Guys, I noticed that the built version of both beta 3 and RC0 that i installed is 6001. What differences are there, if any in between the 2 products? Would it be wise to reinstall my current test-setup running on beta 3 so that i will be using RC0? Or is the difference only the change of Longhorn into 2008?

Windows Server Virtualization (Viridian) is included in RC0. http://blogs.technet.com/virtualization/archive/2007/09/24/windows-server-2008-rc0-with-windows-server-virtualization.aspx

But that's not even included as a role, just put in for us to play with and meant to be shipped later, no? So actually no change in between Beta 3 and RC0? Well no reinstall for me then

Builds Actually every build since the December 2006 CTP is a 6001 build. The difference between the build numbers of the different Windows Server "Longhorn" and Windows Server 2008 (as we call it nowadays) versions is behind the dot. For illustration purposes: Build 6001.16406 was the December 2006 CTP Build 6001.16461 was the February 2007 CTP Build 6001.16497 was the April 2007 CYP Build 6001.16510 is better known as Beta 3 Build 6001.16606 is the June 2007 CTP Build 6001.16659 is Release Candidate 0 The motivation to upgrade Beta 3 to RC 0 would be to check whether the team actually fixed a bug you might have reported, or to check out Windows Server Virtualization (WSV) Windows Server Virtualization Role Windows Server Virtualization is actually available as a role when you: Use a 64-bit version of Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 (or later build) Use an Enterprise or Datacenter version of Windows Server 2008 Release Candidate 0 (or later build) Installed Windows Server 2008 as a Full version, not Server Core (WSV for Server Core is not yet available) Have Data Execution Prevention enabled in BIOS Have Hardware Virtualization (AMD Pacifica or Intel Vanderpool) enabled in BIOS After you install Windows6.0-KB939853-x64 from your %Systemroot%\wsv After you install Windows6.0-KB939854-x64 from your %Systemroot%\wsv A word of caution might also be in place: After you install Windows Server Virtualization you might not be able to upgrade your Windows Server 2008 to a newer version.

why is it that you can provide this "list of versions" and what they equate to but I search everywhere and can't seem to find a similar list. when I was a dba one of the most useful lists for SQL was here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956909 (ie a list of build versions and what it means) I cannot, for the life of me find a similar list for Windows Server 2008. At work we maintain thousands of servers and a lot of the time I can't always remember what version was 2008, which was 2008 sp1, which was 2008 R2, R2 s1, and which of these had hotfix x, y, or z added or not added. Does such a list exist for all Windows 2008 products? I'd like to know which are CTPs, which are RC's and may have a cumulative update or hotfix or servicepack etc. Thanks TW