Microsoft has released a major update to Windows Server 2003 to make the enterprise software package more stable and easier to manage.

The low-key debut of Win 2003 SP2 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=95ac1610-c232-4644-b828-c55eec605d55&DisplayLang=en) on Monday, which took some sys admins by surprise (http://msmvps.com/blogs/bradley/archive/2007/03/13/win-2003-sp2-on-microsoft-update-now.aspx), contrasts with the high profile launch of Win XP SP2 in August 2004. So stealthy was the release that it's yet to be noted on Microsoft's product update blog (http://blogs.technet.com/mu/).

And the release is certainly worth noting. Win 2003 SP2 - which also applies to users of 64-bit editions of Windows XP Professional - includes a number of bug fixes along with new features.

The release includes a new XML parser (dubbed XmlLite), support for Wi-Fi Protected Access 2, an improved management console, support for firewall per port authentication, improvements to the implementation of the IPSec security protocol, and improved networking features (as explained here (http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/library/cda7d603-fdd6-4a48-b045-89adac6e519e1033.mspx?mfr=true)).

The 372 MB release has been undergoing testing for nine months since June 2006.

Alongside release of the update, the software giant published a deferment tool designed to assist organisations who want to avoid the automatic update of Windows 2003 servers until they've had a chance to test the software.

In related news, an optional update to XP SP2 designed to resolve a system crashing bug (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929338/en-us) was made available as a general release earlier this month through Windows Update, the SANS Institute's Internet Storm Centre reports (http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=2436). ®

Related stories

Windows Service Pack refuseniks offered temporary respite (11 December 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/12/11/windows_sp_dalay_tool/
Microsoft moves further into the Content Intelligence space (16 March 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/16/microsoft_content_intelligence/
Friendly fire mixup: MS identifies Windows as Mac (9 March 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/09/friendly_fire_virtual_pc/
Dell vaults into bed with Microsoft (7 December 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/07/dell_microsoft_powervault/
Red Hat holes less severe than Windows - study (27 July 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/27/red_hat_security/
MS wants to Pimp My Raid array (13 July 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/13/andy_lees_interview/
Flogging Exchange Server 2003 (4 July 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/04/quocircas_changing_channels/