Windows .NET Server is poised to reach the Release Candidate 1 milestone, claims Steven Bink of WindowsXP.nu. This would likely put RTM (Release to Manufacture) somewhere in Q4, so the server version would be out a year in arrears of XP's rollout.

Still, it means Microsoft will have something to shout about in November. Steven says RC1 isn't absolutely confirmed, but that Microsoft has upgraded its Domain Controllers to the current build, 3657, which was produced on 27th June, and this is a promising sign.

The .NET Server beta has been in feature freeze mode since build 3639, since when the beta has concentrated on shaking out bugs and achieving something stable enough for Release Candidate status. ®