user "favorite" feature of the future. DirectAccess allows you to do everything you'd normally do over a VPN -- get access to your corporate network, file shares, intranet, perform seamless authentication with company resources and so on -- without actually having to create the VPN tunnel. You need IPv6 and IPsec, as well as a 6-to-4 router, but those seem to be small prices to pay for an "always managed" infrastructure.

IIS & Managed Code on Server Core: One of the bigger complaints about the Server Core installation option was that it did not support managed code and the .NET Framework. This has been rectified in the R2 release, allowing for full support for ASP.NET Web applications in addition to PHP and traditional ASP. You can now also use richer management tools on remote machines, like your administrative desktop, since .NET is supported on Server Core.

Jonathan Hassell is an author, consultant and speaker on a variety of IT topics. His published works include RADIUS , Hardening Windows , Using Windows Small Business Server 2003 and Learning Windows Server 2003 . His work appears regularly in such periodicals as Windows IT Pro magazine , PC Pro and TechNet Magazine . He also speaks worldwide on topics ranging from networking and security to Windows administration. He is currently an editor for Apress, a publishing company specializing in books for programmers and IT professionals.