SP1 RC for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Released
Microsoft has released the Release Candidate (RC) of Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 to MSDN and TechNet subscribers.
Why is this so important, and why do I care? Within SP1 are two of my favorite feature updates: Dynamic Memory for Hyper-V, and the RemoteFX update for Remote Desktop Services.
Among many other updates and new features, this release finally brings the ability to use “dynamic memory” within Hyper-V. This means you can dynamically share some physical memory between several virtual machines based on how you configure ranges and priorities. Now I know this is useful for only a small percentage of the population, but this gives a VM the capability to utilize more of the physical host’s memory when it is needed. See video on dynamic memory for Hyper-V.
As any experienced Terminal Services/Remote Desktop (now called RDS – Remote Desktop Services) user can tell you, the technology doesn’t handle multimedia very well. While this has improved slightly over the past 10 years, I don’t typically suggest watching YouTube over a Remote Desktop connection. SP1 for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 brings RemoteFX which leverages VDI technology to give the end-user a real PC like experience. No longer do you have to watch choppy videos, with poor response time. With RemoteFX it is like being in front of your PC, even though your PC is virtualized. See video about RemoteFX.
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Robert Borges
About Robert...
I have been in the IT industry since 1993 focusing mainly on networking. Though I got an early start as an amateur computer enthusiast and wrote my first database app at age 12, I started my professional career working in the MIS department of one of the largest liquor distributors in the northeast. I started out there as a systems operator on the company’s two mainframe systems. From there I moved into PC support, and help design and implement the company’s first client-server network… This was back in the days of Win NT 3.51 when I worked on my first migration to Windows NT 4.0 server.
From there I went on to work with Novell 3.x and 4.x along with Windows domains and Microsft's brand new Active Directory. Working my way up from technician to specialist, to an administrator, and eventually all the way up to Sr. Engineer. I spent many years working for MSPs/consulting firms, 9 of which I owned and operated my own firm.
Over the years, I have worked with (at an expert level) various versions of Windows client and server operating systems (including Windows 11 and Windows Server 2019); various virtualization technologies (Hyper-V, VMware, etc.); MS-SQL server 6.5- 2014 R2; Exchange 4-2019, and much more. Over the years I have built a lot of experience around the Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 cloud environments.
I am now CTO at Infused Innovations where our team is focusing on helping clients build a Secure Intelligent Workplace through InfoSec (Zero Trusts Framework), Modern Workplace, and Business Intelligence.
I have been heavily involved in the IT user group community, including serving as president of the board of Boston User Groups, Inc., and president of IT-Pro User Group. In 2017/2018 Microsoft awarded me the Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Award, with a focus of Microsoft Azure cloud, for my efforts in the IT community.
I am in a constant state of learning about new products, and new versions of products. Many of which we end up implementing in lab environments and sometimes for our clients. I have a very broad range of expertise and experience. It is my goal to share some of this experience on this blog to help enrich the IT community.
Permanent link to this article: https://www.robertborges.us/2011/02/windows/windows-7/sp1-rc-for-windows-7-and-windows-server-2008-r2-released/
2 comments
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Thank you for the positive feedback!